Kim Young-dae, Pyo Ye-jin to co-star in new romance series Actors Kim Young-dae, left, and Pyo Ye-jin will play the lead characters in the new ENA series “Moonrise During The Day.” Courtesy of Outer Korea and Secret ENTBy Lee Gyu-leeActors Kim Young-dae and Pyo Ye-jin will lead ENA's upcoming fantasy romance series “Moonrise During The Day.” The network announced that the two have confirmed their roles, along with actors On Joo-wan and Jung Woong-in.Based on the hit webcomics of the same name, the new series will revolve around the top actor, Han Joon-oh (Kim), and a firefighter-turned-bodyguard Kang Young-hwa (Pyo). Despite his heartthrob image, Han is far from living his best life, as he suffers from insecurity. But when he gets into a car accident while shooting a commercial on the set, he gets possessed by the spirit of a nobleman from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C ― 676 A.D), which turns his personality around completely. Kang used to be a firefighter, but when she gets into an accident with Han, she faces a major change in life, becoming Han's personal bodyguard. On will play the character of Han Min-oh, who is the Jul 21, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Disney+ sci-fi action series 'Moving' expands original webtoon's universe Kang Full, the creator of webtoon "Moving," speaks about the new Disney+ drama adaptation of his webcomic series of the same name during a press event at CGV in central Seoul's Yongsan District, July 20. YonhapThe upcoming Disney+ sci-fi action series "Moving" features "Korean-style heroes" who are seemingly ordinary people but fight for their loved ones with hidden superpowers, its screenwriter said Thursday.Based on the eponymous hit webtoon by Kang Full, the 20-episode series tells the story of a group of superpowered individuals who hide their true abilities from the world in order to protect their families from danger.It features a star-studded cast, including Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo, Ryu Seung-ryong, Ryu Seung-bum and Cha Tae-hyun, among others.Kang, the creator of original webtoon "Moving," said the drama series used a multi-layered story structure that spans over 30 years and added new characters to expand its cinematic universe."Although the series is based on my original webtoon, I wanted to tell a different story and ended up writing a 20-episode series," Kang said during Jul 20, 2023
Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon to star in fantasy romance series Actors Byeon Woo-suk, left, and Kim Hye-yoon/ Courtesy of tvNBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Byeon Woo-seok will be starring in tvN's new drama “Loverly Runner” with Kim Hye-yoon, the cable network announced on Wednesday.The upcoming drama tells the tale of a romance between a top celebrity, who dies in a tragic accident, and his female fan, who time travels to the past to change his fate. It combines an emotional love story with a sci-fi time element in the plot.Byeon will portray Ryu Sun-jae, Korea's top celebrity who dies in a tragic accident, while Kim plays starstruck female lead Lim Sol, who travels through time to when Sun-jae was 19 years old and struggles to prevent his accident. The show is the latest Korean series to be adapted from a web novel. In this case “The Best of Tomorrow,” written by Kim Bbang and published by Kakao Page, is the underlying source material for Lee Si-eun's screen adaptation. Lee is best known for writing the script of tvN drama “True Beauty” (2020).Byeon, who debuted as a model, began his acting career after landing a minJul 19, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Jung Hae-in returns for season 2 of Netflix original 'D.P.' From left, actors Kim Ji-hyun, Ji Jin-hee, Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun and Son Seok-koo pose during the press conference for the second season of Netflix series "D.P." held at a hotel in Gangnam District, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-lee The second season of Netflix's original series “D.P.” is finally set to arrive on July 28, about two years after its first season created a buzz by spotlighting corruption and abuse in the military.The military action series revolves around two soldiers ― Ahn Joon-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Han Ho-yeol (Koo Kyo-hwan) ― serving in a special unit called Deserter Pursuit (D.P.) which specializes in tracking down military deserters and bringing them in.As the two take cases of deserted soldiers, they come across their different backstories and injustices in the organization that led them to flee from the military. “(Season 2) captures the stories of the unchanging reality and injustice the two D.P. soldiers, Joon-ho and Ho-yeol, face,” Jung said during the press conference for the series held at a hotel in Jul 19, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Choi Soo-young, Jeon Hye-jin to show feel-good comedy in 'Not Others' From left, actors Park Sung-Hoon, Choi Soo-young, Jeon Hye-jin and Ahn Jae-wook pose during the press conference for the new comedy series, "Not Others,” held at Stanford Hotel in Mapo District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of KT Studio GenieBy Lee Gyu-leeActress Jeon Hye-jin and singer-actor Choi Soo-young portray a special mother-daughter bond in the new comedy series "Not Others,” which premiered on Monday.The new ENA series, based on the webcomic of the same name, follows a single mother, Eun-mi (Jeon), and her grownup daughter, Jin-hee (Choi), exploring romance and life. Eun-mi had her daughter when she was a teen, and raised her now-29-year-old daughter by herself while working as a physiotherapist. She is bubbly and straightforward, keeping a friend-like relationship with her daughter.Jin-hee is a cool-headed police officer who leads a patrol team at a local precinct. Although she bickers over everything with her mom, she is the more responsible of the two and looks after her.Choi expressed that working with Jeon has been a dream come true. “Anyone who knows me woJul 18, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Gong Yoo, Seo Hyun-jin to star as married couple in new Netflix series Actors Seo Hyun-jin, left, and Gong Yoo / Courtesy of Management SOOPBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin will co-star as a married couple in Netflix's new series “The Trunk.”Based on Kim Ryeo-ryeong's novel of the same title, the mystery series follows Jeong-won (Gong), a music producer who finds himself entangled in an unexpected marriage contract with In-ji (Seo), who works for a matchmaking company. Their lives take a twist when a mysterious trunk found in a lake throws them into a whirlwind of events behind the matchmaking service. “The Trunk” is directed by Kim Gyu-tae, whose previous works include hit TV series such as “Our Blues” (2022) “It's Okay, That's Love” (2014), and written by Park Eun-young of “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth” (2016). The release date has not yet been confirmed.Seo debuted as singer as part of K-pop girl group M.I.L.K in 2001 and turned to acting in 2005 through musical “The Sound of Music.” She has starred in hit TV series, including “Another Miss Oh” (201Jul 17, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
K-dramas' glory days wane as industry tightens belt A scene from Netflix's Korean original series “Squid Game” which found worldwide success in 2021 / Courtesy of NetflixOverheated competition among OTTs during pandemic begins to backfireBy Lee Gyu-leeWhen Netflix's Korean original series “Squid Game” became a global sensation in 2021, as well as becoming the streaming platform's biggest hit, it started a major boom in the popularity of Korean series.However, Korea's hot streak has begun to wind down, driving the K-drama industry into crisis. Many streaming services and networks are starting to tighten their belts and hit the pause button concerning the overflow in series production, leaving many series in stasis or shelved after production. Broadcasters and networks are not reserving weekday prime time slots for series anymore. The nation's three major broadcasters ― SBS, MBC and KBS ― all stopped airing Wednesday-Thursday series, with tvN following suit in April.“Networks are only opening one two-day slot (per week), like Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday for series, and have closed down the weekday onJul 14, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
Steven Yeun receives Emmy nomination for 'Beef' A scene from “Beef” / Courtesy of NetflixBy Woo Da-binKorean-American actor Steven Yeun has earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the comedy-drama series “Beef” on Netflix, one of 13 for the hit show at this year's Emmy Awards.The nominees for the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced on Wednesday by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, with Yeun in the running for Best Actor in a Limited Series.Steven Yeun, best known in Korea for his roles in “Burning” and “Minari,” is joined by Taron Egerton in “Black Bird,” Evan Peters in “Dahmer,” Daniel Radcliffe in “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” Michael Shannon in “George & Tammy,” and Kumail Nanjiani in “Welcome to Chippendales” as nominees for best actor.Joseph Lee and Young Mazino, two other Korean-American actors who also featured in “Beef” alongside Steven Yeun, have each earned separate nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series.“Beef” was written by Korean-born screenwritJul 14, 2023
'King the Land' producers issue second apology over depiction of Arab prince Apology issued in Arabic by the producers of “King the Land”/ Captured from JTBC's social mediaBy Woo Da-binThe JTBC drama series “King the Land” has come under fire both in Korea and abroad for its misrepresentation of Arab characters. The show's production team has delivered a second apology in the space of one day, the latest written in Arabic, in response to the public outcry. In an episode aired on Saturday and Sunday, a man named Samir (played by Anupam Tripathi) checks in at a hotel where the main character Cheon Sarang (played by Im Yoon-ah) works. Samir reveals himself to be a prince and is seen partying at a nightclub with other women. He's also portrayed as a womanizer and ends up forming one part of a love triangle alongside Goo Won (played by Lee Joon-ho) when he openly expresses his affection for Cheon Sarang.Controversial scene from the JTBC drama series “King the Land”/ Captured from JTBC's "King the Land"The episode sparked outrage among international viewers, with the showrunners' understanding of Arab culture being called into quJul 14, 2023
Woo Do-hwan to lead new Netflix series Actors Woo Do-hwan, left, and Lee You-mi will star in Netflix's new series "Mr. Plankton." Courtesy of H& Entertainment and Varo EntertainmentBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Woo Do-hwan is set to lead Netflix's new original series, "Mr. Plankton," following his recent role in the series "Bloodhounds." The streaming service announced that Woo has confirmed the lead role, alongside actress Lee You-mi, who gained global recognition for her role in "Squid Game," which earned her the Guest Actress award at the Primetime Emmy Awards last year.The upcoming series will center around Hae-jo (played by Woo), a lonely man who is unaware of his biological father's identity and feels abandoned by those around him. Living a purposeless and isolated life, Hae-jo unexpectedly receives life-altering news that prompts him to embark on a quest to find his long-lost father.Lee will play the role of Jae-mi, who is the world's most unhappy bride-to-be. She has been wanting a family for a long time. But just when she is about to marry into a head family of a respected clan, she ditches the wedding to accompany HaeJul 14, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
