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Shows & Dramas

'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience

Netflix series “If Wishes Could Kill” is an eight-part horror series that blends various genres including occult and action to keep viewers engaged, director Park Yoon-seo said Tuesday. “While short films can effectively create fear in a brief moment, I put significant effort into this as a longer series,” the director said during a press conference in Seoul. He added that he focused on building a believable plot to ensure audiences stay immersed. The eight-part series follows high school students who are suddenly warned of their imminent deaths through a curse from a wish-granting app called Girigo. The story depicts their desperate struggles to escape the curse and survive. Park said he integrated elements of occult, action and school dramas into a traditional horror framework. He believes this combination will prevent the audience from feeling bored throughout the eight episodes. “I wanted to go beyond the limits of standard horror,” the director said. “By combining different genres, I made sure there is never a dull moment from the beginning to the last episode.” Regar

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience
K-pop

Seoul to transform Chang-dong into K-pop hub with new arena

Seoul unveiled on Tuesday a 2.7 trillion won ($1.9 billion) plan to transform Chang-dong, a neighborhood in the city's northeastern Dobong District, into a 24/7 K-pop-themed cultural hub, anchored by a new concert venue as well as a cluster of entertainment and commercial facilities intended to draw more visitors north of the Han River. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the “K-entertainment town” project is meant to serve as a new economic engine for the area and beyond as the city aims to draw 30 million foreign tourists a year. “Chang-dong and the surrounding Sanggye area will no longer be the outskirts of Seoul, but will become the cultural and artistic hub of the city and a solid economic core that will shoulder its future as a key area in opening the era of 30 million foreign tourists,” Mayor Oh Se-hoon said during a press conference. The central part of the scheme is the Seoul Arena, a K-pop concert hall slated for a May 2027 opening. The place will be able to accommodate up to 28,000 fans per performance and is expected to host some 100 large-scale shows a y

Apr 21, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Seoul to transform Chang-dong into K-pop hub with new arena
Entertainment

Golf coach reveals Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin’s secret dating story before couple's marriage

A longtime mentor to top Korean celebrities revealed he knew about Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin’s relationship long before it became public — and even lied to his own wife to keep it a secret. The story emerged on the Sunday episode of TV Chosun’s “Huh Young Man’s Food Travel,” where renowned golf instructor Lim Jin-han appeared as a guest. Lim, often dubbed a “golf master” in Korea, said he first built a connection with Son through a recommendation from an agency executive and began giving her lessons that continued for years. “She once came straight from filming in jeans and slippers, and we practiced for about an hour,” he said. “After that, I kept teaching her, and we’ve stayed connected ever since.” Through Son, Hyun Bin also became his student. Lim said the two actors would often take lessons together and even play rounds of golf with him, which is how he realized early on that they were dating. “One day, she said, ‘Please teach Bin as well,’ so they both started learning together, and we went out to the field often,” he said. Despite knowing about their

Apr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Golf coach reveals Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin’s secret dating story before couple's marriage
Music

Song Joong-ki and wife Katy Saunders draw attention after official public appearance

Actor Song Joong-ki and his wife, Katy Louise Saunders, made their first official public appearance as a married couple Saturday, narrating a disability-inclusive classical concert at Seoul Arts Center. The couple's participation in Gaon Soloists’ seventh regular concert, "Kinderszenen," marked a deliberate shift from casual public sightings to actively spotlighting a social cause. The event commemorated the 46th National Day for Persons with Disabilities. Founded in 2021 and led by violist and music director Kim Yoo-young, Gaon Soloists is a chamber ensemble that unites classical musicians with and without disabilities. Kang Ja-yeon, the group’s representative, said on YTN Radio that Song’s team initiated the collaboration after learning about the ensemble through a mutual connection. “They heard about our performance through an acquaintance and contacted us first,” Kang said. “It was a great honor for us.” The couple posed for photos with audience members and fellow performers following the event. Musical actor Kim So-hyun and broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu, who also performed i

Apr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Song Joong-ki and wife Katy Saunders draw attention after official public appearance
K-pop

BTS’ J-Hope shares tearful selfie after grandmother’s death

BTS member J-Hope has drawn attention after posting an emotional selfie, revealing a deeply personal moment that unfolded in the middle of the group’s ongoing world tour. J-Hope shared several photos on social media on Monday with the caption “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ TOKYO.” The images captured a mix of behind-the-scenes moments to high-energy performances on stage. Among them, one photo stood out: A close-up of the artist with tears in his eyes, his face visibly swollen and flushed. The raw image quickly spread across fan communities and social media, with many interpreting it as reflecting the emotional toll of a recent family loss. According to the singer, he learned of his grandmother’s death shortly after arriving in Japan for the Tokyo leg of the tour. During a concert, he told fans, “After coming to Japan, I heard that my grandmother, who raised me since I was young, had passed away,” sharing his grief and drawing an emotional response from the audience. Despite the loss, J-Hope continued to perform, documenting both his off-stage moments and his time in the spotl

Apr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS’ J-Hope shares tearful selfie after grandmother’s death
Films

Culture minister signs co-production deal with Indian film industry leaders

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young met with senior figures from the Korean and Indian film industries Tuesday at Korean Cultural Centre India in New Delhi to discuss ways to expand bilateral film industry cooperation. The meeting was arranged to combine the production scale and creativity of India — the world's largest film-producing country by volume — with Korea's strength as a global content powerhouse, with the aim of broadening avenues for cooperation and elevating cultural exchanges between the two countries. The session also included a co-production signing ceremony for the Korea-India joint film project “AMOR” (working title). Korean production company Flix Oven — a Seoul-based studio focused on film and series development with an emphasis on cross-border co-productions — signed an agreement with an Indian counterpart, with production slated to begin in September. Following the signing ceremony, key figures from both countries' film industries engaged in in-depth discussions on collaboration. "India exerts tremendous influence in the global content ma

Apr 21, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Culture minister signs co-production deal with Indian film industry leaders
Entertainment

Sumi Jo joins SM to launch 40th anniversary album

In a move that signals a blurring of the lines between classical music and global pop culture, world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo signed an exclusive recording contract with SM Entertainment. The partnership, announced through the company’s classical imprint, SM Classics, positions Jo as the label’s first exclusive artist and serves as a strategic cornerstone for the firm’s expansion into the international classical market. The deal arrives as Jo prepares to mark her 40th anniversary with the release of a new album, "Continuum," slated for May. The 11-track project is framed not merely as a retrospective, but as a bridge between the rigorous traditions of the operatic stage and the slick, contemporary sensibilities of the Seoul music industry. In a statement, Jo characterized the work as a "culmination and a new beginning," featuring a repertoire that ranges from previously unrecorded coloratura arias to modern compositions that defy easy categorization. The album also leans into the collaborative spirit of the K-pop era. It features a duet with Suho, the leader of K-pop boy band EXO,

Apr 21, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Sumi Jo joins SM to launch 40th anniversary album
K-pop

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo warns of legal action over false claims tied to family controversy

Legal counsel for BLACKPINK's Jisoo issued a statement over recent allegations involving a family member, after reports emerged that a man identified as the brother of a member of a well-known K-pop girl group had been arrested on charges of sexually harassing an online streamer. "Some media reports, online communities and social media platforms have been recklessly linking the artist and Blissoo to the family-related issue spreading online, while defaming them based on false claims," said Eun Hyun-ho, an attorney at Kim & Chang, legal representative for Jisoo’s agency Blissoo. "The issue currently being raised is entirely unrelated to the artist and Blissoo, and many of the claims circulating online are either unverified speculation or plainly false," the law firm said. It added that Jisoo, who began her career at a young age and has long lived independently from her family, had no knowledge whatsoever of her brother’s private life. The statement also rejected claims that the controversial figure had ties to Jisoo or her agency. "Although the artist received limited advice from a fa

Apr 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo warns of legal action over false claims tied to family controversy
K-pop

18-month sentence sought for WINNER's Song Min-ho for alleged negligence in mandatory service

Prosecutors on Tuesday demanded an 18-month prison term for Song Min-ho, a member of K-pop boy band WINNER, over allegations of negligence related to his alternative mandatory service. Song is accused of failing to properly fulfill his duty as a social service agent at a facility in western Seoul from March 2023 to December 2024, such as not showing up to work for more than 100 days, inconsecutively. Prosecutors requested the sentence during the case's first hearing at the Seoul Western District Court, arguing that Song appeared to have been absent for long periods of time and effectively did not carry out his service. Song, who appeared for the trial, admitted to all charges and voiced hope to carry out his service again if given the chance. "As a person who is loved by many, (I) feel sorry for showing an embarrassing side of myself instead of setting an example," he said, adding that his struggles with bipolar disorder and panic disorder cannot be excuses. "If given an opportunity to serve again, (I) wish to faithfully fulfill it until the end." All able-bodied South Korean men are requi

Apr 21, 2026By Yonhap
18-month sentence sought for WINNER's Song Min-ho for alleged negligence in mandatory service
K-pop

BIGBANG's Taeyang to drop new solo album in May

Taeyang of veteran K-pop group BIGBANG will release his new individual album on May 18, his agency, The Black Label, said Tuesday. The new release titled "Quintessence" is the singer's fourth full-length solo album. It marks his first release in about three years since his individual EP "Down to Earth" in 2023 and his first studio album in nearly nine years following "White Night" in 2017. Details of the upcoming album have not been unveiled. "Through 'Quintessence,' Taeyang will showcase his capabilities as an all-round solo artist and present a new musical world of his own," the agency said. Taeyang, who debuted with BIGBANG in 2006, celebrates his 20th anniversary this year. The group recently performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on April 12 and 19, where they also unveiled plans for a new album and a world tour.

Apr 21, 2026By Yonhap
BIGBANG's Taeyang to drop new solo album in May
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