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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

'The King's Warden' reigns over weekend box office as total audience inches closer to 6 million

The historical film "The King's Warden" continued its reign atop the weekend box-office chart, data from the Korean Film Council showed Monday. The film drew 1.41 million moviegoers from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative audience to over 5.8 million since its Feb. 4 opening — more than double its break-even point of approximately 2.6 million. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, whose previous works include the action comedy "Break Out" (2002) and the sports drama "Rebound" (2023), "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the young, deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) during the latter's exile in the village. The film is distantly trailed by "Humint," directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, which drew 239,368 moviegoers over the weekend. The action thriller has attracted 1.57 million viewers since its release Feb. 11.

Feb 23, 2026By Yonhap
'The King's Warden' reigns over weekend box office as total audience inches closer to 6 million
K-pop

Museums, theaters near Gwanghwamun adjust schedules for BTS' comeback show

Cultural institutions surrounding Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul are preparing temporary closures and schedule changes as safety measures ahead of K-pop juggernaut BTS' large-scale comeback concert set for March 21. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History announced Friday that it will remain closed that day due to the event. The museum said the decision was made after considering safety concerns tied to the anticipated concentration of large crowds in the Gwanghwamun area. Nearby, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is also in discussions with concert organizers about canceling scheduled performances and exhibitions. Officials are reportedly exploring ways to open parts of the complex for fan use, potentially allowing visitors access to selected spaces and amenities. Several performances scheduled at the center that day have already been affected. The musical "Anna Karenina," originally set to be held at the Grand Theater, and the play "The Wasp" at the S Theater have been officially canceled. While decisions are still pending for The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's dan

Feb 22, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Museums, theaters near Gwanghwamun adjust schedules for BTS' comeback show
K-pop

K-pop stars sweep seven of top 10 spots on IFPI global album sales chart

K-pop acts, including Stray Kids and Seventeen, dominated global album sales last year, taking seven of the top 10 spots on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's (IFPI) Global Album Sales Chart, data showed Friday (U.S. time). Stray Kids' "Karma" came in second on the 2025 ranking, followed by Seventeen's "Happy Burstday" in third place and Enhypen's "Desire: Unleash" in fourth. Global pop star Taylor Swift topped the list with "The Life of a Showgirl." Other K-pop albums in the top 10 included Tomorrow X Together's "The Name Chapter: Together" at No. 6, Zerobaseone's "Never Say Never" at No. 7, Ive's "Ive Empathy" at No. 9, and G-Dragon's "Ubermensch" at No. 10. The IFPI chart, which reflects combined physical album and paid digital download sales, also featured several other Korean releases within the top 20, such as NCT Wish's "Color" (11th), &Team's "Back to Life" (13th), Riize's "Odyssey" (15th), aespa's "Rich Man" (16th), and Boynextdoor's "No Genre" (18th). In IFPI's separate Global Album Chart, which includes streaming data, the original soundtrack of Netfli

Feb 21, 2026By Yonhap
K-pop stars sweep seven of top 10 spots on IFPI global album sales chart
K-pop

Chaebol heiress-turned-idol Annie says her ‘perfect life’ videos are curated: ‘Don’t compare yourself’

Annie of rookie K-pop group AllDay Project — also known as a granddaughter of South Korean retail conglomerate Shinsegae Chairwoman Lee Myung-hee — has addressed fans who felt intimidated after watching her high-achieving daily life content, saying the videos show only the “cool and pretty” parts of her routine. The singer, who recently returned to Columbia University, shared a vlog-style video on her personal social media showing a packed schedule of classes, workouts, and self-care. The clip quickly drew admiration online, with fans commenting that her “god-tier productivity” and discipline were inspiring — but also difficult to match. Responding on a fan communication platform, Annie expressed concern that younger followers might compare themselves negatively. "I wanted to say something," she said. "If you only watch the videos I post or what I share on DayOff, it can look like I’m always doing something fun, exercising, and living diligently every day." "It’s great if DayOnes, especially younger fans, feel motivated," she said. "But I hope you don’t compare yourse

Feb 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Chaebol heiress-turned-idol Annie says her ‘perfect life’ videos are curated: ‘Don’t compare yourself’
K-pop

BTS’ V says he never sided with Min Hee-jin after private texts appear in court

BTS member V has expressed discomfort after his private messages with former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin were cited as evidence in a court ruling tied to her ongoing legal dispute with HYBE, with the company saying the singer never intended to support any of her claims. On Feb. 20, V posted a screenshot of a news report on his personal social media account, addressing the disclosure of his KakaoTalk conversation with Min. He stressed that the exchange was part of a personal conversation between acquaintances and should not be interpreted as him taking sides. "It was part of a private, everyday conversation shared in empathy because she was an acquaintance," V said. "I had absolutely no intention of siding with either party. I am also very taken aback that this conversation was submitted as evidence without my consent." HYBE echoed the sentiment, cautioning against overinterpretation. "Because it was a private exchange with an acquaintance, he was simply responding in an empathetic way. It has been confirmed that he did not agree with any specific claims made by the other party," a HYBE officia

Feb 21, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS’ V says he never sided with Min Hee-jin after private texts appear in court
K-pop

BLACKPINK becomes first artist to reach 100 mil. subscribers on YouTube

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has hit 100 million subscribers on YouTube, making it the first official artist channel to hit the milestone. According to the global video sharing platform and YG Entertainment, the group's label, on Saturday, BLACKPINK reached the milestone at around 7 p.m. the previous day, roughly nine years and eight months after launching its channel in June 2016. The channel currently hosts 648 videos. To celebrate such an achievement, YouTube said it presented BLACKPINK with a custom Red Diamond Creator Award. "The dynamic female powerhouse that is BLACKPINK has earned international acclaim on YouTube with their mega hit songs and fierce performances," YouTube said on its official blog. "The group has continuously raised the bar on YouTube, pioneering new ways to connect with their fans," it added. BLACKPINK thanked fans for their support and love. "We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has always shown interest in our music and supported us with so much love. We're especially happy that we achieved this incredible record together with Blinks," Jennie said on the

Feb 21, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK becomes first artist to reach 100 mil. subscribers on YouTube
Films

Park Ji-hoon's gaze in 'King's Warden' wins over Gen Z fans

Actor Park Ji-hoon has found a career-defining role in the historical film "The King's Warden," driving the movie to the top of the local box office with his nuanced portrayal of the tragic Joseon Dynasty monarch. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film depicts King Danjong's exile to Cheongryeongpo in 1457. Park plays the deposed teenage monarch alongside veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin, who portrays Eom Heung-do, a village chief who initially attempts to exploit the king to enhance his town's reputation. Shedding his K-pop idol persona, Park anchors the narrative through restrained dialogue and minimal physicality. He relies instead on his delicate, expressive gaze to convey the emotional turmoil of a young king stripped of his throne, humanizing the historical figure for a contemporary audience. Fans have embraced his performance, bestowing Park with affectionate nicknames such as "My Danjong-nim" and "Danjong Oppa" — a term typically reserved by young women for older brothers and close male friends — alongside "Hong-wi Oppa" in reference to the king's personal name, and "Your Majesty." Buo

Feb 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Park Ji-hoon's gaze in 'King's Warden' wins over Gen Z fans
Shows & Dramas

Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ faces criticism over treatment of Yerin Ha

Concerns about representation in global television franchises have gained renewed attention after fans questioned the visibility of Korean Australian actor Yerin Ha in promotional material for the fourth season of Netflix’s "Bridgerton." The criticism emerged after Netflix Spain shared photographs from a promotional event held on Feb. 18, featuring Luke Thompson, Hannah Dodd and Ha. Some viewers argued the framing appeared to foreground Dodd, who plays Francesca Bridgerton, rather than the season’s central romantic pairing of Thompson and Ha. Attention also focused on a promotional video in which Ha was seated at the edge. She was not visible in vertically cropped versions designed for social platforms, leaving only Thompson and Dodd in frame. Spanish newspaper ABC further fuelled discussion after misspelling her name as “Yern Ha.” Fans are increasingly worried that Ha is facing racism from Netflix. Ha is a Korean Australian actor who has appeared in works including the series "Halo." She is also the granddaughter of veteran Korean actor Sohn Sook. In an earlier interview with the

Feb 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ faces criticism over treatment of Yerin Ha
Shows & Dramas

InterviewShin Hye-sun takes on her most ambiguous role in 'Art of Sarah'

Actor Shin Hye-sun said that her role in the new Netflix series “The Art of Sarah” was the most ambiguous character she has ever portrayed in her career. "I usually start a project only after I have a clear plan for the character, but this time was different," Shin told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. "The story was so interesting that I really wanted to find out how it ends as soon as I read the script.” The eight episode series tells the story of Sarah Kim, played by Shin, who lives a life of lies to act like she comes from a background of luxury. Her carefully crafted world begins to collapse as she is pursued by detective Mu-gyeong (Lee Jun-hyuk), who is determined to uncover the truth behind her fake identity. Shin portrayed multiple personas in the series, including Mok Ga-hee, Kim Eun-jae and finally, Sarah Kim. She explained that playing such an elusive figure required her to be flexible rather than following a fixed acting style. "The script was not very kind in terms of explanations and I actually felt more confused as I read it," she said. "I decided to focus

Feb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Shin Hye-sun takes on her most ambiguous role in 'Art of Sarah'
Entertainment

HYBE appeals court's put option ruling for ex-CEO of ADOR

K-pop powerhouse HYBE has appealed against a court's ruling that ordered the payment of 25.5 billion won ($17.7 million) worth of put options to Min Hee-jin, a former CEO of a HYBE subsidiary named ADOR, judicial officials said Friday. The appeal was filed with the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 31 on Thursday after the same court last week dismissed HYBE's lawsuit seeking to confirm the termination of its shareholders' agreement with Min and ruled on the put option payment. HYBE was also ordered by the court on Feb. 12 to pay 1.7 billion won and 1.4 billion won, respectively, to two former ADOR executives for the same reasons. HYBE reportedly demanded in its appeal that the effect of the first trial be suspended until the appellate court makes a decision. The conflict between HYBE and Min began in April 2024 and Min was dismissed as CEO of ADOR in August of that year. HYBE has argued that the termination of the shareholders' contract is valid because Min violated it by seeking to end girl group NewJeans' agency contract with ADOR and pushing for an initial public offering

Feb 20, 2026By Yonhap
HYBE appeals court's put option ruling for ex-CEO of ADOR
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