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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

'The Devil’s Plan' producer, Season 2 champion respond to criticism

Netflix’s high-stakes survival game show "The Devil’s Plan" recently wrapped up its second season amid a flurry of controversy, prompting both the show’s producer and its final winner, Jeong Hyun-gyu of "EXchange 2" fame, to respond to the backlash. In "The Devil’s Plan: Death Room," players from various professions live together for seven days to determine the ultimate mastermind. It drew attention with its stellar cast of 14 participants, including former professional Go player Lee Se-dol, best known for his historic five-game match against artificial intelligence AlphaGo in 2016, Hollywood actor Justin H. Min, K-pop idol Kyuhyun, TV presenter Kang Ji-young, actor Yoon So-hui and poker player 7high. However, the show drew criticism from viewers over Jeong's gameplay and questionable decisions. In the finale, Kyuhyun sacrificed himself to save Jeong, while the final opponent Yoon gave up betting in the final game, leaving viewers puzzled. Jeong, a Seoul National University student who appeared on the dating reality show “EXchange 2,” was blamed for making viewers uncomforta

May 27, 2025By Park Jin-hai
'The Devil’s Plan' producer, Season 2 champion respond to criticism
Shows & Dramas

Comedian Lee Su-ji talks character comedy, further acting aspirations

Comedian Lee Su-ji, praised by many as "a comedian with a thousand faces," acts out a variety of original characters through streaming platforms and her own YouTube channel, bringing laughter to audiences. Her numerous characters on her YouTube channel Hot Issue Ji — from the Korean tiger mom nicknamed "Jamie Mom," an education-obsessed mother in Seoul’s affluent Daechi-dong neighborhood, to "Shuuvely Mom," a social media live commerce influencer with exaggerated sales pitches — have taken the internet by storm. Her success led to winning this year's Best Female Entertainer at the Baeksang Arts Awards on May 5. Since her debut in 2008, whenever she creates a new character, Lee says her "starting point always lies in the various people from everyday life with whom others can relate to." “When I go to the supermarket, a restaurant or a cafe, I try not to wear earphones as much as possible. I jot down speech patterns or relatable points in my notes app to catch them. For me, it feels like a hobby. I mimic the way other people talk or their habits," the 40-year-old comedian said dur

May 26, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Comedian Lee Su-ji talks character comedy, further acting aspirations
Shows & Dramas

Korean period dramas evolve with fantasy, occult twists

Korean historical dramas, or "sageuk," are undergoing a transformation. Once defined by historically-based storytelling centered on royal courts and political intrigue, recent offerings are mixing genres in new ways — blending fantasy, mystery, romance and even horror to meet the expectations of a global streaming audience. The occult romance period drama "The Haunted Palace” is drawing viewers in for its fresh premise — a romance between an "imugi" (a mythical serpent) and a shaman. Set in a fictionalized late Joseon Dynasty-era (1392-1910) backdrop, the drama is earning praise for its distinctive perspective on ghost stories, distinguishing itself from conventional occult narratives. Each episode introduces new spirits with tragic backstories. Rather than portraying these spirits simply as chilling figures meant to heighten tension and fear, the show gives them a sense of humanity. A "drowned ghost" living in the palace well turns out to be a court lady who took her own life after being wronged by the reckless Prince Yeongin. With female lead Yeo-ri’s help, she is able to reso

May 26, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Korean period dramas evolve with fantasy, occult twists
Shows & Dramas

Actors in 40s, 50s, beyond rush to YouTube amid traditional media decline

Veteran actresses in their 40s, 50s and older are shedding their air of mystery and taking on the challenge of YouTube. The most recent example is Kim Nam-joo, who is jumping into YouTube for the first time in her 31-year career. Starting Thursday, she began sharing her life with the public through her eponymous YouTube channel. “It seems like the world has changed a lot. In this era when a fun world unfolds inside our phones, I found myself watching YouTube at some point. I wanted to get closer to everyone in this space, so I decided to start a YouTube channel to show my true self without any pretense,” she said in the introduction to her first video. The content is also being broadcast through SBS Life’s new program, “Queen of Taste," marking her first solo appearance on an entertainment program since her debut in 1994. Actor Han Ga-in began her YouTube activities last September, followed by Ko Hyun-joung, Lee Min-jung and Ko So-young. Han and Lee resonate with viewers by showing their real-life roles as mothers, while actor Ko Hyun-joung is gaining attention for sharing her sk

May 23, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Actors in 40s, 50s, beyond rush to YouTube amid traditional media decline
Shows & Dramas

These are classic K-dramas you must rewatch

In recent years, Korean dramas have undeniably ascended to world-class stature. With groundbreaking hits like "Kingdom," "Crash Landing on You" and "Sweet Home" captivating audiences on global streaming platforms (OTT), dramas have helped ignite a fresh Korean wave, enchanting fans across the globe and cementing the prestige of Korean storytelling. However, the popularity of Korean dramas is nothing new. Iconic series like "Stairway to Heaven," "Jewel in the Palace," and "Winter Sonata" once swept across Asia, captivating audiences and sparking a cultural phenomenon. These classic dramas from the 1990s and early 2000s, which were instrumental in launching the original Korean wave, are now finding fresh audiences worldwide thanks to the power of modern streaming services. U.S.-based Korean content streamer KOCOWA, operated by Wavve Americas, says these older shows' powerful storytelling continues to connect with today's viewers around the world. Here's a closer look into these all-time classics through a list provided by the North America-based Korean movie and drama streaming service, s

May 22, 2025By Park Jin-hai
These are classic K-dramas you must rewatch
Shows & Dramas

Lee Jae-wook wields sword, heart in 'Dear Hongrang'

Lee Jae-wook, 27, is paving a solid path as an actor. After debuting as a university student in the 2018 hit drama "Memories of the Alhambra," he quickly rose to leading roles and shot to fame with the 2022 fantasy period drama "Alchemy of Souls," marking his breakthrough role. The model and actor once again takes up the sword and showcases spectacular action in JTBC's historical drama "Dear Hongrang," which premiered on Friday on Netflix. The drama tells the story of Hongrang (Lee), the long-missing son of Joseon's most powerful merchant family, who returns after 12 years with no memory of his past. As only his half-sister Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah) suspects his true identity, an inexplicable relationship begins to grow between them, weaving together love and suspicion in this period drama. In an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday, Lee noted the project left a lasting mark on him. "I still feel this heavy sadness when I think of Hongrang. He’s such a tragic figure who grew up in a harsh environment. I often question myself whether I was able to portray that pain well en

May 19, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Lee Jae-wook wields sword, heart in 'Dear Hongrang'
Arts & Theater

Lee Ja-ram brings pansori back to its roots by modernizing

"Here we are now, in the snowy fields of Russia, where it is minus 28 degrees Celsius." With just this one line from Korea’s leading pansori (Korean narrative music) performer Lee Ja-ram, the audience suddenly found themselves transported to the harsh Russian winter, standing upon a vast snowy plain. She repeatedly sang out "shooong," mimicking the sound of wind with her mouth while waving her fan, and evoking the sound of a horse with "hiiing" ( "neigh" in English) as she used both hands to mimic a horse walking across a snowfield. Her latest work, "Snow, Snow, Snow," staged at LG Arts Center from April 7 to 13, marked her long-awaited return to the pansori stage with a new creation — her first original piece in five years. A pansori reinterpretation of Leo Tolstoy’s short story "Master and Man," the production tells the story of merchant Vasily and peasant worker Nikita, who set out to buy a forest during Russia’s brutal winter and lose their way in a snowstorm using pansori, traditionally performed by a solo singer playing all the characters, accompanied only by a drummer. Th

May 18, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Lee Ja-ram brings pansori back to its roots by modernizing
Shows & Dramas

'Heavenly Ever After' pop-up blurs line between afterlife, daily life

As JTBC’s weekend drama “Heavenly Ever After” continues to gain popularity, a pop-up experience at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District offers fans a chance to step directly into the series’ whimsical yet profound vision of the afterlife. As seen in the drama, upon entering, visitors answer their preferred age, place, people or things they want to remember in the afterlife, and traits of their character. The "Heaven Immigration Inspection Counter" is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that provides guidance for those who have just "immigrated" to heaven. Then, after taking photos in front of the gate and choosing the physical age they want to live as in heaven — child, youth, middle-aged or elderly — the AI monitor shows them what they would look like in the afterlife. For those who registered in advance, they can also receive their heaven resident ID card on the spot. Passing through the gate, they can sit in a chair to reflect on their life, just like in the drama, or participate in a lucky draw by scanning a barcode, similar to how the main characters ordere

May 17, 2025By Park Jin-hai
'Heavenly Ever After' pop-up blurs line between afterlife, daily life
Shows & Dramas

Song Ji-hyo becomes 'haenyeo' in JTBC-BBC’s groundbreaking documentary

Actor Song Ji-hyo takes on the challenge of becoming a "haenyeo" (Korean female diver) in Jeju in the JTBC-BBC joint documentary series "Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure." In the three-part documentary, the first co-production between a Korean TV network and U.K.'s BBC Studios, Song — best known for her appearance in Korea's longest running variety show "Running Man" — will free dive alongside the legendary veteran female divers of the sea with whom she shares a unique bond. Jeju’s haenyeo culture, with a history dating back at least 400 years, was recognized for its unique cultural value and was listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. They are remarkable women who, even into their 80s, dive as far as 20 meters without oxygen masks or modern equipment to collect shellfish that support both their families and their way of life. Recently, the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" featured the story of the haenyeo, drawing significant public interest. The actor, whose mother was a former swimming athlete and aunt was a haenyeo

May 15, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Song Ji-hyo becomes 'haenyeo' in JTBC-BBC’s groundbreaking documentary
Shows & Dramas

Disney+ 'Nine Puzzles' depicts duo unraveling mysteries in cartoonish reality

Director Yoon Jong-bin, celebrated for his raw portrayals of masculinity and social realities, is not venturing into a mystery thriller, making a departure from his signature intense tone. Disney+ series “Nine Puzzles” revolves around Ena (Kim Da-mi), the only witness and suspect in a murder case who becomes a profiler 10 years later. She joins forces with Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), the detective who still suspects her, to chase a newly resurfaced serial killer. Yoon described the project as “a detective story about two uniquely distinctive characters uncovering the truth behind a series of murders.” In the drama, a puzzle is delivered to Ena every time a new murder occurs. These puzzles are the starting point for unraveling serial murders that have resumed after a decade. As each of the nine puzzle pieces falls into place, the truth gradually emerges, drawing viewers deeper into the world of “Nine Puzzles” and inviting them to follow the tense investigation and deduction processes of Ena and Hansaem. "When I first read the script, I found it incredibly gripping. The script read v

May 14, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Disney+ 'Nine Puzzles' depicts duo unraveling mysteries in cartoonish reality
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