[Interview①] CP Park Jin-kyung "No 'Ants Go Dum Dum' Without Noh Hong-chul, Will Expand IP"

'Ants Keep Going Today' Interview with CP Park Jin-kyung

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "Noh Hong-chul read the proposal for 'Ants Are Busy Today Too' and said 'Let's do it together' within five minutes. It is hard to explain the expanding 'Ttun Ttun' world without Noh Hong-chul."

Park Jin-kyung, CP (Chief Producer) who created the popular KakaoTV variety show 'Ants Are Busy Today Too,' credited broadcaster Noh Hong-chul as the key contributor.

In a video interview with Asia Economy on the 10th, Park Jin-kyung CP said, "There was a lot of 고민 (concern) about presenting the challenging topic of stock investment as a variety show," and expressed satisfaction, saying, "Now, among the 20s and 30s generation, it seems no one is unaware of the program's name."

KakaoTV original 'Ants Are Busy Today Too' is a full-fledged practical stock investment show that covers everything from A to Z to help viewers wisely invest in stocks, which have become hot in the ultra-low interest rate era. It provided useful information for healthy stock investment amid cheerful laughter.

Broadcasters Noh Hong-chul, Jang Dong-min, Kim Jong-min, DinDin, Mijoo, and other rookie investor ants compete in practical stock investment under the guidance of mentor team Kim Pro (Kim Dong-hwan) and Shuka (Jeon Seok-jae) in a unique format. The show aired over five seasons from September 2020 to the 30th of last month, accumulating 80 million views and gaining love.

On this day, Park Jin-kyung CP confessed, "It was challenging to figure out how to handle stock investment as the theme in a variety show that should bring laughter. I also worried about how long we could sustain such a concept."

He added, "The initial intention was for the 20s and 30s generation, who are new to investing, to gain information and ideas through the broadcast. It seems the goals of delivering both information and laughter have been achieved," nodding in agreement.

Park CP also said, "Although ratings are not precisely measured like in broadcasting companies, there was a sense of impact. It was supplied through various platforms, and it seems no one in their 20s and 30s is unaware of the show's name. While the responses that it is fun were good, the most memorable feedback was that it was very helpful."

Regarding the background of planning 'Ants Are Busy Today Too,' Park Jin-kyung CP said, "Rather than focusing on losing and gaining money through stocks, I wanted to produce it with the intention of telling young people in their 20s and 30s who have just become interested in stock investment, 'Know at least this much before investing.'" He added, "It was also meaningful that it was the first digital platform to be nominated for the Baeksang Arts Awards."

Why did the series conclude with season 5? Park CP said, "Broadcasting companies always have pressure to keep scheduling times, and MBC's 'My Little Television' also aired about 20 episodes over roughly half a year. I wanted to adjust the pace, and since it is a digital platform, it was possible to take breaks."

He continued, "Within season 5, I think we covered beginner-level investment skills and knowledge to some extent. We will not return for season 6, but we will definitely come back with a topic that continues the 'Ttun Ttun' IP (intellectual property), even if it is not about stocks."

The 'Ttun Ttun' universe can be expanded and transformed with various stories by changing the theme. Regarding this, Park Jin-kyung CP emphasized, "'Ant' borrows the meaning referring to individual investors," and "'Ttun Ttun' was borrowed from a word in an animation song lyric and can be interpreted in various ways."

He added, "Among many stories, we chose the theme connected to stock investors, ants. It would be a waste to give up the cast combination of 'Ants Are Busy Today Too.' I don't know which direction it will take, but I want to keep the item 'money' that fits the platform's characteristics. We are planning new stories using the name 'Ttun Ttun' by expanding the theme of making money instead of ants."

Photo by Kakao, FNC Entertainment

Noh Hong-chul himself comes across as content. His image as a variety entertainer who openly revealed his stock market failures during MBC's variety show 'Infinite Challenge' and brought great laughter seems to have expanded through 'Ants Are Busy Today Too.'

Through the show, the newly coined term 'Hongban-kkul,' meaning 'If you do the opposite of Noh Hong-chul, it's honey (sweet),' brought great laughter and variety entertainment fun. Park Jin-kyung CP said, "The program started with Noh Hong-chul," and "When I wondered who to talk about stocks with, only Noh Hong-chul came to mind."

"I went to recruit Noh Hong-chul, and a very rare thing happened. He read the proposal for 'Ants Are Busy Today Too' right where he sat and replied 'Let's do it together' within five minutes. When Noh Hong-chul finds content that suits him, he immerses himself more than anyone else. While recording together, I thought, 'Can anyone immerse this much?' It is hard to discuss 'Ttun Ttun' without Noh Hong-chul. If we plan programs related to 'Ttun Ttun' in the future, he will definitely be involved."

To be continued in Interview②.

Photo = Kakao

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.