Entertainment

Lee Je-hoon returns with ‘Taxi Driver 3,’ promises 'stronger bonds and sharper thrill'

Actor Lee Je-hoon is back as Kim Do-gi in the third season of the hit SBS series “Taxi Driver.” A press conference for the new Friday-Saturday drama took place Tuesday at the SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Seoul, with director Kang Bo-seung and cast members Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin and Bae Yoo-ram in attendance. Based on the webtoon of the same name, “Taxi Driver 3” continues the story of the clandestine taxi company Rainbow Transport and its vigilante driver Kim Do-gi, who delivers justice on behalf of victims failed by the legal system. The series ranked third in SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama history, with Kang who helped build the show's universe as assistant director in Season 1, returning as the lead director. “This season will be intense right from the start,” Lee said at the press event. “Not only will my character, Kim Do-gi, be stronger, but the other members of Rainbow Transport will bring their own powerful side stories. We’ve prepared a gripping and satisfying experience.” Season 2 of “Taxi Driver” became the fifth most-watched

Nov 19, 2025By Hankookilbo

Lee Je-hoon returns with ‘Taxi Driver 3,’ promises 'stronger bonds and sharper thrill'

Films

'Zootopia 2' to explore diversity, growth through new worlds, characters

The beloved animal-centric world of "Zootopia" (2016) is returning to the big screen after nine years, with its creators and actors promising an even more timely and resonant adventure. Compared to the original, "Zootopia 2" will challenge the beloved duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde by taking them to new and unfamiliar environments, while maintaining their strong partnership, according to director Jared Bush. “When we're stepping into a new story, we knew this really had to center around Judy and Nick and their partnership, and the whole point of this movie is to really start to push them out of their comfort zones,” Bush said during an online press conference with Korean reporters Tuesday. The sequel picks up only a week after the end of the first film, with newly established partners Judy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick (Jason Bateman) tackling a new case involving the sudden and mysterious appearance of reptiles in Zootopia’s otherwise mammal‑dominated world. Reprising her role as the energetic bunny cop, Goodwin said this tight timeline between the films allows the aud

Nov 18, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

'Zootopia 2' to explore diversity, growth through new worlds, characters

Music

Chung Myung-whun, renowned soloists to lead KBS Symphony’s 70th anniversary season

As the KBS Symphony Orchestra prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2026, it is planning a series of large-scale performances featuring major conductors and renowned Korean soloists in the classical music world. Founded in 1956, the KBS Symphony Orchestra was the first orchestra in Korea to be affiliated with a broadcasting organization. It played a significant role in raising public awareness of classical music and providing wider access to the genre. The 2026 lineup prominently features Korean maestro Chung Myung-whun, a former chief conductor of the orchestra. Even after stepping down, Chung has continued to collaborate with the orchestra; next year he will conduct Mahler’s Symphonies No. 4 and No. 5 at project concerts on March 13 and Oct. 12, respectively, after leading Symphonies No. 1 and No. 2 this year. He is also expected to conduct a concert version of Bizet’s opera, "Carmen," on April 18. Other conductors in the spotlight include Eliahu Inbal, who will conduct Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 13 on Feb. 28; Marek Janowski, who will lead Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 o

Nov 18, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Chung Myung-whun, renowned soloists to lead KBS Symphony’s 70th anniversary season

Shows & Dramas

Actor Kim Ok-vin shares wedding photos, keeps husband’s identity private

Actor Kim Ok-vin shared photos from her wedding ceremony, which was held privately last weekend. Kim posted several images Monday from the wedding on her social media, writing, “My wedding day. It was a busy day from start to finish.” In the photos, Kim is seen with her hair elegantly pinned up and wearing a classic white strapless wedding gown, exuding quiet grace. The groom does not appear in the photos, sparking curiosity among fans. Kim tied the knot with her non-celebrity partner on Nov. 16 at a private venue in Seoul. The ceremony, held behind closed doors, was attended only by close family members and friends out of consideration for the groom’s privacy. Ahead of the wedding, Kim described her partner as “kind and caring — someone who always makes me smile,” adding that she looks forward to “nurturing this new chapter in life.” Kim made her debut in the film “Whispering Corridors 4: Ghost Voice” before appearing in “Dasepo Naughty Girls,” “Thirst,” “The Villainess,” “Actresses,” and the drama series “Arthdal Chronicles.” She also starred in t

Nov 18, 2025By Hankookilbo

Actor Kim Ok-vin shares wedding photos, keeps husband’s identity private

Shows & Dramas

Lee Jong-suk cancels Manila fan meeting over safety concerns amid protests

Actor Lee Jong-suk’s upcoming fan meeting in the Philippines has been canceled due to safety concerns tied to nationwide protests, his agency said. Lee’s agency A-Man Project posted an official notice on Instagram on Monday, saying that the “2025 Lee Jong Suk Asia Fanmeeting Tour [With: Just Like This] in Manila,” scheduled for Nov. 30 at the Araneta Coliseum, has been canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances.” “The decision was made after careful consideration, prioritizing the safety of fans, the artist and all staff due to a rally scheduled on the same day,” the agency said. “We deeply apologize to all fans who were looking forward to the event and ask for your understanding regarding the inconvenience caused by this cancellation.” The agency added, “We sincerely hope that Lee Jong-suk will have the opportunity to meet his fans in the Philippines again in the near future,” expressing gratitude for their support. At present, large-scale protests are taking place in the Philippines, sparked by allegations of corruption in the government’s flood-control project

Nov 18, 2025By Hankookilbo

Lee Jong-suk cancels Manila fan meeting over safety concerns amid protests

Shows & Dramas

'Culinary Class Wars 2' to premiere next month

Netflix's popular Korean reality show "Culinary Class Wars" is returning for a second season next month, the streaming service said Tuesday. The next installment of the hit cooking competition is scheduled to premiere on Dec. 16. The original production team, including producers Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, along with writer Mo Eun-seol, reunited for the upcoming season. The team said they focused on complementing what they believed was lacking in the first, striving to create a more complete show. Teaser images released Tuesday featured top culinary figures, including Michelin-starred chefs Lee Joon and Son Jong-won, and Ven. Seon-jae, celebrated for her mastery of Buddhist temple cuisine, gearing up for intense competition. The first season pitted elite chefs (White Spoons) against lesser-known underdogs (Black Spoons) in intense culinary battles to determine the country's top cook. Since its debut Sept. 17 last year, the show has topped Netflix's non-English series chart for three consecutive weeks, drawing millions of views worldwide and sparking international interest in the diversity

Nov 18, 2025By Yonhap

'Culinary Class Wars 2' to premiere next month

Shows & Dramas

Nana home intruder claims financial hardship, unaware it was a celebrity’s house

A man in his 30s who broke into the home of singer-actor Nana, formerly of After School, claimed he acted out of financial hardship and did not know the house belonged to a celebrity. The suspect told investigators, “I did not know it was the home of a celebrity. I was struggling with living expenses,” according to police reports released on Tuesday. Both Nana and her mother stated they had no prior connection to the man. Police said he was unemployed and had no history of fan activity or contact related to the actress. “He appears to have been scouting for a location when he found an unlocked door and entered,” a police official said. The incident occurred at around 6 a.m. on Nov. 15 at Nana’s residence in Acheon-dong, Guri, Gyeonggi Province. The man is accused of climbing to the veranda using a ladder, entering through an unlocked door while armed with a weapon, and assaulting Nana and her mother while demanding money. According to police, he allegedly choked Nana’s mother, causing injuries. Nana and her mother subdued the intruder through force, restraining him by the arm

Nov 18, 2025By Hankookilbo

Nana home intruder claims financial hardship, unaware it was a celebrity’s house

K-pop

Japanese woman who forcibly kissed BTS Jin indicted without detention

A Japanese woman in her 50s has been indicted without detention for forcing a kiss on Jin of BTS during a public fan event last year. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office said that the suspect was charged Monday with indecent assault. She is accused of approaching Jin, real name Kim Seok-jin, during a fan meeting held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul’s Songpa District in June last year, shortly after he completed his military service. She forced a kiss on Jin’s cheek without consent. Following the incident, several fans filed complaints through the National Petition System, accusing her of committing indecent acts in a crowded public space. Songpa Police launched an investigation but initially suspended it in March, citing delays and the suspect’s failure to appear. However, she later voluntarily appeared for questioning. Police determined that the allegations were substantiated and forwarded the case to prosecutors. Jin, the oldest member of BTS, was discharged from the military in June 2024 and has since resumed public activities, including fan events and promotions. N

Nov 18, 2025By Hankookilbo

Japanese woman who forcibly kissed BTS Jin indicted without detention

K-pop

InterviewINFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'

Jang Dong-woo is starting his days with an alarm — literally. He wakes up at 7 a.m. every day to upload content tied to alarm-themed promotions for his new solo album and monitor fan reactions. He has always been the loudest spark in the second-gen K-pop boy band INFINITE — the group's kinetic rapper, dancer and resident live wire, but on a chilly Monday morning during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Yongsan District, he leaned forward with the urgency of someone who has rebuilt himself piece by piece. "This album is made out of my own money and thus falls entirely under my responsibility," Jang said, half laughing at the weight of it. "I finally understand why entertainment CEOs get so stressed." A whopping six years and eight months after his first solo project, the INFINITE rapper-performer returns Tuesday with "AWAKE," a self-made, six-song mini-album designed to jolt listeners out of emotional autopilot. The concept fits him. His energy fires fast, his words tumble out and even his jokes land with precision. But beneath that positivity was the steely resol

Nov 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

INFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'

Shows & Dramas

'Heroes Next Door' turns reservists into neighborhood defenders

Upcoming action-comedy series "Heroes Next Door" brings together former special forces soldiers who set out to protect their own neighborhood. "The scope of the incident is grand, but the way they solve it is rooted in protecting their community," director Jo Woong said during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. "That is why I believe viewers will be able to empathize." The 10-episode series, which starts airing Monday, follows a group of reservist special forces members who unite not for ambitious goals like defending the entire nation, but purely for their families and neighborhood. "It's not just about following the incident as it unfolds. It’s a drama that generates tension and humor as the characters clash and interact," the director explained. Signer-turned-actor Yoon Kye-sang plays Choi Kang, a former special operations unit agent and current insurance investigator. "My character is a dual personality. The image he presents in daily life is different from his true self that emerges during a crisis. That aspect was very appealing to me," Yoon said, highlighting the duality of his

Nov 17, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Stray Kids to drop new album in August, announces new world tour

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Megabox crisis raises concerns over future of Korean cinema

Review'Summer’s Camera' captures gentle first love, grief

Classic K-dramas turn into reunion shows

Recognition or sidelining? Reactions mixed as Grammys unveil Asian pop category

Baritone Matthias Goerne, pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon bring Schubert's songs to Seoul

Entertainment

Stray Kids to drop new album in August, announces new world tour

BTS' 'ARIRANG' returns to top 10 on Billboard 200

'Toy Story 5' tops weekend box office, dethroning 'Colony'

Megabox crisis raises concerns over future of Korean cinema

Review'Summer’s Camera' captures gentle first love, grief

Classic K-dramas turn into reunion shows

Recognition or sidelining? Reactions mixed as Grammys unveil Asian pop category

Baritone Matthias Goerne, pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon bring Schubert's songs to Seoul

Read more

Lee Je-hoon returns with ‘Taxi Driver 3,’ promises 'stronger bonds and sharper thrill'

'Zootopia 2' to explore diversity, growth through new worlds, characters

Chung Myung-whun, renowned soloists to lead KBS Symphony’s 70th anniversary season

Actor Kim Ok-vin shares wedding photos, keeps husband’s identity private

Lee Jong-suk cancels Manila fan meeting over safety concerns amid protests

'Culinary Class Wars 2' to premiere next month

Nana home intruder claims financial hardship, unaware it was a celebrity’s house

Japanese woman who forcibly kissed BTS Jin indicted without detention

InterviewINFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'

'Heroes Next Door' turns reservists into neighborhood defenders

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