'Squid Game' all the rage in Paris This photo, provided by Netflix France, shows visitors at a pop-up store for the Netflix series "Squid Game" in Paris playing a game of "dalgona bbobggi," Oct. 3. YonhapA pop-up store for Netflix's original Korean series "Squid Game" opened up in France over the weekend, attracting fans in Europe.The pop-up store, set up at a cafe in Paris' 2nd arrondissement, ran from Saturday to Sunday and allowed visitors to take photos with the staff dressed up as red-suit guards as in the show.The store also showcased a childhood game featured in the series known as "dalgona bbobgi." Visitors at the pop-up store took on the challenge, in which they have to successfully crack sugar candy into a particular shape, such as a star, without breaking the whole piece."Squid Game" is a nine-part thriller, which revolves around a group of people taking part in a series of deadly games to win 45.6 billion won ($38.5 million) in prize money.After its official release on Sept. 17, it entered the top 10 on the world's popular Netflix TV show rankings offered by streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol and became tOct 4, 2021
Viewership for star-studded 'Lost' plummets over 'unconvincing story' The JTBC melodrama series, “Lost,” hit its lowest rating so far, Saturday. Courtesy of C-JeS Entertainment and Dramahouse StudioBy Lee Gyu-leeJTBC's melodrama series, “Lost,” starring award-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon and actor Ryu Jun-yeol, has hit its lowest viewership rating so far with the latest episode, Saturday.The ninth episode saw a 1.2 percent viewership rating, which was lower than last week's record low of 1.4 percent. The network's 10th-anniversary project series had been highly anticipated by K-drama fans for its cast members and director. This series was the first small-screen appearance for actress Jeon in five years as well as the first TV series directed by filmmaker Hur Jin-ho, who is known for the leading period film, “Forbidden Dream” (2019), along with romance films “Christmas in August” (1998) and “April Snow” (2005). The first episode kicked off with a 4.2-percent rating on Sept. 4. However, the ratings soon took a nosedive, falling below 2 percent by the fifth episode. Written by Kim Ji-hye, whose wOct 3, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee
'Kingdom' most mentioned Korean drama on Twitter A list of the most mentioned Korean dramas on Twitter in the world / Courtesy of TwitterBy Dong Sun-hwaZombie thriller “Kingdom” is the most mentioned Korean drama on Twitter globally, said Kim Yeon-jeong, head of Global K-pop and K-content Partnerships at Twitter Korea. During Friday's speech at MU:CON 2021 ― Korea's largest international music industry trade show ― Kim presented the lists of the top 20 most Tweeted Korean dramas, movies and webtoons. The data aggregation was conducted by Twitter and VAIV company, which utilized big data text mining techniques to analyze English Tweets from July 2018 to June 2021. The analysis revealed that “Itaewon Class” ― starring actors Park Seo-joon and Kim Da-mi ― was the second most mentioned Korean drama, followed by “True Beauty,” “Vincenzo” and “Sky Castle.” In the case of films, auteur Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning black comedy, “Parasite,” secured the No. 1 spot on the chart, while “Minari” and “Snowpiercer” ranked second and third, respectivelOct 3, 2021By Dong Sun-hwa
Seller basks in 'Squid Game' fame of his 'sweet and deadly' treat A street vendor sells 'dalgona' candy that was featured in the Korean Netflix series "Squid Game" at a stall in Seoul, Oct. 1. Reuters-YonhapA South Korean confectionary featured as one of the lethal challenges in the Netflix hit TV drama "Squid Game" has become a global craze, boosting business for the candy seller who provided the snack for the show.The series has become a viral hit by depicting childhood games with deadly consequences. One of the challenges has the cash-strapped contestants in the show carving out a symbol etched into a brittle sugar candy, called dalgona, without cracking the whole piece which would result in them being shot by masked enforcers.Dalgona is typically sold in a variety of shapes but "Squid Game" features four, a triangle, circle, star and an umbrella. One piece is about 2,000 won ($1.68) but you can get a buy-one, get-one-free deal if you don't crack the first one.An Yong-hui, 37, has been making dalgona for the past eight years in a university district in Seoul. He and his co-workers used 15 kg (33 lb) of sugar to make 700 candies for the June 2020Oct 2, 2021
Not just 'Squid Game,' now 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' gains worldwide popularity Actors Kim Seon-ho, right, and Shin Min-a in a scene from tvN's rom-com series, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" / Courtesy of Studio Dragon By Kwak Yeon-sooTvN's drama, “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” starring Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho, has been gaining popularity on Netflix streaming charts worldwide, following the global success of the dark survival drama, “Squid Game.” While it might not have captured the throne on the list of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix, the romantic comedy has made history by making the top 10.According to streaming analytics platform FlixPatrol, “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” was ranked ninth on the daily top 10 list on Friday. It was listed on the Netflix Top 10 shows in about 20 countries, including Australia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan and Qatar. Netflix's Korean original series, “Squid Game,” has been topping the list for days, making it two K-dramas that have achieved a similar feat on the Netflix series chart. Directed by Yoo Je-won, whose previousOct 1, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Knowing Bros' producer hints at changes after 300th episode JTBC's variety show, “Knowing Bros,” also known as “Men on a Mission,” will celebrate its 300th episode Saturday. Courtesy of JTBCBy Lee Gyu-leeSince kicking off in 2015, the variety show, “Knowing Bros,” also known as “Men on a Mission,” has become JTBC's longest-running variety show. Producer Choi Chang-soo / Courtesy of JTBCThe comedy show, which welcomes its 300th episode this Saturday, will take the milestone as a turning point and undergo some changes, the show's producer Choi Chang-soo said.“The format of Knowing Bros is limitlessly expandable, taking into account the characters of the hosts. So I plan to do different experiments with the show. Taking the 300th episode as a starting point, there will be significant changes,” the producer said in a written interview, Thursday.Hosted by seven male celebrities, the show is based on the idea of a high school, in which the hosts act as students and welcome guest stars as transfer students. The show stars comedians Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun and Kim Young-chul, singers Kim Sep 30, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW 'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae on his international breakout role Netflix original “Squid Game” stars actor Lee Jung-jae as the lead. Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Lee Jung-jae / Courtesy of NetflixActor Lee Jung-jae has so far already established himself as one of the top actors in Korea, building an extensive portfolio over the 28 years of his career, from playing a charismatic villain in “The Face Reader” (2013) to a ruthless Yakuza gangster in “Deliver Us From Evil” (2020).But it only took one series for the 49-year-old actor to rise to international stardom with the role of a broke, yet good-hearted gambling addict in Netflix's new hit original, “Squid Game.”“I was in a phase where I was contemplating what my next project should be. Because as I got older, the roles I was offered were mostly villains or other such fierce characters,” the actor told The Korea Times. “And just as I was hoping to show a different type of acting, the series' director Hwang Dong-hyuk offered me the role of Gi-hun. I wanted to portray an everyday kind of character.”The nine-part thrilleSep 30, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW Director shares backstory of global hit, 'Squid Game' Netflix original “Squid Game” became the first Korean series to top the platform's streaming charts in the U.S. Courtesy of NetflixThe survival thriller targeted the global market from start, says director By Lee Gyu-leeNetflix's new Korean original, “Squid Game,” has become the newest hallyu sensation all over the world, following director Bong Joon-ho's Oscars-winning film, “Parasite.” Since its release on Sept. 17, “Squid Game” has been dominating the global platform's streaming charts around the world, including in the U.S, the first time for a Korean drama series.Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said that the global success of his Netflix series didn't come as a surprise to him, partly because he had the global market in mind from the get-go.“The most Korean is the most universal. BTS, PSY and director Bong Joon-ho have already proved that,” Hwang, also the writer of the series, said in an interview with The Korea Times via video chat, Tuesday. “Korea's old children's games, which were used in my series, are simple and olSep 30, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee
Paik Jong-won to introduce Korean alcohol to global audience in new Netflix original Chef Paik Jong-won, left and producer Park Hee-yeon pose for pictures during the online press conference for the show, “Paik's Spirit,” Monday. Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-lee Celebrity chef and franchise owner Paik Jong-won is set to take global viewers into the world of Korean alcoholic beverages with his new Netflix original show, “Paik's Spirit,” which will premiere Oct. 1. “I have been doing a lot of shows to introduce Korean cuisine up to now, but Korean alcohol is just as good as the cuisine,” the culinary star said Monday during an online press conference for the upcoming show. “There are so many types of (Korean) drinks to introduce to the world.”For the new talk show, Paik will invite guests for a meal and drink and share stories about their lives while exploring different types of traditional Korean alcoholic beverages.The six-part show will feature rappers Jay Park and Loco, star producer Na Young-seok, actors Han Ji-min, Lee Joon-gi and Kim Hee-ae, and star volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung as guests. “Some of the guSep 27, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee
Upcoming K-dramas to feature strong female leads Actress Ko Hyun-jung in a scene from JTBC's series, “Reflection of You” / Courtesy of JTBCBy Kwak Yeon-sooAs TV networks are getting better at producing series that portray female characters to be just as multifaceted as their male counterparts, the fall line-up for K-dramas are poised to tell stories revealing the complexity and nuance of a diverse range of women.Ko Hyun-jung is returning to the small screen with JTBC's “Reflection of You,” which will start airing Oct. 13. In the 16-part series, Ko portrays Hee-joo who grew up poor but became a successful painter and essayist. Despite her success, Hee-joo feels oddly empty and lonely until she meets Hae-won, a young woman that reminds her of her youthful self. Ko, known for playing ambitious and charismatic characters, was last seen in 2019 drama “My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2: Crime and Punishment.” Jun Ji-hyun, whose Netflix series “Kingdom: Ashin of the North” released in July, will next be seen in tvN's upcoming drama “Jirisan” that will premiere on Oct. 23. Created by “KiSep 27, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
