SEUNGRI on ‘YG Electronics’, “YG’s Weakness and Sensitive Issues into Laughter”
[연합뉴스=이은정 기자] A Real Sitcom by YG·NETFLIX… Global Premiere on the 5th.
“YG’s market cap fell drastically after BIGBANG members’ enlistments and various issues regarding artists. President YANG HYUN SUK is said to spend every night with whiskey, refusing to believe that JYP has a higher market cap than YG”.
Group BIGBANG’s SEUNGRI craftily revealed YG Entertainment’s crisis as the advisor for YG Strategic Data Headquarters, while dressed in a clean suit with glasses. He strongly stated, “To bring fresh waves into YG, I will try my best with my strengths and ambitions”. SEUNGRI’s self-diss which also included some actual ‘facts’ made everyone in the scene burst into laughter.
The event happened during the press conference for the real sitcom ‘YG Electronics’, held on October 1 in JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul.
‘YG Electronics’, which is an abbreviation of ‘YG Strategic Data Headquarters’ is a real sitcom set to premiere exclusively through NETFLIX, the global video service provider. The sitcom will cover the story pf SEUNGRI struggling to get back YANG HYUN SUK’s trust, after being demoted to a department which everyone tries to avoid.
While SEUNGRI confidently states, “President YANG is the father in YG, but I am the father pf YG Electronics”, the others talk behind him. The scene makes the viewers feel pity. The show was directed by PD Park Junsu, known for his previous ‘B-rated variety shows’ including Mnet’s ‘God of Music’ and ‘UV Syndrome’. The production staff confidently explained the show with phrases such as ‘The maestro of B-rated sitcoms’ and ‘Crazy real sitcom’.
SEUNGRI introduced, “The charming point of the show is that everything is based on a true story, which actually happened in YG”. He continued, “I felt, ‘Would this be okay’ while filming and felt no discomfort since these events were real. It really is real”.
“We cover everything from artist contract contents to stories the fans and public already know about. When I asked the PD if it would be okay to talk about it, he replied, ‘What’s wrong with mentioning things everyone know about’, so I agreed. We mention sensitive issues and our weaknesses, but transcend them into laughter. Haha”. (SEUNGRI)
PD Park Junsu, who attended the scene, mentioned that YANG HYUN SUK’s implicit permission and his determination to resign from the agency made the everything possible. He explained, “I’ve been caricaturing the dark side of the entertainment industry, and felt YG has a lot of dark sides”, and laughed. He explained the background by stating, “I planned the show while thinking it would be a good idea for YG to have an essential department which decides everything, like the future strategic department in Samsung Electronics”.
PD Park originally chose president YANG as the main character. He stated, “The president refused at once”. He continued, “YG has been struggling recently while he (president YANG) also has a panic disorder. That’s probably why he refused. An earlier program didn’t do so well either. He recommended SEUNGRI who resembles him the most”, making everyone laugh.
To add realness in the show, he actually tricked the cast by making separate scripts for the production staff and the cast, capturing live reactions.
SEUNGRI stated, “There were traps here and there, while some of the cast didn’t match people written on the script”. He emphasized, “It was fun filming since it felt half drama, half variety, and half live. We aimed for real reactions and real conversations, which will confuse the viewers on whether its real or written”.
The sitcom will feature not only SEUNGRI but also other artists from YG including BLACKPINK, WINNER, iKON, YOO BYUNG JAE, and actress YOO IN NA. Celebrities from other agencies such as Sunmi from Wonder Girls, Apink Son Naeun, and singer Chung Ha also appeared to help create the show.
SEUNGRI stated, “We were able to cast Sunmi because I knew her since she was in Wonder Girls, while Son Naeun gladly accepted our request despite her busy schedule. Many people will appear on the show. There will be interesting elements in every episode”.
On the question whether casting K-Pop artists was done to target the idol fandom, he replied, “People will feel empathy while watching a person fall and struggle to survive. There will be touching moments later on”.
PD Park added, “Even a 70 years old lady living in Oklahoma will be able to enjoy the show”. He continued, “People will feel empathy on a story about the struggles of a popular star”.
SEUNGRI also mentioned that the program made him realize that he’s not a funny person.
“PD Park’s philosophy on comedy was so certain, and difficult. I learned that there are strong and weak laughing points”. (SEUNGRI)
On other difficulties while filming, SEUNGRI mentioned the noise near the filming scene. He explained, “Since the office of YG Electronics resided next to the construction scene of YG’s new headquarters, we couldn’t use any audio due to the noise”.
PD Park made the people laugh by adding, “SEUNGRI’s pronunciation will sound bad since he talked too fast, to finish filming while it was quiet. He is talking in Korean, but please turn on Korean subtitles”.
Meanwhile, on the question that asked about SEUNGRI’s enlistment, he replied, lIt will be early next year”. He added, “I will join as soon as possible to fasten the reunion of BIGBANG”.
