https://www.scmp.com/rss/510947/feed Netflix Korea's survival game drama series Squid Game has become a global streaming hit. Get the latest news, views and updates about the show and its stars. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lim Ji-yeon, Kim Ji-hoon, Seo Ji-hye Latest Nielsen rating: 4.8 per cent Following three zeitgeist-grabbing seasons of Squid Game and a Hollywood foray via the Star Wars series Acolyte, Korean superstar Lee Jung-jae scales things back in romcom Nice to Not Meet You, a far cry from the hard-nosed roles that have defined his screen persona over the past decade. Lee is joined by Lim Ji-yeon, who has gone from strength to strength in recent years, appearing as the villainess... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3331768/prime-video-k-drama-nice-not-meet-you-lee-jung-jae-switches-gears-breezy-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3331768/prime-video-k-drama-nice-not-meet-you-lee-jung-jae-switches-gears-breezy-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran After a quiet October, the K-drama schedule is back on track for November, with a mix of new shows dropping just as cooler weather drives us to the comfort of our sofas. Read on to find out what to catch over the next month. 1. Last Summer Lead cast: Lee Jae-wook, Choi Sung-eun Lee Jae-wook (Alchemy of Stars) plays dual roles in the romantic comedy Last Summer, co-starring with Choi Sung-eun (The Sound of Magic). Lee plays twins Do-ha and Do-young, who have lived apart ever since their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3330854/11-best-new-k-dramas-watch-november-2025-including-nice-not-meet-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3330854/11-best-new-k-dramas-watch-november-2025-including-nice-not-meet-you?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 10:15:09 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service The third and final season of Netflix’s Squid Game broke viewer records on the streaming platform following its release on June 27, marking a fitting close for what has arguably been the most successful South Korean TV series in history. Although reviews have been mixed, Season 3 recorded more than 60 million views in the first three days and topped leaderboards in 93 countries for two consecutive weeks, making it Netflix’s biggest launch to date. Squid Game has been transformative for South... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3317542/how-squid-game-brought-prestige-south-korea-also-reflected-dark-side?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3317542/how-squid-game-brought-prestige-south-korea-also-reflected-dark-side?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Cherry Liu Cherry Liu Jane Wong’s striking portrayal of the only Chinese-speaking female VIP in Squid Game season three instantly captured global attention with her beautiful smile, fluent English and an unexpected line of dialogue in Mandarin. In episode four, while waiting for the next round of the game to begin, she decides to leave her seat. Another male VIP asks her in a flirtatious tone, “Where are you going? Don’t do that. Have a drink with me.” She responds in Mandarin, “I’d rather drink with a stool than... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3317248/meet-jane-wong-hong-kong-actress-starring-squid-game-season-3-shes-worked-andy-lau-and-nicholas-tse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3317248/meet-jane-wong-hong-kong-actress-starring-squid-game-season-3-shes-worked-andy-lau-and-nicholas-tse?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:00:23 +0000 Hyewon Lee Hyewon Lee Squid Game’s third and final season was met with mixed reviews – but there was one scene in particular that received a lot of backlash. In the Netflix show’s second episode, audiences watch Kim Jun-hee, aka Player 222 (played by 23-year-old Jo Yu-ri, also known as Yuri), giving birth in the middle of the game. Many viewers found the scene both unnecessary and unrealistic. “How actually ridiculous is Squid Game? Like, who can give birth to a whole child in five minutes? (Not a metaphor – her... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3316747/meet-jo-yu-ri-who-plays-player-222-netflixs-squid-game-23-year-old-k-pop-singer-former-member-izone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3316747/meet-jo-yu-ri-who-plays-player-222-netflixs-squid-game-23-year-old-k-pop-singer-former-member-izone?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:00:15 +0000 James Marsh James Marsh One of the most recognisable and successful performers in South Korea, Lee Byung-hun is back on our screens this week in the dramatic conclusion of Netflix’s global K-drama phenomenon, Squid Game. Since his television debut in 1991, Lee has found sustained critical and commercial acclaim on the big and small screen, overcome tabloid scandals, and even appeared in Hollywood action blockbusters like G.I. Joe, Terminator Genisys and The Magnificent Seven. Lee will also be the subject of a 10-film... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-movies/article/3316487/12-best-movies-squid-games-front-man-lee-byung-hun-ranked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-movies/article/3316487/12-best-movies-squid-games-front-man-lee-byung-hun-ranked?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:15:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The third season of Netflix’s blockbuster series Squid Game racked up record viewership in its first three days, reinforcing the Korean survival drama’s status as a global cultural phenomenon. The final season of the dystopian thriller logged more than 60 million views in its first three days – the biggest debut in that time frame – and ranked No 1 across all 93 countries with top 10 rankings, according to Netflix. That compares with the debut of the previous season, which drew 68 million views... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316644/squid-games-final-season-breaks-netflix-viewership-records?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316644/squid-games-final-season-breaks-netflix-viewership-records?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:28:53 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Thousands of fans gathered in Seoul this weekend to celebrate the final Squid Game season, ending a global Netflix hit that’s seen as a symbol of South Korea’s cultural clout. The third and final season was released on Friday, concluding the series that sees desperate people compete in deadly versions of traditional children’s games for a massive cash prize. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said he had “poured everything” into the series, which launched nearly four years ago. “So while it’s sentimental... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316312/south-korea-bids-farewell-squid-game-dystopian-drama-concludes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316312/south-korea-bids-farewell-squid-game-dystopian-drama-concludes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:19:52 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Lead cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, Wi Ha-joon, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young Korean filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk’s death-game spectacle Squid Game returns for its third and reportedly final season with six new episodes that follow on directly from the mid-tournament cliffhanger at the conclusion of December’s season 2. We will steer clear of spoilers here, but this article does assume that readers are caught up until the end of season 2. It should also be noted that critics were able... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3316053/squid-game-season-3-review-thrilling-conclusion-probes-humanitys-dark-depths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3316053/squid-game-season-3-review-thrilling-conclusion-probes-humanitys-dark-depths?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 07:00:13 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Netflix has released its official teaser trailer for season 3 of its global hit series Squid Game, intensifying fan anticipation ahead of its June 27 premiere. The upcoming season continues the story of Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who re-enters the deadly competition with a personal motive but ends up losing his closest friend. The narrative also follows the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who infiltrated the game in disguise, and the final fates of the remaining players who have endured the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/news/article/3312680/deadlier-games-shocking-twists-new-squid-game-season-3-trailer-released-netflix?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/news/article/3312680/deadlier-games-shocking-twists-new-squid-game-season-3-trailer-released-netflix?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Jun 2025 01:45:08 +0000 By Baek Byung-yeul Netflix aims to solidify its streaming service leadership with various Korean series, shows and movies this year, including the highly anticipated Squid Game season 3, Culinary Class Wars season 2 and Physical: Asia featuring Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. “Our goal this year is to be there in those special moments when people find their favourite content in their busy lives,” Kang Dong-han, vice-president of Netflix Korea, said, unveiling a release line-up including... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3297458/netflix-leans-korean-made-shows-and-films-2025-including-physical-100-follow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3297458/netflix-leans-korean-made-shows-and-films-2025-including-physical-100-follow?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:45:08 +0000 Netflix is expanding its presence in the toy business, striking its first master licensing deal with the company behind the popular Squishmallows soft toys to develop a product line inspired by its hit science-fiction series Stranger Things. The streaming giant granted toymaker Jazwares the right to develop a Stranger Things collection – including figures, play sets, toy vehicles, costumes and stuffed toys – based on the series, which returns for its 5th and final season later this year. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3296865/netflix-signs-stranger-things-merchandise-deal-squishmallows-soft-toys-maker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3296865/netflix-signs-stranger-things-merchandise-deal-squishmallows-soft-toys-maker?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Actress Kang Ae-sim has become a defining “K-mom”, moving audiences worldwide with her authentic portrayal of maternal love in Squid Game Season 2, drawn from her real-life role as a mother. Kang plays Geum-ja, a mother who enters the game to pay off her son Yong-sik’s (Yang Dong-geun) gambling debts. Without an agency to represent her, Kang has maintained a low profile throughout her career since debuting in 1981. Her lack of social media presence has left international fans curious about the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3296163/squid-game-2s-kang-ae-sim-playing-defining-k-mom-and-lee-byung-huns-big-compliment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3296163/squid-game-2s-kang-ae-sim-playing-defining-k-mom-and-lee-byung-huns-big-compliment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jan 2025 09:15:07 +0000 While the second season of Squid Game has new plot twists, one element of the Netflix mega-hit series where contestants down on their luck risk their lives to play children’s games for the chance of winning cash prizes, has remained constant. That is Young-hee, an innocent-looking robotic doll who in fact has a deadly role in the South Korean-made television series to find contestants to gun down playing the game “Red Light, Green Light” if she spots them moving. Young-hee, who is clad in a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3296060/how-squid-games-cute-killer-doll-came-life-and-why-shes-netflix-hit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3296060/how-squid-games-cute-killer-doll-came-life-and-why-shes-netflix-hit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Less than a month after its release, the second season of Squid Game has already become the third most successful series in Netflix history, beaten only by season one and the US comedy horror series Wednesday. In the latest weekly charts (January 13 to 19), published on January 21, season two of the South Korean series collected another 13.2 million watches to overtake sci-fi series Stranger Things with 165.7 million views in just 3½ weeks. The first season of the brutal South Korean drama about... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3295886/squid-game-2-netflixs-third-most-watched-series-after-season-1-and-us-comedy-wednesday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3295886/squid-game-2-netflixs-third-most-watched-series-after-season-1-and-us-comedy-wednesday?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jan 2025 02:41:51 +0000 A Squid Game-themed pop-up, techno tai chi and a big-screen anime feast are just three of the things in Hong Kong not to miss this weekend. 1. Kalos x Squid Game 2 pop-up Shopping mall Hysan Place in Causeway Bay has gone Squid Game crazy with a pop-up themed around the hit Netflix series, which dropped a second season last month. Dominating the pop-up is a 2.8-metre-tall copy of one of the show’s characters, Young-hee – the large, motion-sensing doll – as well as three 1.5-metre figures of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3295199/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-january-17-19-including-tai-chi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3295199/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-january-17-19-including-tai-chi?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:15:07 +0000 By Park Jin-hai Choi Seung-hyun, also known as K-pop star T.O.P and a former BigBang member, ended his 11-year silence in an interview this week where he addressed the controversies surrounding his role in Squid Game. While Netflix’s Korean series has enjoyed global popularity, topping charts for three weeks after its release, the singer-turned-actor has faced several controversies over the years. These include his marijuana use during military service, his departure from the K-pop boy band, and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/artists-celebrities/article/3294959/squid-game-2s-thanos-choi-seung-hyun-aka-top-self-loathing-his-return-acting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/artists-celebrities/article/3294959/squid-game-2s-thanos-choi-seung-hyun-aka-top-self-loathing-his-return-acting?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:45:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran A new year is upon us, which means 12 months of new K-drama series to look forward to. The biggest K-drama of all time gears up for a final round in 2025, a year that will also welcome the return of many beloved stars and hit writers in a slew of ambitious projects. Here, in ascending order, are the 13 Korean dramas we are the most excited about in the coming year. 13. My Youth Song Joong-ki (Reborn Rich) will return as a former child star who became a quiet novelist in My Youth. Alongside Song... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3294186/13-most-anticipated-k-drama-series-2025-ranked-squid-game-3-tempest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3294186/13-most-anticipated-k-drama-series-2025-ranked-squid-game-3-tempest?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jan 2025 10:15:07 +0000 This story contains spoilers for Squid Game season 2 By Park Jin-hai One of the first Korean actors to venture into Hollywood, Lee Byung-hun is writing a new chapter in his career with the Netflix series Squid Game. Following the global sensation of season 1, season 2 has also captured worldwide attention, ranking No. 1 on Netflix in 93 countries upon its release. Lee, 54, who plays the enigmatic Front Man in Squid Game, described the series as reaching a “whole new level” of success. “Even... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3294081/squid-games-front-man-actor-lee-byung-hun-feeling-much-more-loved-these-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3294081/squid-games-front-man-actor-lee-byung-hun-feeling-much-more-loved-these-days?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Squid Game season 2 has introduced viewers to a roster of new faces, but fans of Korean cinema will find some of the actors very familiar. Read on as we reveal our favourite previous roles performed by 12 of the Squid Game 2 actors. Note: the final entry is a spoiler. 1. Im Si-wan (#333): The Merciless ZE:A boy band member Im Si-wan is already well known to K-drama fans; some of his best roles came early in his career on the big screen. Among them was his supporting role in The Attorney, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3293848/best-movie-roles-squid-game-season-2s-new-players?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3293848/best-movie-roles-squid-game-season-2s-new-players?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:15:08 +0000 The second season of Netflix’s smash-hit series Squid Game is facing calls for a boycott in Vietnam due to dialogue referencing the Vietnam war, which has sparked criticism for allegedly distorting history. Vietnamese state media outlet Lao Dong reported on Monday that the Culture Ministry’s Cinema Department is reviewing whether the second season of Squid Game violates Vietnam’s laws. “If it is concluded that the series violates regulations, we will handle the matter in accordance with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3293668/squid-game-accused-whitewashing-south-koreas-atrocities-vietnam-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3293668/squid-game-accused-whitewashing-south-koreas-atrocities-vietnam-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 01:00:55 +0000 Viewers may gasp, cringe or cry out watching characters die on Netflix’s Squid Game, but those simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness seeing them go. The show has a huge cast and Hwang says it was “really difficult” to manage everyone on set. As characters would die, Hwang recalls saying to the actors on their last day, “‘Oh no! How sad! I won’t see you tomorrow’, but I was always smiling inside.” Squid Game season... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3292484/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-drawing-todays-korea-season-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3292484/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-drawing-todays-korea-season-2?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:15:07 +0000 Christmas may have come and gone but 2025 is just around the corner. Why wait until January 1 when you can start celebrating the new year in Hong Kong this weekend? Here are five ideas for you to consider. 1. AIA Carnival The annual funfair is back. Contained within the 36,000 square metres (388,000 square feet) of the Central Harbourfront is everything you need to tap into your inner child, from carnival games and thrilling rides to selfie installations and roving performers. There are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3292468/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-december-27-29-including-carnival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3292468/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-december-27-29-including-carnival?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:15:44 +0000 5/5 stars Lead cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun As seismic cultural events go, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s death game spectacle Squid Game (2021) was something special, blowing past everything else on the Richter scale. Three years later, the record-obliterating Netflix show is back for another round of Korean childhood games with a gruesome twist. When crafting follow-ups to phenomena that have captured the zeitgeist, creators tend to err on the side of “bigger” and “more” – bigger budgets,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3292286/netflix-k-drama-squid-game-season-2-review-new-games-electrifying-and-pulse-pounding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3292286/netflix-k-drama-squid-game-season-2-review-new-games-electrifying-and-pulse-pounding?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:00:09 +0000 Stepping onto the set of Squid Game season two, Lee Jung-jae felt like he had never left. “Including promotion, I’d been living with Gi-hun for about two years,” Lee says. “I really felt like I was him.” Squid Game follows an underground competition in Korea that recruits people in debt to participate in childlike games for money. Once the games begin, the contestants realise there are deadly consequences. The show was a global hit when it was released in 2021, becoming Netflix’s most-watched... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3292008/squid-game-2-star-its-genius-writer-and-becoming-his-character-gi-hun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3292008/squid-game-2-star-its-genius-writer-and-becoming-his-character-gi-hun?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:15:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran The year 2024 saw the Korean drama industry go back to basics, with traditional cable TV offerings largely outshining bigger-budget streaming productions. There were a few notable exceptions, however, including the return of the biggest K-drama of all time. Here is our pick of the best Korean dramas of 2024, ranked from good to great. 15. A Shop for Killers Lead cast: Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-joon Web novel adaptation A Shop for Killers opens with a bang, with a young woman (Kim Hye-joon)... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3291296/15-best-k-dramas-2024-ranked-queen-tears-ltns-and-squid-game-season-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3291296/15-best-k-dramas-2024-ranked-queen-tears-ltns-and-squid-game-season-2?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:15:07 +0000 Squid Game auteur Hwang Dong-hyuk has joined calls by hundreds of South Korean actors and directors to impeach or oust President Yoon Suk-yeol, pitting one of the country’s most powerful industries against the embattled leader. Hwang, who won global acclaim for creating Netflix’s most popular show of all time, used a news conference in Seoul on Monday ahead of the second season’s launch to blast Yoon for his now-revoked martial law decree. Yoon survived an impeachment motion over the weekend for... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3290083/squid-game-creator-cast-join-calls-impeach-south-koreas-yoon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3290083/squid-game-creator-cast-join-calls-impeach-south-koreas-yoon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Dec 2024 02:00:48 +0000 In the Korean-language Netflix megahit Squid Game, debt-ridden people take part in a deadly competition – lying, cheating and killing one another for a life-changing pot of money. How is the streaming giant promoting the second season of such an anti-capitalist show? By selling merchandise, of course. Retailers and brands including Puma, Johnnie Walker and shoemaker Crocs are hoping that interest in the show will drive sales of products based on the ultraviolent dystopian series. On December 4,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3289665/netflix-sells-squid-game-merch-keep-viewers-engaged-and-make-killing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3289665/netflix-sells-squid-game-merch-keep-viewers-engaged-and-make-killing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:15:08 +0000 Korean show Squid Game, which followed a group of civilians fighting for their lives in a deadly competition to win enough money to pay off their debts, quickly became a worldwide pop-culture sensation when it premiered in September 2021. Replica costumes from the show were worn at protests, YouTubers pledged to recreate the games in real life, and new memes and social media trends were inspired by its games. A month after its release, Squid Game became the most-watched series on Netflix. It... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3288954/whats-squid-game-season-2-new-cast-returning-characters-sneak-peeks-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3288954/whats-squid-game-season-2-new-cast-returning-characters-sneak-peeks-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:15:08 +0000 Stars of Netflix hits Squid Game and The Glory may come together to collaborate on a major romcom, while a period drama with a novel fantasy twist, a legal drama and a period office drama are also sending casting offers. Here’s the latest news from the Korean scene. 1. Petty Love Lee Jung-jae, who is on the cusp of returning as Player 456 in the hugely anticipated second season of Squid Game, may be gearing up for another K-drama, having been offered the male lead role in the romantic comedy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3287754/k-drama-casting-news-lee-jung-jae-and-lim-ji-yeon-eyed-lead-petty-love-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3287754/k-drama-casting-news-lee-jung-jae-and-lim-ji-yeon-eyed-lead-petty-love-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:15:08 +0000 Is Netflix a universal language? The entertainment giant is counting on it as the company seeks to extend its lead in the global streaming business. This week, Netflix showcased its latest slate of international original programmes, a key part of its strategy to attract and retain subscribers around the world. The list includes the much-anticipated sequel to the violent Korean-language drama Squid Game, Netflix’s most watched show ever; The Leopard, an Italian story about a prince in the 1860s;... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3287317/netflix-hopes-these-new-non-english-series-will-blow-globally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3287317/netflix-hopes-these-new-non-english-series-will-blow-globally?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:45:08 +0000 1. Squid Game 2 sees Lee Jung-jae back for vengeance in December, show’s creator teases possible English adaptation Next month, Netflix’s Squid Game 2 hits our screens, promising more intense challenges and a larger cast, with star Lee Jung-jae reprising his role in a story set three years after the first season’s events. An English version, directed by Fight Club’s David Fincher, is rumoured but not confirmed. 2. Disney+ K-drama The Fiery Priest season 2 sees Kim Nam-gil dispense divine justice... https://www.scmp.com/k-pop/k-drama/article/3287153/squid-game-back-season-2-fiery-priest-returns-shows-stir-alcohol-controversy-5-k-drama-stories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/k-pop/k-drama/article/3287153/squid-game-back-season-2-fiery-priest-returns-shows-stir-alcohol-controversy-5-k-drama-stories?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Nov 2024 04:25:24 +0000 Revenge will be in the air in the hotly anticipated second season of Squid Game, the TV show’s creator Hwang Dong-hyuk says, promising a bigger cast of characters and more absorbing challenges than the original. Attending the first global promotional event for the new season in the Italian city of Lucca, Hwang said a third edition of the Korean drama was already in post-production, and hinted an English-language version may be in the offing too. The first season of Squid Game became Netflix’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3284836/netflixs-squid-game-2-be-more-intriguing-lee-jung-jae-returns-full-vengeance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3284836/netflixs-squid-game-2-be-more-intriguing-lee-jung-jae-returns-full-vengeance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Nov 2024 04:45:07 +0000 Netflix Inc. was accused by an Indian filmmaker of copying his 2009 movie for its popular “Squid Game” series as the company prepares to release the second season of the show later this year. The filmmaker, Soham Shah, sued Netflix in federal court in New York on Friday, alleging that the show is a “blatant rip-off” of his Hindi-language film “Luck,” which tells the story of a “group of desperate, indebted people enticed to take part in a series of competitive games to win large sums of money”... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3278509/indian-director-sues-netflix-over-squid-game-says-series-blatant-rip-his-2009-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3278509/indian-director-sues-netflix-over-squid-game-says-series-blatant-rip-his-2009-film?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Sep 2024 03:00:17 +0000 By Park Jin-hai Netflix is experiencing a decline in its user base as its Korean original content continues to underperform. Attention is now focused on whether coming titles such as season 2 of Squid Game, slated for release in December, can reverse this trend. Netflix original Korean series have achieved the top spot in weekly global viewership seven times since the beginning of this year. Parasyte: The Grey claimed the top spot twice, while The Bequeathed, A Killer Paradox, Physical: 100... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3275166/can-squid-game-season-2-halt-netflixs-korean-viewer-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3275166/can-squid-game-season-2-halt-netflixs-korean-viewer-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:15:09 +0000 By Lee Gyu-lee This article contains spoilers. Park Sung-hoon’s breakout role came in the form of antagonist Jeon Jae-jun in Netflix’s 2022 hit series The Glory. Fast-forward a couple of years, and the South Korean actor has been putting in another irresistible performance as villain Yoon Eun-sung in tvN’s massive hit series Queen of Tears, shown on Netflix. “During my career, I’ve often had it where people need to reference the roles I’ve played to explain me. But now, when they say Jeon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3261008/glory-queen-tears-korean-actor-park-sung-hoon-making-name-himself-next-squid-game-season-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3261008/glory-queen-tears-korean-actor-park-sung-hoon-making-name-himself-next-squid-game-season-2?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 May 2024 08:15:30 +0000 A huge spike in online piracy of Netflix’s 3 Body Problem on the day of its release in China, where the streaming service and its original shows are not officially available, reflects an intense interest in the country to see how the US streamer is handling the best known piece of Chinese science fiction globally, similar to a piracy surge after the release of Disney’s live-action Mulan in 2020. The number of downloads of BitTorrent files, a type of peer-to-peer file sharing, associated with the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3256602/3-body-problem-piracy-spikes-china-reflecting-intense-interest-hollywood-films-struggle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3256602/3-body-problem-piracy-spikes-china-reflecting-intense-interest-hollywood-films-struggle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:30:22 +0000 South Korea’s Squid Game actor O Yeong-su has been found guilty of sexual misconduct, a local court said on Friday, after he was charged with assaulting a woman in 2017. The 79-year-old in 2022 became the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series for his performance as a seemingly vulnerable old man in the mega-hit Netflix dystopian thriller. The actor was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3255525/south-korean-squid-game-star-o-yeong-su-found-guilty-sexual-misconduct?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3255525/south-korean-squid-game-star-o-yeong-su-found-guilty-sexual-misconduct?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Mar 2024 08:16:10 +0000 One of the biggest cash prizes in television history is up for grabs in Squid Game: The Challenge, Netflix’s nail-biting new reality competition, inspired by the South Korean phenomenon. In the new show, 456 contestants compete in a series of brutally revamped children’s games for the chance to win US$4.56 million in cold hard cash. When the original K-drama series exploded onto screens back in September 2021, Squid Game caught the world’s attention. A global audience looked on enraptured as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3242117/netflix-reality-show-squid-game-challenge-2021-hit-k-drama-reimagined-nail-biting-game-show-minus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3242117/netflix-reality-show-squid-game-challenge-2021-hit-k-drama-reimagined-nail-biting-game-show-minus?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:12 +0000 Lead cast: Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Ha-sook, Ong Seung-wu, Byeon Woo-seok Latest Nielsen rating: 9.8 per cent Super-powered Korean women are back on screens in the bubbly K-drama Strong Girl Nam-soon, a spin-off of the popular 2017 series Strong Girl Bong-soon. Lee Yoo-mi of Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead fame takes the reins from Park Bo-young, who played the previous title character, while Baek Mi-kyung returns as series writer. Lee is Gang Nam-soon, the daughter of corporate tycoon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3238237/netflix-k-drama-strong-girl-nam-soon-squid-game-star-lee-yoo-mi-leads-childish-follow-modern-classic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3238237/netflix-k-drama-strong-girl-nam-soon-squid-game-star-lee-yoo-mi-leads-childish-follow-modern-classic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:45:07 +0000 When news of the Hollywood actors strike broke in mid-July, Song Chang-gon was waiting to hear back from Netflix, a company that was proving to be difficult to get a hold of. The phone number for its South Korea office was unlisted on the usual websites, but several months earlier, Song – a 51-year-old actor and current president of the Korea Broadcasting Actors Union – had obtained the personal number of a Netflix Korea executive. Unhappy that the company did not pay its South Korean actors... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3231123/amid-hollywood-strikes-south-korean-actors-netflix-k-dramas-push-better-pay-and-residual-fees-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3231123/amid-hollywood-strikes-south-korean-actors-netflix-k-dramas-push-better-pay-and-residual-fees-their?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:15:08 +0000 The world’s biggest streaming sensation is preparing to return with a roster of new and familiar faces, while the stars are aligning for what will surely be one of 2024’s biggest original projects. Read on for more about these and other K-drama casting announcements. 1. Squid Game season 2 The cast of the hugely anticipated new season of Squid Game, the most successful Netflix series of all time, has finally been unveiled, ahead of a shoot scheduled for later this summer. 6 of the best new... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3225827/netflix-k-drama-squid-game-season-2-confirms-im-si-wan-park-gyu-young-jo-yu-ri-and-park-sung-hoon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3225827/netflix-k-drama-squid-game-season-2-confirms-im-si-wan-park-gyu-young-jo-yu-ri-and-park-sung-hoon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:15:07 +0000 When Squid Game hit streaming platform Netflix in 2021, the show was an instant hit and went on to win six Emmy awards, propelling its entire cast to international fame. Now it’s returning for a second season, with Hwang Dong-hyuk returning to direct and executive produce the second instalment that will begin production later this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix) But what of the OG cast we’ve come to know and love (or... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3225164/squid-games-4-new-cast-members-revealed-ze-siwan-moon-lovers-kang-ha-neul-glorys-park-sung-hoon-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3225164/squid-games-4-new-cast-members-revealed-ze-siwan-moon-lovers-kang-ha-neul-glorys-park-sung-hoon-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:00:17 +0000 When Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos visits South Korea this week he will find an entertainment industry that has achieved global fame through hits such as Squid Game and The Glory, but also growing worries about its effects on the local market. South Korea has created some of Netflix’s biggest shows, which have become synonymous with the broader international success of the country’s cultural exports and spurred the Californian company to invest US$2.5 billion in local content. Sarandos is expected... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3224704/netflix-launched-south-koreas-entertainment-industry-superstardom-netflix-effect-really-paying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3224704/netflix-launched-south-koreas-entertainment-industry-superstardom-netflix-effect-really-paying?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jun 2023 07:33:19 +0000 3/5 stars Although she is now known around the world for her roles in the hit Netflix dramas Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead, Lee Yoo-mi made her name in independent films. Despite her new-found celebrity she hasn’t given up on her indie roots, as evidenced by her new film, No Heaven, But Love, a queer drama from director Han Jay which just debuted at the Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea. Strictly speaking, Lee is the film’s love interest. The lead role is filled by Park... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3219256/no-heaven-love-movie-review-squid-game-star-lee-yoo-mi-touching-queer-drama-marks-return-her-indie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3219256/no-heaven-love-movie-review-squid-game-star-lee-yoo-mi-touching-queer-drama-marks-return-her-indie?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 May 2023 09:20:08 +0000 Malaysian teacher Nura Ezzatie begins all her TikTok videos with the Korean greeting “Annyeonghaseyo!”. She started her channel in 2021 to share tips on learning Korean. Now she has over 180,000 followers. But her journey with the language started over a decade ago, as an 18-year-old obsessing over K-pop group Super Junior, spending her days watching TV shows featuring the group, like millions across Asia transfixed by Korean culture. Her only gripe was that she had to watch episodes a week... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3212263/more-malaysians-learning-korean-language-k-wave-continues-take-world-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3212263/more-malaysians-learning-korean-language-k-wave-continues-take-world-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Mar 2023 03:00:19 +0000 The challenge is straight from Greek mythology: hold a boulder aloft as long as possible. Korean car dealer Jo Jin-hyeong lasted over two hours, captivating global audiences in a reality show that could signal a new K-culture export success. After films such as Oscar-winning Parasite and TV series including Golden Globe-bedecked Squid Game helped popularise K-content overseas, industry figures have said South Korea’s high-quality reality shows may be next in line for domination. Physical: 100,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3211797/k-culture-hit-physical100-wins-audiences-wholesome-yet-brutal-contests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3211797/k-culture-hit-physical100-wins-audiences-wholesome-yet-brutal-contests?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:32:08 +0000 Since appearing in Netflix’s global hit Squid Game in 2021, Jung Ho-yeon (also known as HoYeon Jung) has truly become a household name. Besides her acting prowess, Jung also happens to be one of Korea’s top models having worked with fashion houses from Chanel and Fendi to Louis Vuitton, graced numerous magazine covers and scored plenty of brand endorsements thanks to her natural beauty and svelte figure. Recently, the Screen Actor Guild winner added another feather to her cap by becoming... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3211425/hoyeon-jungs-beauty-and-fitness-regime-revealed-squid-game-star-and-new-lancome-brand-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3211425/hoyeon-jungs-beauty-and-fitness-regime-revealed-squid-game-star-and-new-lancome-brand-ambassador?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:00:13 +0000 Fans of the hit South Korean dystopian drama Squid Game who thought competing in life-or-death childhood games looked like fun will soon have the chance to experience it in virtual reality thanks to a collaboration between Hong Kong-based Sandbox VR and US-based video streamer Netflix. The Squid Game experience is the latest title meant to entice gamers to visit Sandbox’s VR facilities, where a variety of hardware is used to create an immersive virtual environment, as the company looks to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3210692/hong-kong-start-sandbox-vr-bets-squid-game-experience-netflix-partnership-help-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3210692/hong-kong-start-sandbox-vr-bets-squid-game-experience-netflix-partnership-help-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Feb 2023 01:30:10 +0000 The emotional devastation of scams and the rush of the serial killer thriller combine in K-drama Decoy – formerly known as The Bait. Jang Keun-suk, last seen in 2018’s Switch: Change the World, returns to the screen for the first time in five years, performing alongside Heo Sung-tae (Squid Game) and Lee Elijah (Chief of Staff) in this brooding tale of police and con artists. Like many Korean thrillers, Decoy – available to stream on Viu – begins with a stylised nighttime sequence as a voice-over... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3208575/k-drama-decoy-jang-keun-suk-squid-games-heo-sung-tae-star-sombre-unconvincing-mash-con-artist-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3208575/k-drama-decoy-jang-keun-suk-squid-games-heo-sung-tae-star-sombre-unconvincing-mash-con-artist-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Jan 2023 09:45:08 +0000