'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
High-profile influencer Juice Seyeon goes public with relationship with fellow streamer KInfluencer and streamer Gwajeup (Juice) Seyeon has gone public with her relationship with fellow streamer K, drawing wide attention online. K made the announcement during a livestream on SOOP, formerly AfreecaTV, on Monday under the title “Major announcement.” Appearing alongside Juice Seyeon, the two told viewers they had been dating for eight months. According to the pair, they first met at an after-party following an acquaintance’s wedding in July last year and began dating the following month. K was born in 1989, while Juice Seyeon was born in 2000, making the age gap between them 11 years. K also explained why they decided to make the relationship public. “Something unfortunate happened to Juice Seyeon, and watching from the side, I saw her go through a lot of difficult things,” he said. “I felt upset, and that led me to suggest that we go public with the relationship.” Juice Seyeon rose to prominence after appearing on Netflix’s 2024 original reality show “The Influencer.” She had previously drawn public attention after being spotted with HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyApr 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
From church friends to couple: Actress Ji Ye-eun, dancer Vata confirm romanceActress Ji Ye-eun and dancer Vata have taken their long-time friendship to the next level, quietly becoming one of the latest celebrity couples in Korea — a pairing already drawing attention for their shared background and creative collaborations. The two began dating after growing close over time through shared interests and religion. Both born in 1994, Ji and Vata reportedly first bonded as church friends before their relationship developed into a romantic one. Their connection had already been visible behind the scenes. When Ji performed as part of the project group “Chungju Ji Clan” with entertainer Ji Suk-jin at Waterbomb Seoul 2025 last year, created the choreography for their song “Milkshake,” offering support that now appears to hint at a deeper relationship. Ji, a graduate of Korea National University of Arts’ acting department, debuted in 2017 through the web drama “How To.” She has since appeared in projects such as “Yellow,” “Taste of Cat” and short films including “Night Has Come” and “Acting Class.” Her popularity surged after joining the coApr 13, 2026By Xportsnews
IVE’s Jang Wonyoung surprises Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway with secret hair revealK-pop star Jang Wonyoung left even Hollywood veterans smiling after casually revealing a personal “secret” — that her long hair is actually extensions — during a lighthearted exchange with actors Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. On April 9, Vogue Korea shared a video showing the three stars meeting ahead of promotions for the upcoming film “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” drawing global attention online. In the clip, the trio harmonized to “Bye Vogue,” laughing together in a rare cross-industry moment that quickly spread across social media. Wonyoung playfully reenacted the iconic line “That’s all,” energizing the atmosphere, while Hathaway admired her manicure, saying, “So beautiful.” The interaction took an unexpected turn when Wonyoung, mid-conversation, showed off her long hair and said: “It’s extensions. Secret.” The candid confession — delivered with humor — sparked curiosity about what else was said during the exchange. What stood out just as much was Wonyoung’s fluency. She led parts of the conversation in English with ease, showcasing a level of coApr 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Zo In-sung hit with politically charged comments online over remarks on filming amid 2024 martial law crisisActor Zo In-sung is facing hate comments online after remarks he made during a recent television appearance were pulled into a broader political backlash. The actor’s social media comment section has since been flooded with remarks from some politically motivated users, with the attacks appearing under an otherwise routine post thanking an advertising brand he had worked with for six years. Many of the comments reference his past remarks about exchange rates during the Dec. 3, 2024 martial law situation. Commenters have left messages such as “You said exchange rates were rising during martial law — now they’re in the mid-1,500 won range, why are you silent?” Other comments read “Prices are much higher than during martial law — You need to make a statement” and “Are all celebrities left-wing?” The backlash appears to trace back to Zo’s appearance last month on MBC’s “Questions by Sohn Seok-hee,” where he joined director Ryoo Seung-wan to promote their newly released film “Humint.” During the interview, host Sohn Suk-hee noted that the film is set in VladivosApr 6, 2026By Xportsnews
