Spring romance dramas bloom again with fresh twistsMuch like seasonal foods, certain drama genres feel tied to particular times of year. Summer is for horror, winter for melodrama and spring for romance. This year broadcasters have rolled out a raft of romance dramas all at once in celebration of spring. SBS is betting on the romantic comedy “Sold Out on You,” starring Ahn Hyo-seop and Chae Won-bin. Moving between a gray city and a lush countryside village, the drama aims to offer healing to viewers worn down by the demands of everyday life. Deokpung Village, where the main characters meet and fall in love, is filled with green fields and distinctive country scenery that brings out the spirit of spring. MBC is all smiles thanks to “Perfect Crown.” According to ratings tracker Nielsen Korea, the drama ranked No. 1 among Friday-Saturday series and also topped Friday programs in the Seoul metropolitan area, marking a strong start. By its fourth episode, it had surpassed double-digit ratings both nationwide and in the capital region. The fourth episode peaked at 13.8 percent, with buzz surrounding stars IU and Byeon Woo-seok. TVINGApr 25, 2026By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK's Jisoo wins rising star award at CanneseriesJisoo of BLACKPINK received the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at the 2026 Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries), organizers said Friday. The festival noted that Jisoo "continues to balance careers in music and acting, with a focus on expanding her filmography through diverse roles and formats." "With her international reach, screen presence, and ongoing artistic growth, she remains a prominent and promising figure in contemporary Korean and global entertainment," it said on its website. In March, her latest television series "Boyfriend on Demand" premiered on Netflix, in which she plays Mi-rae, a webtoon producer worn down by work who seeks romance through a virtual dating subscription service. Jisoo took the stage to receive the award in person in Cannes on Thursday (French time) at the festival's ninth edition, which runs from April 23-28. Established in 2018, the annual festival showcases outstanding TV series from around the world through four official sections — Competition, Short Form Competition, Documentary Series Competition and Out of Competition — as well asApr 24, 2026By Yonhap
Streaming platforms bet on sports broadcasting to lock in subscribersStreaming platforms are increasingly turning to live sports broadcasting as a strategy to retain subscribers, with the trend now extending beyond traditional sports into esports, industry officials said Thursday. As platforms look for new ways to hold onto subscribers in an increasingly crowded market, live sports and esports are emerging as some of their most reliable tools. They said the appeal of live sports for streaming platforms is rooted in the nature of the content itself. Unlike dramas or films, which viewers tend to watch once before moving on to another content, sports events can continuously garner viewers with new games and competitions held on a regular basis. This gives fans a recurring reason to keep their subscriptions active. “Diversifying content lineups, broadening subscriber demographics and the relatively lower production costs compared to making original series or movies are among the key reasons why sports events, including esports, are becoming increasingly attractive to streaming platforms,” an official from a local content industry said on condition of anoApr 23, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
How IU's 'Perfect Crown' breaks royal romance clichésIn a fictional Korea where a constitutional monarchy still reigns, an ambitious heiress to a conglomerate does not wait for a prince to save her — she proposes a marriage of convenience to use him as political cover. This setup drives MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama, “Perfect Crown.” The series surpassed double-digit ratings by its fourth episode after premiering on April 10 and became the most-watched Korean series worldwide on Disney+. The show stands out from earlier royal dramas by twisting the Cinderella story to reflect modern demands for women’s independence. The most striking departure from genre convention is the female protagonist’s strategic view of marriage. Unlike the 2006 hit “Princess Hours,” where an ordinary high school girl becomes a crown princess through an arranged marriage pact, successful second-generation businesswoman Sung Hee-joo (IU) uses the royal family’s symbolism as a tool. She uses marriage to defeat her legitimate half-brother — who secured his corporate position by marrying into a noble family — in a succession battle. Hee-joo boldlApr 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experienceNetflix series “If Wishes Could Kill” is an eight-part horror series that blends various genres including occult and action to keep viewers engaged, director Park Yoon-seo said Tuesday. “While short films can effectively create fear in a brief moment, I put significant effort into this as a longer series,” the director said during a press conference in Seoul. He added that he focused on building a believable plot to ensure audiences stay immersed. The eight-part series follows high school students who are suddenly warned of their imminent deaths through a curse from a wish-granting app called Girigo. The story depicts their desperate struggles to escape the curse and survive. Park said he integrated elements of occult, action and school dramas into a traditional horror framework. He believes this combination will prevent the audience from feeling bored throughout the eight episodes. “I wanted to go beyond the limits of standard horror,” the director said. “By combining different genres, I made sure there is never a dull moment from the beginning to the last episode.” RegarApr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
In 'Filing for Love,' workplace audits meet romanceTvN's upcoming romantic comedy "Filing for Love" follows a workplace conduct audit team, navigating relatable office episodes that any office worker will find familiar, its producer said. "The word 'audit' may suggest a straightforward office drama, but the series actually tackles a wide range of subjects, from couples and affairs to workplace bullying in a warm and comedic way," producer Lee Su-hyun said at an online press conference Monday. The series is episodic and spans genres such as thriller, comedy and romance, Lee added, noting that she aimed to strike a balance among them while keeping it easy to watch. On the romantic front, "the two lead characters find their own relationship quietly deepening as they investigate each case," she said. "The Art of Sarah" star Shin Hye-sun took the role of In-ah, the no-nonsense, charismatic leader of the audit team who harbors a secret past. Shin said she accepted the cast offer to shake off the darker tone of her previous Netflix mystery series. "I really enjoyed 'The Art of Sarah,' but honestly, it was a bit too dark. I had been waiting to takApr 20, 2026By Yonhap
Broadcasters embrace global streaming platforms to surviveWhen MBC's "Perfect Crown" premiered on April 10, two very different audiences tuned in simultaneously — those who switched on their television sets the traditional way, and others who pressed play on Disney+. The series, featuring two Korean stars — IU and Byun Woo-seok — had become the most-watched Korean series on the streaming platform worldwide. On Sunday, MBC said the fourth episode aired on Saturday night recorded its highest ratings yet with 11.1 percent. The response on streaming platforms tells a similar story. The show has held the No. 1 spot on Disney+ Korea's Top 10 since its release, and, as of April 18, ranks fifth globally on FlixPatrol's Disney+ Top 10 TV chart. The drama is set in a fictional Korea that operates as a constitutional monarchy rather than the republic it is today. The series centers on Sung Hee-joo (IU), a chaebol heiress who has wealth and ambition but finds herself held back by her status as a commoner. Her path crosses with Grand Prince Ian (Byeon), a royal, the king’s second son. The show airs on MBC every Friday and Saturday and is availableApr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Cha Eun-woo’s new Netflix project 'The Wonderfools' set for May releaseSinger and actor Cha Eun-woo will return with a new project next month. According to Netflix, "The Wonderfools" will premiere on May 15. The Netflix series is a comedic superhero adventure set at the turn of the millennium in 1999, following a group of ordinary neighborhood misfits who accidentally gain superpowers and struggle to save the world from villains threatening peace. The series has drawn attention with a production team behind dramas such as "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and "Dr. Romantic." It also marks a reunion between director Yoo In-sik and actress Park Eun-bin from "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." Alongside Park, the cast includes Cha Eun-woo, Choi Dae-hoon and Im Sung-jae. "The Wonderfools" has attracted particular interest as it is Cha's first post-controversy project. Earlier this year, he faced allegations of owing hundreds of billions of won in unpaid taxes. He also faced criticism over suspicions that a one-person corporation established under his mother’s name may have been used for tax avoidance. On April 8, Cha Eun-woo said, “I respect the National Tax ServiceApr 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
ABT Studio Company's Korean ballet dancers headline Seoul performancesThe American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company will present a gala performance in Seoul, April 17-18. Based in New York, the company has produced about 85 percent of the dancers in the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Korean dancers Park Soo-ha, Park Geon-hee and Park Youn-jae are set to star in the performances at Mapo Arts Center. At a press conference held April 16, ABT Studio Company Artistic Director Sascha Radetsky praised the strength of Korean dancers. A Korean community has been developing within ABT since principal Seo Hee joined the top U.S. ballet company in 2005. She became a principal dancer in 2012, a rise that inspired budding Korean dancers to follow in her footsteps, resulting in the increasing prominence of Koreans in ballet capitals and major competitions around the world. Park Geon-hee, who won the Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix while studying at Korea National University of Arts, joined ABT Studio Compnay in September 2025. Park Youn-jae, who became the first Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne last year, also joined the company laApr 17, 2026By Hankookilbo
'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-comAhn Hyo-seop, who shot to global fame as the voice of Jinu in the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," is returning to the small screen as a perfectionist farmer. In SBS’s new romantic comedy "Sold Out on You," Ahn plays Matthew Lee, a genius cosmetic researcher and passionate mushroom farmer who becomes entangled day and night with Ye-jin (Chae Won-bin), a “sell-out queen” home-shopping host. Ahn, who attended the 98th Academy Awards last month after "KPop Demon Hunters" took home two trophies, said, “I actually finished all my dubbing work before shooting this drama, so I had some breathing room," during a press conference for the drama at SBS headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. “After working on emotionally heavy projects that made me think deeply about life, reading this script felt very healing. There’s no villain here — just an honest story about everyday life,” he said. He said he threw himself into learning to drive a tractor. “I wanted to soak in the countryside and really live the life of a farmer.” Director Ahn Jong-yeon described the seriesApr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
