"Personal Taste" already stirring Asia

New MBC TV series "Personal Taste" is already stirring Korea and Asia since its premiered last night, according to Korea's major broadcaster MBC on Thursday.

MBC said in a press release that the show is already receiving inquiries about overseas broadcasting copyrights and has been sold at "unprecedented prices" to several countries in Asia including Hong Kong and Thailand.

"Sales inquiries are pouring in from Japan and China, the biggest markets for the Hallyu," explained an official at Victory Production Company, who produces the drama. "It is expected to be sold at the highest price in the history of Korean dramas."

Meanwhile, many fans from Japan, China and other Asian countries are reportedly visiting the set to watch and support the show's lead actor Lee Min-ho. Some 50 Japanese fans showed up at the press conference for "Taste", held March 25 in Seoul.

Local fans are showing a lot of support for the show as well -- fan clubs of Lee and actress Son Ye-jin visited the set with food and clothes for the cast and crew.

"Taste", based on a novel of the same title by Korean writer Lee Se-in, is about a man pretending to be a homosexual in order to become roommates with a woman who wants to live with a gay male friend.

According to daily statistics released by research firm AGB Nielsen Media, the Wednesday/Thursday drama made a solid debut on the small screen last night with a viewership rating of 13.8 percent.

The second episode airs tonight on SBS.

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr