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Lee Gyu-lee

Korea Times Business Reporter

Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.

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Shows & Dramas

Jang Keun-suk steps out of his comfort zone with 'The Bait'

From left, actors Heo Sung-tae, Lee Elijah and Jang Keun-suk pose during a press conference for Coupang Play's new original series “The Bait,” in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Jang Keun-suk said that his small screen return after five years to play the lead role of Ku Do-han in Coupang Play's new original series, “The Bait,” was a new challenge in his career to break him out of his comfort zone.“Since this series is my comeback after a long time, I thought about what I can bring to the role. So I felt deviating from the established image of me by playing Koo Do-han could be a new challenge,” he said during a press conference for the series, held in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Wednesday. “So I grew my beard and reined in my emotions to create a tough character.” The crime thriller series revolves around Koo (Jang), a detective who used to be a lawyer. He takes a serial murder case linked to a major fraud case from years earlier. As he deepens his investigation into the murder, he finds clues

Jan 27, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Jang Keun-suk steps out of his comfort zone with 'The Bait'
Shows & Dramas

From period to action: different genre series set for February

From left, posters for the period romance “Our Blooming Youth,” the fantasy rom-com “The Heavenly Idol,” and the rom-com “Love to Hate You” / Courtesy of tvN, Netflix By Lee Gyu-leeFebruary is expected to be filled with series of various genres, ranging from period and romantic comedy to action.TvN is debuting two new series next month, the period romance “Our Blooming Youth” and fantasy rom-com “The Heavenly Idol.”The period mystery romance series, set to premiere on Feb. 6, revolves around Lee Hwan (Park Hyung-sik), a cursed crown prince, and Min Jae-yi (Jeon So-nee), a woman from a prominent family.Hwan becomes the crown prince after his older brother dies. On the night of his coronation, he gets a mysterious curse. On the other hand, Jae-yi is an obedient, devoted daughter engaged to a member of a higher-ranking family to save her own family's honor. But when her family is murdered four days before the wedding, she is accused of killing them. Desperate to exoner

Jan 25, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
From period to action: different genre series set for February
Shows & Dramas

INTERVIEW AOA's Chanmi finds her voice with virtual show 'GIRL'S RE:VERSE'

Singer Im Chan-mi played the avatar named Dohwa in the virtual music survival show "GIRL'S RE:VERSE.” Courtesy of Kakao EntertainmentBy Lee Gyu-lee Singer Im Chan-mi, better known as Chanmi of the K-pop girl group AOA, said that competing on Kakao Entertainment's music survival show “GIRL'S RE:VERSE” allowed her to explore her voice. Singer Im Chan-mi / Courtesy of Kakao EntertainmentThe survival show, which kicked off on Jan. 2, invites 30 singers from different K-pop girl groups to play virtual reality (VR) characters and compete with each other in a metaverse named W. The contestants hide their real-life identities and perform wearing VR headsets and controllers in separate spaces to show off their performance skills and talents through their virtual avatars. Among those, only the top finalists make their debut as a new K-pop group in the virtual world. Im played the avatar named Dohwa. During the preliminary round, in which the contestants had a one-on-one competition, the singer failed to make it to the next round. “When I was doing group activities with

Jan 24, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
[INTERVIEW] AOA's Chanmi finds her voice with virtual show 'GIRL'S RE:VERSE'
Shows & Dramas

Reality show 'Family World Tour' follows celebrity families' chaotic trips

Singer Kyuhyun, from left, comedian Park Na-rae and actress Lee Yu-ri pose during the online press conference for KBS' new reality show “Family World Tour," Thursday. Courtesy of KBSBy Lee Gyu-leeTraveling with loved ones is a delightful experience, yet it can also get stressful especially if it's in a foreign country, filled with the possibility of running into mishaps in unfamiliar surroundings. KBS' new reality travel show “Family World Tour” explores the fun but chaotic experiences of traveling overseas through celebrity families.“When families put a hold on their daily lives and go on a trip, they tend to have certain positive expectations but they often face some sort of bizarre struggles. This is a travel show but it also takes a close look at families,” producer Kim Sung-min said during an online press conference, Thursday. “This is a reality show that humorously explores the dissonance between family members as they face different struggles during their overseas vacations.”The new show, set to start on Sunday, will follow four celebr

Jan 20, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Reality show 'Family World Tour' follows celebrity families' chaotic trips
Shows & Dramas

Four actors head for epic backpacking trip with 'Bros on Foot'

From left, actors Joo Ji-hoon, Yeo Jin-goo, Choi Min-ho and Ha Jung-woo pose during an online press conference for Tving's reality show “Bros on Foot,” Thursday. Courtesy of TvingBy Lee Gyu-leeA-list stars ― Ha Jung-woo, Joo Ji-hoon, Choi Min-ho, and Yeo Jin-goo ― have left behind their celebrity lives for a rough backpacking road trip around New Zealand with Tving's new original reality show “Bros on Foot.” The new travel show, set to be released on Friday, follows the four actors traveling around parts of New Zealand on foot. On their trip, the four come together to complete a series of missions to win chances for young adults to go on their dream trips.“When I first got the proposal (for the show), I vaguely thought it would be fun and I wanted to travel somewhere at the time,” Ha explained his reason for joining the show, during an online press conference for the show, Thursday. “And in the proposal, it had Joo's name as a possible cast member, and I felt we could have something fun from spending time together. It was that simple.”T

Jan 20, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Four actors head for epic backpacking trip with 'Bros on Foot'
Entertainment

Entertainment industry races to buy rights to web novels, comics

From left, posters for webcomic “Again My Life,” web novel “Reborn Rich,” and webcomic “Business Proposal,” which were adapted into TV series / Courtesy of Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency, Kakao Entertainment, Naver WebtoonWeb-based comics, novels prove to be useful in franchising stories across platformsBy Lee Gyu-leeTrans-media storytelling has become more and more prevalent, blurring the boundaries between platforms or formats through which content is presented and expanding the experiences of a single story. With this rising trend, web novels and webcomics have become popular sources to expand their stories and characters into franchises, developing multiple uses such as TV series, movies, games and even reality shows. As adaptations of webcomics and web novels have increasingly proven to be successful, the entertainment industry is eager to secure ownership of the original intellectual property (IP). According to the state-run Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), Korea's web novel market was scaled at 600 billion won ($483.9 million) in 2

Jan 19, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Entertainment industry races to buy rights to web novels, comics
Shows & Dramas

Kang So-ra returns to small screen with 'Strangers Again'

Actors Kang So-ra, right, and Jang Seung-jo pose during a press conference for ENA's new romance legal series “Strangers Again,” held in Mapo District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of ENA By Lee Gyu-leeActress Kang So-ra has picked up her first series in six years with ENA's new romantic comedy series “Strangers Again,” since her last small screen piece “Revolutionary Love” in 2017. “I felt more nervous than when I made my debut. Since I've taken time off (from my career), I was afraid if I could get back on track when I started working again,” the actress said during a press conference for the series, held in Mapo District, Seoul, Jan. 18.The new series, which premiered on the day of the conference, revolves around a successful, celebrity lawyer, Oh Ha-ra (Kang), who specializes in divorce cases. She has gone through a divorce herself with another lawyer, Ku Eun-beom (Jang Seung-jo). Since the split, she is eager to find a new romance, but luck isn't on her side when

Jan 19, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Kang So-ra returns to small screen with 'Strangers Again'
Shows & Dramas

Korean-language works win Critics Choice Awards for 4 consecutive years

The cast and staff of “Pachinko” pose with the trophy for the Best Foreign Language Series at the 28th Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California, Sunday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap'Pachinko' named Best Foreign Language SeriesBy Lee Gyu-lee Apple TV+'s original series “Pachinko” has become the Best Foreign Language Series at this year's Critics Choice Awards, making it the fourth time for a film or a series in the Korean language to win a prize at one of the acclaimed U.S. awards. The series beat eight other nominees, including another Korean-language series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time).A poster for the series “Pachinko” / Courtesy of Apple TV+Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Min Jin Lee, the epic saga tells the story of a Korean immigrant family across four generations from the perspective of Sunja (Kim Min-ha), the family's matriarch. It starts early in the life of Sunja, who is born to a hard-working family in the southeastern port city of Busan during t

Jan 16, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Korean-language works win Critics Choice Awards for 4 consecutive years
Shows & Dramas

Travel shows head back overseas with big name stars

A still from Tving's new original series “Bros on Foot” / Courtesy of Tving By Lee Gyu-leeSince the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, the production of many travel shows was suspended or canceled. But as travel restrictions have eased, more networks and streaming platforms are resuming the productions of such shows, but this time, with big-name stars as cast members.Tving is set to roll out its new original travel show “Bros on Foot” this month, starring famous actors Ha Jung-woo, Joo Ji-hoon, Choi Min-ho, and Yeo Jin-goo. The show will follow the four actors traveling around parts of New Zealand on foot. On their trip, the four come together to complete a series of missions to win chances for young adults to go on their dream trip. The actors wrapped up taping for the show in New Zealand last year, and the show will be released on Jan. 20. TvN is making three travel shows, led by actors like Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Jin-woong and Heo Sung-tae, to debut in the coming mo

Jan 14, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Travel shows head back overseas with big name stars
Shows & Dramas

Kim Min-gue's new series 'The Heavenly Idol' to premiere next month

Kim Min-gue will play the lead in tvN's new fantasy romance series, “The Heavenly Idol.” Courtesy of Happy Tribe Entertainment By Lee Gyu-leeTvN's new fantasy romance series, “The Heavenly Idol,” starring actors Kim Min-gue and Go Bo-gyeol, will premiere on Feb. 15, the network said, Friday. Based on the web novel of the same name, the upcoming romantic comedy series will revolve around K-pop singer Woo Yeon-woo (Kim), who is possessed by a priest named Lembrary from a fictional world. Lembrary is the highest ranking figure in the other world and has a sacred power. One day, he wakes up in the body of Yeon-woo, who is a member of a struggling, not-so-popular boy group, in a completely different world. With the help of the group's manager, Kim Dal (Go), Lembrary struggles to get used to the cutthroat world of K-pop while trying to find a way back to his original world. Actor Lee Jang-woo will also star in the series as the antagonist, Lumena, who is the devil in the

Jan 13, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Kim Min-gue's new series 'The Heavenly Idol' to premiere next month
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