Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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Blue chips rush into Netflix-led S. Korean streaming service market
The landscape of the South Korean streaming service market is facing seismic change as new players have been jumping into the booming sector in diversified forms. As the protracted novel coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the trend toward mobile-based binge-watching of content, e-commerce firms, like Coupang and online portal operators, including Naver, have revealed plans to break into the highly competitive market. Netflix, which launched its service in South Korea in 2016, got a head star
Nov. 13, 2020
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Number of TV dramas likely to decrease next year amid coronavirus pandemic
The number of South Korean TV drama series is expected to decrease next year due to the fallout of the protracted novel coronavirus pandemic, experts said Monday. In the summer, when the country was struggling with a resurgence in novel coronavirus infections, TV studios and broadcasters halted productions of dramas and shows. Entertainment giant CJ ENM and its drama production affiliate Studio Dragon suspended drama filming for a week in August, with several shows on tvN and OCN affected by t
Nov. 9, 2020
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Agency cancels release of Blackpink panda footage after Chinese netizens complain
YG Entertainment announced Saturday that it has decided not to release the latest episode of Blackpink’s online reality show, “Blackpink - ‘24/365 with Blackpink',” which features the K-pop girl band members meeting South Korea’s first panda cub. The video was scheduled to be posted on the girl band’s YouTube channel Saturday. The decision came after a trailer posted Wednesday caused an uproar in China because it appeared that the band members were handlin
Nov. 8, 2020
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‘KBS Drama Special’ brings one-act dramas to life
As the last remaining platform for one-act dramas, KBS2’s “KBS Drama Specia” will kick off with its first episode “Modern Girl” on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Marking the 10th anniversary of “KBS Drama Special,” one of the 10 one-act dramas prepared this year will be shown every week starting this Saturday. The show‘s online press conference on Friday featured the cast and director of the first three dramas -- “Modern Girl,” “Crevice
Nov. 6, 2020
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Comedian Jung Hyung-don to take break due to anxiety disorder
Popular comedian and TV host Jung Hyung-don will take a break from broadcasting to focus on dealing with his anxiety disorder, his agency said Thursday. "Jung Hyung-don has recently felt his long-time anxiety disorder get worse," FNC Entertainment said. "He has decided to halt broadcasting activities for now." The agency said Jung was determined to continue working but decided to prioritize his health and take a break after talks with the agency. "Jung Hyung-don plans
Nov. 5, 2020
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tvN’s ‘I’m a Survivor’ teaches survival skills in crisis situations
The upcoming tvN variety show “I’m a Survivor,” which brings together six female celebrities for survival training, is set to air its first episode at 8:40 p.m. on Thursday. “I’m a Survivor” focuses on teaching celebrities how to survive in a crisis situation under the instruction of Park Eun-ha, a former non-commissioned officer of the 707th Counterterrorist Special Mission Battalion. Her charges are actress Kim Sung-ryung, former boxer and actress Lee Si-y
Nov. 4, 2020
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Big-name screenwriters returning to small screen with provocative melodramas
Famous TV screenwriters have been returning to small screens with sensational melodramas that have stirred up controversy over their provocative storylines but guarantee high viewership ratings. As viewers increasingly prefer binge-watching streaming services like Netflix, only a few of the new TV series have been successful this year. Local television channels, terrestrial and cable alike, are now pinning their hopes on masters of typical Korean hit melodramas -- Kim Soon-ok, Im Sung-han and M
Nov. 2, 2020
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Popular MBC content to be released in HD
The worldwide hit drama “Jewel in the Palace” will be now be available in high definition, using artificial intelligence-based technology, according to broadcaster MBC on Monday. MBC announced that it has succeeded in turning standard-definition videos with a resolution of around 340,000 pixels into HD format, with a resolution of 2 million pixels, in collaboration with SK Telecom. Low resolution was one of the problems in exporting old South Korean content abroad. MBC announced t
Nov. 2, 2020
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Regulator orders 6-month suspension of cable channel MBN for accounting fraud
South Korea's telecommunications regulator on Friday ordered a six-month suspension of services for cable TV channel MBN for accounting fraud in an unprecedented heavy punishment of a broadcaster in the country. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said MBN manipulated its balance sheet in 2011 to conceal a portion of the capital raised under borrowed names of its employees. MBN's move was part of its plans to raise 300 billion won, the minimum requirement to acquire a license to operate
Oct. 30, 2020
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SBS drama ‘Delayed Justice’ sends message of hope
Actor Kwon Sang-woo returns to the small screen as a public defender in SBS’ new drama “Delayed Justice.” The Korean title for the new drama literally translates to “Fly, Stream Dragon” and is derived from a Korean idiom meaning a dragon born in a stream, similar to the expression “rags to riches.” Kwon takes on the role of Park Tae-yong, a lawyer who comes from humble origins with only a high school diploma. He partners with journalist Park Sam-soo,
Oct. 28, 2020
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Pengsoo and AKMU Suhyun to showcase duet
Popular EBS penguin mascot character Pengsoo will perform in a duet with AKMU’s Suhyun at 7:30 p.m. on Friday’s episode of “Giant PengTV” on EBS 1TV. Suhyun uploaded a picture of herself with Pengsoo on Thursday in an Instagram story, foreshadowing the collaboration between the two. EBS confirmed Friday they will take to the stage together in the evening’s episode. Pengsoo topped local music charts in April with “This is Pengsoo,” collaborating with
Oct. 23, 2020
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SBS drama ‘The Penthouse: War in Life’ to show row over education, real estate
Different human desires are set to clash in SBS’ new suspense drama “The Penthouse: War in Life” starting at 10 p.m., Monday. Director Joo Dong-min and screenwriter Kim Soon-ok have joined hands again for this drama after “The Last Empress,” their previous SBS drama featuring actress Jang Na-ra, met with success in 2018. “The Penthouse: War in Life” is set in Hera Palace, a 100-story luxury apartment in the heart of Seoul. It deals with two of the hot
Oct. 22, 2020
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Hit drama ‘Phoenix’ rises again 16 years later
MBC’s drama series “Phoenix” from 2004 that featured actor Lee Seo-jin, Mun Jung-hyuk and the late Lee Eun-ju returns as an SBS daily morning soap opera starting from Monday at 8:35 a.m. The script for the 2020 “Phoenix” remake is once again written by Lee Yoo-jin, who wrote the original series. “Pheonix” revolves around Jang Se-hoon, who is poor, and Lee Ji-eun, from a rich family, as they get married, get divorced and meet again after their financi
Oct. 20, 2020
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Broadcasters, companies pay the price for YouTube star’s unchecked background
As the popularity of YouTubers and social media influencers rise, so too do controversies surrounding them. With the online stars appearing on popular television shows and in advertisements, verification of their background has become a rising issue. Controversy arose last week when Rhee Keun, popularly known as “Lt. Lee,” faced allegations that he was convicted for a 2017 sexual assault. Lee had already gone through a debt scandal at the beginning of the month when he was accused
Oct. 18, 2020
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Rhee Keun sues Kim Yong-ho while assault victim demands end to mention of the case
Rhee Keun, also known as Ken Rhee, sued YouTube content creator Kim Yong-ho on Wednesday for claiming that Rhee lied about having worked at the United Nations. Kim raised suspicions about the document that Rhee, popularly known as “Lt. Lee,” posted on Instagram on Monday as proof of his stint at the UN. An earlier video by Kim had raised questioned about Rhee’s career record. Rhee sued Kim on charges of obstruction, defamation and dissemination of false information at around
Oct. 14, 2020
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Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk star in tvN drama on growing up
Actress Bae Suzy has joined hands with screenwriter Park Hye-ryun and director Oh Choong-hwan once again in the newest tvN drama, “Start-up,” set to start airing at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Suzy has appeared as the lead actor in several of Park‘s dramas, including KBS’ “Dream High” (2011) and SBS’ “While You Were Sleeping” (2017), which was also directed by Oh. “I had the opportunity to work with our director and screenwriter again, and p
Oct. 14, 2020
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Celebrities head to Kakao TV for entertainment show opportunities
Over a month has passed since Kakao M launched Kakao TV, a mobile content streaming platform, on Sept. 1, with seven of the 25 original shows that it promised until the end of the year. On Monday, producers and celebrities on original Kakao TV entertainment shows gathered for an online news conference to talk about how the shows came into being and the reasons for joining the platform. “We prepared a new form of entertainment show to lead the changing trend and environment,” said
Oct. 13, 2020
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3 Wednesday-Thursday dramas kick off together
Three dramas from different broadcasting stations -- JTBC’s “Private Lives,” tvN’s “Tale of the Nine Tailed” and KBS’ “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol” -- began last week, competing for Wednesday-Thursday viewership. The dramas all had online press conference Wednesday afternoon, before their first episodes, a presage of the head-on competition ahead. The viewership rating of the first two episodes showed tvN’s “Tale of the Nine Taile
Oct. 11, 2020
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'Lt. Lee' resolves debt conflict
One of the trainers in the first season of popular YouTube show “Fake Men,” “Lieutenant” Rhee Keun, also known as Ken Rhee, uploaded a 91-second video Monday morning announcing that the monetary conflict with one of his acquaintances, identified as Kim, has been resolved and that he has paid back all debt owed to him. The conflict rose to the surface when Kim posted on Instagram on Friday accusing Rhee of not paying back 2 million won ($1,720) he had borrowed. Although&
Oct. 5, 2020
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YouTube show ‘Fake Men’ goes multi-platform
The second season of reality show “Fake Men,” which was originally created for YouTube, is now also streaming through two local platforms -- Kakao TV and Watcha. The first season of the show, made by channel operator Physical Gallery with security and tactics consulting firm MUSAT, featured YouTube celebrities in extreme situations as they participated in MUSAT’s simulated Underwater Demolition Team training program. The show was initially a parody of MBC’s “Real
Oct. 4, 2020