Jun Hyun-moo apologizes for 'drunken livestream' with BoAPopular TV personality Jun Hyun-moo has apologized after a recent livestream with singer BoA drew backlash over comments about comedian Park Na-rae. “I apologize for the delay in addressing the livestream on Saturday. This is my official apology," Jun said in a statement posted on his social media account Wednesday. “I personally apologized to Na-rae immediately after the broadcast for her being mentioned without cause. I want to again say I’m sorry and thank her for her gracious understanding despite the uncomfortable situation.” Jun continued, “Mentioning someone on a broadcast when they’re not present and choosing to go live while under the influence were clearly inappropriate actions. I sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable because of this.” Jun and BoA hosted a surprise livestream on Saturday via Jun’s social media account. Appearing slightly intoxicated, the two displayed a friendly rapport that caught fans’ attention. However, controversy soon followed when a viewer asked about rumors of a romantic relationship between Jun and Park Na-rae. While JApr 10, 2025By KTimes
INTERVIEW Park Hae-soo finds catharsis in playing villain in Netflix thriller 'Karma'Park Hae-soo may be the most active actor in Korea today. His string of Netflix appearances, ranging from the global phenomenon “Squid Game” to “Narco-Saints” and “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area,” has earned him the nickname Netflix’s civil servant. Now, he has returned with another intense performance in the recently released crime thriller “Karma,” and he’s already preparing to meet viewers again through the upcoming Netflix mystery series “The Price of Confession.” Since its global premiere on April 4, “Karma” has gained swift traction, topping Korea’s Top 10 Series Today list and ranking fifth on Netflix’s global non-English TV chart, signaling a warm reception both domestically and internationally. The series follows six individuals trapped in a vicious cycle of misfortune, unable to escape a web of bad karma. Park plays "Eyewitness," a mysterious figure who witnesses a hit-and-run accident by “Glasses” (played by Lee Kwang-soo) and assists in disposing of the body, only to emerge as a key player in a storyline filled with twists andApr 10, 2025By KTimes
InterviewHow Shin Min-a brings depth to crime thriller 'Karma'Shin Min-a brought a fresh perspective to her role in the new Netflix crime thriller "Karma." In the webtoon-based series, premiered on Friday, the actor sheds her typical girl-next-door persona, portraying a woman who has been suffering from lifelong trauma. In the six-part drama, exploring the intertwined lives of six individuals trapped in ill-fated relationships they cannot escape, the 41-year-old portrays Ju-yeon — a surgeon who survived a sexual assault when she was a high school student. With lifeless expressions and dry tone, Shin perfectly captures Ju-yeon's emotional depth and pain. When other characters are trapped in a cycle of ill-fated relationships, killing one another, Ju-yeon stands apart by refraining from direct revenge. "I worried that viewers might feel frustrated or perceive my performance as disconnected from the rest of the cast," she said during an interview with The Korea Times at the JW Marriot Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno District, Wednesday. "So, I had a lot of discussions with the director how to portray Ju-yeon's distinct emotional trajectory effectiApr 9, 2025By Park Jin-hai
‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ actor Hwang Jae-yeol says, ‘I want to apologize on behalf of many adults’Actor Hwang Jae-yeol, who played Ae-sun’s homeroom teacher in the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” recently shared his thoughts on appearing in the show. Hwang's performance in the Netflix original drama left a distinct impression on viewers. His portrayal of a teacher from the 1960s brought to life through a steady and convincing performance, helped immerse the audience in the era. One notable scene showed him scolding Ae-sun (played by IU) to give up her class president victory to a wealthier classmate despite her legitimate win. "It was truly an honor for me to be part of such a great project," Hwang said in a video released by his agency. "The director and writer are creators of works I deeply admire. Even though my role was small, I cherished every moment. I'm incredibly thankful to everyone who watched the show." He continued, "I hope to become someone who influences the next generation positively by reflecting on the past." Speaking through his character, he added with a touch of wit, "Ae-sun, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention. I want to apologize on behalfApr 9, 2025By KTimes
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' reclaims No. 1 spot on Netflix's weekly chartThe nostalgic drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" has returned to the top of Netflix's non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. The service's 16-episode Korean original series climbed back to No. 1 for the week ending Sunday, garnering 5.4 million views. After premiering March 7, it ranked No. 4 in its first week, climbed to No. 2 and then rose to the top spot in the following week. It dipped slightly to No. 3 in its fourth week when all episodes were unveiled, before reclaiming the No. 1 position. Praised for its heartwarming narrative that blends laughter and tears, it follows the enduring love and resilience of a couple facing life's hardships over six decades on the southern island of Jeju. Meanwhile, three other Korean series also made the global top 10, with "Weak Hero: Class 1," a drama about school bullying, ranking No. 4, the crime-thriller "Karma" at fifth and the romantic comedy "The Potato Lab" at eighth. (Yonhap)Apr 9, 2025By Yonhap
Park Na-rae’s home burglarized, valuables stolenComedian and TV personality Park Na-rae was recently the victim of a home burglary, prompting a police investigation, her agency said Tuesday. The incident came to light after reports of her absence from scheduled broadcasts due to poor health. An official from Park’s agency said, “A burglar recently broke into Park Na-rae’s home and stole valuables. The exact amount of loss has not been confirmed yet, and her manager filed a police report.” Park’s absence from MBC FM’s “Son Tae-jin’s Trot Radio” first raised concern about her condition. The show’s producers announced on social media that Park would not be participating “due to personal reasons.” Her agency later said, “Park Na-rae isn’t feeling well. She’s expected to resume activities after a day or two of rest. She’s only skipping the radio schedule, all other future appearances will proceed as planned.” Following the broadcast cancellation, news of the burglary surfaced. According to her agency, Park’s health has been affected by the incident. The break-in occurred at Park’s detached home in SeoulApr 9, 2025By KTimes
‘A star with much to lose’: Kim Soo-hyun draws intensified global backlash after press conferenceActor Kim Soo-hyun’s attempt to address mounting personal allegations has sparked an even greater international firestorm, with media outlets and fans across Asia and beyond closely following the fallout. Following the success of hit dramas like “My Love from the Star” and “Queen of Tears,” Kim has long enjoyed massive popularity across Asia. But his recently held press conference — meant to clarify allegations involving the late actor Kim Sae-ron — has only amplified controversy both at home and abroad. On March 31, Kim held an emergency press conference at Stanford Hotel in Mapo District, Seoul. He appeared alongside his attorney, Kim Jong-bok of LKB & Partners, and Ahn Sung-soo, CEO of his agency Gold Medalist. Kim broke his silence nearly three weeks after rumors about his alleged personal relationship with Kim Sae-ron emerged. The major points of contention include allegations that he dated Kim beginning in 2015, when she was 15 years old, for six years; claims that after her drunk driving accident in 2022 and contract expiration with Gold Medalist, a notarized letterApr 8, 2025By KTimes
BoA apologizes for careless comments about Park Na-rae during livestreamSinger BoA has issued an apology after drawing attention to comments she made during a surprise livestream with popular TV personality Jun Hyun-moo, which was broadcast while both appeared to be under the influence. BoA and Jun went live via Jun’s social media account. The two, who were drinking and dining at Jun’s home, explained that they spontaneously decided to start the livestream. Throughout the broadcast, they displayed a close friendship, surprising fans with their unexpected camaraderie. However, controversy arose over BoA’s remarks regarding rumors of a romantic relationship between Jun Hyun-moo and comedian Park Na-rae. When a viewer asked about the dating rumors, BoA responded on Jun’s behalf, saying, “I don’t think they’ll date.” She added, “They can’t date,” and when Jun asked, “Why? Because Park Na-rae is too good for me?," BoA replied, “No. You're too good for her,” in a firm tone. The livestream has since been deleted from Jun’s account, but clips and recordings have spread on social media. Some viewers criticized BoA’s comments as inapproApr 8, 2025By KTimes
Seo Yea-ji, Park Han-byul return through entertainment TV — can they win back public support?Actors Seo Yea-ji and Park Han-byul are returning to the entertainment scene, not through dramas, but via entertainment shows. Once embroiled in major controversies, the two are cautiously stepping back into the spotlight. Seo has chosen "SNL Korea" for her comeback, while Park is appearing on "Daddy and Me," a family-centered reality show. Seo Yea-ji’s reputation took a serious hit in 2021 following a string of scandals, including a personal controversy involving actor Kim Jung-hyun, allegations of school bullying and falsifying academic credentials. These incidents severely damaged her image. The drama "Eve," released the following year, performed poorly, and her contract with her agency Gold Medalist came to an end. Since last year, Seo has slowly worked to rebuild her image. She signed with Sublime in June and launched social media accounts to reconnect with fans. Given the success of "It’s Okay to Not Be Okay" both domestically and internationally, Seo continued to receive supportive comments from overseas fans. In 2024, the legal process targeting malicious commenters concludeApr 7, 2025By KTimes
Hyeri breaks free from ‘Deok-sun’ image with breakout overseas success of 'Friendly Rivalry'Actor Hyeri is shedding her long-standing image as Deok-sun from "Reply 1988," rising in popularity overseas. Her lead role in "Friendly Rivalry" has captivated international audiences, particularly in China, marking a turning point in her career and signaling the start of a new chapter. The role of Deok-sun in the hit series "Reply 1988" brought Hyeri critical acclaim but also cast a lasting shadow, as her subsequent roles often faced comparisons and expectations rooted in that beloved character. However, "Friendly Rivalry," with its distinctive tone and fresh portrayal, has proven a bold departure — and one that is resonating more abroad than at home. The original series "Friendly Rivalry," released in February on U+tv and U+ Mobile TV, is a mystery thriller set at Chaehwa Girls’ High School, an elite institution representing South Korea’s top one percent. It follows Seul-gi, a transfer student navigating the fierce academic rivalry and the suspicious death of her father, a former national exam question writer. The series was released over four weeks on U+ platforms and later exApr 6, 2025By KTimes
