Entertainment - The Korea Times

Kim Hee-sun turns into stylish grim reaper in 'Tomorrow'

From left, actors Lee Soo-hyuk, Yun Ji-on, Kim Hee-sun and Rowoon pose during an online press conference for MBC's new fantasy series “Tomorrow,” Friday. Courtesy of MBC By Lee Gyu-leeActress Kim Hee-sun transformed herself into a pink-haired, stylish grim reaper in MBC's new fantasy series, “Tomorrow.”“This is the first time I've ever dyed my hair pink and cut it this short. I wasn't sure if I could pull it off and felt a bit overwhelmed at first. But I didn't overthink it because I love the series and its story, as well as my fellow co-stars,” Kim said during an online press conference for the series, Friday. Based on the popular webcomics of the same name, the fantasy drama series follows hard-at-work grim reapers who work for an underworld company. At the company, Koo Ryeon (Kim) leads a risk management team responsible for saving people who attempt to commit suicide.The series' first episode, which kicked off with a 7.6 percent viewership rating on Friday, show

Apr 3, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Kim Hee-sun turns into stylish grim reaper in 'Tomorrow'

Ahn Hyo-seob, Jeon Yeo-been to star in Netflix's 'Someday or One Day' remake

From left, actors Ahn Hyo-seob, Jeon Yeo-been, and Kang Hoon will star in Netflix's new series, “A Time Called You.” Courtesy of Netflix By Lee Gyu-leeNetflix's new Korean remake, “Someday or One Day,” is based on a Taiwanese smash-hit romance series. The streaming platform confirmed the production of the adaptation of the wildly popular, “A Time Called You,” Thursday, announcing that actors Ahn Hyo-seob, Jeon Yeo-been and Kang Hoon will be taking the lead roles.Based on the 2019 Taiwanese series that scored a billion views on Netflix, “A Time Called You,” revolves around a woman named Joon-hee (Jeon) who loses her long-time boyfriend to an accident. While spending her days depressed since his death, she slips through time and finds herself to be a high school girl named Min-joo from 1998. In that era, she meets a boy who looks just like her dead boyfriend.Ahn will play two roles, one as Joon-hee's boyfriend, Yeon-joon, and another as a boy from 1998, Si-hun, who is

Mar 31, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Ahn Hyo-seob, Jeon Yeo-been to star in Netflix's 'Someday or One Day' remake

Netflix's 'Celeb Five: Behind the Curtain' to present K-comedy

Celeb Five members, from left, Song Eun-yi, Shin Bong-sun, Kim Shin-young and Ahn Young-mi, pose during an online press conference for the new Netflix show, “Celeb Five: Behind the Curtain,” Wednesday. Courtesy of Netflix By Lee Gyu-leeK-pop girl group Celeb Five, comprised of four veteran comedians ― Song Eun-yi, Ahn Young-mi, Shin Bong-sun and Kim Shin-young ― will show off Korean comedy to overseas audiences through Netflix's new show, “Celeb Five: Behind the Curtain,” set to release on Friday.Led by the producer of Netflix's original show, “Busted!,” Kim Joo-hyung ― who also directed the stand-up comedy, “Lee Su-geun: The Sense Coach” ― as well as producer Go Min-seok, the mockumentary follows the four comedians-cum-singers preparing for their stand-up comedy special. “We were actually offered to do a stand-up comedy show at first, but the real comedy was in our process of brainstorming and discussing. So we suggested (to the production team) to make that into t

Mar 30, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Netflix's 'Celeb Five: Behind the Curtain' to present K-comedy

'Business Proposal' tops Netflix viewership chart for 2nd week

A poster for the Korean romantic comedy “Business Proposal” / Courtesy of SBS Korean romantic comedy "Business Proposal" topped Netflix's latest weekly viewership chart of non-English TV shows for the second consecutive week, the global video streaming service said Wednesday.The TV series, which has aired every Monday and Tuesday on SBS from Feb. 28, marked 30.9 million hours of viewing for the week of March 21 to 27 to lead Netflix's official top 10 list for non-English TV programs available on the service, according to the company.The show, based on the popular web comic "The Office Blind Date," debuted at No. 6 on the chart in the week of March 7 to 13.It became the first Korean-made TV series that is simultaneously streamed on a local TV channel and Netflix to rank No. 1 on the official viewership chart.So far, several Korean-language Netflix originals, such as the global sensation "Squid Game" and the dystopian thriller "Hellbound," have reached the top positio

Mar 30, 2022

'Business Proposal' tops Netflix viewership chart for 2nd week

Lee Joon-gi says he wants to offer catharsis through 'Again My Life'

Actor Lee Joon-gi plays the role of a prosecutor in SBS' new action series, “Again My Life.” / Courtesy of SBS By Lee Gyu-leeActor Lee Joon-gi hopes he can offer a cathartic experience to viewers, as he stars in SBS' upcoming action series, “Again My Life,” which he describes as a good-defeats-evil story. “The series unfolds different cases and subplots in a simple, uncomplicated way. I had the strong desire that the justice-seeking story will provide joy, hope and a sense of catharsis to people, especially during this time when many may feel frustrated,” the actor said via a written interview through the network. “I hope viewers can feel my intention and find the series enjoyable.”Based on the web novel of the same name by Lee Hae-nal, the new series, set to air on April 8, revolves around dedicated prosecutor Kim Hee-woo (Lee). He gets killed while investigating powerful, corrupt politician Jo Tae-seob (Lee Kyoung-young). Just when he was about to die, he gets a s

Mar 29, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Lee Joon-gi says he wants to offer catharsis through 'Again My Life'

Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin to co-star in new rom-com series

Actors Lee Min-ho, left, and Gong Hyo-jin have confirmed the lead roles in the upcoming romantic comedy series, “Ask the Stars.” Courtesy of MYM Entertainment, Management Soop By Lee Gyu-leeActors Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin will co-star in the upcoming sci-fi, romantic comedy series, “Ask the Stars.”The series' production studio, Keyeast Entertainment, announced Monday that the two stars have confirmed their lead roles in the series.The big-budget series, set in a space station, has taken about five years to begin production. Star screenwriter Seo Sook-hyang, who created the romantic comedy series “Pasta” (2010) and “Don't Dare to Dream” (2016), has joined hands with director Park Shin-woo, who previously led the 2020 romantic comedy series “It's Okay to Not Be Okay.” Lee will play the role of a gynecologist, Gong Ryong, who goes on a trip to the space station as a space traveler. Gong will play the role of a Korean American astronaut named Eve Kim. The series is s

Mar 29, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin to co-star in new rom-com series

From star-studded series to popular novel adaptations, myriad of anticipated series to air in April

From left, posters for series set to air in April, “Our Blues,” “Again My Life,” and “The Killer's Shopping List” / Courtesy of tvN, SBS By Lee Gyu-leeThis year has kicked off with a huge lineup of Korean series from the start, from A-lister actor Kim Hye-soo's powerful series on social issues, “Juvenile Justice,” to heart-fluttering romantic comedies “Twenty Five Twenty One” and “Business Proposal.” This April, viewers can expect new series releases in various genres, from star-studded, feel-good “Our Blues” to fantasy action “Again My Life,” as well as star filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho's new supernatural thriller, “Monstrous.”Star writer Noh Hee-kyung, who wrote the 2014 romance series, “It's Okay, That's Love,” and the 2016 series, “Dear My Friends,” will offer her latest work, “Our Blues,” on April 9. The tvN series, starring Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Hye-ja and Cha Seung-won, will follow a group of people living in a seaside town, going

Mar 28, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

From star-studded series to popular novel adaptations, myriad of anticipated series to air in April

'Pachinko' star Jin Ha apologizes for inappropriate blog posts

Jin Ha poses during an interview with Korean media outlets, in Los Angeles, March 17 (local time). Courtesy of Apple TV+ By Kwak Yeon-sooKorean-American actor Jin Ha, who plays Solomon Baek in Apple TV+'s “Pachinko,” has apologized for his Tumblr blog featuring photos of Korean middle-aged and older women, taken without their consent, along with sexually suggestive captions.Ha posted 90 photos of Korean women on his “Korean Flowers in Bloom” Tumbler account from July 2010 to September 2011. Most of the photos were taken on subways or streets, and the women's faces were not pixelated. He left sexually harassing comments in the captions of some photos, saying “Working with such a provocative model, I found it hard to keep myself and my concupiscence under control,” and, “Now we have an excuse to stare directly at her right nipple.”The actor's decade-old account drew attention after Ha's latest series, “Pachinko,” premiered on March 25. The multilingual show stars Kore

Mar 27, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Pachinko' star Jin Ha apologizes for inappropriate blog posts

'Itaewon Class' to be remade in Japan

Posters for the webcomics “Itaewon Class,” left, and its live-adaptation / Courtesy of Kakao Entertainment By Lee Gyu-leeJTBC's hit TV series “Itaewon Class,” which adapted Kakao Entertainment's popular webcomics of the same name, will get a remake in Japan. Kakao Entertainment announced, Thursday, that the company and JTBC Studios have inked the licensing deal with Japan's local network to make a Japanese adaptation of the series. The Japanese remake will be co-produced with JTBC Studios, Kakao Entertainment, and its subsidiary studio Kross Pictures, along with the local network. “The remake has confirmed top actors for the roles and will begin its production next month. It is scheduled to go on air this summer,” Kakao Entertainment said in the statement. The 16-part series, starring the heartthrob actor Park Seo-joon and actress Kim Da-mi, revolved around an ex-convict Park Sae-ro-yi (Park), whose life changes after he is expelled from school for punching a bully

Mar 25, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Kim Ji-seok, Kim Shin-Young take viewers traveling in new show

Actor Kim Ji-seok, left, and comedian Kim Shin-Young host Channel S' new travel show, “Map to Go Again” (direct translation). Courtesy of Channel S By Lee Gyu-leeActor Kim Ji-seok and comedian Kim Shin-Young are hosting local network Channel S' new travel show, “Map to Go Again” (direct translation), which takes the viewers on a virtual trip around the world. The new show, led by the production team of KBS' popular traveling show, "Battle Trip,” will feature various YouTubers, including those living abroad and those who specialize in traveling to different countries, sharing videos of their recent travels and their experiences. “This show will allow you to travel around the world from your bedroom. This is a new type of a show that is perfect for the coronavirus era,” the show's producer, Kim Soo-hyun, said during the press conference for the show, Thursday. “The 'Battle Trip' production team has established know-how through the four years of its production. So we h