The Korea Times

Choi Min-sik returns in Netflix thriller ‘Notes from the Last Row’

Veteran actor Choi Min-sik is set to delve into the intricate layers of human nature in his highly anticipated Netflix project "Notes from the Last Row." The psychological suspense drama centers on Heo Mun-oh (Choi), a failed writer and Korean literature professor. His life takes a sharp turn when he uncovers the raw genius of Lee Kang (Choi Hyun-wook), a mysterious student who sits in the very back row of his classroom. Choi Min-sik, celebrated globally for his powerhouse performances in "Exhuma" (2024) and "Big Bet" (2022), masterfully portrays Mun-oh, a professor consumed by a deep sense of inferiority. "I found myself yearning for a project imbued with a rich literary fragrance," Choi said during a press conference at the Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery, Wednesday. "While there are plenty of highly popular and entertaining shows these days, I felt this script really gave the audience room to think. People might find Mun-oh's flaws hitting a bit too close to home, allowing viewers to see themselves in him." He added, "The message of the piece and the dynamic between the teacher and student

Jun 24, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Choi Min-sik returns in Netflix thriller ‘Notes from the Last Row’

Shows & Dramas

Netflix 'The Love Lab' forces singles into extreme states of romance

Netflix's new reality dating show "The Love Lab" is a social experiment that throws singles into wild, unpredictable scenarios, capturing the exact moment their dormant romantic instincts spark to life. The show features a revolving cast of a group of ordinary singles scouted and brought in for each unique experiment and scenario. Star producer for romance reality shows Lee Jin-ju joined the production. Likening the current influx of reality romance programs to a fiercely competitive "Warring States period," producer Lee emphasized that the long-term survival of the genre hinges on a production's ability to deliver compelling, innovative content. "The longevity of dating shows depends entirely on introducing novel concepts," Lee said during a press conference at the Stanford Hotel Seoul, Tuesday. "I spent a lot of time considering what would make a 'new product' truly compelling, and we are leveraging this experimental format to test various ideas. We are producing this with the distinct mindset that the show is a literal romance laboratory." The series marks a pivot to short-form, fast-

Jun 23, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Netflix 'The Love Lab' forces singles into extreme states of romance

Travel & Food

Meet Korea’s pioneering ‘instant noodle critic’

For many, instant noodles are a quick, cheap meal designed for convenience. But for Ji Young-jun, Korea's pioneering "ramyeon critic," they represent a lifetime of history, complex food science and a rapidly growing cultural phenomenon. Ji’s unconventional journey into the world of noodles began during a period of personal frustration. After enduring consecutive failures on Korea's grueling college entrance exam, he enlisted in the military. It was while wandering the aisles of the military commissary (PX) that he found an unexpected spark of inspiration. "Before finishing my service, I set a humble goal for myself: 'Let’s taste every single instant noodle available here,'" Ji recalls during an interview with The Korea Times, Monday. "Astonishingly, that simple objective completely revitalized my military life and filled it with excitement. I wanted to carry this amazing energy into the civilian world, so in 2013, I began sharing my detailed reviews on social media." For a decade, Ji balanced his passion for instant noodles with a stable career as a primary school teacher. However,

Jun 23, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Meet Korea’s pioneering ‘instant noodle critic’

Trends

Changing face of lunch hour in Seoul’s office districts

The traditional lunch hour in Seoul’s bustling business hubs, like Gwanghwamun, Gangnam and Yeouido, is undergoing a major shift. Instead of crowding into restaurants, an increasing number of office workers are flocking to sleep cafes. For many, lunchtime has transformed from being a time to eat into a vital 20- to 30-minute window for physical and mental recovery. "I've used it for several months now," said Kwon, an economist in her mid-30s who works in Gwanghwamun, Jongno District, in an interview Friday. "I work at a global firm where the lunch culture is flexible, so I usually 'brown bag' my lunch and eat it at my desk. Afterwards, I'll head out to take a short nap at Nabijam." She explained that going out for lunch can often feel more tiring than staying in the office because fighting the crowds and waiting in long lines is exhausting. "It helps provide a 'real' break from the office and from people," she added. "Especially in Korea, where lunchtime can sometimes feel like an extension of work, enjoying 'me time' with a nap provides that necessary physical and mental separation fr

Jun 21, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Changing face of lunch hour in Seoul’s office districts

Shows & Dramas

Classic K-dramas turn into reunion shows

Iconic K-dramas from the mid-2010s are returning to small screen, but not as reruns or a retrospective. Instead, they're coming back as show spin-offs. Networks tvN and KBS2 announced upcoming 10th-anniversaryspecials for their 2016 hit series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and "Love in the Moonlight." The announement reflects TV networks leveraging legacy intellectual property to capture both nostalgic older fans and younger streaming audiences. Local broadcaster tvN will premiere "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – 10th Anniversary" on July 4. For the event, original cast members Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na reunite and revisit the show's famous filming locations, including Jumunjin Breakwater in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Teasers showed the actors returning to the seaside with original props from the show, including the drama's signature red scarf. "It was the most brilliant winter for me," actor Gong, who took the role of a cursed 939-year-old goblin who is looking for his bride so that he can stop being immortal, said in a promotional clip, reminisci

Jun 18, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Classic K-dramas turn into reunion shows

Shows & Dramas

What makes Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson' so popular globally

The Netflix original series "Teach You a Lesson" is taking the world by storm. The drama follows the Korean Educational Rights Protection Bureau, a fictional government-sanctioned vigilante squad deployed to reclaim classrooms ruined by out-of-control teenagers and toxic parents. It has firmly established itself as a massive hit, drawing passionate audiences across Asia, Europe and South America alike. According to the global OTT ranking site FlixPatrol, the show claimed the top spot worldwide on Tuesday, ranking No. 1 in 44 countries, including Korea, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Highly relatable Many viewers have found the drama relatable. Taking to social media to share the educational realities in their own countries, viewers worldwide noted with a mix of comfort and dismay that Korea's struggles are identical to their own. "I expected this to be just a simple story of bullies getting their comeuppance, but the dialogue, characters and sense of justice are incredibly relatable," wrote one U.K. viewer on Reddit. "Even though it's a Korean sho

Jun 16, 2026By Park Jin-hai

What makes Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson' so popular globally

Shows & Dramas

Seo In-guk, Park Ji-hyun tackle workplace romance in 'See You at Work Tomorrow!'

Actor Seo In-guk is ready to set hearts fluttering once again in the upcoming romantic comedy series, "See You at Work Tomorrow!" Adapted from a hit Kakao Webtoon title that amassed over 200 million views, the drama centers on everyday office workers who faithfully clock in each morning despite emotional burnout and personal storms. By blending witty corporate satire with irresistible romantic tension, the series seeks to deliver the ultimate modern workplace romance. Seo steps into the role of Kang Si-woo, a meticulous team leader at Saeum Electronics who prioritizes logic, principles and efficiency above all else. In the office, Si-woo is notoriously dubbed the "three-no man" — signifying his total lack of smiles, people skills and apologies. "The role immediately triggered my desire to take on a new challenge," Seo said. "While expressing extreme emotions in high-stakes thrillers is difficult, pulling off the natural conversations and understated reactions of everyday life is equally challenging. Si-woo is a highly restrained character who keeps everything under strict self-control

Jun 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Seo In-guk, Park Ji-hyun tackle workplace romance in 'See You at Work Tomorrow!'

Shows & Dramas

Netflix ‘Teach You a Lesson’ star talks global success, true meaning of education

Kim Moo-yul, who stars as the ruthless Na Hwa-jin, a field inspector for the Korean Educational Rights Protection Bureau, in Netflix’s high-octane drama “Teach You a Lesson,” is currently enjoying a new height in his acting career. The drama, which follows a government-sanctioned vigilante squad deployed to rescue classrooms ruined by unruly teenagers and toxic parents, has skyrocketed in popularity, claiming the top spot in Netflix's global non-English TV series category just three days after its release. Kim has become a hot topic among global fans for his striking resemblance to John Cena, and the Hollywood star himself posted Kim's photo on his social media. "I honestly don’t quite know what to do with myself," Kim said, expressing his gratitude for the show's global reception during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. In the series, his character is a former special forces operator who is dispatched to schools to use any means necessary — including corporal punishment — to discipline students. Every episode tackles heavy, real-world issues, fro

Jun 12, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Netflix ‘Teach You a Lesson’ star talks global success, true meaning of education

K-pop

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

Singer-songwriter EJAE — best-known for co-writing and performing the theme song "Golden" for animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" — is set to take the stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Thursday (local time). FIFA announced that she will join a star-studded lineup for a special show ahead of the tournament's kickoff match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. She will join legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli and a lineup of special guest singers to debut the official theme song for the tournament, "DNA." "Being a part of the official FIFA World Cup anthem means so much to me. It's especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song — representing Korea on this stage is such an honor," EJAE said via FIFA. "One of my favorite childhood memories is being in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup, and seeing the city unite. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing strangers on the street hug each other and celebrate. To me, that feeling of togetherness is what the World Cup means, and I'm grateful to be a part of it

Jun 11, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

Travel & Food

Taste of Busan: Taxi drivers' guide to Jimin & Jung Kook’s hometown flavors

As hundreds of thousands of BTS fans from all corners of the globe descend on the southern port city of Busan for their highly anticipated concert this weekend, the streets are alive with an undeniable buzz. While the main mission of most visitors is to see BTS on stage, any trip to the city wouldn't be complete without exploring the flavors of Jimin and Jung Kook's hometown. Forget generic online reviews and sponsored blog posts — those who want the real, unfiltered flavors can put their trust in the ultimate insiders: Busan’s taxi drivers. The "Taxchelin Guide" (a portmanteau of "taxi" and "Michelin"), a bulletproof culinary map curated by the city's most seasoned drivers, who know the city’s hidden culinary gems better than anyone. Launched in 2016 as a collaborative effort between Busan's municipal tourism bodies and local taxi associations, this annual guide has evolved over the years from a word-of-mouth insider secret into an official, highly respected restaurant guide. 'Camellia flower' marks spot Based on three strict criteria — consistent taste, reasonable pricing and dis

Jun 11, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Choi Min-sik returns in Netflix thriller ‘Notes from the Last Row’

Netflix 'The Love Lab' forces singles into extreme states of romance

Meet Korea’s pioneering ‘instant noodle critic’

Changing face of lunch hour in Seoul’s office districts

Classic K-dramas turn into reunion shows

What makes Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson' so popular globally

Seo In-guk, Park Ji-hyun tackle workplace romance in 'See You at Work Tomorrow!'

Netflix ‘Teach You a Lesson’ star talks global success, true meaning of education

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

Taste of Busan: Taxi drivers' guide to Jimin & Jung Kook’s hometown flavors

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