In the show ‘Director’s Arena,’ co-aired by ENA and Lifetime, judge Cha Tae-hyun finds himself in a flustered state due to an unexpected comment from a contestant.
‘Director’s Arena’ is Korea’s first short-drama director survival program, produced by Epic Storm and Lifetime. Since its premiere on the 15th, it has garnered significant attention, recording a 2.32% share among viewers aged 20 to 39 (according to Nielsen Korea), and is receiving praise for its unique format that highlights the directors’ directing skills and world-building.
In the second episode airing on the 22nd, 33 directors challenging short-form dramas will begin their first mission: “Complete a 90-second teaser.” A total of 70 people will participate in the judging process, including the “Five Stars” judging panel—Director Lee Byung-hun, Cha Tae-hyun, Jang Keun-suk, and Jang Do-yeon—along with the 33 participating directors and 34 “Short-drama Mania” subscribers. The judging works by pressing a “Stop” button the moment they lose interest in a video; if a participant receives more than 36 stops, they are immediately eliminated. In the first episode, actress Lee Yu-jin made headlines by ranking first as the first “NO stop” director.
This episode introduces director Lee Bum-gyu, a former actor and a strong contender for the win. He reveals a connection from 13 years ago, stating, “My role model is senior Cha Tae-hyun.” He adds, “I admire how he balances both work and family,” and continues, “I started acting after watching the movie My Sassy Girl because Cha Tae-hyun’s acting looked so natural that it seemed easy to challenge,” leaving the set in bursts of laughter. Cha Tae-hyun couldn’t hide his flustered expression, while Jang Keun-suk sparked more laughter by commenting, “I think that statement carries a lot of meaning.”
Director Lee Bum-gyu further piques curiosity by revealing he has personal connections with all four judges. While a story that even surprises Jang Keun-suk is set to be revealed, his work catches the eye with appearances by Cha Sun-woo, Dong Hyun-bae, and Na Hae-ryung. Lee Bum-gyu shares, “I wanted to create a short drama with a warm message and something to think about,” before unveiling his work.
Additionally, Park So-rang, known as the “Rank 1 Short-drama Director,” and Yeo Ha-ni, who gained attention for her unique determination, will present teaser videos that are described as high-impact. The judging panel was amazed by their works, and Cha Tae-hyun reacted enthusiastically while watching Director Park So-rang’s video. Fellow participant Lee Ju-seung also expressed admiration for Director Yeo Ha-ni’s visual style, noting that the quality is really great.
All eyes are on whether a work can capture the attention of viewers and judges in just 90 seconds. Episode 2 of ‘Director’s Arena’ will air simultaneously on ENA and Lifetime on the 22nd at 11 PM, and will also be available on OTT platforms TVING and Genie TV.
