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Korea Times

Korea Times

News and features from the Korea Times, South Korea's oldest English-language newspaper.

last updated:

28 August, 2024

Lee Min-ho as Gong Ryong and Kong Hyo-jin as Eve Kim in a still from When the Stars Gossip, which is set aboard a space station. Photo: tvN

Lee Min-ho makes return to TV in Netflix space romcom When the Stars Gossip

The new series, set aboard a space station, boasts a production budget of US$34.5 million and aims to set a new standard for K-dramas.

23 Dec 2024 - 11:15AMvideocam

Nearly two-thirds of Korean women OK with being childless, survey finds

22 Dec 2024 - 9:45AMvideocam

Actor Ju Ji-hoon on the message of Disney+ K-drama Light Shop

21 Dec 2024 - 7:15PM

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Are Winner’s Song Min-ho and Korean actress Park Ju-hyun dating?

‘Impossible to verify’ report the K-pop star is dating actress, his agency says. ‘Difficult to confirm’ a relationship, her agency says.

19 Dec 2024 - 12:01PM

Song Min-ho of K-pop group Winner and actress Park Ju-hyun, who are reported to be in a relationship. Photo: Instagram/@korea_fans_panama

Asian cinema: Korean films

Will these films draw Koreans back to cinema after protests over Yoon?

Cinema-going fell in South Korea amid mass protests after President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration. Distributors hope for a rebound.

16 Dec 2024 - 2:15PMvideocam

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

What impact will K-pop have on humanity and music? A professor ponders

An Oxford University professor is teaming with a pioneering K-pop songwriter to look into the enduring effects of the Korean music genre.

15 Dec 2024 - 6:15PM

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Squid Game’s Gong Yoo on Netflix series The Trunk and co-star Seo Hyun-jin

Gong Yoo talks about why he loved working with Seo Hyun-jin on new Netflix Korean drama The Trunk and how he’s not averse to ageing.

11 Dec 2024 - 9:45AM

Gong Yoo in a still from the new Netflix K-drama The Trunk. Photo: Netflix

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

K-pop boy group GOT7 to make 2025 comeback, release new album

GOT7’s leader Jay B announces the 7-member K-pop group will reunite in January 2025 and issue an album, says ‘we’re working hard’.

11 Dec 2024 - 5:45AM

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Illit become top K-pop rookie act of 2024, sweeping multiple awards

Despite ongoing controversy, with NewJeans’ ex-producer alleging plagiarism, Illit have claimed the title of 2024’s top K-pop rookie act.

9 Dec 2024 - 6:15PM

This Korean grandma is 77 and has just launched her own beauty brand

‘Do you know how young and beautiful you are right now?’ Reii Reii founder Park Mak-rye on her beauty brand, learning to love herself.

6 Dec 2024 - 11:15AM

Food and Drinks

Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars seeks contestants for season 2

Reality cooking competition series that was a global hit with its passionate chefs and intense battles invites applications to join season 2.

4 Dec 2024 - 10:20AM

A still from Culinary Class Wars sesaon one. Photo: Sangwoo Kim/Netflix

Controversial webtoon Get Schooled to become K-drama series

Depictions of racism and misogyny prompted webtoon’s removal from the US version of Naver. Despite this, the comic is still being adapted.

3 Dec 2024 - 10:18AM

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

K-pop group (G)I-DLE to renew contracts, Aespa’s rise continues

(G)I-DLE get over their 7-year itch, and win record of the year at MMAs, where girl group Aespa take 7 prizes and TWS win rookie of the year.

2 Dec 2024 - 1:30PM

Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born role’s special meaning for Moon So-ri

Korean actress was driven to appear in drama by thought of her late musical drama teacher, and practised a year to play lead character’s mum.

1 Dec 2024 - 2:42PMvideocam

Moon So-ri as Seo Yong-rye in a still from K-drama Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born. The Korean actress reveals what a late teacher had to do with her accepting the role, and her closeness with her co-stars. Photo: X/@imbcenews

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

If K-pop’s Seventeen are ‘textbook’ excellent, why aren’t they dominating?

Seventeen balance charm and edge, are excellent ‘across the board’ – but critics say they are not unique and lack a universally beloved song.

2 Dec 2024 - 2:28PMvideocam

Seventeen on stage during the 8th Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards in 2019 in Seoul, South Korea. While the K-pop group are popular in South Korea, they are not as famous as BTS and Stray Kids in the US. Photo: Getty Images

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Lookalike contest for BTS’ Jungkook keeps viral trend going

Look like a star? Enter a lookalike contest. After a Timothée Chalamet one went viral, it was the turn of BTS’ Jungkook. Up next: NCT’s Mark.

30 Nov 2024 - 4:54AM

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

How does APT by Rosé and Bruno Mars rewrite the K-pop playbook?

Less synchronised choreography and storytelling, more casual dancing and playful visuals – ‘APT’ blends K-pop and Western pop conventions.

27 Nov 2024 - 9:45AM

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AI-driven K-dramas, movies ring in new era of freedom for creators

Producers in Korea use ChatGPT and similar software to script dramas and films, and do AI editing. It cuts costs but there are still hurdles.

22 Nov 2024 - 5:15PM

A still from Korean AI-powered film Mateo. Creators say AI opens the door for anyone to create content, but question whether it can sustain viewer engagement. Photo: MBC C&I

Actor Song Joong-ki feels ‘blessed’ by birth of daughter

‘Our lovely princess was born healthy,’ Korean actor says in Rome, where his wife, actress Katy Saunders, gave birth to their second child.

21 Nov 2024 - 12:45PM

Telegram to delete deepfakes targeting South Koreans

This comes as South Korea’s media regulation agency pushes the company to boost its monitoring of such content.

20 Nov 2024 - 7:12PMvideocam

Korean actress Lee Jung-hyun thankful to be a mother again at 44

Parasyte: The Grey star Lee gives birth to baby girl and hails her fast recovery on social media – ‘People didn’t realise I was the mother’.

21 Nov 2024 - 3:46PM

South Korean actress and singer Lee Jung-hyun, 44, with her new baby, born on October 30, 2024. Photo: Instagram/mermaidleejh

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

After 30 years in K-pop, singer and producer J.Y. Park still performing

J.Y. Park began as a singer, started JYP Entertainment and produced a string of top K-pop acts. He’s launching a 30-year anniversary tour.

18 Nov 2024 - 6:15PM

J.Y. Park debuted as a singer in 1994 and went on to produce some of the biggest acts in K-pop. He will soon embark on a concert tour in Korea and Japan to celebrate 30 years as a K-pop powerhouse. Photo: JYP Entertainment

Food and Drinks

‘Text hip’ trend makes books cool in Korea, and a bar catches on

K-pop stars like NewJeans’ Minji are making reading cool again. Chaeg Bar in Seoul is lined with books to read and serves literary cocktails.

10 Nov 2024 - 6:15PM

Food and Drinks

Coffee researcher spills the beans on new varieties being bred

World Coffee Research head Jennifer Long’s goal is to diversify coffee production to benefit farmers and drinkers. New beans are on the way.

10 Nov 2024 - 5:15PM

Why Hellbound 2’s Kim Shin-rock ‘is at her peak’, leaving people speechless

Audiences have praised Kim Shin-rock for her otherworldly performance in Hellbound 2, and the K-drama’s creators couldn’t agree more.

6 Nov 2024 - 7:15PMvideocam

Kim Shin-rock with her 2022 Blue Dragon Series Awards trophy for best supporting actress in a drama for her portrayal of Park Jung-ja in Hellbound. Viewers have praised Kim for her performance in the second season of the Netflix Korean drama. Photo: Instagram/@netflix.hellbound

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Rosé’s smash hit APT brings surge of interest in 80s song

Korean singer Yoon Soo-il’s 1982 hit ‘A.P.T.’ is enjoying renewed attention. Some fans remixed the two songs – and he’s grateful to Rosé.

5 Nov 2024 - 9:48AMvideocam

A still from the “APT” official music video. Korean singer Yoon Soo-il’s 1982 hit ‘A.P.T’ is enjoying renewed attention after Blackpink’s Rosé released “APT” with pop star Bruno Mars. Photo: YouTube/@Rosé

Critics decry scenes of alcohol drinking in K-dramas, chat shows

K-dramas like Queen of Tears and YouTube shows where Korean stars let their hair down over drinks ‘familiarise young people with drinking’.

4 Nov 2024 - 5:45PM

Sex and relationships

Women public servants made to join matchmaking events in Korea

Municipal matchmaking events in Korea have been criticised as ineffective – in some cases women public servants have made up the numbers.

4 Nov 2024 - 5:46PM

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