Why ‘Squid Game’ pink guard No-eul never lost her humanity"Squid Game" Season 2 and 3 mark the first time the Netflix hit series explores the lives of the masked enforcers known as the pink guards. One such character is Kang No-eul, played by Park Gyu-young, a former North Korean soldier who quietly endures the brutal reality of the game while clinging to the memory of her daughter left behind across the border. If Season 1’s Kang Sae-byeok (played by Jung Ho-yeon) embodied hope, No-eul represents what it looks like to lose it. In a recent interview in Seoul, Park spoke about building the emotionally restrained character and what drove No-eul’s final choices. “No-eul lives in complete despair,” Park said. “I kept her voice low and flat, almost robotic. She doesn’t reveal her emotions easily.” Still, No-eul stands out as the only pink guard who never loses her humanity. She tries to stop organ trafficking within the organization and risks everything to save contestant Park Kyung-seok (played by Lee Jin-wook), who is caring for a child with leukemia. “I think No-eul saw herself in him — that by saving someone else’s daughter,Jul 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewLee Jung-jae praises 'Squid Game' creator for ending series with integrity"Above all, an overwhelming sense comes from undergoing a truly immense experience," Lee Jung-jae said of "Squid Game," the series that catapulted him to global fame. Lee never imagined "Squid Game" would change his life or the world’s perception of Korean drama. Now, as the global hit reaches its dramatic conclusion in Season 3, the Emmy-winning actor reflects on the series’ emotional weight, his character’s final sacrifice and why he admires the director’s decision to end it on his own terms. "For that, I am profoundly grateful and it's undeniable that the outpouring of attention and affection was substantial," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Thursday. In the latest and final season, Lee takes on the role of a man who has lost his friends due to the failure of the rebellion he spearheaded within the deadly game. Consumed by guilt and anger, he becomes despondent — until choosing to sacrifice himself for a baby born during the games. Expressing a tinge of wistfulness at the definitive conclusion, he noted that writer-director Hwang Dong-hyukJul 3, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Park Jin-young reflects on ‘Our Unwritten Seoul’: ‘Some moments felt like magic’Park Jin-young’s portrayal of Lee Ho-su in “Our Unwritten Seoul” is quiet yet deeply resonant, as he inhabited a character shaped as much by silence as by speech. Reflecting on the drama after its finale, Park spoke with calm sincerity, his gaze as steady and reflective as the lake that inspired his character’s name. “There’s a scene where I talk with my mom at our family home,” he recalled. “She kept looking at me and speaking slowly, clearly. I don’t know why, but I felt an overwhelming sadness. It was like a magical moment.” Now in his thirties, Park appears more grounded than in his earlier years. He shared that he rarely checked the monitor while filming. “From the start, I trusted the director’s vision,” he said. “He told me, ‘The less Ho-su reacts, the sadder he becomes.’ And I understood exactly what he meant.” That trust gave him freedom. “I’m not someone who checks the monitor much anyway, and with the director always right beside the camera, there was never really a moment to step away. We’d talk right there on set.” Even in emotionallyJul 3, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Song Ha-yoon files complaint against school bullying accuser, denies all allegationsActor Song Ha-yoon has taken legal action against the original source of online accusations that she committed school violence more than two decades ago. Nearly a year after the allegations surfaced, Song is reaffirming her denial and describing the intense emotional toll the issue has taken on her. Song’s legal representative at law firm Jium released a formal statement on Wednesday, saying the actor has filed a criminal complaint against the individual who first spread the accusations, identified as “A,” for defamation. “From the beginning, Song Ha-yoon has maintained that the allegations related to her school years are not true,” the statement said. “However, proving that something did not happen is inherently difficult, and this made an active response even harder.” According to the firm, Song independently gathered evidence over the past year and submitted materials to authorities. Police determined there was sufficient cause to pursue an investigation, but A, who currently lives in the U.S. and claims to be a U.S. citizen, has consistently refused to cooperate. AuthoritJul 3, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Squid Game’ creator says Leonardo DiCaprio would be his pick for US version“Squid Game” director Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that if a U.S. remake of the hit Netflix series were to happen, he would cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead. In a video released Tuesday on Vanity Fair’s YouTube channel, Hwang appeared alongside cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Kang Ae-sim, Yim Si-wan, Park Sung-hoon and Jo Yu-ri to play a lighthearted quiz game about one another. During the segment, Hwang asked who he would cast as the lead if “Squid Game” were remade in the United States. Lee Byung-hun suggested Adam Sandler, but it was Yim Si-wan who correctly guessed Leonardo DiCaprio. “We had a lot of rumors about him — will he be a cameo and such,” Hwang said, alluding to ongoing fan speculation about DiCaprio’s involvement. Yim followed up by asking whether DiCaprio would be cast as the mysterious Front Man or as a player. Hwang replied, “If he were to do it, I think he would do well as a player. Lately he’s gotten good at loser roles like Gi-hun’s.” The director also addressed circulating reports from some foreign media that a U.S. spinoff titledJul 2, 2025By Xportsnews
Classic Korean dramas find new life as younger viewers rediscover their charmHit Korean dramas from the past are experiencing a resurgence, capturing the attention of younger audiences who are discovering the appeal of early-2000s storytelling. Titles like “I'm Sorry, I Love You,” “A Gentleman’s Dignity” and “My Lovely Sam Soon” are enjoying renewed popularity through streaming platforms and theatrical releases. Originally aired in 2005, MBC’s “My Lovely Sam Soon” starred Kim Sun-a, Hyun Bin, Jung Ryeo-won and Daniel Henney, all of whom remain household names today. Last year, Korean streaming service Wavve reimagined the 16-episode drama into an eight-episode series titled “My Lovely Sam Soon 2024.” The updated version quickly topped Wavve’s daily chart as the most-watched title by new subscribers on its release day. “I'm Sorry, I Love You,” which first aired on KBS2 in 2004 and featured So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung, also returned last year through Wavve. The updated “I'm Sorry, I Love You 2024” was even screened in theaters by CGV in collaboration with Wavve, drawing a strong reaction from longtime fans. The SBS drama “A GentlemaJul 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Lee Seo-yi dead at 43Actor Lee Seo-yi has died, according to a belated announcement shared by her manager. She was 43. Lee’s manager posted a message through the actor's social media account on Tuesday. “A radiant, beautiful, kind and lovely eonni (older close friend) became a star in the sky on June 20, 2025.” The post served as an obituary for the actor. “As many of you may be shocked and saddened by this sudden news, we ask that you pray for her to go to a peaceful and beautiful place,” the manager added. The cause of death was not disclosed. The news came as a shock to fans, especially as Lee had been active on social media until recently. Fellow actors and industry colleagues have left heartfelt messages expressing sorrow and remembrance. Born in 1982, Lee began her acting career with the 2013 MBC historical drama “Hur Jun, the Original Story” and went on to appear in “Cheongdamdong Scandal,” as well as films including “The King,” and “Killing Romance.” She most recently appeared in the tvN drama “The Divorce Insurance,” which concluded its run in May. This article from the HJul 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Hyeri rumored to be dating dancer Woo-tae, agency ‘unable to confirm’Singer and actor Hyeri is rumored to be in a relationship with dancer Woo-tae, known for his appearance on Mnet’s dance competition show “Street Man Fighter.” “It is difficult to confirm as it concerns the actor’s private life. We ask for your understanding," said an official from Hyeri’s agency, Sublime Artist Agency, Tuesday. Earlier that day, local outlet Mydaily reported that Hyeri and Woo-tae have been dating for over a year after meeting during the filming of the movie “Victory.” Hyeri reportedly received cheerleading choreography lessons from Woo-tae, who worked as a dance coach for the film. The two were later spotted on dates near Seoul, though they are said to have kept the relationship quiet. Hyeri, who debuted as a member of Girl’s Day, gained widespread popularity through the hit drama “Reply 1988” and has since appeared in a string of television dramas and films. Most recently, she starred in the Uplus series “Friendly Rivalry,” which found popularity not only in Korea but also across Chinese-speaking regions. Woo-tae competed as a member of crew MbJul 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
'Squid Game 3' smashes Netflix's charts; entire franchise enters top 10"Squid Game" Season 3 dominated Netflix's weekly charts by a significant margin, the streaming platform said Wednesday. The third and final season of the Korean original show claimed the top spot of Netflix's non-English chart, drawing a staggering 60 million views during the June 23-29 period. The season's viewership was nearly 10 times that of its closest competitor, the Spanish series "Olympo." The latest season's immense popularity also sparked renewed interest in the entire saga. Season 2 and Season 1 entered the chart at No. 3 and No. 6, respectively. The phenomenon wasn't limited to non-English shows. "Squid Game" Season 3's viewership single-handedly surpassed the 34.5 million combined total of all top 10 English-language series. It towered over the leading English show, "The Waterfront," which captured 11.6 million views. The final six episodes, released last Friday, brought the global acclaimed story of Gi-hun and the deadly competition to its dramatic conclusion.Jul 2, 2025By Yonhap
'Law and the City' puts lens on everyday life of attorneysAt a time when trust in Korea’s legal profession is eroding — fueled by criticism on former Prosecutor General-turned-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s “prosecutor republic” politics and his own indictment and trial on charges of insurrection — tvN is set to premiere a drama that offers a look at the lives of lawyers. "Law and the City," premiering Saturday, will portray the triumphs and tribulations of five associate lawyers in Seocho-dong, Seocho District, in southern Seoul, known as the heart of Korea’s legal world. Home to the Supreme Court, high and district courts and top prosecution offices, the area hosts nearly 4,000 lawyers and a network of legal professionals, making it the perfect setting for a drama rooted in the real-life grind. The drama marks actor Lee Jong-suk’s return to the small screen, following a three-year hiatus since "Big Mouth" (2022). Lee described the drama as being about "everyday life and making a living," rather than high-stakes narratives about life and death or fighting evil. "Personally, I enjoy stories about life and death. However, when I thougJul 1, 2025By Park Jin-hai
