Kim Moo-yul, Jung Ryeo-won cast in Netflix medical drama series 'First Doctor'Kim Moo-yul and Jung Ryeo-won have been cast in Netflix's new medical drama series "First Doctor," directed by Hong Jong-chan of hit series "Teach You a Lesson" (2026) and "Juvenile Justice" (2022), the streaming giant said Tuesday. Jung will lead the series as Heo Ji-wan, a pediatric surgeon dubbed the "troublemaker" at her hospital for her blunt and reckless personality, but who is devoted to protecting her child patients and saving the pediatric surgery department from closure, according to Netflix. Kim, who led the cast in the recent hit "Teach You a Lesson," will play Bae Su-wol, an easygoing anesthesiology professor, who is a longtime friend of Heo. The cast also includes Ha Yoon-kyung as Ki Eun-gyeol, a clever third-year resident who often clashes with Heo. Ha previously appeared in the television series "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022) and "Hospital Playlist" (2020). The upcoming series marks the second collaboration between Hong and acclaimed screenwriter Kim Min-suk, following "Juvenile Justice."Jun 23, 2026By Yonhap
Meet the actress quietly powering Netflix's Korean hitsThere is one actor who seems to be appearing in nearly every major Netflix hit these days: Lee Sang-hee. Following standout roles in the Netflix original series "If Wishes Could Kill" and "Teach You a Lesson," Lee has continued to expand her presence this year through two productions that have captured the attention of viewers around the world. After winning multiple best supporting actress awards for the 2024 Netflix film "My Name Is Loh Kiwan," Lee reflected on her career during an acceptance speech, saying, "I am hopelessly in love with acting. I will continue that love in the future." As her remarks suggested, the passion she has devoted to acting over many years is now paying off through memorable performances in successful productions. Released on June 5, "Teach You a Lesson" recorded 6.4 million views — calculated by dividing total viewing hours by the show's runtime — within just three days of its release. The series topped Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV rankings and reached No. 1 in 10 countries, including Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, SingaporeJun 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
Classic K-dramas turn into reunion showsIconic K-dramas from the mid-2010s are returning to small screen, but not as reruns or a retrospective. Instead, they're coming back as show spin-offs. Networks tvN and KBS2 announced upcoming 10th-anniversaryspecials for their 2016 hit series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and "Love in the Moonlight." The announement reflects TV networks leveraging legacy intellectual property to capture both nostalgic older fans and younger streaming audiences. Local broadcaster tvN will premiere "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – 10th Anniversary" on July 4. For the event, original cast members Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na reunite and revisit the show's famous filming locations, including Jumunjin Breakwater in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Teasers showed the actors returning to the seaside with original props from the show, including the drama's signature red scarf. "It was the most brilliant winter for me," actor Gong, who took the role of a cursed 939-year-old goblin who is looking for his bride so that he can stop being immortal, said in a promotional clip, reminisciJun 18, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Why Korea's new dating shows keep surviving in an overcrowded marketKorea's dating reality TV market has long been described as oversaturated, with viewers frequently complaining that too many programs feature ordinary people searching for love. Yet despite predictions that the genre had reached its limit, several newer dating shows have done what many industry observers considered difficult: secure a second season. Rather than relying on conventional romance formats, these programs have found audiences through increasingly specific concepts — from lifelong singles looking for their first relationship to divorced women meeting inexperienced men, and even matchmaking shows involving parents and family members. The trend suggests that while viewers may be growing tired of traditional dating programs, they are still willing to embrace new formats that offer fresh stories and emotional connections. One of the latest examples is MBC Every1 and E Channel's "Romance School: First & Again" (Dolsing N Mosol), which wrapped up its first season on June 2. The show drew attention before its premiere with its unusual premise of pairing divorced women with men who haJun 17, 2026By Xportsnews
'Teach You a Lesson' tops Netflix's weekly non-English chart for 2nd weekThe Korean school drama "Teach You a Lesson" retained its position at the top of Netflix's non-English show chart for the second consecutive week, the streaming platform announced Wednesday. Released June 5, the series accumulated 21.1 million views during the tracking week ending Sunday, marking a more than threefold increase from the 6.4 million views recorded during its debut. The show claimed the No. 1 spot in 46 countries and regions, including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Turkey and Brazil, and reached the top 10 in 91 others, according to Netflix. Based on the webtoon "Get Schooled," the action-packed series follows a team of inspectors at the fictional Education Rights Protection Bureau, which receives full-fledged support from Education Minister Choi Gang-seok, played by Lee Sung-min. Under Choi's leadership, who believes the bureau exists "not to fight students but to fight monsters," the inspectors — played by Kim Mu-yeol, Jin Ki-joo and Pyo Ji-hoon (also known as P.O of K-pop boy group Block B) — set out to teach the bullies a lesson. The narrative features extrajudicial punisJun 17, 2026By Yonhap
What makes Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson' so popular globallyThe Netflix original series "Teach You a Lesson" is taking the world by storm. The drama follows the Korean Educational Rights Protection Bureau, a fictional government-sanctioned vigilante squad deployed to reclaim classrooms ruined by out-of-control teenagers and toxic parents. It has firmly established itself as a massive hit, drawing passionate audiences across Asia, Europe and South America alike. According to the global OTT ranking site FlixPatrol, the show claimed the top spot worldwide on Tuesday, ranking No. 1 in 44 countries, including Korea, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Highly relatable Many viewers have found the drama relatable. Taking to social media to share the educational realities in their own countries, viewers worldwide noted with a mix of comfort and dismay that Korea's struggles are identical to their own. "I expected this to be just a simple story of bullies getting their comeuppance, but the dialogue, characters and sense of justice are incredibly relatable," wrote one U.K. viewer on Reddit. "Even though it's a Korean shoJun 16, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Seo In-guk, Park Ji-hyun tackle workplace romance in 'See You at Work Tomorrow!'Actor Seo In-guk is ready to set hearts fluttering once again in the upcoming romantic comedy series, "See You at Work Tomorrow!" Adapted from a hit Kakao Webtoon title that amassed over 200 million views, the drama centers on everyday office workers who faithfully clock in each morning despite emotional burnout and personal storms. By blending witty corporate satire with irresistible romantic tension, the series seeks to deliver the ultimate modern workplace romance. Seo steps into the role of Kang Si-woo, a meticulous team leader at Saeum Electronics who prioritizes logic, principles and efficiency above all else. In the office, Si-woo is notoriously dubbed the "three-no man" — signifying his total lack of smiles, people skills and apologies. "The role immediately triggered my desire to take on a new challenge," Seo said. "While expressing extreme emotions in high-stakes thrillers is difficult, pulling off the natural conversations and understated reactions of everyday life is equally challenging. Si-woo is a highly restrained character who keeps everything under strict self-controlJun 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Performer and storyteller: Violinist James Ehnes returns to Korea with Bruch concertoFor musicians who are hailed as prodigies from an early age, growing older can be a challenge. Audiences often remember childhood brilliance for decades and continue to expect extraordinary achievements. But world-renowned Canadian violinist James Ehnes, 50, has long viewed talent not as a special gift but as a responsibility. "If you discover something you love and excel at, you have a responsibility to develop that talent as fully as possible," he said in a past interview. Ehnes began studying the violin at age five and made his debut at 13, performing with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal. He sees himself as a musician who continues to grow. On June 16, Ehnes will perform Violin Concerto No. 1 by Max Bruch with the Dresden Philharmonic, one of Germany's oldest orchestras with a history spanning 156 years, at Bucheon Arts Center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Ehnes first came to Korea in 1997 as concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra, an ensemble made up of students from The Juilliard School in New York. Since then, he has continued to return for orchestral collaborations, chambJun 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
InterviewNetflix ‘Teach You a Lesson’ star talks global success, true meaning of educationKim Moo-yul, who stars as the ruthless Na Hwa-jin, a field inspector for the Korean Educational Rights Protection Bureau, in Netflix’s high-octane drama “Teach You a Lesson,” is currently enjoying a new height in his acting career. The drama, which follows a government-sanctioned vigilante squad deployed to rescue classrooms ruined by unruly teenagers and toxic parents, has skyrocketed in popularity, claiming the top spot in Netflix's global non-English TV series category just three days after its release. Kim has become a hot topic among global fans for his striking resemblance to John Cena, and the Hollywood star himself posted Kim's photo on his social media. "I honestly don’t quite know what to do with myself," Kim said, expressing his gratitude for the show's global reception during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. In the series, his character is a former special forces operator who is dispatched to schools to use any means necessary — including corporal punishment — to discipline students. Every episode tackles heavy, real-world issues, froJun 12, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Korean guesthouse reality shows find new global audience on NetflixGuesthouse-style reality shows are experiencing a renaissance. Unlike traditional travel programs that simply feature tourist destinations and restaurants, these unscripted TV series focus entirely on the shared experience of living, eating and sleeping under one roof. From Netflix's "Kian's Bizarre B&B," released last year, to the recently launched "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!" the guesthouse reality format is maintaining momentum. "Kian's Bizarre B&B" set itself apart from existing travel shows by merging the eccentric sensibilities of webtoon artist and TV personality Kian84 with the challenge of guesthouse management. The Netflix unscripted series earned praise for drawing genuine laughs through its chaotic environments, unpredictable operations and natural chemistry with guests. The newly released "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!" expands the formula. Veteran host Yoo Jae-seok leads a cast featuring actors Lee Kwang-soo, Ji Ye-eun and Byeon Woo-seok as they run a campsite and welcome visitors. This new Netflix unscripted show focuses on the chemistry built by spending time together, starting withJun 12, 2026By Hankookilbo
