Crunchyroll launch could reshape Korea's anime market

Crunchyroll, one of the world's leading anime streaming platforms, is set to launch in South Korea later this year, a move industry observers say could reshape the country's anime distribution landscape. The expansion was revealed by Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini during a keynote conversation at the APOS entertainment and technology summit in Bali, Indonesia. Purini said the service will officially launch in Taiwan this summer, followed by Korea later in the year, although a specific launch

2026-06-19 11:02:32:00

KHNP picks Yeongdeok, Gijang for new nuclear projects

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power announced Wednesday that the sites selected for two new large-scale nuclear reactors and one small modular reactor are Yeongdeok in North Gyeongsang Province and Gijang in Busan, respectively. The decision was made following a comprehensive review by a site selection committee composed of external experts. The committee evaluated candidate locations in Yeongdeok and Ulju, Ulsan, which had bid to host the large-scale reactors, as well as Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Prov

2026-06-17 20:19:25:00

Heo Nam-jun sets next project with period romance 'Whale Star'

After his breakout performance in hit drama "My Royal Nemesis," Heo Nam-jun is set to headline tvN's period romance "Whale Star" (tentative title) alongside K-drama heavyweights Choi Woo-shik and Moon Ga-young. Set to premiere in 2027, "Whale Star" is set in colonial-era Seoul in 1926 and follows a generation of young people against the backdrop of the country's independence movement. Heo stars as Song Hae-su, a resolute independence fighter who has lost his family. A fateful incident leaves him

2026-06-17 20:05:01:00

'Teach You a Lesson' tops Netflix's global chart for second week

Netflix Korean original "Teach You a Lesson" continues to dominate the streamer's global charts. According to Netflix's Tudum top 10 rankings, the series generated 21 million views during the June 8-14 tracking period, securing the No. 1 spot on Netflix's weekly list of most-watched non-English TV series for a second consecutive week. The drama premiered June 5. The title also demonstrated significant international reach, ranking in the top 10 across 91 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Fr

2026-06-17 14:33:43:00

From 'Guardian' to 'Love in the Moonlight,' K-drama reunions are having a moment

A growing number of beloved K-dramas are reuniting their original casts a decade after their initial broadcasts, underscoring Korean entertainment's increasing reliance on nostalgia-fueled programming anchored by recognizable franchises. "Love in the Moonlight," the breakout KBS historical romance led by Park Bo-gum and Kim You-jung, is the latest title set for a cast reunion. The 2016 series follows Ra-on (Kim), who enters the royal palace disguised as a eunuch and becomes entangled in a romanc

2026-06-17 13:38:19:00

MapleStory enters cinemas with 'Dear My Hero'

South Korea's hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game MapleStory is making the leap to the big screen with the release of its first animated film. "Dear My Hero" follows Aidan, a new recruit in the Cygnus Knights who joins the order out of admiration for the legendary Adversary. The story traces Aidan's journey as he confronts his limitations and forges his own path. The 32-minute film is rated PG-12. Tickets are available through Lotte Cinema's website and mobile app, and priced at 5

2026-06-16 14:19:26:00

Park Ji-hoon isn't worried about hitting pause with military enlistment

The first half of 2026 marked a distinct shift in scale for Park Ji-hoon. Coming off his performance as the tragic young king Danjong in the historical epic "The King’s Warden" — which broke box-office records to become the second-highest-grossing Korean film of all time — the actor has found himself at the center of Korea's entertainment landscape. But rather than cash in on that momentum with another heavy dramatic vehicle, Park made a creative pivot with his follow-up project. In the comedy s

2026-06-16 14:15:44:00

JTBC, key JoongAng Group affiliates file for court rehabilitation

JoongAng Group's flagship broadcaster JTBC has filed for court-supervised corporate rehabilitation, following four other affiliates of the Korean media conglomerate that have sought the same protection. The filings come after the group made a costly bet in 2019 on exclusive FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games broadcasting rights. The Seoul Bankruptcy Court will review whether the five companies — JTBC, JoongAng Holdings, JoongAng P&I, Megabox JoongAng and ContentreeJoongAng — have sufficient prospe

2026-06-15 17:40:11:00

Kim Moo-yul asks what 'true education' really means

When a social media post from retired wrestling star John Cena unexpectedly crossed paths with the success of Netflix's "Teach You a Lesson," actor Kim Moo-yul found himself unsure how to respond. The moment stemmed from a viral online joke comparing Kim to Cena, a resemblance that gained traction as the series soared in popularity. The joke reached a new peak on June 10, when Cena shared a photo of Kim on his Instagram account. "I spent a long time wondering whether I should post something and

2026-06-15 15:08:34:00

For Gang Dong-won, Korea isn't the finish line

Gang Dong-won has only one goal. "Quite simply, all I want is to become the greatest actor in the world," he said during a press interview on May 19. "Well, the greatest actor in the world can mean many things. It could be about acting ability, star power or a combination of different qualities. I don't think those things can really be separated." He has reasons to be confident. For an actor who has remained firmly on Korea's A-list for more than two decades, ever since his rise as one of the co

2026-06-13 16:00:00:00