'Love Against Time' winning viewers over after just 2 episodesEight young men and women who put love on hold during life-threatening illnesses have gathered under one roof. What have these individuals, who keenly understand the fragility of life, come to hold most precious? And what kind of love are they dreaming of now? SBS's "Love Against Time," which first aired on Aug. 3, is a dating series trying to find the answers to these questions. Young adults, who received grave diagnoses in the past but have completed active treatment, summon the courage once again to choose love for themselves. Contrary to concerns that the program might alienate viewers in search of a typical reality dating series, it is gaining traction, climbing to No. 7 on Netflix's Korean Top 10 series chart in just two episodes. Universal emotions rather than illness narratives Producer Lee Eun-sol, who directed "Love Against Time," met with the Hankook Ilbo at SBS's headquarters in Yangcheon District, western Seoul, on Aug. 12. She said the premise is rooted in stories from colleagues and an acquaintance. "My team's shared belief that 'liking someone means spending your time on tAug 18, 2026By Hankookilbo
After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TVA noticeable shift is underway in how Korea's top male stars stage their return to the entertainment industry after completing mandatory military service. Increasingly, their chosen comeback venue is not a major TV network, but a global streaming platform. This marks a sharp departure from the well-worn path that once defined how a returning star rebuilt public visibility. Actor Song Kang, who gained global recognition through Netflix's hit series "Sweet Home," leads the current trend. He marks his return with tvN's upcoming series "Four Hands, Two Sonatas," premiering Aug. 29 and streaming globally on Netflix. It is his first acting project since being discharged October 2025, following a nearly two-year hiatus. Ironically, "Four Hands, Two Sonatas" serves as a final project before military enlistment for Lee Jun-young, who co-stars in the series and began his service on July 21. Lee Do-hyun, who remained popular during his military stint thanks to his award-winning role in the 2024 hit film "Exhuma," is also returning through Netflix. He will star in the fantasy series "Grand Galaxy HotAug 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
SBS faces backlash for airing Ha Young's new dramaKorean broadcast network SBS is facing mounting public backlash over its upcoming legal drama "The Long Shot Trial," which stars actor Ha Young amid intense scrutiny over her family's historic ties to the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The series is scheduled to premiere on Feb. 26, 2027, just three days before Korea marks a major national holiday commemorating the 1919 Korean independence demonstrations against Japanese occupation on March 1. Criticism has intensified due to the sensitive timing, as well as the fact that the show is an adaptation of the Japanese television series "Legal V: Ex-lawyer Shoko Takanashi." Commenters have expressed anger over Ha's casting as a righteous lawyer ahead of the patriotic holiday, with online posts widely condemning the family's history and questioning the propriety of her role. "It's so ironic — a family with pro-Japanese royalty roots flexing after stealing Kim Ik-nam’s legacy, whose grandfather worked as a doctor during the human experiments at Sorokdo, and now their kid is playing a righteous lawyer three days before Independence MovementAug 17, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Tired of cookie-cutter revenge thrillers? 'A Shop for Killers' offers a refreshing dose of actionJeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), who lost both of her parents as a child, grew up with her uncle. But when Ji-an is a 21-year-old college student, her uncle dies by suicide. He had always kept her at a distance, and she is so angry that he died suddenly without saying a word that she cannot even cry. Then, immediately after the funeral, the truth about her uncle, Jeong Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook), begins to emerge. Even his occupation was a lie. The agricultural hose shopping website he ran in a rural village was merely a front for "Murderhelp," an online weapons store for assassins. As Ji-an struggles to believe that her uncle was an arms dealer, killers with old scores to settle with Jin-man begin surrounding her home, intent on eliminating her and taking over the store. Season 1 of the Disney+ series "A Shop for Killers," released in 2024, followed Ji-an's struggle for survival while trapped inside her home and surrounded by assassins. She solved a number of mysteries, but the season ended with her uncle returning alive, suggesting that many secrets remained hidden. The series returned with itsAug 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean rom-coms put their faith in cliches — but will they work forever?A protagonist with memory loss. A dicey office love triangle. A chance encounter with a first love and a secret surrounding someone’s birth. Cliche-riddled, old-fashioned romantic comedies are back. After a series of productions loaded with elaborate worldbuilding and heavy atmospheres, broadcasters seem to have decided that trend has run its course and that viewers now need something lighthearted — an unhealthy yet familiar and addictive treat. 'You can't beat the classics' “Our Sticky Love,” which premiered on Netlfix on Aug. 7, might be the most quintessential romantic comedy of the season. The drama revolves around a young man and woman: Go Eun-sae, played by Ha Young, an elite prosecutor who wakes up in a hospital after losing her memory and fingerprints; and Jang Tae-ha, played by Jung Hae-in, a boxing coach who claims to be her boyfriend. Together, they begin a new life in a rural Korean village. Eun-sae’s antagonistic attitude toward Tae-ha, rooted in her deeply suspicious personality, steadily gives way to a phase of denying her attraction to the male lead before theAug 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Ha Young says 'sincerely sorry' over great-grandfather's pro-Japanese pastActor Ha Young apologized Wednesday over allegations surrounding her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, saying she was "sincerely sorry" as his descendant. The actor issued the apology in a handwritten letter posted on her social media account, a day after her agency acknowledged that her great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho (1872-1927) was a member of an organization that allegedly took part in pro-Japanese activities. "I had only partially known about my great-grandfather's life through stories told by my family," she said. "I am ashamed, that despite my ignorance, I had spoken on many occasions about him as a source of family pride." "I believe the fact that I had not known about it cannot be an excuse for disregarding or lightly considering that history. I take that mistake heavily and as a descendant, I am sincerely sorry," the actor said. While appearing on an episode of the KBS talk show "Problem Child in House" last week, Ha Young mentioned how her great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan as she explained that medical prAug 12, 2026By Yonhap
Is that the real Faker? Generative AI replaces live filming in Korean TV showsGenerative artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a routine part of television production in Korea. Moving beyond its previous limits as a preproduction and postproduction tool, the technology has rapidly emerged as a core creative element, whether by replacing expensive filming entirely or by serving as the central premise of entire programs. Disney+ released murder-mystery game show "Murder Club: Liar's Table" on July 29. The series assigns cast members unique characters and backgrounds to outmaneuver one another and identify a murder suspect. While resembling "Crime Scene," widely regarded in Korea as an early interactive murder mystery, the new program sets itself apart by using generative AI. It turns the cast members' alibis and crime scenes into video sequences to add a new visual dimension to the game, such as professional gamer Faker firing a gun in a prison uniform and travel YouTuber Pani Bottle exiled as a Joseon-era nobleman. AI is also becoming the premise of entertainment formats. SBS will premiere "My AI Partner: Giian Romance" on Aug. 20. In this dating reality show,Aug 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Cha Eun-woo cast in 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' spinoffK-pop boy group ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun-woo is joining a spinoff of the popular series "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty." Lim Yoon-a and Lee Chae-min, who starred in the original series, will not return for the spinoff, which is set in the same universe. According to sources contacted by The Hankook Ilbo Tuesday, Cha has been cast as the male lead. He replaces Lee, who starred in the original series and gained popularity in Korea and overseas. Despite being set in the same universe as the original series, the new drama will feature a different title and story, with talks ongoing to show it on tvN. "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," which aired in 2025, follows a chef at the peak of her culinary career who travels back in time and encounters a tyrant king with an extraordinary palate. Lee and Lim starred, and the drama was a hit with a nationwide viewership rating of 17.1 percent according to Nielsen Korea. The series was also released globally on Netflix, entering the Global Top 10 chart during its first week of release. It subsequently ranked second for two consecutive weeks before climbinAug 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Actor Ha Young apologizes over great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activitiesActor Ha Young issued a public apology following mounting controversy over her great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities during colonial rule, which lasted from 1910-45. On Tuesday, her agency Bistus Entertainment released a statement on behalf of the actor, whose real name is Ahn Ha-young, expressing deep regret for her initial denial and previous on-air remarks about her family. "Regarding our earlier statement claiming the allegations were 'groundless,' secondary verification confirmed that the name of her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, does indeed appear on the 1916 counselor roster of the Daejeong Friendship Association," the agency said. "Ha Young has a heavy heart from unintentionally causing controversy, and we sincerely apologize for causing confusion by dismissing the claims without a thorough investigation." The controversy erupted after Ha appeared on a KBS talk show on Aug. 7, where she spoke proudly of her family's background in the medical field. During the show, she said her great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan, opened the nation’s first private WestAug 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Netflix drops US 'Squid Game' spinoff 'Heckler'Netflix reportedly halted production on the American version of its hit drama series "Squid Game," which originated in Korea and became a global phenomenon. U.S. entertainment outlets, including The Playlist, said Netflix scrapped plans to produce "Heckler" (working title), an American spinoff project of "Squid Game" that it had pursued for years. Hollywood director David Fincher, who helmed films such as "Se7en," "Fight Club," "Zodiac" and "Gone Girl," was attached to direct the project, with Dennis Kelly, creator and writer of the British series "Utopia," set to write the script. Although planned as an American adaptation, Netflix scheduled production and filming in the U.K. during a period of strong Hollywood interest in U.S. versions of major Korean titles. However, corporate priorities shifted following executive leadership changes within Netflix and years of slow development. Momentum slowed as Fincher turned his attention to producing other works, including the feature film "The Adventures of Cliff Booth." Netflix now appears more interested in developing versions tailored to intAug 10, 2026By Hankookilbo
