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Chinese piracy under fire as 'Squid Game' dominates globally
A Korean professor has taken aim at ongoing intellectual property theft in China amid the international success of Netflix’s "Squid Game" season two. Seo Kyung-duk, a liberal arts professor at Sungshin Women’s University, criticized the widespread piracy of Korean content in China, where Netflix is not officially available. Nearly 60,000 reviews of the hit series have been posted on Douban, a popular Chinese social media platform. “Piracy ran rampant during the release of (the first season of) '
Dec. 31, 2024 -
In 'Squid Game' Season 2, TOP plays bizarre version of himself
How a drug scandal led to tv‘s most meta performance The Cringe! The Cringe! "Squid Game" Season 2 isn't exactly built for laughs, but it serves up plenty of secondhand embarrassment through one singular force: Thanos, Player 230, played by former K-pop star Choi Seung-hyun -- better known as rapper TOP of BigBang. Named after the Marvel villain, this purple-haired menace wastes no time establishing himself as a chief antagonist. High on pills stashed in his cross pendant, he pushes fellow conte
Dec. 27, 2024 -
'Squid Game' Season 2 a shot at human redemption
In second season, Netflix hit trades shock value for moral dilemmas "This money is bought with the lives lost in that game." The weight of survival haunts Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as Netflix's global sensation "Squid Game" returns for a second round. Three years after his harrowing victory from the deadly competition, Gi-hun is driven by more than just vengeance -- a moral obligation to end the sick and twisted games for good. The series' sophomore outing, available on Netflix starting Dec. 26, mar
Dec. 26, 2024 -
Culture Ministry pushes for global reach of Korean streaming platforms
Record-breaking $147 million content export deals signed at Broadcast Worldwide 2024 A record-breaking $147 million of Korean content export deals were struck at Broadcast Worldwide 2024, an annual global content market event held in Korea, an achievement that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted Thursday in unveiling its plans to more aggressively market Korean streaming platforms to yet-untapped markets next year. The ministry also highlighted the role of Korea Creative Cont
Dec. 26, 2024 -
'Squid Game' season 2: Key insights and what’s coming next
Netflix’s towering tentpole of 2024, the second season of “Squid Game,” hits the global platform on Thursday, catapulting viewers back into the labyrinth of life-or-death games that enthralled audiences worldwide three years ago. Anchored by Lee Jung-jae’s reprisal of Ki-hun -- a man whose haunting past fuels his return to the blood-soaked battleground -- the new season promises to weave an even more intricate web of suspense and moral dilemmas in pursuit of a fortune that rewards the few who en
Dec. 25, 2024 -
'Kang Full Universe' joins Disney+, creator says more to come
"Light Shop," a series Disney+ hopes can compete with Netflix's "Squid Game 2" during the holiday season, is poised to live up to that expectation. According to Kinolights, "Light Shop" ranked second among the most-watched Korean original content on Disney+ as of Monday, just twelve days after its launch. The action-fantasy series "Moving" had the No. 1 spot. "Light Shop" was scripted by Kang Full, the renowned cartoonist who wrote the "Moving" series. Kang not only crafted the original webtoons
Dec. 24, 2024 -
Korea on way to becoming next media powerhouse: experts
Netflix touts 'Netflix effect,' where content is enjoyed as lifestyle, with 'Squid Game' as prime example Netflix has selected Korea as a rising intellectual property powerhouse, poised to play a significant role in leading the market as media powerhouse the US struggles to generate fresh and novel ideas, according to experts who convened at the "Netflix Insight" press event at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam, Seoul, Monday. With the continued success of Korean content, Netfli
Dec. 23, 2024 -
Teenieping toy craze has resellers cashing in on 5x markup
The Aurora Ping Castle House toy, inspired by the smash-hit Korean animated series “Catch! Teenieping” by SAMG Entertainment, has taken the nation by storm ahead of the holidays. Originally retailing for just 50,000 won -- with discounts as low as 39,900 won on SAMG's online store -- resellers are now flipping the toy for over five times its price — fetching more than 200,000 won ($138.13). Since its launch on Dec. 4, demand has been so overwhelming that retailers have imposed strict purchasing
Dec. 23, 2024 -
‘Stage Fighter’ champion Choi Ho-jong says best is yet to come
In Korea’s dance scene, the name Choi Ho-jong is already one to reckon with. Recently, he added another jewel to his crown by claiming the top spot in Mnet’s dance survival program “Stage Fighter,” the fourth installment of the popular Street Fighter TV franchise. However, Choi said that he doesn’t yet feel he’s reached his prime. In fact, he described himself as being in a slump.
Dec. 21, 2024 -
‘Parasite’ star Song Kang-ho to join Netflix‘s second season of ’Beef‘
Song Kang-ho, one of Korea’s most celebrated actors, is set to make his Hollywood debut in the second season of the US anthology drama “Beef.” The actor previously expressed his desire to build his presence in the US through Korean-language projects, citing the pivotal role language plays in acting. According to Netflix, Song will appear as a guest star in the new installment. Details about his role remain under wraps, and it is unclear whether he will perform in English, the primary language of
Dec. 20, 2024 -
After Disney+ adaptation, 'Light Shop' webtoon sees explosive popularity
“Light Shop,” the webtoon behind Disney+’s original series of the same name, is enjoying a dramatic surge in popularity following the success of its adaptation. After episodes 5 and 6 of Disney+’s "Light Shop" were released on Dec. 11, Kakao Entertainment -- the platform distributing the webtoon -- reported a 187-fold increase in views of the original webtoon on Kakao Webtoon and Kakao Page. Revenue from the webtoon also grew 159 times during the same period,
Dec. 20, 2024 -
Politics and YouTube in Korea: Intertwined and dangerous
South Korea has descended into political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unexpected declaration of emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3. The move shocked many, particularly after it was revealed that Yoon had ordered troops to the National Election Commission on that chaotic night. Many suspect that Yoon’s actions were influenced by far-right extremist YouTube channels, which have long propagated election fraud conspiracy theories, including claims about irregular
Dec. 19, 2024 -
Set in zero-gravity, 'When the Stars Gossip' to broaden K-drama horizons
As the first Korean drama to be set primarily in space, "When the Stars Gossip" will play a significant role in "diversifying" K-dramas, according to the series' lead actor, Kong Hyo-jin, on Wednesday. South Korean cable channel tvN is scheduled to premiere the first episode of "When the Stars Gossip," a 16-episode sci-fi romantic comedy starring Hallyu superstars Kong and Lee Min-ho on Jan. 4, 2025. The series centers on Eve (played by Kong Hyo-jin), a command
Dec. 18, 2024 -
Tough year ahead for K-dramas: KOCCA report
Korean dramas are projected to face challenges in the overseas market in 2025, with export performance expected to be dim due to surging production costs, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency on Wednesday. The Culture Ministry-affiliated government agency released export outlooks for content sectors such as K-pop and webtoons, based on a survey it conducted. The survey gathered insights from 167 content industry experts and directors of KOCCA's overseas business centers. On 7-poin
Dec. 18, 2024 -
Popular Korean entertainment shows return with new series
A wave of Korean entertainment show sequels is set to dominate television screens at the end of this year and early next year. JTBC’s popular entertainment show "Chef & My Fridge," one of the first programs to spotlight chefs in Korea, made a long-anticipated comeback with its first episode on Sunday. Known for its unique premise -- celebrities' actual refrigerators are brought to the studio, where chefs engage in an intense cook-off using only the ingredients inside --
Dec. 17, 2024