Broadcaster apologizes for airing Stray Kids member Hyunjin’s childhood photo as murder victimMBC Every1’s “Hidden Eye” production team apologized Tuesday for airing a childhood photo of Stray Kids member Hyunjin after falsely identifying it as a photo of a murder victim. The error occurred in December, when the true-crime commentary show used the photo as reference material while covering a murder case. It was later revealed that the image was a childhood photo of Hyunjin, prompting immediate complaints from fans. A production official for “Hidden Eye” apologized for the misuse of the photo in an interview with the Hankook Ilbo. “We have taken down the clips on YouTube, and the VOD for the episode in question has also been removed from most OTT (streaming) platforms,” the official said, acknowledging the production team’s mistake. The official explained that the error occurred while the crew was extracting reference photos from electronic devices used by the victim and provided by the bereaved family. The production team responded immediately after discovering the mistake, the official said, adding that it would double-check materials to prevent similar errors frMay 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
From ‘Danjong oppa’ to military cook drama, Park Ji-hoon’s second act is explodingPark Ji-hoon is having the kind of career moment few K-pop idols successfully achieve: dominating music, television and film all at once. The former Wanna One member has become one of South Korea’s hottest entertainers after a breakout run fueled by a high-profile historical film role, a solo music comeback and a highly anticipated Wanna One reunion project. Released in February, “The King’s Warden” surpassed 16 million moviegoers, an extraordinary result in South Korea’s struggling theater market. Park drew praise for his emotionally layered performance and intense screen presence, helping fuel word-of-mouth buzz surrounding the movie. As clips spread online, Korean viewers began affectionately referring to him as “Danjong oppa,” referencing the tragic young king from Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. The viral nickname quickly became part of the film’s cultural phenomenon, with many viewers saying they had “rediscovered” Park as a serious actor rather than simply a former idol. Although Park first rose to fame through K-pop, his acting career has been steadily building for yMay 25, 2026By Xportsnews
Tang Wei, Han Da-gam, Choi Ji-woo spotlight pregnancy, childbirth in their 40sA series of pregnancy announcements from celebrities in their 40s is offering welcome news in an aging society where marriage and childbirth are increasingly delayed, making pregnancy in one’s later years a more realistic option for many. Chinese actress Tang Wei recently drew attention after announcing her second pregnancy at the age of 46. The news carried the nuance of an unexpected joy rather than a planned pregnancy, prompting discussion over the possibility of natural conception. For women in a similar age group, that has made the announcement read as a source of realistic hope. Around the same time, other celebrities in their 40s, including Han Da-gam, born in 1980, and Kim Min-kyung, born in 1981, also shared news of their pregnancies. Han drew congratulations after revealing that she became pregnant after just one round of in vitro fertilization. Though their paths may differ, from fertility treatment to possible natural conception, the announcements have struck a common chord: Pregnancy later in life is increasingly becoming part of the public conversation. Actress Choi Ji-woMay 12, 2026By Hankookilbo
‘Not first class?’ Idol Annie draws buzz for economy flightK-pop fans are reacting with surprise after Annie, known for her family's ownership of one of Korea's largest conglomerates, shared a glimpse of herself flying economy class while studying for finals. The idol, a member of ALLDAY PROJECT, uploaded a photo through a fan communication platform on Tuesday, writing, “I’m on a plane going on a trip with my friend.” In the photo, Annie is seen sitting in a standard airplane seat, wearing headphones and focusing on a notebook. She said she was studying for final exams during the flight. “My friend secretly took this photo,” Annie said. “I thought Day One fans would like it, so I decided to post it.” What caught people's attention online was not just the casual snapshot, but the fact that Annie appeared to be flying economy instead of first or business class. Annie is the eldest daughter of Chung Yoo-kyung, president of Korean retail giant Shinsegae, and the granddaughter of Lee Myung-hee, chair of the Shinsegae Group. In Korea, descendants of powerful family-run conglomerates — commonly called “chaebol” — are often associatMay 9, 2026By Xportsnews
'I’m Popo,' Korea’s first all-AI film, asks what comes next for cinema“I’m Popo,” billed as the first full-length Korean film created with generative artificial intelligence (AI), is set to open in theaters on May 21. The film centers on Popo, a robot designed to protect humans, who begins killing people identified as potential criminals. Its premise sets up a clash between an AI that bases its decisions solely on statistical probability and humans who continue to believe in hope. At the same time, the film tackles one of today’s most pressing social questions: the rapid development of AI technology and the threat it may pose to humanity. The movie marks the latest extension of AI use, which continues to expand across short-form viral videos on social media, advertising and short films. And while bold attempts to use new technology, along with broader industry changes driven by technological advances, are generally welcomed, this case has been met with considerable concern over whether films created by AI can be regarded as creative works. As a first-of-its-kind project, “I’m Popo” carries significance as the first full-length Korean film crMay 7, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Never forgive': Director blames authorities for leaks in 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun probeByun Young-joo, the director of the film "Helpless," expressed grief over the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, who died in 2023, saying she would “never forgive the prosecution and police for the rest of my life.” Her remarks appeared to refer to the handling of the drug investigation into Lee, during which details of the allegations and contents of private phone calls were leaked to the media. Byun voiced anger over the exposure while Lee was still under investigation. In an interview released Thursday on YouTube, Byun recalled her time with Lee when they filmed "Helpless" in 2012. She said the production’s low budget and tight schedule often forced her to make unreasonable demands on the actors, but Lee always gave everything he could. Byun said, “There are many great actors who act brilliantly and help elevate a film, but actors who truly stand by the director are rare,” she said. “Losing Sun-kyun was not simply the loss of one actor,” she added. “For directors making Korean films, I think it was the loss of a comrade.” During the interview, Byun also revealed that she had seApr 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
Yoo Seung-jun tears up in surprise appearance at Tae Jin-ah’s US concertSteve Yoo, the former Korean singer also known as Yoo Seung-jun, made a surprise appearance at Tae Jin-ah’s concert in the United States, growing emotional as he greeted cheering fans. Yoo uploaded a video to his YouTube channel Thursday showing him at the venue of veteran Korean singer Tae Jin-ah’s solo concert, held last April at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in California. In the video, Tae acknowledges Yoo in the audience and recalls encouraging him early in his career: “When he first made his debut, I told him, ‘You’re going to make it big, so never give up and keep going.’” Yoo rose from his seat as fans around him burst into applause and cheers, holding back tears as he bowed in gratitude. He then moved through the nearby seats, shaking hands with audience members. One elderly concertgoer told him, “I left Korea 50 years ago, and seeing you breaks my heart. You still can’t go back to Korea?” The comment brought Yoo to tears again. In the description accompanying the video, Yoo reflected on how much the reunion with Tae Jin-ah meant to him. “It was only a brief moApr 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
In Germany, European authors take on manga with K-pop romance novelsFresh off an MBA in the United States, Min Seo-hee begins a new chapter in Seoul as a manager at a Korean entertainment agency. It is there that she meets Lim Tae-jun of the K-pop boy group Millions, setting in motion a tumultuous romance that surges and crashes like waves. This story, which some might find a bit corny, lies at the heart of "The Millions," a romance novel series displayed at the K-pop Romance booth of the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany last month. The first impression is that K-pop has carved out a place at one of Germany’s largest book fairs, widely regarded as a counterpart to the Frankfurt Book Fair. The sight stood out even more amid the overwhelming presence of Japanese manga across the exhibition hall. But assuming the author is Korean simply because the story revolves around K-pop would be a mistake. The writer behind the series is 39-year-old German author Sabrina T. Rudolph, a devoted fan of Super Junior who spent a year and a half living in Seoul in 2011. Her experience in Korea later became a driving force for the novel series. In 2021, during the COVID-19 panApr 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
Kiaf names Jung Ku-ho as 1st outside creative directorDesigner Jung Ku-ho has been appointed creative director of Kiaf, one of the country's major art fairs, as part of efforts to elevate the event's overall quality and visitor experience. The appointment marks the first time Kiaf has brought in an outside creative director to oversee branding, spatial design and the planning of special exhibitions. Jung began his career as a fashion designer before expanding his practice to include stage and costume design for state-run ballet, performance, craft and opera institutions, eventually taking on the role of overall creative director. Most notably, he directed the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's "One Dance," or ilmu in Korean, which received the New York Dance and Performance Awards, or The Bessies, in January. Jung is expected to reimagine the visitor experience and position Kiaf at the forefront of emerging trends in the global art fair landscape, according to the art fair. "I will strive to help Kiaf find the right balance between technology and art, and grow into a meaningful art trading platform on the global art market," Jung said in a sApr 20, 2026By Yonhap
Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skitsComedian Lee Su-ji has turned Korean social absurdities into viral satire on YouTube's “Hot Issue Ji” and Coupang Play's “SNL Korea.” Her recent sketches target overbearing parents and online misinformation, blending sharp humor with painful realism. One standout episode, titled “Kindergarten Teacher Lee Min-ji’s Never-Ending 24 Hours [Human Documentary: Real Extreme Jobs],” shows Lee as an overworked teacher with her face marked by heavy dark circles from exhaustion but still trying to keep her composure under relentless pressure from parents. Her attempts to stay upbeat in the face of increasingly absurd demands are both funny and uncomfortably relatable. In the video, Lee's character starts her day at 4 a.m. and attempts to accommodate a barrage of unreasonable requests: assigning children to classes based on their MBTI personality types, or using eucalyptus-infused plant-based wipes during bathroom breaks for the kids. When a parent questions her personal life after spotting her in Seoul’s Apgujeong, she hits a breaking point — her eardrum seemingly bursts — yetApr 17, 2026By Park Jin-hai
