Hit director Jang Hang-jun returns with cheeky audition talk showDirector Jang Hang-jun — who recently joined the elite "10-million-viewer club" with his blockbuster hit "The King's Warden" — is making his return with "The Great Hang-jun," an SBS audition-concept talk show centered around him. The cheeky audition talk show, where he pitches "unrefusable offers" to top-tier actors, is officially kicking off. Jang, who sparked a nationwide sensation this year after "The King's Warden" surpassed 16.93 million moviegoers, playfully joked about hosting a show named after himself. "Just because my name is in the title doesn't mean I feel a heavy burden. My mindset is more like, 'Well, it’ll work out somehow,'" he cracked during a press conference held at the Showking K-Pop Center in Seoul Thursday. "Besides, the production crew is sharp, quick-witted and went to great universities." He added with a laugh, "I would’ve been overwhelmed doing this alone, but having Kim Poong and Song Eun-i by my side made it really fun. And to be clear, I didn't direct this — it’s producer Lee Dong-won’s work." "The Great Hang-jun" is a stealth audition show follo10h agoBy Park Jin-hai
Sex toy firm CEO, conservative marketer spark romance in 'Make Me Tingle'A sex toy company CEO and a conservatively raised marketer with strict traditional values are set to clash in Tving's upcoming original series "Make Me Tingle." The romantic comedy centers on the hilarious and heartwarming growth of two people with opposing views on intimacy: a woman who refuses to have sex without love, and a man who is perfectly fine having sex without it. Nam Ji-hyun stars as Gong Yeon-su, an eldest daughter raised in a strictly traditional Korean head family. Despite her conservative upbringing, she works as a sharp, trend-conscious advertising marketer. Kim Jae-young plays Dokgo Dal, the CEO of an adult toy startup who values both emotional connection and physical chemistry. When asked how the production team approached adult toys without falling into sensationalism or alienating audiences, director Kim Ye-ji emphasized tone control. "While sex toys are becoming more mainstream these days, we made a point not to try too hard to be 'cool' about it," Kim explained during a press conference at the Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo District, Wednesday. "Instead of leaning in1d agoBy Park Jin-hai
'Doctor X: Mafia in White' tops Netflix's weekly non-English TV chartThe Korean medical drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" debuted at No. 1 on Netflix's non-English TV series chart, the streaming platform said Wednesday. The SBS drama, starring Kim Ji-won, accumulated 4.6 million views during the latest tracking week ending Sunday, according to Netflix. It reached the top 10 in 36 countries and topped the chart in seven of them, including South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. The series, based on the Japanese series "Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon," portrays Kim as a genius surgeon who challenges corruption in her hospital. Elsewhere on the chart, the Netflix original series "Take Charge of My Heart" ranked third with 3 million views in the same period. It landed on the top 10 in 44 countries in its first week of release. Based on a web fiction of the same title, the romantic comedy follows a corporate heir with a failing artificial heart and a screenwriter who has the power to electrically charge him as they enter a three-month relationship. It features Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin.1d agoBy Yonhap
Kim Ji-won, Kim You-jung face off as genius surgeon, pickpocket in weekend drama battleKim Ji-won of "Queen of Tears" and Kim You-jung of "Dear X" are going head-to-head on weekend television, returning with dramatically different roles after acclaimed performances in their previous series. Kim Ji-won stars as a brilliant surgeon in SBS' new Friday-Saturday series "Doctor X: Mafia in White," while Kim You-jung transforms into a master pickpocket in tvN's 20th anniversary special project "100 Days of Deception." The two dramas premiered just one day apart, with "Doctor X" airing its first episode Friday and "100 Days of Deception" following Saturday. Their schedules put the two stars in direct competition on Saturday nights, adding another high-profile matchup to the weekend drama race. Expectations are particularly high because both actors are coming off performances that marked significant moments in their careers. Kim Ji-won returned to a leading television role about two years after the hit tvN series "Queen of Tears," in which she played Hong Hae-in, a third-generation chaebol heiress confronting love, loss and a life-threatening illness. Her performance, which shifted2d agoBy Xportsnews
Review'100 Days of Deception' blends intrigue with historical resonanceThe new tvN weekend drama "100 Days of Deception" directed by Yoo In-sik and written by Rheu Bo-ri has captured viewers, breaking through a 7 percent viewership rating in just two episodes. Set in 1932 Gyeongseong, Seoul's old name, the drama seamlessly weaves tense espionage with a deeply moving storyline, sparking enthusiastic reviews among K-drama fans. The series immediately grabs attention with its stylish direction. The opening sequence mixes black-and-white film footage reminiscent of historical documentaries with upbeat music, creating an engaging atmosphere without feeling overly heavy. Set 13 years before liberation, 1932 was an era when Japanese colonial control over Gyeongseong reached its peak, while secret independence movements stirred deep underground. The storyline introduces fresh character archetypes into this historical whirlwind, notably a pragmatic pickpocket turned spy and a former street beggar turned Japanese elite official. The opening episodes delivered exceptionally emotional resonance through the powerful acting of Kim Hyun-joo and Lee Mu-saeng. Kim Hyun-joo2d agoBy Park Jin-hai
'KiDnap Game,' 'Merry Berry Love' show how Korea-Japan dramas are evolvingKorean and Japanese creators are increasingly joining forces on television dramas, but the latest wave of collaborations is moving beyond the once-novel spectacle of simply putting stars from the two countries together. Two new series, "KiDnap Game" and "Merry Berry Love," illustrate how Korea-Japan co-productions are evolving as producers combine different production systems and storytelling styles from the development stage while setting their sights on audiences beyond either country. Channel A's "KiDnap Game," which premiered Tuesday, is a thriller revolving around an unprecedented series of kidnappings that simultaneously occur in seven Asian cities: Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila and Naha. The global project is a joint production involving Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi takes a leading role alongside Korean star Lee Joon-gi, marking the first time the two actors have worked together. A day later, CJ ENM-produced "Merry Berry Love" premiered on Japan's Nippon TV and Disney+. The cross-border romance follows Yubin, a Korean spatial desiOct 12, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Doctor X' delivers satisfying dose of justice with Kim Ji-won at center“Doctor X” took aim at doctors chasing power and personal interests within the hospital, delivering a satisfying blow against corruption from its very first episode. At the center is Gye Su-jeong, a brilliant surgeon played by Kim Ji-won, in a rare female lead role for a medical drama. SBS' "Doctor X: Mafia in White," which premiered Friday, is a medical drama centered on Gye, also known as Doctor X, who takes on deeply rooted corruption with exceptional surgical skills and a refusal to accept failure or compromise. According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode recorded nationwide viewership of 11.4 percent and 11.2 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area, peaking at 12.9 percent. It was the highest-rated premiere among miniseries that debuted in 2026, giving "Doctor X" a double-digit start. The premiere introduced Gye, a temporary doctor dispatched to Guseo University Hospital, as she confronted the institution's hierarchy and corruption while demonstrating her surgical prowess. Gye and Jang Hee-sook, played by Lee Jung-eun, encountered a customer who suddenly collapsed in pain at a bOct 10, 2026By Hankookilbo
'I Live Alone' viewers captivated by actor who lives in 90-year-old homeActor Kim Min has won praise from viewers after revealing his unconventional daily life and personal philosophy on MBC's reality show "I Live Alone." Beyond the intensity he has shown in acting roles, Kim displayed a free-spirited side as he filled his days with home repairs, martial arts and hands-on projects. But it was his outlook on life — particularly his belief that being "cool" comes from how a person spends their time rather than their looks — that resonated most with viewers. The Oct. 2 episode of "I Live Alone" offered a glimpse into Kim's life in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, where he has lived alone for 28 years. He resides in a roughly 90-year-old house whose distinctive atmosphere and unconventional setup immediately drew attention. Kim began his day by running a generator for electricity and tearing into an entire baguette. He repaired a damaged floor himself with cement, worked on woodworking projects and practiced martial arts. Despite living in surroundings that might seem inconvenient to others, Kim appeared perfectly at ease, making and repairing what he neededOct 6, 2026By Hankookilbo
CJ ENM wins 7 national titles at Asian Academy Creative AwardsCJ ENM won national winner titles in seven categories at this year's Asian Academy Creative Awards and will compete for the top regional prizes in December, the Korean entertainment company said Friday. "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," a military kitchen comedy on CJ ENM's streaming platform Tving, took two titles — best comedy and best original production by a streamer. "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," a romance streaming on Netflix about a modern chef who travels back in time to cook for a Joseon-era king, won best drama series. "Dear X," a Tving thriller directed by Lee Eung-bok, won best direction for a scripted program, while Lee Won-woong's boxing survival show "I Am Boxer," which streams on Disney+, won the nonscripted direction category. "Undercover Chef" won best general entertainment, game or quiz program, and the dating reality show "EXchange 4" won best nonscripted entertainment. Three of the winning titles — "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," "Dear X" and "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty" — were produced by Studio Dragon, CJ ENM's drama production unit. The Singapore-based awardsOct 2, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Netflix's 'Take Charge of My Heart' recharges classic rom-com formulaAn electrifying Korean romantic comedy is headed to the small screen for the fall season. Starring Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin, the Netflix series "Take Charge of My Heart" is set to spark a lovely romantic connection with viewers and warming hearts as chilly autumn days set in. The drama follows a man whose artificial heart battery is dying and a woman burdened with high-voltage superpowers. Baek Ho-rang (Kim), a third-generation chaebol heir whose artificial heart is dangerously low on power, enters into a pragmatic contract with Na Bo-bae (Chae), a TV writer whose own love life remains hopelessly drained due to her electrical abilities. As subtle feelings develop between them, their transactional dynamic quickly evolves into a series of thrilling, heart-fluttering moments. "When I first received the script, the female lead's electrical powers immediately hooked me," director Park Soo-won explained during a press conference for the Netflix series at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo District, Seoul, Thursday. "Unlike standard rom-coms where heart-fluttering moments come purely fOct 1, 2026By Park Jin-hai
