“Vigilante,” director Choi Jeong-yeol’s crime/action thriller based on a webtoon of the same title by Kim Kyu-sam, offers a reflection of growing public frustration and fury over what some view as the justice system's failure to adequately punish those who commit the most heinous crimes. Accidents caused by drunk drivers, drugs, domestic violence, attempted murders and insurance fraud are all crimes we read about in the news on a near-daily basis. For Kim Ji-yong (Nam

Television Nov. 6, 2023

K-pop stars NewJeans and virtual boy band Heartsteel are set to perform at the opening ceremony of the League of Legends World Championship Final at the Gocheok Sky Dome in southwestern Seoul on Nov. 19, according to the Riot Games. The LoL World Championship, one of the most popular competitive multiplayer video gaming tournaments, annually showcases live performances by a star-studded lineup of artists who sing the tournament’s anthem in the opening ceremony of the final. Beloved artists

Culture Nov. 6, 2023

Peeping leaves of red and gold while grasping a cup of warm coffee at a nearby cafe or enjoying the scenic views of the city in orange and brown hues on a bus ride is always a great way to feel the deepening autumn atmosphere. But, it’s a shame to just let the spectacular colors of ginkgo, maple and metasequoia and the gentle fall breeze go by, with the winter season lurking just around the corner. Take in the flaming reds, dazzling yellows and brilliant oranges with thrilling activities b

Travel Nov. 4, 2023

Showcasing exclusive content and top-notch merchandise at a pop-up store has become a must for many brands in Korea as a means of promotion. Pop-ups open for a brief period to reach new customers by giving them an opportunity to experience the brand and strengthen the brand loyalty of existing clients. Though commercial, such fleeting spaces have also become one of the most sought-after date spots for friends and couples here, developing into a new kind of playground, particularly for millennial

Culture Nov. 4, 2023

Korean streaming service Tving recently confirmed the return of its franchise entertainment show “High School Mystery Club” with a third season. “High School Mystery Club” (2021-22), the service's first-ever original show, revolves around five high school girls -- who are not in fact actual students, transferring to a suspicious school where a mysterious murder case and strange phenomenon occur. The same cast -- TV personality Park Ji-yoon, Jaejae, comedian Jang Do-y

Television Nov. 3, 2023

A pop-up store based on South Korean actor Lee Dong-wook is scheduled to open at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido on Nov. 9. According to Lee’s agency King Kong by Starship, the upcoming offline flash event, titled “Fancy Being Friends?” will mainly feature the actor’s avatar Wookdong, a white lion character which embodies the actor’s appearance, hobbies and personality. “Lee Dong-wook will be the first Korean actor to hold a character-themed pop-up shop here,&r

Culture Nov. 3, 2023

Beartree Park Fall Foliage Festival Beartree Park Fall Foliage Festival, which began on Oct. 21, will run through Sunday at Beartree Park in Sejong. Visitors can enjoy the peak fall foliage while taking a light stroll along the walking trail at Beartree Park. The festival is set to entertain visitors with outdoor concerts, unique photo zones and more. Holidaymakers can immerse in nature and enjoy the autumn breeze. The opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission costs 12,000 won and 10,000 won

Travel Nov. 3, 2023

More drama series with diverse women in the lead are expected to dominate South Korean TV screens over the remainder of the year. Several new shows last year, including “Juvenile Justice,” “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and “Twenty-Five Twenty-One,” garnered greater-than-expected attention from viewers with their strong, independent women. This year, TV dramas with bold, no-nonsense women have proved a strong trend

Television Nov. 1, 2023

Terrestrial broadcaster MBC appears to be burying the hatchet with K-pop powerhouse Hybe. The company on Monday announced Bang Si-hyuk’s visit to its headquarters in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, to discuss measures to enhance the rights of K-pop artists in TV productions. MBC President Ahn Hyung-joon said he hoped to root out past, abusive conduct that hurt young artists several years ago, according to the press release by MBC on Monday. Ahn said he wished to create a healthy content prod

Culture Oct. 31, 2023

Having recently made her Netflix debut in nine-part romance series “Doona!” singer and actor Suzy shared how she was blown away upon learning that the show ranked No. 6 globally among the streaming service’s TV shows. Suzy had not anticipated such global interest, feeling the show was largely based on Korean culture and so would be familiar mostly to Koreans. “I personally thought that Korean viewers would be the only ones who could easily empathize with most of the scene

Television Oct. 30, 2023

SINGAPORE -- Recognizing a steady recovery of the travel industry after the pandemic, industry leaders, international tourism brands, travel writers and journalists expected strong tourism growth -- particularly in Asia -- and sought to find ways to entice more people to travel at this year’s TravMedia Summit Asia, held at Swissotel the Stamford in Singapore, on Oct. 23. The summit brought together more than 275 travel specialists, who discussed top issues such as the rise of new technolog

Travel Oct. 29, 2023

Geoje Island Flower Festival The 17th–edition of Geoje Island Flower Festival will be held at the Geoje Agriculture Development Complex in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 28 to Nov. 5. The annual event features autumn flowers in a variety of exhibitions and displays, including flower sculptures, chrysanthemum-themed items, examining greenhouse office and more. Hands-on activities, like harvesting sweet potatoes and various music performances are set to entertain holidaymakers of all

Travel Oct. 27, 2023

After yet another Korean star came under investigation for suspected drug use, the South Korean entertainment industry is feeling increasingly anxious over the possible fallout from multiple entertainment personalities being investigated for suspected drug use. Rapper G-Dragon, the leader of Big Bang whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, was booked without detention Wednesday for suspected violation of the Narcotics Control Act, making him the latest celebrity to be investigated for illegal drug us

Television Oct. 26, 2023

A total of 16 League of Legends esports teams started competing for the grand prize of the Summoner’s Cup at the annual LoL World Championship on Thursday. But some esports fans are questioning the fairness of the tournament. Controversy erupted Thursday night when an online post surfaced with a screenshot image of the Swiss stage draw. The Swiss stage is a newly introduced nonelimination tournament that offers a fixed number of matches, allowing the players to qualify for the next round b

More Sports Oct. 20, 2023

Naver Webtoon’s action series “Teenage Mercenary” has achieved the highest transaction volume in the history of Naver Webtoon Japan. According to the South Korean tech giant’s digital comics platform, the series generated monthly sales of 1.6 billion won ($1.18 million) in September, and garnered more than 300 million accumulated reads from Japanese fans. Helmed by webtoon creators YC and Rakyeon, “Teenage Mercenary” revolves around Yu Ijin, who lost his paren

Books Oct. 20, 2023