Korea’s first dating show for the disabled challenges genre with tender, humanistic lens

South Korean broadcasting has long been a powerhouse for the dating show genre, but SBS' latest three-part series, "Mongle Mongle Mongle," is breaking new ground by centering on a demographic often left out of romantic narratives -- people with disabilities. The program follows the journey of three young adults -- Ji-hyun, who has a level 3 intellectual disability; Ji-hoon, who is on the autism spectrum; and Ji-won, who has Down syndrome -- as they embark on blind dates with other young adults w

March 13, 2026

Netflix greenlights 'KPop Demon Hunters' sequel

"KPop Demon Hunters" is officially getting a sequel, Netflix confirmed Friday. The film will again be directed by the original creative team, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. According to Netflix, the sequel will mark the first project to emerge from the streamer’s exclusive multiyear writing and directing partnership with Kang and Appelhans across animation. Specific details, including the release date and plot, have not yet been disclosed. However, speaking at a press conference in Seoul in Au

March 13, 2026

Quiet comeback of Lee Na-young, the A-list mystique

In the Korean entertainment scene, few married couples command as much fascination, or maintain as much distance, as Lee Na-young and Won Bin. Despite their status as perennial A-listers, the two are famously selective about their work, often letting years pass between projects. While Won Bin has remained on a cinematic hiatus since his 2010 blockbuster "The Man from Nowhere," Lee recently ended her own seven-year television drought with the ENA legal drama "Honor." The series proved to be a rat

March 12, 2026

K-drama icons return for 'Climax' as spring content wars heat up

Korean heavyweights are returning to television with a major new project, as the political thriller "Climax" unites Netflix's "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" hero Ju Ji-hoon with a beloved K-drama heroine Ha Ji-won ("Secret Garden") -- who returns from a four-year hiatus with the new series. Set to air on cable network ENA, the outfit behind the global phenomenon "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," the show follows prosecutor Tae-sup (Ju) as he becomes part of a cartel in his pursuit of political po

March 10, 2026

‘Mad Concrete Dreams’ starring Ha Jung-woo takes aim at South Korea’s property obsession

Ha Jung-woo, known for hits such as “Along with the Gods” and “1987,” returns to television for the first time in 19 years with “Mad Concrete Dreams,” a satire that taps into one of modern South Korea’s most enduring aspirations: property ownership. “(Shooting this series), I came to think that becoming part of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) shouldn’t be something that comes easily,” Ha said during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. “It’s great if you manage to buy

March 10, 2026

Korea moves to curb 'excessive' celebrity security disrupting airport passenger flow

South Korea has long grappled with airport congestion caused by the large entourages and security details accompanying celebrities traveling overseas. The issue has persisted for years, with fans and security personnel frequently crowding airport passageways and delaying travelers trying to catch flights on schedule. That situation may soon change. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport commissioned a research project titled "A Study on Crowd Safety Management Meas

March 8, 2026

Salt bread, coffee and a spring view of Inwangsan

Seoul weekends arrive with a quiet promise: more time, a slower pace and countless corners of the city waiting to be rediscovered. This week’s picks highlight two spots that capture the simple pleasures of Seoul life. In Yeonnam-dong, a bakery known for its cult favorite salt bread draws a steady stream of fans eager for its crisp crust and buttery center. In Buam-dong, a cafe with sweeping views of Inwangsan offers a peaceful perch to sip coffee while watching the mountain slowly awaken for spr

March 6, 2026

'Show Me the Money' retakes place at center of Korean hip-hop

Tom Cruise's iconic line from "Jerry Maguire" — "Show Me The Money" — occupies a special place in Korean culture. The phrase has become virtually synonymous with hip-hop, as the name of the country's flagship hip-hop survival program. The ultimate reward is literal, with the season's winner traditionally "shown" a 100 million won ($68,000) cash prize. In a music market dominated by K-pop, hip-hop increasingly occupies its own niche. So the show's return for its 12th season, its first in four yea

March 5, 2026

Samsung Electronics wage talks collapse, raising strike threat

Wage negotiations between management at Samsung Electronics and its labor union have collapsed after the two sides failed to reach an agreement in mediation with the National Labor Relations Commission, raising the possibility of a walkout for the first time in two years. The commission, a quasi-judicial body tasked with mediating labor-management disputes, decided to suspend the process on Wednesday, following the second round of talks a day earlier. Samsung Electronics management and labor rep

March 4, 2026

Ha Ye-rin says 'Bridgerton' racial bias controversy may be learning curve for global media

Netflix's flagship intellectual property "Bridgerton" has returned with a milestone season, its first to feature an East Asian lead. Fronting Season 4 is Ha Ye-rin, a 28-year-old Korean-Australian actor whose blockbuster resume includes training at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art and roles in tentpole projects such as Paramount+'s "Halo" and HBO's "Dune: Prophecy." The glossy alternative-history series unveiled Part 2 of its latest season on Feb. 26, this time leaning into fai

March 4, 2026