https://www.scmp.com/rss/508132/feed Journalist, producer and consultant Pierce Conran has been based in Seoul since 2012, where he served as the Korea Executive for LA-based production company and sales agent XYZ Films and as a long-time editor of the Korean Film Council’s English website KoBiz until 2021. Born in Ireland and raised in Switzerland, he received an MA in Film from Trinity College Dublin and is currently the Korean drama critic for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, as well as a programming adviser for the... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Kim Hyang-gi, Cha Hak-yeon, Kim Jae-hyun, Son Jeong-hyeok, Kim Dong-kyu The worlds of glossy high school comedy and steamy BL (boys’ love) melodrama collide in the breezy new drama Absolute Value of Romance. Kim Hyang-gi (Cashero) plays Yeo Ui-ju, a high school student in the idyllic old town of Jeonju who spends her evenings at home hunched over her laptop, secretly churning out web novels. Her genre is BL, a popular phenomenon that focuses on the romantic misunderstandings and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350960/prime-video-k-drama-absolute-value-romance-high-school-comedy-boys-love-twist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350960/prime-video-k-drama-absolute-value-romance-high-school-comedy-boys-love-twist?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Koo Kyo-hwan, Go Yoon-jung, Oh Jung-se, Park Hae-joon Latest Nielsen rating: 2.24 per cent Park Hae-young, the celebrated scribe behind My Mister and My Liberation Notes, returns with her latest slice-of-life series, the film-industry-set We Are All Trying Here. D.P. actor Koo Kyo-hwan, who recently headlined the big-screen romantic hit Once We Were Us, plays Hwang Dong-man, a passionate and eccentric filmmaker who excelled among his peers at university. Trouble is, that was 20 years... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350976/netflix-k-drama-we-are-all-trying-here-go-yoon-jung-koo-kyo-hwan-film-industry-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350976/netflix-k-drama-we-are-all-trying-here-go-yoon-jung-koo-kyo-hwan-film-industry-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran As temperatures rise and cherry blossom petals drift across Seoul’s bustling spring streets, the city’s drama industry is whirring with activity. Major stars are circling a collection of enticing new shows, including an Australia-set mystery, a Japanese drama remake and a period hitwoman series. Read on for the latest casting news. Caution, Hazardous Wife Lee Hye-ri and Na In-woo have been approached to take on the leading roles in Caution, Hazardous Wife, a remake of the 2017 Japanese series of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350389/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-hye-ri-choi-hyun-wook-kim-da-mi-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350389/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-hye-ri-choi-hyun-wook-kim-da-mi-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:15:09 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Kim Go-eun, Kim Jae-won Latest Nielsen rating: 1.7 per cent Almost four years after the second season of Yumi’s Cells, Kim Go-eun is back as Kim Yumi for a third helping of the partially animated adaptation of the hit webtoon of the same name, penned by Lee Dong-gun. In the intervening years, Yumi has risen in the world. No longer an employee of Daehan Noodles, she has realised her dormant passion for writing and has become a celebrated author of romance novels, which she writes in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350309/hbo-max-k-drama-yumis-cells-season-3-kim-go-eun-returns-final-romantic-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3350309/hbo-max-k-drama-yumis-cells-season-3-kim-go-eun-returns-final-romantic-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon Latest Nielsen rating: 9.5 per cent With all its slow-motion close-ups, high-society razzle-dazzle and swoon-worthy stars, the new romantic vehicle Perfect Crown, starring IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines) and Byeon Woo-seok (Lovely Runner), has all the trappings of a classic Korean drama, an alternative-history fable the kind of which the industry has been routinely producing for 20 years. On paper, the concept is a winner. Imagine... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3349981/disney-k-drama-perfect-crown-iu-and-byeon-woo-seok-lead-fantasy-romance-far-perfect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3349981/disney-k-drama-perfect-crown-iu-and-byeon-woo-seok-lead-fantasy-romance-far-perfect?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Byeon Woo-seok’s star has been on a sharp rise over the past few years. After sitting out last year’s drama release schedules, he returns this weekend in what is arguably his most hotly anticipated role to date: Grand Prince Ian in the alternate-history fantasy romance Perfect Crown opposite K-pop idol IU (aka Lee Ji-eun). Born in Bucheon, a satellite city southwest of Seoul, in 1991, Byeon spent his early childhood there before relocating to the capital. Influenced by his older sister, he... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3349509/who-byeon-woo-seok-model-turned-actor-starring-opposite-iu-perfect-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3349509/who-byeon-woo-seok-model-turned-actor-starring-opposite-iu-perfect-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran As the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, K-drama stars are busy signing on to a variety of coming projects, among them a period crime series, a fantasy romance, a mystery melodrama and a film-industry-set romantic drama. Read on for the latest casting news. Born Guilty Itaewon Class star Park Seo-joon is set to act opposite Uhm Tae-goo (My Sweet Mobster) and Jo Hye-joo (Dear Hyeri) in the coming Disney+ drama Born Guilty. Based on a webtoon of the same name, this crime-action series will be set in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3348891/k-drama-casting-news-about-park-seo-joon-park-eun-bin-lee-young-ae-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3348891/k-drama-casting-news-about-park-seo-joon-park-eun-bin-lee-young-ae-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Rain Woo Do-hwan (Mr. Plankton) and Lee Sang-yi (Spice Up Our Love) return as happy-go-lucky bruisers Gun-woo and Woo-jin in season two of the acclaimed Netflix action-drama Bloodhounds, directed by Kim Joo-hwan (also known as Jason Kim). The young boxers have trimmed their locks and risen up in the world, but their good intentions are once again thwarted by the arrival of a money-hungry villain, this time played by K-pop icon Rain (Red Swan). Following their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3348869/netflix-k-drama-bloodhounds-season-2-k-pop-star-rain-joins-menacing-villain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3348869/netflix-k-drama-bloodhounds-season-2-k-pop-star-rain-joins-menacing-villain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:15:12 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Spring is here and with it an all-new line-up of tantalising K-drama offerings, ranging from fantasy, action and animation to a wide variety of romance. 1. Bloodhounds season 2 Lead cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Rain Following their first rip-roaring adventure, Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) are back for a second helping of cathartic beatdowns in Bloodhounds 2. Jason Kim is once again at the helm, directing from his own scripts, while this season’s villain is the vicious... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3348069/10-best-new-k-dramas-watch-april-2026-including-perfect-crown-disney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3348069/10-best-new-k-dramas-watch-april-2026-including-perfect-crown-disney?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Since the pandemic, the once-mighty South Korean film industry has struggled to return to its former glory. The year 2025 proved particularly trying, as it failed to produce a large-scale breakout capable of reminding audiences what they were missing. That dry spell finally came to a decisive end over the past few weeks, thanks to the staggering success of the Lunar New Year holiday title The King’s Warden, a broadly appealing period drama that continues to defy expectations on its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-movies/article/3347651/10-most-watched-korean-films-ever-kings-warden-draws-nearly-15-million-film-goers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-movies/article/3347651/10-most-watched-korean-films-ever-kings-warden-draws-nearly-15-million-film-goers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran In this week’s K-drama production round-up, stars gravitate towards a corporate succession drama, an artificial intelligence-themed vigilante thriller, a heart-warming food-themed gangster comedy and a tale of long-term romance. Read on for the latest casting news. Another Romance Besides You Seo Kang-joon and Ahn Eun-jin have officially been cast in the coming KBS2 drama Another Romance Besides You, as a couple who have been together for 10 years. Despite their enduring loyalty, they are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3347255/k-drama-casting-news-about-seo-kang-joon-ju-ji-hoon-kim-nam-gil-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3347255/k-drama-casting-news-about-seo-kang-joon-ju-ji-hoon-kim-nam-gil-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, Nana, Cha Joo-young Latest Nielsen rating: 3.8 per cent Ju Ji-hoon returns to our screens following last year’s hit medical drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, once again playing the smartest man in the room. While his previous role used that intellect to save people, in the new ENA drama Climax, he plays a man who seeks only to serve himself. Co-starring Ha Ji-won (Curtain Call), Nana (Mask Girl) and Cha Joo-young (The Glory), this scheming tale of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3347143/k-drama-climax-ju-ji-hoon-covets-high-society-power-slick-and-juicy-prime-time-soap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3347143/k-drama-climax-ju-ji-hoon-covets-high-society-power-slick-and-juicy-prime-time-soap?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Ha Jung-woo, Lim Soo-jung, Kim Jun-han, Shim Eun-kyung, Krystal Jung Latest Nielsen rating: 4.5 per cent Ha Jung-woo (Narco-Saints) makes a rare appearance on the small screen in the blackly comic kidnap thriller Mad Concrete Dreams, the K-drama debut of cult genre filmmaker Yim Pil-sung (Hansel and Gretel). Ha heads an ensemble cast featuring Lim Soo-jung (Chicago Typewriter), Kim Jun-han (Newtopia), Shim Eun-kyung (Money Game) and Krystal Jung (Crazy Love) in this tale that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3346897/hbo-max-k-drama-mad-concrete-dreams-ha-jung-woo-leads-tale-koreas-housing-nightmare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3346897/hbo-max-k-drama-mad-concrete-dreams-ha-jung-woo-leads-tale-koreas-housing-nightmare?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:15:09 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Yoo Yeon-seok, Esom Latest Nielsen rating: 8.7 per cent Following last year’s Oh My Ghost Clients with Jung Kyung-ho, the worlds of jurisprudence and the supernatural collide once more in Phantom Lawyer, a legal comedy about a lawyer who unwillingly takes on the cases – and occasionally the personalities – of the ghost clients that drift into his practice. Jung’s Hospital Playlist co-star Yoo Yeon-seok leads the series, while Esom (LTNS) co-stars as an ace lawyer at a larger firm who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3346826/k-drama-phantom-lawyer-yoo-yeon-seok-represents-deceased-clients-jaunty-legal-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3346826/k-drama-phantom-lawyer-yoo-yeon-seok-represents-deceased-clients-jaunty-legal-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Singer-turned-actor Seo In-guk is currently starring in Netflix’s high-concept workplace romantic comedy Boyfriend on Demand. The 38-year-old shares the screen with another performer who has recently traded the concert stage for sound stages: Blackpink’s Jisoo. Born in Ulsan in southeast South Korea, Seo grew up in a working-class household; his mother worked at a recycling centre and his father was a welder. Seo was athletic as a child, taking part in ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling),... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3346353/who-seo-guk-jisoos-co-star-netflix-k-drama-boyfriend-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3346353/who-seo-guk-jisoos-co-star-netflix-k-drama-boyfriend-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Park Jin-young, Kim Min-ju Latest Nielsen rating: 1.7 per cent Idol-turned-actors Park Jin-young and Kim Min-ju lead the slow-burn slice-of-life romance Still Shining, which chronicles the evolving relationship between two characters from their school days into their early thirties. Got7 member Park, who is fresh off the acclaimed Our Unwritten Seoul, plays Yeon Tae-seo, a school senior studying in Seoul with his brother Hui-seo (Sung Yoo-bin, Twelve). Tae-seo is a straight-A... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345950/netflix-k-drama-still-shining-park-jin-young-and-kim-min-ju-star-slow-burn-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345950/netflix-k-drama-still-shining-park-jin-young-and-kim-min-ju-star-slow-burn-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran In the latest round of casting announcements out of the K-drama industry, stars line up to lead connected dramas, characters swap emotions, and a pair of former screen lovers reunite for a new romance. Read on to find out more. Iseop’s Romance/A Casual Lie Lee Jong-suk (Big Mouth) and Lee Joon-hyuk (Love Scout) have been cast to headline separate dramas taking place in the same fictional universe, both drawing from web novels written by Kim Eon-hee. Recently seen in Law and the City and soon to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345654/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-jong-suk-song-kang-kim-so-hyun-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345654/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-jong-suk-song-kang-kim-so-hyun-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran 2.5/5 stars Lead cast: Jisoo, Seo In-guk Coming just two weeks after Love Phobia, Boyfriend on Demand is the second K-drama of the year to focus on AI dating. With Netflix behind it and the star wattage of Blackpink’s Jisoo (Newtopia) and Seo In-guk (Death’s Game) leading the cast, this new show is undoubtedly the bigger production, but it approaches its timely subject matter in a similarly muddled fashion. Though not based on a webtoon, the series takes place in the world of digital comics,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345647/netflix-k-drama-boyfriend-demand-review-ai-dating-romcom-jisoo-too-conventional?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345647/netflix-k-drama-boyfriend-demand-review-ai-dating-romcom-jisoo-too-conventional?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:15 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Park Min-young, Wi Ha-joon Latest Nielsen rating: 4.6 per cent After appearing just five months ago in the con artist drama Confidence Queen, Park Min-young once again teams up with Prime Video for the soapy thriller Siren’s Kiss, sharing the screen with Wi Ha-joon (Squid Game). Set against a backdrop of fine art and insurance fraud, this adaptation of the 1999 Japanese series Ice World traces a series of mysterious deaths connected to the formidable auctioneer Han Seol-ah, played... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345561/prime-video-k-drama-sirens-kiss-wi-ha-joon-investigates-park-min-young-soapy-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345561/prime-video-k-drama-sirens-kiss-wi-ha-joon-investigates-park-min-young-soapy-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Han Ji-min, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Ki-taek Latest Nielsen rating: 3.3 per cent Following 2025’s Love Scout, Han Ji-min once again portrays a working professional balancing her career and romance in The Practical Guide to Love, an adaptation of the Efficient Dating for Singles webtoon by Tari. Han plays Lee Ui-yeong, a purchasing manager at a luxury hotel who begins the series with a spotty dating track record. Before long, however, two potential suitors enter her life, played by Park... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345544/hbo-max-k-drama-practical-guide-love-han-ji-min-park-sung-hoon-pragmatic-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345544/hbo-max-k-drama-practical-guide-love-han-ji-min-park-sung-hoon-pragmatic-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran With temperatures on the rise, the K-drama calendar is also heating up next month, as a mix of high-concept romance, thrills and even some supernatural lawyers get ready to meet audiences. Here are the highlights to watch over the coming weeks. 1. Siren’s Kiss Lead cast: Park Min-young, Wi Ha-joon Following last year’s Confidence Queen, Park Min-young is once again teaming up with Prime Video, which will stream the tvN thriller Siren’s Kiss globally. Based on the 1999 Japanese television... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344804/8-best-new-k-dramas-watch-march-2026-including-netflixs-boyfriend-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344804/8-best-new-k-dramas-watch-march-2026-including-netflixs-boyfriend-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran This article contains minor spoilers. Lead cast: Lee Sung-kyung, Chae Jong-hyeop Latest Nielsen rating: 3.5 per cent Wistful romance and post-traumatic healing form the emotional core of In Your Radiant Season, a new drama starring Lee Sung-kyung (Call It Love) and Chae Jong-hyeop (Serendipity’s Embrace) that combines workplace drama and chaebol (family-run conglomerate) dynamics. The series introduces us to the bright and bubbly Song Ha-ran (Lee), a design student from Seoul in love with her... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344702/disney-k-drama-your-radiant-season-lee-sung-kyung-chae-jong-hyeop-romantic-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344702/disney-k-drama-your-radiant-season-lee-sung-kyung-chae-jong-hyeop-romantic-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:20:18 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Yeonwoo, Kim Hyun-jin Few countries have embraced artificial intelligence with as much enthusiasm and as few reservations as South Korea. Local citizens employ generative AI chatbots for a range of everyday tasks, while the government has fully adopted the technology. The new romantic comedy Love Phobia – unrelated to the 2006 film of the same name – explores a near-future Korean society even more beholden to AI than it already is, in which dating apps have been supplanted by a hugely... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344531/k-drama-love-phobia-romantic-comedy-series-takes-superficial-look-ai-dating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344531/k-drama-love-phobia-romantic-comedy-series-takes-superficial-look-ai-dating?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran With the Lunar New Year holiday behind us, the K-drama industry is setting its sights on its next big hits. A wide array of stars is currently circling an exciting slate of series in development. Read on for the latest casting news. There’s a Winning Chance Lee Je-hoon (Taxi Driver) and Ha Young (The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call) have been set as the leads of the legal drama There’s a Winning Chance. Fresh off the third season of Taxi Driver, Lee will inject his wily personality into Kwon Baek.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344064/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-je-hoon-ryoo-seung-ryong-jo-jung-suk-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3344064/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-je-hoon-ryoo-seung-ryong-jo-jung-suk-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Versatile Korean actress Shin Hye-sun is currently displaying her range in Netflix’s twisty fashion-themed thriller The Art of Sarah, playing a wily woman of many identities. Few could navigate such a complex role, but Shin has a knack for portraying characters with steel in their spine – a trait she mirrors in her own determined approach to her career. Shin harboured ambitions of acting from a young age, ignited by watching Autumn in My Heart, a classic Korean drama starring Won Bin, which... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3343323/who-shin-hye-sun-versatile-actress-k-dramas-mr-queen-and-art-sarah?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3343323/who-shin-hye-sun-versatile-actress-k-dramas-mr-queen-and-art-sarah?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:15:09 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran 3/5 stars Lead cast: Shin Hye-sun, Lee Joon-hyuk Luxury brands command dizzying prices the world over, but expert craftsmanship and rare materials account for only a fraction of the cost. For many people, the real value lies in the prestige of the brand names themselves, which act as symbols of wealth and class – wearable badges of social standing. But sometimes, a gilded handbag alone is not enough. Sarah Kim, the protagonist of Netflix’s twisty new mystery series The Art of Sarah, ups the ante... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3343315/netflix-k-drama-art-sarah-review-shin-hye-sun-leads-glitzy-fashion-world-mystery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3343315/netflix-k-drama-art-sarah-review-shin-hye-sun-leads-glitzy-fashion-world-mystery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:00:15 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Bae In-hyuk, Roh Jeong-eui Latest Nielsen Rating: 1.3 per cent A pair of attractive youths are thrust into adulthood when they are saddled with a cute toddler in Our Universe, a bubbly but cloying mash-up of romance, cohabitation drama and family comedy. Leading the series are Bae In-hyuk (Check-in Hanyang) and Roh Jeong-eui (Hierarchy) as two individuals trying to figure out their place in the world. Seon Tae-hyung (Bae) shows promise as an assistant photographer, but he is looked... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3343137/hbo-max-k-drama-our-universe-roh-jeong-eui-and-bae-hyuk-woeful-baby-raising-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3343137/hbo-max-k-drama-our-universe-roh-jeong-eui-and-bae-hyuk-woeful-baby-raising-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:15:12 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Ryeoun, Keum Sae-rok, Sung Dong-il The year 2026 welcomes its first serial killer K-drama with the high-concept Bloody Flower, a series that toys with whether a life can ever be taken in the name of the greater good. Leading the show are Ryeoun (Weak Hero Class 2) as a medically minded mass murderer, Keum Sae-rok (The Interest of Love) as the driven prosecutor gunning for the death sentence, and Sung Dong-il (Typhoon Family) as the wily lawyer trying to get him off the hook. Blending... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3342999/k-drama-bloody-flower-serial-killer-drama-weighs-medical-prodigys-deadly-cure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3342999/k-drama-bloody-flower-serial-killer-drama-weighs-medical-prodigys-deadly-cure?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:15:15 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Spring is still a month away but love is already in the air as several stars weigh offers for a variety of romantic dramas on the horizon. Read on to find out more. Code: Faust Game Fans have been patiently awaiting the return of actor Nam Joo-hyuk, who has not been seen since 2023’s Vigilante, the last show he completed before starting his military service. He will make his grand return in the Netflix period drama East Palace later this year, and now reports are suggesting that he may quickly... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3342580/k-drama-casting-news-about-nam-joo-hyuk-lee-dong-wook-shin-se-kyung-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3342580/k-drama-casting-news-about-nam-joo-hyuk-lee-dong-wook-shin-se-kyung-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Lee Na-young, Jung Eun-chae, Lee Chung-ah Latest Nielsen rating: 3.3 per cent Three years after the quiet, contemplative One Day Off, Lee Na-young is back on screens in the high-stakes courtroom drama Honour. She plays the leader of a trio of legal eagles, alongside Jung Eun-chae (Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born) and Lee Chung-ah (Hide), who defend victims of sexual violence. The series begins with all three characters marching to appointments in court, a board meeting and a news studio,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3342477/k-drama-honour-lee-na-young-fights-high-society-sex-crimes-courtroom-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3342477/k-drama-honour-lee-na-young-fights-high-society-sex-crimes-courtroom-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:16:39 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran The Lunar New Year is around the corner, and the K-drama industry is rolling out a varied line-up of new series just in time for the holidays, with genres ranging from romance and family comedy to legal thriller and dark mystery. Read on to find out what to catch over the next month. 1. Honour Lead cast: Lee Na-young, Jung Eun-chae, Lee Chung-ah Lee Na-young (Romance Is a Bonus Book) makes a rare screen appearance in the legal thriller Honour, starring alongside Jung Eun-chae (Jeongnyeon: The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3341755/8-best-new-k-dramas-watch-february-2026-including-netflixs-art-sarah?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3341755/8-best-new-k-dramas-watch-february-2026-including-netflixs-art-sarah?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:15:09 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran South Korea’s vibrant independent-film community produces waves of movies that travel to festivals around the world, delighting viewers, picking up awards and adding a social counterpoint to the broader pleasures of its mainstream counterparts. Even though most of these indie films struggle to find screens, and thus audiences at home, over the years, art-house breakouts have become more frequent. With Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love, the latest Korean indie to conquer the charts, set to hit Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-movies/article/3341326/10-most-successful-korean-art-house-films-all-time-including-world-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-movies/article/3341326/10-most-successful-korean-art-house-films-all-time-including-world-love?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Love appears to be in the air this week in the K-drama industry, with a spate of casting announcements for coming romance series making the rounds. Read on to find out more. Wed Thu Fri In what would be her first role following her marriage to Kim Woo-bin in December, Shin Min-a (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha) is considering an offer for the drama Wed Thu Fri. Reports indicate that Lee Jin-wook has also been offered a part, though his agency has not yet confirmed. The title of the show refers to a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340960/k-drama-casting-news-about-shin-min-ha-ji-won-lee-yul-eum-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340960/k-drama-casting-news-about-shin-min-ha-ji-won-lee-yul-eum-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Kim Hye-yoon, Lomon Latest Nielsen rating: 2.7 per cent The nine-tailed-fox fantasy romcom template gets a lively workout in the bright and brisk No Tail to Tell, starring Kim Hye-yoon (Lovely Runner) as a jaded mythical being and Lomon (All of Us Are Dead) as a superstar football player whose destinies entwine. A fantastical creature from East Asian mythology, the nine-tailed fox – known in Korea as a gumiho – is an entity that typically takes on the appearance of a beautiful woman... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340767/netflix-k-drama-no-tail-tell-kim-hye-yoon-lomon-lead-lively-fantasy-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340767/netflix-k-drama-no-tail-tell-kim-hye-yoon-lomon-lead-lively-fantasy-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Park Shin-hye, Ko Kyung-pyo, Ha Yoon-kyung Latest Nielsen rating: 5.7 per cent Fresh from dispensing justice in The Judge from Hell, Park Shin-hye returns to screens to infiltrate a corrupt corporation in the 1990s-set workplace drama Undercover Miss Hong. Park plays dogged financial investigator Hong Keum-bo, who scores a big win at the opening of the series in a case that lands some of her colleagues in hot water. Keum-bo, who goes by nicknames such as “Pitbull” and “Witch of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340686/netflix-k-drama-undercover-miss-hong-park-shin-hye-tackles-corruption-workplace-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340686/netflix-k-drama-undercover-miss-hong-park-shin-hye-tackles-corruption-workplace-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran This article contains minor spoilers. 3/5 stars Lead cast: Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung The Hong Sisters, the masterminds behind Hotel Del Luna and Alchemy of Souls, return with the first of their two new series this year, the globetrotting romance Can This Love Be Translated? Kim Seon-ho (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha) is back in romance mode as an interpreter who crosses paths with a rising starlet, played by Go Youn-jung (Moving). The story opens in Japan, where talented polyglot Joo Ho-jin (Kim) bumps... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340549/netflix-k-drama-can-love-be-translated-review-kim-seon-ho-go-youn-jung-romance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340549/netflix-k-drama-can-love-be-translated-review-kim-seon-ho-go-youn-jung-romance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Six years after breaking out in the Netflix smash Sweet Home, Go Youn-jung has tackled just about every genre the K-drama world has to offer, save for the most classic of all: the romantic comedy. Go will finally remedy that this month when she returns to screens opposite Kim Seon-ho in Can This Love Be Translated?, a 12-part globe-trotting Netflix drama that reunites her with the Hong Sisters, the writing duo behind Alchemy of Souls. Why we love her Despite having blazed through all these... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340129/who-go-youn-jung-k-drama-actress-leading-netflixs-can-love-be-translated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3340129/who-go-youn-jung-k-drama-actress-leading-netflixs-can-love-be-translated?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Many of our favourite K-dramas will be returning to screens with highly anticipated second seasons in 2026, while a raft of exciting new series from a dizzying array of top talent is poised to capture our imaginations during the next 12 months. Here, in reverse order, are the 15 Korean dramas we are the most excited about in 2026. 15. All of Us Are Dead season 2 Lead cast: Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon This month, the first season of All of Us Are Dead marks its fourth... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3339635/15-most-anticipated-k-drama-series-2026-scandals-show-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3339635/15-most-anticipated-k-drama-series-2026-scandals-show-business?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Love is in the air – and undercover – in this month’s K-drama casting announcements, which find Korea’s top stars circling some novel twists on K-drama standards. Read on to find out more. 1. Nine to Six Park Min-young (Marry My Husband) and Yook Sung-jae of the K-pop outfit BTOB are in talks to lead the coming SBS drama Nine to Six, and representatives have confirmed the discussions. The project is an adaptation of the Chinese series The Rational Life. Park is eyeing the role of Kang Ji-yi, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3339270/k-drama-casting-news-about-park-min-young-song-joong-ki-im-si-wan-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3339270/k-drama-casting-news-about-park-min-young-song-joong-ki-im-si-wan-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joo-bin Latest Nielsen rating: 4.6 per cent Ahn Bo-hyun (Flex X Cop) and Lee Joo-bin (The Divorce Insurance) team up for the new rural romcom Spring Fever. Following hit shows such as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and Welcome to Samdal-ri, this series adheres to the archetype of the sad city woman retreating to the countryside, where she finds love and healing in the arms of a local heartthrob. This time, the woman is Yoon Bom (Lee), a teacher from Seoul. Bom – meaning... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3339325/prime-video-k-drama-spring-fever-ahn-bo-hyun-lee-joo-bin-lead-formulaic-rural-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3339325/prime-video-k-drama-spring-fever-ahn-bo-hyun-lee-joo-bin-lead-formulaic-rural-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:15:09 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Ji Sung, Won Jin-ah, Park Hee-soon Latest Nielsen rating: 4.4 per cent Five years after The Devil Judge, Ji Sung once again dons judicial robes for The Judge Returns, another legal thriller with a fantastical premise ripe for social commentary. This time he plays Lee Han-young, a corrupt judge living in a dystopian near future who learns the error of his ways only when he meets his demise in a dark alley. However, he wakes up 10 years earlier, granted a second chance to right his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3338839/hbo-max-k-drama-judge-returns-ji-sung-fantastical-and-melodramatic-morality-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3338839/hbo-max-k-drama-judge-returns-ji-sung-fantastical-and-melodramatic-morality-play?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:10:54 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran After a high-octane end to 2025, the K-drama industry kicks off the new year with a diverse slate of largely fantasy and romance fare, seemingly saving some of its bigger series for February’s Lunar New Year festivities. Here are the highlights to watch over the next month. 1. The Judge Returns Lead cast: Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Jin-ah Four years after The Devil Judge, Ji Sung is donning judicial robes once more in the legal thriller The Judge Returns. He plays Lee Han-young, a struggling... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3338125/8-best-new-k-dramas-watch-january-2026-such-can-love-be-translated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3338125/8-best-new-k-dramas-watch-january-2026-such-can-love-be-translated?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:15:11 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung Following their awards juggernaut Harbin last year, star Hyun Bin and director Woo Min-ho have teamed up on another historical drama, this time for the small screen, with the Disney+ political thriller Made in Korea. Boasting lavish production values and a deep bench of talent – including Jung Woo-sung, who cameoed in Harbin – the series explores the murky intersection of the executive and judicial branches of the authoritarian government that cast a shadow... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3338021/disney-k-drama-made-korea-hyun-bin-jung-woo-sung-slick-period-political-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3338021/disney-k-drama-made-korea-hyun-bin-jung-woo-sung-slick-period-political-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran The year 2025 was another big one for Korean dramas, with a wide range of exciting new shows. While the industry may not have produced as many stand-outs as in previous years, the past 12 months still delivered emotional highs. Here is our pick of the top 15 Korean dramas of the year, from good to great. 15. Melo Movie Lead cast: Choi Woo-shik, Park Bo-young, Lee Jun-young, Jeon So-nee Our Beloved Summer scribe Lee Na-eun proved that she was no one-hit wonder with her second series Melo Movie,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337569/15-best-k-dramas-2025-ranked-melo-movie-when-life-gives-you-tangerines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337569/15-best-k-dramas-2025-ranked-melo-movie-when-life-gives-you-tangerines?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Choi Soo-young, Kim Jae-young Latest Nielsen rating: 2.26 per cent As 2025 draws to a close, viewers are invited back into a Korean courtroom one last time with Idol I (also styled as I Dol I). This time you can leave your lawbooks behind, since the emphasis is squarely on character melodrama rather than legal procedure. Choi Soo-young (Second Shot at Love) and Kim Jae-young (The Judge from Hell) team up as a lawyer and a K-pop star, respectively. Choi – herself a member of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337809/netflix-k-drama-idol-i-choi-soo-young-kim-jae-young-lead-k-pop-infused-legal-drama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337809/netflix-k-drama-idol-i-choi-soo-young-kim-jae-young-lead-k-pop-infused-legal-drama?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran 1.5/5 stars Lead cast: Lee Jun-ho, Kim Hye-jun, Kim Byung-chul, Kim Hyang-gi Netflix Korea closes out a big year with the eight-part series Cashero, a lively but garbled medley of social themes, melodrama and genre spectacle. Lee Jun-ho (Typhoon Family) leads the cast as the hapless Kang Sang-ung, whose grumpy father foists an unwanted superpower upon him, only too glad to finally be rid of it. The central conceit of the show, and the webtoon on which it is based, revolves around the unusual... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337488/netflix-k-drama-cashero-review-lee-jun-ho-cant-save-messy-superhero-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337488/netflix-k-drama-cashero-review-lee-jun-ho-cant-save-messy-superhero-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:00:12 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Seo Hyun-jin, Yoo Jae-myung, Chang Ryul Latest Nielsen rating: 1.5 per cent Loneliness, guilt and desire form the heart of Love Me, a melodrama that begins on a dour note before smoothing over the pain with the promise of new romance. Although Seo Hyun-jin (The Trunk) gets the most screen time, this is at its core an ensemble piece about six characters: three members of a fractured family and the partners to which they slowly turn to mend their broken hearts. This is the second... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337476/k-drama-love-me-seo-hyun-jin-leads-slow-burn-ensemble-family-drama-heavy-emotions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337476/k-drama-love-me-seo-hyun-jin-leads-slow-burn-ensemble-family-drama-heavy-emotions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Min-jung, Lee Beom-soo, Kwak Do-won Yoo Ji-tae (Vigilante) stars as a criminal mastermind known only as “J” in the generic eight-part counterfeiting crime thriller Villains. Just like the fake “supernotes” crafted by its characters, the show bears most of the elements of the genre, while missing the crucial, hard-to-replicate pieces that define it. Amid his illicit schemes, J tangos with Jang Jung-hyuk (Kwak Do-won, The Wailing), a corrupt detective, and Cha Gi-tae... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337339/hbo-max-k-drama-villains-yoo-ji-tae-leads-unconvincing-counterfeiting-crime-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337339/hbo-max-k-drama-villains-yoo-ji-tae-leads-unconvincing-counterfeiting-crime-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran This week’s casting updates are dominated by one major broadcaster as MBC recently confirmed the casts for its 2026 drama line-up. Read on to find out more. 1. Scent of the Night Lee Min-ho (Pachinko) and Moon Ga-young (True Beauty) have been approached to headline the coming romantic period drama Scent of the Night. Based on a webtoon, the series will take place during the Joseon era (1392-1897) and focus on the struggles of Seo Hong, a woman who rejects the lowly status imposed on her gender... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337002/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-min-ho-han-hyo-joo-moon-ga-young-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3337002/k-drama-casting-news-about-lee-min-ho-han-hyo-joo-moon-ga-young-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Earlier this year, Kim Woo-bin graced the small screen in Netflix’s splashy fantasy romance Genie, Make a Wish, reuniting with his Uncontrollably Fond co-star Bae Suzy and Kim Eun-sook, the writer behind The Heirs – one of the actor’s earliest projects. While the series received mixed reviews, it was nevertheless a compelling showcase for Kim’s chiselled features and magnetic screen aura. Yet Kim’s biggest moment of 2025 is still to come: on December 20, he is set to tie the knot with girlfriend... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3336170/who-kim-woo-bin-steely-eyed-star-k-dramas-our-blues-and-genie-make-wish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3336170/who-kim-woo-bin-steely-eyed-star-k-dramas-our-blues-and-genie-make-wish?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:15:08 +0000