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When Life Gives You Tangerines (L to R) Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik, Iu as Oh Ae-sun in When Life Gives You Tangerines Cr. Yoo Eun-mi/Netflix © 2025

K-pop star Iu will be starring in her second Netflix Original K-drama in the upcoming romantic drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. The series will have a split release in March, a first for an exclusive Netflix K-drama.

When Life Gives You Tangerines is an upcoming South Korean Netflix Original romantic drama series directed by Kim Won Suk (Arthdal Chronicles), and written by screenwriter Im Sang Choon (When the Camellia Blooms).

Editor’s Note: The title was previously titled You Have Done Well and has since been changed to When Life Gives You Tangerines.

Table of Contents What is the plot of When Life Gives You Tangerines? Who are the cast members of When Life Gives You Tangerines? What is the production status...

Picture: Kim Da Mi in The Great Flood – Netflix

Itaewon Class’s Kim Da Mi and Squid Games’ Park Hae Soo will co-star in Netflix’s exciting new disaster thriller movie, The Great Flood. The film will be released on Netflix in Q4 2025, and we have our first look at the series.

The Great Flood is an upcoming South Korean Netflix Original disaster thriller written and directed by Kim Byung Woo. The feature is one of many exciting new South Korean movies headed to Netflix in 2023.

Table of Contents When is the release date for The Great Flood on Netflix? What is the plot of The Great Flood? Who are the cast members of The Great Flood? What is the production status of The Great Flood? When is the release date for The Great Flood on Netflix?

Netflix has announced its plans to release The Great Flood in Q4 (October-December...

The best K-drama series can charm audiences with compelling conflicts and plot lines, but it all depends on how well the cast fits the characters. The K-dramas, like passionate romances and emotional storylines, risk falling flat when the actors aren't the right fit for the show. Incredible K-drama actors can elevate the show with their portrayals of their characters. From heartbreaking tragedies to action-filled thrillers, masterclass acting in K-dramas is essential to making the series believable and engaging.

K-drama actors and their performances are a major factor in whether a series is a hit or a flop. Not even immaculately planned and executed masterpiece K-dramas can be salvaged if the main cast's acting ability isn't compelling or doesn't quite match what the story needs. Ranging from lighthearted romantic comedies to thrilling crime dramas, shows with skilled actors and remarkable and authentic acting have skyrocketed the popularity of K-dramas.

Twenty-Five Twenty-One...

“Finding Camellia” official synopsis from Ize Press “Camellia is taken from her mother and everything she knows at the young age of twelve, and thrust into the role of Camellius Bale, the second son of an aristocratic family. Amid all the secrets and lies, Camellia swears that one day, she will reclaim the name and life that was stolen from her!”

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Ize Press has been leaning into the historical romance genre, having already built an impressive library with titles like “The Remarried Empress” and “Villains are Destined to Die.” Combine this with the somewhat familiar art style across the entire Webtoon sub-genre, and the space is already starting to feel crowded; adding a new series is hard to get excited about at this juncture. However, “Finding Camellia” can carve itself out a dedicated fandom, not by standing out with a unique...

Park Seo-joon's role as Prince Yan in The Marvels was brief but exciting. Gyeongseong Creature, Park Seo-joon's latest K-drama, will return for a second season in 2024 with a new setting and story. Park Seo-joon's Hollywood debut may have been short, but his career is already impressive.

K-drama icon Park Seo-joon made his Hollywood debut in The Marvels, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe arguably wasted the 35-year-old actor. 2023 was a big year for Park Seo-joon's career, as he returned to the world of K-dramas with Gyeongseong Creature. The Netflix series was his first leading TV role since Itaewon Class, one of the best K-dramas of all time. Park Seo-joons role in The Marvels was also a big deal, especially because it is relatively uncommon for established K-drama stars to appear in Hollywood productions. He had previously starred in 2023's Dream and Concrete Utopia before appearing in The Marvels.

Around a...

Park Seo-joon & Kim Ji-won had fantastic chemistry in Fight For My Way. The show was very funny with great lead couple moments. A new collaboration between Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won could be great considering how great their dynamic in Fight For My Way was.

Park Seo-joons best K-drama couple came from Fight For My Way, and I would love for him and Kim Ji-won to be on a project together again. From a failed athlete trying to reclaim the dream that was stolen from him to an egoistic owner of a pawnshop fighting monsters in 1994 Korea, Park Seo-joons K-drama career includes a lot of great characters. One of the most popular and busy actors of his generation, it is difficult to pick which Park Seo-joon character is the best or most impactful. Still, his performance in Fight For My Way remains a fan favorite.

Although he brings a level...

“Itaewon Class” Vol. 2 official synopsis by Ize Press: “Saeroyi's yearslong plan has finally come to fruition, and he is now the proud owner of a pub in Itaewon. The only problem? He barely gets any customers! Enter Yiseo Jo, social media star, sociopath, and all-around teenage genius. After the two run into each other—literally—on a serendipitous night, Saeroyi lands himself in the hospital…and forms a life-altering connection. Because when Yiseo returns to Honey Night, she brings not only business—but trouble too, and heaps of it! With an underage pub patron, a tip-off to the police, and a brawl involving one of his employees, will Saeroyi be able to handle the heat?”

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Read our review of volume one of Itaewon Class First

The initial volume of “Itaewon Class” left a favorable impression but also raised some...

Highly acclaimed K-dramas like "Nevertheless" and "Itaewon Class" started as popular webtoons, reaching acclaim with a diverse audience. "Business Proposal" successfully adapted a webtoon into a slapstick rom-com, winning multiple awards and gaining high viewership. "Memorist" stands out with its thrilling crime/mystery storyline, showcasing the power of adapting webtoons into binge-worthy K-dramas.

Comics and webtoons have always been a source of inspiration, and the best K-dramas based on webtoons are no different. In South Korea, Webtoons is a publishing portal launched by the popular search engine, Naver. Webtoons, as a medium, come up on many platforms. As webtoons gained popularity in South Korea, it sparked the idea to adapt some for the small screen. There are many highly talked about K-dramas on streaming platforms that were first a webtoon many of which reached acclaim with those who have no knowledge or interest in K-dramas as a genre.

Some of...

Who Is Lee Joo-Young from The 8 Show on Netflix? You Might Know Her from Itaewon Class - Main Image

Of the eight characters trapped on Netflix's newest K-Drama series, Lee Joo-Young on The 8 show appears to have an oh-so-familiar face. Where have we seen her before?

2F From Netflix's The 8 Show Seems Familiar...

Korean actor Lee Joo-Young plays the role of the second-floor contestant, who happens to be a trained martial arts fighter taking advantage of her skills to advance in the games on The 8 show.

Keep in mind that each floor holds meaning in The 8 show, and considering that the lower floors (including 2F) have the lowest amount of money and resources, they knew they had to work together to revolt against those on the top floors.

Think Squid Game, except that the 'game' in question is limited to eight chosen people on the dangerous...

Park Seo-joon's K-drama characters are diverse but share humor. Comedy is a common thread in his roles, from Dong-man to Tae-sang. Even in a horror series like Gyeongseong Creature, Park Seo-joon's performance brings humor.

Park Seo-joons most successful K-drama characters are very different from each other, yet they all share one important trait. Active since 2011, Park Seo-joon has been in a lot of popular movies and TV shows, all of which contribute to his status as one of the biggest Korean actors working now. The list of Park Seo-joons movies and K-dramas includes titles like Fight For My Way, Whats Wrong With Secretary Kim, Itaewon Class, Concrete Utopia, and Gyeongseong Creature, the last of which returns for season 2 later in 2024.

Between coming-of-age stories and romantic comedies, Park Seo-joon has brought to life a lot of compelling, charming characters. A versatile actor, Park has gone from struggling young adults to...

“A single choice can completely alter one's future—a truth no one knows more than Saeroyi Park, whose decision to stop a school bully exposes him to the harsh reality of money and power. Things go from bad to worse when his dad, who stood by him through it all, gets killed by the very same bully…and Saeroyi vows to take a life for a life. After his rash, rage-fueled murder attempt ends in a prison stint, though, a new plan kindles within him: open a restaurant, recreate the joy his father showed him, and cook up some proper revenge. And there's no better place to do so than the neighborhood of freedom, diversity, and delicious food—Itaewon” (Ize Press)

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Having accumulated over 400 million views on Webtoon, leading to a Netflix adaptation, “Itaewon Class” gained popularity before being...

South Korean dominance shows no signs of stopping, delivering even more outrageous storylines.

In Sll’s “Death’s Game,” a Prime Video Original fantasy drama based on a webtoon, a hard-working man – “who knows how to make lemonade out of the lemons,” said sales executive Youseon Jee at Series Mania – finally reaches his breaking point.

When he loses his home and his girlfriend, he decides to take his own life. Only to find himself in hell, literally facing Death, who presents him with 12 different lives, each facing a tragic end. If he manages to save at least one, he will be forgiven for his deed.

While Sll will also deliver comedy “Doctor Cha” about a housewife who, having experienced first-hand how selfish her family is, decides to go back to medicine – the show is being remade in Turkey – fantasy elements can be found in several new crime shows, including Cj Enm...

Fascinating premises and unique concepts instantly hook viewers in K-drama series like Crash Landing on You and Squid Game, offering gripping storylines and intriguing commentary. The chemistry between characters and engaging dynamics create addictive shows, such as Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Itaewon Class, that draw viewers in from the start. K-dramas like Sweet Home and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon combine elements of horror, action, and humor, making them irresistible and binge-worthy from the very first episode.

From heart-warming rom-coms to dystopian hits, some K-drama series have managed to hook audiences from their very first episode. Whether it's the intricate plotlines, relatable characters, or the perfect blend of humor and drama, each show has something about it that pulls in viewers right away. Together, these elements create immersive worlds that draw viewers into the lives of the characters, making it impossible not to binge-watch episode after episode.

Some of...

Webtoons, the digital comics that have been the source material for scores of Korean films and TV series, are to receive a major boost from the South Korean government.

Yu In-chon, minister for culture, sports and tourism, on Tuesday said that the government will foster webtoon platform development, launch a major webtoon festival in the autumn of this year and by 2027 open a school dedicated to the emerging genre.

Webtoons emerged in the early years of the 21st century shortly after the mass market a acceptance of smart phones – a technology sector where Korea’s Samsung Electronics is a major manufacturer – and are vertically-scrolling comics designed for consumption on a small screen.

As a relatively new medium webtoons have escaped some of the strictures of Japan’s manga business or the cartoon industry in other countries. Instead, they have diverse story genres, are cheap to produce, which allows creators from non-professional backgrounds to participate,...

Picture: The Bequeathed – Netflix

The third Netflix Original from Train to Busan creator Yeon Sang-Ho, The Bequeathed, is coming to Netflix in January 2024. We’ll be keeping track of everything you need to know about the first season of The Bequeathed, including the plot, cast news, production updates, and the Netflix release date.

Editors Note: The project’s title has changed from Family Gravesite to The Bequeathed.

The Bequeathed is an upcoming South Korean Netflix Original thriller series written and directed by Yeon Sang-Ho, the creator of Hellbound and the Train to Busan franchise.

When is the Netflix release date?

With the release of the official teaser trailer, it has been confirmed that The Bequeathed will be released on Netflix on January 19th, 2024.

An official poster has also been revealed.

Netflix poster for The Bequeathed

What is the plot of The Bequeathed?

The plot details for The Bequeathed are minimal,...

Park Seo-joon has a brief role in the new movie The Marvels and it marks his Hollywood debut!

The 34-year-old actor is already one of the biggest stars in South Korea and now he’s playing the role of Prince Yan in the latest Marvel movie.

So, why is he such a big star?

Keep reading to find out more…

Park has his big breakout roles in the 2015 television shows Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Pretty.

He also had a brief role in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite as Ki-woo’s friend Min-hyuk.

Director Nia DaCosta said that she wanted to cast Park in the movie after loving his work in the series Itaewon Class. “When I was younger, I was really into Korean dramas and Korean films, and I fell in love with Korean pop culture,” she said, via Newsweek.

Prince Yan is a small, but impactful character in the movie.

Taiwanese production companies DaMou Entertainment and Koko Entertainment unveiled a starry local cast for “Fired Up,” their Taiwan remake of hit Korean series “Itaewon Class.”

At an event held within the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (Tccf) on Thursday, the two companies also confirmed plans for a second season of “The World Between Us,” a 2019 drama series that premiered on Taiwan’s Public Television Service and regional streamer Catchplay.

“Fired Up” will star Mandarin-language pop star Eric Chou, Golden Horse Film Award nominee Angela Yuen, Shao Yu-wei, Huang Guan-zhi, Cosmos Lin, Ben Wu and Sean Lin in leading roles. The show is co-directed by kao Pin-chuan and Tseng Ying-ting, working from a script headed by Chien Li-ying (“Wave Makers”).

“Itaewon Class” is a story about an ex-convict who sets up his own business after release from jail. His attempts, not always successful, drag in friends and family. It was originally a...

Warner Bros Discovery is reteaming with Taiwanese production company DaMou Entertainment to produce HBO Asia original Fired Up! (working title), an adaptation of hit Kakao webtoon Itaewon Class.

The two companies previously worked together on award-winning Taiwanese drama series The World Between Us and Workers.

Fired Up! will also be produced by Koko Entertainment, a company co-founded by DaMou Entertainment and Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca) in 2021, which has credits including horror drama Urban Horror, stage show Before Outdated and musical Don’t Cry, Dancing Girls.

Scheduled to start production in December 2023, Fired Up! will star Eric Chou as a young man who is committed to preserving his family’s restaurant and embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind his father’s tragic death.

Directed by Kao Pin-chuan and Tseng Ying-ting, the series will also star Angela Yuen, Shao Yu-wei, Huang Guan-zhi, Cosmos Lin, Ben Wu and Sean Lin.

Image Source: Getty / Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis; Getty / The Chosunilbo Jns/Imazins

It seems Blackpink's Jisoo and Ahn Bo Hyun's romance wasn't meant to last because the famous pair split after only a few months of dating.

Back on Aug. 3, it was revealed that Jisoo was dating Ahn after the pair were photographed meeting up in pictures obtained by Korean news outlet Dispatch. Jisoo and Ahn's respective agencies, Yg Entertainment and Fn Entertainment, confirmed the new relationship. "They are getting to know each other with positive feelings," the agencies said in a statement to Newsen (via Soompi), adding, "We would be thankful if you look upon them with warmth."

However, on Oct. 24, after three months of low-key dating, Korean news outlet Jtbc reported that the pair had split. A source told the publication, "Jisoo and Ahn Bo Hyun's relationship naturally became distant due to their busy schedules, and...

Sure, V has achieved idol status during his decade-long career with BTS, received recognition as an actor for his supporting role in the 2016 Korean drama Hwarang, and established his own identity as a singer-songwriter. But he’s more than happy to admit that he doesn’t have it all figured out.

For the past three years, the 27-year-old musician and actor, born Kim Taehyung, has been continuously writing songs, showing them to fans in occasional video livestreams only to start over entirely. All of it has been in pursuit of...

Fest runs September 7-17.

Pedro Almodóvar, Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, and Andy Lau will take part in the TIFF In Conversation With… series of on-stage talks next month.

“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF chief programming officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse line-up of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”

Almodóvar will present the North American premiere of his short film Strange Way Of Life starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. His credits include All About My Mother,...

Toronto International Film Festival has announced the participants for this year’s “In Conversation With…” series, including headliners Pedro Almodóvar, Andy Lau and Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun.

“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said TIFF Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”

The 2023 lineup represents a global and diverse gathering which will weave together unique perspectives that contribute to shaping the global entertainment landscape.

Almodóvar will receive this year’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media at the TIFF Tribute Awards. The Oscar-winning director of “All About My Mother,” “Talk to Her” and “Pain and Glory” will present the North American premiere of his short feature “Strange Way of Life.” The western romance, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal,...

TIFF has begun announcing their Conversation With… (Icw) series for this year’s fest with Oscar winner Pedro Almodóvar, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau and Concrete Utopia Korean stars Lee Byung-hun and Park

Seo-jun set to sit down for chats.

“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel

transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”

Almodóvar is already set to receive TIFF’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media this year at the fest’s Tribute Awards. His short, Strange Way of Life, which played at Cannes, will also make its North American premiere at TIFF. Short follows the relationship between a sheriff (Ethan Hawke) and a rancher

(Pedro Pascal) and their shared past.

Concrete Utopia stars...

K-drama villains are not one-dimensional, but diverse and unique individuals who are all violent, morally dubious, and spine-chilling. The best k-drama villains have hidden identities and sudden trips into violence, making them frightening and unpredictable adversaries. K-drama villains break the mold, with surprising characters like a manipulative and cruel mother, a sociopathic serial killer, and a seemingly innocent religious cult leader.

While k-dramas are often defined by their sweet romances and adorable friendships, there are many series that veer off into much darker subject matter, and some of the best and darkest shows are those that have the best k-drama villains. These villains come in many different variations, but at the end of the day, they are all just plain evil. Above all, the things that make k-drama villains the most interesting is their crimes, their motives, and their quirks that eventually lead the protagonist right to them.

The best...

Dream is a South Korean sports comedy-drama film written and directed by Lee Byeong-heon, starring Park Seo-jun and Lee Ji-eun (Iu).

‘Deurim’ (드림) means ‘dream’ in Korean and it was inspired by the real-life Homeless World Cup, which is an annual international football tournament for homeless people.

Dream

Would you like a fun movie, just like that? “Dream” has the perfect formula for the occasion, with a humor that is as special as it is absurd and charming.

And also a love story to sweeten the most sensitive spirits.

Synopsis

It revolves around Yoon Hong-dae, a football player, who receives disciplinary provision and is given the challenging job of coaching the national football team of homeless people for the Homeless World Cup.

About the movie

Two Korean film stars for this movie that, with the flag of insignificance and fleetingness, will give us an afternoon to enjoy this charming and different story,...

Park Seo-joon is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the television series Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), She Was Pretty (2015), Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016–2017), Fight for My Way (2017), What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), and Itaewon Class (2020). He has also appeared in films such as The Chronicles of Evil (2015), Midnight Runners (2017), and The Divine Fury (2019).

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

Park Seo-joon was born in Seoul, South Korea. He attended Kyungpook National University, where he studied theater and film. After graduating from college, Park Seo-joon began his acting career in 2011. He made his debut in the music video for Bang Yong-guk’s single “I Remember”. He then appeared in supporting roles in television dramas such as Dream High 2 (2012) and Pots of Gold (2013).

Park Seo-joon’s breakthrough role came in 2015, when he starred in the television series Kill Me, Heal Me. He played the dual...

South Korea is known globally for its web series, movies and K-pop, with content including Squid Game and Parasite and groups like BTS and Blackpink becoming household names internationally. But there is another Korean cultural export – webtoons and their associated IP – that is starting to have an impact, not just in Korea, but around the world.

Webtoons are comics that have been designed specifically for mobile phones. Unlike Western comics and Japanese manga, they’re composed of single panels arranged vertically so that they can be easily scrolled through with one hand while you’re using the other to hang off the strap of your local commuter train.

Originating on the platforms of two Korean tech giants, Daum (which was later absorbed into Kakao) and Naver, in the early 2000s, the format is already huge across Asia and has become an invaluable source of IP for the region’s booming streaming industry.

New York, NY (7/1/23) – Ize Press made a splash at Anime Expo 2023 with the announcement of the print publication of the popular Korean webcomic and webnovel, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. Ize Press will also be publishing the English print editions of Itaewon Class, The Uncanny Counter, and The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine.

Itaewon Class

By Kwang jin

The original series the hit drama is based on!

Itaewon is a hotspot of freedom and cutting-edge trends like no other place in Korea. But even within this melting pot of colorful lives, few have a story like Saeroyi Park's! He runs a bar with an unlikely crew of misfits as diverse as the neighborhood it's in. His goal—grow it into a franchise big enough to take on Jangga Group, a titan in the dining industry owned by the ruthless Jang family who killed his father. They come at Saeroyi with every dirty trick in the book,...

Brie Larson is back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for “The Marvels,” the sequel to 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” This time, Larson shares the spotlight with fellow female MCU stars Teyonah Parris from “WandaVision” and Iman Vellani from “Ms. Marvel.”

The anticipated follow-up to Carol Danvers’ origin story takes place after the Disney+ series “Ms. Marvel,” which introduced Vellani as Kamala Khan, a.k.a. the young, New Jersey superhero Ms. Marvel.

Prior to the first “The Marvels'” trailer release, the first look at the film was shown exclusively to panel attendees at the 2022 D23 Expo. The initial footage offers insight into the aftermath of the “Ms. Marvel” post-credits scene, where Kamala seemingly swapped places with Carol. “The Marvels” teaser picked up shortly thereafter, with Captain Monica Rambeau (Parris) working as an astronaut for Saber Space Station alongside Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). When Monica hits a jump point in the space continuum,...

From Baby Elephants To Teenage Lovers

Amazon miniTV, a free-of-charge service within the Amazon shopping app and on Fire TV, will next month begin airing short-form teen romance series “Gutar Gu.” The show is produced by Guneet Monga and Sikhya Productions, whose “The Elephant Whisperers” recently won the Oscar for best documentary short.

“We at Sikhya are super excited to work with director Saqib Pandor, transforming our well-received short film into its own web series! “Gutar Gu” – a new chapter in the story of Ritu and Anuj, dives deep into the many ups and downs of teenage relationships- navigating strict parents, dating protocols, and the innocence and moments of first love,” said Monga.

“Gutar Gu” features Ashlesha Thakur (in the role of Ritu) and Vishesh Bansal (as Anuj) who experience the dawn of first love. Over six episodes, the series “focuses on issues, and challenges that can uncover their notions...

2022 has been the year of Korean actors making their directorial debuts. But where Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung decided to debut with their own action features, actress Lee Joo-young, best known for her excellent work in small indie films like “Maggie” or “Baseball Girl” makes her debut with a similarly small but charming short film “Leave at Door, Bell X”.

Leave at Door, Bell X is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

Ji-ho spends more than she should to buy a used bike, with the aim of working as a food delivery rider. One night, she picks up a delivery and misdelivers it to the wrong address, and every step she takes through the night to rectify her mistake just ends up in more delays, less money earned and lower ratings for her.

In today's world, where food delivery apps are aplenty and people are very quick to rate and review their deliveries,...

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Netflix's JUNG_E focuses on the emotional drama that ensues when an artificial intelligence researcher clones her brave soldier mother's brain to end a civil war. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho (best known for helming the Train to Busan movies), JUNG_E is a compelling sci-fi drama that not only entertains with its slambang action scenes and stunning post-apocalyptic visuals but also makes its audience ponder over compelling questions surrounding human existence and relationships. With so much going on, JUNG_E never leaves a dull moment.

JUNG_E's primary appeal comes from its human core, which explores the relationship between a mother and her daughter. To accurately portray this emotional side of JUNG_E's flashy futuristic sci-fi drama, the Hellbound director, Yeon Sang-ho, plays by his strengths and uses action scenes to drive home the movie's poignant subtext. At the same time, the Netflix Korean drama's talented cast...

This JUNG_E article contains spoilers.

From Yeon Sang-ho, the director of Train to Busan, JUNG_E is a sci-fi drama set in a dystopian future where the Earth has been ravaged by climate change and is no longer habitable. Humans are forced to abandon the planet for man-made shelters in space, though not every shelter is on board with their proposed leadership. What remains of humanity becomes engulfed in a civil war between the Allied Forces and the Adrian Republic.

But there’s more to JUNG_E than war games and big CG-laden battles. Deep down, Sang-ho’s newest film is about the ethics of AI bred for war and the commercialization of death. JUNG_E tells the story of Captain Yun Jung-yi, a legendary soldier whose failed final mission leads to her brain being cloned by a military AI development company, Kronoid, in an effort to design the ultimate robotic soldier in her image.

Netflix has unveiled 34 new titles debuting on the platform in 2023, ranging from K-dramas and films to unscripted TV shows.

According to the platform, 60 of its users consumed Korean content last year and the demand continues to grow. Don Kang, VP of content for Korea, said: “The global popularity of K-content has continued apace over 2022, with Netflix bringing a wider variety of stories and genres to fans around the world. Over the last year, Korean series and films have regularly featured in our Global Top 10 list in more than 90 countries, and three of Netflix’s most-watched shows ever are from Korea.”

K-drama fans can expect new survival-themed series alongside the return of their favorites. Park Seo Joon partners with Han So Hee for the first time in “Gyeongsang Creature” (pictured), a monster thriller set in 1945, the darkest days of Korean history.

Elsewhere, sci-fi series “Black Knight” joins the lineup as we...

Among the most difficult tasks a film could possibly tackle, surely “making the audience fall in love with the people who sell babies for cash” would have to be somewhere near the top of the list. It’s easy to feel the ice dripping down the audience’s collective back throughout the early minutes of South Korean film Broker, determined in our collective judgment against these guys. Even as the characters get in the odd joke, Japanese writer-director-editor Hirokazu Kore-eda’s script never lets us forget who and what these people are.

But Kore-eda is a sorcerer of human emotion. Through tender, attentive observation and a fair dose of sentimentality, Broker’s protagonists become the bedrock of a strange little family, an odd band of misfits we root for, even as a sense of dread tugs at the heart. A forlorn story injected with so much love and far more comedy than one might expect,...

Korean actor Park Seo-joon will star in the upcoming superhero movie “The Marvels” to be released in July 2023.

He joins a growing roster of Korean talent that is joining Disney-backed content and was one of many Korean names dropped Wednesday at a Disney content showcase in Singapore.

Park is known for roles in TV series “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and the 2020 drama “Itaewon Class.” He follows fellow Korean Claudia Kim in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and Korean American Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee) in 2021’s “Eternals” in Marvel-branded content. Earlier this month, “Squid Games” star Lee Jung-jae was announced as joining Star Wars series “The Acolyte,” for Disney +.

Korean stars Jung Haein, Ko Kyungpyo, Kim Hyejun attended the Singapore event in person. Stars Lee Donghwi and Heo Sungtae and director Kang Yunsung, all with upcoming Disney+ show “Big Bet,” put in an appearance. So too did Japanese director Miike Takashi,...

‘Squid Game’ Is Still Fresh

‘Squid Game’ remains the most searched South Korean drama worldwide, a new study has revealed. According to research by cybersecurity firm Vpn Overview the Netflix show continues to attract 15 million web searches per month, despite being released over a year ago, in mid-September 2021. In second place is “All of Us Are Dead,” a zombie apocalypse drama based on a popular webtoon, with almost three million average monthly searches. Both shows have already been renewed for second seasons. Romantic drama, “Business Proposal” comes in third with 1.5 million average monthly searches. Other shows with search endurance include 2019’s “Crash Landing on You” and Love Alarm” and 2020’s “Itaewon Class.” (A surprising omission is “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.”) “It is interesting to see how even one year after its original release, ‘Squid Game’ is still so popular all over the world,” said a VPNOverview spokesman. “This year’s seven...

2022 has been the year of Korean actors making their directorial debuts. But where Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung decided to debut with their own action features, actress Lee Joo-young, best known for her excellent work in small indie films like “Maggie” or “Baseball Girl” makes her debut with a similarly small but charming short film “Leave at Door, Bell X”.

Leave at Door, Bell X is screening at Busan International Film Festival

Ji-ho spends more than she should to buy a used bike, with the aim of working as a food delivery rider. One night, she picks up a delivery and misdelivers it to the wrong address, and every step she takes through the night to rectify her mistake just ends up in more delays, less money earned and lower ratings for her.

In today’s world, where food delivery apps are aplenty and people are very quick to rate and review their deliveries,...

The rising worldwide popularity of K-pop and the dawn of the global streaming era has become a business duet that is expanding the boundaries of both sectors.

The exploding interest in South Korean pop culture is fueling the growth of niche streaming services that deliver Korean and pan-Asian movies, TV shows and music to far-flung markets including Brazil, Colombia, Turkey and the U.S. Platforms such as Rakuten Viki, Cinedigm’s AsianCrush and the Kocowa venture among major Korean broadcasters are generating viewership and creating a big secondary market for scripted series known as K-dramas — a movement that will only accelerate South Korea’s maturation into a major player in media and entertainment. For evidence, look no further than the 14 groundbreaking Emmy nominations racked up last month by Netflix’s “Squid Game.”

“We’ve seen this growth in interest of Asian entertainment over the last 10 years and really picking up...

Two shows featuring Korean pop icons BTS are set to play on Disney’s international streaming platforms, following a content agreement between The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and management group Hybe Corporation.

“This will be the start of a long-term collaboration, where we present worldwide audiences a wide range of Hybe content for fans who love our music and artists,” said Park Ji-won, CEO of Hybe.

The agreement “to showcase creative excellence from South Korea’s music and entertainment industry” includes global distribution of a total of five major titles. To date only three have been disclosed.

The titles revealed so far are headlined by “BTS: Permission to Dance On Stage – LA.” The show is a 4K concert film featuring BTS’ live performance in Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium in November 2021. The show was the first time in two years since the beginning of the pandemic that the band met...

“Broker,” the unconventional family drama which appeared in competition at last month’s Cannes Film Festival, topped the box office in South Korea on Wednesday, its opening day.

“Broker” grossed 1.10 million, enough to depose crime actioner “The Roundup” from the top spot that it had enjoyed for the past three weeks and which had made it the highest performing film this year.

According to data from the Kobis tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council, “Broker” played on 1,590 screens and sold 145,000 tickets for Wednesday screenings. Its cumulative total of 1.15 million includes some 44,000 of previews earned on 14 screens.

The feat by a local art-house film gives further support to the notion that cinema attendance is rebounding in Korea. The country was formerly the world’s fourth biggest theatrical market, thanks to high per-capita rates of attendance.

The Korean theatrical industry, however, was moribund through much of 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions,...

Korean TV powerhouse Jtbc is upping its game and changing its name in order to stay at the forefront of the worldwide Korean content explosion.

While the parent broadcast group will keep the Jtbc monicker, its 15-strong cluster of production companies have been renamed Studio LuluLaLa, or Sll, instead of the prosaic Jtbc Studios. The word ‘Lululala’ is used in Korea to express joy and adventure. And it translates easily enough.

More persuasive is the KRW3 trillion (2.4 billion) that Sll is now promising to put into content production over the three years 2022-2024.

That number, revealed at a press event this week, compares with the 500 million that Netflix committed to spending in Korea in 2021 and the 4.4 billion that Cj Enm says it will spend over the five years between 2021 and 2025. (Regional research firm Media Partners Asia this month forecast that Netflix would increase its investment and pump 750 million into Korean content in the current year.

Espionage action film marks directorial debut of ‘Squid Game’ star Lee Jung-jae.

South Korea’s Megabox Plus M is launching its Cannes sales slate led by Midnight Screenings title Hunt, directed by Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae in his directorial debut.

Having starred in numerous TV and film titles such as Im Sang-soo’s The Housemaid, selected for Cannes in 2010, the actor will now be eligible for the festival’s Camera d’or with his first feature as a director.

His period espionage action film stars Lee with Jung Woo-sung as two unit chiefs in the Korean Central Intelligence Agency.

The actor talks about joining the MCU, his friendships with BTS’s V and the rest of the ‘Wooga Squad’, and the social and economic issues behind his TV hits Itaewon Class and Fight for My Way

In an early scene of Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, a brief conversation between rich student Min-hyuk and his friend Ki-woo proves a crucial moment in the multi-Oscar winning film. “Tutor a rich kid. It pays well,” the scooter-riding Min-hyuk tells the impoverished Ki-woo, who lives in a semi-basement home with his family. And when Min-hyuk offers Ki-woo the opportunity to take over his job as a tutor for the rich Park family, he acts as a bridge between the two worlds, and sets the plot of the film in motion.

Min-hyuk is played by Park Seo Jun, and despite the brevity of Park’s appearance in Parasite, it will have been the first...

As an actress, Cho Eun-ji has starred in films including Jung Byung-gil’s The Villainess.

South Korean sales company Contents Panda is launching international sales on Perhaps Love (aka Not On My Lips), the directorial debut of Cho Eun-ji, who is well-known as a character actress from Cannes titles such as Im Sang-soo’s The President’s Last Bang and Jung Byung-gil’s The Villainess.

Described as a sort of comedic, Korean Love Actually, the multi-character romantic comedy stars Ryu Seung-ryong from hit thriller Extreme Job, Oh Na-ra (Because I Love You), Kim Hie-won (Pawn), Lee You-young (Diva), Sung Yu-been (Moonlit Winter) and MuJin-sung.

Lee Joo-young has become a darling of sorts of Korean indie cinema. The actress, who studies film and theatre at the Kyung Hee University, started her cinematic journey with a debut in the short “Behinds” in 2011. But it wasn’t until indie director Zhang Lu’s “A Quiet Dream” in 2016 and her work in K-dramas like “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo” that her profile rose in prominence. Interesting roles in other Korean indies like “Jane” and “Maggie” followed, in which her performances were met with positive responses.

2020 has been good to her professionally. Beginning with her role of a transgender chef in the hit series “Itaewon Class“, which received a very favourable response, she also was the leading lady in the indie film “Baseball Girl” by Choi Yoon-tae, which released in the second half of 2020 and saw a high number of admissions, with her performance once again being applauded by critics,...

The 19th New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) has announced the names of the recipients of its Rising Star Award and Action Cinema Award, as well as the international jury members who will select the winner of the Nyaff “Uncaged” Competition Award during the upcoming virtual edition, running from August 28-September 12 on the Smart Cinema USA app. Tickets for this year’s special virtual edition go on sale August 23.

The 2020 Screen International Rising Star Award goes to South Korean actress Lee Joo-young for Baseball Girl, making its international premiere and screening throughout the festival. The award recognizes her daring choice of roles across her already diverse body of work, as well as her fierce commitment to every performance, whether in indie cinema, where she already stands as a star, or the TV drama scene. These notable traits are exemplified by her tour-de-force turn as the eponymous underdog female athlete in Baseball Girl.

South Korea’s actress Lee Joo-young, whose credits include Netflix drama “Itaewon Class” and the upcoming “Baseball Girl”, will be granted the 2020 Screen International Rising Star Award at the 19th (virtual) edition of New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff).

Lee, who won last year the Actress of the Year award at Busan in 2018 for “Maggie” and the Special Short Drama Actress Award at the 2019 Kbs Drama Awards for the TV drama “House of the Universe”, debuted in 2012 in the short film “Encounter”, but it is mainly known for her roles in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo”, several TV dramas and Netflix success “Itaewon Class”.

This year’s Nyaff features a “Women Transforming Film” programme including films directed and/or led by women such as the opening movie “The Girl And The Gun” by Pilipino Rae Red, Taiwanese Hsieh Pei-ju’s “Heavy Craving”, Norris Wong’s “My Prince Edward” from Hong Kong,...

Talent stars in festival selection Baseball Girl, one of several South Korean films this year.

The 19th New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) will honour South Korea’s Lee Joo-young with the 2020 Screen International Rising Star Award at its upcoming virtual edition.

Lee stars in Choi Yun-Tae’s Baseball Girl, which receives its international premiere and screens throughout the festival from August 28-September 12 on the Smart Cinema USA app.

Baseball Girl centres on a talented high school athlete who battles chauvinism to make it into the team.

Lee, who stars in Netflix drama Itaewon Class, made her screen debut in...

Derek Tsang’s debut film “SoulMate“, starring Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun in award-winning roles, was a big hit critically and commercially, so much so that Korean remake of the romantic drama was eventually announced. Now the actors for the central trio of characters, which include two childhood best friends and the man that becomes the object of both their affections, have been finalised, with Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee and Byeon Woo-seok all confirmed to be on board.

Kim Da-mi, who was the first to be attached to the project, is coming off the back of her brilliant performance in the K-Drama series “Itaewon Class“, which followed her breakout debut role in Park Hoon-jung’s “The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion“. Jeon So-nee, meanwhile, was last seen in her scene-stealing turn as Mi-na in “Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage” and “Ghost Walk”. Byeon Woo-seok is fairly new to films, having had...