Can ‘Nine Puzzles’ rescue Disney+ from slump?Disney+ is pinning its hopes on the crime thriller “Nine Puzzles” as its recent slate of original content struggles to gain momentum. The show, directed by renowned filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin, has begun to generate word-of-mouth buzz following a slow start, potentially offering a much-needed bright spot for the streaming platform after the shelving of “Knock Off,” a high-profile project starring Kim Soo-hyun. Released May 21, “Nine Puzzles” follows profiler Ena (played by Kim Da-mi), the sole witness to an unsolved murder a decade ago, and detective Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), who remains suspicious of her. Together, they investigate a new string of serial killings in this tightly constructed and immersive mystery thriller. Yoon, best known for directing films such as “Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time” and “Narco-Saints,” blends heightened realism with stylized characters and a distinctly graphic-novel-like world. In “Nine Puzzles,” he leans into a surreal tone while emphasizing unique character traits to create a layered and emotional narrative. Much of the drama unfolds thJun 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Park Bo-gum unleashes fierce action in ‘Good Boy’Park Bo-gum, who sparked a cultural craze earlier this year through the hit series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," returns with a dramatic transformation in JTBC’s new comic action series "Good Boy." Shedding his previous image, Park now plays a justice-driven rookie officer who delivers swift retribution in a punchy and satisfying narrative. Premiering Saturday, "Good Boy" follows a group of former national athletes who are fast-tracked into the police force. Swapping medals for badges, they take on a society rife with corruption and unfairness. The series is directed by Shim Na-yeon ("Beyond Evil," "The Good Bad Mother") and written by Lee Dae-il ("Life on Mars," "Chief of Staff"). Park plays Yoon Dong-joo, a former Olympic gold medalist in boxing turned police officer. Kim So-hyun stars as Ji Han-na, a former sharpshooting champion, while Lee Sang-yi plays fencer-turned-detective Kim Jong-hyun. The first episode dives into the personal struggles that pushed each athlete to join the force. Dong-joo, once a national hero, is demoted to patrol officer after a clash with colleagues, anJun 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Squid Game’ Season 3 trailer teases deadlier games with shocking twistsNetflix has released the main trailer and second batch of stills for Season 3 of its global hit series “Squid Game” on Sunday, intensifying fan anticipation ahead of its June 27 premiere. The upcoming season continues the story of Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who reenters the deadly competition with a personal motive but ends up losing his closest friend. The narrative also follows the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who infiltrated the game in disguise, and the final fates of the remaining players who have endured the gruesome contest. The trailer opens with an eerie rendition of a familiar Korean children’s song, “Knock Knock, Who’s There? It’s a Kid,” setting a sinister tone. It then cuts to the terrifying sight of Young-hee, the iconic giant animatronic doll, now joined by a towering new version clad in floral tights, as frightened contestants brace for the next challenge. The unsettling transformation of childlike elements into tools of horror remains a signature of the franchise. Gi-hun’s anguished outburst — “Why didn’t you just kill me? Why was I the only oneJun 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
K-drama ‘Tastefully Yours’ breaks records on Netflix — here’s why fans love it“Tastefully Yours” from Genie TV has claimed the No. 1 spot on Netflix in 23 countries, a remarkable feat that has outpaced the likes of “Resident Playbook” and “More Beautiful Than Heaven” during its run. Despite its seemingly simple premise — a love story set in a small Korean restaurant — the show’s blend of humor, heart and culinary storytelling has ignited word-of-mouth buzz both in Korea and abroad. The drama, co-produced by Genie TV and ENA, centers on a corporate heir-turned-restaurant owner and a chef who runs a tiny one-table eatery hidden in the alleys of Jeonju Hanok Village. Their relationship unfolds as a battle of wills and a journey of growth. The series premiered on May 12 and has been gaining momentum ever since. According to Nielsen Korea, the show’s viewership climbed from two percent for its premiere to 3.1 percent by its third episode. Online viewers have praised the show as “a heartwarming story despite its familiar setup,” while others have lauded the lead female character’s warm and generous personality. One viewer said, “This is theMay 31, 2025By Hankookilbo
Park Bo-gum plays boxing medalist-turned-cop in 'Good Boy'Park Bo-gum throws punches in his newest role as a former boxing champion-turned-police officer in JTBC’s weekend drama "Good Boy," premiering Saturday. In this high-energy comic action series, Park leads a group of elite medalists — ranging from shooting and wrestling to discus and fencing — who are specially recruited into law enforcement. Together, they form a justice-driven “Avengers”-like team, taking down crime with both brains and brawn. Departing from his softer, heartthrob image seen in the recent Netflix sensation "When Life Gives You Tangerines," Park threw himself into performing with intense physicality and comedic timing for a genre he calls “a completely new start.” Park has been seeking fresh challenges since completing his mandatory military service in 2022, and the action-heavy drama "Good Boy" is one of them. Now 31, the actor said turning 30 gave him the push to pursue bolder choices. "I had a strong desire to try everything I want while I still can. If I had been building my filmography step by step until now, I now wanted to at least speed-walk, if notMay 29, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Choi Min-sik to lead Netflix psychological drama ‘Notes from the Last Row’Veteran actor Choi Min-sik will star in Netflix’s forthcoming series “Notes from the Last Row,” raising expectations for the psychological drama set to debut on the global streaming platform. Netflix said Thursday that Choi, whose recent performance in the 2024 movie “Exhuma” reaffirmed his box office power, will play Heo Mun-oh, a literature professor and failed writer with deep-seated insecurities. The series is an adaptation of the Spanish play “El Chico de la ultima fila,” which has been praised for its psychological depth and suspenseful narrative. The story centers on Heo, whose life is turned upside down when he encounters Lee Kang (Choi Hyun-wook), a gifted student with a special talent for writing. The professor’s growing obsession with Lee’s work leads to tension between the two. He is joined by cast members Choi Hyun-wook, Huh Joon-ho, Jin Kyung and internationally recognized star Kim Yun-jin. Choi Hyun-wook, notable for standout roles in “Weak Hero Class 1” (2022) and “Twenty Five Twenty One” (2022), will portray Lee Kang, a reserved engineering studMay 29, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Go Min-si pulls out of event amid school bullying allegationsActor Go Min-si has withdrawn from a scheduled promotional appearance amid growing allegations of past school bullying, though her agency denied the cancellation was directly due to the controversy. An official from her agency Mystic Story said on Wednesday, “Her decision not to attend is not because of the school bullying claims. We agreed with the organizers that it would be best to avoid causing disruption to the event.” Go had been slated to attend a brand photo call on the same day, but after internal discussions, the decision was made for her not to participate, according to the agency. “We were concerned that the intent of the event could be overshadowed by the current situation,” the official said. The actress recently faced accusations of school bullying after a post circulated online alleging that an unnamed actress — later speculated to be Go — had committed acts including extortion, verbal abuse and mockery and threats directed at a disabled classmate. Mystic Story responded swiftly, calling the allegations “entirely groundless and false.” The agency added thaMay 29, 2025By Hankookilbo
Netflix looking into alleged mistreatment of extras on set of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’Netflix is investigating allegations of mistreatment on the set of its original Korean series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” after a series of online posts accused production staff of abusing and neglecting extras and older cast members during filming. “We are currently reviewing the facts surrounding the incident,” a Netflix spokesperson said on Wednesday. “Netflix continues to work with its production partners in Korea to foster a better working environment and will closely review the situation to prevent similar occurrences in the future.” The controversy erupted when an anonymous post surfaced online claiming that staff forced cast members to get haircuts and failed to provide even basic support during winter filming. The writer claimed the drama was “infamous among extras as a schedule to avoid,” describing it as a production that cut corners by minimizing expenses on non-leading cast members. “They didn’t even want to spend on the participants unless they were main actors,” the post read. “Even in the dead of winter, elderly extras were left hungry and unMay 29, 2025By Hankookilbo
'ONE: High School Heroes' is action series with emotional depthFollowing the success of the hit school action series "Weak Hero," Wavve returns with another standout entry in the genre: "ONE: High School Heroes." Adapted from Lee Eun-jae’s webtoon "ONE," which has amassed over 65 million views, the drama centers on a top student with natural fighting prowess, who is tormented by relentless pressure from his father, and his classmate, a mysterious transfer student who is eager to exploit his friend's abilities. Together, the boys don masks and form the "High School Heroes," channeling their pent-up rage to upend the school’s violent hierarchy in a gripping, action-packed school drama. Lee Seong-tae, known for films like "Derailed" (2016) and "By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture" (2019), is making his TV directing debut with this series. "We followed the theme of the original webtoon, so we don't just stop at a one-dimensional portrayal of school violence. This drama also delves deeply into layers of violence, such as domestic abuse and societal pressure that values academic achievement above all else. I believe we can deliver a profound emotMay 28, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Actors Jung Joon-won, Kang Seung-hyun deny dating rumorsActor Jung Joon-won, 37, and model-turned-actress Kang Seung-hyun (also known as Hyoni Kang), 36, have denied rumors of a romantic relationship after speculation surfaced online. Posts circulated on online communities alleging the two were in a relationship on Tuesday, citing similar outfits and photos seemingly taken at the same locations shared on their respective social media accounts. In response, Jung’s agency Alien Company told local media, “Jung Joon-won and Kang Seung-hyun became friends while working together on the film ‘Believer.’ They are just close friends.” Kang’s agency, Kang Entertainment, echoed the denial, stating, “They’ve been longtime friends, but the dating rumors are not true.” Jung recently gained popularity through his role as resident Koo Do-won in the tvN drama “Resident Playbook.” Kang, who debuted as a model in 2008, has since expanded her career into acting. The two co-starred in the 2018 crime film “Believer.” This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited byMay 28, 2025By Hankookilbo
