Review'Better Late Than Single' — why young Koreans skip real life romance for TVA growing number of young Koreans are stepping away from dating altogether — not out of disinterest, but in response to mounting social and economic pressures. In place of their own romantic pursuits, many are turning to the vicarious thrill of watching strangers navigate — and often hilariously stumble through — the very scenarios they themselves are sidestepping. This may be precisely why Netflix's Dating Show "Better Late Than Single" has struck such a chord. By placing so-called "motae-solo" — individuals who have never been in a romantic relationship — at its center, the show offers more than feel-good dating entertainment. Far from being a lighthearted dating program, the show opens a rare and candid window into the emotional isolation and relationship anxiety experienced by many young Koreans today. It follows participants who have never dated as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of romance, mirroring the paradox many young Koreans feel today — longing for connection while wrestling with the cultural, economic and emotional barriers that make it so elusive. The show hAug 13, 2025By Kim Min-ji
Divorce rumors prompt denials from Park Tam-hee, Kim Nam-joo and other starsSeveral Korean celebrities are speaking out against unfounded divorce rumors, expressing frustration over the spread of false information. Actors Park Tam-hee, Nam Bo-ra, Kim Nam-joo and Son Dam-bi have all addressed speculation about their private lives, making it clear the claims are untrue. Park appeared on actor Ryu Jin’s YouTube channel on Monday, where she lamented the persistent gossip. “There are so many false rumors about me. It’s really unfair,” she said. When Ryu mentioned hearing talk of her supposed divorce, Park replied, “That’s why I’m active on social media. People misunderstand so much.” Nam Bo-ra also refuted divorce speculation on Aug. 4 through her social media. “I heard there are divorce rumors about us, but a rumor is just a rumor,” she said. On the same day, she uploaded a YouTube video titled “I didn’t know marriage could be this good. Nam Bo-ra’s newlywed life,” showing her enjoying daily life with her husband. Kim Nam-joo addressed the topic in July on an SBS program. “Celebrity couples always have divorce rumors,” she said, beforeAug 13, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘My Troublesome Star’ reunites Uhm Jung-hwa, Song Seung-heon after a decadeActors Uhm Jung-hwa and Song Seung-heon are teaming up again for the first time in 10 years since the film “Wonderful Nightmare” with new ENA series “My Troublesome Star.” The pair said they had a great time working together, while director Choi Young-hoon called the casting “miraculous.” Song even predicted the drama could surpass the network’s biggest hit, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.” At the show’s press conference held Aug. 12 at D-Cube City in Seoul’s Guro District, Uhm, Song, Lee El, Oh Dae-hwan and director Choi gathered to introduce the Genie TV original series. “My Troublesome Star” follows Korea’s top celebrity who suddenly returns as an ordinary middle-aged woman. Choi, known for “One the Woman” and “Good Casting,” teamed up with writer Park Ji-ha, who penned “Miss Night and Day.” Uhm said she was drawn to the script from the start. “Filming was pure joy. I’m waiting for the broadcast with excitement,” she said, adding that she often imagined herself in the shoes of her character, Bong Cheong-ja. Song echoed the sentiment, calling iAug 13, 2025By Hankookilbo
Why Ko Jun launched a YouTube channel despite oppositionActor Ko Jun, known for his presence in films and dramas, has stepped into a new role off camera by launching a YouTube channel called “Peeping,” which he describes as a “self-sustaining platform for actors.” While the name implies “peeking at the world,” Ko says the aim is less about curiosity and more about solidarity. In a recent interview, Ko introduced himself as “a person who graduated from a film department and loves movies deeply,” sharing stories from his life and his philosophy on acting. Ko once ran an acting academy with more than 150 students, discovering and nurturing aspiring actors, some of whom went on to find fame. But disputes and misunderstandings that arose during his absence from filming left him disillusioned, eventually leading to the academy’s closure. Now, he has gathered actors again — this time online — to give them a stage for their talents. “People told me to stop, to mind my own business,” Ko said. “But I think I’m destined to help others. I just can’t walk away.” Recalling his early years, when he received no help while stAug 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
Son Yeon-jae’s YouTube channel back online after wrongful takedownThe YouTube channel of former rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae has been restored after it was mistakenly deleted. The channel’s production team said on Tuesday, “On the afternoon of Aug. 11, our channel was suddenly deleted.” They immediately filed an appeal with YouTube and went through a review process. “We received official confirmation that there was no violation of the community guidelines, and the channel has been fully restored,” the team said. “We sincerely apologize for the concern and inconvenience caused.” They also shared a statement from YouTube, which said, “Upon review, we confirmed the channel did not violate the community guidelines. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this error and thank you for alerting us to the incorrect action.” Son’s channel was suddenly deleted on Monday, with a notice displayed on the main page stating it had been removed for violating YouTube’s community guidelines. The deletion sparked speculation until the production team clarified the situation. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea TAug 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
Korean rock legend Kim Tae-won gushes over model-like son-in-law who ‘turns heads in America’Kim Tae-won, guitarist of the rock band Boohwal, couldn’t hide his pride over his soon-to-be son-in-law Devin’s striking looks. On Aug. 10, TV Chosun’s YouTube channel released a preview clip of the reality show “Lovers of Joseon” titled “Devin… I’m coming to meet you now!” In the video, the conversation turns to Kim’s daughter’s fiance, whom he has yet to meet in person. Fellow Boohwal member Park Wan-kyu said he saw Devin last year and described him as “probably the best-looking foreigner I’ve ever met in person,” praising not only his model-like appearance but also his kind demeanor. Member Choi Woo-je added, “He’s really like a model. I was shocked.” Kim joked about his daughter’s enthusiasm for Devin’s looks, saying, “Seo-hyun said even Americans turn their heads to look at him. I guess it’s a good thing — maybe she felt regret because her dad isn’t particularly handsome.” He added that Devin is “Seohyun’s ideal type.” Kim’s daughter is set to wed in the U.S. due to her future mother-in-law’s health condition, which preventsAug 11, 2025By Xportsnews
Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 dives into family dynamicsDirector Tim Burton, known for his unique dark-fantasy aesthetic, revealed that the new season of Netflix series "Wednesday" dives deeper into the family dynamics of the Addams household. "This season, we delve a bit more into the family relationships," Burton said during a press conference in Seoul Monday. "Everybody's got a weird family and this one is no different. So we just explore the mother-daughter [dynamics] and Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her mother and Wednesday. The family dynamic is a bit richer." After its 2022 premiere on Netflix, "Wednesday" quickly became a global hit, setting a record with over 1.7 billion hours viewed to become the most-watched English-language TV series on the platform. The show follows Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates her time at the supernatural Nevermore Academy, investigating a series of gruesome murders while mastering her emerging psychic abilities. The show's massive success led to a second season, with the first four episodes of the new season unveiled on Aug. 6. Ortega, who stars as the titular character Wednesday, alsoAug 11, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Revenge, affairs and fast twists: Inside Korea’s 2-minute drama boomA high school rooftop assault 15 years ago sets the stage for revenge in Tving’s new short-form drama, “Shut Up, You’re the Villain of my Work.” In the series, Seo-yeon, now a top TV writer, casts her former bully Hye-ji as the lead in a drama based on their real-life past, using the places she endured abuse as shooting locations and a script that mirrors the violence she endured. Each episode is just 2 minutes long, with twists and new conflicts keeping viewers hooked. As audiences increasingly value “time efficiency” in entertainment, Korea’s short-form drama market is expanding rapidly. On Aug. 4, Tving launched its first “Tving Short Originals” lineup, debuting “Shut Up, You’re the Villain of my Work” alongside “The Killer Next Door,” a 60-episode, 2-minutes-per-episode series about a hitman who fears guns and knives and a former baseball player who becomes his unlikely partner. On Aug. 18, the platform will add “I Will Repay Infidelity with Infidelity,” about a woman betrayed by her husband and friend, and the teen coming-of-age drama “Me, Me andAug 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Si-young apologizes after controversy over behavior at US restaurantActor Lee Si-young has issued an apology after drawing criticism for alleged discourteous behavior at a restaurant. Lee wrote on her social media on Sunday, “I always try to make sure there is nothing wrong when I upload photos or videos to my feed, but it seems I still make mistakes. I am sorry to those who felt uncomfortable because of the recent video. I will be more careful in the future.” The controversy arose after Lee posted photos and videos of herself at a restaurant in the United States. In the video, other diners’ faces were shown without mosaics, and Lee’s son was seen dancing while eating. One foreign woman appeared visibly displeased, prompting online criticism that she had embarrassed the nation and neglected her young child. The footage has since been deleted. Lee married an older businessman in 2017 and gave birth to her first son the following year. News of her divorce surfaced in March, with her agency, Ace Factory, saying the couple was “in the process of divorce by mutual agreement.” Last month, Lee revealed she was pregnant, explaining that she had preparAug 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
Park Na-rae’s solo wedding photos deliver bold message in era of nonmarriageComedian Park Na-rae has sparked conversation with a set of solo wedding photos she recently shared, presenting herself in a wedding gown without a partner. The images go beyond a self-portrait, delivering a striking message about changing attitudes toward marriage in Korea. Posting the photos on her social media, Park wrote, “I fell in love with myself. A collaboration between the bride-to-be and groom-to-be. So what if there’s no partner? I can do it all myself,” expressing pride in her choice. Her performance reflects a progressive life philosophy that a person can celebrate and commemorate their life regardless of marital status. Park is a core member of MBC’s reality show “I Live Alone,” which portrays the daily lives of single people and promotes the diversity and value of single living. While the program initially drew attention for its unique “single life observation” format, many cast members have left the show after marriage, sometimes blurring its identity and reinforcing the perception that single life is only a transitional phase before marriage. In this conteAug 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
