Humans getting love advice from ghosts?: ‘The Haunted Palace’ delivers unmatched chemistrySBS’ Friday-Saturday drama “The Haunted Palace (Gwigung)” is captivating audiences with the relationships between its human and supernatural characters, earning it the reputation of a “chemistry powerhouse.” Airing its 11th episode on Friday, “The Haunted Palace” follows the story of Yeo-ri, a shaman who refuses her fate as a spirit medium, and Kang Cheol, an imugi (mythical serpent) trapped in the body of Yeo-ri’s first love, Yoon Gap. Together, they face off against a vengeful eight-foot ghost. The fantasy rom-com revolves around possession, identity entanglement and a quest for truth. According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 9 hit a peak rating of 11.4 percent, with national viewership at 10.7 percent and the Seoul capital area at 10.0 percent, breaking the double-digit barrier. The show also led the "2049" demographic (viewers aged 20 to 49) with a 3.1 percent share, ranking first among all programs that day. Episode 10 further heightened anticipation with the blossoming romance between Kang Cheol (Yook Sung-jae) and Yeo-ri (Kim Ji-yeon). The unique narrative, bolstered bMay 21, 2025By Xportsnews
Ryu Jun-yeol, Sol Kyung-gu to star in Netflix thriller ‘The Rat’Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Sol Kyung-gu have been confirmed as leads in Netflix’s upcoming thriller series “The Rat,” the streaming platform said Wednesday. Based on a Kakao webtoon of the same name and inspired by a Korean folktale about a rat eating a fingernail to become human, the series follows a reclusive novelist whose life is upended when a mysterious impostor — referred to as "The Rat" — steals his identity, name and wealth. Forced into a corner, he teams up with a relentless loan shark who had been pursuing him, embarking on a desperate chase to reclaim his life. Ryu plays Mun-jae, the isolated writer whose routine life collapses after his fingerprints suddenly stop working on his phone and his trusted friend vanishes. With no way to prove who he is, Mun-jae discovers that someone has taken over every aspect of his existence. Sol portrays No-ja, a moneylender who also runs a private detective agency. Initially hunting Mun-jae to recover a loan, he becomes entangled in uncovering the truth behind the identity thief, hoping it will lead him to his money. “The Rat” willMay 21, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewCho Bo-ah explores complex sibling bond in Netflix ‘Dear Hongrang’Actor Cho Bo-ah returns to the screen with “Dear Hongrang,” a Netflix original that intertwines family drama with forbidden love in a historical mystery romance. Released Friday, the show stars Cho as Jae-yi, the eldest daughter of a powerful merchant family in Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Jae-yi is torn between suspicion and affection when her half-brother Hongrang (played by Lee Jae-wook), who disappeared 12 years earlier, suddenly reappears — possibly with ulterior motives. “This project made acting more enjoyable and more challenging at the same time,” Cho said Monday in an interview. “Dear Hongrang” centers on the mystery of a missing child and the emotional entanglement between half-siblings who reunite under ambiguous circumstances. Cho’s character Jae-yi wavers between disbelief and longing, making her a figure of quiet strength in the face of an unspoken taboo. What convinced Cho to take on the role? “The story was incredibly solid,” she said. “But what moved me most was the deep affection Jae-yi holds for her brother.” In the series, Jae-yi is often shown cMay 21, 2025By KTimes
‘I nearly fainted again’: Actor Ahn Jae-wook stunned by $500,000 US hospital bill after emergency surgeryActor Ahn Jae-wook has shared a harrowing experience of suffering a brain hemorrhage and undergoing emergency surgery while traveling in the United States — an ordeal that came with a staggering hospital bill. Appearing on the Monday episode of KBS2’s “Park Won-sook’s Live Together,” Ahn recalled the medical emergency that occurred while he was on vacation visiting friends in the U.S. “It was a brain hemorrhage. A blood vessel burst,” Ahn said, recounting how the episode unfolded shortly after arriving in the country. “On the first day, I just thought I had indigestion. I felt uncomfortable and said I’d rest in my room. Then I collapsed. I was vomiting and couldn’t breathe.” He was rushed to a hospital and diagnosed with an acute cerebral hemorrhage, leading to emergency surgery. “At first, I didn’t want to open my eyes. I kept them closed — I didn’t want it to be real,” he said. “I smiled going into the operating room, but when I opened my eyes afterward, I realized it had really happened. It was the most unforgettable trip of my life.” The cost of theMay 20, 2025By Xportsnews
Actor Lee Si-won welcomes baby daughter after four years of marriageActor Lee Si-won has welcomed her first child, a daughter, four years after tying the knot. In a recent phone interview with the Hankook Ilbo, Lee shared her thoughts on becoming a mother and expressed gratitude for the warm congratulations pouring in following the news of her delivery last month. “I didn’t even know the article had come out, but suddenly people started calling to congratulate me,” she said with a laugh. “Our daughter’s name, Si-woo, combines one syllable from each of our names. At first, she looked like me, but she’s starting to resemble my husband more and more each day. It’s amazing how her face keeps changing.” Both mother and baby are doing well. “I just hoped for a healthy delivery, and I’m so grateful everything went smoothly,” Lee said. “She’s growing up healthy, and that makes me so happy.” Lee said that her daughter already makes strong eye contact. “I’ve heard that babies these days are developing a little faster. Our daughter is already really responsive and growing well.” Lee also shared her intention to return to work soon.May 20, 2025By KTimes
InterviewLee Jae-wook wields sword, heart in 'Dear Hongrang'Lee Jae-wook, 27, is paving a solid path as an actor. After debuting as a university student in the 2018 hit drama "Memories of the Alhambra," he quickly rose to leading roles and shot to fame with the 2022 fantasy period drama "Alchemy of Souls," marking his breakthrough role. The model and actor once again takes up the sword and showcases spectacular action in JTBC's historical drama "Dear Hongrang," which premiered on Friday on Netflix. The drama tells the story of Hongrang (Lee), the long-missing son of Joseon's most powerful merchant family, who returns after 12 years with no memory of his past. As only his half-sister Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah) suspects his true identity, an inexplicable relationship begins to grow between them, weaving together love and suspicion in this period drama. In an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday, Lee noted the project left a lasting mark on him. "I still feel this heavy sadness when I think of Hongrang. He’s such a tragic figure who grew up in a harsh environment. I often question myself whether I was able to portray that pain well enMay 19, 2025By Park Jin-hai
'Heavenly Ever After' pop-up blurs line between afterlife, daily lifeAs JTBC’s weekend drama “Heavenly Ever After” continues to gain popularity, a pop-up experience at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District offers fans a chance to step directly into the series’ whimsical yet profound vision of the afterlife. As seen in the drama, upon entering, visitors answer their preferred age, place, people or things they want to remember in the afterlife, and traits of their character. The "Heaven Immigration Inspection Counter" is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that provides guidance for those who have just "immigrated" to heaven. Then, after taking photos in front of the gate and choosing the physical age they want to live as in heaven — child, youth, middle-aged or elderly — the AI monitor shows them what they would look like in the afterlife. For those who registered in advance, they can also receive their heaven resident ID card on the spot. Passing through the gate, they can sit in a chair to reflect on their life, just like in the drama, or participate in a lucky draw by scanning a barcode, similar to how the main characters ordereMay 17, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Is Coupang positioning itself as next content titan?Coupang’s rapid expansion into the entertainment business is drawing increased attention, as the e-commerce giant continues to scale its content operations through its subsidiaries, artist signings and exclusive concert deals. With its deep capital reserves and vertically integrated platform, industry watchers are closely eyeing whether the company could soon emerge as a new content powerhouse. Coupang’s entertainment push centers around CP Entertainment, a subsidiary established in 2023 to oversee content production and artist management. The firm recently added comedian Lee Su-ji to its roster, following earlier signings of veteran entertainer Shin Dong-yup and rising actress Ji Ye-eun. The company says the move reflects its broader ambition to build a full-fledged entertainment house spanning comedy, drama and variety. Alongside artist management, CP Entertainment is also behind Coupang Play’s original shows such as “SNL Korea” and “The Office Workers,” underscoring its dual focus on content creation and talent development. Coupang Play, the company's in-house streaming pMay 16, 2025By KTimes
Jang Shin-young returns to small screen in revenge drama after three-year breakActor Jang Shin-young will make her return to television in the upcoming MBC drama "A Woman Who Swallowed the Sun," marking her first drama appearance in nearly three years since JTBC’s "Cleaning Up." MBC released the second teaser for the series on Thursday. The drama follows a woman’s fierce quest for revenge against a chaebol family after she is wrongly branded a criminal while trying to protect her only daughter. The drama explores the themes of injustice, maternal devotion and unrelenting vengeance. The latest teaser highlights Jang’s emotional range, capturing her character's (Seol-hee) despair, rage and determination as she endures a series of devastating trials. The tension peaks with the appearance of Min Doo-sik (played by Jeon Noh-min), the powerful head of the conglomerate Mingang Distribution. "A Woman Who Swallowed the Sun" is set to premiere in early June, following "Desperate Mrs. Seon-ju." Working through personal challenges Jang’s return to acting comes amid public scrutiny over her husband, actor Kang Kyung-joon. The couple married in 2018 after five years of daMay 16, 2025By KTimes
Hwang Jung-eum apologizes for embezzling $3.1 million for crypto investmentActor Hwang Jung-eum has issued a public apology for embezzling funds from her family-run entertainment agency and admitted to investing 4.3 billion won ($3.1 million) in cryptocurrency. In a statement released through her agency, Y.ONE Entertainment, on Thursday, she said, “First, I sincerely apologize for causing concern over such a shameful matter. I established and operated an agency to manage my acting career, and I am the sole shareholder. No other artists have ever been signed to the company, and all its revenue came from my own work.” Hwang said she was encouraged by an acquaintance to invest in cryptocurrency using the company’s funds in hopes of growing the business in 2021. “Although the funds belonged to the company, they were earned through my own activities. I now realize that it was a poor and inexperienced decision,” she said. While she acknowledged losses from the failed investment, Hwang said that there were no third-party victims, as she holds 100 percent ownership of the company and no creditors are involved apart from banks with secured loans. She added thaMay 16, 2025By KTimes
