Your weekend survival-TV guide: Korean competition shows worth bingeing

From “Physical: Asia” to “Just Makeup” and the upcoming second season of “Culinary Class Wars,” Korea is in the middle of a survival competition boom. To help you ride the wave and line up your weekend binge, here’s a look at some of the country’s most popular survival shows, spanning everything from cerebral strategy and military endurance to K-pop stardom. “The Genius” on Tving Long hailed as Korea’s gold standard in brain-game competition shows, “The Genius” has built a fiercely loyal followi

Nov. 22, 2025

Coupang Play launches exclusive Paramount+ service in Korea

Popular US subscription video-on-demand service Paramount+ is now available in Korea exclusively through Coupang Play. Via the Paramount+ Pass, Coupang Play provides access to the streamer’s full slate of programming. The add-on is priced at 3,300 won per month for Coupang Wow members and 4,900 won for nonmembers. The Coupang Wow membership is 7,890 won per month and includes perks such as Coupang’s ultrafast Rocket Delivery service and ad-free streaming on Coupang Play. The Paramount+ lineup br

Nov. 21, 2025

Shin Min-a, Kim Woo-bin to tie knot in December

Actors Shin Min-a and Kim Woo-bin are set to tie the knot this December, marking their marriage after 10 years of public dating. “Shin and Kim have promised to become lifelong partners, building on the deep trust they’ve developed over their long relationship," their agency AM Entertainment announced Thursday. “The wedding will take place privately on Dec. 20 in Seoul, attended by family, relatives and close friends," the statement said, adding, both will remain dedicated to acting. Kim also upl

Nov. 20, 2025

[Exclusive] CJ ENM uses AI-generated product-placement ads — without any discretion

South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM has been using artificial intelligence to embed product-placement ads across its TV lineup in recent years — without disclosing to viewers that the insertions were AI-assisted, according to industry sources. As conventional product placement can disrupt the visual flow of dramas and unscripted shows, the company has increasingly turned to virtual product placement, the sources said. The technology identifies optimal moments for branded items and uses AI to

Nov. 20, 2025

[단독] '피지컬: 100 스웨덴,' 2026년 촬영 앞두고 캐스팅 오픈

"피지컬: 100 스웨덴"이 공식적으로 제작에 돌입했다. 넷플릭스 측은 총 100명의 스웨덴 참가자가 우승을 놓고 경쟁하게 될 것이라고 밝혔다. 현재 온라인 참가자 모집이 진행중이며 지원서 가이드라인에 따르면 직업 제한 없이 엘리트 선수, 군인, 무용수, 소방관 등 폭넓은 직군의 지원자를 받고 있다. 지원서에 따르면 "피지컬: 100 스웨덴"의 촬영은 2026년 5월 스웨덴에서 약 2~3주간 진행될 예정이며, 우승 상금은 100만 스웨덴 크로나다. 지원서는 자기소개를 비롯해 트레이닝 기간, 개인적인 사연, 성장 및 발전 과정, 경쟁 성향 등을 묻는 문항들로 구성돼 있다. 또한 지원자 사진, 운동 영상, 자기소개 영상을 각각 업로드해야 한다. 넷플릭스는 "피지컬" 시리즈의 글로벌 인기에 힘이어 "피지컬: 100 USA"와 "피지컬: 100 이탈리아" 제작도 확정했다. 미국판은 2026년 촬영을 시작할 예정, 이탈리아판은 현재 촬영이 진행 중이다. Netflix has official

Nov. 20, 2025

[Exclusive] 'Physical 100: Sweden' opens casting for 2026 shoot

Netflix has officially confirmed that “Physical 100: Sweden” is underway. The streamer said 100 contestants will compete for the top prize, with casting now open through shortaudition.com/Projekt-00. Producers are seeking a wide range of participants — including elite athletes, military personnel, dancers, firefighters, and fitness enthusiasts — with no profession-based restrictions. According to the application materials, filming is scheduled to take place over two to three weeks in Sweden in M

Nov. 20, 2025

Netflix’s 'Physical: Asia' comes to life with Seoul pop-up

Netflix’s hit variety show "Physical: Asia" is bringing its grueling challenges to life with a Seoul pop-up store open through Sunday. Located in Seongsu-dong, the pop-up will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the intense physical trials of the survival series. Challenges range from pushing heavy poles to battling ropes, with the latter requiring visitors to execute dynamic movements, such as waves and slams with ropes anchored to a fixed point. Completing each challenge will earn visitors

Nov. 19, 2025

Traditional drama powerhouse KBS struggles to bring weekend hits

Korean Broadcasting System, once a dependable ratings engine, is facing a 10 billion won ($6.8 million) deficit as its recent tentpole projects stumble — a slump industry watchers attribute to a mismatch between the shows’ genres and KBS’ core, middle-aged audience. The network recently launched two high-profile weekend series — “Twelve,” starring superstar Don Lee (“The Outlaws,” “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil”) and “Walking on Thin Ice,” led by veteran actress Lee Young-ae (“Sympathy for La

Nov. 19, 2025

SBS’ hit vigilante franchise 'Taxi Driver' revs up with third season

One of Seoul Broadcasting System’s most bankable franchises, “Taxi Driver” -- the vigilante procedural in which a band of renegade cabbies take justice into their own hands -- returns with Season 3, promising a fresh slate of cases inspired by real crimes from Korea’s underbelly. The third season of “Taxi Driver” once again centers on Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon) and the clandestine crew at Rainbow Transport, who carry out private revenge missions on behalf of victims failed by the legal system. The dram

Nov. 18, 2025

'Heroes Next Door': Coupang Play’s year-end tentpole reunites 'The Outlaws' alumni

Coupang Play -- the country’s most-watched streaming service after Netflix -- is rolling out its marquee year-end release, “Heroes Next Door,” a comedic action series that reunites several unforgettable faces from “The Outlaws” universe. The result is a light-hearted comedy that blends feel-good humor with punchy action. “Heroes Next Door” centers on a band of seemingly ordinary neighbors who turn out to have extraordinary pasts. Leading the ensemble is Yoon Kye-sang, the “Outlaws” alumnus who p

Nov. 18, 2025

Tving partners with Disney+ to launch Korea’s first 3-way streaming bundle

Korean streamer Tving, home to hits like “Yumi’s Cells” and “Pyramid Game," announced Tuesday it has partnered with Disney+ to launch a bundle offering access to Tving, Disney+ and Wavve under one subscription. The rollout marks the first three-way streaming bundle from a Korean platform and the first partnership of its kind between a Korean platform and a global streamer in the domestic market. The new bundle comes in two variations: 3 Pack, which unlocks all three services for 21,500 won per m

Nov. 18, 2025

From ramyeon to chimaek, K-dramas’ real love language is food

In K-dramas, food often operates as its own kind of language — a conversational channel that runs parallel to dialogue and, at times, speaks louder than it. From late-night ramyeon to after-work chimaek (chicken and beer), food in K-dramas does more than fill screen time; it functions as a kind of on-screen tell, revealing what characters can’t articulate. K-dramas thread the country's everyday food culture into the fabric of their storytelling, using familiar touches — a shared pot of noodles,

Nov. 17, 2025

Jung Woo-sung stays silent at first press appearance since child revelation

HONG KONG — For the first time since confirming he had fathered a child out of wedlock with model Moon Ga-bi, actor Jung Woo-sung appeared before the press to take questions, but the veteran actor was reserved throughout the appearance. Jung attended the Disney+ Originals Preview event held Thursday in Hong Kong, promoting his upcoming series, "Made in Korea." The showcase, which unveiled Disney+’s 2026 APAC and global content lineup, drew some 400 reporters from across the region. Known for his

Nov. 13, 2025

Korean dramas get spotlight as Disney+ unveils 2026 APAC power slate

Korea Herald correspondent HONG KONG — Disney+ on Thursday unveiled its upcoming slate of titles, a mix of global releases and a strong lineup of Asia Pacific originals, during a major showcase event held in Hong Kong. The event largely spotlighted the streaming platform's upcoming Korean originals for 2026, headlined by “Made in Korea,” starring two of Korea’s top actors, Jung Woo-sung and Hyun Bin. The highly anticipated series is set to premiere Dec. 24. “‘Made in Korea’ has a certain power i

Nov. 13, 2025

'Squid Game' star Lee You-mi finds power in fragility in 'As You Stood By'

Learning life’s toughest lessons often begins with empathy — the ability to inhabit someone else’s pain. Few professions demand a level of emotional surrender quite like acting. In the new Netflix Korean psychological thriller "As You Stood By," Lee You-mi embodies that challenge, portraying a terrified wife trapped in an abusive marriage — a role she says made her stronger and helped her grow in a healthy way. The series follows Hee-soo (Lee) and Eun-soo (Jeon So-nee), two close friends who con

Nov. 11, 2025