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‘Trigger’ hits Netflix as Songdo shooting shakes nation
Netflix Korea’s newest original series, "Trigger," held its press conference on Tuesday in a subdued mood, just one day after a shocking event occurred in Songdo International City, where a father allegedly shot and killed his son using a homemade gun. Set in a fictionalized present-day South Korea, where in reality gun ownership is still prohibited, the series delves into the fallout when ordinary citizens begin receiving mysterious packages containing guns -- a premise made all the more unsett
July 22, 2025 -
Six EMK musicals coming to Disney+ next month
Some of Korea’s most iconic homegrown musicals by EMK Musical Company are soon to be available via streaming. The leading South Korean producer of original and licensed musical productions announced Monday that six of its biggest titles — “Elisabeth,” “Phantom,” “Monte Cristo,” “The Man Who Laughs,” “Xcalibur” and “Marie Antoinette” — will be released on Disney+ next month for users in Korea. Among them, "Monte Cristo," "Phantom" and "Elisabeth" have already been made available through a variety
July 21, 2025 -
‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ sweeps Blue Dragon Series Awards
Netflix’s hit drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" dominated this year’s Blue Dragon Series Awards, taking home four trophies, including the top honor, the Grand Prize. Now in its fourth year, the annual ceremony is a spinoff of the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards, created to recognize excellence in Korean streaming series. This year’s event was held Friday evening at Paradise City in Incheon. "Tangerines" emerged as the biggest winner of the night, securing awards for Grand Prize, Best Ac
July 19, 2025 -
K-dramas embrace pop-ups amid shifting content landscape
In a rare shift for Korea’s television industry, drama series are increasingly adopting pop-up stores ― a marketing strategy more often undertaken by retail, K-pop or gaming brands. As streaming services extend the content viewing cycle, companies are turning to new marketing tactics to sustain fan enthusiasm over a longer period and carry that excitement into future projects. From June 29 to July 10, Netflix’s "Squid Game" rolled out a pop-up experience at Shinsegae Department Stores in Gangnam
July 19, 2025 -
'Non-celebrity risk' shakes Korean dating reality TV
Dating reality shows featuring ordinary people have gripped South Korean audiences for years now, with hits like "I'm Solo" consistently dominating the country's television ratings. But there's a dark side to the trend: as these shows gain popularity, the term “non-celebrity risk” has taken hold in the entertainment industry — referring to cases in which participants are later revealed to be involved in legal or ethical misconduct. The issue was thrust into the spotlight in late June when Seoul’
July 18, 2025 -
Netflix's most-watched shows see strong presence from non-English content: report
English-language shows are no longer dominating Netflix's most-watched list, its latest biannual engagement report showed, with non-English-language titles from the UK and South Korea boasting a strong global performance. The streaming service has released viewership data every six months for titles that surpass 50,000 hours of watch time since December 2023. The latest report, covering January to June, accounts for 99 percent of all viewing on the platform. Non-English series made up a signific
July 18, 2025 -
K-pop competition gathers together 160 global contestants competing for cross-cultural stardom
K-pop survival audition program “Boys II Planet” is set to premiere with a unique format featuring contestants from across the world. The show will follow over 160 aspiring K-pop singers as they embark on a journey divided between two teams: “Boys II Planet K,” composed of Korean trainees, and “Boys II Planet C,” primarily featuring trainees from Greater China. Together, they will compete for a chance to debut as a single boy group, though specifics such as the group’s final lineup, name, and co
July 16, 2025 -
Financial regulator raids SBS over suspected insider trading linked to Netflix deal
The Financial Services Commission on Tuesday raided the major TV station SBS over allegations that some of its officials engaged in illegal insider trading using undisclosed information about a partnership with Netflix, government sources said. The FSC's Capital Market Investigation Division carried out the raid while questioning an SBS official on charges of insider trading, according to the sources. The official is suspected of purchasing SBS shares upon learning of the company's planned strat
July 15, 2025 -
CJ ENM to host star-studded celebration of Korean pop culture
South Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM is set to host a star-studded celebration of Korean pop culture in Los Angeles. The “K-Culture Night at the Academy Museum with KCON" event is slated for July 31 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, one day ahead of CJ ENM’s flagship K-pop fan and artist festival, KCON LA 2025, which runs from Aug. 1-3. Presented as part of a strategic partnership between CJ ENM and the Academy Museum— one of the world’s premier institutions dedicated to the art
July 15, 2025 -
KBS to hold free Cho Yong-pil concert
Cho Yong-pil, a living legend of the Korean music industry, is set to return to the solo stage with a free concert slated for Sept. 6 at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome. Presented by national broadcaster KBS, the special event will air on KBS2 during the Chuseok holiday. This marks Cho’s first solo concert broadcast on public television in 17 years. The singer holds the distinction of being the first Korean artist to sell over 1 million copies of a single album, as well as being the first to surpass 10
July 14, 2025 -
JTBC’s 'The Nice Guy' blends first love with gangster grit
A fresh yet nostalgic mix of romance and crime is coming to the small screen this summer in the new JTBC series “The Nice Guy,” starring Hallyu favorites Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung. The story follows Seok-cheol (Lee Dong-wook), the eldest son in an organized crime family who dreams of becoming a writer, and his first love Mi-young (Lee Sung-kyung). Together, they navigate a story brimming with youthful longing and harsh realities. Speaking at a press event in Seoul on Monday, Lee Dong-wook
July 14, 2025 -
Busan to host international streaming festival celebrating digital content
A festival spotlighting the global streaming ecosystem is set to debut this summer on the shores of Busan. The inaugural 2025 International Streaming Festival, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Busan Metropolitan Government and co-organized by the Korea International Streaming Festival Committee and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, will run Aug. 22-25 at Busan Cinema Center and Paradise Hotel. The event has been separated from the Busan International Film Festival, w
July 14, 2025 -
Tragic couple of 'Squid Game' Season 3: interview
One of the emotional high points in "Squid Game" Season 3 unfolds with the birth of a baby amid the deadly competition, as contestants find themselves torn between protecting the child or exploiting the situation for their own survival. At the center of this harrowing storyline is the tragic couple Myung-gi, portrayed by Im Si-wan, and Jun-hee, played by Jo Yu-ri. Set against the brutal backdrop where participants risk everything for the 45.6 billion won ($33 million) prize, the couple faces a t
July 10, 2025 -
Disney+'s ‘Low Life’ brings 1970s treasure hunt to life
One of Disney+ Korea’s most ambitious original series for 2025 is about to make its debut, backed by a star-studded cast and the creative forces behind Korean hits such as "Misaeng" and "Big Bet." Bringing together director Kang Yoon-sung — best known for Disney+’s "Big Bet" and the box office smash "The Outlaws" — and "Misaeng" creator and acclaimed webtoon writer Yoon Tae-ho, “Low Life” unfolds in 1977, following a group of individuals locked in a battle over a sunken treasure ship. The projec
July 8, 2025 -
Hit webtoon 'S Line' turned into drama series, exploring world with visible sexual connections
What would happen to society if red lines visibly shot out of people's heads, linking everyone who had had sex with each other? That provocative question lies at the heart of "S Line," a genre-blending new series from Korean streaming service Wavve adapted from the hit webtoon of the same name. While the popular original webtoon explored the ripple effects of this surreal phenomenon — delving into themes of infidelity, religion, celebrity culture, sexual violence and homosexuality in a world whe
July 8, 2025