The Korea Times

Netflix aims for next global K-occult hit with 'The East Palace'

Netflix’s upcoming original series "The East Palace" is aiming to become the next global sensation in the rising wave of occult-themed content. Capturing international momentum surrounding Korean shamanism and horror, the eight-episode period drama blends occult themes, horror, fantasy and high-octane action. "The East Palace," follows Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), a man with the unique ability to cross over into the spirit realm, and Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), a court lady harboring a mysterious past. Summoned by the king (Cho Seung-woo), the duo is tasked with untangling dangerous histories to uncover a secret buried in the very heart of the palace. The project marks the return of Nam, who chose the series as his first screen appearance after a three-year hiatus for mandatory military service. He revealed that he received the casting offer while still serving in the army. "The military is a place where there are many moments to stretch your imagination. Reading the script in that kind of environment increased my desire to take on the challenge. I was also intensely curious about how a sp

Jul 8, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Netflix aims for next global K-occult hit with 'The East Palace'

Shows & Dramas

'Agent Kim Reactivated' revives middle-aged action hero

On the surface, Mr. Kim (So Ji-sub) is just an ordinary, submissive neighborhood man who cares for nothing but his only daughter. He is a single dad who would rather kneel down and beg for forgiveness before a bully's wealthy parents than cause a scene. But the moment his daughter goes missing, the seal on this middle-aged man is shattered. Confronting a cocky gang member who claims legal protection under juvenile law, Kim delivers a bone-chilling warning: “When you lose your parents, you're called an orphan. When you lose your husband, a widow. But there is no word for a parent who loses a child. Do you know why? Because the sheer misery and agony leave you with absolutely nothing left to lose. 'Juvenile offender'? Nice phrasing. Then I guess I’ll have to be the 'lawless middle-aged'.” SBS’s drama "Agent Kim Reactivated," also streaming on Netflix, is a gripping crime noir that follows "Code Name 66" — a former North Korean operative who defected and settled in the South — as he unleashes his monstrous, hidden combat skills against a corrupt nation and giant criminal syndic

Jul 8, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'Agent Kim Reactivated' revives middle-aged action hero

Shows & Dramas

New wave of chef reality shows breaks the rules

The golden age of culinary television shows is undergoing a massive paradigm shift. Moving far beyond traditional cooking shows that rely on simple studio competitions or restaurant tours, a new wave of variety shows is breaking the rules by introducing high-stakes, real-world challenges. At the center of this cultural revolution are two hit reality shows titled "Undercover Chef" and "Street Restaurant Fighter." By stripping top-tier celebrity chefs of their hard-earned fame and authority, these shows have found a winning formula that resonates deeply with modern audiences worldwide. In the tvN's "Undercover Chef," legendary Korean culinary icons travel abroad to work as bottom-tier kitchen helpers under fake identities. For instance, dim sum queen Jung Ji-sun, pasta master Sam Kim and Kwon Sung-jun, winner of Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" Season 1 must blend into demanding kitchens in China and Italy. They are given just five days to adapt to a foreign environment and successfully get their own dish onto the restaurant's main menu. Viewers are saying the format actually feels like a

Jul 7, 2026By Park Jin-hai

New wave of chef reality shows breaks the rules

Arts & Theater

'The Lives of Others' transforms film into raw, heart-wrenching theater

"The Lives of Others" is returning to the stage, offering a profound look at how human empathy can break through totalitarian control. Running from July 1 to Sept. 13 at the LG Arts Center Seoul U+ Stage, this co-production by Project Group Ilda and Library Company adapts Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s acclaimed film, "Das Leben der Anderen." Under Son Sang-kyu’s direction, the play revisits the journey of a state spy who is irrevocably transformed by the very suffering he is ordered to watch. Set in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the story delves into the psychological shift in the mind of Gerd Wiesler (Yoon Na-moo), a secret police officer with what seems to be an unshakeable faith in the socialist regime. Assigned to wiretap East Germany’s top playwright Georg Dreyman (Jang Seung-jo) and his partner, the popular actress Christa-Maria Sieland (Im Soo-hyang), Wiesler finds himself drawn into their private lives. While Dreyman and Sieland try to live as mainstream artists, they are increasingly forced to choose between conformity and resistance. When Dreyman’

Jul 6, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'The Lives of Others' transforms film into raw, heart-wrenching theater

Korean Heritage

Int'l collaboration key to preserving cultural heritage: KHS chief

DAEJEON — Preserving cultural heritage is not the task of a single country but one that requires international collaboration, as the destruction of cultural assets stems from events such as wars and climate change, which affect the entire world, Huh Min, administrator of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), said. As Korea prepares to chair and host the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan later this month, Huh believes the event is an opportunity to position Korea as a "global agenda setter" by leading collaboration initiatives. "At this meeting, the core philosophy we want to emphasize is 'peace' and 'collaboration' through world heritage. As the host and chair country, we are aiming to present this very vision through the 'Busan Declaration,'" he said during an interview with The Korea Times at KHS headquarters in Daejeon on June 29. It is the first time for Korea to host the annual session since it joined the World Heritage Convention in 1988. The committee has established strategic objectives to guide the implementation of the convention called the "5 Cs" — credibi

Jul 6, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Int'l collaboration key to preserving cultural heritage: KHS chief

Shows & Dramas

'I like stories that lay human nature bare': veteran actor Choi Min-sik

After more than 35 years in the industry, Choi Min-sik has solidified his status as a living legend of Korean cinema. In his latest project Netflix psychological thriller, "Notes from the Last Row," the 64-year-old veteran actor delivers a haunting performance as professor Heo Mun-oh, a failed novelist who becomes dangerously consumed by the voyeuristic genius of Lee Kang (Choi Hyun-wook), an enigmatic student sitting in the back of his classroom. "When I first got the script and read the original play, I instantly thought, 'This is a drama that leaves room for thought,'" Choi told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. He said the series has a classic feel, different from recent trends. "Much like my past film 'Failan' (2001), I was drawn to this short but incredibly intense story. It felt like one of those small, lightweight paperbacks we used to carry around in our pockets back in school," he said. Narrative stripping humans bare Choi has never been one to shy away from the darker, less glamorous corners of human nature. While mainstream media often favors flawless heroes, Choi

Jul 2, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'I like stories that lay human nature bare': veteran actor Choi Min-sik

Shows & Dramas

Netflix dating reality 'Better Late Than Single' Season 2 promises fierce return

In a golden age of dating reality shows where perfectly curated singles trade razor-sharp flirtations, Netflix is doubling down on a completely different kind of romance — the clumsy and utterly genuine kind. Netflix show "Better Late Than Single" is a "dating makeover reality show," which tracks the first romantic steps of people with zero dating experience but maximum expectations. Following the sleeper-hit success of its first installment, the show's second season promises to dive even deeper into the relatable "swamp of delusions" that defines first love. For the show’s creators, the massive popularity of the series lies in its raw, unfiltered nostalgia. "I’ve previously described this show as an old diary," said producer Kim Noh-eun during a press conference for the show at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo District, Wednesday. "When you open it up years later, it makes you cringe so hard your hands and feet curl —yet you absolutely cannot stop reading. It's that universal human experience that resonated so deeply with viewers." Returning panelists actors Seo In-guk and Kang

Jul 1, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Netflix dating reality 'Better Late Than Single' Season 2 promises fierce return

Korean Heritage

Stitching Korean spirit: Costume designer reimagines hanbok for world stage

Lee Jin-hee, the mastermind behind the costume designs of countless dramas, films and theatrical productions, first encountered costume design during her studies at college, where she majored in stage design. Captivated by the spirit embedded in traditional Korean attire, she has carved out a distinguished career as a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) designer. The designer, who is now teaching at the Korea National University of Arts, made a name for herself through her work on hit dramas such as "Love in the Moonlight" (2016) and "My Dearest" (2023), as well as films such as "The Treacherous" (2015) and "The Great Battle" (2018). In 2020, her artistry earned her the Costume Design Award at the Grand Bell Awards. In 2024, she held a solo exhibition by invitation at the Korean Cultural Center in New York, and last year, she unveiled 15 hanbok pieces integrating artificial intelligence (AI) at a fashion show celebrating the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Most recently, she served as the chief costume designer for the local musi

Jun 28, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Stitching Korean spirit: Costume designer reimagines hanbok for world stage

Shows & Dramas

So Ji-sub awakens combat instincts in 'Agent Kim Reactivated'

Actor So Ji-sub is set to deliver "brutal and intense action" in SBS’ highly anticipated revenge series "Agent Kim Reactivated," a drama centered on the fierce depths of paternal love. So stars as Kim Do-hyeon, known as Manager Kim, a former elite special agent living undercover as an ordinary employee at a small savings bank. Once a legendary operative known as "Codename 66" — even earning a spot on North Korea's blacklist — Kim had retired to honor his late wife's dying wish to "just live as a father." However, when his only daughter is thrust into extreme danger, he is forced to awaken his deadly combat instincts once more. "I really wanted to do an action drama again," So shared during a press conference for the drama at SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Seoul, Thursday. "Manager Kim's narrative, alongside his desperate mindset while tracking down his daughter, felt like a compelling challenge." He noted that the show's action stands apart from his previous works, including his 2025 action noir "Mercy for None." "The difficulty was advanced," he said. "Unlike other dramas where the

Jun 25, 2026By Park Jin-hai

So Ji-sub awakens combat instincts in 'Agent Kim Reactivated'

Korean Heritage

Symposium to spotlight Korea's 2nd oldest surviving genealogy

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), families preserved their genealogical records in books called "jokbo." These records offer a window into individual family histories and the broader social structure of the kingdom. In recent years, efforts to register jokbo as a UNESCO Memory of the World heritage item have gained momentum in Korea. Interest in these genealogical records will be on full display at a symposium on the genealogical book of the Cheongsong Shim clan, scheduled for Saturday at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. The symposium is hosted by the Cheongsong Shim Clan Association and supported by the Korean Genealogy Academic Committee. "Cheongsong Shim Clan Eulsa-Sabo," the earliest genealogy book of the Cheongsong Shim clan, is the second oldest surviving ancient genealogy in Korea, following the Andong Kwon clan's "Seonghwa-bo." The book, published in 1545 by Shim Tong-won (1499–1572), has drawn attention from genealogy scholars and traditional clan associations. Jokbo is globally recognized for its unparalleled historical and anthropological value. The Eulsa-Sabo i

Jun 25, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Netflix aims for next global K-occult hit with 'The East Palace'

'Agent Kim Reactivated' revives middle-aged action hero

New wave of chef reality shows breaks the rules

'The Lives of Others' transforms film into raw, heart-wrenching theater

Int'l collaboration key to preserving cultural heritage: KHS chief

'I like stories that lay human nature bare': veteran actor Choi Min-sik

Netflix dating reality 'Better Late Than Single' Season 2 promises fierce return

Stitching Korean spirit: Costume designer reimagines hanbok for world stage

So Ji-sub awakens combat instincts in 'Agent Kim Reactivated'

Symposium to spotlight Korea's 2nd oldest surviving genealogy

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