REVIEW In 'Mad Dance Office,' comfort arrives one step off-beatMuch like the moving Japanese drama "Shall We Dance" (1996), finding release from the tedium of daily life through dance remains one of cinema's most beloved themes. "Mad Dance Office" delivers a similarly warm message of comfort through the story of a perfectionist civil servant whose life begins to shift after an unexpected encounter with flamenco. Yet, the film never fully breaks free from the familiar conventions of the "dance as liberation" trope. Although it clearly conveys its core message that "it's okay not to be perfect; live at your own rhythm," the storytelling feels somewhat thin due to a lack of emotional depth, preventing the film from truly resonating with its audience. To survive in a male-dominated professional world, Kim Guk-hee (Yeom Hye-ran) has built her life around strict control, serving as a lifelong government official and a tenacious single mother. Known for her high competence and "bulldozer" drive, Guk-hee is on the verge of a major promotion, while her only daughter, Haeri (Arin), has just passed the state exam to become a teacher. Her troubles begin, howevMar 3, 2026By Yonhap
Kim Soo‑hyun’s return on horizon? Disney+ reconsiders fate of 'Knock-Off'Signs are emerging that actor Kim Soo-hyun may be gearing up for a return to the spotlight after a hiatus prompted by controversy over his private life. Discussions have reportedly resumed about scheduling “Knock-Off,” a Disney+ original series that has been shelved for nearly a year, raising speculation about the actor’s potential comeback. Kim’s legal representative Kho Sang-rock shared a news report on Feb. 28 on Instagram noting that Disney+ is reconsidering the release schedule for “Knock-Off” as part of its lineup restructuring for the first half of 2026. “The report is likely to be true,” Kho commented, adopting a cautious stance. The statement followed a report from The Fair News, which claimed that Disney+ is coordinating a first-half release for “Knock-Off” as part of its content revamp. The series had been indefinitely postponed after allegations emerged last year that Kim had been romantically involved with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor. Kim’s side strongly denied the claim, stating the relationship began only after both wereMar 2, 2026By Park Jin-hai
K-drama classic 'Winter Sonata' returns to Japan 24 years after debut"Winter Sonata," the Korean drama that first sparked the Korean wave in Japan, is returning to the big screen Friday. According to Japanese media outlets including Sports Hochi, the production team has reedited the 1,400‑minute TV series into a two‑hour 4K remastered film. Originally aired on KBS in 2002, the drama, starring Bae Yong‑joon and Choi Ji‑woo, captivated audiences with its wistful tale of first love, recording an average viewership rating of 23.1 percent. When NHK broadcast the series in Japan the following year, it swept the nation and came to symbolize the beginning of Japan’s fervor for Korean pop culture. Its lead actor Bae — affectionately called “Yonsama” by Japanese fans — became an icon of that era and a defining face of the early Korean wave boom. At a special preview event in Tokyo, director Yoon Seok‑ho described "Winter Sonata" as “a story about reclaiming the memory of one’s first love,” adding, “Just as viewers were able to rediscover those emotions twenty years ago, I hope the film once again evokes that feeling.” Misato Tanaka, theMar 1, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Can Jisoo finally silence ‘bad acting’ critics with Netflix’s ‘Boyfriend on Demand’?BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is returning to screens with a high-stakes lead role that could redefine her acting career — or reignite long-running criticism. As Netflix’s upcoming romantic comedy “Boyfriend on Demand” approaches its March 6 release, online debate has intensified over whether the K-pop star can finally shed the “bad acting” stigma that has followed her since her debut. The series centers on Mi-rae, a webtoon producer played by Jisoo, who escapes her exhausting reality through a futuristic virtual-dating subscription service. In the show’s premise, users can enter simulated worlds and experience romance across 900 themed scenarios simply by wearing a device — allowing Mi-rae to live out relationships, careers and alternate lives she cannot access in reality. The project marks Jisoo’s first drama lead since her acting debut in JTBC’s “Snowdrop” in 2021. She has since appeared in films including “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” and “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy,” as well as the streaming series “Newtopia,” steadily building her acting résumé. YFeb 28, 2026By Xportsnews
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo explores virtual dating in 'Boyfriend on Demand'Undeterred by criticism of her previous acting, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo now has her eyes set on rom-com queen status in the upcoming Netflix series “Boyfriend on Demand.” The singer-actress will portray Mi-rae, an exhausted webtoon producer who finds escape in a mysterious app that delivers a custom-fit heartthrob boyfriend each month to tend to her emotional needs. “Virtual reality didn’t feel like a distant future, and my character, Mi-rae, is about my age too. I chose this project because I could really relate myself to the way Mi-rae wrestles with her worries and works through them,” the actor saud during a press conference for the show at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Thursday. The virtual dating subscription in the show delivers 900 themed dates at the slip of a simple device, letting anyone dive into risk-free romance, hitting home for today’s burned-out people, where even dating feels like just another grind. “As a total homebody, when I saw the device, I immediately thought, ‘You could travel through all kinds of worlds without ever leaving your house,’ andFeb 26, 2026By Park Jin-hai
'The Art of Sarah' exposes Korea's luxury obsession"The Art of Sarah" cuts through Korea's luxury obsession with the precision of a scalpel. The Netflix mystery thriller, starring Shin Hye-sun, follows a woman who transforms her personal ruin into an audacious counterfeit empire — and in doing so, holds a mirror up to a society that willingly conflates desire with identity. From the first episode, Sarah Kim (Shin) signals her ambitions visually. She carries a crocodile leather Hermes Birkin bag valued between 90 and 120 million won ($63,000 to $84,000) — one of the rarest bags on the market — alongside a Dior limited-edition piece, one of only 150 released worldwide in 2017. The visual language vividly sets luxury as armor, argument and identity. The drama then rewinds to Mok Ga-hui, another of Kim's identities, who toils endlessly at a department store luxury counter without even time for bathroom breaks until a theft leaves her saddled with 50 million won in debt. She spirals into illegal reselling, loan shark traps and hostess gigs. Unable to change reality, she instead changes her identity to the fictional "Sarah Kim" and lauFeb 26, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Mystery-thriller 'The Art of Sarah' tops Netflix weekly chartThe mystery thriller "The Art of Sarah" rose to the No. 1 spot of Netflix's weekly non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. The eight-part Korean-language series garnered 10 million views for the week ending Feb. 22, more than double the 4.3 million views of the second-place "Unfamiliar," a German thriller. Starring Shin Hye-sun and Lee Jun-hyuk, the series centers on a mysterious woman named Sarah (Shin) and a detective (Lee), who grows suspicious of her true identity and ever-changing accounts surrounding a murder case. Meanwhile, "Singles' Inferno Reunion," which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the fifth season of the popular dating reality show, landed at No. 7 with 1.5 million views.Feb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ faces criticism over treatment of Yerin HaConcerns about representation in global television franchises have gained renewed attention after fans questioned the visibility of Korean Australian actor Yerin Ha in promotional material for the fourth season of Netflix’s "Bridgerton." The criticism emerged after Netflix Spain shared photographs from a promotional event held on Feb. 18, featuring Luke Thompson, Hannah Dodd and Ha. Some viewers argued the framing appeared to foreground Dodd, who plays Francesca Bridgerton, rather than the season’s central romantic pairing of Thompson and Ha. Attention also focused on a promotional video in which Ha was seated at the edge. She was not visible in vertically cropped versions designed for social platforms, leaving only Thompson and Dodd in frame. Spanish newspaper ABC further fuelled discussion after misspelling her name as “Yern Ha.” Fans are increasingly worried that Ha is facing racism from Netflix. Ha is a Korean Australian actor who has appeared in works including the series "Halo." She is also the granddaughter of veteran Korean actor Sohn Sook. In an earlier interview with theFeb 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
InterviewShin Hye-sun takes on her most ambiguous role in 'Art of Sarah'Actor Shin Hye-sun said that her role in the new Netflix series “The Art of Sarah” was the most ambiguous character she has ever portrayed in her career. "I usually start a project only after I have a clear plan for the character, but this time was different," Shin told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. "The story was so interesting that I really wanted to find out how it ends as soon as I read the script.” The eight episode series tells the story of Sarah Kim, played by Shin, who lives a life of lies to act like she comes from a background of luxury. Her carefully crafted world begins to collapse as she is pursued by detective Mu-gyeong (Lee Jun-hyuk), who is determined to uncover the truth behind her fake identity. Shin portrayed multiple personas in the series, including Mok Ga-hee, Kim Eun-jae and finally, Sarah Kim. She explained that playing such an elusive figure required her to be flexible rather than following a fixed acting style. "The script was not very kind in terms of explanations and I actually felt more confused as I read it," she said. "I decided to focusFeb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Kim Tae-ri leads rural drama club in heartfelt new reality showIn tvN’s upcoming variety show “Curtain Up, Class!,” actor Kim Tae-ri, best known for her roles in “The Handmaiden” (2016) and “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” (2024), takes on a new challenge as she leads a drama club at an elementary school on the brink of closure. Reflecting on her first fixed role in a variety program, Kim admitted with a laugh, “It was tougher than filming any drama I’ve done,” during an online press conference for the program on Friday. “What drew me in were the keywords: theater, elementary school and a small rural village. They just spoke to me,” she recalled. “At first, I felt this small flutter of excitement, wondering what kind of joys and discoveries I might find there. But midway through filming, the Korean title was suddenly changed from ‘After-school Theater Club’ to ‘Teacher Tae-ri’, and I trembled as I protested, ‘No, you can’t!’” she said, laughing. “Of course there was personal pressure, but honestly, I couldn’t have endured without the other teachers. So while having my name in the title felt overwhelming,Feb 20, 2026By Park Jin-hai
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