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Siblings, romance and mystery all rolled into one in Netflix original 'Dear Hongrang'
True Korean beauty is set to return, weaving mystery into a high-stakes romance involving secrets. Set against a moody, historical backdrop, Netflix Korea's latest original "Dear Hongrang" centers on Hongrang (Lee Jae-wook), who reappears after a mysterious 12-year disappearance with no memory of his past. His stepsister, Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), suspects he may not be who he claims to be. The project comes from a powerhouse team that includes Kim Hong-sun, the director behind Netflix’s Korean adapta
May 13, 2025 -
Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie. opens 1st boutique in S. Korea
Swiss luxury watch brand H. Moser & Cie. is set to open its first South Korean boutique on Wednesday at the Galleria Department Store in Seoul’s Apgujeong-dong. The boutique, created in partnership with Damiani Group’s retail chain Rocca, is the fifth for the brand globally, following locations in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and San Francisco. “Korea is a very important and influential market,” said Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie., at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. “We’ve grown
May 13, 2025 -
Capital gets crafty for May
It's Seoul is celebrating the beauty in the everyday this May with a handful of craft exhibitions. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will run a craft exhibition program dubbed the "Namsangol Home" at the Namsangol Hanok Village in Jung-gu, central Seoul, from May 16-25. The event will revolve around the theme of home, inviting visitors to explore how craft relates to the feeling, function and meaning of home and shed light on the value of crafts in everyday life. The weeklong event will invite v
May 13, 2025 -
'Yumi's Cells' to return for season 3
Tving’s hit original series "Yumi's Cells" is returning for a third season. Set to premiere in the first half of 2026, the upcoming installment arrives three years after the second season wrapped, reuniting fans with actor Kim Go-eun as the series' main lead, Yumi. Director Lee Sang-yeob and writers Song Jae-jung and Kim Kyung-ran, the creative team behind the first two seasons, are also confirmed to return. Season 3 will pick up with Yumi having realized her longtime dream of becoming a writer,
May 13, 2025 -
'Yadang' becomes most-viewed 2025 film in S. Korea
"Yadang: The Snitch" has become the most-watched theatrical release of the year in South Korea, surpassing Bong Joon-ho's Hollywood film "Mickey 17," the Korean movie's distributor said Tuesday. Starring Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-joon, the crime thriller had reached 3,015,000 admissions as of Tuesday morning, edging past "Mickey 17," which drew 3,013,000, according to Plus M Entertainment. Directed by Hwang Byeong-guk, "Yadang" centers on the intertwined ambitions of a cunning crimi
May 13, 2025 -
La Scala names Chung Myung-whun music director, first Asian to hold the position
In a historic move, Teatro alla Scala in Milan announced South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as its next music director Monday, appointing the first Asian musician to the post in the opera house’s 247-year history. Chung, 72, will take up the position following the conclusion of Riccardo Chailly’s tenure at the end of 2026 and will serve through February 2030. His appointment was unanimously approved by La Scala’s board of directors during a meeting Monday. “Over the years, Maestro Chung has
May 12, 2025 -
Designing contemporary hanok inspired by 'madangjip'
From the street level, the building looks like one of many cafes in the city with glass walls on three sides. Perhaps its pillars hint at an unusual structure. It is only once more of the building comes into view as you approach it, that you are struck by its unique appearance. Jinkwansa Korean Cultural Experience Center is a contemporary hanok building located at the entrance of Jinkwansa, a Buddhist temple nestled in the foot of Bukhansan. Its traditional tiled roof and wooden lattice windows
May 12, 2025 -
Kim Sae-ron film set for May 30 release
A film featuring the late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron will open in theaters May 30 following a press screening and audience Q&A session on May 21, the production company announced Monday. "Guitar Man," produced by local pharmaceutical firm Sungwon Pharmaceutical, centers on a struggling musician who finds purpose through his art. Kim plays Yoo-jin, a keyboardist in the band. Production materials describe her character as someone whose warmth helps the isolated protagonist reconnect with oth
May 12, 2025 -
Comic action 'Hi-Five' readies for release amid star's absence
The press conference for the upcoming superhero comedy "Hi-Five" convened Monday at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul, with director Kang Hyung-cheol and his cast in attendance. Conspicuously absent was Yoo Ah-in, who has vanished entirely from public view following his drug conviction in September. "I wanted to make a fun, entertaining film — the kind you'd find in video rental shops back in the day," said Kang, explaining his vision. "I've been fortunate enough to direct several films, a
May 12, 2025 -
Did Simcheong truly want to give herself up for her father? 'Pure Heart' asks
At the prow of a boat amid crashing waves, a small girl plunges into a vast ocean. The iconic scene of Korean folktale "Simcheong" is the epitome of filial devotion: The girl casts herself into the Indangsu Sea to restore her blind father’s sight. In “Pure Heart,” the National Jeongdong Theater’s latest reinterpretation of this age-old tale, Simcheong awakens after plunging into the shadowy abyss not in darkness or deep blue, but in soft pink light and waves, in a glowing, luminous undersea real
May 12, 2025 -
Matthew Bourne’s all-male ‘Swan Lake’ returns to Korea for 30th anniversary
Matthew Bourne’s groundbreaking "Swan Lake" — the ballet that catapulted the British choreographer to international fame — is returning to Korea for the first time in six years to mark its 30th anniversary. Reimagined with a menacing and powerful male ensemble of swans in place of the traditional female corps de ballet, the production has garnered both critical acclaim and popular attention worldwide. Since its Korean debut in 2005, the production has been staged four times in the country, drawi
May 12, 2025 -
French authorities set to investigate harassment of South Korean livestreamer in Toulouse
Prosecutors in Toulouse, France, have requested a police investigation into the harassment of a South Korean livestreamer who was verbally abused while broadcasting in the city last week, an incident that has drawn widespread criticism in both South Korea and France. According to French news outlet Le Figaro on Sunday, Toulouse prosecutor David Charmatz said he has referred the case to the regional police department for investigation as a possible assault, which could involve racist and sexist m
May 12, 2025 -
Trump's film tariffs might actually help South Korea
On May 4, US President Donald Trump declared 100 percent tariffs on all foreign-made films, arguing that aggressive incentives from other countries were driving productions abroad and threatening the survival of the US film industry. No additional information has since been provided on how the tariffs will be imposed and the lack of details in the announcement has drawn backlash from governments and entertainment industries around the world. France’s culture minister has since pledged to defend
May 12, 2025 -
Trend alert: Atiissu stocking hats take over Instagram ahead of launch
If the headwear trend began earlier this year with hats worn over scarves, the latest evolution is hats worn over stockings. Atiissu, a new headwear brand by Iicombined — the creative force behind innovative eyewear brand Gentle Monster and fragrance brand Tamburins — is quickly becoming a hot topic on Instagram, even before its official launch on May 21. The trend kicked off when Felix of Stray Kids styled the brand’s debut “Stocking Collection,” which turned heads for its unique designs blendi
May 12, 2025 -
T1 to host weekend of gaming, entertainment at Inspire Arena in July
South Korean esports powerhouse T1, home to global icon Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, is set to bring fans a weekend of gaming and entertainment with the 2025 LCK Road Show T1 Homeground this July. Presented by T1 Entertainment & Sports, the operator of the esports team, the three-day festival will take place July 25-27 at Inspire Arena in Incheon, offering fans access to live matches, fan activations and live performances. The event kicks off July 25 with T1’s League of Legends Championship Korea mat
May 12, 2025