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Baek Byung-yeul

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.

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Shows & Dramas

'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience

Netflix series “If Wishes Could Kill” is an eight-part horror series that blends various genres including occult and action to keep viewers engaged, director Park Yoon-seo said Tuesday. “While short films can effectively create fear in a brief moment, I put significant effort into this as a longer series,” the director said during a press conference in Seoul. He added that he focused on building a believable plot to ensure audiences stay immersed. The eight-part series follows high school students who are suddenly warned of their imminent deaths through a curse from a wish-granting app called Girigo. The story depicts their desperate struggles to escape the curse and survive. Park said he integrated elements of occult, action and school dramas into a traditional horror framework. He believes this combination will prevent the audience from feeling bored throughout the eight episodes. “I wanted to go beyond the limits of standard horror,” the director said. “By combining different genres, I made sure there is never a dull moment from the beginning to the last episode.” Regar

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience
Trends

Neukgu Bread: Escaped wolf inspires bakers, sports teams

Neukgu, a gray wolf that escaped from O-World theme park in Daejeon, has become inspiration for the city's snack lovers. Harehare, a bakery in Daejeon, recently launched a limited-edition "Neukgu bread" to celebrate the animal's safe return, featuring the wolf’s face drawn in chocolate on the crust. The bakery reported that its daily stock of 50 buns sells out within minutes of opening. The wolf escaped from the zoo on April 8 and was recaptured by the authorities on April 17, but the attention didn't die down after its return to the theme park. In addition to Neukgu Bread, LG Electronics' Best Shop's Daejeon store used its massive digital billboard to send a message to the wolf on behalf of the townspeople. The previous "Come back, Neukgu" plea was replaced on April 17 with a celebratory "Thank you for coming back, Neukgu" message, which remains visible and part of the advertising rotation for the billboard. Equally intriguing is how Neukgu's story has become intertwined with the city's sports scene. People are calling Neukgu a "living lucky charm" because Daejeon's football and baseba

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Neukgu Bread: Escaped wolf inspires bakers, sports teams
Trends

Yongsan shopping complex in Seoul emerges as subculture hub, embracing consumer shift

Yongsan in central Seoul was once the capital of electronics in Korea. For those shopping for gadgets, a visit to the area was a must. However, after the widespread adoption of online shopping led to a decline in physical electronics sales, the neighborhood has found a new identity. The area, centered around I'Park Mall, is now emerging as a major hub for subculture content and pop-up events, drawing a growing number of visitors seeking unique offline experiences. The shopping complex embodies that transformation, shifting away from traditional retail to focus on fandoms built around animations, games and character-based intellectual property. Stores selling goods from popular franchises, alongside the country's largest Nintendo shop and Sony's PlayStation store, have turned the mall into a go-to destination for video game and subculture fans. Dopamine Station, which opened at I'Park Mall last year, is packed with visitors of all ages, even on weekday afternoons. The space brings together a wide range of goods such as merchandise from popular animation and game characters, mechanical key

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Yongsan shopping complex in Seoul emerges as subculture hub, embracing consumer shift
Films

Jung Woo revisits personal history, growth in 'Audition 109'

For actor Jung Woo, returning to the character of Jjanggu after 16 years was not just a career move, but a deeply personal journey. In his directorial debut, “Audition 109,” the actor explores the struggling years of an aspiring actor, a narrative that serves as a spiritual successor to his 2009 breakout film “Wish.” Jung said the project began with a few episodes he had written years ago. “I wrote the original draft for ‘Wish,’ and I often wondered what happened to Jjanggu after that story ended,” Jung told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. “I kept those notes in storage until the production finally got under way. We went through six or seven rounds of revisions to turn those memories into a screenplay.” “Wish” gained a massive cult following, particularly among male audiences who found deep resonance in its raw and nostalgic depiction of high school brotherhood and growing pains. Due to these high expectations, Jung initially turned down the offer to direct “Audition 109.” However, he eventually realized that he was already performing the duties of

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jung Woo revisits personal history, growth in 'Audition 109'
Shows & Dramas

Broadcasters embrace global streaming platforms to survive

When MBC's "Perfect Crown" premiered on April 10, two very different audiences tuned in simultaneously — those who switched on their television sets the traditional way, and others who pressed play on Disney+. The series, featuring two Korean stars — IU and Byun Woo-seok — had become the most-watched Korean series on the streaming platform worldwide. On Sunday, MBC said the fourth episode aired on Saturday night recorded its highest ratings yet with 11.1 percent. The response on streaming platforms tells a similar story. The show has held the No. 1 spot on Disney+ Korea's Top 10 since its release, and, as of April 18, ranks fifth globally on FlixPatrol's Disney+ Top 10 TV chart. The drama is set in a fictional Korea that operates as a constitutional monarchy rather than the republic it is today. The series centers on Sung Hee-joo (IU), a chaebol heiress who has wealth and ambition but finds herself held back by her status as a commoner. Her path crosses with Grand Prince Ian (Byeon), a royal, the king’s second son. The show airs on MBC every Friday and Saturday and is available

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Broadcasters embrace global streaming platforms to survive
Travel & Food

Korea aims to become luxury travel hub through Virtuoso partnership

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is stepping up efforts to transform the country into a premier destination for global high-end travelers by partnering with the world's leading luxury travel network. The state-run tourism agency hosted the 2026 Virtuoso Symposium in Korea last week and signed a memorandum of understanding with Virtuoso on Friday to elevate Korea's positioning in the global luxury travel stage. Virtuoso is a premier global network of luxury travel agencies featuring more than 22,000 advisors across 58 countries. The symposium brought hundreds of top-tier travel executives and advisors to Korea to experience the country's cultural and modern offerings. Following the signing ceremony, a welcome dinner was held to showcase the essence of Korean flavors. The event featured a performance titled “Mimesis” by the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre, which is the follow up to their acclaimed work “One Dance” that previously sold out New York's Lincoln Center and won a Bessie Award. Ven. Seonjae, the first designated master of Korean temple food, also conducted a cooking

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea aims to become luxury travel hub through Virtuoso partnership
Korean Heritage

Korea Times opens photo contest of heritage sites across country

The Korea Times, in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service, is hosting the Discover Korea's World Heritage photo contest, ahead of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held in Busan from July 19 to 29. To commemorate the prestigious international gathering, The Korea Times invites non-Korean nationals from around the world to share their special moments captured at Korea's magnificent heritage sites. Participants are required to choose a photograph of one of Korea's 17 designated UNESCO World Heritage sites or one of the 12 sites on the Tentative List currently being promoted by the Korean government for future inscription. New photos are not a must and participants are welcome to submit existing photos from their gallery or collection, as long as it is an original photo taken by the person submitting it. Along with the photo taken at a heritage site, the participants are required to include a short story about their visit to the site. They need to upload the photo on their public social media account with the following hashtags — #thekoreatimes #korea

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea Times opens photo contest of heritage sites across country
Films

Jung Woo returns as Jjanggu in directorial debut ‘Audition 109’

Actor Jung Woo is taking a bold new step by taking on dual roles as lead actor and co-director in his latest film, “Audition 109,” a spiritual successor to the 2009 cult classic “Wish.” The actor and director said this film marks a significant milestone in his career as the 45-year-old brings his own life stories to the big screen. He also expressed deep affection for his character, Jjanggu, which has also been his nickname since he was a toddler and remains inseparable from his identity as an actor. “It is difficult to talk about the character Jjanggu without mentioning the film ‘Wish.’ This character is also something I cannot leave out of my life as an actor,” Jung said during a press conference Thursday. “It was a pleasure to play Jjanggu again after 16 years. While there were physical challenges and pressure in directing and acting simultaneously, it was a joyful and thankful experience to turn my own story into a movie.” “Audition 109” follows the journey of Jjanggu, a rookie actor who repeatedly faces failure but never gives up on his dream. While the 2009 f

Apr 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jung Woo returns as Jjanggu in directorial debut ‘Audition 109’
Films

Horror hit ‘Salmokji’ turns filming site into late-night hot spot

The horror film “Salmokji: Whispering Water” is creating a phenomenon in the local film industry as its box office popularity spreads to the real world, turning its actual filming location into a popular destination for late-night thrill-seekers. According to data from the Korean Film Council on Monday, the film, which was released on April 8, topped the box office last week, drawing 724,029 viewers. The film notably drew more than 530,000 viewers from Friday to Sunday, marking the highest opening weekend for a horror film since “Metamorphosis” (2019), which attracted around 570,000 viewers. “Salmokji: Whispering Water” follows a film crew that visits a reservoir to reshoot scenes after a mysterious figure is captured on a road view map. There, they encounter an unidentifiable entity lurking in the dark waters. Directed by Lee Sang-min and starring Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jong-won, the film is set and filmed at a real reservoir in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province. Salmokji was originally an ordinary reservoir built in 1982 to supply water to local farms. However, the location la

Apr 14, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Horror hit ‘Salmokji’ turns filming site into late-night hot spot
Korean Heritage

Joseon’s first global symbols set for Seoul homecoming

Five ceremonial flags that represented the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during its historic debut on the world stage are set to return to Korea this winter following a comprehensive restoration process in the United States, according to video game developer Riot Games Monday. The project, funded by Riot Games, focuses on five specific banners, including the "Hogi" (tiger flag) and "Jujakgi" (red phoenix flag) that were first unveiled at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. These artifacts have been housed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum) for more than 130 years. Unlike typical cases where artifacts are brought to Korea for treatment, these flags will undergo conservation directly at their current location in the U.S. to ensure their stability before the long journey home. "The conservation process will be completed locally in the U.S., and the National Palace Museum of Korea will be the primary entity responsible for bringing these flags back in December," an official from Riot Games said. "Once they arrive, the National Pa

Apr 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Joseon’s first global symbols set for Seoul homecoming
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