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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

Ko Hyun-jung commands screen with bone-chilling performance in 'Queen Mantis'

Veteran actor Ko Hyun-jung, once a symbol of elegance, undergoes a chilling metamorphosis in "Queen Mantis," captivating viewers with her piercing gaze and enigmatic expressions as she embodies a cold-blooded serial killer. In the SBS thriller that premiered Friday, she steps into the role of Jung Yi-shin — a convicted murderer nicknamed the Mantis, who mirrors the predatory instincts of the praying mantis while choosing victims who have abused women or children. This duality makes her a monstrous villain to some, and to others, a twisted symbol of justice. From its very first scenes, Ko's unadorned presence — eschewing both makeup and camera filters — delivers an uncanny, suffocating tension that goes beyond words. The story begins 23 years after Yi-shin is first captured. An investigation into copycat crimes inspired by her past killings leads authorities to seek help from her as she serves her prison sentence. She agreeds to cooperate on two conditions: that the meetings take place not in prison but in a designated residence where she can be confined and that all communication

Sep 9, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Ko Hyun-jung commands screen with bone-chilling performance in 'Queen Mantis'
  • Ko Hyun-jung plays serial killer mom in ‘Queen Mantis’
Shows & Dramas

Lee Jin-uk says 'Beyond the Bar' redefines law as story of people, not just cases

In JTBC’s legal drama “Beyond the Bar,” Lee Jin-uk plays a perfectionist lawyer leading a litigation team, leaving behind his usual romantic image to show a cold, skilled professional who sometimes reveals a surprising warmth, proving his range as an actor. He said he was initially worried the show might feel a bit dull because it lacks the dramatic flair typical of foreign courtroom dramas with juries. But after watching early episodes, he felt that the drama’s quiet confidence could still engage viewers deeply. “There are no excessive dramatics here. These days, so many shows rely on dazzling stimuli; by comparison, our screens felt simple, almost subdued,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times at BH Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul on Sept. 1. “But I found myself so focused watching it that I lost track of time,” he said, noting the gripping quality of the narrative. Penned by an actual lawyer, the series resists courtroom cliches and instead foregrounds the everyday dilemmas and moral ambiguities faced by ordinary people. While legal jargon and stat

Sep 8, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Lee Jin-uk says 'Beyond the Bar' redefines law as story of people, not just cases
Shows & Dramas

Ko Hyun-jung plays serial killer mom in ‘Queen Mantis’

Veteran actor Ko Hyun-jung transforms into a chilling serial killer in the upcoming SBS crime "Queen Mantis." Premiering on Friday, the series showcases Ko as Yi-shin, a mother who, 20 years prior, brutally murdered five men and earned the sinister nickname the Mantis. Now imprisoned and estranged from her son, Yi-shin remains an enigmatic and complex figure that audiences will find both terrifying and captivating. Ko described her character as more than just a cold-blooded killer. “While the brutality of Yi-shin’s murders is certainly striking, the real intrigue lies in uncovering the reasons behind her descent into violence. That’s where the story’s true depth and suspense lie,” said the actor during a press conference at the broadcater's headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Thursday. "This was a script that required intense preparation and a type of role I hadn't played before. Previously, in 'Mask Girl,' the character was split between three actresses, so my screen time was limited. This opportunity felt like a personal breakthrough." When she learned that acclaimed di

Sep 4, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Ko Hyun-jung plays serial killer mom in ‘Queen Mantis’
Shows & Dramas

Bechdel Day 2025 celebrates K-dramas, films that rewrite rules for female characters

Bechdel Day 2025, a two-day event organized by the Directors Guild of Korea to reflect on gender equality representation in Korean media, will take place in Seoul this weekend, coinciding with Korea’s Gender Equality Week, which began Monday and runs until Sunday. Now in its sixth year, the festival honors the legacy of American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose Bechdel Test concept from the 1980s drew attention to the scarcity of women’s narratives and female characters in media. Launched in Korea in 2020, Bechdel Day has expanded into an annual program and awards ceremony evaluating gender representation in Korean films and series. In addition to the test’s original three rules — two named women characters, talking to each other, about something other than a man — Korea’s Bechdel Day introduced four more criteria, including female representation among key production staff and the avoidance of discriminatory portrayals of women and minorities. Each year, based on this framework, the organizers announce the Bechdel Choice 10, the top 10 most gender-equal Korean works. Shifting

Sep 4, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Bechdel Day 2025 celebrates K-dramas, films that rewrite rules for female characters
  • Women characters no longer wait to be chosen in K-dramas
Shows & Dramas

Women characters no longer wait to be chosen in K-dramas

Forget damsels in distress and a focus on love interests. The women dominating K-dramas today are choosing themselves. Bechdel Day 2025 is a festival hosted by the Directors Guild of Korea to raise audience awareness of gender equality and diversity through film and TV. This year's 10 drama selections were chosen from among 102 entries released between June 2024 and May 2025, and reflect a trend for female characters defined not by their relationships with men, but by their own ambitions, relationships and agency. Whether in contemporary thrillers or lavish period dramas, women lead the charge in these media masterpieces. Critic Jung Duk-hyun said, "Of course, romance is still a staple, but increasingly we’re also seeing narratives of ‘womance’ — stories about women’s relationships with each other. Female-centered dramas have always existed, but what has shifted more strongly in recent years is how actively these women choose and live within their own stories.” Yun Suk-jin, cultural critic and professor of Korean language and literature at Chungnam National University, added

Sep 4, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Women characters no longer wait to be chosen in K-dramas
Shows & Dramas

Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won make dazzling return with Disney+ espionage romance 'Tempest'

The long-awaited Disney+ Korean original series “Tempest,” featuring Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, has at last emerged from behind the curtain, sending ripples of excitement among global drama fans. Led by a dream team of creators, the blockbuster espionage romance marks a comeback for both stars after years away from the small screen — and already stands tall as one of Disney’s tentpole releases in Asian original content for 2025. Front and center in “Tempest” are Jun and Gang, who command every frame with magnetic synergy. Jun, returning to drama for the first time since 2021’s “Jirisan,” and Gang, stepping back onto the small screen after a stunning 21-year absence since “Magic,” both expressed excitement about their joint project. “I wanted to work with Gang Dong-won before it was too late. I’ve long admired his style and, after getting to know him better, became an even bigger fan. Our characters’ chemistry felt especially strong with him as San-ho,” Jun said during a press conference at Seoul’s Four Seasons Hotel Tuesday. Gang returned the praise wit

Sep 2, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won make dazzling return with Disney+ espionage romance 'Tempest'
Shows & Dramas

Park Min-young plays con artist in K-caper series 'Confidence Man KR'

Park Min-young, who proved her popularity overseas with last year's "Marry My Husband," is now setting her sights on the global stage, taking on the caper genre with a Korean twist in "Confidence Man KR," Amazon Prime Video’s first original series produced here. Premiering Saturday, the series is a Korean remake of the popular Japanese drama "Confidence Man JP." It casts Park in one of her most dynamic roles yet — Yoon Yi-rang, a brilliant con artist with an IQ of 165, placing her in the top 1 percent of the population. Armed with charisma and wit, Yi-rang leads audiences into a riveting tale of heists and clever trickery. "It's Amazon Prime's first original work in Korea, so I thought this is an opportunity I can't miss," she said during a press conference at Stanford Hotel in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, Monday. "As an actor, I’ve always yearned for roles that are lively, vibrant and dynamic, with plenty of physical action. This role finally allowed me to lead and showcase even more energetic acting than before." Reflecting on her previous works, the 39-year-old contrasted

Sep 1, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Park Min-young plays con artist in K-caper series 'Confidence Man KR'
Shows & Dramas

Netflix’s ‘The Echoes of Survivors’ spurs global outrage over Korean tragedies

The Netflix documentary series "The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies," released on Aug. 15, continues to generate strong reactions from global audiences. While the first season "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal" released in 2023 focused on Jesus Morning Star (JMS) leader Jeong Myeong-seok and how JMS was able to exert influence across various parts of society, the second season provides a look "behind the scenes" of JMS. The documentary also covers some of the worst human rights abuses in modern Korean history, including the Brothers' Home in Busan, the Jijon gang serial murder case — a killing spree sparked by hatred of the wealthy — and the Sampoong Department Store collapse caused by poor construction, corruption and the negligence of supervisory agencies. The Brothers' Home scandal, highlighted in the opening episodes, has sparked intense public outrage. Once thought to be a government-run welfare center for the homeless in Busan from 1975 to 1987 under former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, it was later revealed that innocent children were abducted, falsely lab

Sep 1, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Netflix’s ‘The Echoes of Survivors’ spurs global outrage over Korean tragedies
People & Events

Cho Chung-il redefines tradition with Korea’s largest hanok resort

Cho Chung-il, CEO of fintech company KONA I and founder of The Hanok Heritage, took an unconventional path from studying physics and building a tech empire to establishing one of Korea’s most ambitious luxury hanok resorts to showcase the country's traditional architecture. Driven by an appreciation for the architectural heritage he encountered during his travels across the globe, Cho turned his decades-long fascination with hanok into a real-world project. The result is a high-end resort in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, that harmonizes timeless Korean aesthetics with modern spatial innovation. Reflecting on Korea’s urban landscape, where hanok are increasingly rare, Cho said he launched the project 13 years ago with the goal of building a “proper hanok.” “I made a living in digital technology all my life. But I believe digital is ultimately a copy of analog. Since human senses are analog, the more advanced the digital world becomes, the more people feel nostalgic for analog. That’s why I believed such analog cultural spaces would become important," Cho said during a Corea Ima

Aug 27, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Cho Chung-il redefines tradition with Korea’s largest hanok resort
Shows & Dramas

Lee Ha-nee depicts Korean actresses’ harsh reality in 1980s-set ‘Aema’

“Every project holds a special place in my heart, but with ‘Aema’ I felt a thrill — almost a sense of arrival — that such a work could finally emerge in our era,” actor Lee Ha-nee shared in a video interview with The Korea Times on Aug. 19. Netflix’s “Aema,” released on Aug. 22, is a drama set against the birth of the erotic film “Madame Aema,” which took Korea by storm in the 1980s. In the series, Lee plays top star Jung Hee-ran, who allies with a rookie actress to boldly confront the dark realities hidden beneath the dazzling spotlight. “It’s genuinely refreshing to live in a time where stories like this can be told with health, humor and even a touch of comedy, rather than simply confronting violence head-on. That joy is what drew me to the project,” she said. After Hee-ran boldly declared she would no longer appear in nude scenes, the studio sought to tighten its grip by relegating her to a supporting role in the film. Meanwhile, they launched an open audition to discover fresh talent, casting an ambitious newcomer Shin Ju-ae (Bang Hyo-rin) as the film’

Aug 27, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Lee Ha-nee depicts Korean actresses’ harsh reality in 1980s-set ‘Aema’
  • Intrigued by Netflix K-drama 'Aema'? 13 best 1980s Korean erotic films ranked
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