Original author hints at 'The Trauma Code' Season 2, raising questions over Ha Young's returnThe original author of the Netflix drama “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” hinted at the filming schedule for its second season, raising questions about whether Ha Young, who has been embroiled in controversy over her great-grandfather’s activities as a pro-Japanese collaborator during Japan’s colonial rule over Korea, could remain with the project. Lee Nak-jun, a former ENT physician and the original author of the Netflix drama, is also one of the three doctors behind the YouTube channel Doctor Friends, which has 1.42 million subscribers. Appearing on Monday’s episode of KBS2’s “Malja Show,” Lee discussed the current production status of the drama’s second season. "Preproduction has now been completed, and we are scouting locations. Filming is expected to begin in October,” he said. Netflix, a day after the show aired, said that the specific filming schedule had yet to be decided. But Lee's comments about the drama’s production schedule drew attention, as questions remained over whether the project could proceed as planned after the controversy surrounding Ha erupAug 25, 2026By Xportsnews
Jang Dong-yoon to marry actor Kim Seung-yoon in OctoberActors Jang Dong-yoon and Kim Seung-yoon have announced that they will marry in October after quietly dating for years. Jang shared the news Tuesday through a handwritten letter posted on social media. “This October, I will marry someone I have been with for a long time,” Jang wrote. “We plan to hold a quiet Christian wedding attended by our families.” Jang said he had given the decision considerable thought. “As we spent more time together, we came to know and understand each other better and grew to cherish one another,” he wrote. “We have decided to stand by each other’s side and build a fun and happy life together,” Jang continued. “I understand that this sudden news may come as a surprise, but I would be grateful if you watched over us with warmth.” The announcement came as a surprise to fans, as the two had kept their relationship private. Jang and Kim, who have a five-year age gap, first met as director and actor through the 2023 short film “Please Be My Ear,” Jang’s directorial debut. Kim also played the lead role in “The Yeast,” Jang’s feature-lengAug 25, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Jewel in the Palace' star Lee Young-ae celebrates 23-year bond with royal court cuisine mentorActor Lee Young-ae, whose most iconic work is considered by many to be the drama “Jewel in the Palace,” paid tribute to her more than 20-year bond with Han Bok-ryeo, the Korean royal court cuisine researcher who participated in the drama. The actor posted several photos of herself visiting the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine on social media Thursday. In the photos, she was seen wearing a blouse paired with a long skirt, strolling around the institute and smiling while holding hands with Han. “My mentor, royal court cuisine researcher Han Bok-ryeo. Thank you, and please always stay healthy,” she wrote. She also added the hashtags “Jewel in the Palace” and “My mentor.” Lee played the title character, Seo Jang-geum, in the MBC drama, which became a nationwide sensation in 2003. Han, a researcher specializing in royal court cuisine from the Joseon Dynasty, is known for creating the dishes featured in “Jewel in the Palace” by drawing on historical documents about traditional Korean cuisine. In 2007, she was officially recognized as a holder of the skills associated with RAug 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
Yoo Ah-in shows off new look ahead of comeback following suspended sentence in drug caseSet to make a comeback, Yoo Ah-in appeared markedly different from before. The production team behind “Vampir,” tentative English title, announced Tuesday that the project had finalized its cast, including Yoo, Lee Sung-min, Lee Jun-hyuk, Kim Do-i, Yoon Kyung-ho and Choi Hyun-wook, and entered production this month. An occult thriller, “Vampir” follows an unidentified contract killer who tracks down a mysterious pagan group at the request of a clergyman. The film drew heightened attention as it will mark Yoo’s first big-screen project since he became embroiled in a drug-related controversy and went on hiatus. Yoo had been rumored to be joining the cast since last year. At the time, the actor’s agency distanced itself from the reports, stating that his appearance in the film had not been decided. As recently as last month, film distributor NEW said it remained unclear whether Yoo would appear in the film. But with his casting officially confirmed after a year of speculation, Yoo’s return to cinema is now set to begin with “Vampir.” In a photo from a script-reading sessionAug 18, 2026By Xportsnews
Teenage star of 'Agent Kim Reactivated' working at takoyaki shopAfter a high-profile debut in “Agent Kim Reactivated,” making takoyaki was what one actor chose to do after the drama came to an end. Seo Su-min, 19, launched her acting career with “Agent Kim Reactivated.” In the drama, she played Kim Min-ji, the daughter of the protagonist, Manager Kim. During a recent appearance on the YouTube channel “1ma2c,” the young actor described what her life had been like since filming wrapped. Much of it involved working part-time at a takoyaki shop. “Sitting around doing nothing just doesn’t work for me, even after filming has ended and everything is going well. I thought I should be doing something, so I decided to get a part-time job,” Seo said. Few customers expected to find the actor working at the shop, and Seo gave them little reason to believe it was really her. “I tried not to stand out by covering my face, so people just assumed I resembled the person they had seen on TV. Some were even talking about the drama while I was standing right next to them.” Seo had not even told the shop owner who she was, leaving the owner completelyJul 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
YouTuber Tyler Rasch closes down channelTyler Rasch, a Korea-based American TV personality and YouTuber, abruptly announced he is shutting down his channel. On his latest YouTube video, Rasch on Monday thanked viewers who tuned in every week, adding that they had given him many fond memories. "Everything that begins must eventually end," he said. "Tylerbolkkayo? as you have known it has now come to an end." He added that he hopes to wrap up the channel properly and promised to return with something even better. Subscribers expressed disappointment over the sudden news. The tylerbolkkayo? channel covered various current events, including international politics and economics, amassing more than 810,000 subscribers and logging 3.74 million views on its most-watched video. The decision drew scrutiny, particularly because the channel recently advertised job openings for content production staff. Rasch majored in international studies at the University of Chicago and earned a master's degree in international relations from Seoul National University. He rose to prominence after appearing on JTBC's "Abnormal Summit" in 2014 and has apJul 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
Kim Soo-hyun's comeback puts Disney+ under spotlight over 'Knock-Off'Kim Soo-hyun has hit the gas on his return to the entertainment industry, making his first public engagement in 16 months. Attention is now turning to Disney+ and the fate of “Knock-Off,” a drama starring Kim, after its release was suspended due to controversy surrounding the actor. On Tuesday, Kim filmed an advertisement for fashion brand Bench in the Philippines. It marked his first public engagement in 16 months, following the controversy over his private life that broke out in March last year. “Reunited with your Bench family,” the fashion brand’s CEO wrote on his personal social media account, sharing a photo he had taken with Kim. In the image, Kim holds a bouquet and flashes a V sign with his fingers. The following day, Kim uploaded a new post to his own social media account, which had been dormant since February last year, resuming communication with fans. If the events of the past two days are any indication, the actor is poised to make a formal return to the industry. Attention is now focused not on whether he will return, but when and through which project. AccordingJul 17, 2026By Xportsnews
A rare glimpse into Lee Young-ae's life with her husbandA rare glimpse of actor Lee Young-ae with her husband has been shared online. Composer Kim Hyung-seok posted a photo on social media featuring himself alongside Lee, her husband Jeong Ho-young and Dr. Jang Il-young. In the image, the actress sits beside Jeong, looking effortlessly elegant as she smiles brightly at the camera. The 55-year-old actress married Jeong, a Korean American businessman 20 years her senior, in a private ceremony in Hawaii in 2009. The couple welcomed twins, son Seung-kwon and daughter Seung-bin, in 2011. Jeong has previously drawn attention in Korean media over reports estimating his fortune at around 2 trillion won ($1.3 billion). Lee previously offered a glimpse into the couple’s family life in the 2014 documentary “SBS Special: Lee Young-ae’s Supper,” which followed her quiet daily routine with their twins. The program drew attention for showing Lee not as a star, but as an ordinary wife and mother. The actor is set to appear in an upcoming drama tentatively titled “Jae Yi’s Young In,” which will reunite her with Yoo Ji-tae 25 years after they staJul 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk spotted in Seongsu with CORTIS merchandiseHYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk has drawn attention after photographs purportedly showing him shopping in Seoul’s Seongsu neighborhood circulated online. The images offered an unusual glimpse into Bang’s private life, which last attracted widespread attention in 2024 when he was spotted in Beverly Hills with livestreamer Juice Seyeon. Two photographs accompanied by an eyewitness account spread across online communities and social media Sunday. The images, reportedly first uploaded by a Chinese internet user to a Chinese social media platform, showed Bang walking along a street in Seongsu and browsing products inside a boutique. One detail quickly caught the attention of online observers: A keychain attached to his shoulder bag appeared to feature merchandise from CORTIS, a rookie boy band under HYBE subsidiary BigHit Music. Bang was dressed in a white shirt with a colorful pattern and black pants. Some online users also commented that he appeared to have gained weight when compared with photographs taken after his widely discussed weight loss. A woman was seen walking in the same directionJul 13, 2026By Hankookilbo
Inquisition sweeps through Korean entertainment industry, tying stars to far-right online communityA sudden online inquisition is sweeping through Korea’s entertainment industry as celebrities are being called to account for alleged ties to Ilbe, a controversial far-right online community whose name alone can turn any association into a reputational liability. But the scrutiny is increasingly beginning to look less like legitimate suspicion than a one-sided effort to brand and attack artists, as even a regional dialect slipping naturally from a celebrity’s tongue or the use of a single word or expression are now being flagged and held up as evidence of ideological affiliation. The latest to be put on trial is “Agent Kim Reactivated,” an SBS drama whose source webtoon has been accused of containing references to Ilbe. Critics claimed that the names of certain characters and places were deliberately chosen to evoke the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, whose death is routinely mocked in the far-right online community. Webtoon creator Park Tae-jun categorically denied the allegations, saying they were untrue and that he would not have had the nerve to plant such furtive poJul 13, 2026By Hankookilbo
