Entertainment - The Korea Times

From Song Hye-kyo to Kim Soo-hyun, big stars to lead small screen in November

The posters for “Melancholia,” starring Im Soo-jung, from left, “Now, We Are Breaking Up,” starring Song Hye-kyo and "Happiness,” starring Han Hyo-joo / Courtesy of tvN and SBSBy Lee Gyu-leeBig-name actors like Song Hye-kyo, Im Soo-jung, Han Hyo-joo, and Kim Soo-hyun are set to star in various upcoming series, scheduled to kick off in November. Actresses Song and Im are returning to the small screen with two romance series: “Now, We Are Breaking Up” for Song and “Melancholia” for Im.SBS's new melodrama, “Now, We Are Breaking Up,” which will go on air Nov. 12, will follow a woman in her 30s, Young-eun (Song), who is a design team manager at a fashion company. She is self-disciplined and a realist, who is also good at her job. When she meets freelancer fashion photographer Jae-gook (Jang Ki-yong), who has both good looks and brains, romance blossoms between the two. The series will be directed by Lee Gil-bok, who led various hit series, like the romantic comedy, “My Love From the Star,” and the medical drama,

Oct 18, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee

From Song Hye-kyo to Kim Soo-hyun, big stars to lead small screen in November

Namkoong Min's fascinating makeover as elite spy agent

Actor Namkoong Min / Courtesy of MBCLee Ha-nee emerges as rom com queen, creating rare rivalry in Friday-Saturday dramas By Kang Hyun-kyungDrama fans these days are faced with a tough choice on Friday and Saturday nights, as two TV channels simultaneously broadcast two hit TV series ― SBS's romantic comedy, “One The Woman,” and MBC's spy action series, “The Veil.”Some digitally-savvy viewers turn to the over-the-top (OTT) service, Wavve, to see the latest episodes of the two TV series. But there's still a decision to make as they have to choose which one they're going to view first.Two talented actors, Lee Ha-nee who plays a dual role in “One The Woman,” and Namkoong Min, who proved to be a versatile actor with his marvelous transformation into an athletic intelligence agent in “The Veil,” have raised the stakes for the rivalry between SBS and MBC in the hot Friday and Saturday night drama time slots. In “One The Woman,” Lee plays a corrupt, aggressive and hilarious prosecutor who feels no sense of guilt in dropping criminal

Oct 18, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Namkoong Min's fascinating makeover as elite spy agent

'Work Later, Drink Now' to follow three female friends

Actors Lee Sun-bin, from left, Han Sun-hwa, Jung Eun-ji, and Choi Si-won pose for pictures during the online press conference of the series “Work Later, Drink Now,” Friday. Courtesy of TvingBy Lee Gyu-leeLee Sun-bin, Han Sun-hwa, and Jung Eun-ji will be playing three besties who live for boozing in the streaming platform Tving's upcoming comedy series “Work Later, Drink Now.” Based on the webcomics of the same name, the series follows three single women in their 30s ― variety show writer So-hee (Lee), yoga instructor Ji-yeon (Han), and papercraft YouTuber Ji-gu (Jung).Despite pursuing different career paths, the three always meet up for a drink at the end of the day, seeking comfort from each other and in getting drunk together. “After reading the original webcomic, I was surprised to see how realistic and relatable the story was. It really portrayed people's everyday lives, and how competitive the world we're living in is, which drew me to the series,” Lee said during an online press conference of the series, Friday.“A lot of people struggle

Oct 17, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee

'Work Later, Drink Now' to follow three female friends

'BTS In the Soop' returns for 2nd season

A poster for “BTS In the Soop” season 2 / Courtesy of Bighit Music By Kwak Yeon-soo“BTS In the Soop,” a reality show featuring the seven members of BTS taking a break in a remote forest area, is returning for a second season.Following the first season, which aired in 2020, BTS members ― RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, V and Jimin ― will go on a trip together to PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, to enjoy a getaway in a high-end residence built just for them in a woodland area. According to the unveiled teaser, the house and amenities, including a tennis court, took roughly a year to plan and build, which means the production team had started preparing for the second season while its first season was still being aired. “To me, it's important to rest because it's time to let my body and mind recover,” Jimin said. Jin stated, “I like to spend the whole day playing games or doing pointless things.”“BTS In the Soop 2” will premiere on Oct. 15. It will air on Fridays at 9 p.

Oct 15, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

'BTS In the Soop' returns for 2nd season

Disney+ to release 'Running Man' spin-off in South Korea

Jay Trinidad, Walt Disney Company's general manager of the direct-to-consumer division in the Asia-Pacific region, speaks during an Asia-Pacific content showcase of streaming service Disney+ in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Walt Disney Company KoreaA spin-off of long-running South Korean television show "Running Man" is among the Korean originals to be released on Disney+ after the service's launch in the country on Nov. 12, its operator said Thursday."Outrun by Running Man," the first official spin-off of the SBS TV variety show, will star three members of the show's original cast ― Kim Jong-kook, Haha and Jee Seok-jin, the Walt Disney Company said during an Asia-Pacific content showcase of the streaming service. But the original show's main cast member Yoo Jae-suk will not participate in the spin-off series."Running Man," which revolves around emcees and guests competing with each other to complete missions at a landmark in Seoul, has been hugely popular for over a decade in Korea and other Asian countries."Outrun" was one of the 18 local-language Disney+ originals announced during

Oct 14, 2021

Disney+ to release 'Running Man' spin-off in South Korea

KOCCA to hold online creative writing conference to explore K-content

“2021 The Story Concert,” organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), will be held online on Oct. 21. Courtesy of KOCCABy Lee Gyu-leeThe Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) will be holding a talk event, “2021 The Story Concert,” to provide insight into K-content for those pursuing creative writing fields. The state-run agency announced, Thursday, that this year's talk concert will be held online on Oct. 21 under the theme, “Building a creative universe,” and will invite speakers from diverse industries, including TV, novels, movies and webtoons. The agency has been holding the event every year since 2016 to invite acclaimed writers, directors, and producers in media to share their expertise and creative inspiration with future content creators. This year's event will consist of four sections. The speakers for each section will be Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho, who wrote the best-selling book, “The Alchemist,” screenwriter Baek Mi-kyung, who created the suspense drama series, “Mine,” director Jo Sung-hee, who

Oct 14, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee

KOCCA to hold online creative writing conference to explore K-content

Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon offer glimpse of new mystery series 'Jirisan'

Actors Jun Ji-hyun, left, and Ju Ji-hoon pose for pictures during the online press conference of the new series, “Jirisan”, Wednesday. Courtesy of tvNBy Lee Gyu-leeActors Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon will become mountain rangers in the new mystery series, “Jirisan,” which is one of the most anticipated series coming this year. “I never thought that I would play the role of a ranger, and it's not every day you meet a ranger,” Jun said during the online press conference of the series, Wednesday. “So everything came to me as new when I played the role, and I'm sure viewers will also be amused with the duties rangers carry out and their lives.”Created and written by star writer Kim Eun-hee, who wrote the hit series, "Kingdom" and "Signal," tvN's upcoming series follows two rangers of Jirisan National Park, where Korea's second-highest mountain is located, on the border between South Gyeongsang Province and the Jeolla provinces. Seo Yi-gang (Jun) is an experienced ranger who knows the park like the back of her hand. She is partnered with a roo

Oct 14, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee

Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon offer glimpse of new mystery series 'Jirisan'

Ko Hyun-jung's new drama, 'Reflection of You,' depicts twists and turns of two women's lives

Actors Ko Hyun-jung, right, and Shin Hyun-been pose during an online press conference for JTBC's new series, “Reflection of You.” / Courtesy of JTBCBy Kwak Yeon-sooJTBC's new series, “Reflection of You,” which kicked off on Wednesday with a 3.6 percent viewership rating, follows the complex lives of two women ― a wealthy, middle-aged woman who has lost meaning in her life, but who is inspired by a poor, talented, younger woman ― who struggle to find their own happiness through insecurity and chaos. Ko portrays Hee-joo, who grew up poor but became a successful painter and essayist. Despite her success, Hee-joo feels miserable until she meets Hae-won (Shin Hyun-been), a young woman that reminds her of her youthful self.“I'm so happy to return to the small screen after two years. I actually received a few scripts when I wasn't in a good condition. I initially thought, 'I'll read them later,' but this one caught my eye. After I began reading, I instantly liked it,” she said during the online press conference for the series, Wednesday.Describing her cha

Oct 14, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

Ko Hyun-jung's new drama, 'Reflection of You,' depicts twists and turns of two women's lives

'Squid Game' strikes nerve in debt-ridden Korea

This handout image shows a scene of Korea's "Squid Game" Season one. Netflix smash hit "Squid Game" blends a tight plot, social allegory and uncompromising violence to create the latest Korean cultural phenomenon to go global. Courtesy of Netflix``Squid Game,`` a brutal Netflix survival drama about desperate adults competing in deadly children's games for a chance to escape severe debt hit a little too close to home for Lee Chang-keun.The show has captivated global audiences since its September debut, becoming one of Netflix's biggest hits. It has struck raw nerves at home, where there's growing discontent over soaring personal debt, decaying job markets and stark income inequalities worsened by financial crises in the past two decades. In the dystopian horrors of Squid Game, Lee sees a reflection of himself in the show's protagonist Seong Gi-hun, a laid-off autoworker coping with a broken family and struggling with constant business failures and gambling problems. Seong gets beaten by gangster creditors into signing off his organs as collateral, but then receives a mysterious offer

Oct 13, 2021

'Squid Game' strikes nerve in debt-ridden Korea

Hotel and outdoor activity vendor plan real-life 'Squid Game' event

Hotel and outdoor activity vendor plan real-life 'Squid Game' event

Seen is a scene in Netflix's original series “Squid Game” where participants play a Korean children's game called “the Mugunghwa flower has bloomed” (known in English as “Red Light, Green Light”). / Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Hae-rinA hotel in Gangwon Province and a company that sells tickets to outdoor recreational activities had planned to capitalize on the soaring popularity of the Netflix original series, “Squid Game.” But whether the real-life game will be held as planned remains uncertain due to social distancing restrictions.St. John's Hotel in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, recently announced on its Instagram that it will host a real-life “Squid Game” event on Oct. 24, where the final survivor of a series of children's games wins a prize of 5 million won ($ 4,178).It said the event was open to people of all ages and not just guests of the hotel. Visitors who make a reservation would receive a business card with the phone number of the game's organizer written on it, just like the one the players of the game in the dysto

Oct 13, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

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