Lee Da-in, wife of Lee Seung-gi, publicly rebukes MC Mong over late photo postActor Lee Da-in, wife of singer Lee Seung-gi, has publicly expressed displeasure after rapper MC Mong uploaded a photo of them together more than a year after it was taken. On her social media, Lee posted a screenshot of a news article about MC Mong’s post on Sept. 4 and wrote, “Why would he suddenly upload a photo that is over a year old and stir up noise now?” She also attached the date information from the original image file, which indicated the photo had been taken on July 18 last year, adding, “I really can’t understand.” Earlier that day, MC Mong shared the group photo on his own account with the caption “BAM,” showing himself with Lee Seung-gi, Lee Da-in, her sister Lee Yu-bi and p_Arc Group Chair Cha Ga-won. The post quickly drew attention to the group’s friendship. Lee’s public criticism has sparked curiosity over the rapper’s motive for releasing the image at this time. MC Mong has been the subject of speculation after being sidelined from his role as executive producer at One Hundred, the label he co-founded with Cha. In response, he cited severe depressiSep 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Soo-hyuk’s China fan meeting sparks 'mistreatment' controversyActor Lee Soo-hyuk’s recent fan meeting in Hangzhou, China, has stirred controversy after reports that the event overextended its schedule and left him visibly exhausted. His agency issued a statement expressing regret over what it described as unforeseen circumstances, while pledging full support for the actor’s future activities. “We are deeply grateful to the fans who showed interest in the Lee Soo-hyuk's first fan meeting in Hangzhou," his agency, Saram Entertainment, said on its official social media account on Wednesday. "We believe that every moment shared between artists and fans carries special meaning. We sincerely regret the unforeseen circumstances that occurred during the event.” The agency added, “We will do our best to move in a better direction through this experience and will work closely with related parties to ensure improved preparations for future meetings.” According to reports from the event, Lee had been scheduled for a six-and-a-half-hour autograph signing event, but due to overselling by organizers, it stretched into an exhausting 12-hour session asSep 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Park Tam-hee reveals past cancer battleActor Park Tam-hee has revealed for the first time that she once battled cancer, saying the thought of her children growing up without their mother filled her with fear. Park shared her story on the YouTube channel CBS Renew on Wednesday, recalling her diagnosis and treatment. She said that in 2017, while attending a parents’ gathering, a family medicine professor recommended a checkup. During an event at a kids’ cafe, she received a phone call from the professor with the news. According to Park, in 2017 she attended a parents’ gathering where a family medicine professor recommended she undergo a health checkup. She later took the test and received a phone call from the professor while at a kids’ cafe. Park learned of her cancer diagnosis over the phone. Recalling the moment, she said, “My heart dropped with a thud, as if I were being pulled underground and then pushed back up. I suddenly became a cancer patient in the middle of a kids’ cafe.” “Everyone knows death comes eventually, but when it becomes a reality, it feels very different. It was an indescribable emotion,”Sep 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
Bechdel Day 2025 celebrates K-dramas, films that rewrite rules for female charactersBechdel Day 2025, a two-day event organized by the Directors Guild of Korea to reflect on gender equality representation in Korean media, will take place in Seoul this weekend, coinciding with Korea’s Gender Equality Week, which began Monday and runs until Sunday. Now in its sixth year, the festival honors the legacy of American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose Bechdel Test concept from the 1980s drew attention to the scarcity of women’s narratives and female characters in media. Launched in Korea in 2020, Bechdel Day has expanded into an annual program and awards ceremony evaluating gender representation in Korean films and series. In addition to the test’s original three rules — two named women characters, talking to each other, about something other than a man — Korea’s Bechdel Day introduced four more criteria, including female representation among key production staff and the avoidance of discriminatory portrayals of women and minorities. Each year, based on this framework, the organizers announce the Bechdel Choice 10, the top 10 most gender-equal Korean works. ShiftingSep 4, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Women characters no longer wait to be chosen in K-dramasForget damsels in distress and a focus on love interests. The women dominating K-dramas today are choosing themselves. Bechdel Day 2025 is a festival hosted by the Directors Guild of Korea to raise audience awareness of gender equality and diversity through film and TV. This year's 10 drama selections were chosen from among 102 entries released between June 2024 and May 2025, and reflect a trend for female characters defined not by their relationships with men, but by their own ambitions, relationships and agency. Whether in contemporary thrillers or lavish period dramas, women lead the charge in these media masterpieces. Critic Jung Duk-hyun said, "Of course, romance is still a staple, but increasingly we’re also seeing narratives of ‘womance’ — stories about women’s relationships with each other. Female-centered dramas have always existed, but what has shifted more strongly in recent years is how actively these women choose and live within their own stories.” Yun Suk-jin, cultural critic and professor of Korean language and literature at Chungnam National University, addedSep 4, 2025By Park Jin-hai
How 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty' turned Yoona’s food fairy tale into a hitIn a crowded season of drama premieres, tvN’s “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” is standing out for its rapid rise in popularity. Since its debut on Aug. 23, the series has steadily climbed in viewership and online buzz, driven not only by star power but also by a mix of inventive storytelling and cultural timing. “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” follows a modern-day chef who travels back in time and encounters a ruthless monarch with a refined palate. Originally cast with Park Sung-hoon opposite Im Yoon-ah, also known as Yoona of Girls’ Generation, the production pivoted to Lee Chae-min after Park’s departure over social media controversy. According to Nielsen Korea, the drama opened with a 4.9 percent rating among subscribing households, trailing KBS2’s “Twelve,” which received 8.1 percent for its 11th episode. But momentum shifted quickly and “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” rose to 6.6 percent by its second episode, 7.6 percent for its third and 11.1 percent by the fourth. Industry tracker Good Data Corporation also ranked it the most talked-about TV and streaming drama, withSep 3, 2025By Hankookilbo
Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won make dazzling return with Disney+ espionage romance 'Tempest'The long-awaited Disney+ Korean original series “Tempest,” featuring Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, has at last emerged from behind the curtain, sending ripples of excitement among global drama fans. Led by a dream team of creators, the blockbuster espionage romance marks a comeback for both stars after years away from the small screen — and already stands tall as one of Disney’s tentpole releases in Asian original content for 2025. Front and center in “Tempest” are Jun and Gang, who command every frame with magnetic synergy. Jun, returning to drama for the first time since 2021’s “Jirisan,” and Gang, stepping back onto the small screen after a stunning 21-year absence since “Magic,” both expressed excitement about their joint project. “I wanted to work with Gang Dong-won before it was too late. I’ve long admired his style and, after getting to know him better, became an even bigger fan. Our characters’ chemistry felt especially strong with him as San-ho,” Jun said during a press conference at Seoul’s Four Seasons Hotel Tuesday. Gang returned the praise witSep 2, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Ko Hyun-jung transforms into serial killer in SBS crime thriller ‘Queen Mantis’Actor Ko Hyun-jung will make her TV comeback as a chilling serial killer in SBS’s crime thriller “Queen Mantis,” teaming up with director Byun Young-joo, known for “Helpless” and “Ardor.” The drama, which premieres Friday, has already drawn attention for Ko’s bold transformation and the heavyweight creative team behind it. Byun, acclaimed for her ability to combine gripping storytelling with sharp emotional detail, takes the helm in her first drama project. The script was written by Lee Young-jong, who penned the hit film “12.12: The Day,” which attracted more than 13 million moviegoers. Lee, also credited with works including “Black House,” “Private Eye” and “Flu,” promises a tightly woven story full of shocking twists and reversals. Set more than 20 years after a notorious serial killer known as the “Mantis” was caught, the drama follows a string of copycat murders that force a detective to work with his estranged mother — the very killer he has hated all his life. Ko plays the mother, Jung I-shin, while Jang Dong-yoon takes on the role of her son,Sep 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Park Min-young plays con artist in K-caper series 'Confidence Man KR'Park Min-young, who proved her popularity overseas with last year's "Marry My Husband," is now setting her sights on the global stage, taking on the caper genre with a Korean twist in "Confidence Man KR," Amazon Prime Video’s first original series produced here. Premiering Saturday, the series is a Korean remake of the popular Japanese drama "Confidence Man JP." It casts Park in one of her most dynamic roles yet — Yoon Yi-rang, a brilliant con artist with an IQ of 165, placing her in the top 1 percent of the population. Armed with charisma and wit, Yi-rang leads audiences into a riveting tale of heists and clever trickery. "It's Amazon Prime's first original work in Korea, so I thought this is an opportunity I can't miss," she said during a press conference at Stanford Hotel in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, Monday. "As an actor, I’ve always yearned for roles that are lively, vibrant and dynamic, with plenty of physical action. This role finally allowed me to lead and showcase even more energetic acting than before." Reflecting on her previous works, the 39-year-old contrastedSep 1, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Jin Seon-kyu says wife’s words were biggest compliment after gritty role in ‘Aema’Actor Jin Seon-kyu, who plays the ruthless head of a production company in Netflix’s new series “Aema,” said his wife, actor Park Bo-kyung, gave him what he considers the highest praise for his performance. In an interview at a cafe in Seoul on Friday, Jin reflected on the challenges of portraying Koo Joong-ho, chief of the film production company behind the 1980s box office hit “Madame Aema.” The character is obsessed with commercial success and will use any means necessary, ultimately leaving a strong impression on viewers. “I was curious how audiences would respond while filming. Director Lee Hae-young put so much work into it, so I was hopeful. After the release, hearing people say it was good and entertaining made me feel really happy,” Jin said. Jin recalled that director Lee gave him surprisingly little direction compared to other actors. “He told me Koo Joong-ho should be dirty and nasty, but also sexy and stylish. I said, ‘That sounds very difficult, maybe impossible.’” To achieve the look the director wanted, Jin spent 90 minutes applying layer upon layerSep 1, 2025By Xportsnews
