Yum Jung-ah plays devilish adoption trafficking kingpin in 'The Defects'A dark and gripping new Korean drama that tackles a modern-day illegal adoption ring will start airing Monday evening. "The Defects," a new ENA drama based on the Kakao Webtoon of the same name, which recorded over 51 million views, is an action thriller depicting the desperate survival and revenge of children who were abandoned by their adoptive parents and barely survived at the brink of death. The drama’s premise, an illegal adoption cartel where adoptive parents can buy children and even request refunds if not satisfied, already sparked buzz for its provocative subject matter. Director Oh Ki-hwan said he was drawn to the project because of one haunting line: refund a child. "For example, if you look at Greek mythology, it contains human desires, doesn't it? I felt that the relationships depicted in the original 'The Defects' could tell a broad story about Korean people," Oh said during a press conference for the drama at Stanford Hotel in western Seoul, Monday. Veteran actor Yum Jung-ah plays Kim Se-hee, the de facto leader and villain of an illegal adoption trafficking organizationJul 21, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Ha Jung-woo sparks backlash with ‘aphrodisiac’ comment to fanActor Ha Jung-woo has come under fire for leaving an inappropriate comment in response to a fan’s request on social media. The comment, which has since been deleted, sparked criticism for its suggestive tone. Ha was engaging with fans on Sunday on his social media account when one follower asked him to come up with a nickname. Seemingly referencing the fan’s surname, Choi, the actor replied, “Choieumje,” a word phonetically similar to the Korean term for “aphrodisiac.” The fan responded by saying, “I love you.” However, other users were quick to express discomfort. One person reacted with a surprised “Huh?”, while others began calling out the actor for his poor judgment. “‘Choieumje’ refers to substances that stimulate sexual desire. How could anyone respond to that with ‘I love you’?” one commenter wrote. Others said the actor had clearly crossed a line, criticizing the remark as inappropriate and careless. The original comment is no longer visible, having been deleted by Ha or his team amid growing backlash. Meanwhile, Ha is set to return to television neJul 21, 2025By Hankookilbo
IU wins best actress for ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ at Blue Dragon Series AwardsSinger and actress IU was honored with the Best Actress award at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards for her role in the hit drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” The ceremony took place Friday evening at Paradise City in Incheon, hosted by Jun Hyun-moo and Girls’ Generation’s Yoona. IU, who portrayed both Ae-sun and Geum-myeong in the series, appeared visibly emotional as she took the stage. “I’m IU, who played Ae-sun and Geum-myeong in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines,” she began, adding, “Thank you so much.” She described the drama as a project that has deeply shaped her career: “From the moment I received the offer, through filming, waiting for it to air, and now — ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ has become something I’ll be proud of for the rest of my life. I feel so honored and happy to have worked with this team.” She continued by thanking the drama’s writer Lim Sang-choon, director Kim Won-suk, and everyone listed in the ending credits. “Thanks to them, I was able to truly ‘let loose’ in my life for once. I’m especially grateful they trusJul 19, 2025By Xportsnews
Rowoon postpones military enlistment due to reassessmentActor Rowoon’s upcoming military enlistment has been postponed, his agency FNC Entertainment said. “Rowoon, who was scheduled to enlist as an active-duty soldier on July 21, received a Level 7 result during a conscription physical reassessment conducted by the Military Manpower Administration earlier this month,” the agency said in a statement on Thursday. The Level 7 classification requires a retest. “He immediately submitted an objection request and is scheduled to undergo another physical examination in early August.” FNC added, “Rowoon hopes to be cleared for active duty service without issue and proceed with enlistment as soon as possible. We will provide an update once a new enlistment date is confirmed.” An official from the agency said, “We cannot disclose the reason for the reassessment as it concerns personal medical information. However, we expect the issue raised by the Military Manpower Administration to be resolved quickly and are preparing for enlistment accordingly.” Rowoon debuted in 2016 as a member of the K-pop group SF9. After officially leaving the tJul 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
BTS Jin to return to ‘Please Take Care of My Refrigerator’ after 8 yearsJin of BTS is set to appear on JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator” for the first time in eight years. The upcoming July 20 episode will feature Jin alongside comedian Jo Se-ho, who is currently enjoying newlywed life. Both guests previously appeared on the show in 2017. Jin follows fellow BTS member J-Hope’s recent appearance, continuing the group’s connection to the program. Host Ahn Jung-hwan jokingly said, “At this point, we might as well form a sisterhood with BTS.” The chefs on set expressed excitement at the global star’s visit. Chef Park Eun-young was visibly impressed, while Yoon Nam-no quipped, “I just want to live with Jin’s face for three days,” drawing laughter. Guest chef Edward Lee, making a rare appearance, revealed, “I flew 15 hours just to meet Jin,” adding that his daughter is a devoted BTS fan and that they practiced dance routines together. Jin responded warmly, saying he felt respect for Lee after seeing how much of his life he pours into cooking. Jin’s well-known love for mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) also became a focal point of thJul 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
Jung Woo-sung makes public appearance 8 months after paternity controversyActor Jung Woo-sung, 52, has made his first public appearance in about eight months following a paternity scandal involving a child born out of wedlock. Literary critic Hahm Don-gyun posted a photo of Jung on Instagram on Tuesday, showing the actor smiling while holding a copy of Sasanggye, a revived Korean thought journal. “Jung Woo-sung, who supports the revival of Sasanggye after 55 years and subscribed to the magazine, gives me strength as an editorial board member. Thank you,” Hahm wrote, without further elaboration. Last November, Jung acknowledged he had fathered a child with model Moon Ga-bi, 35. The two met in 2022, and Moon gave birth in March 2023 after becoming pregnant in June of the previous year. A paternity test later confirmed the child as Jung’s. However, reports indicated that the couple experienced conflict over marriage. His agency, Artist Company, said at the time, “The child Moon Ga-bi revealed on social media is indeed Jung Woo-sung’s biological son. The two are currently discussing the best approach to co-parenting. Jung intends to fulfill his responsibJul 18, 2025By Xportsnews
‘Our Movie’ struggles with low viewership despite star power and emotional storylineSBS’s latest weekend drama “Our Movie,” starring Namkoong Min and Jeon Yeo-been, is stuck in the 3 percent ratings range, raising questions about timing, genre appeal and audience engagement. The drama, which centers on a terminally ill aspiring actress and a struggling filmmaker, is finding it hard to gain traction amid fierce competition and seasonal mismatch. According to Nielsen Korea, “Our Movie” debuted with a 4.2 percent nationwide viewership but quickly dropped to 3 percent by its second episode. As of its 10th episode, the show recorded a 3.9 percent rating, still far behind its predecessor “The Haunted Palace,” which consistently held around 9 to 10 percent. Namkoong, known for his previous hit “My Dearest,” has taken to social media to promote the show personally. On June 15, he posted a screenshot of an article titled “'Our Movie' ranks last in ratings,” saying, “Despite the low numbers, I’m confident. Please give it attention until episode 5. If it still doesn’t improve, hold me accountable. It’ll be my responsibility.” The drama follows Lee JaJul 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
Why are contract killers in Korean dramas always Joseonjok?In the JTBC drama “Good Boy,” currently airing, former national athletes turned elite police officers take on a powerful criminal network. Among the villains they confront are members of a violent gang led by Baek Seok-chun (played by Ahn Se-ho), a character depicted as the leader of the “Dongbukhoe” crime syndicate. All the major criminals in the drama are portrayed as ethnic Koreans from China, commonly referred to as "Joseonjok" in Korea. In the Netflix series “Karma,” released in April, another Joseonjok character appears. Jang Gil-ryong, played by Kim Sung-kyun, is depicted as a cold-blooded killer who commits murder for money without remorse. These are just two recent examples of a growing trend in Korean television and streaming content. Characters who are Joseonjok or members of other overseas Korean communities are frequently portrayed as hired killers or violent criminals. This pattern, which had subsided following backlash over the 2017 film “Midnight Runners,” appears to be returning. The resurgence of the "foreign menace" trope, seen in stereotypes of criminJul 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewFrom JYP trainee to rising star, Ahn Hyo-seop has no regrets leaving K-pop for actingAhn Hyo-seop, now widely recognized as one of Korea’s rising stars, has quietly and steadily built his way to the top. Riding the global success of Netflix’s animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" and set to lead the highly anticipated summer blockbuster "Omniscient Reader," the actor is now firmly in the spotlight, but remains grounded. “I took on 'KPop Demon Hunters' just because it seemed fun. I never imagined it would become such a hit,” Ahn said in a recent interview at a cafe in Seoul’s Jongno District. “I’m just grateful now, and it’s been bringing good days.” Since his debut in 2015, Ahn has gained global recognition by voicing Jinu, the leader of the grim reaper boy band “Saja Boys,” in “KPop Demon Hunters.” He will return to theaters on July 23 as the lead in "Omniscient Reader," a 30 billion won ($21.5 million) production and one of the most anticipated Korean films of the summer. The movie marks Ahn’s first-ever live-action feature film appearance. Based on the popular web novel of the same name, the story follows Kim Dok-ja, a contract worker whose woJul 17, 2025By Hankookilbo
Shinji tearful over fiance controversy: ‘I’m scared it might hurt Koyote’Shinji of the long-running co-ed group Koyote has opened up about the recent controversy surrounding her fiance Moon Won, expressing fears that it could negatively affect the group and sharing her gratitude to fellow members for their support. Appearing on the July 16 episode of tvN’s variety show "You Quiz on the Block," Shinji joined Koyote bandmates Kim Jong-min and Bbaek Ga to talk about their 27-year career together. Shinji recently faced public backlash over various allegations involving her fiance. Reflecting on her upcoming marriage, Shinji said, “It must have been upsetting for the others, because the story took a negative turn. For me, Koyote is family. Koyote is Shinji, and Shinji is Koyote. We’re naturally connected now.” She grew emotional and paused for a moment before continuing, “I’ve been reading all the comments and reactions. What scares and hurts me most is hearing, ‘Because of you, Koyote is over,’ or ‘You ruined everything.’” She added, “We’re solid, but I worry that the others might get swept up in hate because of me.” She recalled Kim JJul 17, 2025By Hankookilbo
