Most Popular
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Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
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40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
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[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
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N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
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Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
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Gov't appears to shelve punitive measures against mass walkout by doctors
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[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
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Govt. asks hospitals to mitigate impact of medical professors' absence
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S. Korea, China, Japan in talks to hold trilateral summit May 26-27: official
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At 70, sitcoms stand firm against wave of TV changes
NEW YORK (AFP) -- The television industry is in the midst of a sea change, but one format hasn’t varied in 70 years -- and yet remains a favorite among American viewers.The sitcom still brings the same bag of tricks: recurring characters and sets, with humorous storylines often punctuated by laughter.Television dramas have become ever more sophisticated in recent years, from the zombie apocalypse of “The Walking Dead” to medieval power struggles in “Game of Thrones.”Yet the most-watched televisi
Dec. 25, 2016
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Most anticipated Hallyu stars of 2017 in China
Korean celebrities Kim Soo-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun, Song Joong-ki and Yoona were selected as Hallyu stars to look out for in 2017 in a survey conducted by Chinese media outlets. In a joint survey by Chinese newspaper People’s Daily and Korea’s Customers Council, an additional 10 Hallyu stars, including boy bands EXO, Big Bang and NCT Dream, were picked as the most anticipated stars of 2017. Some 307,520 people participated in the survey. Actor Song Joong-ki (Blossom Entertainment) Actor Kim Soo-hyun
Dec. 21, 2016
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Actor Park Bo-gum greeted by 4,000 fans in Hong Kong
Park Bo-gum, the star of South Korean TV series "Love in the Moonlight," met about 4,000 fans in Hong Kong on the second leg of his tour of Asian countries to meet international fans, his agency said Sunday. Park, who played the charming Crown Prince Lee Yeong, sang a Christmas carol before fans and unveiled his photos taken at Victoria Park, one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist destinations, during the fan meeting event on Saturday, according to Blossom Entertainment. "I'm happy because
Dec. 18, 2016
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Kang Ho-dong reverses decision to join ‘Running Man’ Season 2
Famous show host and comedian Kang Ho-dong has reversed his decision to join SBS TV‘s “Running Man,”Kang’s management agency SM C&C said Thursday, only a day after the news broke that he would star in the popular variety show.“We feel hurt and sorry to tell you that we respectfully turn down the proposal,” the agency said in a press release.On Wednesday, the network and Kang‘s management announced that the traditional Korean wrestler-turned-show host was to join the program’s second season, whic
Dec. 15, 2016
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‘We Got Married,’ after the honeymoon
When reality TV show “We Got Married” first aired in 2008, many viewers enjoyed watching celebrity couples engage in a blissful, albeit simulated, marriage onscreen. Others, however, questioned the show’s authenticity, wondering if it was scripted.Producers Huh Hahng and Kim Sun-young responded -- as they have to such skepticism over the years -- that there is “absolutely no script that is delivered to the cast,” at a media interview Wednesday at the MBC headquarters in Seoul. The show is in its
Dec. 15, 2016
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‘Romantic Doctor’ leads ratings
TV drama “Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim” is leading ratings by an overwhelming gap, scoring 23.8 percent of viewership for its Tuesday episode, according to Nielsen Korea.The show is set in a rural hospital and features quirky genius doctor Kim, played by Han Suk-kyu, accompanied by young, passionate doctors Kang Dong-joo, played by Yoo Yeon-seok, and Yoon Seo-jung, played by Seo Hyun-jin.A scene from “Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim” (SBS)The SBS show’s ratings surpass those of dramas airing in the
Dec. 14, 2016
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Prince considered Paisley Park reality show: Netflix
NEW YORK (AFP) - Reclusive pop icon Prince was in talks to make a reality television series based at his Paisley Park estate before his death, Netflix said Monday. Until Prince’s death in April from an accidental overdose of painkillers, his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota had a mythic status for fans, with The Purple One occasionally opening the gates for parties. Maya Washington, a photographer who befriended Prince in the last years of his life, revealed the reality television project in the
Dec. 14, 2016
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Actress Sofia Vergara sued on behalf of own embryos
CHICAGO (AFP) -- TV star Sofia Vergara is facing a bizarre lawsuit brought on behalf of two frozen embryos she created with an ex-boyfriend, the subject of a year-long legal battle. The embryos are listed as plaintiffs “Emma” and “Isabella” in papers filed with a Louisiana court, the New York Post reported. Louisiana is a pro-life state where embryos are given rights as people. The surprise filing by a trust apparently established for the embryos comes as Vergara’s ex-fiancee Nick Loeb this week
Dec. 9, 2016
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Eating together at ‘Midnight Diner’
The latest eating-related trends in Korea highlight the value of “alone” time. More people are now dining out or drinking solo than ever before and “meokbang” videos -- watching others eat -- continue to attract a huge audience. In the drama series “Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories,” however, a motley crew of night owls -- on-duty policemen, transvestites, bar waitresses, businessmen working overtime -- flock to a tiny restaurant that only opens after dark, to eat together. Located in a hidden corn
Dec. 7, 2016
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TVE to air Spanish version of ‘Fantastic Duo’ next year
“Fantastic Duo,” a popular music reality program on SBS, is heading to Spain. The Spain-based broadcaster TVE will be airing an adapted version of the show, which provides fans the opportunity to perform duets with their favorite singers, according to SBS on Tuesday. It is the first Korean variety program to be reformatted to enter the European market. “TVE also owns channels in South America, where Spanish is widely spoken,” said Kim In-soon, who oversees global production at SBS, in a statemen
Nov. 30, 2016
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Lee Se-young turns down entertainment award
Comedian Lee Se-young declined to accept the 24th Korean Culture and Entertainment Award due to a recent controversy about sexual harassment. “(Lee) was confirmed for the award a long time ago,” Lee’s management agency FNC Entertainment told the media Wednesday. “However, after thoughtful consideration, she decided not to accept it given the current circumstances.” The comedian came under fire when a clip was released online last weekend showing Lee and other female hosts of tvN’s comedy program
Nov. 30, 2016
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Suzy, Lee Jong-suk to star in new SBS series
Suzy and Lee Jong-suk are set to return to the small screen next year. The two will co-star in the new SBS drama series “While You Were Sleeping,” according to production company iHQ on Monday. “We will wrap up all of the necessary logistics by the end of the year, and kick off production next year,” said iHQ in a statement. The series will be written by Park Hye-ryun, who worked on Suzy’s acting debut production “Dream High” in 2011 and will be directed by Oh Choong-hwan of “Doctors” and “My L
Nov. 28, 2016
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YouTubers make jump to TV
YouTubers, who gained recognition through self-created content shared online, are now jumping onto the small screen to star in scripted TV shows. Entertainment giant CJ E&M on Wednesday announced the launching of DIA TV, a television network that will exclusively star one-person content creators. The new TV channel’s content will be created through a collaboration between CJ E&M’s writers and the featured YouTubers, according to Yang Song-chul, an in-house producer at the company.“The YouTubers
Nov. 24, 2016
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Korean dramas escape to fantasy
While K-dramas are known for their far-fetched plot twists, they look set to take the bizarre to a new level this winter. Wrapping itself in fantasy, Korean television is offering two hotly anticipated dramas featuring supernatural creatures -- a mermaid and a goblin -- as lead characters who fall in love with ordinary human beings.On Dec. 2, tvN will air “Goblin,” the latest project by Kim Eun-sook, the scriptwriter behind the smash-hit military drama “Descendants of the Sun.” Kim, known in the
Nov. 23, 2016
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Fast-talking 'Gilmore Girls' returns; mad binging forecast
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The familiar voices float softly from a black screen, as if in a dream.There's Luke, gruffly: "How many cups have you had this morning?"And this parent-child banter: "Did you do something slutty?" Rory teasingly asks her mom. "I’m not THAT happy," shoots back Lorelai.Thankfully, it's not imagined. It’s the reality of "Gilmore Girls," returning Friday after a nine-year absence, during which longtime fans pined for what they'd lost and newcomers discovered what they’d missed th
Nov. 23, 2016
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'Descendants' writer, director team up for new fantasy piece
Most followers of Korean pop culture will remember the megahit TV series "Descendants of the Sun," which created a sensation at home and abroad.The writer and director of that drama have teamed up again to create a fantasy rom-com based on the lives of an immortal goblin, an amnesiac grim reaper and a high school girl claiming to be the goblin's future bride.In its lead roles, "Goblin" has cast actors Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na and Yook Sung-jae, a member of the boy band BTOB
Nov. 22, 2016
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Medical series 'Dr. Romantic' tops TV popularity chart
A medical series about an eccentric surgeon's move to a small, rundown hospital took the top spot on a TV popularity chart helped in part by the solid performance of its lead actor, data showed Tuesday.“Dr. Romantic,” a Monday-Tuesday series on SBS TV, scored 250.1 points on the Content Power Index (CPI) chart in the week of Nov. 7-13 following the broadcast of episodes 1 and 2.The series tells the story of a famous surgeon named Boo Yong-joo (Han Suk-kyu) who moves to a remote countryside hospi
Nov. 22, 2016
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‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ off to a strong start
“The Legend of the Blue Sea,” a new drama series from SBS, received a strong rating for its premiere Wednesday.The first episode had a 16.4 percent viewership rating, reaching as high as 20.7 percent for certain scenes, according to Nielsen Korea on Thursday. MBC’s “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo” and the KBS2 show “Oh My Geum Bi,” both of which premiered Wednesday, recorded 3.3 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. The SBS hit drama “Jealousy Incarnate,” which aired at the same time as “The
Nov. 17, 2016
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Biggest names in Korean entertainment to attend 2016 Asia Artist Awards
Global Hallyu stars are getting together Wednesday for the 2016 Asia Artist Awards. The awards ceremony, in its first iteration this year, aims to recognize Korean entertainers who rose to international fame across Asia this year. A panel of judges will decide the final winners, but fans have already voted online to determine the finalists for three of the awards’ categories. Boy band EXO earned 40 percent of votes to emerge as the top candidate for the most popular musician category. Meanwhil
Nov. 15, 2016
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Dave Chappelle, 'SNL' give thoughtful coda to election
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Saturday Night Live" called on host Dave Chappelle's wit and Kate McKinnon’s performance of "Hallelujah" for a thoughtful coda to a divisive presidential campaign.Chappelle, claiming to be rusty after a decade largely out of the TV spotlight, proved ready and eager to offer his take on Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton, including the protests that followed. "I haven’t seen white people this mad since the O.J. (Simpson) verdict," the comedian said drolly, suggesting
Nov. 14, 2016