For Lee Jun-hyuk, the real jackpot is finding purpose in his work

TvN's office drama "The Ordinary Jackpot" has a provocative hook: A corporate worker wins the lottery jackpot, but decides to stay at his desk job. The choice is largely rooted in financial reality. A first-prize lottery winner in South Korea takes home approximately 1.3 billion won ($965,000) post-taxes. It's a handsome payout, but not enough to bankroll an early retirement. Instead of leaning into a dopamine-fueled revenge fantasy of an employee breaking his corporate shackles, "The Ordinary J

2026-10-17 16:00:00:00

Im Si-wan falls for a man, or so he thinks, in 'Love in Disguise'

Actor Im Si-wan, whose resume includes defining Korean television hits, from the award-winning workplace drama "Misaeng" to Netflix's global phenomenon "Squid Game," is entering uncharted territory with his latest project: a gender-bending romance. In tvN's upcoming series "Love in Disguise," Im stars as a wealthy chaebol heir linked to a murder investigation. His personal assistant is Jae-hee (Seorina), an undercover female detective on the case. As an unexpected connection blossoms between the

2026-10-15 10:31:57:00

Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan takes TV role after competitive skating pause

Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan will star in a new sitcom, marking his return to scripted television for the first time in 18 years. Korean streaming platform Tving announced Wednesday that its original sitcom “The Gungjeon Land” is slated for release in 2027. The series follows part-time workers struggling to make ends meet behind the glitzy facade of an amusement park. Cha will play Seong Dae-han, a part-timer who newly joins the park staff. The casting news arrives a day after Cha announced he wou

2026-10-14 18:21:31:00

Ha Jung-woo, Cha Jung-won to tie the knot in December

Actors Ha Jung-woo and Cha Jung-won are tying the knot. The couple is set to marry on Dec. 13 at a hotel in Seoul. The venue has not yet been disclosed. They have been dating since 2020 and went public with their relationship in February. Ha, 48, made his film debut with the 2002 film “Madeleine” and went on to star in “The Chaser,” “Kundo: Age of the Rampant,” “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time” and “The Handmaiden,” among others. Beyond acting, the veteran actor has also worked as a directo

2026-10-14 14:58:14:00

Are K-pop stars squeezing aspiring actors out of K-dramas?

K-pop stars are taking over the small screen, a trend industry experts warn could further squeeze opportunities for aspiring actors as South Korea’s domestic drama market continues to contract. One of the latest examples is Itzy member Yuna, who made her small-screen acting debut earlier in the year with a cameo in “Undercover Miss Hong.” The hit black comedy briefly featured Yuna as the rebellious younger sister of Park Shin-hye’s character. Shortly after her cameo, she landed her first support

2026-10-14 14:13:30:00

CookieRun heads to Hollywood with 2029 film adaptation

The popular Korean gaming franchise CookieRun is being adapted into a Hollywood feature film, with a release planned for 2029 to mark the franchise's 20th anniversary. Los Angeles-based studio Big Shot Pictures will oversee production of the film, working closely with Devsisters, the company behind the franchise, to shape its core creative direction. The studio was founded by Brian Robbins, former co-CEO of Paramount Global and former president of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. Devsisters C

2026-10-13 11:49:53:00

'Doctor X: Mafia in White' draws criticism over medical accuracy

“Doctor X: Mafia In White," starring Kim Ji-won, is facing criticism over its medical accuracy, with viewers arguing that the medical drama's depiction of medical procedures is undermining the series’ realism and disrupting immersion. The series centers on Gye Soo-jung (Kim), a brilliant yet maverick surgeon who challenges the corrupt power dynamics and political structures governing hospital administration. Its first two episodes aired on Friday and Saturday on SBS, securing nationwide viewersh

2026-10-12 14:29:12:00

Korean Netflix users’ preference for Korean content falls sharply: report

South Korean users are showing significantly less interest in domestic content. According to a report by the Korea Creative Content Agency, Korean Netflix users’ preference for domestic content on Netflix stood at 58.58 percent in the third quarter of this year, down 10.33 percentage points from the second quarter. Preference for Korean-produced content excluding Netflix originals also fell sharply, dropping from 52.06 percent in the second quarter to 37.67 percent in the third quarter — a decli

2026-10-10 16:00:00:00

Yoo Seung-ho, Lim Se-joo admit past romance, deny reports of current relationship

Actor Yoo Seung-ho’s agency has dismissed rumors that he is currently dating actress Lim Se-joo, clarifying that the two previously dated but have since broken up. On Thursday, local news outlets reported that Yoo and Lim first met while working on the 2020 tvN drama “Memorist,” subsequently developed a romantic relationship, and have been together for six years. Yoo’s agency 333 Entertainment issued an official statement later that day in response to the reports, stating that although the pair

2026-10-08 14:23:02:00

2026 Seoul International Drama Awards kick off to celebrate TV excellence

The 2026 Seoul International Drama Awards, one of Korea's largest events for celebrating excellence in TV programming, is set to take place Thursday afternoon, featuring a record 352 entries from 46 countries and regions. This is the 21st edition of the event since its launch in 2006. Organized by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee and the Korean Broadcasters Association, the awards recognize outstanding television programming from Korea and around the world. Prior to Thursday's ceremon

2026-10-08 11:55:06:00