Cultural Production Domo, a Korea-based enterprise that conducts various projects to promote Korean culture to the world, is setting up shop in Cebu City by January 2023. Called “White Hands”, Domo will be establishing a performing arts & cultural center using Korean performing arts technology and K-culture, combined with local artists in Cebu.
Riding on the resurgence of tourism in Cebu and the Hallyu (Korean) wave in the country through the spread of Korean culture through music, television dramas and dance, Domo will be opening a dance studio and conduct various cultural and art lessons for its members, while producing creative performances with local artists.
Domo was one of five Korean startups in the arts and culture sector selected by the Korean government that gave online pitch presentations during the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) Investor Relations Day organized by Singapore-based Meet Ventures on November 8. Meet Ventures is a consultancy firm comprised of former VCs, program directors, consultants and startup CXOs that specializes in running startup accelerators and market access programs.
Ha Jun Hyung, Domo’s Executive Director who led the presentation, highlighted the opportunity to help make Cebu a more vibrant tourist destination by providing more evening entertainment options other than the usual dinner shows at resort, hotels, bars and clubs. Hyung said, “In Cebu there is not much evening entertainment, no tour programs for families. We want to be the only night tourism attraction in Cebu, a top tourist destination, with musical performances featuring locals as actors, utilizing Korean content combined with local themes like the famous battle of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu.
Hyung also cited the challenges of limited entry points for talents and unstable income for artists. “We want to establish a studio where artists can grow and thrive, combined with our directing skills and technology.”
Domo’s objective is to attract around 500 spectators in Cebu every day, for 250 days of performance a year. This attendance level has the potential to generate $2.5 million in revenue, according to Domo that will rely on its marketing efforts to drive online and offline ticket sales.
To make this happen, Domo has already built a solid network in Cebu, collaborating with the Cebu City government, the Lapu-Lapu City government, Sinulog Foundation, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, University of Cebu, Junjet’s Productions, Excel Events Concepts and Knapsack Dancers.
Going Global Support Program 2022 is the accelerating program organized by KAMS, a government agency in South Korea. This year, partnering with YSK Partners and Awesome Ventures, KAMS seeks to support Korean Arts Startups to increase their sales performance in Southeast Asia and attract the region’s investment by providing IR opportunities to local investors and supporting conference/market participation for local promotions.
DOMO, which started as a theater company in 2000, has transformed into a cultural and social enterprise, and is conducting various cultural projects across the country through its productions and performances. In addition to supporting local festivals through the expansion of cultural projects in the 2010s, DOMO has created a framework for cultural tourism that connects art and tourism.