Articles by Lee Si-jin
Lee Si-jin
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com-
Netflix sees Korea as proving ground for hit content
Global streaming service Netflix seeks to catch the eyes of Korean viewers by strengthening its unscripted content lineup. “I personally think the Korean viewers have strict standards and high expectations of variety programs. Our team believes that winning the local audiences’ heart is important. This may lead the show to become a global hit like ‘Single’s Inferno,’” Yoo Ki-hwan, Netflix’s manager of content, said in a press conference held at Communi
Television July 14, 2022
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Choi Dong-hoon hopes 'Alienoid' is as entertaining as 'The Avengers'
From a boomerang-shaped spaceship, an exoskeleton powered by a fictional source and a time-traveling vehicle to a dynamic gun fight and fan-wielding magician from the Goryeo period (918-1391), director Choi Dong-hoon’s latest sci-fi-action film “Alienoid” has many elements that connect past, present and future. “I wanted to make a movie as fun as Marvel‘s ’The Avengers,‘ but with a Korean twist. I really wanted the audience to enjoy ’Alienoid&lsq
Film July 14, 2022
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'Squid Game' nets 14 Emmy nominations
Netflix’s South Korean megahit “Squid Game” has been nominated for 14 awards at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the first non-English best drama series nominee, the Academy of Television Arts and Science announced Tuesday. The 16-part “Squid Game” vies for the best drama series award with “Better Call Saul,” “Euphoria,” “Ozark,” “Stranger Things,” “Succession” and “Yellowjackets,” whi
Television July 13, 2022
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Korean dating reality shows have viewers hooked on romance
From terrestrial broadcasts to local streaming services, there seems to be no end to the amount of dating reality shows available to viewers. Cable channel MBN’s hard-hitting dating show “Love After Divorce” returned with season 3 on June 26, while “Singles Inferno,” the first-ever Korean reality show to soar to the No. 5 slot on Netflix’s most popular shows, is set to come back with a second season this December. Content creators of hit romance reality sh
Television July 12, 2022
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[Feature] LGBTQ streaming content influences Koreans' perception of sexual minorities
Two men fall into each other‘s arms on a bed. This scene, which might have been nearly unthinkable on Korean TV only a few years ago due to negative attitudes toward homosexuality, was part of the first episode of Korean streaming service Wavve’s new reality show “Merry Queer,” starring gay, lesbian and transgender couples. The co-hosts of the show, famous comedian Shin Dong-yup and TV personality and restaurateur Hong Seok-cheon, who came out as gay several years ago,
Television July 11, 2022
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Jang Hyuk, Ryu Seung-ryong win awards at NY film fest
Acclaimed Korean stars and content creators are set to take center stage at the upcoming New York Asian Film Festival 2022, with actors Jang Hyuk and Ryu Seung-ryong, among others, winning awards at the fest. According to NYAFF, Jang won the Daniel A. Craft Award for excellence in action cinema for his roles in “The Swordsman” (2020) and “The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die,” which will be shown during a special screening at NYAFF. Ryu will receive the inaugural Bes
Film July 10, 2022
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Suwon Culture Night Suwon Culture Night will take place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 12-14. Held at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Temporary Palace, the areas are decorated with media art installations, titled “Eight Nights.” Every corner of the fortress offers a historical and cultural experience to visitors. Admission fees vary by program, including the docent-led tour, augmented reality experience, talk show, cooking program, bike taxi tour and more. More informati
Travel July 8, 2022
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‘The Roundup’ banned in Vietnam
“The Roundup,” a Korean action comedy that topped 10 million admissions in local theaters, will not be screened in Vietnam, officially because the film is considered “too violent.” Looking to distribute the film in the Southeast Asian country, Korea’s leading entertainment company Lotte Entertainment had applied for film certification for “The Roundup” from the Vietnamese Film Department, an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports
Film July 7, 2022
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Actor Nam Joo-hyuk denies new school bullying rumors
Actor Nam Joo-hyuk has denied another round of bullying allegations raised against him. Management Soop, Nam’s agency, said Wednesday that they had sought to verify the facts through various channels after the rumors were raised and found that such allegations were “not true.” The controversy erupted on Tuesday last week when a local media outlet ran a report alleging that Nam had bullied a classmate in high school. The article was based on a tip-off from an anonymous pers
People July 7, 2022
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ENA’s ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ to become webtoon series
Television channel ENA’s courtroom series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” will be adapted into a webtoon, media content company Astory announced Tuesday, unveiling a cartoon image of the lead character Woo Young-woo. According to the production company, the webtoon “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” will be serialized in 60 episodes, drawn by illustrator HwaUmJo and written by Yuil. The webtoon will be serviced in four languages -- Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, t
Cartoon July 6, 2022
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Oh Eun-young, Kang Hyeong-uk, Paik Jong-won: Three most sought-after TV mentors
The three most sought-after experts for many Koreans nowadays may be child psychiatrist Oh Eun-young, dog trainer Kang Hyeong-uk and star chef, food researcher and businessman Paik Jong-won. The three, at the pinnacle of their respective fields, have captivated both online and offline viewers with their insights, sense of wit and strong charisma, making consulting programs a mainstay of TV programming in Korea. Kang Hyeong-uk, ‘president of dogs’ The rising pet ownership in the c
Television July 5, 2022
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Kakao Entertainment’s webtoon ‘Solo Leveling’ to make jump to animation
Kakao Entertainment announced the animated adaptation of its popular webtoon series “Solo Leveling” on Monday. According to the company, the action-fantasy will be co-produced by Kakao Entertainment and Japan’s renowned animation studio A-1 Pictures, the company behind many successful animated adaptations such as “Sword Art Online,” “The Seven Deadly Sins,” “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Erased” and “Your Lie in April.”
Cartoon July 4, 2022
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[Herald Interview] Jun Jong-seo understands varied responses to Korean remake of ‘Money Heist’
Jun Jong-seo, who plays the role of a gang member known by the codename “Tokyo,” said she agrees with widely differing reviews about Netflix’s latest Korean original series “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area.” “I believe there are both strengths and weaknesses to the original and remake of ‘Money Heist.’ Even I found some aspects, featured in the original series, were better than our project,” the 27-year-old actor said in an o
Television July 1, 2022
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival The Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival is set to take place at Donam Tourist Complex in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Aug. 5-14. The festival commemorates the Great Battle of Hansan of 1592, the best-known naval battle in Korean history. Visitors can observe a reenactment of the battle and experience hands-on programs at Yi Sun-sin Waterpark, organized by the city and Great Battle of Hansan Memorial Foundation. Admission is free. People of all ages are
Travel July 1, 2022
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'Extraordinary Attorney Woo': a legal drama with a twist
Television director Yoo In-sik hopes to fight prejudices by presenting a story of a talented lawyer who is on the autism spectrum. “Everything began as I watched ‘Innocent Witness’ (2019), written by the screenwriter Moon Ji-won,” Yoo said during a press conference at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on Wednesday. In the film “Innocent Witness,” a young autistic girl (played by Kim Hyang-gi) wishes to become a witness, believing that she
Television June 30, 2022
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