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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

What makes courtroom dramas so popular?

It is no exaggeration to say that television is flooded with courtroom dramas recently. JTBC’s drama "Beyond the Bar" is currently airing to strong popularity, following the recently concluded tvN drama "Law and the City" and SBS drama "Good Partner." In addition, "Pro Bono (tentative title)," written by a former judge, is scheduled to premiere on tvN later this year. But what makes them so popular? One common factor is that they were written by real-life legal professionals. Experts point out that the involvement of lawyers and judges lends courtroom dramas a level of authenticity that raises both their quality and credibility. "Beyond the Bar" is a work that embodies the authenticity of its writer, Park Mi-hyun, who herself is a former lawyer. The drama tells the story of junior attorney Kang Hyo-min (Jung Chae-yeon) and her growth into a full-fledged lawyer under the mentorship of partner lawyer Yoon Seok-hoon (Lee Jin-uk). Rather than focusing solely on victory or defeat, the characters look into the broken hearts of their clients, defend others from their wounds and ultimately con

Aug 23, 2025By Park Jin-hai
What makes courtroom dramas so popular?
Shows & Dramas

Daniel Dae Kim brings Korean heart to Amazon Prime spy series 'Butterfly'

American drama "Butterfly," from Amazon MGM Studios, was filmed entirely in Korea with a Korean production team, and stars Kim Tae-hee, Kim Ji-hoon and other veteran Korean actors alongside Hollywood talents. The series, poised for its Korean television premiere Friday after a successful Amazon Prime Video debut on Aug. 13, aims to showcase cultural harmony between the two countries. Executive producer and lead actor Daniel Dae Kim, who built his career and life in the U.S., said he always wanted to return to Korea to "put his own life experience into the show." "I wanted to talk about a lot of different things about what it felt like to be Asian American and, in Reina [Hardesty]'s case, half-Asian. I felt like the way to do that was to talk about an American character coming back to a place where he looks the same but isn't quite the same as everybody else," he said during a press conference for the show at Yongsan IPark Mall in Seoul Thursday. The narrative follows David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), once a U.S. intelligence officer, who disappeared from the world by faking his death. Now, ye

Aug 21, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Daniel Dae Kim brings Korean heart to Amazon Prime spy series 'Butterfly'
Shows & Dramas

Disney+ bets big on 'Tempest' starring Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won

Top stars Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won teamed up with Korea’s most celebrated creators for Disney+’s most anticipated drama of the year, "Tempest." This blockbuster K-drama follows Mun-ju (Jun), a distinguished diplomat serving as Korean ambassador to the United Nations who sets out to uncover the truth behind an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. By her side is San-ho (Gang), an enigmatic special agent without a nationality, assigned to protect her at all cost. Together, they are drawn into a sprawling conspiracy that threatens the Korean Peninsula. Adding further weight to the cast are Hollywood star John Cho and a lineup of veteran Korean actors including Kim Hae-sook and Park Hae-joon. Ahead of its highly awaited premiere on Sept. 10, Disney+ hosted a press event featuring the all-star creators for the original series. Carol Choi, executive vice president at Walt Disney Company APAC, described the project as “a high-stakes romance, a cross-genre series blending espionage, romance and action.” “'Tempest' is centered on a gripping storyline combined with a wor

Aug 20, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Disney+ bets big on 'Tempest' starring Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won
Trends

Asia Model Festival chair reflects on 20 years uniting Asia through fashion

Yang Eui-sig, a popular TV commercial model in the 1990s, became president of the Korea Model Association in 2006. Observing that actors, singers and comedians enjoyed the spotlight of annual awards shows while models had none, he set out to change that. After launching the Korea Model Awards that year, his vision went on to cross borders. With Japan and China involved, the award ceremony transformed into the Asia Model Festival. Today, it has become one of the world’s largest fashion and cultural platforms, with 27 Asian countries represented under one spotlight. “Asian models who came to Korea 20 years ago have become leaders in their own countries and are now leading Asia. I can proudly say that such a huge platform was built,” Yang said during an interview with The Korea Times at his headquarters in southern Seoul, Aug. 11. Not limited to just an awards ceremony, the event first kicked off with an opening fashion show by the late Andre Kim, then Korea’s most famous fashion designer, and has since grown into a launching pad for top designers, emerging talents and aspiring mod

Aug 20, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Asia Model Festival chair reflects on 20 years uniting Asia through fashion
Shows & Dramas

Yoona time-travels from Michelin kitchen to Joseon royal court in new tvN drama

A modern French chef is suddenly whisked back in time to the royal court of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), where she has to work in the kitchen of a very demanding king. That’s the premise of tvN’s new historical fantasy drama “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.” In the series, Lim Yoon-a, also known as Yoona of Girls’ Generation, takes on the role of the French chef who, on the verge of becoming the head chef of a three-star Michelin restaurant, finds herself transported to a bygone era. “I didn’t hesitate for a moment to join, knowing I’d work with director Jang Tae-yoo. The world of cooking captivated me deeply, but what truly resonated was the character’s spirit — undaunted and hopeful, she bravely forges new paths and relentlessly pursues her dreams, even as she’s thrust into an unfamiliar era after traveling back in time," Lim said during a press conference for the drama at D-Cube City in Guro District, Seoul, Tuesday. There, she combines sophisticated modern cooking techniques with the traditions of royal Korean cuisine, crafting fusion dishes that no one has ever seen

Aug 19, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Yoona time-travels from Michelin kitchen to Joseon royal court in new tvN drama
Shows & Dramas

Netflix series 'Aema' revisits Korea's legendary erotic film of 1980s

“Madame Aema,” the 1982 film widely regarded as the beginning of Korea’s erotic cinema boom in the 1980s, has been reimagined for the 21st century. During the military regime of Chun Doo-hwan, the government implemented the so-called “3S Policy” — screen, sports and sex — aimed at pacifying the public and diverting attention away from politics, which created the conditions for a rapid boom in the erotic film industry. The Netflix drama “Aema,” to be released Friday, tells the fraught journey of top star Hee-ran (Lee Ha-nee) and rookie actor Joo-ae (Bang Hyo-rin), who bravely confront the dark realities hidden behind the dazzling spotlight of that time in the process of bringing “Madame Aema” to life. “In the early 1980s, erotic films were actively encouraged and produced as a matter of policy. Ironically, there was also strict censorship and rampant cuts, meaning there was virtually no freedom of expression. By revisiting this irony from today’s perspective, I thought I could reinterpret it in 2025 and explore its meaning in a way that delivers a new message,

Aug 18, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Netflix series 'Aema' revisits Korea's legendary erotic film of 1980s
Travel & Food

Hollywood stars show love for K-food

Hollywood stars are expressing their affection for Korean foods. Model and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian shared a glimpse into her daily life during a trip to Korea. In an Instagram story posted on Saturday, she uploaded photos of a convenience store aisle filled with various cup noodles and a traditional Korean meal at a restaurant featuring side dishes such as seasoned vegetables and kimchi. Her posts revealed her enjoyment of Korean cuisine. With meat sizzling on the grill and soju to wash it down, she attracted significant attention for her engagement with Korean culture and cuisine. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow also recently uploaded a video on her Instagram, featuring herself making Korean-style steak and eggs. She revealed her love for Korean cuisine by saying, “My take on Korean steak and eggs — made with love, a little heat, and packed with flavor. ” In the video, Paltrow skillfully combined various seasonings such as soy sauce, gochujang (red chili paste), garlic and ginger. The response was enthusiastic, not only from international fans but also Koreans. One commenter marveled,

Aug 18, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Hollywood stars show love for K-food
People & Events

Rapper Sean raises over $1.6 mil. for descendants of independence fighters

Rapper Noh Seung-hwan, also known as Sean, successfully completed an 81.5-kilometer marathon in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day and donated over 2.3 billion won ($1.6 million) to build homes for descendants of independence activists, his agency YG Entertainment said Saturday. The 2025 815 Run, hosted by Sean and Habitat for Humanity Korea, is an annual charity marathon held to reflect on the significance of Liberation Day and express gratitude to independence activists. Despite heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Sean completed the run in 7 hours, 50 minutes and 22 seconds. While Sean and 44 others completed the entire distance, a total of 19,450 runners participated in shorter courses, with approximately 4,000 taking part in an 8.15 kilometer run at World Cup Park in Seoul's Mapo District and others doing courses of 3.1 km or 4.5 km. Proceeds from the event, along with donations from 10 sponsoring companies, amounted to 2.38 billion won. The funds were donated to Habitat for Humanity to construct new homes and support housing improvement projects for desce

Aug 17, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Rapper Sean raises over $1.6 mil. for descendants of independence fighters
Shows & Dramas

80th Liberation Day Must-watch dramas, films on Korea’s independence struggle

This year’s Liberation Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of colonial Japanese rule, offers a moment to remember both the atrocities committed by Japan and the sacrifices of Korea’s independence activists. One way to reflect on this history is by watching a drama or film that brings these stories to life. The Korea Times asked five experts to recommend dramas and films that embody the spirit of this historic occasion. The panel includes culture critic Jung Duk-hyun; Kim Hern-sik, culture critic and professor of social and cultural studies at Jungwon University; Yun Suk-jin, cultural critic and professor of Korean language and literature at Chungnam National University; CedarBough Saeji, assistant professor of Korean and East Asian studies at Pusan National University; and Lee Ha-na, associate professor of history at Seoul National University. Among their recommendations, four standout titles emerged: the acclaimed drama "Mr. Sunshine"; the gripping thrillers "The Age of Shadows" and "Assassination"; and the poignant black-and-white classic from the Japanese colonial perio

Aug 13, 2025By Park Jin-hai
[80th Liberation Day] Must-watch dramas, films on Korea’s independence struggle
Trends

KOFICE chief envisions Korea as Asia’s cultural hub

Park Chang-sik, president of the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), witnessed the spread of Korean content around the world firsthand. As a former television producer, he made “Years of Upheaval” (1992) and “Sandglass” (1995), two of the most popular drama series broadcast in Korea in the 1990s. He also led renowned production company Kimjonghak Production when it produced “Lee San, Wind of the Palace” (2007), a historical drama starring Lee Seo-jin and Han Ji-min. All three programs were exported to other countries for viewing. Of the 50 or so dramas Park had his hands on, many found audiences outside Korea. “To be honest, the reason we first started exporting content was out of necessity. It was around the late 1990s that we began selling dramas to Japan and Taiwan. Back then, we often wondered, ‘Why is this even working?’ But starting in the 2000s, K-content began to gain real attention, and that’s how today’s ‘K’ was born,” he said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at the KOFICE headquarters in Yeongdeungpo District, S

Aug 13, 2025By Park Jin-hai
KOFICE chief envisions Korea as Asia’s cultural hub
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