Son Ye-jin caught smiling behind the camera as Hyun Bin thanks wife and son in emotional awards speechSouth Korea’s celebrity power couple Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin melted fans’ hearts at this year’s Baeksang Arts Awards after Son was spotted proudly filming her husband’s acceptance speech from the audience. The moment quickly drew attention online after Hyun Bin won the TV division’s Best Actor award Friday for Disney+ original series “Made in Korea.” As Hyun Bin’s name was announced at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards held at COEX in Seoul’s Gangnam district, cameras captured Son Ye-jin beaming while holding up her phone to record the moment. The actor beat out a strong lineup of nominees including Park Jin-young for “Our Unwritten Seoul,” Ryu Seung-ryong for “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim,” Lee Jun-ho for “Typhoon Family” and Ji Sung for “The Judge Returns.” During his acceptance speech, Hyun Bin thanked viewers and reflected on filming the series. “First of all, I want to thank viewers who enjoyed ‘Made in Korea,’” he said. The actor said the director encouraged him to fully enjoy the project while filming, unlike the emotionally heavy atmosphere surrouMay 9, 2026By Xportsnews
Fantasy in everyday life: K-dramas bring supernatural powers and a Joseon-era villain to modern KoreaWith courtroom revenge dramas and dark crime thrillers having dominated broadcast schedules recently, fantasy comedies are now moving in, seeking to offer viewers something fresh by putting stories with offbeat premises in the hands of veteran directors. First to arrive is “My Royal Nemesis,” an SBS Friday-Saturday drama set to premiere on May 8. The romantic comedy centers on the stormy romance between an unknown actor possessed by the spirit of a notorious Joseon-era villainess and a ruthless chaebol heir, blending the genre with a time-transcending possession. Shin Seo-ri, played by Lim Ji-yeon, carries the sharp edges she developed to survive. After firing back at the rude male lead with an archaic insult, she laughs and cries her way through centuries of Korean history. Throwing military life, cooking and game-like elements into one fantasy mix, Tving is set to start airing “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” on the 11th. The series follows a fresh recruit who carries a kitchen knife instead of a rifle and wears an apron rather than a cartridge belt, as he follows instructionsMay 9, 2026By Hankookilbo
Kim Seon-ho returns with Coupang Play show after tax evasion controversyActor Kim Seon-ho detailed his approach to filming Coupang Play’s new feel-good unscripted series “Bonjour Bakery” during his first public appearance since tax evasion allegations surfaced earlier this year, saying he focused on serving the show’s older guests. Kim attended a press conference for the show at Community House Masil in Jung District, Seoul, with Kim Hee-ae, Cha Seung-won, Lee Ki-taek, producer Park Geun-hyung and writer Kim Ran-joo. “Bonjour Bakery,” which premieres Friday, is a comforting reality show set in a quiet rural village where a dessert cafe serves older guests. The program brings together seniors seasoned by life and bakery staff who "know the taste of happiness" to share comfort and warmth. The show centers on an exclusive "Yes Senior Zone" cafe where entry is limited to people 65 and older and their companions. Cha Seung-won and Lee Ki-taek work in the kitchen. Cha takes on French baking for the first time, while Lee brings light comic energy to the kitchen as the show presents a range of delicate desserts. Kim Hee-ae leads the front-of-house team asMay 7, 2026By Hankookilbo
Lim Ji-yeon delivers high-octane comic turn in 'My Royal Nemesis'Having previously excelled in genre dramas, actor Lim Ji-yeon is now trying her hand at full-blown comedy, set to showcase her versatility in the SBS series "My Royal Nemesis." The upcoming series is a high-octane, "war-like" romantic comedy following Seo-ri (Lim), an obscure actress possessed by the soul of a legendary Joseon-era villainess, and Cha Se-gye (Heo Nam-jun), a cold-blooded chaebol heir. "Lim Ji-yeon herself is our greatest competitive edge," director Han Tae-sub said during a press conference for the drama at the SBS headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. "The script features a line that says, 'Good women go to heaven, but bad women go wherever they want.' The strength of this drama lies in the unpredictable journey of Dan-sim — the Joseon villainess — as she navigates her second chance at life and builds new relationships," he said. He further emphasized the depth of the project. "Someone who has experienced death gains a completely different perspective on life; that shift is the very plot and genre of this show. We’ve packed in everything an actor can possibly do, from rMay 7, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Park Ji-hoon takes on comedy role after ‘The King's Warden’Actor Park Ji-hoon is taking on a comedy role in Tving’s new military cooking fantasy series after his hit film “The King’s Warden” surpassed 10 million admissions. Park and director Cho Nam-hyung, whose credits include “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938,” introduced “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” Wednesday at a Seoul press conference. The series premieres Monday. The role marks a sharp shift for Park. He recently played King Danjong in “The King’s Warden” and now plays a young military cook. The series follows his roles in “Weak Hero” and “The King’s Warden,” marking a career high for the singer-turned-actor. Adapted from a popular webtoon, the series follows Kang Seong-jae, a young man who enlists to flee a harsh reality. In the military, he encounters a game-style quest window, trades his rifle for a kitchen knife and improves his cooking while navigating power struggles. Cho said the series sets itself apart from the original webtoon with vivid, appetizing depictions of food. The production team said the project brings a new spin to military dramas by balaMay 7, 2026By Hankookilbo
Coupang Play's 'Bonjour Bakery' runs dessert cafe for seniorsCoupang Play is serving up a new kind of comfort with "Bonjour Bakery," a "healing" variety show starring screen icons Kim Hee-ae and Cha Seung-won. The program introduces a first-of-its-kind "senior dessert cafe" where celebrity hosts trade life stories and warm pastries with local elders. The show breaks away from typical trends with a refreshing concept — entry is reserved exclusively for people aged 65 and over and their companions. By flipping the script on youth-centric cafe culture, the series promises a soulful, never-before-seen connection between generations. Writer Kim Ran-joo, best known for reality TV shows "Infinite Challenge" and "2 Days & 1 Night," explained her inspiration for the show was her late father, who fought a long illness and traveled frequently between hospitals in Yeosu and Seoul. "One day, while waiting for a train, I saw him try cake for the first time at a coffee shop, and he loved it so much. After that, we started visiting family restaurants together, but he passed away two years ago. Those memories became a great source of strength for me," Kim saidMay 6, 2026By Park Jin-hai
'If Wishes Could Kill' tops Netflix's weekly non-English chartThe young adult horror series "If Wishes Could Kill" topped Netflix's non-English series chart in its second week of release, the streaming platform said Wednesday. The series garnered 7.5 million views for the week that ended Sunday, after rising to No. 4 three days after its release on April 24, according to Netflix. It was in the top 10 in 64 countries and regions, including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Egypt and Brazil. The series centers on five Korean high school teens who struggle to escape a curse from a mysterious wish-granting app called "Girigo," which is the Korean-language title for the series. The Korean romantic comedy series "Sold Out on You" placed third on the weekly chart. In the English-language film category, "KPop Demon Hunters" ranked No. 5, staying in the top 10 for the 46th straight week.May 6, 2026By Yonhap
IU, Go Youn-jung, Shin Hae-sun defy ratings slump in rare weekend drama surgeIn a twist that is rare for Korea’s fiercely competitive weekend TV slots, three rival dramas airing at similar times are all increasing — not splitting — viewership. Led by star names like IU, Go Youn-jung and Shin Hae-sun, the trio of series has simultaneously hit new ratings highs, creating an unusual “all boats rise” effect in the Saturday primetime battleground. The three shows — MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “Perfect Crown,” JTBC’s Saturday-Sunday drama “We Are All Trying Here” and tvN’s Saturday-Sunday drama “Filing for Love” — air in overlapping weekend slots, traditionally a zero-sum game for TV ratings. Instead, each is building momentum. “Perfect Crown,” starring IU and Byun Woo-seok, has emerged as the most stable hit. After debuting at 7.8 percent, the drama climbed to 10.8 percent in its seventh episode and 11.2 percent in its eight, firmly establishing itself as a weekend leader. The show is also gaining traction overseas. It stayed in the Top 10 on Disney+ in the United States for 21 days and entered the Top 10 in 47 countries, highlightinMay 5, 2026By Xportsnews
Rookie-led K-horror 'If Wishes Could Kill' draws global attention without star powerThe Netflix original series “If Wishes Could Kill” is gaining traction worldwide, proving that strong storytelling and fresh faces can compete in the global market without relying on big-name stars. Released April 24, the series recorded 2.8 million views — calculated by dividing total watch time by the show’s runtime — within just three days. It ranked No. 4 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for non-English TV shows and entered the Top 10 in 37 countries, including South Korea, Mexico, India, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. “If Wishes Could Kill” follows high school students who become entangled in a deadly curse triggered by a mysterious app that grants wishes. The series marks the first major directing project by Park Yoon-seo, who previously worked on “Kingdom” Season 2 and “Moving.” It features a cast of rising actors, including Jeon So-young, Kang Mina, Baek Sun-ho, Hyun Woo-seok and Lee Hyo-je, with special appearances by Jeon So-nee and Noh Jae-won. Set in a school environment, the series may remind viewers of works such as “All oMay 2, 2026By Hankookilbo
Introvert revolution: Why 'homebody' personalities are now leading Korean mediaKorean shows are now experiencing a quiet revolution. Introverted personalities — from reticent chefs to homebody drama leads — are replacing high-energy entertainers as the new stars of television. The eight-episode SBS travel show "Chefs' Secrets of K-food," which premiered on April 21, features chefs Choi Kang-rok and Kim Do-yun alongside host Defconn. Both chefs gained fame on Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" Season 2. The program differentiates itself from other shows by focusing on the quiet dynamic between the two highly introverted cooks. Producer Son Jung-min said the chefs possess a natural charm even when they do nothing. He said he wanted to capture the contrast when they become highly vocal about food, such as their fierce debate over the proper aging of Jirisan black pork. Defconn likened the duo to an old married couple who communicate through glances. When the reticent chefs share their true feelings, it resonates with authenticity. "I'm still rowing, just not moving very fast," Choi said on the show. "I'm perfectly fine taking it slow." Veteran entertainers are also eMay 2, 2026By Hankookilbo
