Ahn Hyo-seop reveals 'KPop Demon Hunters' casting storyActor Ahn Hyo-seop said the English skills he showcased in a previous hit drama helped him to land a voice role in the globally successful Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." Appearing as a guest in a video posted Sunday to the YouTube channel "Fairy Jaehyung," Ahn discussed his reaction to the film's widespread popularity. He voiced Jinu, the leader of the fictional group Saja Boys. "Of course I thought it was fun, but I didn't know it would do this well," he said. Ahn explained he secured the role specifically because of his English-language acting in the hit drama "Business Proposal." "I realized I have to work hard at everything because nobody knows when and where an opportunity will come," Ahn said. "It feels like all the efforts and processes I've gone through up until now are connected." Those experiences include his past as a K-pop trainee under JYP Entertainment. Ahn recalled being scouted through word of mouth but ultimately leaving the agency. Despite his passion for music, he found the repetitive, grueling training regimen draining. "Ultimately, I was let go due to my oApr 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
Mnet’s credibility on trial again over ‘Street World Fighter’ editing controversyKorean music channel Mnet has once again come under fire for alleged manipulative editing, this time over “Street World Fighter: Directors’ War.” The latest controversy could further erode viewers’ trust in the channel, which already stands on shaky grounds after past allegations of voting rigging involving its K-pop audition programs. The repeated nature of the controversy makes it harder to dismiss such cases as isolated incidents. The controversy centers on “Street World Fighter: Directors’ War,” a dance competition program Mnet announced late last month. The channel described the series as a large-scale project built on the legacy of the globally popular “Street Woman Fighter” franchise, focusing on performance directors who choreograph, design and stage performances for top-tier dancers around the world. The controversy emerged after Mnet released a teaser for the show, which is scheduled to air in August. Kiira Harper, who appeared in the teaser and was shown listing various performances she had apparently worked on, later wrote on social media that she had notApr 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
Park Bo-young breaks from 'honest' image in thriller 'Gold Land'What choices would people make if they suddenly came into possession of 150 billion won ($102 million) worth of gold bars? The upcoming Disney+ original series "Gold Land" seeks to answer that question. Written by Hwang Jo-yoon — the screenwriter behind Park Chan-wook’s 2003 masterpiece "Oldboy" — the series is a survival thriller that follows Hee-ju (Park Bo-young), a young woman who finds herself embroiled in a chaotic web of greed and betrayal after discovering a massive stash of smuggled gold, fighting to keep the fortune for herself. Beyond the heart-pounding suspense, the series promises a deep dive into the complexities of human nature and the fragility of relationships. Park takes on her first role in a crime series as a customs officer whose desires are awakened by the accidental discovery. "I was looking for a genre challenge," Park said during a press conference at Conrad Seoul, Monday. "The director noted that most people see me as the type of person who would return found gold. He suggested that seeing someone with that 'honest' image make the opposite choice would trigApr 27, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Original TV scripts spark ‘reverse’ expansion into webtoons, novelsThe long-standing success formula for Korean entertainment is undergoing a dramatic pivot as original television screenplays increasingly serve as the foundation for new webtoons and web novels, flipping the industry's traditional "webtoon-to-screen" equation. For years, the K-drama industry relied on popular digital comics and fiction as guaranteed blueprints for televised hits, but recent breakout successes are reversing this trajectory. The first half of 2026 has seen a surge in original scripts — many by rookie writers — that are expanding "backward" into the digital space after proving their commercial viability on screen. This shift is fueled by a new business model known as "reverse expansion," where the drama acts as the source intellectual property (IP) rather than the end product. Leading the trend is MBC drama "Perfect Crown," starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, and Netflix series "The Art of Sarah." Despite being penned by rookie writers, these projects have secured substantial production budgets and star-studded casts, signaling a significant shift in how the industry valuesApr 27, 2026By Park Jin-hai
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
