GMA partners with Korean company for 'Running Man'

GMA-7 partners with SBS Korea in a co-production deal for the local version of the Korean reality-comedy game show, “Running Man”.  Present during the contract signing were GMA Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon; President & Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong; VP for Entertainment Group Redgie Acuña-Magno; VP for Business Development Department II Janine Piad-Nacar; AVP for Business Development Department II Bang Arespacochaga & Senior Program Manager Enri T. Calaycay.

Representing SBS Korea were Chief Global Contents Officer Kim Yong Jae and Global Production & Business Team Director Kim Soo Hwan. For Atty. Gozon, the partnership with SBS Korea is another milestone for GMA and the country, “We are very delighted to partner with a great institution in content. We know that Running Man is a top-rating program not only in South Korea, but in other countries as well. And we hope to make it a top-rater, too, here in the Philippines.”

Kim Yong Jae, in turn, is elated to bring the hit Korean show to Filipino viewers.  “This is the first time for us to co-produce this show in the Philippines. We experienced big success in Vietnam, China, and we are expecting a lot here, too. We are adapting the Filipino culture and artists, so Filipino fans have a lot to be excited about.”

“Running Man” is one of South Korea’s most popular variety shows, featuring well-loved top Korean stars as cast and special international stars like Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise, and Henry Cavill as guests competing in fun challenges, games, and races in different locations.  After being on-air for almost a decade, the show has gained legions of fans not just across Asia, but all over the world as well. After the huge success of the local remake of the Korean movie "Miracle in Cell No. 7", we have reason to believe that this first local version of a hit Korean TV show will similarly be successful as it looks like lots of Filipino viewers just like Korean movies and shows these days. Why, even in Hollywood, didn't they just make a Korean film their best picture in the Academy Awards?