Film on 1979 coup sees surge in viewers amid political unrest

A film related to Korea's contemporary history has seen a remarkable surge in viewership following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3. According to the Korean Film Council, "12.12: The Day" attracted 1,150 views on Dec. 4 across Internet Protocol Television platforms, including SK Btv, LG U+ TV, and Genie TV. IPTV services provide online access to live broadcasts, films and TV shows. The data represents a 1,085 percent increase from the 9

Dec. 11, 2024

Shares linked to Lee Jung-jae soar following 'Squid Game' Golden Globe nomination

Shares linked with South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae are soaring after the announcement that "Squid Game 2" has been nominated for Best Television Series at the Golden Globes, ahead of its release. As of Wednesday, shares of Artist United— Lee's agency in which he is the largest shareholder with a 23.49 percent stake -- closed at 13,320 won ($9) per share, marking a 29.25 percent increase from the previous day. Meanwhile, shares of Artist Studio, the Korean drama production co

Dec. 10, 2024

'Squid Game' nominated for Golden Globes, even before release

The second season of "Squid Game" has been nominated for best TV series by the prestigious Golden Globes, even before its release. The 2025 Golden Globes, to be held Jan. 5, 2025, required submissions by Nov. 4 for shows that premiered within the 2024 calendar year. With its Dec. 26 premiere, the second season of "Squid Game" narrowly qualified, with Netflix reportedly submitting the series early for consideration. In the best TV drama series category, for which the show was

Dec. 10, 2024

'Squid Game 2' will leave audience reflecting on social chaos of today

With about two weeks to go until "Squid Game" returns for its second season, the show's director unveiled Monday that the thriller will invite viewers to reflect on the chaos of modern society. "From my perspective, people are drawing lines, becoming hostile toward one another, and such conflicts seem to be deepening globally," Hwang Dong-hyuk, director of the first and second seasons of "Squid Game," said during a press conference held on Monday in Jung-gu,

Dec. 9, 2024

[Herald Interview] Gong Yoo of 'The Trunk' says he wanted to explore darker sides of love

Gong Yoo, one of South Korea's top actors, famous for his iconic role as the immortal heartthrob in the megahit K-drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and his performances in other popular titles like "Coffee Prince," has returned with "The Trunk" -- a Netflix mystery melodrama released Nov. 29. The series centers on Jung-won (Gong Yoo), a successful music producer haunted by a traumatic past involving an abusive father and a broken marriage, and In-ji (S

Dec. 5, 2024

Ex-martial law commander Park An-su draws attention for past appearance on reality TV show ‘Real Man’

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who was named martial law commander following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Tuesday, has become a topic of discussion due to his 2013 appearance on the popular reality TV show “Real Man.” The appointment of Gen. Park as martial law commander quickly sparked online chatter, with internet users on social media recalling his appearance on the local reality show 11 years ago. Back then, he was a colonel commanding the 5

Dec. 5, 2024

G-Dragon's 'Home Sweet Home' banned from KBS

K-pop icon G-Dragon's latest song, "Home Sweet Home," has been ruled unsuitable for broadcast by the state-run Korean Broadcasting System. The song violated Article 46 of the broadcasting review regulations, which prohibits content with advertising effects, including lyrics that reference specific product brands, KBS said Wednesday. While KBS did not detail the exact lyrics, the song’s mention of "Airbnb," a global online marketplace for homestays and experiences,

Dec. 5, 2024

Broadcasters fall short in covering martial law crisis

South Korea was thrust into a dramatic political crisis Tuesday night amid President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected declaration of martial law. The rapidly unfolding situation, which developed over approximately six hours, exposed shortcomings in media coverage as major broadcasters struggled to respond in real time. While Yonhap News TV and Seoul Broadcasting System were among the few outlets to provide immediate live coverage of the martial law declaration, others lagged behind. The state-run

Dec. 4, 2024

Popular liberal YouTuber Kim Ou-joon claims to be in hiding

Kim Ou-joon, a liberal journalist and the popular former host of Traffic Broadcasting System’s "News Factory," said via phone during his YouTube news show on Wednesday morning that military troops had visited his home, prompting him to escape. Known for being openly left of center and publicly critical of the conservative government, Kim stated that he is now "in hiding at an unknown location" after being targeted by authorities. Kim hosted TBS’ radio podcast &quo

Dec. 4, 2024

Disney+ series 'Light Shop' hopes to replicate success of 'Moving'

Hot on the heels of the massive success enjoyed by "Moving," Disney+ is back with another poignant tale by Kang Full, one of South Korea's most celebrated cartoonists. "Light Shop" tells the story of individuals who are drawn to a mysterious light shop run by Won-young (Ju Ji-hoon). The visitors are all unusual in their own way, exhibiting strange characteristics such as dirt perpetually falling from their ears, nails growing on the backs of their hands, or having water

Dec. 3, 2024

'Culinary Class Wars' season 2 seeking applications

The applications for the second season of Netflix's “Culinary Class Wars” is now open for aspiring participants, the global streaming platform announced Tuesday. The popular series, which features intense cook-offs between underdog chefs from the "black team" and star chefs from the "white team," as well as various individual challenges, made history with its first season. The show, attracting viewers from Korea and beyond, became the first Korean entertainme

Dec. 3, 2024

Who helped bring star-studded K-drama series 'The Trunk' to life?

The highly anticipated Netflix Korean original series "The Trunk," released on Friday, has quickly soared to eighth place on Netflix's global trending series chart Sunday, according to Flixpatrol. The series marks the return of one of Korea's top actors, Gong Yoo, to the small screen — but its success isn't solely due to its star-studded cast and gripping storyline. So, who played a key role in bringing "The Trunk" to life for non-Korean speaking audience

Dec. 2, 2024

‘Red Light, Green Light’: Doll from 'Squid Game' brings Paris to standstill

Young-hee, the towering motion-sensing doll infamous for her ruthless elimination of half the participants in Netflix's massive hit series "Squid Game," returned to menace the streets of Paris on Sunday. The animatronic doll made a less fearsome appearance this time as her goal was not to shoot players down but to select survivors for an exclusive reward: An invitation to the preview screening of the much-anticipated new season of the show. Netflix France announced Monday that a t

Dec. 2, 2024

Byeon Woo-seok of 'Lovely Runner' to join IU in romance series

Global Hallyu sensation Byeon Woo-seok is set to star alongside Lee Ji-eun, better known as singer-songwriter IU, in an upcoming romance series, Kakao Entertainment announced Monday. The series, tentatively titled "21st Century Grand Prince's Wife," is a romance drama set in an alternate version of Korea ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Lee Ji-eun will portray Seong Hee-joo, the second-oldest daughter of the nation's leading conglomerate family, who comes from commoner r

Dec. 2, 2024

[Herald Interview] Director of 'Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born' discusses bringing together viewers across ages, genders

Hit series "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born," which has achieved a peak viewership rating of a whopping 16.5 percent during its run, has left a remarkable impact on the K-drama landscape. By reviving a forgotten historical theme for modern audiences, it not only reintroduced a piece of cultural history but also managed to draw viewers of all ages and genders to the small screen -- breaking away from the typical viewership of Korean dramas, which primarily consist of women aged 20 to 49. T

Dec. 1, 2024

'Squid Game 2' main trailer shows unseen footage, new game venue

With just a month to go until the highly anticipated release of Netflix's "Squid Game 2," a stunning new game venue has been revealed -- an unexpected yet striking addition to the show’s roster of deadly arenas: a Ferris wheel. On Wednesday, Netflix unveiled the main trailer for "Squid Game 2" on its official YouTube channel. The 108-second video showcases never-before-seen footage, including a haunting glimpse of the Ferris wheel, which is seen bloodstained, as co

Nov. 27, 2024

Dark thriller ‘Family Matters’ explores unique family with extraordinary abilities

Actors Bae Doo-na and Ryoo Seung-bum return in Coupang Play’s “Family Matters,” in the roles of a mom with a special ability to edit memories and a dad who supports her in defeating evildoers. The six-part thriller drama revolves around this unique family, each of whom has unusual traits and secret abilities, embarking on a mission to confront and take down villains. Bae, whose latest Korean work was the 2023 film “Next Sohee,” takes on the role of Han Young-soo,

Nov. 26, 2024

Gong Yoo returns to Netflix with mystery melodrama ‘The Trunk’

Actor Gong Yoo returns to the Netflix original series with a mystery melodrama “The Trunk,” set for release Friday. His last Netflix series was the 2021 thriller “The Silent Sea.” Gong Yoo plays Jung-won, a music producer who marries In-ji (Seo Hyun-jin), an employee at a wedding company called NM, on a fixed-term contract basis. The drama is helmed by Kim Kyu-tae behind the hit series “It’s Okay, That’s Love” (2014) and “Our Blues” (20

Nov. 26, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Gangnam B-Side' combines social realism with masterful suspense, performance

Disney+ may have delivered one of its most gripping new Korean originals with the crime thriller “Gangnam B-side” -- which offers a compelling blend of suspense, character depth, and sharp social commentary on South Korea’s growing drug problem. Bringing affluent Gangnam district’s extravagant club culture to screen with a neon-lit, visually dazzling mise-en-scene that highlights its duality of glamour and grit, “Gangnam B-side” explores the intertwined lives

Nov. 25, 2024

Disney+ offers sneak peek at 2025 lineup of Korean originals

SINGAPORE — Disney+ offered a sneak peek at its highly anticipated lineup of Korean originals for 2025 during a series of press conferences, giving fans of Korean content an early look at next year’s star-studded releases. As part of the Disney Contents Showcase Asia Pacific 2024 event held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center on Thursday, the platform unveiled details about several upcoming titles, with the slate including "Unmasked," "Hyper Knife," "Kn

Nov. 21, 2024