my timesThe Korea Times

Entertainment

K-popShows & DramasFilmsMusicOthers
  • K-pop

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

    Singer-songwriter EJAE — best-known for co-writing and performing the theme song "Golden" for animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" — is set to take the stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Thursday (local time). FIFA announced that she will join a star-studded lineup for a special show ahead of the tournament's kickoff match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. She will join legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli and a lineup of special guest singers to debut the official theme song for the tournament, "DNA." "Being a part of the official FIFA World Cup anthem means so much to me. It's especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song — representing Korea on this stage is such an honor," EJAE said via FIFA. "One of my favorite childhood memories is being in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup, and seeing the city unite. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing strangers on the street hug each other and celebrate. To me, that feeling of togetherness is what the World Cup means, and I'm grateful to be a part of it

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

    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?
  • 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
Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

Read more

K-pop

Stray Kids ranks second on IFPI's 2025 chart for top global artists

K-pop boy group Stray Kids has ranked second on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's (IFPI) Global Artist Chart 2025, the organization representing the global recording industry announced. The ranking marks the fourth consecutive year the Korean group has appeared on the chart since its debut at No. 7 in 2022. For 2025, it reached a new peak at No. 2, trailing only Taylor Swift, according to the IFPI on Wednesday (U.S. time). The IFPI Global Artist Chart calculates worldwide consumption across all formats and includes an artist's entire discography rather than focusing solely on releases from the previous year. Other Korean acts featured on the list include Seventeen, which ranked 14th. It marks the fifth consecutive year the group has appeared on the chart since 2021.

Feb 19, 2026By Yonhap
Stray Kids ranks second on IFPI's 2025 chart for top global artists
Films

Can ‘King’s Warden’ join ‘10 mil. viewer club’ after Lunar New Year success?

"The King’s Warden" is quickly emerging as a strong candidate for the "10 million viewer club" after gathering explosive momentum during the Lunar New Year holiday, box office data showed Wednesday. The historical drama directed by Jang Hang-jun garnered more than 4 million admissions as of Wednesday, reaching its break-even point and dominating the domestic film market, according to the Korean Film Council. In the local film industry, where success is measured by the number of tickets sold rather than box office revenue, hitting the 10 million mark is considered the indicator of a blockbuster. While 2024 saw two such hits with "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment," the local film industry failed to produce a single 10-million-seller last year. This stagnation was attributed to the shifting of investments toward streaming platforms, with annual admissions last year totaling just 105.48 million, just half of the 200 million recorded annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. "The King’s Warden" tells the story of Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), who was exiled t

Feb 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Can ‘King’s Warden’ join ‘10 mil. viewer club’ after Lunar New Year success?
Shows & Dramas

Why ‘Single’s Inferno’ keeps turning to Miss Korea contestants

A recurring keyword in the hit Netflix dating show “Single’s Inferno” is Miss Korea. From former cast members Yu Si-eun, Choi Seo-eun, and Jo Min-ji to Season 5’s Choi Mina Sue, Kim Go-eun, and Park Hee-sun, former Miss Korea contestants have been widely credited with bringing glamour and narrative drive to the series. On Feb. 13, show producers Kim Jae-won, Kim Jung-hyun and Park Su-ji met with the Hankook Ilbo at a cafe in Jongno District of Seoul and shared behind-the-scenes stories. The landmark dating reality program, the first Korean variety show on Netflix to reach a fifth season, follows singles stranded on a remote island dubbed “Inferno,” where they can only leave if they form a couple. Season 1 became the first Korean variety show to enter Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list, while Season 2 stayed on the chart for four consecutive weeks. Season 3, which marked the peak of the show’s popularity, sat in the upper rankings for five weeks and reached the Top 10 in 31 countries. Season 4 recorded the highest viewing hours in its premiere week, and Season

Feb 18, 2026By Hankookilbo
Why ‘Single’s Inferno’ keeps turning to Miss Korea contestants
Others

Even after a year, Kim Sae-ron controversy with Kim Soo-hyun shows no end

One year after the death of South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron, the controversy surrounding her alleged past relationship with top star Kim Soo-hyun remains unresolved — with lawsuits, counterclaims and online accusations still dividing public opinion. Kim, who rose to fame as a child actor and later faced intense scrutiny after a drunk-driving incident in 2022, was found dead at her home on Feb. 16 last year at age 25. A friend who had planned to meet her discovered her and reported it to police. Authorities later said there was no evidence of foul play. Allegations, lawsuits and a battle over the past The dispute that continues to shadow her legacy erupted after her death, when her bereaved family, via the controversial YouTube channel HoverLab (known in Korean as “Garo Sero Institute”), claimed Kim had dated Kim Soo-hyun while she was still a minor. They released photos and letters and filed a complaint accusing the actor of violating child welfare laws. The family also said Kim had been under severe psychological pressure after receiving a legal notice from her former agency Gold M

Feb 17, 2026By Xportsnews
Even after a year, Kim Sae-ron controversy with Kim Soo-hyun shows no end
Music

English producer Gabriel to stage solo showcase in Seoul

Fresh off a Grammy nomination for a recent collaborative work, English producer and singer-songwriter Gabriel has returned to solo work, dropping his new track “YDP” in late January ahead of a solo showcase, “One Night in Limbo,” this Friday. The show, happening at Alive Hall near western Seoul's Hongik University, will feature SM Entertainment artist Min Jiwoon alongside a full band setup. As a producer and musician, Gabriel lent a hand in British trio FLO’s album “All Access Areas,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B album last year. He’s also worked with the likes of Dijon and Kehlani, as well as Korean R&B icons Crush and SUMIN. Juggling show preparations along with upcoming work — both solo and collaborative — and content creation, Gabriel looks at his hectic schedule positively. “Challenges are good for the brain,” he told The Korea Times. Despite having moved to Seoul just six months ago, the transition was quite easy for him. “Looking back, everything fell into place quite quickly,” he said. Even before officially nestling in Seoul

Feb 16, 2026By Mariel Abanes
English producer Gabriel to stage solo showcase in Seoul
K-pop

Ateez's new album claims No. 3 on Billboard 200

K-pop boy group Ateez's latest album, "Golden Hour: Part. 4," has debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 main albums chart. The band's 13th EP amassed 200,000 album-equivalent units, including 195,000 album sales, in the United States during the charting period, Billboard said Sunday (U.S. time). It marked the eight-member act's eighth entry into the chart's top 10. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. measured by equivalent album units, comprising conventional album sales, streaming and digital sales. The new album, released Feb. 6, is the fourth installment in the band's "Golden Hour" album series, which captures its most radiant moments of youth, according to the group's agency, KQ Entertainment. The new EP features five tracks, including the main "Adrenaline," for which members Hongjoong and Mingi participated in penning lyrics, "Ghost," "NASA," "On the Road" and "Choose."

Feb 16, 2026By Yonhap
Ateez's new album claims No. 3 on Billboard 200
Shows & Dramas

How Korea’s dating reality show ‘Single’s Inferno’ became a lasting dating hit through five seasons

The latest season worked again. Even as new dating shows with novel formats flood the market, “Single’s Inferno” has secured its place as a long-running reality hit by preserving its signature tone without drastic changes. As its storytelling deepened, dopamine-driven tension intensified, and the steady build-up of shifting emotions and relationships kept viewers immersed. On Feb. 10, the final selections of “Single’s Inferno 5” were revealed. The 15 contestants wrestled with tangled feelings until the last moment, and several unexpected pairings heightened suspense. After a push-and-pull battle for love, five couples — Kim Min-ji and Song Seung-il, Park Hee-sun and Lim Su-bin, Choi Mina Sue and Lee Sung-hoon, Kim Go-eun and Woo Sung-min, and Lee Ju-young and Kim Jae-jin — left Inferno Island together. Premiering Jan. 20, “Single’s Inferno 5” drew strong reactions throughout its release window. It ranked No. 2 in Netflix’s global Top 10 non-English shows for three consecutive weeks and reached No. 1 in markets including Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. It

Feb 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
How Korea’s dating reality show ‘Single’s Inferno’ became a lasting dating hit through five seasons
Others

Five years into acting: Can BLACKPINK’s Jisoo silence critics with ‘Boyfriend on Demand?’

It marks her fifth acting project. Jisoo of K-pop group BLACKPINK, who enjoys global popularity, is drawing attention over whether she can overcome lingering doubts about her acting and prove her capabilities as an actress through the upcoming series “Boyfriend on Demand.” Set to premiere March 6, the Netflix original series “Boyfriend on Demand” is a romantic comedy about Mi-rae, a webtoon producer exhausted by reality, who subscribes to and experiences romance through a virtual dating simulation. Combining the relatable daily life of office workers with the novel premise of “subscription-based dating” in a virtual world, the series promises both empathy and fresh entertainment. Jisoo stars opposite actor Seo In-guk, with director Kim Jung-sik — known for “Work Later, Drink Now” and “No Gain No Love” — at the helm. Jisoo plays Seo Mi-rae, a busy and weary webtoon producer accustomed to life without romance. After obtaining a mysterious Boyfriend on Demand device, she enters a virtual world where she experiences diverse romances with unrealistically perfect men,

Feb 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
Five years into acting: Can BLACKPINK’s Jisoo silence critics with ‘Boyfriend on Demand?’
K-pop

How K-pop turned lore into production system

In K-pop, idols can be superheroes, werewolves, vampires and pirates, all inside elaborate fictional worlds rich with their own lore. These self-made universes showcased the genre’s imagination, framing each comeback within a larger narrative that stretched across music videos, lyrics and visuals. Albums started feeling less like isolated releases and more like chapters in a continuing story, with cryptic teaser films and hidden clues turning world-building into one of K-pop’s most playful creative endeavors. Over time, however, that lore grew into something bigger than just storytelling. What began as a fun narrative layer expanded into a production framework linking music with webtoons, games and wider branding strategies. As labels positioned idol groups as long-term intellectual properties (IPs), world-building became more systematic — even as a new wave of artists began stepping away from overt storylines to keep the focus on the music itself, reflecting K-pop’s ongoing evolution as a comprehensive art form. Birth of lore The roots of fictional universes in K-pop trace back t

Feb 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How K-pop turned lore into production system
Others

Five years into acting: Can BLACKPINK’s Jisoo silence critics with ‘Boyfriend on Demand?’

It marks her fifth acting project. Jisoo of K-pop group BLACKPINK, who enjoys global popularity, is drawing attention over whether she can overcome lingering doubts about her acting and prove her capabilities as an actress through the upcoming series “Boyfriend on Demand.” Set to premiere March 6, the Netflix original series “Boyfriend on Demand” is a romantic comedy about Mi-rae, a webtoon producer exhausted by reality, who subscribes to and experiences romance through a virtual dating simulation. Combining the relatable daily life of office workers with the novel premise of “subscription-based dating” in a virtual world, the series promises both empathy and fresh entertainment. Jisoo stars opposite actor Seo In-guk, with director Kim Jung-sik — known for “Work Later, Drink Now” and “No Gain No Love” — at the helm. Jisoo plays Seo Mi-rae, a busy and weary webtoon producer accustomed to life without romance. After obtaining a mysterious Boyfriend on Demand device, she enters a virtual world where she experiences diverse romances with unrealistically perfect men,

Feb 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Five years into acting: Can BLACKPINK’s Jisoo silence critics with ‘Boyfriend on Demand?’
previous page
8182838485
next page

Most Read in Entertainment