‘Alchemy of Souls’ promises to entertain with hybrid genre, unique setting

The cast and staff of tvN‘s upcoming historical fantasy romance “Alchemy of Souls” are confident that their work has everything viewers look for in a drama. “We have put great effort into this drama, with things like computer graphics, costumes, hair, makeup, special visual effects, filming locations and more. The viewers will definitely enjoy the series,” television director Park Joon-hwa said during an online press conference Tuesday. Jung So-min, 33, who plays

June 15, 2022

CJ ENM reveals drama lineup for second half of 2022

South Korea’s entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM seeks to strengthen its position as the country’s leading contents provider with star-studded TV series in the latter half of the year. With the success of its previous projects, ranging from rom-com “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” to the company’s latest omnibus-style drama “Our Blues,” CJ ENM hopes to continue its content dominance with a wider range of genres. “Alchemy of Souls,” tvN’s upcomi

June 13, 2022

'Squid Game' to return for 2nd season

The global sensation "Squid Game" will return for a second season, Netflix confirmed Monday. "A whole new round is coming," director, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk said in a letter to fans released by Netflix. "And now, Gi-hun returns. The Front Man returns. Season 2 is coming." Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, is the debt-ridden character who gets involved in a mysterious deadly contest to win 45.6 billion won ($37.9 million) in prize money in the ni

June 13, 2022

KBS to air new webtoon-based drama ‘Jinxed at First’

Public broadcaster KBS is scheduled to air a new webtoon-based romance series titled “Jinxed at First” on June 15. The broadcaster’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama is an adaptation of a popular Kakao Page webtoon of the same title created by author Han Ji-hye and illustrator Goo Seul, which recorded 100 million cumulative views over its three-season run from 2016 to 2020. Helmed by television director Yoon Sang-ho, the series features a poor, unlucky fish vendor named Soo-kwan

June 12, 2022

Who is Son Suk-ku?

Son Suk-ku, the South Korean actor who rose to instant fame with his performance in “My Liberation Notes,” has interesting stories to tell, not just in fiction, but also in real life. While many fans may be drawn to the wild, rebellious spirit he has shown in recent performances, the actor was “morbidly shy” during his teenage years, according to his own words. This was one of the reasons he moved to the United States as a middle school student. “My father was

June 8, 2022

‘Yumi’s Cells’ makes confident return

Armed with smile-inducing characters and their heart-pounding romance, the second season of Tving’s “Yumi’s Cells” is set to mesmerize drama fans once again with a combination of live action and animated scenes. “Though our drama series has many charms to attract viewers’ attention, the cute, lovely cells are what make ‘Yumi’s Cells’ special. I am certain that fans will fall in love with the old and new cells making their appearance in our

June 8, 2022

The strange appeal of Son Suk-ku

Son Suk-ku has never been hotter. After mesmerizing viewers as the mysterious Mr. Gu in JTBC’s hit drama “My Liberation Notes,” the 39-year-old actor plays a ruthless villain who kidnaps and kills tourists for ransom in Vietnam in the film “The Roundup,” the biggest box office hit since the pandemic hit South Korea. Before “My Liberation Notes,” the last episode of which aired on May 31, Son was little known. He did some acting in stage productions

June 8, 2022

Netflix’s ‘All of Us Are Dead’ to return with season 2

Global streaming service Netflix confirmed the return of its Korean zombie series “All of Us Are Dead” with a second season on Tuesday. The zombie thriller, an adaptation of the legendary Korean webtoon of the same title by author Joo Dong-geun, revolves around Hyosan High School students fighting to survive in a zombie apocalypse. As the drama series had introduced new zombie races -- those immune and immortal -- and had a different ending from the original webtoon, many fans ha

June 7, 2022

So Ji-sub returns with MBC’s ‘Doctor Lawyer’

Top actor So Ji-sub is making his much-anticipated TV drama comeback in MBC legal series “Doctor Lawyer.” “I have been in many press conferences for my previous projects, but I think I am always getting nervous before showcasing a series to talk about it,” So said with a smile of excitement during an online press conference Friday. Making his return for the first time after winning the grand prize in the 2018 MBC Drama Awards, So was certain that his upcoming series wo

June 3, 2022

Top dancers go dance busking around US cities in ‘Fly to the Dance’

The producers of JTBC’s popular busking series “Begin Again” are back, this time with a dance-based busking reality program. Korea’s top female dancers and choreographers journey through streets of New York and Los Angeles, showing off their dance moves and providing the vicarious satisfaction of overseas travel to audiences who have been unable to go abroad amid the pandemic. “Fly to the Dance” features choreographer Lia Kim, dance crews Hook’s Aiki,

June 3, 2022

Yeo Jin-goo, Moon Ga-young reunite in ‘Link: Eat, Love, Kill’

Yeo Jin-goo and Moon Ga-young, who first worked together in SBS period drama “Jamyunggo” (2009), are certain that their chemistry in upcoming rom-com “Link: Eat, Love, Kill” will be unmatched, as they have known each other since 2009. “We have worked together in two historical dramas as child actors and shared a lot of memories. Our reunion definitely helped me and Ga-young play a couple in a romance series, making our characters more emotional,” Yeo said in

June 3, 2022

Singer Rain to hold first show at Cheong Wa Dae after its opening to the public

  Rain is set to hold a solo performance at Cheong Wa Dae later this month. He will become the first artist to perform on the stage there since the former presidential office opened to the public on May 10. The musician announced on his Instagram that he is slated to perform exclusively at Cheong Wa Dae at 7 p.m. on June 17. “I would like to thank you all. I got a chance to hold a solo concert at Cheong Wa Dae,” he said in an Instagram post. “I’m planning to be wit

June 2, 2022

CL to star in EBS ‘Baby Shark’s Big Show!’

Pinkfong, the company behind the hit YouTube “Baby Shark Dance,” is teaming up with Korean singer and rap superstar CL. The company announced Thursday that CL will voice the character of Sharki L, the Korean version of Sharki B who originally starred in a Nickelodeon “Baby Shark’s Big Show!” episode in April. “Considering her fearless character and splendid performances as an artist, we decided CL is the perfect voice actor for Sharki L when we scheduled to

June 2, 2022

[Herald Interview] Yun Ji-on says he does not want to let go of Lim Ryung-gu, not just yet

Yun Ji-on, who has successfully carried out his role as a grim reaper Lim Ryung-gu in MBC’s fantasy drama “Tomorrow,” believes that it will be difficult to meet such a meaningful drama series and interesting character again. “The synergy, created by the staff and fellow actors, was splendid. I was able to work in a comfortable environment always surrounded by positive energy. I think I still live in the world of ‘Tomorrow,’” Yun said in a recent interv

May 30, 2022

Disney+ is ready to bring smile to your face with ‘Kiss Sixth Sense’

US-based content giant Disney+ is seeking to make its name in the South Korean streaming scene with the enchanting, fantastical rom-com “Kiss Sixth Sense.” “I really enjoyed the original web novel. From the storylines to the love triangle of the lead characters, every scene was lovely and charming. I am certain that the viewers will enjoy the series along with the warm weather and pleasant spring breeze,” director Nam Ki-hoon said in an online press conference Wednesda

May 26, 2022

Mnet to launch dance programs to promote globalization of ‘K-dance’

South Korean cable music channel Mnet will launch a series of dance programs throughout the year to pave the way for globalizing “K-dance” with the producers of last year’s hit dance competition show “Street Woman Fighter.” Starting with “Be Mbitious,” which is slated to air at 10:20 p.m. on Tuesdays, the cable channel is planning on broadcasting “Anybody Can Dance” and “Street Man Fighter,” the programs’ producers said in

May 24, 2022

Paramount+ to launch Korean service on Tving platform next month

Paramount +, a US streaming service owned by Paramount Global, will begin its service in South Korea through local streamer Tving on June 16, Tving said Tuesday. It said the new American service will become available on its platform to all its subscribers without extra charge. South Korea will be the first Asian country where Paramount+ is serviced. The streaming service is currently available in the United States, Canada, Latin America, northern European countries and Australia, and is expected

May 24, 2022

[Feature] Broadcast, content creators present school violence as inexcusable

School violence has become one of the hottest topics in the Korean entertainment industry in recent years. Accusations of past school bullying by K-pop artists and actors have made headlines and led to some celebrities exiting the industry and affecting the TV shows in which they were involved. Now, an increasing number of TV dramas, films and talk shows are depicting physical altercations in schools in a more serious, grave tone in an attempt to raise alarm about the gravity and preponderanc

May 22, 2022

Controversy grows over ‘Music Bank’ scoring system

Public broadcaster KBS has come under fire over the scoring system of its music program “Music Bank” with some viewers raising the possibility of vote rigging despite explanations by the broadcaster. On May 13, hugely popular trot singer Lim Young-woong’s “If We Ever Meet Again” and rookie girl group Le Sserafim’s “Fearless” were in contention for first place on “Music Bank.” The trophy went to Le Sserafim as the band scored 7,881 poin

May 20, 2022

Kim Sae-ron to step down from TV drama

Actor Kim Sae-ron will step down from the upcoming SBS drama “Trolley” (translated) following a drunk driving incident involving the star earlier in the week. Kim and her agency, Gold Medalist, issued official apologies Thursday regarding the actor’s drunk driving on Wednesday morning, resulting in a power outage at some 50 shops in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, after she allegedly bumped into several guardrails, street lamp posts and an electrical transformer box. “

May 19, 2022