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'Huh Jun' Seriously Affecting Internet Traffic Flow

Published: 04 Jan. 2003, 18:57

'Huh Jun' is the most popular TV serial drama in Korea at the moment and has an audience rating of 60 percent. Now, Huh Jun is so popular that it is seriously affecting Internet businesses. The traffic (the number of hits on a web site) on Korean web sites decreases enormously during Huh Jun's air time, 9:55p.m. - 10:55 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

Traffic decreases by about 24 percent during Huh Jun's air time. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, however, when Huh Jun is not aired, traffic on Korean sites increases by about five percent.

The traffic on Internet shoppping malls also decreases significantly when Huh Jun goes on air. Internet shopping site 'Shopbinder' reports a consistent traffic 'flow,' except for when Huh Jun is on, at which time they receive 20 percent fewer hits.

One 'Shopbinder' representative said, "Traffic usually decreases a little during busy TV air times, but the way in which Huh Jun affects Internet traffic is unprecedented."

Helloasia.com representative Song Soo-jin added, "We thought it very strange that traffic decreased greatly at times when it was expected to increase. We concluded that this was due to a certain TV serial drama."

by Lee Seung-nyung