Korean series Full House has been remade four times in four languages — Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai. Here, a decade after the original South Korean version was released in 2004, Pirat “Mike” Nitipaisalkul and Sushar “Aom” Manaying have eclipsed Rain and Song Hye-kyo in their stardom.
The Thai remake of Full House has gained international attention, the two actors establishing a large fan base not just in Thailand but in China and Taiwan. Just last month, Mike performed at the Top Chinese Music Awards, the Chinese equivalent of the Grammys, to a crowd of screaming fans.
Beyond their talents and good looks, much of this international fame is credited to the globalisation of mass media.
A lot has changed in the nine years since the historical series Dae Jang Geum (showing in Thailand in 2005) first placed South Korea on the map. Dae Jang Geum, preceding Full House by just about a year, took Asia by storm around the turn of the millennium, sparking widespread interest in Korea and its culture.
And a decade later, the so-called “Korean Wave” has become not just a surging tsunami of trend but something firmly established in pop-culture. At the time, viewers still watched television programmes on television and DVDs, or even VCDs. Today, with the internet, YouTube channels and the like, Korean dramas, complete with subtitles, have become increasingly accessible — just a click away. Most recently, Korean dramas have been even been picked up by Western online streaming media such as Netflix and Hulu, allowing viewers from across the globe to binge-watch these series without ever having to leave their couches. But how did Korean dramas first find a place in Thailand where countless local series aired every day?
“Korean dramas portray a fantasy. They draw viewers in by creating this enchanting dream,” says Dittaya Piyapan, a Silpakorn University student majoring in Korean. Dittaya has been a Korea fanatic since high school. Korean pop music and dramas have fuelled her desire to understand the Korean language and culture. Many of her classmates chose the same path for similar reasons. The impact of Korean dramas here goes beyond transient fandom. It is the introduction of a whole new culture.
“Firstly, the Asian descent serves as an important link,” says Dittaya, “But what really drew me in was the portrayal of love. It is what people hope for in real life, even if we know it’s often too good and romantic to be true.” The stories are heartwarming modern-day fairy tales.
The rom-com formula depicts the experiences the viewers desire and Korean dramas pursue the theme of perennial true love. The proximity of social values between Korean and Thai culture makes these series even more relatable — love is depicted in the form of emotional affection rather than physical contact. (Read any interviews about the Thai version of Full House and you’d likely find Mike or Aom questioned about whether the kiss between them was “real”.)
“Korean dramas are also a sort of propaganda. They speak to gender roles in society, and depict what women want,” adds Dittaya, explaining why these series largely attract female viewers. The characters, both male and female, often possess idealistic qualities aspired to by viewers who inevitably identify with the situations or characters through the process of watching.
“The relationships are believable. In Korean dramas, the supporting actor is often more well-off, whether in terms of wealth or appearance, than the male lead. But the budding relationship between the male and female lead is always a result of time spent together, of a growing chemistry,” says Gan Cheewasat, who teaches new media to university students and has a profound interest in Korean dramas. These relationships are nurtured by time and effort.
Both Gan and Dittaya emphasise the fact that depth of character is what distinguishes Korean dramas from Thai dramas. “The selling point is not just the stars, but also the plotline,” Gan says. The characters are ambiguous — each has his and her own back stories, which develop through the progression of the shows.
“The antagonists actually affect the plots, unlike in Thai dramas in which the antagonists are presented one-dimensionally,” Dittaya adds.
The commercial success of the Thai Full House, for Gan, is fully credited to the performance of Mike and Aom and their on-air chemistry.
“I don’t think many people would really compare the two versions. There is also a generational gap. People who were obsessed with Rain 10 years ago are likely of a different generation than people who are now obsessed with Mike,” he says.
The evolving media trends also play a huge role in its success internationally. “The phenomenon of subtitles created by fans has made foreign TV series much more widely accessible,” Gan observes. Fans fluent in various languages add subtitles to these series before uploading them on YouTube and other websites. “These subtitles are created by fans who do it just because they love the series, not for profit.” The subtitled versions are made available as quickly as within two days of the aired premiere, depending on the level of reception of the series. This goes for Korean to English or Thai as well as to Chinese.
Years ago, the Korean Full House was first distributed through Channel 7, a single channel of distribution. The Thai remake, on the other hand, has been aired on TrueVision cable, can be watched online, and through mobile apps. This accessibility has greatly influenced the growing international crossover and commercial success of foreign series.
Taking a moment with Mike
Pirat “Mike” Nitipaisalkul walked into the interview in a meeting room in Channel 3 Maleenont’s building in aviator shades, holding a gun — plastic, luckily — and also as if he’s holding a grudge. He’s just finished filming a scene for an upcoming TV series. He maintains a sternness rivalling Kristen Stewart. But Mike really has plenty of reasons to smile.
At 24, he has a heavyweight resume of numerous awards, chart-topping albums, TV dramas and movie roles, as well as certain questionable haircuts and gossip rumours. This year, he starred in the remake of Full House, earning him international fame and a growing fan base in China, intensifying the spotlight on him back here in Thailand. A campaign video to promote Full House stars his tan, baby-oiled rock-hard six-pack. Maybe it’s not too preposterous to assume his stage name Mike D’Angelo was inspired by D’Angelo’s [Untitled] How Does it Feel? music video.
Plunging into the entertainment business at the age of 11 following in the footsteps of his older siblings, Sand and Bank, Mike rose to fame with his brother Golf with their pop single Bounce around November 2005. Mike was 16 then. The duo achieved international fame at the time.
Now, less than a decade later, much has changed, except for Mike’s level of fame — he continues to have a stronghold in the entertainment market.
“There have been ups and downs. When I started, I didn’t know anything about the entertainment business. I’ve learned everything from my experience.
"Now, I’ve started working in the background,” he says, answering questions with a mixture of detachment and an air of practise not surprising for a grown child star burdened with the premature onset of adulthood.
Mike’s been getting involved in the production side of things, being responsible for the soundtrack, the music video and styling for Full House. He writes many of his own songs now, explaining that it wasn’t until he started going solo — a decision by his label when he was 18 — that he started discovering himself and what he wanted.
“I’m swamped with work these days. It’s difficult to be shuffling around queues all the time and trying to make a slot to fit in time for myself,” says Mike, counting the rare full day off as a fluke. Mike is still in school, taking time off from Chulalongkorn University. He values education and college serves as a place to socialise when his work robs him of a private life.
“I’m always meeting new people, but friendships were on and off. It’s hard to find the chance to get close to people but I’ve come to learn that happiness comes from your heart. If you think too much, if you are constantly paranoid about how others perceive you, you won’t be happy,” he says.
For now, Mike is focusing on acting, especially in TV series. He talks of possibilities in music internationally. And there are many possibilities for this young star in the long future ahead.
