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Park Jin-hai

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.

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Shows & Dramas

Woo Do-hwan pushes his limits for Netflix’s 'Bloodhounds'

Since his 2011 debut, Woo Do-hwan has forged a reputation as a relentless actor, infusing gritty action series and soulful dramas alike with his singular intensity. Netflix’s crime thriller “Bloodhounds” has now thrust him onto the global stage. Woo said that after wrapping Season 1, exhaustion left him doubting whether he could summon the strength for more. “But once Season 2 got the green light, it felt like stepping onto a battlefield,” he told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. “Unlike other dramas, this one demands everything — body and soul — leaving no room for anything else. Even off days mean training, building strength for the fight ahead. But when Season 2 was confirmed, excitement took over. I trained harder than ever,” he said. “Bloodhounds” Season 2 sends Gun-woo (Woo) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) into the brutal arena of a global underground boxing league, where money and mayhem reign, unleashing another barrage of crowd-pleasing hooks. For Season 2, Woo bulked up 13 kilograms through more systematic training. “Season 1’s Gun-woo was still

Apr 9, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Woo Do-hwan pushes his limits for Netflix’s 'Bloodhounds'
Shows & Dramas

Jung Ji-hoon reinvents villain archetype in ‘Bloodhounds’ Season 2

Singer-actor Jung Ji-hoon, better known by his stage name Rain, takes on his first villain role as Baek-jeong, the operator of a global illegal boxing league, in Netflix series "Bloodhounds" Season 2. The high-octane action crime thriller, directed by Jason Kim, centers on the two young boxers battling Iron Knuckle Fighting Championship, a dark web-based organization hosting brutal matches fueled by high-stakes gambling and coercion, pulling protagonists Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) into its violent underworld. He said the project was “physically exhausting but also emotionally draining.” “My character doesn’t have much of a backstory. The director didn’t want him to become a cliché villain. Usually, when you play a bad guy, you act nice and then suddenly turn evil — that roller‑coaster of intensity can make the performance stand out. But the director told me not to do that," he said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday. "He wanted the character to start off already furious, with no change in tone, so that was challenging."

Apr 8, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Jung Ji-hoon reinvents villain archetype in ‘Bloodhounds’ Season 2
Shows & Dramas

Netflix series ‘Beef’ Season 2 incorporates more Korean elements: director

The award-winning Netflix series "Beef," which swept categories at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, returns April 16 with its second season. Korean American director and writer Lee Sung-jin said he was excited but found Season 2 “even harder than the first” season to make as he aimed to “take some big swings and risks while retaining what is special about the show" during an online interview with The Korea Times on Tuesday. Unlike Season 1’s road rage feud between lonely strangers, Season 2 unfolds at an elite country club where a young couple witnesses a shocking fight between their boss and his wife, and the web of blackmail that follows involving both couples and the club’s owner, Korean billionaire Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung). While Season 1 focused on Korean American stories, Season 2 explores a mixed-race character’s Korean roots. “It’s a bridge between West and East,” Lee said. “Charles’ character is half Korean, caught in an identity tug-of-war as he’s pulled into the upper echelons of Korean society — the world of chaebol (conglo

Apr 7, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Netflix series ‘Beef’ Season 2 incorporates more Korean elements: director
Shows & Dramas

Byeon Woo-seok, IU dazzle in heart-fluttering palace romance 'Perfect Crown'

A royal romance brimming with charm is on its way as Byeon Woo-seok and IU step into the spotlight in MBC’s upcoming series “Perfect Crown,” one of the year’s most buzzed-about dramas. The network unveiled the project Monday. Set in an alternate modern-day Korea that still retains a constitutional monarchy, the romantic comedy traces the fateful encounter between a “rich heiress and powerless prince.” It tells the story of a woman born into immense wealth but burdened by her commoner status and a prince who, despite his royal blood, has been stripped of privilege. Together, they embark on a journey to break social barriers and rewrite their destinies. The series has drawn particular attention as MBC’s next big royal romance following its 2006 hit “Princess Hours.” IU, who plays Seong Hui-ju, the intelligent and ambitious daughter of conglomerate Castle Group, said, “I play a woman who has everything but the official title to match,” introducing her character during a press conference for the drama at Josun Palace in Gangnam District, Seoul, Monday. “She gets frus

Apr 6, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Byeon Woo-seok, IU dazzle in heart-fluttering palace romance 'Perfect Crown'
Trends

How Seoul’s Mount Gwanak became 'energy hot spot' for young Koreans

Seoul’s Mount Gwanak, which straddles the city’s Gwanak District and Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province, has quietly become a new “it place” for young Koreans, drawing steady streams of MZ (millennial and Gen‑Z) hikers in search of sweeping views, good vibes — and what some call a little extra luck. The shift began after a feng shui‑style fortune‑teller appeared on a popular TV program and told viewers, “If your luck is blocked, go to Mount Gwanak.” The mountain suddenly became a hot new destination, with the fortune teller adding that “it has such strong energy that people say if you make the same wish three times there, it will come true.” Online and across social media platforms, posts and videos of people “confirming” their visits spread quickly, bringing a sharp rise in hikers. Many young visitors in their 20s and 30s began showing up, to the point that some now wait about an hour in line at the summit just to take a photo. “It’s true I came because it’s trending on Instagram, but hiking is easy to get into in Korea and I’ve always liked it,” said Sh

Apr 3, 2026By Park Jin-hai
How Seoul’s Mount Gwanak became 'energy hot spot' for young Koreans
Trends

Are you a new gardener? Here's a guide to indoor gardening

As spring returns, more Koreans are bringing life back into their homes — literally. Indoor plants are not just decor; they’ve become sources of emotional comfort and an integral part of daily routines. The home gardening trend sprouted during the pandemic, when stay‑at‑home life and the desire for soothing indoor spaces pushed people toward greenery. What began as a few potted plants on a windowsill has expanded into full‑scale home gardening, spreading across living rooms, balconies and terraces. For many, plant care now marks the start of the day. Checking on leaves, tracking watering schedules and watching new buds grow has turned into a calming ritual. Korea’s home gardening market is now valued at about 2 trillion won ($1.3 trillion), with roughly one in three people caring for at least one houseplant, according to the Rural Development Administration. 2 trendy words: simplicity, healing This season, the buzz is all about simplicity and healing. “Low‑maintenance” and “hard‑to‑kill” plants such as snake plants, ZZ plants and monsteras are topping shopping li

Apr 2, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Are you a new gardener? Here's a guide to indoor gardening
Travel & Food

'Spring for Travel' campaign offers big discounts on flights, trains, stays

Spring travel deals are here, packed with discounts to lure people outdoors. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization kicked off the 2026 "Spring for Travel" campaign, which runs from April 1 through May 31. Free train travel to depopulated regions Korea Railroad KORAIL is offering 100 percent refunds in points on fares to 42 depopulated regions for trips booked April 1 to May 31. Riders can verify their visits via QR code to unlock coupons matching their round-trip costs. For instance, if you travel from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul to Andong using the depopulated-region independent travel package, which costs 55,400 won ($36.5) round trip, you can receive a 55,400 won discount on your next train ride, by verifying the visit with a QR code or digital tourism resident card. Tourist trains are joining in, too, with five themed routes at half price. Eligible trains include the East Santa Train (Gangneung-Buncheon), the V-Train (Yeongju-Cheolam), the G-Train (Yongsan-Iksan), the S-Train (Seoul-Yeosu, Busan-Mokpo) and the A-Train (Cheongnyangni-Mindungsan).

Apr 1, 2026By Park Jin-hai
'Spring for Travel' campaign offers big discounts on flights, trains, stays
Shows & Dramas

Netflix hit action show 'Bloodhounds' returns with bigger fights

The Netflix action hit series “Bloodhounds,” which captured global attention with its raw, pulse-pounding fights and the story of two rookie boxers taking on a ruthless loan shark empire, returns three years later, bigger, bolder and more explosive. In Season 2, the series steps into the world of a global illegal boxing league, bringing more intense action and deeper emotional payoff. Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) once again find themselves battling a corrupt world ruled by money and violence — only this time, the fight takes them into the high-risk arena of underground international boxing. “Season 2 is about the two main characters meeting new adversaries and fighting more fiercely than before,” director Jason Kim said during a press conference at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel Tuesday. “While preparing for the new season, I wanted to build on the elements fans loved most in Season 1 — the fresh boxing action and the strong bromance — and make them even more powerful and gripping,” he added. Director Kim explained that choosing an underground box

Mar 31, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Netflix hit action show 'Bloodhounds' returns with bigger fights
Shows & Dramas

Thriller 'Climax' exposes power-entertainment shadows

ENA's "Climax," which premiered March 16, dives into the shadowy ties between power brokers and entertainment elites through bold plotting and vivid characters. Protagonist Bang Tae-seop (Ju Ji-hoon) — driven by his factory-worker father's suicide after a corrupt prosecutor wrongly jailed him for labor activism — pursues a career in prosecution to seize power and reach authority's peak. Alongside his wife, Chu Sang-ah (Ha Ji-won), once a top star but who has since declined, and WR Group power broker Lee Yang-mi (Cha Joo-young), who links entertainment and politics by exploiting celebrities' weaknesses to "entertain" elites, the series thrillingly charts their high-society ambition and backstabbing. Tae-seop comes from humble beginnings and thought becoming a prosecutor would enable him to conquer all, only to hit walls of school and regional cliques inside. He draws public attention following his marriage to Korea's top actress, Sang-ah, and leverages this clout to climb up the social ladder. Meanwhile, as a top star facing scandals, Sang-ah needs a prosecutor's protection and statu

Mar 30, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Thriller 'Climax' exposes power-entertainment shadows
Korean Heritage

Traditional tide‑tracking system becomes Korea's Intangible Cultural Heritage

Korea’s centuries-old knowledge of “multtae,” the traditional system for calculating tidal movements, has been officially designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) announced Wednesday. Multtae, literally meaning “tide time” in Korean, refers to the collective knowledge and system used to predict the rise and fall of ocean tides — a vital practice that for centuries has guided coastal life across the Korean Peninsula. It serves both as a calendar of tidal cycles and as a practical science enabling people to anticipate the timing of high and low tides. In Korea, the west coast has a higher tidal range, with up to nine meters in area near Incheon, while the east coast sees the tidal range lower than one meter. The KHS said multtae is a “community transmission” heritage item, without an individual or group deserving recognition, for the knowledge has long been shared and practiced collectively among coastal residents. Historical records trace the use of multtae back to the 12th century. Poet Yi Kyu-bo is believed to have written a

Mar 26, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Traditional tide‑tracking system becomes Korea's Intangible Cultural Heritage
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