Ji Chang-wook returns for revenge in 'The Manipulated' on Disney+

Korean heartthrob Ji Chang-wook is once again driven by vengeance in the upcoming Disney+ original thriller, "The Manipulated." The series marks a rare film-to-series adaptation for Disney+ Korea, bringing director Park Shin-woo and Ji back together to reinterpret Park’s 2017 action hit "Fabricated City" through a fresh lens. At the story’s core is a premise familiar to the original: Tae-joong (Ji Chang-wook), an ordinary man whose life is upended after being falsely accused of a brutal crime, d

Nov. 3, 2025

From 'oppa' to 'ajumma': How honorifics shape K-drama

If you’re a K-drama fan, chances are you’ve come across the world of Korean honorifics -- those small yet powerful words that can define entire relationships. In a language built around relationships, these titles, from "oppa" and "eonni" to "seonbae" and "hubae," serve as emotional cues that drive storytelling and shape character dynamics in ways that English subtitles cannot replicate. Here, we explore some of the most commonly used terms that shape the subtle subtext of K-drama storytelling.

Nov. 2, 2025

Kim Yoo-jung embraces her dark side in 'Dear X'

"I'm, like, negative 100 percent," Kim Yoo-jung said Thursday at CGV Yongsan in Seoul when asked about her sync rate with her character Baek Ah-jin. "I got so swept up playing her that I barely checked the monitor. But that's obviously not who I am." She'd just spent the better part of the press conference explaining how she plays a top actor who, wearing a mask of perfection, crushes anyone standing in her way. This is the star of Tving's "Dear X," the upcoming 12-episode series based on a hit

Oct. 31, 2025

'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae returns to Korean TV with a rom-com about chasing different roles

"I'm starting to think she brought me on just to mess with me," Lee Jung-jae said during Tuesday's online press conference, only half-joking. "I keep asking, 'Why are you treating me like this?' The Emmy winner for "Squid Game" is making his return to Korean television after wrapping three seasons of the Netflix survival drama, and he's picked something deliberately lighter: "Nice to Not Meet You," a rom-com that's all banter, casual misunderstandings, and zero deadly games that drench you in bl

Oct. 29, 2025

More real than reality: 'I'm Solo' producer on why the show works

South Korea is awash with reality dating shows. But one program stands out above the rest: "I’m Solo." Unlike most dating shows, "I’m Solo" aired on SBS Plus and ENA does not feature glamorous casts. Instead, its contestants resemble the neighbor next door. They are office workers, small business owners or civil servants seeking actual partners. Through “I’m Solo,” a total of 12 couples have gone on to marry. For viewers, the appeal lies not in romance itself but in the raw, sometimes awkward, w

Oct. 29, 2025

‘Physical: Asia’ brings sports icons together for Olympic-like showdown

Netflix Korea’s smash-hit reality franchise "Physical" is back -- this time on a continental scale with "Physical: Asia," featuring sports icons from across the region battling it out to be crowned the “top physical.” Building on the global buzz of its first two seasons in 2023 and 2024, "Physical: Asia" marks the franchise’s first-ever nation-versus-nation competition. The new season brings together 48 contestants from eight countries -- Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, the Philipp

Oct. 24, 2025

New Mexican teen romance adapts K-drama style in bold genre crossover

A new Mexican TV series is turning heads for doing something rare. Not only is it inspired by Korean dramas, it looks and feels like one. Set to premiere Oct. 27 on Mexico’s Canal 5 (part of the TelevisaUnivision network), "Contrato de Corazones, Tu y Yo" (Heart Contract, You and Me) is a 20-episode romantic drama that borrows directly from the visual and narrative playbook of K-dramas. It blends slow-motion edits, dreamlike cinematography and emotionally layered teen romance in a clear homage t

Oct. 24, 2025

House in Seoul, big company job — 'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' asks what success means

JTBC’s new series “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim” arrives with a Korean title as attention-grabbing as it is telling: “The Story of General Manager Kim Who Goes to a Big Company with a House in Seoul” — a phrase that encapsulates the aspirations of everyday Koreans. The dramedy delivers a mix of comedy, melancholy and realism. It follows Kim Nak-soo, a man who is confident he’s checked off every box on the societal scorecard. He has a house in Seoul’s fiercely competitive housing market, a secure gi

Oct. 22, 2025

Korea Drama Festival to make global debut in Brazil next year

The Korea Drama Festival, the country’s first festival dedicated to Korean TV dramas, is set to make its international debut in Sao Paulo next year. The announcement follows a visit by the Sao Paulo International Cultural Exchange Delegation to this year’s Korea Drama Festival in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, in early October. According to the Korea Drama Festival Organizing Committee, the expansion aims to foster deeper cultural collaboration and strengthen K-content exchanges between Korea

Oct. 22, 2025

'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae’s rom-com pairing with 17-year age gap courts controversy

“Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae’s upcoming tvN rom-com “Nice to Not Meet You,” in which he stars opposite “The Glory” actor Lim Ji-yeon, is sparking debate in Korea over the actors' 17-year age gap, though critics caution it’s too soon to judge. "Nice to Not Meet You,” a 16-part series slated to premiere Nov. 3 on cable channel tvN, pairs Lee, an A-list celebrity in the series, with Lim, who plays the entertainment reporter Wi Jung-shin. The two characters find themselves romantically entangled a

Oct. 20, 2025

'Just Makeup' combines viral casting, touching narratives

When “Just Makeup” debuted on Oct. 3, few expected a reality competition centered on contour palettes and eyeliner precision to become Korea's next new obsession. Yet within weeks, the Coupang Play original has become a bona fide cultural talking point. After Episodes 4 and 5 landed on Oct. 10, the series climbed to the No. 1 spot on the streamer’s chart, with viewership spiking a whopping 665 percent compared to its first week. At its core, the series is simple: 60 makeup-savvy contestants from

Oct. 19, 2025

Ro Woon breaks the mold in Disney+ hit 'The Murky Stream'

Introduced alongside Netflix Korea’s tentpole “Genie, Make a Wish” — starring power duo Bae Suzy and Kim Woo-bin — “The Murky Stream” arrived amid fierce competition during the Chuseok holidays, when streamers typically unleash their most high-profile titles. The Disney+ historical drama anchored by Ro Woon (“The King’s Affection”) and Shin Ye-eun (“Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born”) surprised many, becoming an unexpected breakout despite the marquee stars of its Netflix rival. The series held the t

Oct. 16, 2025

Tving goes global as CJ ENM, Warner Bros. Discovery ink partnership

Warner Bros. Discovery and CJ ENM announced Thursday an agreement on a strategic content production and distribution partnership designed to deepen the global reach of Korean dramas. At the heart of the deal is Tving, the CJ ENM-affiliated streaming platform, launching a branded hub on HBO Max. HBO Max is Warner Bros. Discovery’s US-based subscription service. The dedicated Tving hub, set to roll out in early 2026, will be available in 17 Asia-Pacific markets, including Southeast Asia, Taiwan an

Oct. 16, 2025

MBC formally apologizes for death of former weathercaster Oh Yoanna

A year and one month after former Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation weathercaster Oh Yoanna’s suicide amid alleged workplace bullying, MBC has issued a formal apology and promised reforms. This follows a controversial Ministry of Employment and Labor ruling that, while acknowledging harassment, said the case did not fall under legal workplace protections since Oh was a freelancer. On Wednesday, MBC hosted a press conference at its Sang-am headquarters, attended by Oh’s mother Jang Yeon-mi, MBC Pre

Oct. 15, 2025

Nepali porter from Korean travel show to receive support from relief group

Tamang Nabin, an 18-year-old Nepali Sherpa who appeared on a Korean travel show, will receive financial and educational support from WorldShare, a Seoul-based relief organization, the group said Saturday. WorldShare said it will begin providing living expenses and Korean language education for Nabin starting in November. Nabin appeared in the fourth season of MBC’s “Adventure by Accident,” which followed webtoon artist Kian84, influencer Pani Bottle, TV personality Dex and actor Lee Si-eon trekk

Oct. 12, 2025