Singer Lee Sang-min to remarry, details to air on ‘My Little Old Boy’Singer and TV personality Lee Sang-min, known for his candid remarks about love and divorce on variety shows, is remarrying a noncelebrity nearly two decades after his first marriage. An SBS official confirmed the news on Wednesday. “Lee Sang-min is remarrying a noncelebrity,” the official said. The broadcaster added that the story will be revealed in the upcoming May 11 episode of the variety show “My Little Old Boy,” in which Lee is a regular cast member. Lee also shared a handwritten letter on Instagram the same day. “I’ve met someone I truly love. I want to begin the second chapter of my life with her," he said. "She’s someone who made me feel I would protect her through any hardship, and I believe we can share lifelong happiness together.” He explained that he delayed sharing the news out of caution. “Because she is someone I found later in life, I was careful and late to inform those around me. I know this may come as a surprise, but I would be grateful if you could celebrate and bless this moment with us.” Lee was previously married to actor Lee Hye-young in 20May 1, 2025By KTimes
IU teases possible music comeback amid ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ successSinger and actor IU has gifted fans a surprise set of selfies, sparking speculation about a potential comeback. On Wednesday, IU shared 17 photos to her personal social media account with the caption, “Hello, May.” The post included a mix of behind-the-scenes moments on set and close-up selfies showcasing her flawless, makeup-free look. One image in particular captured fans’ attention: IU wearing a headset in what appears to be a recording studio, deeply focused on something off-camera. The photo immediately fueled hopes among fans that the artist may be preparing to return with new music. Supporters flooded the comment section with messages wishing for her comeback, especially following her recent success on screen. In March, IU starred in the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” playing Ae-sun, a bold and rebellious girl from Jeju Island with dreams of becoming a writer. Her charismatic performance received widespread praise, further cementing her reputation as a multi-talented artist. IU is also nominated for Best Actress at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, which wiApr 30, 2025By KTimes
JTBC files complaint against producer Jang Si-won over 'A Clean Sweep' rights disputeJTBC has filed a criminal complaint against Studio C1 and producer Jang Si-won, citing continued infringement of the broadcaster’s intellectual property rights related to the program "A Clean Sweep." JTBC said Tuesday that it lodged a formal complaint accusing Studio C1 and Jang of violating copyright law and trademark law, breach of trust, damaging electronic records and obstructing business operations. According to JTBC, the copyright violation stems from Studio C1 producing a sequel series with a format similar to "A Clean Sweep" Seasons 1 to 3, for which JTBC holds full intellectual property rights. "A Clean Sweep" is a baseball competition program where amateur players face off against legendary professional athletes in a championship to crown the ultimate winning team. The broadcaster also accused Studio C1 of producing "Kim Sung-keun’s Winter Break," a spin-off resembling "A Clean Sweep," and providing it to another streaming platform without authorization, which it said is an infringement of JTBC’s proprietary rights. The complaint also charges trademark infringement, allegiApr 30, 2025By KTimes
Kim Soo-hyun sued by advertisers, damages may exceed 10 billion wonMultiple advertisers are suing actor Kim Soo-hyun for damages totaling more than 3 billion won (2.2 million dollars) over personal controversies, including allegations that he dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, The Chosun Ilbo reported Tuesday. Legal sources expect the total amount claimed could rise to around 10 billion won. Three of the 15 brands that had signed advertising contracts with Kim have either filed lawsuits or are preparing to do so against both the actor and his agency, Gold Medalist, the outlet reported. The companies range from domestic listed firms to overseas financial subsidiaries and multinational corporations. The advertisers are either terminating their deals for "breach of contract" or "damaged trust" and are seeking the return of endorsement fees, along with penalties or damages based on contract terms. "Some companies were initially hesitant to file lawsuits out of concern that the disputes might become public, but with lawsuits already underway, it is expected that more advertisers will follow," said entertainment law specialist Park Sung-woo of laApr 30, 2025By KTimes
‘Weak Hero Class 2’ tops Netflix global non-English series chart in just 3 daysNetflix’s original series “Weak Hero Class 2” has soared to the No. 1 spot on the platform’s global Top 10 chart for non-English TV series, just three days after its release. According to Netflix’s official site Tudum on Wednesday, the series recorded 6.1 million views, calculated by dividing total watch hours by runtime. That placed it at the top of the non-English category for the week. The series, released Friday, has also held the No. 1 position in Netflix Korea’s Top 10 series ranking since its debut. It also made the Top 10 list in 63 countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, France, Morocco, Greece, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and New Caledonia. Meanwhile, the show’s first season, “Weak Hero Class 1,” ranked No. 8 in the same global category, marking its fifth consecutive week in the chart since being added to Netflix’s global library. “Weak Hero Class 2” follows the evolution of Yeon Si-eun (played by Park Ji-hoon), and its emotional depth and brutal action sequences have been widely praised. Facing yet another wave of violence, Yeon fights back toApr 30, 2025By KTimes
Actor Park Seo-joon’s donation gives new hope to child with brain tumorActor Park Seo-joon made a donation that helped cover the cost of life-saving surgery for a young boy battling a brain tumor, according to a heartfelt letter from the child’s parents. Park shared the handwritten letter on his Instagram on Tuesday, revealing the story of a family whose son was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January last year. The boy’s parent wrote, “We were devastated by the diagnosis, a condition we thought had nothing to do with us. Terms like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and platelet transfusions, combined with the enormous medical costs, left us overwhelmed both emotionally and financially.” The boy required a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, a procedure in which stem cells, responsible for producing red and white blood cells and platelets, are transplanted from bone marrow. However, the cost of the surgery was daunting. “Even now, I shudder at how hopeless we felt when we first heard the treatment costs,” his parent wrote. Relief came when the family received assistance through Park Seo-joon’s donation to the hospital. “When we told our son tApr 30, 2025By KTimes
‘To Get Her’ cast member Riwon apologizes over past adult broadcast workRiwon, a cast member of the lesbian dating reality show "To Get Her," has publicly acknowledged her past as an adult content host and apologized for failing to disclose it to the show’s producers. She also denied accusations that she misrepresented her sexual identity. Riwon posted a lengthy message Tuesday on her social media, addressing growing online speculation about her past work and her appearance on a show focused on same-sex relationships. “Before this causes further harm, I want to speak up and sincerely apologize,” she wrote. She admitted to having hosted private adult broadcasts over three separate periods — between 2016 and 2018, from November 2021 to March 2022 and again from February to September 2024 — totaling about three years. She said she also took part in six offline meal meetups, but emphasized that they were conducted without any physical contact. “I appeared on the show without disclosing this part of my past to the producers. That was selfish, and I sincerely apologize to those who were disappointed or hurt by my actions,” she said. Addressing questioApr 30, 2025By KTimes
Korean drama 'S Line' wins Best Music at CanneseriesKorean fantasy thriller "S Line" won the Best Music award at the 2025 Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries), the festival's organizer has said. Music director Lee Jun-oh received the honor for his work on the drama, which stars Lee Soo-hyuk, Lee Da-hee and Arin. Based on the webtoon of the same name, the six-episode series depicts a world where people who have had sexual relationships are connected by a red line, which can only be seen by those wearing special glasses. It had its world premiere at the eighth edition of the annual festival in Cannes, which closed Tuesday. The award marks the second win for a Korean series at Canneseries, following "Bargain," which won Best Screenplay in 2023. Established in 2018, the annual festival showcases outstanding TV series from around the world through four official sections -- Competition, Short Form Competition, Documentary Series Competition and Out of Competition -- as well as the Rendez-Vous section.Apr 30, 2025By Yonhap
InterviewDirector Kim Hong-sun brings Korean flair to UK drama 'Gangs of London'The British TV series "Gangs of London," which received critical acclaim as a "modern crime family masterpiece," has returned for a third season, this time with a Korean director at the helm. Kim Hong-sun — known for brutal action sequences and his dark and intense visual style as seen in films like "The Con Artists" (2014), "Metamorphosis" (2019) and "Project Wolf Hunting" (2022) — joined as the lead director and executive producer for the series' newest season. As the first Asian director to oversee the British series, Kim admitted it was a challenge to set the overall tone and direction for such a popular and established franchise. He directed episodes 1, 2, 7 and 8 out of the season’s eight episodes, working alongside two other directors who handled the remaining installments. “I couldn’t overhaul too much, since I had to preserve the original identity while weaving in my own style. If I made even the slightest misstep, I’d have to shoulder all the blame. But despite the pressure, I truly enjoyed the process," the director told The Korea Times in an interview at local stApr 29, 2025By Park Jin-hai
TV personality Kim Na-young apologizes over photo of sons on elevator handrailTV personality Kim Na-young has apologized after facing public criticism for a photo she posted on Instagram featuring her two sons. Addressing the controversy, Kim wrote on Instagram Monday, "I am sorry. I was thoughtless. I will be more careful in the future." Earlier, Kim had shared several photos with the caption, "Weekend of a sports family," showing herself and her two sons playing tennis, taking a walk, and posing inside an elevator. In one of the images, her two sons were seen sitting on and stretching their legs over the elevator’s handrails. When a user asked whether she had wiped the handrails afterward, Kim replied, "We cleaned them before getting off." However, criticism mounted over the family’s behavior. Commenters pointed out, "It is not just about cleanliness. Parents should teach children why they should not climb on handrails," and, "It is not simply a hygiene issue but a safety risk." Others noted that the children could have been seriously injured. As the controversy grew, Kim deleted the photos and disabled comments on the post. Kim married a financial industry proApr 29, 2025By KTimes
