The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Park Hae-joon sheds 'nation's adulterer' image, plays devoted husband in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'

Park Hae-joon, once infamously known as the "nation's adulterer" for his portrayal of an unfaithful husband in the 2020 drama "The World of the Married," is reclaiming his screen persona — this time as the "nation’s romantic lead." In the Netflix's acclaimed series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," Park delivers a heartfelt performance as Yang Gwan-sik, a devoted husband and selfless family man. Park shared that he laughed and cried along with viewers while experiencing the story of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," adding that portraying the devoted Gwan-sik proved to be more challenging than his previous role as an adulterous husband. "Portraying a shameless character committing adultery had a certain thrill and catharsis because it allowed me to act out something that I don't do in real life. However, playing Gwan-sik was more demanding as it constantly made me reflect on myself and draw parallels to my own life," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at The Ambassador Seoul — A Pullman Hotel in central Seoul, Tuesday. In the 16-part drama, telling the life stories of

Apr 1, 2025By Park Jin-hai

[INTERVIEW] Park Hae-joon sheds 'nation's adulterer' image, plays devoted husband in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'

Shows & Dramas

'Karma' explores twisted fates of 6 desperate souls

Netflix's new crime thriller series "Karma" delves into the lives of six individuals entangled in inescapable ill-fated relationships as they pursue their desires. The adaptation of the popular Kakao Webtoon of the same name is set to premiere Friday. "Karma" features a star-studded cast, including Park Hae-soo as a man who witnesses a mysterious accident; Shin Min-a as a surgeon haunted by lifelong trauma; Lee Hee-jun as a debtor chased by loan sharks after a failed cryptocurrency investment; Kim Sung-kyun as a man cornered after losing his job; Lee Kwang-soo as a successful doctor who practices traditional Korean medicine; and Gong Seung-yeon as his charming girlfriend. "Karma" is adapted and directed by Lee Il-hyung, known for his acclaimed film "A Violent Prosecutor" (2016). This marks Lee Il-hyung's first stint as a showrunner. "It is a story about six individuals, each driven by their own desires, who experience a specific incident and become trapped in the inescapable cycle of ill-fated relationships," Lee Il-hyung said Monday at a press conference at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Squar

Mar 31, 2025By Park Jin-hai

'Karma' explores twisted fates of 6 desperate souls

Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Baek Ji-yoon, Korea's 1st theater actor with Down syndrome, gains confidence on stage

For 15 years, a mother and her daughter have walked along the beach together every day. The daughter Kelly, a 27-year-old with Down syndrome, is independent and capable of taking care of herself. Her mother, Agnes, has sacrificed much and fought hard for Kelly over the years. Their peaceful daily routine is suddenly disrupted when Kelly announces that she has a boyfriend. Kelly dreams of living a normal life — raising a child with her non-disabled boyfriend, Neil. However, Agnes grows increasingly anxious, fearing that her daughter might be getting deceived. The play "Jellyfish" by British playwright Ben Weatherill explores themes of love, independence and societal attitudes toward disability. Its Korean adaptation, premiered on March 18 at the Modu Art Theater in Seodaemun District, Seoul, features Baek Ji-yoon in the role of Kelly, continuing the play’s tradition of casting actors with Down syndrome to authentically portray its central character, highlighting issues of representation and disability rights. Baek's performance in "Jellyfish" — transparent and heartfelt like a jell

Mar 31, 2025By Park Jin-hai

[INTERVIEW] Baek Ji-yoon, Korea's 1st theater actor with Down syndrome, gains confidence on stage

Entertainment

Kim Soo-hyun's messages reveal relationship with underage Kim Sae-ron, family claims

An attorney representing the bereaved family of late actor Kim Sae-ron presented evidence on Thursday supporting their claim that she was in a romantic relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun when she was still a minor. Bu Ji-seok of law firm Buyou shared the material provided by the family during a press conference held at Space Share Center in Seoul. He explained that the family chose to disclose the evidence publicly to end ongoing speculation that has severely impacted their emotional well-being. "Recently, Kim Sae-ron's private life has been indiscriminately exposed almost daily, leading to speculation and criticism of the bereaved family," Bu said during the press conference. “This has caused them extreme anxiety and both mental and physical distress. By releasing this evidence, they wish to put an end to the controversy and stop further meaningless disputes over the facts after this press conference.” Bu presented KakaoTalk messages allegedly exchanged in June 2016, when Kim Sae-ron was 16 years old. In one exchange, Kim Sae-ron wrote, "I'm back to filming. I'll finish soon and co

Mar 27, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Kim Soo-hyun's messages reveal relationship with underage Kim Sae-ron, family claims

Music

Korea's legendary folk duo returns with new album after 13 years

Singer-songwriter Joung Tae-choon and his musical partner and wife Park Eun-ohk, widely recognized as symbols of Korean resistance folk music, are set to return with their first new studio album in 13 years, titled "Between Torrential Rain." The album, slated for digital release in April, marks their first since their 2012 project "City Bus to the Sea." Accompanying the album is their literary project "Songs, Break the Wall," which emphasizes the inherent connection between songs and poetry. Joung declared a creative hiatus and entered seclusion in 2019 but has once again stepped into the world of creative work. The 71-year-old Joung has frequently expressed that he owes a debt to Korean literature, reflecting on the profound impact it has had on him as an artistically refined language. "Through literature, I was moved and felt a sense of awareness about various issues," Joung said during a press conference Tuesday at Roh Moo-Hyun Civic Center in Jongno District, Seoul, to celebrate the couple's 45th anniversary in the music industry. "I should have withdrawn (from music) as I declared b

Mar 27, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Korea's legendary folk duo returns with new album after 13 years

Shows & Dramas

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

Park Jin-hai

Read more

INTERVIEW Park Hae-joon sheds 'nation's adulterer' image, plays devoted husband in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'

'Karma' explores twisted fates of 6 desperate souls

INTERVIEW Baek Ji-yoon, Korea's 1st theater actor with Down syndrome, gains confidence on stage

Kim Soo-hyun's messages reveal relationship with underage Kim Sae-ron, family claims

Korea's legendary folk duo returns with new album after 13 years

Controversial 'UNDER15' pleads for broadcast despite child sexualization claims

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

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

Korea introduces filming guidelines to protect cultural heritage sites

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

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