Series

Review: Women of Gukgeuk

Yoo Su-yeon's new documentary captures the determined persistence of Korea's overlooked theatrical tradition When the TV drama "Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born" captivated viewers last year, its real triumph wasn't the plot or performances— it was reviving interest in gukgeuk, Korea's forgotten all-women theater. But even as millions worldwide watched the dramatized 1950s story of a talented country girl's rise to gukgeuk stardom, few knew the history behind this unique artistic tradition, let alon

Most Korean yet most universal: 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' makes you laugh and cry

IU, Park Bo-gum explore parental devotion, romance in hit series Transcending cultural boundaries, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is perhaps the most Korean yet universally relatable series — portraying the lives and loves of characters from the 1960s to contemporary times in Korea in a way that stirs both laughter and tears in viewers. The 16-part Netflix original series follows the lives of Ae-sun (played by Lee Ji-eun, or also known as singer IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), spanning decades

Celebrating 10 years as solo artist, Taeyeon presents wide spectrum of music

With top-notch vocal skills, Taeyeon successfully kicks off Asia tour 'The Tense' Taeyeon, one of the most beloved vocalists in the K-pop scene today, mesmerized fans with her wide musical spectrum and stunning vocals. Her Asia tour, “The Tense,” was held for three days, Friday to Sunday, at KSPO Dome. This marks her first solo concert in about a year and seven months since “The Odd of Love” and also serves as the start of a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of her solo debut. Amid a cascade

J-Hope makes grand return with sold-out shows, new song

J-Hope kicks off first solo world tour 'Hope on the Street' Opening his world tour, BTS’ J-Hope filled the stage with everything he loves. Fresh from completing his military service last October, the singer kicked off his long-awaited solo world tour, "Hope on the Stage," with three sold out concerts at the KSPO Dome from Friday to Sunday. On Sunday, the venue rocked with fans chanting J-Hope's name as they waited for the concert to begin. Dressed in a striking red outfit and wearing sunglasses,

Review: Infectious optimism of 'It's Okay!'

'It's Okay!' emerges as 2025's most refreshing Korean film — a perfect balance of wit and warmth that sneaks up on you At last year’s 74th Berlinale, a little-known Korean film took home the Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film in the Generation Kplus category, a section aimed at audiences up to fourteen. That film was Kim Hye-young's directorial debut, "It's Okay!" Despite its recognition at the festival, it would take another year for the film to secure a domestic release. Berlinale, it turns ou

'The Noisy Mansion,' a comedic take on Korea's urban nightmare

Rookie director Lee Ru-da tackles anxiety of apartment living with warm humor South Korean cinema has long cast apartments as sites of dread and the uncanny, from the deadly mysteries of "Hide and Seek" (2013) and "Door Lock"(2018) to the apocalyptic imaginations of "Concrete Utopia" (2023). In "The Noisy Mansion," first-time director Lee Ru-da has transformed what could have been formulaic subject matter into something distinctive — part whodunnit, part facetious comedy, about one of South Kore

Korean animation summons its demons in 'Exorcism Chronicles'

Homegrown franchise delivers stylish spiritual warfare and four-wall spectacle, even as its epic ambitions strain against mortal runtime Even as Korean cinema holds its ground as the world's seventh-largest box office market, Korean animation has been struggling to break through. Foreign titles keep raking in the numbers -- Pixar's "Inside Out 2" sold 8.8 million tickets, "Elemental" drew 7.2 million, and Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume" sold 5.6 million. Meanwhile, homegrown animation's biggest win re

How SM Entertainment cleverly uses the classics

Concerts show the 30-year-old entertainment powerhouse's confidence and long-term vision On Friday night at the Seoul Arts Center, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra presented classical adaptations of hit songs from K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment, which celebrated its 30th anniversary that day. The concert was held again on Saturday at Lotte Concert Hall, another leading venue for classical music concerts, featuring Red Velvet's Wendy. The concerts showcased many of SM's strengths and its long-

Review: Hollow recursions of 'Mickey 17'

In attempting to clone his own success, Bong delivers a film more expendable than essential Bong Joon-ho's first film in six years performs a curious act of self-replication. Like its protagonist, an endlessly reproducible space colonist, "Mickey 17" copies the director's familiar preoccupations while draining them of their animating force. The result is a $150 million big-budget exercise in diminishing returns. The premise proclaims itself as quintessential Bong: Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson

'Life Unrehearsed' finds poetry in the everyday

In Banpark Ji-eun's intimate documentary, an older Korean lesbian couple in Berlin illuminates the universal through the particular The beginning of Banpark Jieun's "Life Unrehearsed" carries the same unplanned intimacy that defines its cinematic approach. A chance encounter with a photograph — two older Korean women standing before Berlin's Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism — led the director on a yearlong quest to chronicle its subjects. The result is a meditation on love that pr

Babymonster kicks off first world tour with powerful performance

Up-and-coming girl group to continue "Hello Monster" tour in 14 cities worldwide The rising girl group, Babymonster, known for its powerful performance and charismatic stage presence, kicked off its first world tour "Hello Monster" with an intense two-day performance. The seven-member group, debuted in April of last year, made their way to the Kspo Dome, known as the mecca of K-pop concerts, less than a year after their debut. Dressed in dazzling black-and-white outfits, the seven members made

In 'Silver Apricot,' blood ties tested by money struggles

Jang Man-min's feature debut finds modern family caught between affection and self-interest "Blood is thicker than water," goes the age-old saying, a truth long held as unquestionable by many Koreans. But what if that blood becomes literal sustenance, and family members must feed off each other to survive? That question drives Jang Man-min's "Silver Apricot," a nuanced exploration of family bonds in a modern Korean society driven by material desires. The premise is simple enough, as a slice of w

SM Town Live shows past, present, future of K-pop

From legendary 1st generation K-pop singers to today's top stars and trainees, SM presents 30-year legacy SM Entertainment marked its 30th anniversary with the grand "SM Town Live 2025" concert, a dazzling two-day celebration at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul. Held under the theme "The Culture, The Future," the event showcased the legacy and vision of one of K-pop's most iconic agencies, drawing 40,000 fans and reaching a global audience through live broadcasts on Beyond Live and Weverse. Th

'Crypto Man' turns crypto chaos into missed opportunity

Song Jae-rim's final act overshadowed by muddled script Camera flashes erupted like strobe lights Monday at Seoul's Yongsan CGV theater to capture an emotional scene: An otherwise staid film promotion event transformed into an impromptu memorial. The press conference for "Crypto Man," an upcoming cryptocurrency drama, kept circling back to its absent star -- Song Jae-rim, who was found dead at his home in November. Director Hyun Hae-ri broke down as she discussed Song's casting as the film’s mai

In "Time to Be Strong," former K-pop stars find path to healing

Indie gem captures the healing journey of three burnt-out idols The K-pop industry's harsh toll on artists has prompted exposures of life behind the glory -- exploitative contracts, grueling training, body-shaming and psychological trauma that lingers long after the curtain falls. Korean cinema has largely skirted the issue, until "Time to Be Strong" zeroed in. Fresh from a hat trick at May's Jeonju International Film Festival -- which included the Grand Prix and Best Actor awards -- director Na