Most Popular
-
1
[AtoZ into Korean mind] Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what's funny and not
-
2
Yoon seeks rebound, taps 5-term lawmaker as chief of staff
-
3
Medical standoff deepens as doctors reject new med school plan, talks
-
4
[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
-
5
[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
-
6
[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
-
7
S. Korean envoys convene to navigate strategy amid Middle East tensions
-
8
North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles into sea: JCS
-
9
Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
-
10
Samsung, SK hynix investors dump shares on Nvidia crash
-
Song Joong-ki to star in new JTBC drama
Actor Song Joong-ki is to star in the new JTBC drama “Youngest Son of Sunyang Family” (working title), the local cable channel JTBC said Tuesday. The drama is an adaptation of a web novel of the same title, and is a thriller and fantasy tale. Song will first appear as the top conglomerate Sunyang family’s personal secretary, who is put in charge of managing the family‘s financial risks and problems. Despite his devotion and loyalty to the family, the secretary, Yun H
July 20, 2021
-
Surging COVID-19 infections disrupt S. Korean entertainment scene
The South Korean entertainment scene is suffering a setback in the production of TV shows as the fourth wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic sweeps nearly every sector of the country. Last week, global media giant Netflix suspended the production of its original series "The Bride Of Black" for two weeks as actress Cha Ji-yeon tested positive for the virus. Her case also affected the stage musicals "Red Book" and "Gwanghwamun Sonata," as the actress is currently
July 13, 2021
-
Releases of video content increase in H1 amid protracted pandemic
The number of video content evaluated by the local media rating authority increased more than 80 percent in the first half of this year from a year ago amid the protracted novel coronavirus pandemic, data showed Thursday. The Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB) reviewed 6,784 shows for online streaming platforms and video-on-demand services in the first six months of 2021, up 81.3 percent from the same period last year, according to the data by the KMRB. A total of 1,674 films were evaluated by th
July 8, 2021
-
COVID-19 resurgence halts entertainment industry
The COVID-19 pandemic is once again standing in the way of the South Korean entertainment industry, as the coronavirus and its more contagious delta variant slash through the nation. Local broadcaster KBS is on alert as Lee Kun-jun, a producer at the KBS drama department, has tested positive for the virus. Lee is believed to have been in close contact with a cast member on June 29 and was informed the following day that person had been confirmed with the virus. He immediately went into self
July 7, 2021
-
‘Paik Jong-won Class’ serves up Korean dishes with a twist
Star chef Paik Jong-won is casting his net yet wider, with a show aimed at introducing Korean cooking to an international audience. “Paik Jong-won Class,” also starring Korean singer Sung Si-kyung, invites “trainees” from across the world to learn Korean recipes. Most of the participants have no culinary background, but the team behind the show hopes they will put their own spin on the dishes, giving Korean viewers new ideas to try out in the kitchen as well as an intr
June 29, 2021
-
Korean creators in high demand in global content productions
Thanks to the growing global presence of South Korean content through online streaming platforms, the world's entertainment industry is wooing Korean professionals who are behind big-name films and TV series. Not only screenwriters and directors who have come into the spotlight for their global hits like Netflix originals "Sweet Home" (2020) and "Space Sweepers" (2021) but also experts in post-production jobs like poster designing, color grading and visual effects are also i
June 23, 2021
-
K-dramas face challenges in transnational streaming era
As more and more viewers around the world watch South Korean dramas on streaming platforms, the industry faces critical challenges that must be met if it is to continue to expand overseas. In an era of transnational streaming, cultural sensitivity has become an issue for content creators around the world. Korea is no exception, and Korean dramas have drawn criticism in recent weeks for racial and cultural stereotypes. The producers of two popular SBS TV dramas, “Penthouse 3&rdquo
June 21, 2021
-
‘Hospital Playlist 2’ records highest first episode viewership rating in tvN history
The second season of hit medical drama series “Hospital Playlist” got off to an auspicious start Thursday, recording the highest first-episode viewership rating in tvN history. Thursday night’s episode recorded an average viewership rating of 10 percent, according to Nielsen ratings, making it the first tvN drama series to chart double-digit ratings on day one, as it reached as high as 12.4 percent at its peak. The TV drama written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho
June 18, 2021
-
Govt. pushes for self-rating system for online streaming releases
The culture ministry on Monday unveiled a plan to introduce a self-rating system for online video streaming service providers so they can shorten the time needed to circulate new releases. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will propose a law revision to allow video content service providers to evaluate and classify their soon-to-be-released series and shows, based on criteria set by the state-run Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB). Currently, all motion pictures and creative wor
June 7, 2021
-
Netflix to release special episode of 'Kingdom' series next month
A special episode of Netflix's popular original Korean series "Kingdom" will be released next month, the US streaming media service said Friday. "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" will be released July 23 as a "sidequel" to the global Korean zombie sensation "Kingdom" (2019) and "Kingdom Season 2" (2020), according to Netflix. It tells the backstory of the resurrection plant, or "saengsacho" in Korean, which causes a mysterious plague that
June 4, 2021
-
S. Korean drama productions enter US market with co-production, acquisition
Two major South Korean drama productions are entering the US market through joint production and corporate acquisition, as Korean shows are enjoying increasing popularity around the world via online video steaming services. Studio Dragon said Tuesday it has agreed to co-produce a drama series with US company Skydance Television for Apple TV+. JTBC Studios said it signed an agreement to acquire US television and film studio Wiip on Monday. Studio Dragon is affiliated with CJ ENM, the nation's
June 1, 2021
-
CJ ENM hopes to become ‘Asia’s Marvel’ in streaming wars
Media giant CJ ENM has earmarked 5 trillion won ($4.49 billion) for content creation over the next five years to boost growth of its streaming platform Tving. The Korean company has also set its sights on becoming a worldwide leader in the entertainment industry, it said Monday. “We will establish a sound IP creating system and infrastructure, so we have decided to inject more money into creating content,” CJ ENM CEO Kang Ho-Sung said during a press event held in Sangam-dong, Seou
May 31, 2021
-
[Herald Interview] Lee Je-hoon on what is left behind after death
For an actor, it would be an honor to leave behind a collection of works someday, Lee Je-hoon, 36, said. Of all the steps in Lee’s 14-year acting career, Lee said he was the most nervous about the recent release of Netflix original series “Move to Heaven.” He stars in the series as Sang-gu, an ex-convict who works as a “trauma cleaner,” cleaning up crime and accident scenes and organizing the belongings of the deceased. “I was the most nervous about this
May 25, 2021
-
Comedian Yoo Jae-suk, film director Lee Joon-ik win top prize at Baeksang Arts Awards
Korean comedian Yoo Jae-suk and Lee Joon-ik, the director of period film “Book of Fish,” won the grand prizes in the TV and film categories respectively at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. This year’s award ceremony took place at Kintex exhibition hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Thursday night and it was hosted by comedian Shin Dong-yup and singer-actress Suzy. Yoo, the winner of this year’s TV categories’ grand prize, was recognized for hosting multiple suc
May 14, 2021
-
SBS programs win Remi awards at Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival
Five TV programs including a drama series and a documentary produced by network broadcaster SBS received Remi Awards at the 54th Annual Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival. Founded in 1968, the annual film festival is the third-oldest film festival in the US. Past winners include Steven Spiellberg, the Coen brothers, Ang Lee and John Lee Hancock. The film festival ran April 16-25 in Huston. SBS television drama “Hot Stove League” and documentary “Anywhere & N
May 5, 2021
-
Lee Kwang-soo to step away from 'Running Man' after 11 years
Lee Kwang-soo, a core member of the long-running popular TV show "Running Man," will step away from the program after 11 years, his management agency said Tuesday. The 35-year-old actor-entertainer will film his last episode for the show on May 24, KingKong by Starship said. According to the agency, Lee has been having trouble playing his role on the show due to an injury he suffered from a car accident last year, though he has been doing physical therapy. Lee decided to take some t
April 27, 2021
-
KOCCA to support media content exports
The Korea Creative Content Agency on Thursday announced plans to expand support for local companies hoping to export and promote media content overseas. “The KOCCA has been conducting diverse online projects that reflect different demands to support the local industry that cannot continue their offline businesses due to COVID-19,” KOCCA official Lee Do-hyung said in a statement. “Through online support programs, we will further diversify the current exporting markets and hold
April 24, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] Seo Yea-ji stares down controversy yet again
Controversy surrounding actor Seo Yea-ji has continued to mount, as more allegations of bullying have surfaced, despite denials from her agency in an official statement. An alleged staffer that used to work with the actress posted on an online portal early Wednesday morning that Seo had regularly mistreated her staff members in her agency, Gold Medalist. “As a staff member going around in the same car with her for several years, verbal abuse was nothing. She smoked in the car, so I suff
April 14, 2021
-
[Newsmaker] Korean entertainment companies wary of Chinese money
The entertainment industry is on high alert for Chinese money in South Korean dramas after the SBS historical drama “Joseon Exorcist” was canceled after just two episodes last month. One of the criticisms leveled at “Joseon Exorcist” was that Chinese foods -- such as moon cakes and Chinese-style dumplings -- as well as Chinese-style sets and props were used in the drama, which was set in Korea’s Joseon Kingdom. Although the drama was made with 100 percent Korean
April 13, 2021
-
‘Snowdrop’ Cheong Wa Dae petition gets 200,000-plus signatures
An online petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website demanding a halt to the production of the upcoming JTBC drama “Snowdrop” awaits an official response from the presidential office, having gathered more than 200,000 petitioners as of Monday. The Cheong Wa Dae website states that a Cheong Wa Dae representative will respond to any online petition signed by more than 200,000 people within 30 days of its posting. As of 2 p.m. on Monday, 205,812 people had signed the petition. “Sno
April 12, 2021