tvN's 'Good' Strategy Triumphs with 'Bogum Magical' and 'After School Teacher Taeri'

tvN's 'good' strategy is paying off. 'Bogum Magical' and 'After School Teacher Taeri' are delivering wholesome laughter and 'good dopamine' instead of high-stimulation content.

Airing every Friday at 8:35 PM, 'Bogum Magical' (directed by Son Soo-jung) features Park Bo-gum, Lee Sang-yi, and Kwak Dong-yeon running a barbershop in a small rural village. From selecting the location to remodeling ideas, practicing haircuts and styling, obtaining nail technician licenses, and cooking practice, the trio has dedicated over a year of effort and thought into operating the barbershop. As Park Bo-gum expressed his desire to gift a 'magical' time through 'Bogum Magical,' the sincerity of the three brothers shines brighter with each episode as they meet the local residents.

The barbershop has become the village's official gathering place, where the trio shares laughter and tears with the residents, offering an unexpectedly strong sense of immersion. Reactions like "Watching Park Bo-gum cut hair made an hour fly by" prove the power of sincerity and 'good dopamine.' As a result, 'Bogum Magical' has entered the TOP 10 in the TV non-drama category of Good Data Corporation's FUNdex for seven consecutive weeks and maintained the top spot in target viewership ratings across all channels for four consecutive weeks. The program started with a 2.8% viewership rating on January 30 and has risen to 3.6% in the latest episode.

Airing every Sunday at 7:40 PM, 'After School Teacher Taeri' offers a unique dopamine experience through the heartfelt growth story of novice teachers Kim Tae-ri and Choi Hyun-wook. The two first-time teachers build special relationships with the Yongheung Elementary School drama club kids, delivering unexpected resonance. Kim Tae-ri builds relationships with sincerity, while Choi Hyun-wook charms with his friendly and kind demeanor, doing their best as novice teachers.

In the third episode, Kim Tae-ri, after much deliberation and considering the children's opinions, decided on the roles for the play. However, she faced the disappointment and frustration of Hyomin, who was assigned the role of the Scarecrow instead of Toto, and sincerely comforted her. Later, through a question note, Choi Hyun-wook also learned of Hyomin's true feelings, showing tears of regret and empathy during an interview, leaving a deep impression. The episodes depicting the growth of these clumsy yet sincere novice teachers resonate with viewers, earning praise on social media and proving the power of 'good dopamine' once again.

Amidst content filled with short and intense stimuli, 'Bogum Magical' and 'After School Teacher Taeri' are gaining popularity without causing fatigue. tvN's 'good' strategy continues with 'Ensemble.' Premiering on April 14 at 10:10 PM, the real documentary 'Ensemble' captures the miraculous 90-day journey of 31 children from 17 countries growing into a choir.

The 'Global Children's Choir Ensemble' is a music project where children from different cultures, languages, and backgrounds truly 'mingle' to create one voice. It promises to showcase a touching time where differences become 'special' rather than 'wrong.' Directed by Kim Moon-jung, known for leading major productions like 'Mamma Mia,' 'Les Misérables,' 'Rebecca,' and 'The Last Empress,' and Chae Mi-hyun, known for 'Anna Karenina' and 'Phantom,' the documentary is expected to deliver warm resonance with charismatic guidance and warm leadership, fostering the children's growth.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr