The Korea Times

Controversial 'UNDER15' pleads for broadcast despite child sexualization claims

The upcoming girl group audition show "Under15" has sparked a massive controversy following allegations that it sexualizes minors, prompting the production team to hold a press briefing Tuesday to address concerns and urge the network MBN to proceed with the scheduled broadcast. The program was initially introduced as an ambitious global search "to discover K-pop prodigies under the age of 15," featuring 59 girls selected from over 70 countries. However, shortly after the promotional content featuring young contestants wearing heavy makeup and crop tops was released, criticism exploded both domestically and internationally. The controversy intensified further following recent allegations regarding actor Kim Soo-hyun and late actor Kim Sae-ron's past relationship when Kim Sae-ron was still a minor, raising public sensitivities about minors' exposure in media. "We sincerely apologize and deeply regret causing concern through various controversies and allegations. We have been caught up in unforeseen controversies and misunderstandings have grown to be seen as facts, escalating the situati

Mar 25, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Controversial 'UNDER15' pleads for broadcast despite child sexualization claims

New K-pop audition show under fire for allegedly exploiting minors

Shows & Dramas

Lee Dong-wook turns into thrice divorced, utterly drained man in tvN's 'The Divorce Insurance'

Lee Dong-wook is poised to captivate audiences with a refreshing departure from his prior roles as he returns with tvN's rom-com "The Divorce Insurance," embracing a relatable, grounded comedic style. In his latest project, the 42-year-old actor will portray Noh Ki-joon, a genius actuary who has become economically and mentally exhausted after going through three divorces. "This leads him to think, 'What if we consider divorce as a disaster?' He starts to think that traffic accidents aren't the only type of accident and wonders if it would be possible to quantify and insure divorce, which leads him to launch a divorce insurance product," Lee said as he described his character during an online press conference for the drama, Monday. The path to bringing this audacious concept to life was far from easy. Actors Lee Joo-been, Lee Kwang-soo and Lee Da-hee join the task force dedicated to launching this unique insurance product. A dynamic team of colleagues — who have experienced divorce firsthand — team up to calculate the financial impact of heartbreak and, perhaps, unravel the very mys

Mar 24, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Lee Dong-wook turns into thrice divorced, utterly drained man in tvN's 'The Divorce Insurance'

Shows & Dramas

Clever title translation helps ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ resonate globally

As the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" receives a warm reception both domestically and internationally, being hailed as a "life drama" by many viewers, there's growing interest in how it has been translated for international audiences. The Korean title of the drama "Pokssak Sogatsuda," a Jeju dialect phrase meaning "You've worked hard," was given a nuanced rather than literal interpretation with its translation to "When Life Gives You Tangerines" for English-speaking audiences. For drama fans, the English title was an ingenious choice, elegantly riffing on the well-known adage, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This familiar phrase, a testament to positive resilience in the face of adversity, was adapted to incorporate the tangerine, a hallmark of Jeju Island, giving the show's title regional authenticity. IU, taking on the spirited and rebellious lead Ae-sun, elucidated the English title during a press conference for the drama. "Even if life presents us with tart tangerines, let us transform them into sweet marmalade and savor a warm cup of tangerine tea," sh

Mar 21, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Clever title translation helps ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ resonate globally

Who is enigmatic author behind Netflix hit 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'?

Korean Heritage

Korea introduces filming guidelines to protect cultural heritage sites

Productions seeking to shoot films and TV shows at Korea’s nationally designated cultural heritage sites — including National Treasures, Treasures and Historic Sites — will now face stricter requirements to ensure the preservation of these locations. Under the new guidelines issued by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), Thursday, all film productions at cultural heritage sites must have on-site safety personnel. Also, to receive a filming permit they will have to submit a formal pledge affirming a commitment to heritage protection. The introduction of these guidelines follows a recent controversy involving damage to Mandaeru Pavilion at Byeongsan Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province during a drama production. Byeongsan Seowon is one of nine surviving neo-Confucian academies to have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, among hundreds surviving from the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. Broadcaster KBS faced a controversy in December 2024 for hammering nails into Mandaeru Pavilion and other parts of the site to install props while filming the upcoming drama "The First Night with

Mar 20, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Korea introduces filming guidelines to protect cultural heritage sites

Shows & Dramas

Who is enigmatic author behind Netflix hit 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'?

Netflix's "When Life Gives You Tangerines," starring IU and Park Bo-gum, is a heartrending drama that delicately portrays the beautiful yet harsh stories of three generations of women — Ae-sun's mother, Ae-sun and her daughter — spanning from the 1960s to the present day against the backdrop of Jeju Island. In Korean society permeated with patriarchy, Ae-sun's mother, a woman of unwavering strength, vows to shield her daughter from the demanding life of a "haenyeo" (woman diver). Meanwhile, Ae-sun (IU), a young poet at heart, confronts the harsh reality of poverty, forgoing her university dreams, yet instills in her own daughter Geum-myeong (also IU) the belief that she can achieve anything. In an episode, when Ae-sun brings home a tricycle for her daughter, her mother-in-law tells her, "What's the point of a girl riding a bike?" and insists she sell it for money. Ae-sun retorts, "If she can't even ride a tricycle, she'll spend her whole life in the kitchen. I want her to have everything. I don't want her to set the table. I want her to be the one to flip it." Geum-myeong, an ambiti

Mar 20, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Who is enigmatic author behind Netflix hit 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'?

Shows & Dramas

Park Eun-bin, Sul Kyung-gu face off in mentor-disciple drama 'Hyper Knife'

The new Disney+ original Korean series, "Hyper Knife," pits two powerhouse actors — Park Eun-bin and Sul Kyung-gu — against each other in a gripping battle of talent and tension.

Mar 17, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Park Eun-bin, Sul Kyung-gu face off in mentor-disciple drama 'Hyper Knife'

Music

The Korea Times' Spring Concert delivers dazzling evening of music

The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert resonated through Seoul Arts Center Sunday, showcasing a captivating reinterpretation of classical masters by internationally acclaimed violinist Inmo Yang.

Mar 16, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Music

'Dance frees us from jail of our bodies': Ohad Naharin

Ohad Naharin, the world-renowned Israeli choreographer, visited Korea for the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's season opener, "Decadance." Now in its second year, Korea's third public ballet company and first public contemporary ballet troupe is collaborating with leading choreographers from the global ballet scene to present four performances, showcasing seven works this year. Kicking off this ambitious program is "Decadance" by Naharin, which opens on Friday and runs until March 23. "Once dancers are talented, I come and share my discoveries. I don't need a long process. All I have to do is give dancers a key to open up their own treasures and this can happen very quick[ly]," he said of his experience working with Korean dancers at a press conference at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, Wednesday. The 72-year-old said he often tells dancers to give up old ideas for better nuance, noting that the effective way of achieving this is to "cover the mirrors" in dance studios. "When we come to the studio, we cover the mirrors. Mirrors are forbidden in my work. The use of

Mar 12, 2025By Park Jin-hai

'Dance frees us from jail of our bodies': Ohad Naharin

Top ballerino demands unpaid holiday wage, exposing poor conditions for dancers

Lifestyle

INTERVIEW 82-year-old Anny Min defies age, draws romance cartoons

At 82, Anny Min, whose real name is Min Shin-sik, continues to captivate readers with her elegant pen strokes and exquisitely delicate pencil drawings, proving creativity knows no age limit. A pioneering figure in the Korean cartoon scene since the 1960s, Min remains as enthusiastic as ever, now connecting with a new generation as a YouTube content creator.

Mar 12, 2025By Park Jin-hai