JMS files injunction to block Netflix docuseries exposing misconduct

Jesus Morning Star, a controversial Korean cult group, has filed an injunction to block the release of "The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea’s Tragedies," an upcoming Netflix documentary series that spotlights accounts of sexual abuse victims within the organization. On July 29, JMS submitted a request for a broadcast injunction against both MBC and Netflix to the Seoul Western District Court. A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for Aug. 12. Produced by Korean broadcaster MBC and set to pr

Aug. 5, 2025

'Kpopped' brings together K-pop artists, pop icons

K-pop and pop will be teaming up in the new cross-cultural music competition series heading to Apple TV+ at the end of this month. "Kpopped" pairs global pop icons with K-pop acts, tasking them with delivering a collaborative performance that fuses their distinct musical styles. Performances take place before a live audience in Seoul, who will vote to select the episode’s winning pair. According to Apple TV+, each of the series' eight episodes will wrap up with a finale performed by a K-pop grou

Aug. 5, 2025

The best 'KPop Demon Hunters'-style merch that’s not from Netflix

When “KPop Demon Hunters” dropped on Netflix in June, the title alone made many viewers cringe. But the animated film turned out to be a welcome, pleasant surprise. The animation was slick, the characters were fresh and adorable and the cultural references hit all the right notes. Fans around the world took notice. Naturally, merchandise soon followed. Netflix rolled out the usual lineup, including hoodies, graphic tees and bucket hats. As of Monday, there are 126 different items under its “KPop

Aug. 5, 2025

We were all first-time daters once

Jae-yoon dived head-first into a pile of grass to avoid approaching women; Jung-mok confessed he's already thinking about marriage just days into the experience. These raw, awkward and often hilarious portrayals of first love quickly helped "Better Late Than Single" to become a breakout hit. Following 12 participants, most of them in their late 20s, who had never been in a romantic relationship, the Netflix Korea show has gained global popularity since its July premiere. Just one week after its

Aug. 4, 2025

Discover splendor tucked in summer's heat with these series

There’s a certain romance to the height of summer — and these standout dramas capture it with precision. Try out these well-made series that reveal the beauty hidden within the season’s sweltering heat. “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” on Netflix, Tving Set against the sun-drenched shores of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" delivers a soothing slice-of-life romance. Shin Min-a stars as a Seoul dentist who, after losing her job, returns to her late mother’s seaside hometown — whe

Aug. 2, 2025

13th Busan Int'l Comedy Festival to take over coastal city in August

The 13th Busan International Comedy Festival, one of Asia’s largest comedy showcases, is set to run for 10 days from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7 across multiple venues in the coastal city of Busan. Kicking off with an opening ceremony at Bexco, the event will bring together around 100 performers, including Korea’s top comedians, international acts and rising digital creators. The comedy troupe from "Gag Concert" — Korea’s iconic sketch show — will open the event with a live performance. Popular comedian

Aug. 1, 2025

Japanese version of 'Marry My Husband' becomes Prime Video Japan’s most-watched series

The Japanese adaptation of the hit Korean drama "Marry My Husband" has become Amazon Prime Video Japan’s most-watched series. Having premiered on June 27, the series soared to the top of the platform's viewership charts, drawing the largest audience in Japan within its first 30 days, from June 27 to July 27, 2025, according to data provided by Amazon Prime Video. As of Thursday, the drama also clinched the No. 1 spot on Prime Video’s Top 10 chart in Japan, based on rankings compiled by FlixPatro

Aug. 1, 2025

JTBC's 'Beyond the Bar' promises to refresh crowded legal drama genre

Amid a saturated market of legal dramas, "Beyond the Bar" aims to deliver healing stories that explore the emotional wounds behind legal cases. "Beyond the Bar" is an office drama centered on Hyo-min (Jung Chae-yeon), a rookie lawyer, and Seok-hoon (Lee Jin-wook), an elite attorney at the same firm. Despite the star power of Jung, known for "Family By Choice" and as a former member of the K-pop group I.O.I, and Lee, a seasoned actor with hit K-drama credits including "Sweet Home" and "Squid Game

July 31, 2025

CJ ENM launches label dedicated to supporting content by Asian creators

South Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM has launched First Light StoryHouse, a new label dedicated to supporting content development by Asian creators. The label falls under CJ ENM’s newly unveiled Asian Content Initiative, aimed at elevating Asian voices on the global stage. The initiative is spearheaded by CJ Vice Chair Miky Lee, producer and former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Janet Yang, and East West Bank Chair and CEO Dominic Ng. The trio will serve as foundin

July 30, 2025

What would you do if you had a gun?

Guns and South Korea are two subjects rarely linked in everyday discourse. Netflix’s new series “Trigger” tests Korea's strict gun control, imagining what could happen if guns were suddenly introduced into a society already grappling with deepening social divisions. “Trigger” follows Yi-do (Kim Nam-gil), a police officer who begins to suspect that civilians are receiving shipments of guns. As violent incidents escalate, Yi-do races to uncover the root of the crisis. The series premiered Friday,

July 30, 2025

EBS documentary events scheduled for late summer

South Korea’s public broadcaster EBS on Tuesday announced the return of its annual documentary-centered events that are open to the public. K-Docs Festival, which seeks to champion emerging Korean documentary filmmakers and introduce new local titles to a wider audience, is set to run from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22. Now in its fourth year, the event has adopted the title “festival” for the first time, signaling a broader push to engage industry professionals and everyday viewers alike. “This is our thi

July 29, 2025

Lee Jung says dance is her 'source of life'

K-pop continues to dominate the global stage — not just through its chart-topping idol groups, but also thanks to the choreographers and creative minds behind the scenes who are now gaining long-overdue recognition. Among them is one of the hottest names in the game: Lee Jung, the 26-year-old star choreographer who recently appeared in Mnet’s dance survival competition "World of Street Woman Fighter," the third installment of the hit competition franchise "Street Woman Fighter" (2023). The serie

July 27, 2025

Japanese version of 'Stove League' begins production

Studio S, the drama production arm of Seoul Broadcasting System, announced Thursday that it has officially kicked off production on the Japanese adaptation of its hit series “Stove League.” More than a straightforward remake, the upcoming series will be co-produced by Studio S and Japanese production house NTT Docomo Studio & Live, marking a continued push into cross-border collaboration. The original “Stove League,” which aired on SBS in 2019, follows Seung-soo (played by Namgung Min), who step

July 24, 2025

Iconic Korean variety shows gear up for major comebacks

Legendary Korean reality and competition series are making a comeback — with fresh casts, revamped formats and ambitious global editions in the pipeline. Mnet confirmed Monday that "Show Me the Money" will return for its 12th season. The popular rap competition series, credited with catapulting Korean hip-hop back into the mainstream and launching the careers of breakout stars like Loco, BeWhy and Basick, is set to begin production next month. A recent teaser released on YouTube hints at the sho

July 23, 2025

CJ ENM establishes first Korean entertainment subsidiary in Saudi Arabia

CJ ENM, a leading South Korean entertainment company, announced Wednesday the launch of its wholly-owned subsidiary, CJ ENM Middle East, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — becoming the first Korean entertainment firm to set up a branch in the country. CJ ENM said it is positioning the Middle East and North Africa region as a strategic growth engine, aiming to integrate its expertise in content creation, production and distribution with the region’s rapidly expanding entertainment infrastructure and cultu

July 23, 2025