Uhm Tae-woong returns to public eye after 9-year hiatus following scandalActor Uhm Tae-woong, 51, is officially returning to the spotlight nearly nine years after receiving a fine for solicitation. While he was first forgiven by his wife, ballerina and entertainer Yoon Hye-jin, 45, Uhm now stands at a new crossroads, seeking forgiveness from the public. His comeback will take place through the psychological thriller drama “I Kill U,” directed by Yoo Ha, which has been officially invited to the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). The series has also been reedited into a film version, set to screen at the festival with a guest visit event scheduled for July 9. Yoon expressed her emotional support via Instagram on Saturday. “I often wondered whether this day would ever come. For more than 10 years, I waited in silence, hoping, imagining and at times thinking it might never arrive.” She added that July 9, the day of the guest visit screening, is also her late mother’s birthday — a coincidence she called “deeply meaningful." “I can’t shake the feeling that my mother is watching over us. This is all thanks to everyone who sJun 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Mercy for None’ revives gangster drama abroad amid waning interest at homeThe early 2000s were a golden era for gangster-themed Korean films, but recent years have seen the genre fade from the domestic spotlight. Netflix’s latest series “Mercy for None” seeks to resurrect that gritty tradition, yet its reception in Korea has been lukewarm despite strong performance overseas. Based on a popular webtoon, “Mercy for None” follows Gi-jun (played by So Ji-sub), a former mob enforcer who deliberately crippled himself to escape the underworld. Eleven years later, he returns to unravel the conspiracy behind the death of his younger brother Gi-seok (Lee Joon-hyuk), who had risen to become second-in-command of their former gang. The series premiered June 6 and quickly captured the attention of global audiences. It topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 (non-English TV series) in its second week and ranked in the top 10 across 75 countries, including Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Germany and Switzerland. It claimed the No. 1 spot in nine of them, and holds a perfect 100 percent score at time of writing on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes’ TomatoJun 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
Is it too late for Tving-Wavve merger to unseat Netflix in Korea?In response to the Korea Fair Trade Commission's (FTC) June 10 decision to conditionally approve the merger of Tving and Wavve, experts have offered mixed reactions with some casting doubt on whether the move can seriously unseat Netflix, currently dominating Korea’s streaming market. While some see the merger as a strategic move to enhance competitiveness by scaling up, others remain skeptical whether it can challenge Netflix’s dominance in Korea. "The merger feels overdue. Even if it happens now, I question how much impact it will really have. For the merger to be effective, content exclusivity is necessary, but that has already been broken — SBS recently signed a deal with Netflix. There’s no guarantee that MBC or KBS won’t do the same in the future," said Yoo Geon-sik, an adjunct professor at Sungkyunkwan University’s Graduate School of Media and Culture. According to data analysis platform Mobile Index, Tving had 7.16 million monthly active users in May, while Wavve recorded 4.13 million. Their combined user base of 11.28 million still falls short of Netflix’s 14.5 miJun 22, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Kim Sung-kyun on ‘Nine Puzzles’: 'I thought I was destined to play villains'Known for his versatility, Kim Sung-kyun has portrayed everything from chilling antagonists to warm-hearted fathers and gritty detectives. But the actor recently revealed that he once believed villain roles were his destiny. In a recent interview in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Kim shared behind-the-scenes insights from his latest project, the Disney+ original crime thriller "Nine Puzzles." The series follows profiler Ena (Kim Da-mi), the sole witness to a decade-old unsolved murder, and detective Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), who continues to suspect her of the crime. Kim plays Yang Jung-ho, the morally steadfast team leader of the violent crimes unit at Hangang Police Station. Kim said his family, especially his wife, was captivated by the show. “She started watching it casually in the kitchen but got so into it that she moved to the living room to watch more closely,” he recalled. “She kept telling me how much fun she was having.” Kim said he felt grateful to be part of such a compelling project. To portray Yang, Kim was instructed by the director to embody a “priest-like” character, aJun 20, 2025By Hankookilbo
Where Sung Si-kyung, Yutaka Matsushige ate in ‘K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie’Netflix reality show "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie" brings together two celebrated food personalities from Korea and Japan: Korean balladeer and food YouTuber Sung Si-kyung and Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige, best known for his role in the "Solitary Gourmet" series. The show aims to be a cross-cultural "taste exchange project," where the duo explores culinary gems across both countries, sharing not only food but also stories, traditions and the nuances of their respective food cultures. Here are some of those restaurants Sung and Matsushige visited on the show. Chinese restaurant Yang in Tokyo This beloved Chinese restaurant in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, known for its rich flavors and authentic atmosphere, is Matsushige's first pick on the show. Featured in the "Solitary Gourmet" drama series, this spot has been a favorite of the Japanese foodie for over 13 years, introduced as one of his personal go-to places. Run by an owner from Sichuan, China, the restaurant is famous for its spicy, brothless dandan noodles, pan-fried dumplings and hearty side dishes. For more information, visit its @yang.ikebukurJun 19, 2025By Park Jin-hai
'K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie' explores Korean, Japanese food cultures through friendship, flavorWhat happens when Korea’s top foodie meets Japan’s ultimate solo diner? In "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie," now streaming on Netflix, beloved Korean ballad singer Sung Si-kyung teams up with Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige of "Solitary Gourmet" fame for a cross-cultural culinary tour. Hopping between Korea's hidden gems and Japan's nostalgic eateries, the pair share more than just meals — they serve up memories, flavors and laughter. Since its February premiere, the show is winning over viewers in both countries, with Season 2 currently airing. In the latest episodes, Matsushige introduced tonkotsu ramen, the rich pork bone broth noodle dish hailing from Japan’s Fukuoka region, while Sung spotlighted Korea’s own comfort classic — sundae gukbap, a hearty soup made with blood sausage and rice in a savory pork bone broth. “Most food shows stimulate some kind of instinctive desire. They show delicious food and intentionally highlight the sounds to make viewers crave food. But I always hoped it could be something more than that," Kim In-sik, the producer behind the show, said in anJun 19, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Lee Byung-hun teases 'Squid Game' final season, leaves door open for spin-off on Jimmy Fallon showActor Lee Byung-hun hinted at the possibility of a spin-off centered on his character, the Front Man, appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" to promote the third and final season of "Squid Game." "I am not sure about that, but there is a possibility," Lee said on the show that aired Wednesday (local time). "We never know what will happen." Speaking about the series' global popularity, he recalled being stunned by the passionate reaction from American fans to Netflix's Korean original. "It is a Korean story made by a Korean director with Korean actors and in the Korean language, so when I first came to L.A. and New York for promotion, I was so shocked by the fans' reaction," he said. "I was so grateful and proud of it." Then he shared his initial mixed expectations for the series upon reading the script. "It was a very, very interesting story with a very unique structure, but at the same time, it was too experimental. So I thought either it's gonna be a huge hit or a complete flop," he said. Discussing his character, Lee recounted his family's reaction to the secrecy surroundJun 19, 2025By Yonhap
Korean noir 'Mercy For None' tops Netflix's non-English series chartThe action noir "Mercy For None" claimed the top spot on Netflix's global non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. The series garnered 7.6 million views for the week ending on Sunday, far outperforming the runner-up, "Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30,000 Ft." which drew 4.2 million views. Adapted from the hit webtoon "Plaza Wars," "Mercy For None" centers on Ki-jun (So Ji-sub) as he reenters the criminal underworld to avenge the mysterious death of his younger brother Ki-seok (Lee Jun-hyuk). Both the series and the original webtoon share the Korean title "Gwangjang," meaning plaza. The series premiered on June 6. Two other Korean series also landed in the top 10: "Tastefully Yours" at No. 5 and "Our Unwritten Seoul" at No. 6.Jun 18, 2025By Yonhap
‘Our Unwritten Seoul’ becomes a breakout hit among young viewersIn the tvN's drama “Our Unwritten Seoul,” the character Mi-ji, played by Park Bo-young, clings to a simple mantra as she steps back into the world after years of isolation: “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is far away, and today is still unknown.” That line has resonated deeply with young Koreans grappling with uncertainty, past wounds and fears about the future. Once a promising high school athlete, Mi-ji retreats from the world after a career-ending injury, spending three years in isolation. Haunted by past trauma and fearful of the future, she slowly reenters society, drawing strength from her grandmother’s words. Though life remains difficult, Mi-ji begins each morning by reciting the phrase and stepping out the door. Since premiering last month, the drama has seen its viewership more than double, from 3.6 percent to 7.4 percent as of June 15, earning a passionate fanbase and being hailed by many as “drama of a lifetime.” A twin-switch story that goes beyond the cliche The series centers on twin sisters Mi-rae and Mi-ji (both portrayed by Park) who switch lives and slowly uncJun 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
Hwang Jung-eum repays embezzled funds in full, agency saysActor Hwang Jung-eum has fully repaid 4.3 billion won ($3.1 million) to her private company after being accused of embezzlement, her agency said Tuesday. Y.One Entertainment said Hwang used her personal assets to reimburse the total amount she had received from her company, Hunminjeongeum Entertainment, in the form of provisional payments. The repayment was made in two installments, on May 30 and June 5, the agency said. “As of now, all financial matters between Hwang and Hunminjeongeum Entertainment have been resolved,” the agency said. “As the sole owner of the corporation without professional accounting or tax management knowledge, Hwang deeply regrets the situation and is taking all necessary legal and ethical steps to resolve the matter responsibly.” Earlier reports revealed that Hwang had withdrawn 700 million won from the company’s funds, allegedly to invest in cryptocurrency. She is accused of embezzling a total of 4.3 billion won. In a previous statement, Hwang said the funds were technically in the company’s name but had been earned through her personal work, admittJun 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
