[TF Focus] JTBC, Sale Intensifies... Will 'Final Table' Be a Game-Changer?

Corporate rehabilitation followed by full-scale sale... New drama to be released amidst management crisisAhn Hyo-seop, first chef challenge... First broadcast on the 24thJTBC, which is pursuing a sale following corporate rehabilitation proceedings, aims to turn the tide with the new weekend drama 'Final Table'. /SLL, B& Entertainment, Film Company Doo-joong[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] JTBC, facing a management crisis, has begun searching for a new owner. Following the default incident in June, corporate rehabilitation proceedings were initiated, and the sale process has now begun in earnest. Amidst this situation, JTBC is releasing the new drama 'Final Table' starring Ahn Hyo-seop. Attention is focused on whether it can turn the tide with this work.JTBC's weekend drama 'Final Table' (written and directed by Kim Do-hoon), which premieres on the 24th, is a drama that depicts the feast of spectacular food and incredible stories created by Korean chefs from around the world for the 'The Table: K Chef 2026' competition to select the best Korean chef. Actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Hong Hwa-yeon, and Jang Ryul are among the cast.Earlier, on June 12, JTBC faced a default incident when it failed to repay a 20.6 billion won liquidity loan by its maturity date. Subsequently, JTBC, along with its holding company JoongAng Holdings and affiliates Contentree JoongAng, Megabox JoongAng, and JoongAng P&I, filed for corporate rehabilitation one after another, intensifying the financial crisis.The impact of the management difficulties also extended to the broadcasting production sites. Payment of appearance fees for some entertainment programs was delayed. At the time, JTBC requested understanding from each agency regarding the delay in payment schedules and subsequently completed the payment of unpaid appearance fees and external production costs after court approval.JTBC supported the Autonomous Restructuring Support (ARS) process, where it voluntarily negotiated debt adjustment plans with creditors while the court reserved its decision on whether to initiate rehabilitation proceedings. During this process, JTBC stated, "We have reached the stage of fully normalizing program production and broadcasting, which had been somewhat unstable."However, JTBC ultimately proceeded with court-led rehabilitation proceedings. On August 28, the Seoul Rehabilitation Court decided to commence rehabilitation proceedings for JTBC. Accordingly, the ARS was terminated, and JTBC must submit a rehabilitation plan by January 29, 2027. However, the rehabilitation proceedings will proceed without appointing a separate administrator, maintaining the existing CEO system.Ahn Hyo-seop leads the drama as Kang Han, a Korean chef who trained overseas, in 'Final Table'. /SLL, B& Entertainment, Film Company Doo-joongSubsequently, on the 14th, JTBC confirmed Hanyoung Accounting Corporation as its sale manager, officially beginning the search for a new owner. JTBC stated, "Hanyoung Accounting Corporation has been confirmed as the sale advisor," and added, "We plan to proceed quickly with procedures such as announcing the sale in October, aiming for a sale before the approval of the rehabilitation plan."It further explained, "Starting with the sale announcement in October, the process will proceed in the order of receiving letters of intent, due diligence, and bidding. We plan to select a preferred bidder and complete the M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) before the rehabilitation plan is approved through the main contract and related court procedures."Hanyoung Accounting Corporation, the sale manager, predicted, "JTBC is a large-scale asset rarely seen in the domestic broadcasting and content market. Even before the sale process, multiple potential buyers have shown interest, and market interest is expected to increase further once the full process begins."In this context, 'Final Table' holds special significance as JTBC's first new weekend drama in a long time. This year, JTBC has achieved both viewership ratings and buzz with various works such as 'Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness', 'CEO, The New Employee', and 'Apartment'.Above all, Ahn Hyo-seop is at the center of the work. Having made a name for himself among domestic and international viewers through the 'Dr. Romantic' series and 'Business Proposal', he further expanded his global recognition by voicing Jinwoo in the Netflix animated film 'K-Pop: Demon Hunters'. After demonstrating his versatility in romance, medical dramas, and voice acting, he is now taking on his first chef character.Kang Han, played by Ahn Hyo-seop, is an overseas-trained Korean chef with outstanding culinary talent and an excellent sense of taste. With his family relationships and nationality shrouded in mystery, he travels the world, moving to different restaurants each year due to his restless spirit and free-spirited personality.'Final Table' will meet viewers on the 24th at 10:40 PM. /SLL, B& Entertainment, Film Company Doo-joongKang Han, who has a contract with a famous New York restaurant, is temporarily staying in Korea, enjoying a life of nature. However, while visiting 'Familia', a restaurant filled with memories of his father, he unexpectedly takes on the role of head chef and participates in a cooking survival competition. His decision to enter the competition, postponing his scheduled trip to the US, sparks curiosity about the hidden story behind it.Furthermore, the drama draws attention by incorporating the tension of a cooking survival into its narrative. While cooking-themed entertainment programs have garnered viewer interest, 'Final Table' is expected to showcase its competitiveness.Director Kim Do-hoon raised curiosity about 'Final Table', which will be completed with the production team's dedication, by saying, "I always told our chef and art teams, 'The food in this drama is not food that exists now, but food that will exist in the future. The chefs in this drama are not cooks, but cooking magicians.' This statement caused the staff a lot of hard work."Ahn Hyo-seop also hinted at a unique kind of fun, saying, "The dishes appearing in the drama are designed based on actual cooking processes and recipes, so if you're curious about a dish while watching, you might want to try making it at home."In this way, JTBC is making a new gamble in the living room while simultaneously seeking a new owner. Attention is focused on whether 'Final Table', which features Ahn Hyo-seop's first chef challenge and the theme of cooking survival, can provide an opportunity to turn the tide amidst the management crisis.'Final Table', consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on the 24th at 10:40 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]