Interview‘Made in Korea’ is mirror of human greed, ambition, Hyun Bin says"Made in Korea" is a tense crime drama that explores the dark collision of power and ambition during the 1970s, while questioning the difficult choice between personal greed and national interest. According to lead actor Hyun Bin, the story depicts universal human desires that could happen in any country, not just in Korea. Hyun Bin takes on the role of Baek Ki-tae, a calculating intelligence director navigating the shifting tides of Korea’s modern history. "I did not approach the character of Baek Ki-tae with the mindset that he is a simple villain," the actor told The Korea Times in an interview in Seoul, Tuesday. "I view the character as a man driven by clear beliefs and a strong will to survive, which gave me a sense of satisfaction playing a person who acts quickly and directly without worrying about what is right or wrong." Directed by Woo Min-ho, the Disney+ series focuses on the fierce rivalry between Baek, an agent of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, and Jang Geon-young, an uncompromising prosecutor played by Jung Woo-sung. The first season recently finished with BaekJan 27, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung decode language, love in new Netflix romance"Your language is too difficult for me. You speak in opposites to hide your weaknesses and lash out in anger." Joo Ho-jin (played by Kim Seon-ho), a multilingual interpreter who is fluent in Korean, English, Japanese and Italian, often finds himself hitting a communication wall with global star Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung). While Ho-jin communicates in a direct and logical “language of straight lines” Mu-hee speaks in a “language of curves,” circling around her true emotions. Released on Jan. 16, the Netflix series "Can This Love Be Translated?" follows two people with contrasting communication styles as they misunderstand, hurt and eventually come to understand each other. The Hankook Ilbo recently sat down with actors Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, along with director Yoo Young-eun, at a cafe in Jongno District, Seoul, to talk about the series. In the drama, interpretation works both as a plot device and as a metaphor. The two first met in Japan, where Ho-jin translates for Mu-hee during her days as an unknown actress. She later rises to stardom after playing a zombie in a hit filmJan 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
Song Kang returns from military service to star in music K-drama ‘Four Hands’Song Kang is set to return to television following his military discharge, headlining tvN’s upcoming drama “Four Hands” alongside Lee Jun-young and Jang Gyu-ri — a youth series that blends elite classical music, rivalry and emotional growth. Scheduled to premiere in the second half of 2026, “Four Hands” follows a group of gifted students who meet at an elite arts high school reserved for musical prodigies. The drama explores their friendships, romances, fierce competition and personal growth, using music as both a battleground and a bond. The project brings together director Park Hyun-suk, known for his genre-spanning work on “Uncontrollably fond,” “Stranger 2” and “Hometown,” and writer Shin Yi-won, who earned praise for her sharp psychological portrayals in “Green Mothers’ Club.” The combination has already generated anticipation, with fans expecting a visually refined and emotionally layered youth drama. Song takes on the role of Kang Bi-o, a piano prodigy with an aristocratic aura who never relinquishes his top ranking in either academics or performanceJan 26, 2026By Xportsnews
Disney+ bets big in 2026: Can it win over Netflix subscribers?With 12 million fewer subscribers than market leader Netflix, Disney+ is betting its survival in Korea on a star-studded 2026 lineup to prove that K-content fans will switch platforms if the storytelling is powerful enough. Disney+ is leaning into its long-term strategy of producing top-tier Korean originals, aiming to close the gap with Netflix as the latest industry data shows Korean content remains a key driver for subscriber growth. In 2025, Netflix effectively solidified its dominant status, with its monthly active users in Korea soaring to 15.59 million as of December, according to market researcher Mobile Index. Disney+ remains the smallest among the major streaming services, with 3.22 million subscribers — only a slight increase from 2.93 million in December 2024. During the same period, other competitors saw far stronger growth. Korean platform Coupang Play jumped from 7.09 million to 8.43 million subscribers, while Tving edged up from 7.25 million to 7.34 million, leaving Disney+ on the sidelines in the heated competition. For Disney+, the problem isn’t creating hits like "Jan 24, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea’s reality TV crisis: Can broadcasters truly screen noncelebrity participants?Controversies over the casting of noncelebrity participants with undisclosed criminal or ethically questionable histories are sparking debate in South Korea’s entertainment industry, raising a pressing question: Is it truly possible to vet ordinary people before putting them on reality television? From extramarital affairs and assault to drunk driving and fraud, recent incidents have prompted backlash, forced edits and outright cancellations, causing a growing issue for unscripted TV. Dating show backlash over alleged affair history On Tuesday, JTBC’s current affairs program “Scandal Supervisor” featured a woman in her 40s who said she was shocked to see her ex-husband’s alleged former lover on a dating show. The woman said she divorced her husband in 2022 after confirming his affair and pursued both a divorce lawsuit and a related civil case. A court found both the husband and the other woman responsible for the marriage’s breakdown, and the plaintiff won the civil suit. Public attention focused on the dating program in question, “Match to Marry: With Parents” — a realJan 24, 2026By Xportsnews
Chef Im Seong-keun shares untold stories amid controversyIt was a Thursday afternoon in an office in Seoul’s Mapo District. Sitting alone across from this reporter, chef Im Seong-kuen broke a long silence. “I never once considered the matter closed simply because the courts were finished with it,” he said, his face drawn. “It isn’t easy to endure having mistakes from 30 years ago brought back into the open for everyone to see. But I believed it was the right decision not to hide them.” The mistakes he refered to are a series of drunk driving offenses that have drawn renewed public attention and scrutiny. “Ask me anything,” he added. “I’m resolved to answer everything. I always have been.” Im has four drunk driving cases, dating to 1999, 2009, 2017 and 2020. He has also reportedly been fined in connection with a mutual assault case. Public attention focused on the pattern of repeated drunk driving offenses and the circumstances surrounding them. “I failed to grasp the gravity of my actions at the time,” Im admited, referring to his first offense. “People knew even then that drunk driving was wrong and should not be doneJan 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
InterviewKim Seon-ho decodes language of love in ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’Actor Kim Seon-ho believes that everyone possesses a unique language of their own, a realization that deeply resonated with him while filming his latest romantic comedy series, “Can This Love Be Translated?” “The line stating that everyone has their own language left a huge impression on me,” Kim told The Korea Times during an interview in Seoul on Thursday. “I realized I hadn’t really thought about how everyone speaks differently before filming this project. Seeing how people handle misunderstandings made me be more patient. Now, I try harder to listen and understand others when we talk.” In this Netflix series, penned by the famous screenwriting duo Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, Kim plays Joo Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter who works for top star Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung). While he is an expert at translating foreign words, the story hinges on the complicated translation of human emotions. To portray a professional interpreter, Kim spent four months practicing with real-life experts before filming began. He focused on the technical aspects of the job, such as maintainJan 22, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Cha Eun-woo faces allegations of 20 billion won tax evasionAs allegations of large-scale tax evasion involving Chae Eun-woo — an actor and member of the idol group ASTRO — emerged, his agency released an official statement saying it will actively cooperate with authorities to clarify the matter. “The key issue is whether a company established by Cha’s mother qualifies as a legitimate subject of taxation,” Fantagio said in its statement regarding the allegation of 20 billion won ($13 million) in tax evasion. “The company will actively clarify its position through appropriate legal procedures concerning the interpretation and application of tax law.” The agency added, “Cha Eun-woo and his tax representatives will fully cooperate throughout the process to ensure it is concluded as swiftly as possible, and he will continue to faithfully fulfill all tax reporting and legal obligations as a law-abiding citizen.” Earlier in the day, Edaily reported that the National Tax Service had notified Cha of additional taxes — including income tax — totaling more than 20 billion won. According to the report, a company founded by Cha’s motheJan 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Culinary Class Wars' star Im Seong-keun quits TV after admitting to multiple DUIsChef Im Seong-keun, breakout star of the Netflix hit "Culinary Class Wars 2," has announced an indefinite halt to his television career following public outrage over his history of drunk driving. In an interview with Seoul-based media outlet Ilyo on Wednesday, Im admitted to multiple past DUI offenses, saying, "I have no excuses. It is entirely my fault." He said he would withdraw from all programs on major broadcasting networks and streaming services. However, the chef noted two exceptions to his hiatus. He plans to fulfill existing contracts for his appearances on a TV shopping network to prevent financial harm to small partner businesses. He also intends to keep his YouTube channel active, saying, "I will continue my channel because it is a form of talent donation to give recipes to struggling small business owners." The controversy erupted after he admitted on his YouTube channel on Sunday that he had been caught driving under the influence three times. In his interview, Im attempted to explain the circumstances of his 2017 and 2020 citations, attributing them to disputes with designaJan 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
How ‘Culinary Class Wars’ delivered back-to-back hitsNetflix’s cooking competition series "Culinary Class Wars 2," which concluded on Jan. 13, topped the global Top 10 chart and generated widespread cultural buzz. The season has emerged as a textbook example of how to build a successful multiseason franchise. Launched amid high expectations as well as lingering doubts, the second season avoided the common sequel slump. Instead, it matched — and in some respects deepened — the impact of its predecessor. A closer look reveals three core factors behind its success. One key driver was the show’s deliberate embrace of unpredictability in its missions and rules. From the opening episode, the series set the tone by unveiling two “hidden white spoon chefs,” bringing back Season 1 contestants Choi Kang-rok and Kim Do-yun. The team battle between the Black Spoon and White Spoon chefs came with a drastic condition: total elimination upon defeat, meaning the entire losing team was sent home at once. In another twist, chefs who had worked together in pairs were later forced to face one another as opponents, turning collaboration into rivalJan 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
