Most Popular
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
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[Herald Interview] Byun Yo-han's 'unlikable' character is result of calculated acting
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US military commander in S. Korea during Gwangju uprising dies
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[Photo News] Seoul seeks 'best sleeper'
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US expert says N. Korea might ignore Trump if he returns to White House
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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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Novice TV directors dazzle S. Korean entertainment scene
JTBC's "The World of the Married" and SBS' "Hot Stove League" are some of the biggest hit TV series in the first half of this year. The two dramas have one thing in common: They are works by up-and-coming young directors who get a good head start on their careers in the rapidly changing media entertainment. Based on the BBC One TV series "Doctor Foster," which aired in 2015 and 2017, the JTBC series is about a dedicated wife, played by Kim, who finds out about he
June 9, 2020
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Return of superstars, in different personas
“Hi, we’re Ssak 3!” said Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Hyo-ri and Rain, as they introduced themselves in the way such groups commonly did in the ‘90s. On the latest episode of MBC’s “Hangout With Yoo” on Saturday, the trio announced the name of the group as well as their individual characters, along with plans to release their song in July. The appearance of the three celebrities saw the show hit the highest viewership rating out of all Saturday entertainment pro
June 8, 2020
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‘Heart Signal’ under fire for participant with assault record
Channel A reality TV show “Heart Signal” is again under fire for one of its participant’s past actions. A woman in her 20s told the media on Friday that she was awarded 2 million won ($1,660) in damages after suing one of the participants on the third season of “Heart Signal” for kicking her in the stomach at a club in January 2017. Following the report, Kim Kang-yeul posted an apology on Instagram on Friday, admitting to the attack. “It’s been
June 7, 2020
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KBS vacillates on spycam suspect
KBS released an official statement on Wednesday saying it felt great responsibility for a spycam incident involving a comedian who appears on TV show “Gag Concert.” He is suspected of having installed hidden cameras in the women’s restroom inside one of its buildings. The state-run broadcaster, however, did not apologize for the incident, emphasizing that the comedian was not officially a KBS employee. “Although the suspect in the case is not a KBS employee, we feel gre
June 4, 2020
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[Herald Interview] Shin Hyun-bin, the Korean actress chameleon
While it may be disappointing for some actors that their face comes across as new to viewers each time they appear on the screen, Shin Hyun-bin, who has received such comments from viewers watching tvN drama “Hospital Playlist,” takes it as a compliment. Shin, an actress who debuted 10 years ago, made herself known to the public with her role as third-year resident Jang Gyeo-wool in the recently concluded “Hospital Playlist.” “Hospital Playlist” is a 12-epis
June 4, 2020
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[Herald Interview] Han So-hee says ‘The World of the Married’ changed her life
Even in sensational South Korean dramas, it is not often the case that a mistress, taking the place of the wife and having the cheating husband’s baby, gets the support and love of viewers. But that is what happened with Yeo Da-kyung in JTBC’s “The World of the Married,” and rookie actress Han So-hee, who played Yeo, is also experiencing unprecedented popularity. “It’s actually astounding. My life has changed. I’m not saying I’m happy that my li
May 30, 2020
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Producers of Mnet's 'Produce' series sentenced to prison for vote-rigging
A Seoul court on Friday handed down prison terms to two disgraced producers of the popular music channel Mnet for rigging the vote results for a popular audition program. The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Ahn Joon-young, the producer of the audition program "Produce," to two years in prison and forfeiture of 37 million ($30,000), and chief producer Kim Yong-beom to 20 months in prison. The two were convicted of manipulating the vote outcome to put certain contenders in favo
May 29, 2020
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Yoo Jae-suk recruits superstars Lee Hyo-ri, Rain to form group
Comedian Yoo Jae-suk is collaborating with singers Lee Hyo-ri and Rain as a group for Saturday’s episode of “Hangout with Yoo,” as revealed in the preview shown in last week’s episode where they were seen dancing onstage. MBC’s “Hangout with Yoo” features the popular comedian taking on different characters and trying new fields. So far, he has attempted cooking ramen, singing trot music and frying chicken. His latest attempt is to become a dance group
May 29, 2020
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Celebrity couple Lee Dong-gun, Cho Youn-hee divorce after 3-year marriage
South Korean celebrity couple Lee Dong-gun and Cho Youn-hee have legally parted ways following a three-year marriage, according to the latter's agency Thursday. "Cho Young-hee divorced Lee Dong-gun following a divorce settlement at a court in Seoul on May 22," said King Kong by Starship, Jo's management agency. The two actors, former co-stars in the 2017 TV series "The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop," tied the knot in May 2017. They have one daughter. The company said
May 28, 2020
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[Newsmaker] tvN’s ‘The Ramyeonator’ may be slapped with KCSC warning
The Korea Communication Standards Commission’s Broadcast Advertising Sub-Commission on Tuesday decided to recommend issuing a warning to CJ Olive Networks and tvN’s show “The Ramyeonator” for exposing a specific brand of Korean ramen on the show. “The Ramyeonator” featured a popular television show host, Kang Ho-dong, eating ramen with different ingredients, trying to find the tastiest ramen combination. Kang added everything from oyster, duck, clams and cra
May 27, 2020
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Retro trend continues with TV drama soundtracks
As the recent decade has seen a revival of the 1980s and 1990s in many sectors, such as fashion and food, retro music has been making its mark on South Korean pop culture, especially in TV dramas. The weekend romance series "When My Love Blooms" on tvN is a story about a middle-aged man and woman, who were in love in their 20s. Twenty years later, the two come across one another again and look back at their lives as college students. As the drama changes back and forth from the pre
May 26, 2020
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Afreeca TV star ChulGu makes triumphant return
Broadcasting jockey ChulGu’s return to Afreeca TV on Sunday night was watched by nearly 330,000 fans who had eagerly awaited his comeback following his discharge from military service on May 15. “Hello everyone, it’s been a very long time,” said ChulGu as he started streaming. “I’ve come back for the first time in a year and seven months,” he continued as he expressed being nervous turning on his stream for the first time after his discharge. When Chu
May 25, 2020
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Competition for trot music shows heating up among TV networks
Television networks are doubling down on shows centered around the recent trot-music hype -- launching new shows and snatching up stars who are becoming increasingly high in demand. SBS TV is currently airing "Here Comes Trot God," and TV Chosun has two shows, "Call Center of Love" and "Bbongsoongah School," in its regular programming. TV Chosun is credited with ushering in the renaissance of trot -- a soulful genre with repetitive rhythm, simple chords and no-n
May 22, 2020
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Young actors move to online platforms as TV producers woo bankable veterans
Young actors and actresses in their 20s and early 30s have been losing their presence on the South Korean small screen as producers are not willing to take chances by casting new faces in marquee roles. The fantasy romance "The King: Eternal Monarch," starring Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun, and the mystery drama "Born Again," starring Jang Ki-yong and Jin Se-yeon, seem to be the only two TV series led by young stars out of dozens of soap operas and shows currently on air in the
May 22, 2020
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Long-running TV programs disappear into history on new media trend
In recent years, many famous TV shows that had lasted around 20 years at public TV stations like KBS and MBC have disappeared into history amid changes in the media landscape. Over the past three years, the two broadcasters have ended or launched a complete facelift of around 10 long-running programs. MBC terminated its 23-year-old investigative journalism program "Sisa Magazine 2580" in August 2017 and the following year it stopped airing the hit reality show "Infinite Challe
May 20, 2020
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[Newsmaker] Actress denies having partied in Itaewon amid outbreak
Actress Lee Min-jung on Wednesday denied allegations that she partied in Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon after the area emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections earlier this month. "Lee did not visit Itaewon. Instead she went to a friend's birthday party at a cafe in Cheongdam (in southern Seoul). All she did was take a picture while dropping off a gift," a representative at MSTeam Entertainment, Lee's management company, told Yonhap News Agency over the phone on
May 20, 2020
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Hwang Jeong-eum, Yook Sung-jae offer mysterious counseling at ‘Mystic Pop-Up Bar’
South Korean rom-com queen Hwang Jeong-eum is returning to the small screen after two years -- this time as a mysterious, hot-tempered bar owner named Wol-joo in the upcoming JTBC drama “Mystic Pop-Up Bar.” Based on a popular Korean webtoon of the same title, the fantasy drama tells the story of Wol-joo and her employees, Han Kang-bae and Chief Gwi, who visit their customers in dreams to help them resolve their inner demons. Singer-actor Yook Sung-jae plays Kang-bae, and veteran ac
May 19, 2020
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[Herald Interview] Writer says ‘Extracurricular’ digs into society’s wounds
Prostitution is not a common subject in South Korean television dramas, let alone dramas in which the main characters are teenagers. Jin Han-sae, creator of the sensational Netflix original series “Extracurricular,” says he felt a huge burden when writing the story, in which he says the protagonists are pushed into situations that are extreme beyond imagination. “I felt like I was setting a time bomb, as it might end up looking like glorifying wrong behaviors. I almost compu
May 18, 2020
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Star screenwriter struggling with lower-than-expected popularity of 'The King'
SBS' fantasy romance "The King: Eternal Monarch" was one of the most anticipated TV series for the first half of 2020 in South Korea, for the reunion of star screenwriter Kim Eun-sook and actor Lee Min-ho. Lee chose the show as his post-military comeback project after "The Heirs" (2013). But the big-budget series, which was also financed by US streaming giant Netflix, saw its viewership ratings drop to a record low of 6.3 percent on its ninth episode that aired on Saturday
May 18, 2020
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[Herald Interview] Tyler Rasch on escaping ‘The Box’
While young Koreans are experiencing a chronic collective despair in past decades, partly due to the stagnant economy, American TV personality Tyler Rasch -- familiar to the public for his TV appearances -- hopes to encourage them through an independent documentary series. To make his message more sincere, Rasch did not turn to major production companies to launch his new serial show “The Box,” but rather decided to take the reins himself. “I did not want my message compromi
May 17, 2020