Left-wing radio host Kim Ou-joon of Traffic Broadcasting System’s “News Factory” is under fire from right-wing party members as they challenge Kim’s outspoken political partisan views on a public-funded traffic news radio station, as well as his pay. TBS’ “News Factory” has been the most popular radio program in Korea since 2018, according to Hankook Research. Kim, who has been the show’s host s...

Gallery 7 at Fairmont Ambassador Seoul presents ‘Taste of Spring’ Fairmont Ambassador Seoul presents “Taste of Spring,” a seasonal promotion offering private dining experiences in the elegant event spaces of Gallery 7, through the end of May. Located on the seventh floor of the hotel, Gallery 7 is home to a portfolio of small and medium-scale meeting spaces with interior designs evoking an art g...

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 s...

The product placement issue became more controversial when bibimbap from the same Chinese company was shown in the tvN drama “Vincenzo.” “Although the decision was probably made to manage production costs, it is very unfortunate, especially in these times,” said Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor of general education at Sungshin Women’s University, on social media after the scene aired. “Of course, rat...

In response to the brewing controversy, JTBC last month released the plot for the drama and denied the allegations, but apparently to no avail judging by the number of petitioners. “The current controversy stems from combining fragmented information from an incomplete synopsis and character introductions that were leaked online. Suspicion has been added to information fragments, making false inf...

Defending champion DWG Kia swept Gen.G Esports 3-0 in the League of Legends Champions Korea Finals on Saturday to secure a ticket to the Mid-Season Invitational in May and win prize money of 200 million won ($178,000). Although DWG Kia was the clear favorite leading up to the finals, the fact that Gen.G Esports and DWG Kia both swept their quarterfinals opponents 3-0 had raised expectations for ...

One notable trend is promotions targeting families with children, offering a variety of toys, board games and kids’ activities. Many hotels even offer kid tents to be set up in the rooms. Hotels are also offering longer reservations like 30-hour stay packages with early check-in and late check-out. Recently, some hotels have gone further, offering long-term stay packages. Last month, Lotte Hote...

The Joygye Order of Korean Buddhism has canceled Yeondeunghoe -- the annual Lotus Lantern Festival in celebration of Buddha’s birthday -- for the second consecutive year due to concerns over the growing number of COVID-19 infections. Yeondeunghoe would have taken place on May 15, four days before Buddha’s birthday. The four days leading up to the Buddha’s birthday are celebrated with numerous fe...

The third season of TV Chosun reality show “Taste of Wife” will end earlier than planned, as actress Ham So-won and the show producers apologized Thursday for fabricating many elements of the show. The show became mired in controversy when viewers alleged that the program‘s most popular couple, Ham and her husband Jin Hua, had fabricated several scenes in the reality show that looks at the every...

Park Hyatt Seoul greets the season with ‘Spring at the Park’ package Park Hyatt Seoul offers a relaxing seasonal break with the “Spring at the Park” package. The package includes a one-night stay, florally-inspired Flower Afternoon Tea Set and two bottles of alcohol-free sparkling wine (200ml) served in-room, 25 percent off dining at hotel restaurants and complimentary use of hotel swimming poo...

All eyes are on DWG Kia and Gen.G Esports as the two head to the 2021 LCK Spring Finals on Saturday to play for the spring title and a chance to play at the Mid-Season Invitational in May. During the online press conference Tuesday for the LCK Spring Finals, both coach Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun of DWG Kia and Ju “oDin” Young-dal of Gen.G Esports expressed immense respect for their opponents, but ea...

Global online streaming service Netflix removed its 30-day free trial for new subscribers as of Wednesday in South Korea, one of the last countries to have the free trial period eliminated. “Starting in 2019 with Mexico, the 30-day free trial promotion has gradually been terminated. As of April 7, free trial promotion will be unavailable in South Korea as well as every other country in the world...

Future plans for LCK include promotion of overseas business. “LCK has fans all over the world, but it isn’t doing business outside Korea,” said Oh. “There is a region abroad that we are planning to commit to in the second half of this year. We plan to broadcast in a new language and expand fandom there.” Like the English Premier League for soccer, LCK has more international viewers than local v...

Many of the 2020 SIFF awards winners will be screened during Indie Picnic. The Grand Short Prize winner of last year’s SIFF short competition section “Thread” by director Lee Na-yeon and Cho Min-jae will be screened with last year’s First Short Prize winner “Gayang 7 Complex” by director Seo Ye-hyang and Second Short Prize winner “Ghosts” by director Park Jee-yeon. “Thread” depicts the life of ...

Christians in South Korea celebrated Easter Sunday both online and offline as the country stands at a crossroads between a possible new wave of COVID-19 and mass vaccination. Major megachurches held restricted services without communion and had most of their members join online, following government regulations that allow churches in the capital area to operate at only 20 percent of full capacit...