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  • Shows & Dramas

    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?

    Korean dramas are increasingly adopting a multi-season format. Following the lead of streaming platforms, traditional broadcasters have begun releasing new dramas that build on the worlds and characters of earlier installments. Industry watchers say the shift reflects efforts to reduce the risk of failure at a time of increasing production costs and growing uncertainty over whether new projects will succeed. SBS stands as powerhouse in season-based dramas SBS sits at the forefront of Korea's season-based drama production. The massive success of its three-season project “Dr. Romantic,” which first aired in 2016 and at one point reached peak ratings of 28.4 percent, fueled a push for multi-season drama production. The successes that followed, including “The Fiery Piest,” “The Penthouse: War in Life” and “Taxi Driver,” have turned SBS into an undisputed powerhouse for dramas that keep going. “What makes SBS’ season-based dramas so successful is a combination of strong worldbuilding, compelling characters and stories of karma where justice prevails,” said Kim Ki-seul, h

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?
  • K-pop

    'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

    2 MIN READBy Park Jin-hai
    'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage
  • K-pop

    BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniversary

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniversary
  • Shows & Dramas

    'His Man' creators return with Korea's first bisexual dating show

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    'His Man' creators return with Korea's first bisexual dating show
  • K-pop

    Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'
  • Films

    ReviewSpielberg returns to familiar territory with ‘Disclosure Day’

    2 MIN READBy Baek Byung-yeul
    Spielberg returns to familiar territory with ‘Disclosure Day’
  • Shows & Dramas

    From temple stays to TV: The rise of Korea's 'hip Buddhism'

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    From temple stays to TV: The rise of Korea's 'hip Buddhism'
  • Films

    Jun Ji-hyun opens up about 'Colony' role, timeless beauty praised by viewers

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Jun Ji-hyun opens up about 'Colony' role, timeless beauty praised by viewers
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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Films

Interview‘The King’s Warden’ producer says success of movie ‘beyond our wildest dreams’

The historical drama “The King’s Warden” has emerged as one of the biggest recent box office hits in Korean cinema, a breakout success that even its producers did not foresee. Lim Eun-jung, CEO of production company Onda Works, said she still finds the scale of the film’s success difficult to process. “I am simply thankful to the director, actors and the staff,” Lim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Wednesday. “To be honest, I never imagined we would reach the 10-million-viewer milestone. Given how difficult the market has been lately, our initial goal was just to break even. Before the release, the director and I cautiously whispered to each other that we hoped to double the break-even point since it was a holiday season, but the actual response from the public has been beyond our wildest dreams.” Set during the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the film follows the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon), who is exiled to Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, where he forms a bond with the village chief, Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), and discovers a renewed will to live despite

Mar 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘The King’s Warden’ producer says success of movie ‘beyond our wildest dreams’
K-pop

Why K-pop labels are working with novelists, poets

K-pop's fictional universes are no longer confined to music videos and album teasers. From science fiction writers to bestselling poets, some of Korea's most respected literary voices are turning up inside idol group album packages — commissioned to write short stories, lyrics and narrative passages to accompany their releases, in one of the more unlikely creative collaborations the industry has seen. When boy band EXO released its eighth album, “REVERXE,” on Jan. 19, the group included a short story titled “EX-VISION,” written by novelist Lee Hee-joo, whose fictions such as “Holy Boy” (2021) and “Creamy(nal) Love” (2025) frequently draw on K-pop fan culture. The story places the members in everyday scenes — Sehun and Chanyeol preparing food, D.O. handling the music, Lay and Suho arriving with a custom-made cake — with references to symbols long associated with the group's lore, such as the tree of life, the red force and the full lunar eclipse. For Lee, the creative process was familiar but the audience was not. “When I work on my own novels, my personal style ma

Mar 11, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Why K-pop labels are working with novelists, poets
Shows & Dramas

Song Ji-hyo faces renewed calls to leave 'Running Man' as criticism resurfaces

Actress Song Ji-hyo is once again facing mounting calls from viewers to step down from the long-running variety show “Running Man,” nearly three years after a similar controversy placed her participation in the program under scrutiny. The latest debate erupted after the March 8 episode of SBS’s flagship variety show, which aired under the theme "Run & Fun Company: Spin the Roulette." In the episode, the cast transformed into office workers competing in various games to leave work early, using any strategy possible to win. However, viewers quickly pointed out that Song appeared largely disengaged throughout the broadcast. Unlike the other cast members, she rarely joined the improvised skits or conversations that drive much of the show’s humor, resulting in minimal screen time. At one point during a bus ride to lunch, the other members continued lively banter while Song mostly sat quietly, smiling but not participating in the conversation. The contrast was particularly noticeable alongside the show’s youngest member, Ji Ye-eun, who repeatedly attempted to jump into the conversat

Mar 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Song Ji-hyo faces renewed calls to leave 'Running Man' as criticism resurfaces
Entertainment

Korean YouTuber Freezia sparks backlash after saying she’d dislike if her boyfriend used Galaxy phone

Korean YouTuber Freezia has found herself at the center of online backlash after saying she would dislike a boyfriend who uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, a comment that quickly spread across social media and triggered heated debate among viewers. The controversy stems from a vlog uploaded Sunday to her YouTube channel “The Freezia” titled “Vlog It's been a while~ It's already March! Freezia's daily life clips.zip: Gyeongbok Palace date course recommendation, White Day, nail art, late-night movie." In the video, she chats with an acquaintance while getting her nails done, and the conversation turns to smartphone preferences. After hearing that her acquaintance’s boyfriend uses a Galaxy Fold, Freezia responded candidly, saying, "Honestly, if my boyfriend used a Galaxy phone, I think I’d kind of dislike it." When asked why, she explains, "My mom and dad also use Galaxy. But parents and a boyfriend are different, right?" She adds, "If I imagine him taking pictures of me with that phone, it would annoy me so much." Freezia said she has never really used a Galaxy device herself. "Th

Mar 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Korean YouTuber Freezia sparks backlash after saying she’d dislike if her boyfriend used Galaxy phone
Music

40 years on stage, soprano Sumi Jo says music can 'change people'

Renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo has said she hopes to "share the love" she has received through music as she marks the 40th anniversary of her stage debut. "How did 40 years pass like this? People say life is but a midsummer night's dream," the 63-year-old told Yonhap News Agency in an interview ahead of her anniversary concert "Mad for Love," to be held at London's Cadogan Hall on Thursday. "Reading my diaries from those years, I realize I truly lived with all my heart." The Grammy-winning artist said the concert program reflects her artistic journey, spanning baroque repertoire, opera arias and Korean art songs. She invited young American baritone Edward Nelson as a guest performer, part of her effort to support emerging talent. Since taking the role of Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Italy, in 1986, Jo has performed in leading opera houses around the world. Her ties with Britain date back to her high school days, when her father visited London in the late 1970s and asked officials at the Royal Opera House how his daughter might one day debut there. Decades

Mar 11, 2026By Yonhap
40 years on stage, soprano Sumi Jo says music can 'change people'
K-pop

BLACKPINK's 'Go' debuts on Billboard Hot 100 at No. 63

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's latest single "Go" debuted at No. 63 on the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart, according to the chart unveiled Tuesday (U.S. time). "Go," the lead track of the quartet's third EP, "Deadline," highlights the group's signature confident and upbeat energy, driven by an explosive hook. The single earlier debuted at No. 44 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, while the album landed on the Billboard 200 at No. 8 this week. "Golden" from the original soundtrack of the hit Netflix animation "KPop Demon Hunters" slipped two places to No. 8 on the Hot 100, extending its run on the chart to 37 consecutive weeks. Another track from the same soundtrack, "How It's Done," rose eight spots to No. 86. On the Billboard 200, the soundtrack dropped two notches to No. 13, also marking its 37th consecutive week on the list. Elsewhere, boy band ATEEZ placed "Golden Hour: Part. 4" at No. 109, while Enhypen's "The Sin: Vanish" ranked at No. 135. Hybe's U.S.–based K-pop girl group Katseye logged two chart entries with "Beautiful Chaos" at No. 113 and "SIS (Soft Is

Mar 11, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK's 'Go' debuts on Billboard Hot 100 at No. 63
K-pop

InterviewHow AtHeart finds its confidence through 'Butterfly Doors'

When K-pop girl group AtHeart debuted in August 2025 with its first EP "Plot Twist," the title track captured the emotional swings of teenage life. Crushes felt mysterious, feelings were confusing and the members leaned into the carefree brightness of youth. Seven months later, the group says it has found something new — confidence. Returning with the paired singles "Shut Up," released Feb. 26, and "Butterfly Doors," set to follow Wednesday, AtHeart is presenting what the members describe as a more "self-assured side" of the group. The back-to-back releases mark the group's first comeback since its debut and form a connected story about growth. "When we debuted, all of us were teenagers, so the concept naturally reflected that youthful energy," member Arin said in an interview at The Korea Times office Monday. "This time, some of us have become adults, so we naturally wanted to show a more mature side. It feels like our atmosphere as a team has developed." The new era is also visually anchored by a symbol the group calls "The Black Heart." Ahead of its comeback campaign, AtHeart unveil

Mar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How AtHeart finds its confidence through 'Butterfly Doors'
Shows & Dramas

Starring Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, 'Climax' gives voice to desires nobody talks about

ENA's new series "Climax" is a work that "scratches exactly where it itches," actor Ju Ji-hoon said Tuesday. "The script felt like giving voice to the desires that everyone carries silently but never dares to speak aloud," the actor said at a press conference in Seoul. "That was what drew me to participate in it." He portrays Bang Tae-seob, a man who, according to the actor, "has no connection, no ties and no network, and gets knocked around and worn down by the world, yet burns with a desperate ambition to rise above it all, struggling with everything he has." Tae-seob transforms himself into a prosecutor of relentless ambition and ice-cold judgment, who pursues power at any cost and makes one devastating choice after another in his climb to the top. Actress Ha Ji-won makes her small-screen return after a four-year absence since the KBS drama "Curtain Call," taking on the role of Choo Sang-ah, a once-celebrated actress and the wife of Tae-seob. Ha described her character as someone caught between "a glamorous past and an anxious, unstable present living side by side." She said she aimed t

Mar 10, 2026By Yonhap
Starring Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, 'Climax' gives voice to desires nobody talks about
K-pop

‘A single photo changed everything’: How BTS’ V was discovered in worn-down academy

A casting director’s unexpected discovery of a smiling photo in a small academy in Daegu has resurfaced online, revealing the unlikely moment that helped launch the career of BTS’ V. The story of how the global K-pop star was first spotted is now drawing renewed attention from fans. Japanese outlet Oricon News recently published an interview with Kim Mi-jung, a former casting director at BigHit Music who helped recruit members of BTS and Tomorrow X Together. Kim said among the many trainees she encountered during her years scouting talent, the moment she first saw V stood out the most. “I’ve seen many trainees, but V was the only one who gave me chills the moment I encountered him,” she said. At the time, Kim had just begun working as a casting manager and was traveling across regional cities in search of new talent. She recalled spending an entire week scouting in the southern city of Daegu during a sweltering summer without finding anyone promising. “I had been searching all week in Daegu, but I couldn’t discover anyone,” she said. “I was exhausted and sitting down whe

Mar 10, 2026By Xportsnews
‘A single photo changed everything’: How BTS’ V was discovered in worn-down academy
K-pop

ENHYPEN's Heeseung announces departure from group

Heeseung of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will leave the group, his agency Belift Lab announced Tuesday. In a statement posted on fan platform Weverse, the company said it had held extensive discussions with the members about the group’s future direction and goals. “Through deep conversations about each member’s vision for the future and the team’s direction, we confirmed that Heeseung has a clear musical path he wishes to pursue,” the agency said. “After careful consideration, we decided to respect his aspirations.” The HYBE Labels subsidiary said the 24-year-old singer will depart the group and ENHYPEN will continue activities as a six-member act during its upcoming promotional schedule. “Although it is difficult to explain every detail in a short statement, we want to emphasize that this decision was made after a long period of deliberation,” the company said. “We understand that this news may be difficult for fans to accept, but we hope you will understand that it was made with the future of both ENHYPEN and Heeseung in mind.” Belift Lab added that ENHYPEN would continu

Mar 10, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ENHYPEN's Heeseung announces departure from group
  • What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fans
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