A team from Globo TV’s current affairs program “Fantástico,” led by reporter Estevan Muniz, visited South Korea for two weeks in early May. (Image courtesy of the Brazilian Korean Association)
SEOUL, Jul. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Globo TV, Brazil’s largest television network, has embarked on a special series to uncover the secrets behind the surging popularity of Korean culture, known as the “Hallyu” or Korean Wave, across various domains including K-pop, Korean cuisine, dramas, and films.
According to reports from the Korean-Brazilian community on July 24, a team from Globo TV’s current affairs program “Fantástico,” led by reporter Estevan Muniz, visited South Korea for two weeks in early May. The team traversed Seoul, capturing footage and conducting interviews with key figures in the Korean Wave movement to better understand its impact on Brazilian culture.
Reporter Estevan Muniz (Image courtesy of the Brazilian Korean Association)
“Fantástico,” a longstanding program that has been on air for over 50 years, ranked fourth in viewership ratings in Brazil last year, underscoring its significant reach and influence.
The first installment of the series, focusing on K-pop, aired on July 21 local time. Subsequent episodes are scheduled for July 28, delving into Korean cuisine, and August 4, exploring Korean films and dramas.
The Brazilian Korean Association assisted the reporting team during their visit, while Alex Yoo (Korean name Yoo Kang-hee), CEO of Soapbox and host-producer of “Gyopodcast,” a podcast targeting the Korean community in Brazil, provided consulting services including script production.
Kim Beom-jin (Bruno Kim), president of the Brazilian Korean Association, noted a shift in local attitudes: “With the recent spotlight on the Korean Wave, there’s been a noticeable change in how Brazilian media actively seeks opinions and advice from the Korean community.” He added, “As members of the diaspora, we feel a sense of respect and consideration, which is truly gratifying.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
