Female-centric series, stars' small screen comebacks set for July A scene from MBC's crime series, “Big Mouth," where actor Lee Jong-suk will make his small-screen return after three years / Courtesy of MBC By Lee Gyu-leeA string of new series, from crime thriller dramas to female-oriented stories, are set to roll out in the upcoming month. Actor Lee Jong-suk is returning to the small screen with MBC's crime series, “Big Mouth,” about three years since his last series, “Romance Is a Bonus Book,” in 2019. Led by popular director Oh Choong-hwan, whose previous work includes hit series like “My Love From the Star” (2013) and “Hotel Del Luna” (2019), the upcoming series revolves around lawyer Park Chang-ho (Lee), who barely makes a living with his low win rate of about 10 percent.Despite his struggling career, he has a tendency to boast about himself, earning him the nickname, “big mouth.” One day, he takes on the job to defend a client on murder charges. But the case bites him back when he is mistaken as the king of the criminal worlJun 17, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Paramount+ joins hands with Tving to launch service in Korea Mark Specht, Paramount's executive vice president and managing director for Central and Northern Europe and Asia, speaks during the media day event for the streaming service's launch in Korea with the partnership of Tving, held at Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno District, central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of TvingBy Lee Gyu-leeParamount+, the streaming service of Paramount Global, has set foot in the competitive streaming market in Korea through a partnership with the local streaming platform, Tving, Thursday, taking a step toward expanding into the Asian market. “South Korea is a vibrant market for both streaming, the subscription business and content, as we all know. Therefore (the launch of Paramount+) is a milestone for our premium streaming business,” Mark Specht, Paramount's executive vice president and managing director for Central and Northern Europe and Asia, said during a media day event held at Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno District, central Seoul. “Asia is the future ― the future of the population, technology and creativity. Asia is the continent to be on ifJun 16, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW Kim Young-dae calls 'Shooting Stars' gift to his career Actor Kim Young-dae played the role of global star Gong Tae-sung in tvN's rom-com series, “Shooting Stars.” Courtesy of tvNKim takes first lead role in rom-com seriesBy Lee Gyu-leeRising star Kim Young-dae's acting career took off fairly quickly since debuting with a supporting role in a web series just months after stumbling across the entertainment industry through his current agency, Outer Korea. Making himself known through the rom-com series, “Extraordinary You” (2019), Kim made a strong impression on viewers throughout all seasons of the hit series, “The Penthouse: War in Life,” last year, finally landing his first lead role in tvN's rom-com series, “Shooting Stars,” which wrapped up last week.“'Shooting Star' is the best gift that came to me at the most appropriate time (of my career),” the actor said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “As this was the first work I got to lead as the main character, I felt very anxious and was under great pressure, but there was a lot that I've learned from this serJun 16, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Netflix plans 'Squid Game' reality show with big cash prize, no fatal consequences A scene from the popular Korean series "Squid Game" is seen in this screengrab released by Netflix. The company announced it would produce "Squid Game: The Challenge," a reality competition show based on the series. AP-Yonhap Netflix's most-watched series is no longer just a fictitious television show after the streaming service greenlit "its biggest reality competition ever" called "Squid Game: The Challenge."Unlike the series where the stakes are life or death, the worst possible fate in this 456 player competition will be leaving without the $4.56 million winnings, which Netflix claims is the largest lump sum prize in reality TV history."Squid Game" became Netflix's most-watched series when it was released in September 2021 as it told the story of cash-strapped contestants who play childhood games for a chance to win life-changing sums of money.The first season holds the record as Netflix's most popular series of all time, with over 1.65 billion hours viewed in iJun 15, 2022
Korean cinematographer infuses 'Oldboy' style into Disney+'s new Star Wars spin-off series Chung Chung-hoon, director of photography of "Obi-wan Kenobi" participates in an online interview, Tuesday. Courtesy of Walt Disney Co. KoreaSouth Korean director of photography (DP) Chung Chung-hoon said Tuesday he has tried to use some cinematographic styles of the award-winning thriller "Oldboy" (2003) in working Disney+'s new "Star Wars" spin-off series "Obi-Wan Kenobi.""When I met film directors, they always told me they wanted to put some 'Oldboy'-like scenes in their upcoming project. But it's hard," Chung, who participated in the series as DP, said in an online interview with Korean media. "This time with director Deborah Chow, we talk a lot about lighting and the mood of the show."He said many people would recall the famous corridor fight scene in "Oldboy," a Park Chan-wook film which Chung had worked, but he just brought its dark, heavy tone and mood necessary for the sci-fi horror "Obi-Wan Kenobi."Released in May, the latest "Star Wars" spin-off revolves around Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), who sets out to rescue the kidnapped Princess Leia from the Galactic Empire and confrontsJun 14, 2022
Choi Min-sik, Son Suk-ku to lead new Disney+ series Actors Choi Min-sik, left, and Son Suk-ku / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment, CJ ENM By Kim RahnActors Choi Min-sik and Son Suk-ku will star in the new Disney+ original series, “Casino,” to premiere in the latter half of this year.According to their respective agencies, Monday, the two actors will star in the drama that will be directed by Kang Yoon-sung, who created the 2017 hit action movie “The Outlaws.”“Casino” revolves around a man (Choi) who becomes the “king” of gambling but then loses everything and tries to return to the gambling scene ― but in doing so, he risks his life.It will be Choi's first small-screen appearance after 24 years of only silver screen work ― since a 1997-98 MBC drama. Subsequently, Choi has made a strong presence in the film industry with movies including “Oldboy” (2003), “I Saw the Devil” (2010), “New World” (2012) and “Roaring Currents” (2014).Son has been dubbed a rising star recently through his roles in “The Roundup,” the sequel to Jun 13, 2022By Kim Rahn
'Squid Game' to return for 2nd season A poster for the Korean thriller series "Squid Game" / Courtesy of Netflix The global sensation "Squid Game" will return for a second season, Netflix confirmed Monday."A whole new round is coming," director, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk said in a letter to fans released by Netflix. "And now, Gi-hun returns. The Front Man returns. Season 2 is coming."Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, is the debt-ridden character who gets involved in a mysterious deadly contest to win 45.6 billion won ($37.9 million) in prize money in the nine-part series.Hwang added that Cheol-su, the "boyfriend" of the show's animatronic doll, Young-hee, will be introduced to viewers in the next season.But he did not elaborate on the detailed schedules of production.Released in September last year, the all-Korean survival drama "Squid Game" became Netflix's most successful series in the streamer's history, attracting 1.65 billion hours of viewing in the first four weeks of release.TheJun 13, 2022
INTERVIEW 'Rose Mansion' director makes everyday life horrors into suspense thriller Chang director of Tving's original series "Rose Mansion," which hit the platform last month Courtesy of Tving Spine-chilling series revolves around residents of eerie apartmentBy Lee Gyu-leeThe mononymous Chang, who directed local streaming platform Tving's recent original series "Rose Mansion," shared that his latest work is intended to portray the realistic horrors and suspense of people's everyday lives. “I wanted to portray the horror in everyday life that is closely related to us. So I came up with the idea to use an apartment building as the setting (of the story). In other horror flicks, like 'Whispering Corridors,' there are ghosts and sometimes zombies. But unlike those, I wanted to create a horror that could happen in real life on an ordinary day,” the director said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. The mystery thriller series, which hit the streaming site last month, revolves around hotelier Ji-na (Lim Ji-yeon) who seems to have a normal life buJun 12, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
World-class lineup of drummers to appear at Seoul Drum Festival Chris Coleman performs during 2019 Seoul Drum Festival held in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's headquarters in the city's Jung District. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentBy Ko Dong-hwanA number of drummers of international fame will visit Seoul this month to demonstrate their exceptional percussion skills during the “Seoul Drum Festival” to be held on June 17-18 at Nodeul Island on the Han River. The 24th annual event will see gospel drummer Eric Moore, British rock band “Lower Than Atlantis” drummer Eddy Thrower, R&B drummer Gerald Heyward and metal drummer Alexis Von Kraven hit the stage.Playing a session each day during the festival, the guests will play alongside seven Korean star drummers, including Kim Soo-joon who has produced albums for hip-hop duo Leessang, seasoned soloist Yoon Sang and other musicians; Kim Seul-ong and Jang Won-young from TV rock band competition show “Super Band 2” on JTBC; and Lee Geon-tae who plays for rock band “The Great Birth” fronted by one of the country's most iconic singers Jun 8, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan
So Ji-sub returns to small screen with 'Doctor Lawyer' Actor So Ji-sub poses during an online press conference for the MBC's new medical legal series, “Doctor Lawyer,” Friday. Courtesy of MBCBy Lee Gyu-leeActor So Ji-sub has made his return to the small screen with MBC's new medical legal series, “Doctor Lawyer,” about four years since the action series, “My Secret Terrius,” which won him the grand prize at the 2018 MBC Drama Awards. The new series, which kicked off on Friday with a 5.2-percent viewership rating, revolves around a genius surgeon, Han Yi-han. About five years after one of his patients died during surgery, he becomes a lawyer, specializing in medical litigation. While helping those suffering from medical malpractice and negligence, he tries to find the truth behind the surgery that changed his life and seek revenge on whoever is responsible for it. The 16-part series is led by director Lee Yong-suk, who helmed the hit historical drama, "Iljimae," (2008), and is scripted by Jang Hong-cheol, who wrote the suspense series, "Class of Lies" (2019).“Not only was the script intriguing, buJun 7, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
