An unusual cold snap has hit Laos bringing cold season temperatures during what is usually one of the hottest months of the year.
Australia Welcomes Vietnamese Workers Under Farm Visa Scheme
The Australian Agriculture Visa Program will be offering visas to around 1,000 Vietnamese agricultural workers under a new agreement between Vietnam and Australia.
Hong Kong Company New Generation Technology Aims to Promote the Landing and Popularization of NFT
By Demystifying the Market of NFT to Galvanize Individuals and Traditional Businesses with Extending Marketing Creativity
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 2 April 2022 – In 2021, with the hefty popularity of burgeoning concepts such as blockchain and metaverse, Non-fungible Tokens (“NFTs”) have swept the global market and become the new favorite of avant-garde players in the digital asset universe. Thanks to its three distinctive attributes of rarity, indivisibility and uniqueness, NFT has been repurposed to a newfangled technical carrier, which not only endows artworks with rareness, but also ensures that their ownership cannot be compromised, while conducting secured and traceable transactions. Numerous luxury brands, celebrities and artists have launched NFTs linked to their products or works, the hotspots have constantly proliferated in the corresponding market.
Nowadays, a considerable stereotype towards NFT exists in the public. Many people deem it a dingus that is exclusively proprietary to high-end players, which requires extremely solid capital background and professional knowledge as pivot. Coupled with the lack of in-depth perception of the underlying logic of emerging concepts such as cryptocurrency or the metaverse, most believe that NFTs are unattainable, not full-fledged and credible enough, leave aside the intention to promote it as a proper investment tool to the ordinary people. In this regard, Mr. Francis Leung, CEO of New Generation Technology (“NGT” or “Company”), stated, “What NGT wants to achieve most is to abate this type of market myths, so that NFT circulations can make a leap from niche subject to mainstream and turn into a trend.”
NGT devotes to the research and practice of various blockchain and NFT related cutting-edge technologies, such as ERC721A, the technique which can significantly save the “Gas Fee”, namely the minting cost of NFT, the Company’s tech team has already mastered it deftly. Meanwhile, to avoid malicious speculation and financial scams, the Company has also developed a strict screening system to complete cooperation procedures. Mr. Francis Leung added, “We are at the forefront in terms of technology, so it is particularly crucial to review and sift our partnerships. We must optimize strategy formulation and contract creation to nip the problems in the bud. The Company’s vision is to realize the combination of NFT and traditional business, as well as help individuals and enterprises to expand their marketing coups. We believe that popularized NFTs have their evolution space. Collectors and creators do not have to become celebrities or tycoons to be eligible to enter the world of NFTs, metaverse or Web3.0. Any individual, personalized community or organization should be capable to issue their own NFTs, thus, the existence of NGT is to provide reliable and first-rate technical support for them, and to empower all valuable content with surefooted and pragmatic NFT technology.”
About New Generation Technology (NGT)
Established in 2019, New Generation Technology (NGT) is a one-stop NFT project launcher headquartered in Hong Kong. Its expertise team consists of technical adepts keen on the tactics of cryptocurrency and Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs), in a bid to facilitate the feasibility of NFT in traditional industries. By providing technical know-how and contract creation services to owners with unique product portfolios, NGT specializes in minting and marketing exclusive NFTs for them, then launching to the market for secured and prudent circulation and turnovers, fueling the materialization of the value of digital assets still further.
For more information, please visit nftlauncherhk.com or email business@nftlauncherhk.com.
#NewGenerationTechnology #NGT
Laos Confirms 2,665 New Cases of Covid-19
Laos has recorded 2,665 cases of Covid-19 across the country today.
Schoolchildren Overboard as Ferryboat Goes Down in Champasack Province
A ferryboat carrying schoolchildren across the Mekong River capsized in Champasack Province yesterday, highlighting the need for safer routes for children.
Japanese Artist’s Sketches of Hakka Impressions Hit Bookstores in Taiwan, Japan
Amigos Koike’s Works Illustrate Hakka Vitality
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 1 April 2022 – Taiwan Hakka Sketchbook, a collection of works by renowned Japanese illustrator Amigos Koike while serving as a resident artist in seven Hakka townships along Provincial Highway 3, was published in Taiwan and Japan in March.

The book has its origins in 2019 when the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC), with a view to promoting the international visibility of the said cluster of Hakka communities along one of the most important thoroughfares in this country, invited the Japanese illustrator to become an artist-in-residence there. A Gunma Prefecture (Gunma-ken) native, Amigos Koike has worked as a freelance illustrator contributing to books, magazines, and ads since 1988. Over the course of his 21-day stay in Taiwan in 2019, he came up with more than 280 sketch and watercolor illustrations of the scenery, flowers, and people of the Hakka communities along Provincial Highway 3. After returning to his home country, he presented these works in a number of exhibitions to make Taiwan’s Hakka townships better known to more Japanese.
The publication of Taiwan Hakka Sketchbook took more than one year of meticulous preparations as the HAC put together the Japanese illustrator’s wonderfully conceived works and complemented them with texts fitting for his Hakka experience. Yo Kimiko, a multiple Japan Academy Film Prize winner whose father is a Hakka Taiwanese, was invited to write the preface to the book that extends a welcome to more Japanese to come to Taiwan and experience the Hakka culture and way of life in Hakka communities. To learn more about this latest publication, please go to the link Taiwan Hakka Sketchbook.
#HakkaAffairsCouncil
Plastic Waste Causing Serious Environmental, Health and Economic Impacts in Laos

Residential waste generation has doubled in Laos over the last two decades, leading to critical environmental and public health issues.
Spackman Media Group Artist Son Ye-Jin’s K-Drama, 39, Breaks Its Own Highest Record In Audience Rating In Korea
- Spackman Media Group flagship artist Son Ye-jin’s JTBC K-drama, 39, recorded its highest audience rating of 8.9% for its last episode, according to Nielsen Korea
- The JTBC K-drama ranked as #1 most watched content on OTT in Korea and 8th top Netflix TV shows worldwide in March
- Represented by MSteam of Spackman Media Group, Son Ye-jin previously starred in tvN’s drama, CRASH LANDING ON YOU, which achieved massive record-breaking viewership success in Korea and Japan
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 1 April 2022 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that highly popular K-drama, 39, headlined by Son Ye-jin of MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (“MSteam“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“), broke its own highest record in audience rating in Korea for its last episode, which was aired yesterday.
Son Ye-jin is one of the flagship artists of Spackman Media Group and was ranked #1 in the brand reputation of drama actors in Korea in February 2022, based on the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute.
The JTBC K-drama, 39, was ranked as #1 most watched content on OTT in Korea and 8th top Netflix TV shows worldwide last month.
Directed by Kim Sang-ho of RUN ON (2020) and written by Yoo Young-ah of ENCOUNTER (2018) & KIM JI YOUNG, BORN IN 1982 (2019), 39 is a 12-episode drama about the romance and everyday lives of three friends who are on the verge of turning 40. Son Ye-jin plays the role of a 39 year-old dermatologist, who was born and raised by wealthy parents and presently works at her own clinic in Gangnam, Seoul.
Son Ye-jin’s previous tvN K-drama, CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2019), achieved massive record-breaking viewership success in Korea and became a top hit in Japan, attaining #1 on Japan’s Netflix for four months. The K-drama was one of the top 10 Most Watched Netflix Shows in the United States. Son Ye-jin was awarded the Hallyu Drama Best Actress Award at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards for her role in CRASH LANDING ON YOU.
Her recent films include BE WITH YOU (2018), THE NEGOTIATION (2018) and THE LAST PRINCESS (2016), all of which were invested by the Group and/or Spackman Media Group.
Previously, Son Ye-jin was selected as the brand ambassador for US skin care brand Skinceuticals and as luxury fashion brand Valentino’s muse. She was also the face of Crocodile’s woman apparel and Smart Communications Inc., a leading telecommunications service provider in the Philippines.
Other than Son Ye-jin, MSteam also represents internationally recognized actor Wi Ha-jun of SQUID GAME and top actress Lee Min-jung, who won the Top Excellence Award at the 2020 APAN Star Awards.
About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited
Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea.
The Company was founded in 2011 by media and technology investor Charles Spackman who served as the Company’s Executive Chairman until 2017. For the past two decades, Mr. Charles Spackman has been a powerhouse in the Korean entertainment industry starting in the early 2000’s with the pioneering success of Sidus Pictures, the largest movie production company at the time and the first to be listed in Korea. Mr. Spackman is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the global investment firm, Spackman Group. For more information, please visit http://www.charlesspackman.com
Since its founding, SEGL had produced more than 30 major motion pictures including a number of the highest grossing and award-winning films in Korea, namely #ALIVE (2020), CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER (2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), SNOWPIERCER (2013), COLD EYES (2013) and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012).
Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. Generally, we release our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.
The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.
Production Labels
SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information, please visit http://novusmediacorp.com
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release GUARDIAN (working title) in 2022 tentatively.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.
The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.
Talent Representation
The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-hyun, Lee Cho-hee, Park Keun-rok), UAA&CO Inc. (Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Hye-ri, Kim Ji-young, Wang Ji-won), Play Content Co., Ltd. (Kang Min-ji, Hwang-hwi) and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Baek Si-won, Shin Ji-woong). Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company. For more information, please visit http://www.spackmanmediagroup.com
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.
Strategic Businesses
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Frame Pictures Co., Ltd. (“Frame Pictures“). Frame Pictures is a leader in the movie/drama equipment leasing business in Korea. Established in 2014, Frame Pictures has worked with over 25 top directors and provided the camera and lighting equipment some of Korea’s most notable drama and movie projects including ITAEWON CLASS (2020), HOW TO BUY A FRIEND (2020), KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982 (2019), FOUR MEN (2019) and ASADAL CHRONICLES (2019).
We also operate a café-restaurant, Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.
For more details, please visit http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/
#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.