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What's hot in Korea

What's hot in Korea

The latest entertainment news from Korea, including updates on the sex scandal, food trends, beauty hacks and more from the land of K-pop.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

Korean actor Hyun Bin with his wife Son Ye-jin. The couple married in March 2022 and had their son in November the same year. Photo: Instagram/hyunbinactor

Asian cinema: Korean films

‘I’m second,’ says South Korean star Hyun Bin on life now he’s a dad

Hyun Bin says his son and his wife, Crash Landing on You co-star Son Ye-jin, are his priorities, and reveals the pressures of making Harbin.

25 Dec 2024 - 2:45PMvideocam

Squid Game 2 star on its ‘genius’ writer and ‘living with Gi-hun’

24 Dec 2024 - 7:15AMvideocam

Asian cinema: Korean films

Review | Hidden Face, a Korean erotic thriller, serves up scandalous fun

23 Dec 2024 - 1:15PMvideocam

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

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

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

Ju runs a light shop to which other characters are drawn. He recalls the ‘emotion I was experiencing for the first time’ shooting the series.

21 Dec 2024 - 7:15PM

Korean drama reviews

The 15 best K-dramas of 2024 ranked, from Queen of Tears to Squid Game 2

From a vigilante thriller to a period political drama, and Korea’s most awaited sequel, here is our pick of the top 15 K-dramas of 2024.

21 Dec 2024 - 7:12AMvideocam

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Korean drama reviews

Review | Light Shop: mawkish supernatural K-drama of two halves

Despite some clever subterfuge on the part of its creator Kang Full, and some affecting scenes, the show’s narrative lacks proper exposition.

19 Dec 2024 - 8:15PMvideocam

Ju Ji-hoon in a still from Light Shop. Photo: Disney+.

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

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

Profile | Meet Lim Ji-yeon, star of K-dramas The Glory and The Tale of Lady Ok

Lim found fame in steamy drama Obsessed, stopped being typecast after her role in The Glory, and has not looked back since.

14 Dec 2024 - 4:59AM

Lim Ji-yeon in a still from The Glory. 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 group GOT7 (pictured) will make a comeback in January 2025 featuring all seven members, and release a new album. Photo: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

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

Jung Woo-sung’s apology sparks debate on single-parent families in South Korea

The actor’s apology for fathering a child outside of marriage raised issues of deep-rooted cultural stigmas and systemic inequities faced by single-parent families.

8 Dec 2024 - 9:18AMvideocam

K-drama casting news about IU, Park Shin-hye and Park Bo-young

K-pop star IU is rejoining Byeon Woo-seok for a royal romcom, while Park Shin-hye is looking at playing a dental genius.

7 Dec 2024 - 7:15PM

K-pop star IU, also known as Lee Ji-eun, is set to star as an heiress in the upcoming Korean drama series Wife of a 21st Century Prince. Photo: Instagram/@dlwlrma

Korean drama reviews

Light Shop: Ju Ji-hoon leads supernatural K-drama from Moving writer

This tale of customers at a mysterious shop that only opens at night is based on a story by webtoon author Kang Full.

6 Dec 2024 - 7:15PMvideocam

Ju Ji-hoon as store owner Jung Won-young in a still from Light Shop, a new Korean drama series on Disney+ by Kang Full, the creator of hit series Moving. Photo: Disney+.

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Review | Rosie, debut album of Blackpink’s Rosé, is an emotional roller coaster

Across 12 songs, Rosé breaks down the tribulations of lost love. While it is easy to empathise with, some may miss Blackpink’s upbeat tempo.

5 Dec 2024 - 12:31PMvideocam

Korean drama reviews

The Fiery Priest 2 midseason recap: Kim Nam-gil in comedy overload

Slapstick humour and ludicrous scenarios take over as Kim Nam-gil fights a drug lord, in a series that has become funnier but less coherent.

4 Dec 2024 - 7:15PMvideocam

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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

Books and literature

Korean author on being your true self, as her hit guide appears in English

K-pop stars helped Kim Su-hyun’s I Decided to Live as Me fly off shelves in Asia. An English translation may help more find their own path.

10 Dec 2024 - 12:33PM

Korean drama reviews

The Tale of Lady Ok, period rags-to-riches K-drama with Lim Ji-yeon

Lim Ji-yeon plays a humble servant who pretends to be a noblewoman, in this period K-drama set in the era of Joseon dynastic rule in Korea.

3 Dec 2024 - 7:26PMvideocam

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

The controversial webtoon Get Schooled is being adapted into a drama, with actor Kim Moo-yul taking on the lead role. Photo: courtesy of Naver Webtoon

Korean drama reviews

Review | The Trunk: Gong Yoo, Seo Hyun-jin lead romantic thriller K-drama

A woman leaves her wealthy husband and sets him up with another woman. Meanwhile a suitcase hides a mystery in atmospheric Netflix series.

2 Dec 2024 - 7:45PMvideocam

Gong Yoo as Han Jeong-won and Seo Hyun-jin as Noh In-ji in a still from The Trunk. Photo: Kim Seung-wan/Netflix

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Language Matters | How long before apateu is an English word, given Rosé and Bruno Mars’ APT?

Many Korean words have recently been added to English, and ‘apeteu’ may follow them now APT is a global hit with music fans.

2 Dec 2024 - 4:10PM

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

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

Korean drama reviews

Review | Gangnam B-Side: K-drama crime thriller descends into a gore fest

Ji Chang-wook’s Seoul pimp and Bibi’s escort fail to surprise us in this drama with gratuitous violence inflicted on badly-drawn characters.

29 Nov 2024 - 7:45PMvideocam

Jo Woo-jin in a still from Gangnam B-Side. Photo: Disney+

6 new Korean drama series to watch in December 2024, including Squid Game 2

Squid Game returns for season 2 with Lee Jung-jae and Wi Ha-joon, Park Bo-young leads a supernatural mystery on Disney+, and more.

7 Dec 2024 - 8:39AMvideocam

Korean drama reviews

When the Phone Rings: Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin in ludicrous K-drama

This story, which follows a selective mute (played by Chae Soo-bin) and her public speaker husband (Yoo Yeon-seok), lacks substance.

28 Nov 2024 - 7:15PMvideocam

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