Park Bo-gum finds Gwan-sik admirable in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'Park Bo-gum, long known for his youthful charm, has captured viewers in a new light as a quietly powerful father figure in the Netflix drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines." The 31-year-old actor plays the younger version of Yang Gwan-sik, a steadfast husband and father who remains devoted to his wife Ae-soon (played by IU) and their children as they navigate hardship and loss. Though his character is soft-spoken, Park delivers deep emotion through subtle expressions and controlled gestures, bringing viewers across generations to tears. The drama, which began streaming on March 7, has remained No. 1 on Netflix Korea’s popularity chart and climbed to No. 2 globally in the non-English TV category. Episodes are released in sets of four each week, with the final episodes scheduled for release Friday. A return with emotional weight “When Life Gives You Tangerines” marks Park’s first project since completing his military service in 2022. He was so drawn to the role he even postponed another drama to take on the part. "I was deeply moved by the adults in the script who protect the vulnMar 25, 2025By KTimes
Byeon Woo-seok’s agency warns of impersonation scam involving overseas eventsActor Byeon Woo-seok's agency has issued a warning regarding impersonation scams involving false claims of authority over his overseas events. Varo Entertainment, Byeon’s management agency, released a statement on Monday, alerting the public to recent incidents in which individuals falsely claimed to hold agent rights for Byeon’s international fan meetings and attempted to profit financially from these claims. “We have not granted any exclusive rights or signed any agent contracts with third parties concerning Byeon Woo-seok’s fan meetings or related events,” the agency said in a statement. “We ask for special caution to avoid involvement in or damage from any illegal activities falsely conducted under the guise of an agreement with our company.” Byeon rose to stardom last year through the hit tvN drama “Lovely Runner” and has since become one of the most sought-after actors in Korea. He has held fan meetings in major Asian cities including Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei, cementing his growing global popularity. He currently serves as an advertising model for overMar 25, 2025By KTimes
Lee Dong-wook turns into thrice divorced, utterly drained man in tvN's 'The Divorce Insurance'Lee Dong-wook is poised to captivate audiences with a refreshing departure from his prior roles as he returns with tvN's rom-com "The Divorce Insurance," embracing a relatable, grounded comedic style. In his latest project, the 42-year-old actor will portray Noh Ki-joon, a genius actuary who has become economically and mentally exhausted after going through three divorces. "This leads him to think, 'What if we consider divorce as a disaster?' He starts to think that traffic accidents aren't the only type of accident and wonders if it would be possible to quantify and insure divorce, which leads him to launch a divorce insurance product," Lee said as he described his character during an online press conference for the drama, Monday. The path to bringing this audacious concept to life was far from easy. Actors Lee Joo-been, Lee Kwang-soo and Lee Da-hee join the task force dedicated to launching this unique insurance product. A dynamic team of colleagues — who have experienced divorce firsthand — team up to calculate the financial impact of heartbreak and, perhaps, unravel the very mysMar 24, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Kim Soo-hyun files additional complaint against YouTube channel HoverlabActor Kim Soo-hyun’s legal representatives have filed an additional criminal complaint against the operators of the YouTube channel Hoverlab, commonly known as Gaseyeon, accusing the channel operator of making threats related to his drama “Knock-Off.” Law firm LKB & Partners, representing actor Kim Soo-hyun’s agency Gold Medalist, said in a statement on Monday they filed an additional complaint with the police against Gaseyeon operator Kim Se-ui on charges of criminal intimidation under the Criminal Act. According to the law firm, Gaseyeon made threatening remarks during broadcasts on Friday and Saturday, claiming that if Disney+ did not cancel the release of “Knock-Off,” which stars Kim Soo-hyun, the channel would release footage involving the actor. Disney+ announced on Friday that it would postpone the release of “Knock-Off,” which had originally been scheduled for the first half of this year. The law firm further said that Gaseyeon repeatedly referenced the “Nth Room” case during its live broadcasts, implying that Kim Soo-hyun was involved in a similar crime and tMar 24, 2025By KTimes
Seo Yea-ji makes first variety show appearance in 8 yearsActor Seo Yea-ji is making her return to the small screen with an appearance on TV Chosun’s “Huh Young Man's Food Travel” — her first variety show appearance in eight years. At the end of the Sunday episode of “Huh Young Man's Food Travel,” Seo appeared in the preview, surprising viewers. Her last appearance on a variety show was in 2017 on JTBC’s “Knowing Bros.” In the preview, Seo joins host Huh Young-man on a culinary tour through Wonju, Gangwon Province. The two are seen enjoying local dishes, with Seo even dancing to BLACKPINK member Jennie’s song “Mantra” inside a restaurant, adding a playful and lighthearted moment. “I’m really glad I came on ‘Huh Young Man's Food Travel,’” she said during the episode. Seo stepped out of the spotlight in 2021 amid controversy surrounding her past relationship with actor Kim Jung-hyun. Additional allegations, including accusations of school bullying and falsifying academic records, soon surfaced, leading her to suspend all public activities. More recently, she found herself at the center of online rumors involvingMar 24, 2025By KTimes
Park Eun-bin leads 'Hyper Knife' to No. 1 on Disney+ KoreaThe Disney+ original series “Hyper Knife,” starring Park Eun-bin, debuted at No. 1 in Korea, marking the platform’s most successful local launch since “Moving” nearly two years prior. According to global OTT ranking aggregator FlixPatrol on Monday, the series has held the top position on Disney+ Korea since its release on Friday. It also climbed to No. 1 in other markets, including Thailand and Hong Kong, and secured spots in the top 10 in Peru, Singapore, Turkey and Venezuela —indicating growing global momentum. “Hyper Knife” is a medical thriller centered on the intense rivalry between former prodigy surgeon Jung Se-ok and her former mentor Choi Deok-hee, who drove her career into ruin. Park plays Se-ok, a brilliant surgeon obsessed with brain surgery who loses her medical license following her mentor’s betrayal. Now working in the shadows as an unlicensed doctor, she prepares to confront Choi, portrayed by veteran actor Sol Kyung-gu. The first two episodes drew praise for their gripping performances, refined direction and unpredictable storyline. Domestic media praiMar 24, 2025By KTimes
MBN reconsiders airing of ‘UNDER15’ amid child sexualization controversyMBN is reconsidering the broadcast of its upcoming reality show “UNDER15,” following mounting criticism over the program’s portrayal of underage girls. The show features only female contestants aged 15 and under, raising serious concerns about child sexualization. MBN released an official statement, Friday, saying, “MBN takes the concerns expressed by various sectors of society very seriously. We will conduct a comprehensive review of the show’s content and the decision to air it. Our official position will be announced shortly.” “UNDER15” is promoted as the world’s first program to discover K-pop prodigies under 15 and form a fifth-generation girl group. However, after teasers and trailers were released, critics raised alarms about the potential sexualization of minors. The youngest contestant is just 8 years old. Viewers have voiced concerns over scenes showing the young participants in heavy makeup and short clothing. In response to the backlash, the production team issued a statement defending the show. “UNDER15’ is a fifth-generation K-pop audition show that oMar 23, 2025By KTimes
From ‘Reply 1988’ to ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’: How Netflix dramas capture Korea’s heartIt was November 2015 when a television drama swept the nation with a wave of nostalgia and warmth. That drama was “Reply 1988,” aired on cable channel tvN. Set in the working-class neighborhood of Ssangmun-dong in late-1980s Seoul, the show portrayed family love, innocent youth romance, and deep bonds between neighbors. For older generations, it sparked a flood of memories; for younger viewers, it was a refreshing glimpse into a bygone era. The success of “Reply 1988” catapulted its stars, including Hyeri, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Jun-yeol, and Ahn Jae-hong, into the spotlight. A decade later, they continue to play leading roles in Korean films and dramas. tvN, once an underdog in a terrestrial-dominated broadcast landscape, became so influential that people began referring to Korea’s “big four” networks — adding tvN alongside KBS, MBC and SBS. These shifts were made possible because “Reply 1988” wasn’t just popular — it was a cultural phenomenon, widely hailed as a “national drama.” Now, 10 years later, another drama is captivating audiences — Netflix’s “WhenMar 23, 2025By KTimes
Clever title translation helps ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ resonate globallyAs the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" receives a warm reception both domestically and internationally, being hailed as a "life drama" by many viewers, there's growing interest in how it has been translated for international audiences. The Korean title of the drama "Pokssak Sogatsuda," a Jeju dialect phrase meaning "You've worked hard," was given a nuanced rather than literal interpretation with its translation to "When Life Gives You Tangerines" for English-speaking audiences. For drama fans, the English title was an ingenious choice, elegantly riffing on the well-known adage, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This familiar phrase, a testament to positive resilience in the face of adversity, was adapted to incorporate the tangerine, a hallmark of Jeju Island, giving the show's title regional authenticity. IU, taking on the spirited and rebellious lead Ae-sun, elucidated the English title during a press conference for the drama. "Even if life presents us with tart tangerines, let us transform them into sweet marmalade and savor a warm cup of tangerine tea," shMar 21, 2025By Park Jin-hai
Disney+'s 'Knock-Off' put on hold amid controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyunThe release of Disney+'s Korean original series "Know-off" has been postponed amid an ongoing controversy surrounding its lead actor Kim Soo-hyun. The streaming company "has decided to postpone the release after careful review," an official told Yonhap News Agency on Friday. Kim faces allegations of having dated late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was underage. The series was initially expected to premiere as early as April, with filming nearly completed. Set during the economically tumultuous times in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, "Knock-Off" follows Seong-jun, portrayed by Kim, whose ordinary life is upended by the crisis, propelling him to the top of the global counterfeit market. The series was one of the most highly anticipated series on Disney+'s slate for this year. (Yonhap)Mar 21, 2025By yonhap
