Park Yong-woo rediscovers thrill of acting with chilling turn in ‘Hunter with a Scalpel’Veteran actor Park Yong-woo has played countless roles over his 30-year career, but his passion for acting continues to deepen with time. In a recent interview, he described his mindset with striking clarity: “Now, it really feels like the beginning.” His ultimate goal, he said, is to keep acting in ways that never feel stale for the rest of his life. Park, who began acting in 1993 and debuted as part of MBC’s 24th class of contracted talent, has built a career spanning both television and film. Known for his versatility and willingness to take risks, he recently took on one of his boldest roles yet in “Hunter with a Scalpel,” a drama produced by LG Uplus’s STUDIO X+U and currently streaming on Disney+. Playing a psychopathic serial killer, Park deliveres a chilling performance that earned critical praise. Park said he approached the character not from a good-versus-evil binary but from a place of psychological deficiency. “It was a role I had never tried before, and it felt like a chance to explore emotions I hadn’t expressed on screen,” he said. “Though time was tightJul 17, 2025By Hankookilbo
'Squid Game' 3 continues Netflix reign for 3rd week"Squid Game" Season 3 has dominated Netflix's global chart for the third consecutive week, the streaming service said Wednesday. The final season of the Korean original show remained the most-watched non-English series on the platform, drawing 15.9 million views for the July 7-13 period, slowing from the previous week's staggering 46.3 million. The season, premiered on June 27, has sparked renewed interest in its entire franchise, prompting global viewers to revisit the entire saga. The first season landed at No. 5, while the second season claimed the No. 7 spot. Meanwhile, "Squid Game" Season 2, which was released Dec. 26 with a dramatic cliffhanger, was shut out of the 2025 Primetime Emmy nominations announced Tuesday (U.S. time). "Squid Game" Season 1 made history in 2022 by winning six awards out of 14 nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang Dong-hyuk.Jul 16, 2025By Yonhap
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ ripples expand beyond screens to music and merchandiseNetflix’s breakout hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” an animated film about a fictional idol group fighting supernatural forces, is rapidly becoming a global sensation as it climbs music charts, drives merchandise sales, and captivates young audiences worldwide. Eight-year-old Oh, a second-grader in Seoul, has already watched the film more than ten times. Her classmates exchange photocards of the fictional boy band Saja Boys, stick their pictures in school textbooks, and belt out the original soundtrack “Golden” during breaks. The film’s popularity has gone far beyond Korea. Released on Netflix on June 20, it remains the platform’s No. 4 most-watched movie worldwide and ranks No. 2 overall and No. 1 among children's movies in the U.S., according to FlixPatrol. It has also held the top spot in 11 countries, including Korea, for nearly a week. The soundtrack is also making a remarkable run. The hit song “Golden” by in-film K-pop girl group Huntrix climbed to No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart this week, its first time breaking into the top 10 after leaping from No. 81 two weekJul 16, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Min-ho calls film industry slump ‘a heavy burden’ amid screen returnActor Lee Min-ho is making his long-awaited return to the big screen after a decade, starring in the fantasy action blockbuster “Omniscient Reader.” As the film’s July 23 release approaches, Lee said he feels both excitement and a renewed sense of responsibility, especially given the current slump in Korea’s theatrical market. In an interview ahead of the film’s premiere, Lee appeared more vibrant than he did in his last sit-down with the same reporter during the release of “Gangnam 1970” in 2015. At the time, he said he hoped to become an actor “like a book you want to keep for a long time.” A decade later, that goal remains unchanged. “My biggest goal as an actor is still to leave behind silent, indescribable moments, emotional fragments of each era I live through, as a kind of record through film,” he said. Drawn to a lonely, layered character “Omniscient Reader,” based on the wildly popular web novel of the same name, tells the story of Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), the sole reader of a long-running novel who finds the fictional world becoming reality.Jul 15, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Dong-wook returns as unlikely gangster in JTBC’s ‘The Nice Guy’Actor Lee Dong-wook, best known for his roles in genre dramas like “Goblin,” and “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” is taking a turn into more grounded territory with his latest project, “The Nice Guy.” In contrast to his past fantasy and supernatural characters, Lee plays an unglamorous, down-on-his-luck gangster in a heartfelt noir drama that centers on love, dreams and redemption. At a press conference Monday, director Song Hae-sung and cast members including Lee Dong-wook, Lee Sung-kyung, Park Hoon, Oh Na-ra and Ryu Hye-young introduced the new JTBC Friday series. “The Nice Guy” follows Park Seok-chul (Lee Dong-wook), the eldest grandson of a third-generation gangster family who once dreamed of becoming a novelist. Now resigned to a life he never wanted, Seok-chul crosses paths with his first love, aspiring singer Kang Mi-young (Lee Sung-kyung), setting off a journey of emotional reckoning and transformation. Described as an “emotional noir,” the series explores the fierce love and relentless hope of two people striving to reclaim their dreams amid harsh realities. DirectorJul 15, 2025By Hankookilbo
Cha Eun-woo holds farewell fan meeting ahead of military enlistmentSinger and actor Cha Eun-woo met with fans one last time before his upcoming military enlistment, delivering an unforgettable night filled with charm, gratitude and new music. According to his agency Fantagio, Cha held his solo fan meeting titled “THE ROYAL” on Saturday at Kyung Hee University’s Grand Peace Hall in Seoul. Cha presented a series of themed segments and solo performances, giving fans a unique experience. The event featured various challenges that showcased Cha’s five key traits — visual, strength, stamina, multitasking and wit — including a mission where he had to remove sticky notes using only his mouth while hanging from a pull-up bar, and a shooting game while wearing goggles and a bulletproof vest. During the “People’s Petition” segment, Cha responded to fan-submitted questions and performed the “Soda Pop” challenge, based on a song from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters," earning enthusiastic cheers for his performance. He also performed songs from his first solo mini-album “ENTITY,” including the title track “STAY.” Near theJul 15, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Kang Seo-ha dead at 31 after battle with cancerActor Kang Seo-ha died Monday after a battle with cancer. She was 31. A close acquaintance of Kang shared the news on social media, posting a tribute to her. “Eonni (older close friend), I hope you’re happy and pain-free up there. I miss you so much.” The acquaintance described Kang as someone who remained thoughtful and kind even while enduring immense pain. “Even while relying on painkillers, she kept saying she was grateful things weren’t worse. I felt ashamed hearing that,” the post said. “She suffered so much. I hope she finds only happiness now.” Her wake is being held at Room 8 of the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Banpo-dong. Kang made her debut in 2012 in a music video. She went on to appear in a number of TV dramas, including “Assembly,” “The Flower in Prison,” “First Love Again” and “Nobody Knows.” This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.Jul 15, 2025By Hankookilbo
KOCOWA sees rapid growth in Europe, Oceania, shows K-content's potentialKOCOWA, the overseas counterpart of Korean streaming platform Wavve, is reporting strong subscriber growth in Europe and Oceania, underscoring the accelerating global demand for K-content. Operated by Wavve America, the U.S.-based Korean content streamer, KOCOWA recorded an average monthly subscriber increase of 20 percent in Europe and Oceania since its regional launch in April 2024. The platform attributes this growth primarily to the enduring global appeal of K-pop, complemented by a rich library of variety shows featuring Korean idols. Despite competition from established global streaming services and local broadcasters in those markets, KOCOWA says demand for Korean dramas, variety shows and K-pop content continues to grow, reaching new and diverse audiences across Europe and Oceania. Jung Han, CEO of K EnterTech Hub and an adviser to KOCOWA, views the global sensation of the animated series "KPop Demon Hunters" as an example of K-pop's expandability. "The consumption of K-content is directly linked to the popularity of K-pop and we determined there was significant market potential,Jul 14, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Lee Do-hyun’s first Asia fan meeting tour draws enthusiastic responseActor Lee Do-hyun is receiving an outpouring of support as he continues his first-ever Asia fan meeting tour, “2025 Lee Do Hyun Fanmeeting [Re DO HYUN],” which began in Seoul last month. Following the Seoul kickoff, Lee has visited five cities across Asia, including Jakarta, Osaka, Tokyo and Taipei, reconnecting with fans after completing his military service. The tour’s title, “Re DO HYUN,” symbolizes the resumption of his acting career and personal connection with fans after his time away. Lee personally participated in planning the tour, including working on the stage design and song selection. He performed a wide range of covers, such as Lee Seung-yoon’s “Unspoken,” Paul Kim’s “You Remember,” Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” and DAY6’s “Welcome to the Show,” receiving a warm response from audiences. Lee also made a heartfelt effort to speak in local languages at each stop. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you all,” he told fans. “Each show becomes an unforgettable memory. I’m grateful for the chance to talk to you face to face. Let’s meet agJul 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
Han So-hee moved to tears at Bangkok fan meetingActor Han So-hee opened her first-ever world fan meeting tour in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, making cherished memories with fans at Chaengwattana Hall, her agency 9Ato Entertainment said Monday. The event, titled “2025 Han So-hee 1st Fanmeeting World Tour [Xohee Loved Ones],” began with Han appearing in a striking red outfit, echoing her look from the fan meeting’s teaser video. She shared behind-the-scenes stories from the cinematic opening footage, which even included underwater filming. To the delight of the audience, Han delivered special cover performances of Jennie’s “Seoul City” and aespa’s “Whiplash,” showing off her impressive dance skills and captivating the international crowd. She also took time to reflect on her filmography, interact with fan-submitted artwork, and engage in a variety of games with attendees. One lucky fan received a personally prepared gift from Han after winning a game, highlighting her deep appreciation for fans. The emotional highlight came during a surprise video event prepared by fans, which moved Han to tears. “I was deeply toucheJul 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
