Can Chinese entertainment surpass Korean wave in Southeast Asia?Union Mall, a major shopping center in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district, is widely considered one of the city’s most popular hangouts for fans of K-pop and Korean culture, with a nonstop stream of fan-organized events and advertisements celebrating Korean stars. But a visit last Sunday offered a glimpse of something else: the growing influence of Chinese entertainment challenging Korean content’s dominance. LED screens on six towering pillars stretching from the first to the sixth floor were covered with images of one man: Yang Yang, a top Chinese actor known as one of the country’s “Big Four.” To celebrate his birthday on Wednesday, his Thai fan community, known as “Yangmao,” or “wool,” had rented every digital advertising screen in the mall. A birthday pop-up booth was set up in a prime spot next to the escalator. Fans wearing T-shirts bearing Yang Yang’s face took photos of themselves in front of a life-size cutout and wrote birthday cards in fluent Chinese. The event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and attracted hundreds of people, was organized entirely by fansSep 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
Stars of Korea's beloved 'Infinite Challenge' reveal panic, sleepless nights behind the laughsMBC's "Infinite Challenge" was one of South Korea's most beloved variety shows, making viewers laugh week after week during its long run. But years after the show ended, several of its best-known cast members are revealing the intense psychological pressure they endured behind the scenes. Haha recently said the stress of filming the hit program became so severe that, looking back, he believes he was experiencing panic disorder. His account follows similar revelations from former castmates Jung Hyung-don and Jung Joon-ha, who have spoken about anxiety, sleepless nights and the emotional toll of trying to deliver laughs every week. Appearing on KBS 2TV's "Boss in the Mirror" on Sept. 6, Haha was asked by comedian Park Young-jin how he had managed to survive for so long in weekend variety television. "Popularity isn't something I can decide. Viewers' reactions are what matter," Haha said. He then recalled the anxiety he felt ahead of the weekly "Infinite Challenge" shoots. "We filmed every Thursday, but because of the pressure, my heart would start pounding from Tuesday evening," he said. "LoSep 12, 2026By Xportsnews
Korean comedy films face box office slumpProving that comedy has failed to work its usual summer magic, the Korean film "Okay! Madam 2" is nearing the end of its theatrical run with disappointing box-office results. As most domestic comedy films released this year have struggled commercially, the slump is raising deeper questions about the genre's theatrical viability. "Okay! Madam 2" is nearing its exit without drawing 500,000 moviegoers. Released six years after the original, it was the only Korean comedy slated for the summer box office, but the audience response was lukewarm. While competition from major foreign releases like "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" may have hurt its performance, the film failed to regain momentum through reviews from verified ticket buyers and ultimately fell well short of expectations. This failure extends beyond "Okay! Madam 2." "Heartman," which opened earlier this year and reunited the team behind the "Hitman" franchise that succeeded even during the COVID-19 pandemic, also underperformed. "Audition 109," a spiritual successor to the 2009 cult film "Wish," featuring the returningSep 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Jung Ho-yeon, Ryu Jun-yeol cast in new Netflix series 'Outback'Actors Jung Ho-yeon and Ryu Jun-yeol have been cast in Netflix's new Korean series, tentatively titled "Outback," the streaming platform said Friday. The series, based on the thriller webtoon "G'day," also stars Hong Kyung, Won Ji-an and Justin Min, according to Netflix. As the title suggests, the series is set in Australia. It follows Zion (Hong), who heads to the country upon hearing about his sister's abrupt death in search for the truth. Ryu appears as Min-hyuk, a mysterious figure in the center of the case, while Won portrays Zion's sister Si-young. Jung and Min appear as streamer Smiley and Korean Australian police officer Scott, respectively. Han Jun-hee, who helmed the popular Netflix series "D.P.," serves as executive producer. The release date for the new series has yet to be confirmed.Sep 11, 2026By Yonhap
'The Scandal' unleashes forbidden passion in reimagined JoseonHigh-society secrets and forbidden passion collide in "The Scandal," Netflix’s bold Joseon-era reimagining of the classic 1782 novel "Dangerous Liaisons." Helmed by acclaimed director Jung Ji-woo, best known for films "Happy End" (1999) and "Eungyo" (2012), the series follows Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin) — a mastermind too extraordinary for the era’s rigid social boundaries — as she orchestrates a perilous wager with the ultimate playboy, Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook). When an innocent woman, Hui-yeon (Nana), becomes the target of their bet, a dangerous web of intrigue, rebellion and uncontrollable desire threatens to shatter society’s strictest taboos. "The late Joseon era was far more sophisticated and nuanced than we usually imagine," Jung explained during a press conference at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Seoul, Wednesday. "I wanted to capture that elegance on screen while exploring the complex, unseen dynamic between Lady Cho and Hui-yeon — a relationship never portrayed quite like this before." The novel was previously brought to life in the hit 2003 film "Untold Scandal,Sep 9, 2026By Park Jin-hai
K-pop star's checkup video sparks medical ad disputeA YouTube video showing Miyeon of K-pop girl group i-dle undergoing a medical checkup has sparked controversy, prompting the production team to deny that the content was sponsored or promotional. The production team behind YouTube wellness show Jeondosa issued a statement Tuesday clarifying "potential misunderstandings." The producers said the program was designed to present stories about health, beauty and wellness, adding that the episode was created to document the cast member's actual checkup experience rather than promote a particular medical clinic. "We did not receive any request from the clinic where the filming took place to advertise, promote or produce the content," the producers said. "We also did not receive any financial compensation or economic support, such as production costs, advertising fees or sponsorship fees." The team said it paid for Miyeon's checkup and medical costs, emphasizing it had no intention to promote any specific medical facility or personnel. The producers noted that certain scenes identifying the clinic were blurred during re-editing. The team pledgedSep 9, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Mousetrap' tops Netflix's weekly non-English TV chartThe Korean suspense thriller "Mousetrap" reigned atop Netflix's non-English TV series chart in its second week of release, the streaming platform said Wednesday. The Netflix original series, starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Sul Kyung-gu, accumulated 4.4 million views during the latest tracking week ending Sunday, according to Netflix. It reached the top 10 in 45 countries and ranked No. 1 in four of them — Korea, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan. Based on the webtoon "Field Mouse," it follows Moon-jae (Ryu), a reclusive writer who finds himself robbed of his identity and becomes embroiled in a high-stakes hunt to track down the "rat" that seems to know him even better than he knows himself. Three other Korean shows also landed on the weekly chart. "Four Hands, Two Sonatas," a tvN drama that portrays the friendship and growth of students studying classical music in an arts high school, debuted at No. 5 with 2 million views. The Netflix romance drama "Our Sticky Love" came in at No. 7 with 1.5 million views, extending its stay on the chart to the fifth consecutive week. "Spooky in Love," a remakeSep 9, 2026By Yonhap
How did 2024 Korean thriller 'Your Honor' become Netflix hit in 2026?"Your Honor," a Korean legal thriller broadcast on ENA as a Genie TV original series in August 2024, found a new audience on Netflix after joining the streaming service in August. The series reached No. 1 on Netflix's series chart six days after its premier on the platform. A previously released title climbing the charts long after its release is no longer a novelty in a streaming market that pushes out new content weekly. But the case of "Your Honor" looks like more than the revival of a single show. It suggests the way audiences consume streaming content has changed. The drama stars Son Hyun-joo and Kim Myung-min as two men who abandon law and justice to protect their sons. Both cross the line, each in his own way, and the psychological duel between the fathers was singled out as the show's main appeal when it first aired. The series went viral even with the limited reach of a Genie TV original. However, two years after its premiere, the series drew enough viewers on netflix to put it back at the center of the conversation. Director Yoo Jong-sun said on his social media account that thSep 9, 2026By Hankookilbo
Emerging women directors reshape Korean films, revive local cinemaA new wave of female filmmakers is actively reworking genre conventions to broaden the scope of Korean cinema, with their projects earning international recognition and breathing new life into domestic theaters as the industry recovers from a prolonged slump. Director Kim Mi-jo's new film, "The Journey to Gyeong-ju," has opened to positive reviews. The film follows a mother and three daughters seeking revenge for their youngest sister, Gyeong-ju, who never returned from a school trip. Following her 2021 debut "Gull," Kim breaks away from standard revenge tropes to offer a layered portrayal of the grief of those left behind. The film earned international recognition before its official release, winning Audience Awards at the 45th Hawaii International Film Festival and the 24th Florence Korea Film Fest. It was selected for the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival and the 6th Barcelona Korean Film Festival. The Florence Korea Film Fest praised Kim's screenplay and direction for breaking away from revenge-movie conventions and channeling grief and anger over the loss of a loved one thrSep 8, 2026By Hankookilbo
How 'The Odyssey' hit box office milestone in KoreaDirector Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” surpassed 10 million tickets sold on Sunday, just 33 days after its release in Korea, defying a slump in theater attendance. The 172-minute historical epic is the second film to reach the 10-million mark in ticket sales this year in the country, following “The King's Warden,” which recorded 16.92 million tickets sold. It also marks Nolan's second 10-million ticket hit here following the 2014 sci-fi blockbuster “Interstellar,” with 10.38 million tickets sold. Bolstered by relentless demand, industry analysts predict “The Odyssey” will soon overtake “Interstellar” to become the director's highest-grossing release in Korea, raising questions about how it captured audiences' attention in an era of streaming dominance. Commitment to analog format drives repeat viewings The film drew widespread attention even before its release as the first feature to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Overcoming extreme equipment weight and noise, Nolan's commitment to analog filmmaking resonated deeply with audiences. Pop culture critic HwangSep 8, 2026By Hankookilbo
