Canadian-British Kids Series ‘Gangnam Project’ Explores Universal Themes Of Cultural Belonging Via The Phenomenon That Is K-Pop
10.04.2024 - 14:03
/ deadline.com
Welcome to , Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films making noise in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track. So we’re going to do the hard work for you.
Today’s pick, Gangnam Project, comes to you from Canada and the UK, where it airs on CBC and the BBC. Gangnam Project taps into universal themes of cultural belonging. And in a kids content market changing rapidly, it is a sign of the the times that the Canadian and British broadcasters have tapped into the phenomenon that is K-pop.
Name: Gangnam Project
Country: Canada, UK
Network: CBC, CBBC
Producer: Pillango Productions, Aircraft Pictures
International sales: Federation Kids & Family
For fans of: XO, Kitty, Love in Taipei
In Gangnam Project, 16-year-old Hannah Shin (Julia Kim Caldwell) struggles with not feeling Korean enough on her first trip to her father’s homeland. Bubbly and happy-go-lucky by nature, our protagonist shakes off the doubt and goes on to live every teenage girl’s dream – tutoring idols at Korea’s elite K-pop training school and ending up as a trainee herself.
The latter part may be a tad fantastical, but show creator Sarah Haasz knows exactly how the first part feels. The Korean-Canadian producer visited South Korea when she was 16 on a government initiative to familiarize Korean-origin children with their culture. “I had this expectation that I was to learn a lot about Korea, and be welcomed with open arms,” says Haasz, who co-created the show with Filipino-Canadian director Romeo Candido. “What I didn’t anticipate was not being accepted as a 100% Korean person.”