Lee attends Mongolia's Naadam Festival as guest of honor

President Lee Jae Myung will attend Mongolia's Naadam Festival as the official guest of honor on Saturday, marking the first time a South Korean president has been invited to the country's biggest national celebration. Naadam, one of Mongolia's most important national festivals, celebrates the country's nomadic heritage and culture. Officially held from Saturday through Monday, it features Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery. Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh is also expected t

2026-07-11 11:44:19:00

'Teach You a Lesson' sparks China frenzy despite official block

"Teach You a Lesson" continues to ride its viral wave more than a month after its debut, with the Korean drama gaining traction among Chinese viewers despite being unavailable through official channels. China’s largest review platform, Douban, has created a review page for "Teach You a Lesson," where about 144,000 users had submitted star ratings as of Thursday. Netflix does not officially operate in mainland China, where the service remains unavailable because of government restrictions on fore

2026-07-09 16:06:44:00

Youn Yuh-jung, Charles Melton among Emmy nominees for 'Beef' Season 2

Veteran South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung has earned a nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie at the 2026 Emmy Awards. Youn was recognized for her role as Chairwoman Park in Netflix’s "Beef" Season 2, in which she portrays a ruthless business matriarch who orchestrates an elaborate blackmail and bribery scheme following a medical malpractice incident involving her husband. The acclaimed actress, who made her debut in 1966, has built a career span

2026-07-09 13:37:42:00

Netflix bets on Korean shamanism with 'The East Palace' starring Nam Joo-hyuk

Netflix is anchoring its summer slate with a period K-drama that doubles as the industry comeback for Nam Joo-hyuk, whose career had been overshadowed by school bullying allegations before his military enlistment in 2023. Premiering July 17, "The East Palace" stars Nam as Gu-cheon, a man capable of traversing the boundary between the human and spirit realms. He is paired with Roh Yoon-seo, who portrays a palace maid shrouded in mystery. When a curse begins to haunt the royal grounds, the pair is

2026-07-09 13:36:34:00

Loved 'Teach You a Lesson'? Here are 3 K-dramas that pack the same punch

"Teach You a Lesson" continues to dominate Netflix's global rankings a month after its debut as one of the streamer's most-watched non-English TV titles. Across its 10-episode run, the show follows the fictional Educational Rights Protection Bureau as it battles the systemic violence and corruption plaguing South Korea's academic institutions. Rather than leaning into conventional K-drama romance or slice-of-life healing tropes, the series thrives on a mix of revenge, justice and satisfying payo

2026-07-08 10:39:45:00

When K-dramas are no longer solely Korean

K-dramas may no longer just be Korean. A growing slate of multinational co-productions is set to roll out this year, bringing together filmmakers, actors and broadcasters from multiple territories in an increasingly globalized approach to television production. While the strategy is designed to mitigate soaring production costs, expand market reach and pool regional creative strengths, experts note that the model introduces a fundamental structural paradox — the broader a show’s target audienc

2026-07-08 10:39:21:00

K-drama likened to 'Taken' surges on Netflix as webtoon controversy returns

Following the breakout success of "My Royal Nemesis," the next hottest K-drama may be "Agent Kim Reactivated." The revenge thriller debuted at No. 3 on Netflix's global non-English TV chart just three days after its premiere, though its popularity has also renewed scrutiny of the production company behind the original webtoon over allegations of far-right imagery in its works. "Agent Kim Reactivated" stars So Ji-sub as Manager Kim, an ordinary office worker forced to shed his quiet corporate lif

2026-07-06 11:44:10:00

Why games and Korean traditional arts are the hottest new pairing

Games and traditional arts may seem worlds apart, but the unlikely pairing is quickly becoming the South Korean gaming industry's newest obsession. Industry officials say the partnerships are creating a two-way exchange, introducing new audiences to traditional crafts while giving artists fresh creative inspiration rooted in game worlds. The latest example comes from Nexon Games, which recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nexon Foundation and the Korea Ceramic Foundation to pro

2026-07-03 16:43:36:00

'Teach You a Lesson' becomes Netflix's fifth most-watched Korean series ever

"Teach You a Lesson" has become Netflix's fifth most-watched Korean series of all time, overtaking the 2022 hit revenge drama "The Glory." According to Tudum, Netflix's companion site, the series amassed 46.6 million views between its June 5 premiere and June 28, the latest reporting period available. Under Netflix's methodology, a title's view count is calculated by dividing total hours viewed by its running time. As of Friday, "Squid Game" Season 1 remains Netflix's most-watched Korean series

2026-07-03 10:21:45:00

'My Royal Nemesis' creators on turning an unapologetically Korean romance into a global hit

The global success of "My Royal Nemesis" had come as a shock to the series' writer, who didn't expect the time-slip romance between a Joseon-era woman and a modern-day Seoulite to have such wide appeal. "In truth, I didn't set out to write for a global audience," screenwriter Kang Hyun-joo told The Korea Herald in a recent written interview. "My only goal was to tell a story I truly enjoyed and portray the characters I cared about with as much sincerity as possible." Yet, that intimate approach

2026-07-01 14:11:06:00