'All of Us Are Dead' will take K-zombie movies to next level: director Clockwise from top left, actors Lim Jae-hyeok, Lee Yoo-mi, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo, director Lee Jae-kyoo and actor Yoon Chan-young pose during an online press conference for Netflix's new series “All of Us Are Dead,” Wednesday. Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-leeNetflix's new original series “All of Us Are Dead” is presenting yet another Korean-style zombie flick to the global audience. “We put a lot of effort into depicting the zombies in the series. We've worked with a team, which included an actor and a choreographer, to create the moves of zombies. I can say for sure that it will have more detail and better movements than any other Korean zombie works,” the series' director Lee Jae-kyoo said during the online press conference for the series, Wednesday.“Usually, a human turning into a zombie is the scariest part of zombie flicks. So for this series, the viewers will be able to feel the extreme fear with the scenes that show people transforming into zombies.”Based on the hit web-comics of the same name, the apocaJan 28, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Kang Daniel on acting debut with Disney+ original 'Rookie Cops' Actors Kang Daniel, left, and Chae Soo-bin pose during the online press conference of the Disney+ original series “Rookie Cops,” Wednesday. Courtesy of Disney+By Lee Gyu-leeK-pop star Kang Daniel, who rose to enormous fame as the top finalist of Mnet's hit audition show "Produce 101" in 2017, is making his acting debut with the lead role in Disney+ Korean original series “Rookie Cops.”“For the past couple of years, I've been asked whether I wanted to make my way into acting. And I used to answer that I would think about it if I came across a good opportunity,” Kang said during the online press conference of the series, Wednesday. “When I was offered the role in 'Rookie Cops,' I liked that it's a story about young adults. It felt like this could be my last chance to take part in such a story, I didn't hesitate to accept the role.”Directed by Kim Byung-soo, who is known for helming the romance series “Queen & I” and the fantasy series “The Bride of Habaek,” the new drama series follows the life of freshmen at KJan 28, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho's 'Pachinko' set for global release in March Actors Lee Min-ho, right, and Kim Min-ha in a scene from Apple TV+ series "Pachinko"/ Courtesy of Apple TV+By Kwak Yeon-sooThe much-anticipated Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” will be unveiled on March 25, the streaming giant said Thursday. Adapted from Min Jin Lee's best-selling novel of the same title, “Pachinko” chronicles the lives and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family in Japan. It follows a story spanning decades of Sunja's life, who is abandoned by her partner Hansu and is left with an unplanned pregnancy that could bring shame upon her family. She marries a young pastor, whom she then moves to Japan with. The Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung portrays the older Sunja while rookie actress Kim Min-ha plays the teenage Sunja. “The Heirs” and “The King: Eternal Monarch” star Lee Min-ho will take on the role of Hansu, a merchant who embarks on an illicit romance with Sunja. The series was filmed in Korea and Canada.The eight-episode series will be told in three languages ― Korean, Japanese and English ― and will deJan 27, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
YouTube star stops online activities over fake luxury goods controversy Social media star Song Ji-ah apologizes for wearing counterfeit luxury brand goods in a YouTube video clip, Tuesday. Screenshot from Song's YouTube channelBy Kim RahnSong Ji-ah, a YouTuber who rose to fame following her appearance on Netflix's Korean reality show, “Single's Inferno,” has announced a halt to all online activities, after a controversy arose over her wearing of counterfeited luxury brand items on the show and in her social media clips. She posted a video on her YouTube channel, FreeZia, early Tuesday morning, apologizing for the stir she caused.“I admit all the rumors about the fake goods, and everything is my fault. … I apologize for damaging the value of the brands and disappointing many people who supported me,” she said in the clip.Song said that after she began to purchase counterfeit products, people liked her look with such goods, so she continued featuring them out of the desire to get more reactions from people. “I'm regretting it, and I feel pathetic when looking back on myself in the past. I should have paid more attentionJan 25, 2022By Kim Rahn
Korean romance TV series gain popularity on Netflix A poster for SBS's romantic comedy series "Our Beloved Summer" / Courtesy of SBSKorea's romantic TV series have recently made their global presence strong through Netflix, prompting global streaming services to expand their 2022 slate with romances.The romantic comedy "Our Beloved Summer," starring Choi Woo-shik of "Parasite" and Kim Da-mi, has been on the top 10 of Netflix's official weekly viewership chart for non-English TV series for four weeks in a row.The 16-episode series, which premiered on Dec. 6 on SBS and Netflix, debuted at No. 9 on the chart for the week starting Dec. 20 and rose to the fifth place in its fourth week.It is a coming-of-age romance that revolves around ex-lovers who are forced to work together 10 years after they broke up as their co-produced documentary gets the belated fame.A scene from "The King's Affection” / Korea Times fileKBS' historical romance "The King's Affection," which was simultaneously available on Netflix from October-December, had been on the Netflix non-English TV chart for 10 weeks.It made it to the top 10 for the first time in theJan 24, 2022
Actress Song Ji-hyo goes into self-quarantine despite testing negative for COVID-19 By Dong Sun-hwaActress Song Ji-hyo / Korea Times fileActress Song Ji-hyo tested negative for COVID-19, but still went into a 10-day quarantine as she has not been vaccinated.According to Song's management company Creative Group ing Friday, the actress did not receive COVID-19 vaccination shots because she is “allergic to Western medicine.” “In 2011, Song felt short of breath and had blotches on her body after getting an intravenous injection (IV) to regain her strength,” the agency said in a statement. “She was taken to the emergency room, but even after that, she continued to show abnormal reactions to antibiotics… So this time, she had no choice but to follow her doctor's advice and take a cautious approach to vaccination.” Song underwent COVID-19 testing Thursday, three days after filming SBS's variety show “Running Man” with Eunhyuk of K-pop boy group Super Junior, who tested positive on Thursday. Song, a regular cast member of the program, will not film “Running Man” on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 due to her self-quarantJan 22, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
KBS apologizes for horse tripping during filming of 'Lee Bang-won' In this screen capture uploaded to Instagram by Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), a horse falls through the air before landing face-first on the ground in an episode of "The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won," that aired on KBS, Jan. 1. KBS TV has apologized after revelations that a running horse was tripped by a rope and crashed head-first into the ground during the filming of a historical drama and died about a week later amid allegations of animal abuse.Video footage showed the dark-colored horse running full-speed with a stunt double on its back and a rope tied around a leg during the Nov. 2 filming of "The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won" before members of the filming crew pulled the rope and caused the horse to fall violently to the ground.The TV station has been under fire since the Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA) posted the video clip on its website on Wednesday, containing the scene from the seventh episode of the 32-part series aired Jan. 1 where Lee SuJan 21, 2022
Seo Kang-jun, Kim A-joong hunt down mysterious assailant in Disney+ series 'Grid' Actor Seo Kang-jun in a scene from Disney+ series “Grid” / Courtesy of Disney+By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Seo Kang-jun is currently serving his mandatory military service, but his absence from the entertainment industry is hardly noticeable, as his works are being released one after the other.Earlier this month, he starred in director Kwak Jae-yong's new romantic comedy, “A Year-end Medley.” In February, he will be returning with the Disney+ series, “Grid,” a mystery thriller that follows a government official and a police officer who tenaciously delve into the secrets behind a mysterious being that saved humanity from a deadly crisis, but then reappears as the collaborator of a serial killer 24 years later. Seo plays government official Kim Sae-ha, who joins forces with police officer Jung Sae-byeok (Kim A-joong) to investigate the mysterious being, which vanishes into thin air after committing a crime. The two stand at odds with Song Eo-jin (Kim Moo-yul), a senior official who denies the existence of the “grid.” Kim Sung-kyun, who played a Jan 20, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
SNL Korea becomes popular platform for actors to show off their goofy sides Actress Shin Hae-sun in a scene from the comedy show “SNL Korea” / Screenshot from Coupang Play's YouTube channel By Kwak Yeon-sooThe second season of the revived “Saturday Night Live (SNL) Korea” on Coupang Play has become an emerging platform for actors to perform hilarious comedy sketches and connect with wider audiences, as they face fewer opportunities to promote their work and themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.In-person events, such as red carpets and post-film talk sessions, have been largely reduced, leading many to flock to popular YouTube channels or web shows to expand their reach to more viewers. “Squid Game” star Heo Sung-tae will lead a Lunar New Year holiday special episode of SNL Korea that will include several sketches where he parodies some of the iconic characters he has played. The dramatic actor, known for playing mostly villains and gangsters in films like “The Outlaws” (2017) and “The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful” (2019), has promised to provide a side-splitting performance.“It's an honor toJan 20, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Korea remains No. 2 most popular content provider on Netflix in last quarter of 2021 A version of the Netflix series "Squid Game" is played on a mobile phone in this picture taken Sept. 30, 2021. Reuters-Yonhap Korea remained the No. 2 supplier of popular content to Netflix in the fourth quarter of last year, U.S. online media reported.According to What's On Netflix, a private site that provides information on Netflix content, Wednesday (local time), South Korean-made shows accounted for 11.8 percent of the top 10 films and TV series in the final three months of 2021 to rank No. 2 for the second consecutive quarter after the United States with 59 percent. The figures are based on data from streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol, it added.It marked a sharp increase from its share of 5.4 percent for the third quarter thanks to the breakout hit "Squid Game" released Sept. 17 and other hit series."The fourth quarter of 2021 is likely to be an outlier with the arrival of 'Squid Game, but Korean content has been on a slow march up the charts regardless of 'SJan 20, 2022
