Meet new faces powering K-dramas' 2026 global surge

As Korean TV dramas continue to captivate audiences around the world, a new generation of actors is stepping into the spotlight. The first half of 2026 has introduced breakout performers who have led some of the year's biggest series — and are already lining up major projects that could define the next chapter of Korean television. Here are six rising K-drama stars to watch, and what's next for them. Rom-com "Sold Out on You," a rural-set series that aired from April to May, delivered one of the

2026-06-30 15:03:16:00

JTBC crisis deepens as World Cup setback, payment delays fuel fallout

South Korean broadcaster JTBC is facing crisis after crisis after filing for court-supervised corporate rehabilitation, with its financial troubles now rippling across its sports, entertainment and scripted programming businesses. The broadcaster's exclusive World Cup rights have already taken a hit after Korea failed to advance beyond the group stage at the expanded 48-team tournament, sharply reducing the commercial value of the remaining matches. JTBC holds the country's exclusive broadcastin

2026-06-29 13:47:09:00

How did EBS science show reach Netflix's top 10?

For years, South Korea’s public Educational Broadcasting System has struggled to rival the massive budgets of global streaming originals and star-driven mainstream variety hits. The education-focused network may have finally secured its crossover hit with "The Last Humanity," a science-infused survival reality series filmed on location at the famed Biosphere 2. Constructed in Arizona in 1991 as the world’s largest closed ecological experiment to test self-sustaining space colonies, the facility

2026-06-28 17:16:31:00

A K-drama version of Liam Neeson's 'Taken'?

So Ji-sub, one of Korea's most enduring action stars, channels shades of Liam Neeson in his latest series, "Agent Kim Reactivated," a live-action adaptation of the hit Naver webtoon "Manager Kim." The series centers on a man known only as Manager Kim (So), an unassuming bank employee and devoted single father raising his daughter, Min-ji, on his own. To the outside world, he appears to be an ordinary salaryman. But when Min-ji suddenly vanishes, Kim is forced to reveal a hidden past and unleash

2026-06-25 17:30:09:00

Korea gets its first bisexual dating show. Will queer dating TV survive here?

Though South Korea has aired its first bisexual dating reality show, queer dating programs remain a niche segment in the country. Still, experts say the continued rollout of such shows reflects growing confidence in LGBTQ+ content, fueled in part by the demand for screen adaptations of boys' love (BL) web novels and webtoons. Korean streaming platform Wavve on June 19 launched "Stand Bi Me," the country's first dating reality series centered on bisexual singles. The show's participants move into

2026-06-25 13:56:24:00

'Teach You a Lesson' rules Netflix’s non-English TV chart for third week

"Teach You a Lesson" is the most-watched non-English TV series on Netflix globally. The breakout Netflix original, which follows the fictional Educational Rights Protection Bureau as it tackles a range of incidents in schools, has topped Tudum’s global top 10 chart for non-English TV series for three consecutive weeks since its June 5 debut. According to the Netflix companion site, the 10-part series has amassed 126 million hours viewed. Also appearing on the non-English TV chart is SBS romantic

2026-06-24 14:59:20:00

From Samsung to screen: The unconventional journey of 'Teach You a Lesson' star Jin Ki-joo

Few actors ever portray a profession they actually worked in before finding fame, but Jin Ki-joo breaks the standard mold. International audiences currently know her as Im Ha-rim in the viral series "Teach You a Lesson," where she plays a fearless former special operative turned government inspector tackling troubled students head-on. Yet, long before stepping in front of the camera, the 37-year-old actress had already lived several distinct professional lives. Her resume eschews the traditional

2026-06-23 11:54:30:00

When G-Dragon meets 'Toy Story'

The Walt Disney Company Korea is launching a collaborative collection inspired by the beloved "Toy Story" franchise in partnership with G-Dragon's fashion label, Peaceminusone. “The First Fan” collection is built around the idea that toys were the earliest companions and supporters of G-Dragon's journey toward his dreams. "The collaboration blends Peaceminusone's distinctive design language with the themes that 'Toy Story' has championed for decades — imagination, the special bond between toys a

2026-06-22 12:01:47:00

Heo Nam-jun's breakout moment: How 'My Royal Nemesis' changed everything

For years, Heo Nam-jun was a familiar face in supporting roles. Now, he finds himself at the center of one of Korea's streaming hits. The actor recently wrapped "My Royal Nemesis," a fantasy romantic comedy that climbed to No. 2 on Netflix's weekly non-English TV chart during the June 8-14 tracking period. Heo stars as Cha Se-gye, a chaebol heir whose cool exterior begins to crack after he meets a Joseon-era woman, played by Lim Ji-yeon, who has inexplicably time-slipped into modern-day Seoul. S

2026-06-22 07:00:00:00

'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier' director denies alleged comments on dating rumors involving main cast, including Park Ji-hoon

Jo Nam-hyung, the director behind hit drama "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," has publicly denied rumors that he made comments about alleged romances between cast members Park Ji-hoon and Jeon So-young, and Lee Sang-yi and Han Dong-hee. Jo addressed the controversy on social media, writing, "Stop fabricating things. I have never sent a DM (direct message)." His statement came after a social media user on Thursday shared what they said was a screenshot of a private conversation with the director.

2026-06-19 13:17:22:00