'Squid Game' bags 4 awards at Creative Arts Emmys with Lee You-mi making history Lee You-mi poses in the press room with the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for "Squid Game" on the second night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). AP-YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeNetflix's smash-hit Korean original series “Squid Game” has become the first non-English series to win an Emmy award, notching four awards at this year's Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Sunday (local time).The award winnings have boosted an optimistic outlook for the show's win at the main event of the awards, set to be held on Sept. 12, for which the Korean drama is nominated in another six categories.Actress Lee You-mi, who played Ji-yeong in the series' episode “Gganbu,” has won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, making history as the first Korean and first actor with nationality of an Asian country to win an Emmy. “Thank you so much for this huge honor,” Lee said in her acceptance speech for her win. “I want to give my thanks to the TV Academy, especially a big thanks to my NSep 5, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
TvN's adaptation of 'Little Women' reimagines classic as fast-paced thriller A scene from TvN's new suspense series, “Little Women,” which kicked off with a 6.4-percent viewership rating, Saturday / Courtesy of tvN By Lee Gyu-leeTvN's new suspense series, “Little Women,” has been highly anticipated right from the start of production with its lineup of creators: "Vincenzo" series director Kim Hee-won and “Thirst” and “Decision to Leave” films' scriptwriter Chung Seo-kyung.Meeting these expectations, the 12-part series presents a fast-paced storyline and scored a 6.4-percent viewership rating on Saturday, which is quite a high viewership figure for the start of a new drama. The series begins by showing the lives of three close-knit sisters ― bookkeeper In-ju (Kim Go-eun), journalist In-kyeong (Nam Ji-hyun) and high school student In-hye (Park Ji-hu) ― who are born into a family living in poverty. In-kyeong, who is overeager and has a strong sense of morality as a journalist, comes across a suspicion concerning a politician. Meanwhile, In-ju geSep 4, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW 'Someday or One Day' star Hsu Kuang-han excited about 1st fan meeting in Korea Taiwanese actor Hsu Kuang-han poses during an interview with local media in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lucky Jane TitleTaiwanese actor garners huge popularity through his role in romance seriesBy Lee Gyu-leeTaiwanese actor Hsu Kuang-han, also known as Greg Hsu, rose to stardom in Korea playing the lead role in the 2019 romance and mystery series “Someday or One Day.” The series was a sensational hit in the country after streaming on major local over-the-top platforms, creating a hardcore fan base which has held various events, leading the local distributor to hold special screenings in theaters last year. It's also set for a Korean remake, starring Jeon Yeo-been and Ahn Hyo-seop. Amid his high tide of fame, the 31-year-old actor is having his very first fan meeting event in Korea, which is scheduled for Sept. 3 and 4. “I've heard from other people that 'Someday or One Day' is popular in Korea. When I saw fans in Korea holding events and gatherings, I thought it was very cute and felt touched. I've been wanting to come ever since and I feelSep 1, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' studio rejects Netflix's offer for original series Lee Sang-baek, CEO of Korean drama production studio Astory, speaks during the 2022 Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) in Seoul, Aug. 31. Courtesy of the Korea Creative Content AgencyThe head of the Korean production studio behind the hit legal drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" said Wednesday that he had rejected Netflix's offer to produce the project as its original series in a bid to fully secure the show's intellectual property.The 16-part TV series about autistic lawyer Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin) was aired in South Korea on the local cable channel ENA from June 29-Aug. 22. It was available on Netflix outside the country at the same time.It has been atop the streamer's official weekly viewership chart for a total of seven weeks since it made the top 10 in its second week of release.It is the second non-Netflix original Korean TV series that hit the top position after SBS' romantic comedy "Business Proposal" (2022)."Netflix proposed producing an original series, but we turned down the offer and sold our overseas broadcasting rights instead," Lee Sang-baek, CEO of Astory, said at a speciAug 31, 2022
'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' tops Netflix chart for 5th straight week This image shows a scene from the legal drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." / Courtesy of ENAThe Korean legal drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" has retained the top position on Netflix's latest weekly viewership chart of non-English TV shows for the fifth consecutive week even after it finished airing in the country, the global video streaming service said Wednesday.The TV sensation, which aired every Wednesday and Thursday on the local cable channel ENA from June 29 to Aug. 18, marked 53.89 million hours of viewing for the week of Aug. 22-28 to lead Netflix's official top 10 list for non-English TV programs available on the service, according to the company.It is the 16-part Korean show's seventh No. 1 finish since the drama rose to the top in the second week of its release. It has since stayed atop the list except for its fourth week (July 18-24), when it placed second after the Spanish show "Alba.""Woo" revolves around a lawyer named Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), who is brilliant with an outstanding memory but lacks social skills and empathy due to being on the autism spectrum.OnAug 31, 2022
Comedian Kim Shin-young to host 'National Singing Contest' Comedian Kim Shin-young, right, poses in a YouTube interview about her becoming the new host for “National Singing Contest,” Tuesday. Courtesy of KBSBy Kim RahnComedian Kim Shin-young will host the “National Singing Contest,” succeeding the late veteran emcee Song Hae, according to broadcaster KBS, Monday.The public broadcaster said Kim will start emceeing the show on Oct. 16, as the first new host in 34 years, during which Song had hosted the program. Debuting in 2003, Kim, 39, has appeared in numerous comedy and entertainment programs. She has hosted a radio program on MBC, “Kim Shin-young's Noon Song of Hope,” every day since 2012, and has advanced to the K-pop scene as a member of girl group Celeb Five, comprised of four veteran comedians, and through an alter ego named “second aunt Kim DaVi.”Comedian Kim Shin-young, who is also a singer and actor / Media Lab SisoShe recently surprised moviegoers with her appearance in veteran director Park Chan-wook's Cannes-winning film, “Decision to Leave,” showing great acting abilitAug 30, 2022By Kim Rahn
'United Fathers' to show different cultural parenting styles Cast members of MBC's reality show, “United Fathers” ― from left, Alberto Mondi, Kim Na-young, Jang Yoon-jeong, In Gyo-jin, producer Lim Chan, and cast member Jiao Ji-ing ― pose during an online press conference for the show, Thursday. Courtesy of MBC By Lee Gyu-leeMBC's new reality show “United Fathers,” which debuted as a two-part pilot show in June, has earned a regular slot, set to kick off on Sunday. The reality show, hosted by singer Jang Yoon-jeong, actor In Gyo-jin and TV personality Kim Na-young, follows the parenthood of expats living in Korea. The show will invite fathers from six different countries ― Italy, China, India, Azerbaijan, the U.K., and South Africa ― to share their parenting styles while discussing the cultural differences and practical childcare skills with other cast members and hosts.“We've made a unique, global reality show. It's very interesting and refreshing, so I feel that (viewers) will be interested and empathize with it a lot,” KimAug 26, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Seo In-guk says he took on challenge in 'Cafe Minamdang' role KBS' series “Cafe Minamdang” ended on Tuesday with a 5.7 percent viewership rating. Courtesy of People Story CompanyBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Seo In-guk, who played the lead character in KBS' comedy crime series “Cafe Minamdang,” has expressed gratitude to viewers, saying the drama was a meaningful challenge in his acting career.The series ended on Tuesday on a good note, scoring its highest viewership rating of 5.7 percent with its final episode.“During the eight months that I lived as Nam Han-jun (the lead character) in the series, I've found a new side of myself and had a blissful time. 'Cafe Minamdang' was a new experience and challenge, but I'm truly thankful that many people showed love,” the actor said through the network. “'Cafe Minamdang' will remain as a series that I can always look back on and reminisce about how fun it was. I hope you can keep a part of Han-jun and all the characters in your heart to remember it for a long time.”The 18-part series, based on the web novel of the same name, revolves around a former criminal profileAug 25, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Tree featured in 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to become natural monument An old hackberry tree in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, which was featured in the hit legal drama series, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" / YonhapAn old hackberry tree shown in the TV sensation "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" will be designated as a natural moment, a government agency said Wednesday.The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said it will put up a public notice on its plan to preserve the tree as a natural monument next Tuesday.The tree, presumed to be 500 years old, is located on a hill in Dongbu Village in the southern city of Changwon. It has gained public interest since it appeared in last week's seventh and eighth episodes of the legal drama, which revolves around an ingenious rookie lawyer with autism spectrum disorder.The CHA reached the decision during a meeting of its cultural heritage committee held earlier in the day in Seoul.Any decision made by the committee is usually announced to the public about a week later, but the latest one was unveiled right after the meeting, apparently in consideration of high public attention on the matter.The cultural heritageAug 24, 2022
'Snowdrop' most talked about K-drama on Twitter in 2022: company Poster for JTBC TV series “Snowdrop” / Courtesy of JTBC"Snowdrop," a romance drama TV series starring Jung Hae-in and Jisoo of BLACKPINK, has been the most talked about K-drama in the world across the social media platform Twitter so far in 2022, the company said Wednesday.According to Twitter, "Snowdrop," which aired on JTBC from December of last year to Jan. 30, was the most tweeted K-drama show from Jan. 1 to last Thursday, followed by tvN's "Twenty Five Twenty One" and "Business Proposal" of SBS at second and third place, respectively.The Netflix-produced zombie series "All of Us Are Dead" and "Our Beloved Summer" of SBS came in fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by "Semantic Error," produced by South Korean streaming company Watcha, and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo."A scene from "All of Us Are Dead" / Courtesy of NetflixThe hit Joseon-era period drama "The Red Sleeve" of MBC and tvN's all-star cast show "Our Blues" were ranked eighth and ninth, respectively. Last year's global smash hit Netflix show "Squid Game" came in 10th place. The ranking was compiled by coAug 24, 2022
