Park Bo-gum sells out fan meeting in Japan, kicks off Asia tourActor Park Bo-gum has officially launched his solo fan meeting tour with a sold-out two-day event in Japan, drawing over 20,000 fans to Yokohama Pia Arena on July 26 and 27. Titled “Be With You,” the tour reflects Park’s message of always staying close to his fans. The actor will continue the tour across Asia, with stops in Seoul, Singapore, Kaohsiung, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Appearing on stage to thunderous applause, Park greeted fans in fluent Japanese and immediately connected with the audience through casual talk and personal updates. He also discussed his recent projects, including the hit drama “Good Boy.” A surprise highlight of the Yokohama shows was the unexpected appearance of his “Good Boy” co-stars Kim So-hyun and Lee Sang-yi, who joined Park onstage on different days. The three actors shared behind-the-scenes stories and memorable moments from filming, delighting the audience. The fan meeting also featured interactive segments where Park granted fans’ wishes and engaged directly with individuals in the crowd. He expressed deep grJul 30, 2025By Hankookilbo
School shooter in ‘Trigger’ revealed to be comedian Lee Kyung-sil’s son Son Bo-seungSon Bo-seung, the son of comedian Lee Kyung-sil, is earning attention for his striking performance in the Netflix series “Trigger,” where he portrays a school shooting suspect in a society unraveling under the weight of illegal firearms. “Trigger,” a dystopian gun-disaster action thriller starring Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang, unfolds in a Korea plagued by the mysterious spread of untraceable firearms and a surge in gun-related violence. The series follows two men who take up arms for different reasons amid mounting chaos. In the series, Son plays Seo Young-dong, a victim of school bullying who descends into darkness and unleashes a shooting spree. Starting off as a quiet, innocent figure, Son transitions with chilling precision into a hardened, emotionally scarred youth holding a gun. His performance leaves a lasting impression on viewers from episodes 2 through 7. His mother, Lee Kyung-sil, acknowledged her son’s performance on social media, writing, “That’s Bo-seung in ‘Trigger’ on Netflix. He appears from episodes 2 to 7. He’s doing pretty well.” Online audienJul 30, 2025By Xportsnews
InterviewKim Nam-gil says 'Trigger' is about people, not gunsNetflix series "Trigger," which was released Friday, is a gun disaster action thriller that tells the story of two men who take up arms for their own reasons amid a continuous stream of gun incidents and the delivery of illegal firearms from unknown sources in Korea, a country widely perceived as being gun-free. With its release coming just days after a rare and shocking shooting in Korea involving a man in his 60s who killed his son with a homemade gun on July 20, the story presented by "Trigger" became highly timely, to the point where it can no longer be dismissed as unrealistic. Lead actor Kim Nam-gil was surprised and felt very sorry for the victims when he heard the news of the real-life shooting. "I only learned about the incident through the news and since I don't know the full circumstances, it's hard to say anything definitive. However, I was surprised that such an incident occurred in our country. I thought this only happened in other countries," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Tuesday. "As a real-life incident occurred, my attitude towarJul 29, 2025By Park Jin-hai
‘Law and the City’ proves quiet dramas can travel, tooThe new tvN series “Law and the City” is showing that Korean dramas don’t need high-stakes crime or sweeping romance to win over audiences at home or abroad. Premiering July 5, the drama follows five young associate lawyers navigating the daily grind in Seoul’s Seocho-dong legal district. With its understated tone and slice-of-life storytelling, the show has steadily built momentum, posting national ratings in the 6 percent range and topping its time slot across cable and satellite networks. What’s more surprising is its international appeal. On global streaming platform Rakuten Viki, the show ranked in the top five in the U.S., Brazil, France, the UAE and India. In Japan, it placed No. 2 in the drama category and No. 6 overall on the major U-Next platform, while topping the Korean drama chart on Taiwan’s iQIYI and ranking seventh among all dramas. In Southeast Asia, tvN Asia reported No. 1 rankings for its timeslot in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Breaking out of the romance-and-thriller mold K-content’s global rise has largely been driven by big-genreJul 29, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Si-young shares joyful NYC trip with son, reveals pregnancy news to himActor Lee Si-young has shared a glimpse into her New York vacation with her son and revealed that she has informed him of her pregnancy. Lee posted several photos and updates on her personal social media account Monday, writing, “We toured New York all day — visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Madison Square Park, had an amazing limousine tour through Brooklyn and Greenwich Village.” She added, “Touched the Charging Bull at Wall Street, had pizza while gazing at the Manhattan view from DUMBO, toured NBC, and even went to Battery Park. It was such a full, perfect day.” The photos show Lee smiling alongside her son, radiating happiness during their travels. A slight baby bump was visible, subtly confirming her pregnancy. In one caption, she wrote, “Jeong-yoon has been so happy lately. So have I! Thank you so much. He says he’ll take care of everything once his little sibling arrives.” The post garnered particular attention as it revealed that Lee had shared the pregnancy news directly with her son. Earlier this month, Lee publicly revealed that she became pregnant with her secJul 29, 2025By Xportsnews
What’s pulling viewers into stories of ‘never-dated’ singlesNetflix’s reality dating show “Better Late than Single” has struck a chord with global audiences by capturing the raw, heartfelt journeys of ten adults in their twenties and thirties who have never dated before. Since its debut on July 8, the series has quickly gained popularity, landing in Netflix’s Global Top 10 (non-English TV category) for two consecutive weeks and hitting No. 1 in Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Its success lies in its emotional authenticity, thoughtful production and clever use of mentors, offering a refreshing contrast to the more sensationalistic formulas of typical dating shows. At its core, the series celebrates the clumsy but genuine first steps into love. Cast from over 4,000 applicants, the final 10 participants were selected for their desire to change and their readiness to pursue love with sincerity. From awkward small talk to tentative door-knocks and fluttering confessions, their experiences evoke the bittersweet nostalgia of one’s own first love. One standout moment involves a group date at a roller-skating rink. As two female contestanJul 29, 2025By Hankookilbo
Interview'S Line' director depicts world where secret sex lives appear as red linesThe Wavve original drama “S Line,” concluded last Friday, drew much attention immediately upon its debut with its provocative premise — in which a red line connects people who have had sexual relations. The six-part drama, starring Lee Soo-hyuk, Lee Da-hee and K-pop girl group Oh My Girl member Arin, depicts the conflicts and desires of people after special glasses allowing anyone wearing them to see the once-hidden lines, triggering social chaos. “Being able to see the red line, called S Line in the show, is an expanded concept of the way we get curious about others' private lives while watching TV. Everyone wants to see, but no one wants to be seen,” director Ahn Joo-young said during an interview with The Korea Times at streaming platform Wavve's headquarters in Yeouido, southern Seoul, Monday. Hyun-heup (Arin), a key character in the series, is born with the rare ability to see the secret red threads. After the special glasses emerge, those who obtain them also gain a twisted sense of power, and as they begin using the lenses to satisfy hidden desires, they soon face grimJul 28, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Kim Ji-min tears up at wedding after mother’s message: ‘Sorry I couldn’t give my blessing right away’Comedians Kim Ji-min and Kim Jun-ho tied the knot after three years of dating, and their heartfelt wedding ceremony aired on SBS’s "My Little Old Boy" on Sunday, bringing laughter and tears to viewers and guests alike. From the early morning, the couple prepared for their big day with a mix of excitement and nerves, especially as news of some guests’ absences rolled in. In a light moment, Kim Ji-min teased her now-husband, saying, “Aren’t the congratulatory cash gifts coming in through KakaoPay? Don’t even think about pocketing them. Transfer them to our joint account right now.” When asked if they had argued before the ceremony, Kim Ji-min replied confidently, “We don’t fight before big events,” showing off their steady bond. Kim Jun-ho added, “Didn’t we rehearse in our pajamas the other day? I got teary just hearing the music.” Kim Ji-min then grew emotional, saying, “It’s also because my dad can’t be here,” referring to her late father. The wedding was filled with star-studded guests, including actors Kwon Sang-woo, Yoo Ji-tae, and Jeon In-hwa. Fellow "MyJul 28, 2025By Hankookilbo
China suspected of copying Korean Netflix hit ‘Culinary Class Wars'Controversy is brewing as Tencent Video's new cooking survival show, "Chef of China," is accused of copying the popular Korean Netflix show, "Culinary Class Wars." The claim extends beyond surface-level resemblance in concept or idea. Viewers point out the Chinese program is "nearly identical" to its Korean counterpart in key aspects, including its major concept, set design, the hierarchical casting structure of the competition and even specific production details. "Chef of China," which premiered on July 17, features 16 celebrity chefs alongside 84 aspiring culinary talents, just like "Culinary Class Wars." It even has a structure where a few star chefs compete against a larger number of rookie chefs. These contestants use nicknames instead of real names, and the stage arrangement, with famous chefs observing from a higher vantage point, is almost identical to the Korean program. "Culinary Class Wars" features Korean restaurateur Paik Jong-won and three-star Michelin chef Anh Sung-jae as judges, and prominent chefs such as Choi Hyun-seok and Lu Ching Lai as competitors. Upon its releasJul 25, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Park Soo-jin, wife of Bae Yong-joon, spotted in rare update from HawaiiActor Park Soo-jin, a former member of the girl group Sugar, has shared a rare update from Hawaii, where she currently resides with her husband, actor Bae Yong-joon. Actress Kim Sung-eun posted a photo on social media on Wednesday showing the two friends enjoying a Pilates session together. The caption read, “My workout mate, my bestie ‘Soo,’” expressing her affection for Park. In the photo, Park appears youthful and healthy, maintaining her signature glow. Park married Bae in July 2015 and the couple has a son and a daughter. They relocated to Hawaii in 2022. Her update has drawn attention as she effectively stepped away from the entertainment industry after her marriage. In 2017, Park gave birth to her first child and became embroiled in controversy over alleged preferential treatment at a neonatal intensive care unit. She later issued a handwritten apology and halted public activities. In 2022, speculation about retirement surrounded the couple when Bae’s long-standing official website was put up for sale, fueling rumors that he had no intention of returning to the spotlightJul 25, 2025By Hankookilbo
