Song Joong-ki says family life brings greatest happiness and new driveActor Song Joong-ki opened up about the joy and sense of purpose he found in family life, saying that becoming a husband and father has made this the happiest period of his life. Appearing with actor Chun Woo-hee on comedian Park Na-rae’s YouTube channel Wednesday, Song shared thoughts about life and responsibility as they shared a meal prepared by Park. When asked about his own prime years, Song replied, “I may be past what people typically call youth, but for me this is the happiest time of my life.” Song married former British actress Katy Louise Saunders in 2023. The couple welcomed a son that June and a daughter in November last year. Since then, he has frequently expressed affection for his family in entertainment programs and public appearances. “Having a family has given me a sense of responsibility and the inner strength to manage it,” he said. “Knowing that I have someone to take care of excites me and gives me more drive in life. I now find myself grateful for many small details.” Chun also reflected on her journey. “In my 20s, I didn’t know what I was good atSep 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ blends Korean ingredients, French cooking to win global audienceTvN’s weekend drama “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” is gaining momentum not only in Korea but also abroad, with viewers drawn to its inventive mix of palace intrigue, romance and haute cuisine. The series follows Yeon Ji-yeong (played by Im Yoon-a), a French-trained chef who once dominated culinary competitions in Paris, until she suddenly finds herself transported to the Joseon period (1392-1910) after opening an old book. There she encounters King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min), a notorious tyrant with a refined palate. Taken to the royal palace, she must prepare elaborate dishes for the king each day, with her survival on the line. Directed by Jang Tae-yoo, known for historical dramas such as “Painter of the Wind” and “Tree with Deep Roots,” the show adapts the popular web novel “Surviving as the Tyrant’s Chef.” It reached a nationwide rating of 12.7 percent with its sixth episode on Sept. 7, the highest for tvN this year. The series is also performing strongly on Netflix. From Sept. 1 to 7, it logged 7.5 million views, ranking No. 2 among non-English series for two consecutivSep 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Young-ae says daughter is auditioning for idol agencies, but path not easyActor Lee Young-ae shared insights into her family life and views on media responsibility, revealing that her daughter is actively pursuing her dreams of becoming a K-pop idol. Appearing recently on comedian Shin Dong-yup’s YouTube show, “Zzanbro,” Lee said her twins, now in their second year of middle school, have contrasting personalities. “My daughter takes after me, while my son resembles his father,” she said. Lee said that her daughter has been attending auditions. “She is really into idols these days. I just let her be, because if I stop her, she might later say, ‘I couldn’t do it because of my mom.’ She likes groups such as TXT and BOYNEXTDOOR, so I even took her to their concerts,” Lee said. At the same time, she admitted she had concerns. “I think she sees becoming a celebrity as too easy. She only sees the glamorous side and not the hardships I went through to get here,” Lee said. Lee married Korean American businessman Chung Ho-young in 2009 and gave birth to twins in 2011. Her daughter is studying vocal music at Sunhwa Arts Middle School in Seoul. DuriSep 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
Tving’s ‘Dear X’ pulls poster after plagiarism controversyThe upcoming Tving original series “Dear X” has been hit with allegations of poster plagiarism. The production team said it has stopped using the poster in question and pledged to prevent a recurrence. An official from the “Dear X” production team said on Wednesday, “We belatedly recognized the similarity between our launch poster and a specific reference, so we immediately halted its use and decided not to use it going forward.” The official added, “We sincerely apologize for causing discomfort by failing to thoroughly oversee the production process. We will strengthen our review process to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.” “Dear X” tells the story of Baek A-jin (Kim Yoo-jung), a top actress who hides her ruthless true self behind a beautiful face while trampling on others. The drama depicts her downfall, as Yoon Jun-seo (Kim Young-dae) chooses hell in order to protect her, showing a desperate kind of love. The launch poster, unveiled last week, featured Kim Yoo-jung’s piercing gaze peering through an X-shaped tear in a sheet of paper. Viewers pointed oSep 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
YouTuber Daedo Library’s ex-wife says ‘cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage’Yum Cast (Lee Chae-won), the ex-wife of YouTuber Daedo Library (also known as Daedoseogwan), said his death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage and urged people to stop spreading false rumors. Na Dong-hyun, 47, who was widely recognized by the channel name Daedo Library, was found dead at his home in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Sept. 6. His funeral was held on Tuesday at Konkuk University Medical Center in Seoul. Lee served as chief mourner at the request of Na’s younger sister, keeping vigil at the memorial with her son. That night, Lee posted a message on YouTube mourning Na and addressing speculation surrounding his death. “I want to make sure no more misunderstandings cause further pain, so I would like to clarify a few things,” she wrote. “An autopsy was conducted to eliminate any doubt, and the final conclusion was that the cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage.” She explained that Na had recently mentioned slightly elevated blood pressure and the need to take medication but showed no other symptoms. “He had no headaches, and his health checkup two years ago showed noSep 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
Ko Hyun-jung praised as ‘lifesaver’ for rescuing child actorActor Ko Hyun-jung has been praised as a “lifesaver” by the mother of a child actor who credited her with saving her son during a drama shoot. Cho Se-woong’s mother recently wrote on social media, “Actor Ko Hyun-jung is Se-woong’s lifesaver.” She recalled that during the filming of SBS drama "Queen Mantis" last year in a seaside village, her son had run excitedly toward the water when an unexpected wave surged. “At that very moment, actor Ko Hyun-jung was the first to rush over like lightning from afar and saved him,” she wrote. “She embraced him, even though her costume was completely soaked.” The mother added that Ko continued to show affection toward her son. “Se-woong adored her afterward, calling her beautiful and angelic, and for a while he even called her ‘mom,’” she said. "Queen Mantis" tells the story of the son of a notorious female serial killer nicknamed “Mantis” who teams up with her son to catch a copycat killer. The second episode, aired on Sept. 6, recorded 7.3 percent viewership in the Seoul metropolitan area, with peak ratings hitting 10 pSep 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
ReviewKo Hyun-jung commands screen with bone-chilling performance in 'Queen Mantis'Veteran actor Ko Hyun-jung, once a symbol of elegance, undergoes a chilling metamorphosis in "Queen Mantis," captivating viewers with her piercing gaze and enigmatic expressions as she embodies a cold-blooded serial killer. In the SBS thriller that premiered Friday, she steps into the role of Jung Yi-shin — a convicted murderer nicknamed the Mantis, who mirrors the predatory instincts of the praying mantis while choosing victims who have abused women or children. This duality makes her a monstrous villain to some, and to others, a twisted symbol of justice. From its very first scenes, Ko's unadorned presence — eschewing both makeup and camera filters — delivers an uncanny, suffocating tension that goes beyond words. The story begins 23 years after Yi-shin is first captured. An investigation into copycat crimes inspired by her past killings leads authorities to seek help from her as she serves her prison sentence. She agreeds to cooperate on two conditions: that the meetings take place not in prison but in a designated residence where she can be confined and that all communicationSep 9, 2025By Park Jin-hai
YouTuber Kwaktube expecting first child, to marry in OctoberPopular travel YouTuber and TV personality Kwaktube (real name Kwak Joon-bin) announced he will marry this October and is also expecting his first child. His agency SM C&C said on Monday, “Kwak Joon-bin is preparing for an October wedding. His bride-to-be is a non-celebrity. The two have built trust and love as a couple and have promised to become lifelong partners.” The agency added that the couple learned of the pregnancy while preparing for the wedding. “A precious new life has come to them like a blessing. As it is still early in the pregnancy, the two are being careful while waiting with gratitude for their new family member,” it said. The wedding will be held privately with family members and close acquaintances. SM C&C asked for warm congratulations, noting, “We thank everyone who always supports Kwak Joon-bin, and he will continue to work hard to show his best through active activities.” Kwaktube previously revealed his relationship on the variety show “Jeon Hyun-moo's Plan” Season 2, where he said his partner is five years younger and known for her beauty and talSep 9, 2025By Hankookilbo
Yoona drives ‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ to new ratings highTvN’s time-slip fantasy “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” has reached a new high, surpassing 15 percent in viewership, fueled by lead star Lim Yoon-a (Yoona of Girls’ Generation). The series topped 11 percent by its fourth episode, while competing dramas such as “Twelve” and “Confidence Man KR” continue to struggle. According to Nielsen Korea, the sixth episode of tvN’s “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty,” which aired on Sept. 7, recorded 13.1 percent viewership in the Seoul metropolitan area and peaked at 15.1 percent. Nationwide, ratings stood at 12.7 percent with a peak of 14.5 percent, setting a new series high. The drama also ranked No. 1 across all networks, including terrestrial broadcasters, in its time slot. The latest episode depicted rising tensions between King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min) and Ming envoy Woo Gon (Kim Hyung-mook). Woo proposed a cooking competition with Ming chefs and those of the Joseon court. Court chef Yeon Ji-yeong (Yoona) responded with delicate macarons, surprising the foreign cooks, and ultimately accepted the challenge. As she searched for ingredientsSep 8, 2025By Hankookilbo
Shinhwa’s Kim Dong-wan says he no longer wants variety show offersKim Dong-wan of boy group Shinhwa has said he hopes to stop receiving invitations to variety shows, explaining that he does not want to share personal stories on air. Kim wrote on his social media on Sept. 5, “I wish variety show offers would stop coming. I have no confidence in being funny, and I don’t want to bring out real stories in front of the public.” He added, “Digging into the past only leaves scars for myself. Can’t I just live quietly, pretending to be happy and successful? I just want to be left alone.” He also left a pointed comment: “If I’ve declined three times with scheduling excuses, please stop. I know you’re probably just following orders from above.” Kim also replied to online questions. Asked what kind of shows he would like to join, he said, “Stage, dramas, home shopping — things where results come in proportion to effort.” When a fan encouraged him for doing well so far, Kim responded, “These days, variety shows seem to want depression, poverty and misery porn.” To another user who said opportunities should go to those waiting for themSep 8, 2025By Hankookilbo
