• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to look at web entertainment in terms of marketing and analyze how consumers in Korea and abroad feel about it. To this end, methods such as literature research, case studies, and consumer interviews were used. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows. First of all, through the case of "Run BTS," the web entertainment program actively reflects the needs of viewers on entertainment content by utilizing the unique interactions of web entertainment in terms of products. In terms of price, web entertainment operated a paid service that contained more diverse contents. However, the degree of satisfaction with paid services was different for each age group or income of viewers. In terms of distribution, web entertainment can position viewers much more clearly than conventional TV entertainment, has strong communication with viewers, and is relatively free from political conflict or censorship in overseas exports. Finally, in terms of public relations, web entertainment is promoted in various ways to fans who are the mainstay of existing viewers, but public relations for various viewers other than fans are relatively weak. Based on the above analysis, this paper proposed ways to improve consumers of web entertainment by region, customized marketing by age, professional window for consumers to directly express their opinions on content, and wide promotion through various media.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2021

The Korean girl group "Kara" has suffered the trilemma of its de facto failure to debut, the crisis of team breakup, and the CEO crisis of the agency. But the group has made an outstanding achievement in the history of Korean pop music after overcoming all odds. Their success strategy has never been disclosed by insiders involved in Kara's total music projects. This study has been carried out in the analysis of the strategy to provide academic implications and to honor the contribution of the late CEO Ho-yeon Lee and Kara's key member Ha-ra Gu. Therefore, between Nov. and Dec. 2020, we conducted in-depth interviews with managers, composers, stylists and Ha-ra Gu(Only in 2019, before her death) who took part in the project. The research model is set up by combining Porter's Competitive Advantage Strategy and the music value chain model into categories of "Product Innovation Differentiation (PD)" (producing, album production, performance activities) and "Marketing Differentiation (MD)" (market targeting, image specialization, promotion and communication). The analysis showed that the PD focused on complete rediscovered harmonization and revalued members' personality and sincerity with peppy songs and dainty dances as well as emission of "bright energy" which caused healing effects instead of mimicking other star singers recklessly. In terms of MD, they selected Japan's 10-20s as their main market, increasing intimacy with fans and media with the image of cute+pretty+classy+sexy. The result suggests that Poter's differentiation can function as a meaningful strategy frame in the fostering, hit, and revival of idol groups. In addition, it reaffirmed that spontaneous and passionate activities of early-stage or celebrity fan may serve as a valid catalyst for realizing differentiation, as Kara's caller of Japanese actor Gekidan Hitori caused a strong "priming effect" that drove Kara's unexpected wonderful success in Japan.