Star producer Han Dong-chul launches his own production company

An image shows producer Han Dong-chul who created a series of hit audition programs on cable channel Mnet, including the successful "Produce 101" series. [FUNKY STUDIO]

Han Dong-chul, the producer behind several hit audition programs on cable channel Mnet, announced Monday that he's established his own production company called “Funky Studio.”

The one-man company says it is currently in talks for three audition programs.

Producer Han created various popular audition shows including the “Produce 101” series (2016-19), “Show Me the Money” (2012-20) and “Unpretty Rapstar” (2015-16). Han is known for his infamous “devil’s editing,” an editing technique which dramatizes and exaggerates scenes in order to boost ratings.

Han was questioned as a witness in 2019 and 2020 during the Mnet vote manipulation scandal, after producers of “Produce 101” were accused of rigging votes to favor certain members during the audition process.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]