'Next Byeon Woo-seok' Lee Chae-min eyes Higashino adaptation post-breakout

Lee Chae-min, frequently dubbed Korea's "next Byeon Woo-seok," is lining up his next major project following his breakout turn opposite Girls' Generation's Lim Yoon-a in tvN's "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty." The actor is reportedly in talks to headline the Korean series adaptation of Keigo Higashino's "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store," one of the most widely read Japanese novels officially published in South Korea. "The project is not confirmed, but we are positively reviewing it," Lee's a

Feb. 20, 2026

Disney+ shaman survival show denies using deceased firefighter’s story without consent

The producers of Disney+’s fortune teller survival show “Battle of Fates” are facing backlash for using the story of a deceased firefighter in a competition round in which shamans were asked to predict his fate. In the episode in question, participating shamans were presented with details of real people and were asked to infer their cause of death. The late Kim Cheol-hong, who died in 2001 while responding to a fire in Seoul’s Seodaemun district, was among them. After the show aired, a social me

Feb. 19, 2026

'Single’s Inferno' creator on Choi Mi-na Sue, villains, viewer feedback

In an era of franchise-driven programming, sequels often face an uphill battle, with follow-ups frequently falling short of the momentum and expectations set by a breakout debut. Breaking through that curse in Korea are dating reality formats, which have proven to be a notable exception. Among the most resilient is "I'm Solo," which has remained on air since 2021 and is currently airing its 29th cohort, with each seaon's storyline unfolding over seven or eight episodes. "EXchange" has likewise d

Feb. 13, 2026

From Cha Eun-woo to Park Sung-hoon, controversial stars stage comebacks

Several high-profile Korean celebrities whose controversies once dominated national headlines are preparing to make comebacks, with streaming platforms emerging as the primary stage for their returns. Cha Eun-woo is set to return in Netflix's action-comedy series "Wonder Fools," where he stars opposite Park Eun-bin ("Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young-woo") as a male lead with supernatural abilities. "'Wonder Fools' is still scheduled for a Q2 2026 release, though no specific date or press event h

Feb. 12, 2026

Did Olympic fever break? Winter Games ratings collapse in Korea

For many in South Korea, it hardly feels like the Winter Olympics are underway. Public conversation around the Milan Cortina Games has been nearly nonexistent, even though Korea already secured two medals just four days into the competition, despite its relatively small delegation. Viewership data points to a muted response. The opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics delivered the weakest television performance ever recorded for an Olympic broadcast in Korea. Airing in the ea

Feb. 11, 2026

Netflix Korea stakes Lunar New Year on mystery thriller 'The Art of Sarah'

Netflix Korea is betting its Lunar New Year lineup on a new headline thriller designed to keep viewers glued to their screens through the holiday break. Set to debut Friday as the holidays kick off, "The Art of Sarah" centers on Mu-kyoung (Lee Jun-hyuk), a detective who becomes obsessively entangled in discovering the truth behind the death of Sarah Kim (Shin Hae-sun). Ostensibly, Sarah is the Asia regional head of a luxury brand. Throughout the show, however, she is revealed to be a con artist

Feb. 10, 2026

Meet Ha Ye-rin, Korea's first 'Bridgerton' sweetheart

When "Bridgerton" hit Netflix in 2020, it made waves with its inclusive casting. Now, Ha Ye-rin has emerged as the first East Asian actor to lead the series. A glossy alternative-history romance, "Bridgerton" reimagines Regency-era London as a racially inclusive society, following the eight Bridgerton siblings as they explore the marriage market of high society. With its lavish mise-en-scenes, intense romantic storytelling and color-conscious casting, the show has cultivated a fervent global fan

Feb. 9, 2026

After 'Culinary Class Wars' craze, its bake-off version comes out — and it's much worse

Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" swept South Korea last year with its high-drama face-offs between chefs, pairing visually striking dishes with the deeply personal philosophies of its contestants. More than an entertainment show, the series captured hearts and quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Riding that momentum, and with the second season of "Culinary Class Wars" wrapping in January, broadcasters have rushed to capitalize on the food survival boom. Among the wave of new entrants, Kor

Feb. 8, 2026

Korea launches short-form film and drama platform 'Sero'

Sero, a Korean platform dedicated exclusively to short-form films, dramas and variety shows, was officially launched Thursday, according to its operator Serobonneung. The service repackages feature-length films, scripted series and variety shows into approximately 30-minute vertical-format episodes designed for mobile viewing. In a world first, the Korean media startup said, each title is restructured to stand on its own, rather than functioning as highlight reels or summaries. Music, pacing and

Feb. 5, 2026

Korea tops global AI slop consumption. What's behind it?

South Korea has emerged as the world's biggest consumer of low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence — notoriously known as "AI slop" — and experts say the phenomenon is being fueled by the country's unusually fast embrace of new technology, while it is shaped by a cultural instinct to stay ahead of societal shifts. According to a report from video-editing platform Kapwing, the country now ranks No. 1 worldwide in AI slop consumption. YouTube channels originating from South Korea

Feb. 4, 2026

Kim Seon-ho apologizes over one-person corporation amid tax avoidance allegations

Kim Seon-ho, a fan-favorite star of K-drama rom-com hits, has issued an apology after coming under fire for previously running a one-person corporation that critics allege was used as a shell company to avoid higher taxes. On Wednesday, his agency Fantagio released a statement addressing the growing controversy surrounding the entity, which critics have alleged was created to reduce his tax burden. According to Fantagio, Kim established the corporation in question in January 2024 to support his

Feb. 4, 2026

'KPop Demon Hunters' star on her next move: 'The Substance'-like K-pop horror film

Arden Cho, the voice behind fearless "KPop Demon Hunters" protagonist Rumi, is paving an unconventional course in Hollywood shaped by evolving conversations around representation and her own reinvention as an Asian American artist, after her runaway success with Netflix's animated feature. Following "KPop Demon Hunters," Cho's is firmly focused on her next chapter behind the camera, producing "Perfect Girl." The K-pop thriller marks quite the pivot from the family-friendly appeal of "KPop Demon

Feb. 3, 2026

Arden Cho on how she met Rumi

Arden Cho, the voice behind Rumi, the fearless protagonist at the center of Netflix’s global phenomenon "KPop Demon Hunters," is enjoying a career high. The animated feature has emerged as a full-fledged cultural juggernaut: its soundtrack single "Golden" became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy on Sunday, while the film itself cemented its place as Netflix’s most-watched movie ever, surpassing 500 million views by late 2025. The success, however, follows a far from linear journey. Born and r

Feb. 3, 2026

'Still difficult for Asian women in Hollywood,' says 'KPop Demon Hunters' star

Arden Cho, the voice behind Rumi, the fearless protagonist in Netflix's global phenomenon "KPop Demon Hunters," is paving an unconventional course in Hollywood, one shaped by the evolving conversation around representation and her own reinvention as an Asian American artist. Born in Texas, Cho began her career with varied roles across US television, including "CSI: NY" and "Pretty Little Liars." Her breakout came with MTV's supernatural hit "Teen Wolf" (2013-2016), where she established herself

Feb. 3, 2026

Arden Cho thought she was done — then 'KPop Demon Hunters' changed everything

Arden Cho, the voice behind Rumi, the fearless protagonist at the center of Netflix phenomenon "KPop Demon Hunters," is paving an unconventional course in Hollywood, one shaped by the evolving conversation around representation and her own reinvention as an Asian American artist. Born in Texas, Cho began her career with varied roles across US television, including "CSI: NY" and "Pretty Little Liars." Her breakout came in MTV's supernatural hit "Teen Wolf" (2013-2016), where she established herse

Feb. 3, 2026