Netflix’s upcoming “Narco-Saints” is set to present an explosive crime saga in a new setting with a dynamic story and a pseudo religious leader. “I thought the series held a powerful story. A Korean becoming a drug lord in a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America? This is an exciting setting for a movie,” Ha Jung-woo, who makes his return to a drama series after 15 years, said at a press conference held at Josun Palace in southern Seoul, Wednesd

Television Sept. 7, 2022

With plans to release a star-studded lineup of original content, Disney+ and local streaming platform Tving -- among others -- are set to begin another round of competition in the streaming video and content production markets in South Korea. Disney+, the flagship streaming service of US media giant Walt Disney Co., was widely considered a possible rival to Netflix when it launched in November 2021. It found strong early demand with hit Marvel and Disney series, but things did not go as antici

Television Sept. 6, 2022

A leading power in the new era of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, webtoons are expanding their global presence and being adapted into different formats: TV dramas, variety shows, films and K-pop. Vertically scrolling comics on smartphones have captured readers' attention with innovative approaches such as animation effects, background music and their own soundtracks. Though Korean webtoon companies began global businesses in 2014, it is only in the last few years that the companies have been

Cartoon Sept. 5, 2022

Lee You-mi, 28, won the Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series on Monday. At the televised ceremony of the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys, Lee was named the winner of outstanding guest actress in a drama series, beating Marcia Gay Harden from “The Morning Show,” Martha Kelly from “Euphoria” and Hope Davis, Sanaa Lathan and Harriet Walter from “Succession.” “I’m so happy to win a prestigious award. I would like to thank director Hwan

Television Sept. 5, 2022

  Lee You-mi, who played Ji-yeong in Netflix's global phenomenon "Squid Game," won the Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series on Monday. Lee was nominated in the category along with Marcia Gay Harden from "The Morning Show," Martha Kelly from "Euphoria" and Hope Davis, Sanaa Lathan and Harriet Walter from "Succession."

Television Sept. 5, 2022

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden as its new music director. The orchestra announced Sunday that the Dutch conductor, 61, will begin his five-year tenure in January 2024. The search for the new music director began earlier this year as the current music director Osmo Vanska decided not to renew his contract, which ends at the end of the year. Vanska was appointed in January 2020. Guest conductors will be sought for the orchestra's 2023 performa

Performance Sept. 4, 2022

As Typhoon Hinnamnor is expected to bring heavy rains accompanied by strong winds to the southern part of the country, including the island of Jeju, the coastal towns are preparing themselves ahead of the arrival of typhoon. Fishing boats are either moved onto land or docked at the ports. Parasols at Gwangalli Beach in the port city of Busan are being removed. The South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education announced that the schools under the periphery of the typhoon to switch to onli

Social Affairs Sept. 3, 2022

Gyeryong World Military Culture Expo The Gyeryong World Military Culture Expo is scheduled to be held at Gyeryong Emergency Runway in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, Oct. 7 to 23. Though the festival was initially held to celebrate Korea’s national military service members in 2007, the event has expanded to celebrate the military culture of countries across the globe. The expo seeks to promote peace and technical aspects of the military for future leaders. Visitors can enjoy vari

Travel Sept. 2, 2022

Broadcast Worldwide 2022, an annual event showcasing South Korean content and insights to the broadcast industry around the world, kicked off its three-day run at Art Hall 1 and 2 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Jung-gu, Seoul. With its two previous events held in online, BCWW was excited to welcome the industry insiders and visitors. Wednesday’s opening day event began with a session on the power and future of K-contents, featuring Lee Sang-baek, CEO of Astory, the production company behind

Entertainment Aug. 31, 2022

Inspired by American author Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 coming-of-age novel of the same title, tvN drama series “Little Women” seeks to bring a different taste to the story loved around the world. “I imagined the 'little women' from the novel coming to South Korea. We start off by presenting the money problem, a harsh reality that many viewers can easily relate to, and the story ends with a huge twist that will exceed all expectations,” director Kim Hee-won, who was p

Television Aug. 30, 2022

Walt Disney Co. Korea is set to release its second Korean original variety show, “The Zone: Survival Mission,” on Sept. 8. Starring comedian Yoo Jae-suk alongside actors Lee Kwang-soo and Kwon Yuri, who is also a member of K-pop girl group Girl’s Generation, the upcoming series seeks to entertain with a format not widely used in Korean variety shows. While many survival programs have adapted escape room-style games, “The Zone: Survival Mission” presents the three

Television Aug. 29, 2022

Lee Joon-ik, a master of period films who was behind “The King and the Clown” (2005), “The Throne” (2015), “Anarchist from Colony” (2017) and “The Book of Fish” (2021), is set to make his Tving debut with the sci-fi drama “Beyond the Memory.” The filmmaker’s upcoming series will be released in October, according to Tving, local entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM’s subscription-based streaming platform. “Beyond the Memo

Television Aug. 26, 2022

Pohang International Fire and Light Festival The Pohang International Fire and Light Festival is scheduled to be held at Hyeongsangang Sports Park from Sept. 23 to 25 in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. The three-day event offers a spectacular fireworks competition with a DJ party, busking, a parade and more. Teams from four countries -- South Korea, Sweden, Italy and the Philippines -- are taking part in the competition that takes place at 8 p.m., Sept. 24. More information can be found a

Travel Aug. 26, 2022

Seoul Pop Culture Convention, a rebranding and expansion of comic culture festival Seoul Comic Con, kicked off its four-day run at C and D halls at Coex, southern Seoul. The offline festival returned after a two-year hiatus as South Korea continues to remove its COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. The huge crowds of masked attendees, the din of camera shutter sounds and the huge lines in front of booths proved that the long-anticipated return of this event has been well-received. &rdquo

Culture Aug. 25, 2022

It is rare for two actors to star alongside each other for two consecutive drama series. The concern is that the viewers may be reminded too much of the characters from the previous project. But this did not seem to worry “Good Job” actors Kwon Yuri and Jung Il-woo. “I have never worked with the same co-star in two drama series, one after another. I think we are destined to be together,” Kwon, actor and member of K-pop girl group Girl’s Generation, said in an onl

Television Aug. 24, 2022