Mnet reveals real lineup for dance battle show after teaser controversyMnet has officially unveiled the 10 star choreographers joining its upcoming dance survival series “Street World Fighter: Directors’ War,” following online buzz and controversy surrounding the program’s earlier teaser videos. The new show is the latest expansion of the massively popular “Street Woman Fighter” franchise, which helped ignite a nationwide dance craze and turned choreographers into celebrities. Unlike previous seasons centered on dance crews battling onstage, the new series shifts the spotlight to performance directors — the creators behind K-pop choreography, stage formations and large-scale concert productions. Among the newly confirmed participants are choreographer Nain, who recently drew attention for helping direct choreography for “Golden,” the soundtrack for Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” Also joining the show is renowned global performance director Renan, known for working with aespa, as well as Bada, the leader of the winning crew from “Street Woman Fighter 2” and the choreographer behind the viral “Smoke Challenge” danceMay 20, 2026By Xportsnews
‘We Are All Trying Here’ builds buzz beyond ratingsJTBC’s weekend drama "We Are All Trying Here" is gaining traction through word of mouth and online buzz, rather than rapid plot twists, sensational themes or clips designed to spread on social media. The series follows Hwang Dong-man, played by Koo Kyo-hwan, an aspiring director gripped by jealousy as his friends move ahead in life. Instead of affairs, heavy melodrama or easy emotional hooks, the drama leans into discomfort, moral ambiguity and emotional depth. Written by Park Hae-young, whose previous works include "My Mister" and "My Liberation Notes," and directed by Cha Young-hun of "When the Camellia Blooms" and "Welcome to Samdal-ri," the drama drew attention even before its premiere. Their collaboration brings together two creators known for character-driven storytelling and grounded portraits of ordinary people. The cast also raised expectations. Koo is joined by acclaimed actors Oh Jung-se, Kang Mal-geum and Park Hae-joon. The ratings have shown gradual growth instead of explosive success. According to Nielsen Korea, the drama began at 2.2 percent among cable-subscribed househMay 18, 2026By Hankookilbo
‘Perfect Crown’ faces backlash again over royal history controversyJust one episode before its finale, MBC drama “Perfect Crown” is once again facing heated online criticism in South Korea — this time over royal terminology, ceremonial details and accusations of historical distortion. Episode 11 of the drama aired Friday and featured a dramatic sequence in which Seong Hee-joo, played by IU, risked her life to save Grand Prince Ian, played by Byeon Woo-seok, before he ultimately ascended to the throne. But while the series continued its strong ratings streak, online discussion quickly shifted away from the romance and toward the show’s depiction of royal rituals. One scene drew criticism after royal officials shouted "Cheonse," rather than "Manse," during the coronation ceremony. Some viewers argued that "Cheonse" historically referred to expressions used by tributary states toward an emperor, making its use by a 21st-century constitutional monarchy inappropriate. Others pointed to the king’s ceremonial crown, saying it featured nine bead strings instead of the 12-string design associated with sovereign rulers. Another scene that sparked debateMay 16, 2026By Xportsnews
Why ‘Perfect Crown’ fails to sell its CEO heroineFemale leads in Korean dramas are becoming increasingly diverse in their professions. Moving beyond the once-common “Candy girl” heroine archetype, where a hardworking young woman meets and falls in love with a wealthy benefactor, more dramas now center economically successful women such as CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs and professionals. But “Perfect Crown” leaves room for disappointment precisely at that point. The MBC drama is set in a fictional 21st century constitutional monarchy and follows the romance between a wealthy conglomerate heiress frustrated by her commoner status and a prince who possesses royal blood but lacks freedom and power. In the series, Seong Hui-joo, played by IU, is introduced as the CEO of the nation’s top-ranking conglomerate, also known as a “chaebol.” MBC’s official character description presents her as “the second daughter of Castle Group, the No. 1 business empire,” and as someone with “an exceptional mind and fierce competitiveness.” On the surface, she fits squarely into the recent trend of successful female protagonists. TheMay 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
No smartphones, no scripts: Raw experience becomes new trend in travel variety showsNo advance planning, no phones, and just enough money to get by — just celebrities left clueless about where they are headed, where they will sleep and how they will travel the next day. The rules make traveling painfully difficult, but they also allow genuine experiences to come through on screen. “Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition” is producer Na Yung-suk’s latest return to the unscripted comedy format, almost a decade after the original “Unplanned Trip” series set in Peru, Laos, Iceland and Africa between 2014 and 2016. The show premiered on May 3 on tvN, opening with the series’ long-standing tradition of “kidnapping” celebrities. Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-jun and Choi Woo-shik, while livestreaming on YouTube, are suddenly forced into an impromptu domestic trip and a set of rules: Their phones are confiscated, each person receives a daily budget of 100,000 won ($67) and they must travel to a different city every day. Throughout the trip, the celebrities face one unforeseen event after another. After spending half their daily budget, the three take the train to Daegu, onlyMay 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
InterviewDirector highlights superpowers, ‘B-grade’ humor in ‘The Wonderfools’Following the global phenomenon of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," director Yoo In-sik returns with comic hero series "The Wonderfools." "When choosing a project, I ask myself if it makes my heart flutter or if it's a challenge I haven’t faced yet," Yoo said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Friday. He described the new series as a genre he has "long held close to his heart," revealing that it was actually in development even before "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." "I was overjoyed when it finally came together, but since superhero stories were an unproven gamble in the domestic market when we started, I felt a fair amount of pressure," he admitted. A lifelong fan of adventure classics like "The Goonies" and "Indiana Jones," Yoo’s primary goal was to provide pure entertainment. "I’ve always wanted to create a drama where 'fun' was the absolute priority," he explained. "I hope viewers can just unwind and enjoy the ride, laughing and being surprised. If they can go to bed with a sense of warmth rather than lingering bitterness, then I’ve achieved my goal." Set in 1999, "TMay 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
CJ's role as 'architect of K-culture' spotlighted by CNNA new CNN documentary shines a light on Korean entertainment mogul CJ ENM’s 30-year commitment to culture, examining how the company grew from an early investor into a main builder of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave. The four-part series, titled “K-Everything,” premiered on May 9. Produced and hosted by Korean American actor Daniel Dae Kim and sponsored by Hyundai Motor, the project traces the journey of Korean culture from its roots to its current global standing. In particular, the documentary emphasizes CJ’s foundational role in the film industry, dating back to its 1995 investment in DreamWorks. That move is highlighted as the starting point for a sustainable industrial framework that allowed titles such as director Park Chan-wook’s “Joint Security Area” (2000) and Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” (2019) to reach global audiences. As the Cannes Film Festival is underway, the series revisits CJ’s long-standing relationship with the prestigious event. It credits the company’s unwavering support for filmmakers like director Park, whose “Oldboy” (2003) won the GrandMay 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Cha Eun-woo tax controversy puts new Netflix series to the testNetflix is releasing its highly anticipated series "The Wonderfools" on Friday, but a tax evasion scandal involving one of its stars, Cha Eun-woo, threatens to overshadow the project. The series previously stood as a guaranteed hit, marking the highly anticipated return of actress Park Eun-bin. Now, the production faces a critical test to determine whether the show's inherent quality can survive immense public scrutiny and reputational risk. The narrative follows a group of eccentric townspeople — or misfits — who accidentally acquire superpowers in 1999 and unite to fight a villain. The comic adventure generated significant early attention because it reunites Park with director Yoo In-sik. The duo previously collaborated on the massive global hit "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." Cha's casting also generated significant initial interest. Leveraging a loyal fandom and an ability to consistently generate online buzz, Cha established a solid track record of lead roles. "The Wonderfools" was considered a crucial turning point for the actor as he sought to broaden his acting range beyond hiMay 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Yumi's Cells' concludes 5-year journey of success, character growth"It is dry and tasteless. No matter what I see or experience, I don't feel much excitement." Popular romance novelist Yumi (Kim Go-eun) finds dating tedious and trivial. As her days blur together without any sparks, the cells driving her joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure enter hibernation. Then, her publisher assigns her a new editor, Soon-rok (Kim Jae-won), and vitality returns to Yumi's inner world of cells. Soon-rok’s direct replies and blunt "truth bombs" first awaken her Swearing Cell, triggering a massive swarm of "angry snappers" — a rare, aggressive fish species that appears only when Yumi experiences deep anger. Once her annoyance and embarrassment transition into affection, her Love Cell reclaims its position as the powerful "Prime Cell." Tving drama series "Yumi's Cells," based on the popular webtoon, ended its run on May 5. While the first two seasons, which aired in 2021 and 2022, chronicled her romantic history and her leap from an ordinary office worker to a budding author, the third season returned after a four-year hiatus to capture Yumi's journey as she encounters SoMay 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
'My Royal Nemesis' becomes bold new contender in rom-com genreSBS’ new drama "My Royal Nemesis" centers on Kang Dan-sim, a Joseon-era "villainess" executed by poison who wakes up 300 years later in the body of a struggling actress, Shin Seo-ri. While the premise risked being dismissed as just another derivative time-slip trope, the series has instead debuted as a bold and cheeky romantic comedy. Actress Lim Ji-yeon’s performance is the show's true anchor, as she effortlessly pivots between slapstick comedy and poignant romance to strike a perfect balance of comedy, angst and romantic chemistry. Driven by Lim’s powerhouse performance and a narrative that outpaces the typical fantasy rom-com formula, the show has already captivated audiences. By its second episode, it hit a 5.4 percent nationwide rating, according to Nielsen Korea, and clinched the top spot on Netflix Korea. The drama opens with a haunting sequence: Kang Dan-sim (Lim), a royal concubine branded a villainess, collapses after drinking poison. Her final cry — "My only crime was struggling to survive in a palace where everyone sought my head" — is cut short as a total lunar ecMay 13, 2026By Park Jin-hai
