(SBS)

Emperor Entertainment Korea -- a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Emperor Group -- will invest a hefty 10 billion won ($8.5 million) for the new Lee Young-ae drama, “Saimdang, the Herstory.”

Emperor Group is ranked among the 10 most profitable business groups in Hong Kong, spanning across finance, real estate, hotels and entertainment. The conglomerate is perhaps best known for producing and distributing films featuring the cream of the crop Chinese actors -- Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Andy Lau, Chow Yun-fat, Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse and more.

Its Korean arm EEK, established in 2014, was endowed with 110 billion won ($94 million) to invest in selective Korean entertainment contents, with aims to ride on the hallyu fever across China and Asia.

EEK’s chief Choi Joon-young said, “We will continue to boost killer contents -- our first project had been singer Anda, and the second one is drama “Saimdang.” We are pleased to once again rewrite the history of hallyu, together with the core members of the hallyu fever -- Lee Young-ae and Song Seung-heon.”

“Saimdang, the Herstory” will feature the life of a female cultural icon from Joseon Dynasty who is now the face on 50,000 won bills.
Lee will play the double role of painter-poet Saimdang and a modern day college art instructor. Song will play Saimdang’s artistic soulmate.

The drama is slated for release simultaneously in Korea, China, Japan in early 2016.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

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