https://www.scmp.com/rss/518040/feed The latest news on Han Hyo-joo, South Korean actress, model and singer, including showbiz news and updates. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The Korea Times The Korea Times By Kim Se-jeong Netflix’s romance series Can This Love Be Translated? has drawn attention for many reasons, including the casting of Japanese actor Sota Fukushi as Hiro, a Japanese superstar whose initial contempt for Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung) gradually turns into love as the story unfolds. Fukushi’s role is smoothly woven into the narrative as a Japanese celebrity working alongside a top Korean star, with several scenes filmed in Japan. The casting of Japanese actors in Korean productions – and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/article/3342581/when-k-drama-meets-j-drama-sparks-fly-korea-and-japan-team-screen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/article/3342581/when-k-drama-meets-j-drama-sparks-fly-korea-and-japan-team-screen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 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 Lead cast: Han Hyo-joo, Shun Oguri From its narrative structure and sharp visuals all the way down to its symmetric phobias, Romantics Anonymous, a coming Netflix drama series that just premiered at the Busan International Film Festival, is all about form but somewhat less concerned with substance. It is the latest in a series of joint Korean-Japanese productions, following shows such as last year’s What Comes After Love, but the first for Netflix, which has had huge success with content from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3326064/busan-2025-k-drama-romantics-anonymous-han-hyo-joo-shun-oguri-slick-netflix-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3326064/busan-2025-k-drama-romantics-anonymous-han-hyo-joo-shun-oguri-slick-netflix-romcom?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:00:11 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Among several enticing K-drama casting stories this week, two Korean stars are gearing up for their comeback projects after completing their military service. Here is the latest casting news. 1. Your Ground In addition to gearing up for a second season of the superhero show Moving, Han Hyo-joo may also be joining the romantic drama Your Ground, although her agency has yet to respond to the news of her casting. The series will chronicle the working and burgeoning romantic relationship between a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3316914/k-drama-casting-news-about-han-hyo-joo-song-kang-lee-do-hyun-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3316914/k-drama-casting-news-about-han-hyo-joo-song-kang-lee-do-hyun-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Lead cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Han Hyo-joo Disney+ action-sci-fi Blood Free is the latest Korean series to dip its toes into dystopia. Leading the show is Moving star Han Hyo-joo as the entrepreneur behind a cultured meat corporation that revolutionises global food production, and Ju Ji-hoon (Kingdom) as her tough-as-nails bodyguard. The series opens with a product launch presentation put on by Blood Free, a corporation that has successfully developed a lab-cultured meat product that does not require... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3259012/disney-k-drama-blood-free-ju-ji-hoon-han-hyo-joo-lead-sci-fi-series-looks-its-dumping-its-big-ideas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3259012/disney-k-drama-blood-free-ju-ji-hoon-han-hyo-joo-lead-sci-fi-series-looks-its-dumping-its-big-ideas?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:18:21 +0000 A classic Korean show is revived and a Japanese classic is reimagined – two among the many tantalising Korean drama offerings scheduled for early spring 2024. We preview seven of the best K-drama series debuting this month. 1. Parasyte: The Grey Lead cast: Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun After producing Netflix’s The Bequeathed earlier this year, Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho has once again teamed up with the global streaming giant to present his latest directorial effort, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3257304/7-best-new-k-dramas-watch-april-2024-parasyte-grey-and-goodbye-earth-netflix-blood-free-and-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3257304/7-best-new-k-dramas-watch-april-2024-parasyte-grey-and-goodbye-earth-netflix-blood-free-and-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Mar 2024 11:15:17 +0000 It was another big year for Korean dramas in the fertile streaming era, but 2023 was especially notable for the swift rise of Disney+. The Mouse House has only been dabbling in K-dramas for two years, but this year it aired over half the shows on this list, including five original productions. Netflix was no slouch this year, but now that it has a worthy rival to contend with, the future is looking brighter for K-content creators and consumers. Here is our pick of the best Korean dramas of 2023,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3245562/ranked-15-best-k-dramas-2023-queenmaker-glory-song-hye-kyo-superhero-saga-moving-and-mask-girl?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3245562/ranked-15-best-k-dramas-2023-queenmaker-glory-song-hye-kyo-superhero-saga-moving-and-mask-girl?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Dec 2023 20:15:18 +0000 The hit 2018 Korean film Believer, a remake of Hong Kong director Johnnie To Kei-fung’s Drug War, received a hotly anticipated sequel this month. The only problem was that Believer 2, currently one of the most streamed new movies on Netflix, is also one of the worst sequels anywhere in recent memory. While they are standard business practice in Hollywood, sequels have been a relatively rare phenomenon in the Korean film industry. But that’s not to say it hasn’t produced some very worthwhile... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3243077/did-you-hate-believer-2-netflix-10-best-korean-film-sequels-watch-instead-confidential-assignment-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3243077/did-you-hate-believer-2-netflix-10-best-korean-film-sequels-watch-instead-confidential-assignment-2?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Nov 2023 03:15:12 +0000 After back-to-back hit albums and having just completed its first world tour in September, K-pop girl group Aespa is making a comeback on November 10 with its fourth mini-album, Drama. Deviating from Aespa’s distinct funky and bass-driven futuristic soundscapes, Drama showcased a darker tone. The group, composed of Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ning Ning, has not only achieved remarkable success in the music industry, but has also solidified its presence in the fashion world. The foursome are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3241015/drama-10-aespas-best-fashion-looks-2023-winters-striking-red-gucci-skirt-and-ning-nings-versace-lbd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3241015/drama-10-aespas-best-fashion-looks-2023-winters-striking-red-gucci-skirt-and-ning-nings-versace-lbd?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2023 06:00:22 +0000 This year marks 10 years of business in Hong Kong for French skincare brand Caudalie, which did clean beauty “before it was cool”, according to co-founder Mathilde Thomas, who launched the brand with her husband Bertrand. Caudalie has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the vineyards of Bordeaux, with a global presence in over 50 boutiques worldwide, including retailers like Sephora. Style sat down for a chat with Thomas, who took us through the science behind Caudalie’s latest... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/beauty-news/article/3240181/caudalies-co-founder-everything-beauty-and-skincare-french-brands-mathilde-thomas-talks-tiktok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/beauty-news/article/3240181/caudalies-co-founder-everything-beauty-and-skincare-french-brands-mathilde-thomas-talks-tiktok?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Nov 2023 06:00:16 +0000 In the latest hit Disney+ series Moving, instant coffee has a recurring role. Episode eight, which focuses on Lee Mi-hyun (Han Hyo-joo), a character with super senses, takes place in 1994, in the male-dominated intelligence agency where she works. In one scene, she makes an instant coffee for her boss, Deputy Director Min. It was a task that his assistant, Miss Kim, always seemed to fumble – until Lee, with her astute hearing, finds out about Min’s sweet tooth; she advises Miss Kim to add three... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3239631/new-korean-wave-instant-coffee-mixes-featured-k-dramas-moving-vincenzo-and-my-mister-get-shot-arm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3239631/new-korean-wave-instant-coffee-mixes-featured-k-dramas-moving-vincenzo-and-my-mister-get-shot-arm?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:45:23 +0000 Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims is launching a menswear collection! This includes a range of men’s products such as boxers, briefs, T-shirts, undershirts, tank tops and leggings, and will be available to shop online from October 26. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SKIMS (@skims) Kardashian first launched the brand in 2019 along with her co-founders Emma and Jens Grede to provide shapewear for women of different skin tones, body types and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3238966/skims-launching-menswear-collection-kim-kardashians-us4-billion-shapewear-brand-will-sell-boxers-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3238966/skims-launching-menswear-collection-kim-kardashians-us4-billion-shapewear-brand-will-sell-boxers-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:00:17 +0000 Disney + hit the jackpot recently with its supernatural K-drama series Moving, which released in August. The show was a major boost to the streaming platform’s subscriptions, per Kdrama Stars. It’s been dubbed a South Korean take on the hit American series Heroes and centres on a group with superpowers struggling to come to terms with their unique gifts. One of Moving’s breakout stars is actress Han Hyo-joo, who plays Lee Mi-hyun in the series, who has superhuman senses. The former teenage... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3237827/movings-breakout-star-han-hyo-joos-quiet-luxury-style-bare-make-classic-fits-louis-vuitton-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3237827/movings-breakout-star-han-hyo-joos-quiet-luxury-style-bare-make-classic-fits-louis-vuitton-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Oct 2023 02:00:25 +0000 1/5 stars While it might be considered pointless to complain about excessive violence in a Korean action movie – it is what has come to define the country’s output in this genre – Believer 2 arrives as one of the most gratuitous parades of senseless, and often nonsensical, bloodletting in recent memory. Baek Jong-yeol (The Beauty Inside) directs this follow-up to Lee Hae-young’s 2018 remake of Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To Kei-fung’s Drug War (2012), but even the franchise’s most attentive... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3237293/busan-2023-believer-2-movie-review-new-netflix-sequel-2018-korean-remake-johnnie-tos-drug-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3237293/busan-2023-believer-2-movie-review-new-netflix-sequel-2018-korean-remake-johnnie-tos-drug-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Oct 2023 11:15:15 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran These days Korean dramas come in many shapes and sizes, but the genre they continue to be most associated with is romance. And for good reason, as fans of our ranking of the 15 best Korean romantic dramas will tell you. 15. Crash Course in Romance Lead cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Kyung-ho Peak Nielsen rating: 17 per cent When we think of romantic K-dramas we typically imagine young protagonists, but the genre’s broad viewership means there’s a broad range of romances. A case in point is the hit... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3236214/15-best-romantic-k-dramas-all-time-crash-landing-you-and-my-love-star-secret-garden-and-twenty-five?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3236214/15-best-romantic-k-dramas-all-time-crash-landing-you-and-my-love-star-secret-garden-and-twenty-five?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Sep 2023 11:15:19 +0000 This article contains mild spoilers. 5/5 stars Lead cast: Ryoo Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, Go Youn-jung, Lee Jeong-ha, Kim Do-hoon, Cha Tae-hyun, Ryoo Seung-bum Most K-dramas tend to be quite rigid with their narratives. This gives them an approachable and familiar charm that has made them the go-to form of entertainment for legions of viewers around the world – but it can also hold them back. Without the element of surprise and the freedom to experiment, shows can limit themselves.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3235345/disney-k-drama-review-moving-fantastic-5-star-superhero-saga-reaches-epic-finale-moves-us-tears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3235345/disney-k-drama-review-moving-fantastic-5-star-superhero-saga-reaches-epic-finale-moves-us-tears?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:45:18 +0000 Kim So-hyun could almost be mistaken for a teenager, but she carries herself with the poise of an adult and her eyes have the depth of someone twice her 24 years. She has been a working actress for 18 years, and her experience and professionalism as a child star eased her transition to an acting career as an adult. Born in Australia, Kim moved with her family to South Korea when she was four years old, and her acting debut came two years later in 2006. Although initially not very passionate... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3234365/who-kim-so-hyun-star-k-drama-my-lovely-liar-who-has-been-charming-audiences-her-days-child-actor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3234365/who-kim-so-hyun-star-k-drama-my-lovely-liar-who-has-been-charming-audiences-her-days-child-actor?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Sep 2023 03:15:21 +0000 Several major stars appear set to return to the small screen in a range of exciting new K-drama series, including zombie- and superhero-themed shows. Influenza Park Jung-min (Hellbound) and Blackpink superstar Jisoo have reportedly been approached to star in Influenza, a major new series from Coupang Play, the Korean streamer behind the acclaimed drama Anna with Bae Suzy. The show, which will comprise nine episodes, will be directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, who recently made the Netflix sci-fi crime... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3233925/blackpinks-jisoo-eyed-zombie-romance-k-drama-influenza-seo-guk-lee-sung-kyung-talks-your-brilliant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3233925/blackpinks-jisoo-eyed-zombie-romance-k-drama-influenza-seo-guk-lee-sung-kyung-talks-your-brilliant?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Sep 2023 11:15:21 +0000 By Lee Hae-rin In the bustling heart of Seoul, the South Korean capital, against the scenic backdrop of Mount Nam, is Sopa-ro – a hillside drive lined with an array of restaurants, all offering the same menu featuring giant-sized Korean tonkatsu. Tonkatsu is a portmanteau of ton, meaning pork, and katsu, a simplified Japanese pronunciation of cutlet. The tonkatsu served in these restaurants in Namsan, the Korean name for Mount Nam, is the same as the classic version found in other snack stands... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3233289/disney-k-drama-moving-features-tonkatsu-dinner-seouls-mount-nam-how-did-deep-fried-pork-dish-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3233289/disney-k-drama-moving-features-tonkatsu-dinner-seouls-mount-nam-how-did-deep-fried-pork-dish-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Sep 2023 03:42:12 +0000 This article contains spoilers. Lead cast: Ryoo Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, Go Youn-jung, Lee Jeong-ha, Kim Do-hoon, Cha Tae-hyun, Ryoo Seung-bum Despite their ample charms, Korean dramas have a tendency to sag in the middle. Stories typically burst out of the gate with breathless set-up and end on emotional highs, but the parts in between can be drawn-out affairs. Disney’s superhero epic Moving, however, upends that trend in spectacular fashion with a daring narrative structure that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3233190/disney-k-drama-midseason-recap-moving-ryoo-seung-ryong-han-hyo-joo-power-sweeping-superhero-epic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3233190/disney-k-drama-midseason-recap-moving-ryoo-seung-ryong-han-hyo-joo-power-sweeping-superhero-epic?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Sep 2023 11:15:14 +0000 By Lee Gyu-lee Actress Go Youn-jung has expressed huge satisfaction with her latest role as an athletic high-schooler, Jang Hui-soo, in Disney+’s Korean original series Moving, saying she shares a lot of similarities with the character. “I’ve always wanted to play a character that is similar to my real personality. And Hui-soo was it,” she says in an interview. “I got the script for the first time at the audition for the role. I didn’t have enough time to prepare or grasp the backstory. But... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3232542/disney-k-drama-moving-korean-actress-go-youn-jung-talks-about-her-resemblance-her-supernatural?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3232542/disney-k-drama-moving-korean-actress-go-youn-jung-talks-about-her-resemblance-her-supernatural?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Aug 2023 20:15:12 +0000 Korean screen siren Han Hyo-joo is celebrating 20 years in the entertainment business after being discovered in a teenage beauty pageant back in 2003. A major name in both films and dramas, Han is back on screens this summer in Moving, her biggest project to date. The Disney+ superhero series is the costliest Korean production yet, with a reported budget of 65 billion won (US$48.5 million) for its 20 episodes. The show is filled with action, to which Han is no stranger, but what has viewers... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3231415/who-han-hyo-joo-korean-actress-and-star-moving-whos-appeared-wide-range-movies-and-k-drama-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3231415/who-han-hyo-joo-korean-actress-and-star-moving-whos-appeared-wide-range-movies-and-k-drama-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Aug 2023 03:15:08 +0000 Lead cast: Ryoo Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, Go Yoon-jung, Lee Jeong-ha, Kim Do-hoon, Cha Tae-hyun, Ryoo Seung-bum Those disappointed by the return of The Uncanny Counter this summer may want to consider switching over to watch a new group of Korean superheroes on Disney+ in Moving, the most expensive Korean drama series to date. Seven of the show’s 20 episodes dropped on the day it launched, an unusually large number but a wise choice given that the series takes some time to iron out a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3231010/disney-k-drama-moving-superhero-series-starring-ryoo-seung-ryong-and-han-hyo-joo-starts-slowly-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3231010/disney-k-drama-moving-superhero-series-starring-ryoo-seung-ryong-and-han-hyo-joo-starts-slowly-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Aug 2023 10:15:09 +0000 After a quiet July, the summer schedule of K-drama launches heats up in August with a range of shows, including the most expensive Korean small-screen production of all time. We preview nine of the best K-dramas series debuting during the month. 1. The First Responders season 2 Lead cast: Kim Rae-won, Son Ho-jun, Gong Seung-yeon The SBS show, streaming globally on Disney+, will return for a second season of heart-pounding suspense and action in The First Responders 2. The series follows the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3229092/9-best-new-k-drama-series-watch-august-2023-mask-girl-netflix-moving-disney-first-responders-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3229092/9-best-new-k-drama-series-watch-august-2023-mask-girl-netflix-moving-disney-first-responders-season?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jul 2023 08:15:10 +0000 By Lee Gyu-lee Disney+ has shared its line-up of Korean original series for the second half of this year, including the star-studded action series Moving and K-pop juggernauts BTS’ music documentary, BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star. “As audiences around the world continue to be drawn to stories from Korea, we believe our curated selection of originals in the second half of the year will captivate viewers at home and abroad,” said Kim So-youn, managing director of Disney Korea. “We look forward to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3227309/disney-korean-content-2023-come-bts-documentary-star-studded-k-dramas-and-webtoon-adaptations-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3227309/disney-korean-content-2023-come-bts-documentary-star-studded-k-dramas-and-webtoon-adaptations-way?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:15:13 +0000 It may seem unusual to say someone has quietly worked their way up the entertainment profession when they have 10 million followers on Instagram, but it is true of the 13-year career of Park Hyung-sik, currently on screens in Our Blooming Youth. A native of Yongin in Gyeonggi, the province surrounding Seoul, Park showed an interest in singing at a young age and, after being noticed by talent scouts, he began training to be a pop idol. He trained throughout his high-school years and debuted at... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3209874/who-park-hyung-sik-star-our-blooming-youth-and-happiness-and-k-pop-group-zea-how-he-always-helps-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3209874/who-park-hyung-sik-star-our-blooming-youth-and-happiness-and-k-pop-group-zea-how-he-always-helps-his?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Feb 2023 09:15:08 +0000 Big-budget sci-fi, fantasy, horror, superheroes and a new twisted survival game drama are all due to hit the Korean drama world this year, along with a host of other mouth-watering series. Here’s what we’re most looking forward to. 1. Black Knight Following Our Blues, Kim Woo-bin returns in the Netflix series Black Knight, reuniting him with Master director Cho Ui-seok. Based on a webtoon, the show depicts a dystopian future where delivery drivers play important roles in a world blighted by air... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3207501/11-most-anticipated-new-k-drama-series-2023-queen-tears-and-7-escape-when-stars-gossip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3207501/11-most-anticipated-new-k-drama-series-2023-queen-tears-and-7-escape-when-stars-gossip?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jan 2023 08:15:15 +0000 By Kwak Yeon-soo After finding fame at a young age, actress Kim You-jung has managed to remain successful as an adult – but the star says it has not been easy. The 23-year-old actress began working as a child model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. When she was six, she starred in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) alongside actors Choi Min-sik and Lee Young-ae. Kim went on to appear in a slew of mainstream hits, including Road No. 1 (2010), Dong Yi (2010) and Moon Embracing the Sun... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3197556/kim-you-jung-star-netflix-korean-film-20th-century-girl-music-acting-and-why-she-would-choose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3197556/kim-you-jung-star-netflix-korean-film-20th-century-girl-music-acting-and-why-she-would-choose?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:15:08 +0000 3/5 stars Kim Yoo-jung (Lovers of the Red Sky) is an absolute delight in Bang Woo-ri’s 20th Century Girl, a nostalgia-fuelled high-school romcom set in 1999. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival this week, and will be available globally on Netflix from October 21. Bursting with youthful exuberance and cataclysmic heartache, it follows the wilful yet well-meaning Bo-ra (Kim), whose efforts to research a potential love interest for her best friend backfire in the most... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3195206/busan-2022-20th-century-girl-movie-review-netflix-korean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3195206/busan-2022-20th-century-girl-movie-review-netflix-korean?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Oct 2022 20:15:08 +0000 K-pop’s apparent quest for world domination is still well in progress, with groups like BTS and Blackpink commanding global charts with their music. But with rookies coming in from left, right and centre, competition is fierce. Out of the hundreds of groups debuting every year, only a handful make it big. And even when they do get to the top, it’s a volatile industry that can knock them back off with just a moment’s notice. 6 Korean stars who survived being cancelled, from Irene to Kim... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3189714/5-richest-k-pop-groups-2022-net-worths-ranked-bts-puma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3189714/5-richest-k-pop-groups-2022-net-worths-ranked-bts-puma?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Aug 2022 03:40:41 +0000 Han So-hee (My Name) and Park Hyung-sik of the K-pop boy band ZE:A play lifelong friends navigating a tricky way out of the friendzone in the new Disney+ limited series Soundtrack #1. Bright, glossy and full of quiet longing, the show approaches romance from the perspective of artists, as the lack of – or repression of – love in their lives thwarts their creative processes. Lee Eunsoo (Han) is a lyricist struggling to find the right words for a song about unrequited love, while photographer Han... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3171782/disney-k-drama-soundtrack-1-hazy-romance-han-so-hee-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3171782/disney-k-drama-soundtrack-1-hazy-romance-han-so-hee-park?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Mar 2022 03:15:15 +0000 2.5/5 stars A band of swarthy pirates must collude with a gang of vicious bandits to find a cache of gold in Kim Jeong-hoon’s high-seas adventure The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure. The biggest domestic box office hit of 2022 in South Korea so far, the film debuted in cinemas over the Lunar New Year holiday, and launches this month on Netflix. Originally planned as a direct sequel to 2014’s The Pirates, the project ran aground after original stars Son Ye-jin and Kim Nam-gil jumped ship. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3169077/netflix-movie-review-pirates-last-royal-treasure-sees-han?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3169077/netflix-movie-review-pirates-last-royal-treasure-sees-han?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:45:17 +0000 The year 2022 is shaping up to be a big year for the Korean film industry, with an enormous line-up of films coming to theatres. These include a number of delayed blockbusters rescheduled for release in 2022 because of the pandemic, such as Emergency Declaration, Life is Beautiful and Hero. New releases by directors like Kim Han-min, Choi Dong-hoon and Kim Yong-hwa will provide viewers with a wider selection. Some actors will also expand their talents behind the camera for their feature... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3162522/14-new-korean-movies-watch-2022-catch-song-joong-ki-son-ye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3162522/14-new-korean-movies-watch-2022-catch-song-joong-ki-son-ye?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:22 +0000 With the smash-hit success of Squid Game and a variety of other hits that rang around the world, 2021 will go down as a very special year for Korean drama series. While global streaming platforms were a big part of this, as they poured big budgets into high-concept programmes which previously had not existed in the Korean market, it was truly a great year for Korean small-screen content across the board. Korea-based cable and broadcast channels stepped up to the plate with a variety of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3161157/15-best-k-dramas-2021-vincenzo-and-mr-queen-squid-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3161157/15-best-k-dramas-2021-vincenzo-and-mr-queen-squid-game?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Dec 2021 23:15:14 +0000 This article contains spoilers. 4/5 stars Korean entertainment has seen a mushrooming of zombie stories in recent years. Their popularity has risen in tandem with that of other dystopian narratives presented as allegories of contemporary society’s pervasive ills. The recently concluded Happiness had plenty to say about social class and government control, but unlike its peers, it wasn’t all doom and gloom – even zombies could come back from the undead. Through 12 breezy episodes full of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3159504/k-drama-review-happiness-zombie-romance-one-years-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3159504/k-drama-review-happiness-zombie-romance-one-years-most?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:15:21 +0000 It’s always satisfying to get a peek into the opulent homes of wealthy celebrities. With their multimillion-dollar net worths, it’s no surprise that the biggest K-pop stars live in dream homes, mostly concentrated in the Gangnam, Itaewon and Chungdam areas known for their expensive property prices in Seoul. Earlier this year, Shinee’s Key moved into a new luxury home. On an episode of MBC’s I Live Alone, the singer said he has been living by himself for eight years and gave his fans a tour of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3158869/inside-shinee-member-keys-new-luxury-mansion-seouls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3158869/inside-shinee-member-keys-new-luxury-mansion-seouls?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Dec 2021 04:50:43 +0000 This article contains spoilers. Given its bright apartments, sunny days and occasionally ebullient characters, you could be forgiven for mistaking Happiness for something other than the survival- horror drama that it is. Zombies lurk around every corner, but they only appear sparingly and in well-executed set pieces that punctuate a series that remains breezily enjoyable two-thirds of the way in. Soon after they move into a public housing unit in Tower 101 in the Le Ciel flat complex, Yoon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3158006/k-drama-midseason-recap-happiness-han-hyo-joo-shines-breezy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3158006/k-drama-midseason-recap-happiness-han-hyo-joo-shines-breezy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Dec 2021 08:45:15 +0000 High concepts come with high expectations and as each drama series strives to be the next big thing, storytellers in South Korea try to give us something we’ve never seen before. Occasionally this results in something truly fresh and exciting, but more often than not it leads to something big and brash that tries too hard to please. Happiness, a new 12-part horror-thriller series marking the return of actress Han Hyo-joo, is neither of these things. Instead, this zombie show set in an apartment... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3156327/k-drama-happiness-han-hyo-joo-makes-formidable-return-tv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3156327/k-drama-happiness-han-hyo-joo-makes-formidable-return-tv?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Nov 2021 07:15:15 +0000 Both Apple TV+ and Coupang Play will launch their first Korean original series in November, which is shaping up to be a particularly busy and exciting month for K-drama fans. Netflix is also launching one of its biggest series of the year, while South Korean channels will feature the returns of several major stars. 1. Melancholia Lee Do-hyun (Sweet Home) returns in the May to December romance Melancholia next month, as maths prodigy Seung-you who becomes close with his maths teacher, played by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3154029/9-new-k-dramas-watch-november-2021-netflix-series-hellbound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3154029/9-new-k-dramas-watch-november-2021-netflix-series-hellbound?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Oct 2021 04:45:11 +0000 There’s no doubt that the Bangtan Boys know how to splurge, but not only do they treat themselves with their millions, they shell out for their loved ones too – including their mums and dads, of course. So what sort of relationships do the boys have with their parents, and what gifts have they presented over the years to express their love and thanks? Here are some of the most memorable ones … 5 Korean celebrity drug scandals Jungkook: a Mercedes-Benz Jungkook might be the group’s maknae –... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3138274/what-gifts-do-bts-members-give-their-parents-jin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3138274/what-gifts-do-bts-members-give-their-parents-jin?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:34:38 +0000 2.5/5 stars Reprising their roles from the 2020 television series of the same name, Tatsuya Fujiwara and Ryoma Takeuchi play globe-trotting secret agents on the trail of confidential solar energy tech in The Sun Stands Still, Eiichiro Hasumi’s big-screen adaptation of Shuichi Yoshida’s spy novel series. South Korean actors Han Hyo-Joo and Byun Yo-Han also star in this high stakes game of cat and mouse. A secret organisation of jet-setting spies that masquerades as a global news corporation seems... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3136590/sun-stands-still-movie-review-tatsuya-fujiwara-plays-globe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3136590/sun-stands-still-movie-review-tatsuya-fujiwara-plays-globe?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:15:00 +0000 Spring is in the air and the buds of several new K-dramas are beginning to sprout. Among notable new Korean dramas announced in the past few weeks is a survival series set in a flat block, a supernatural procedural with a psychic magician moonlighting as an investigator and a period prohibition romance. Happiness Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik and Jo Woo-jin are joining forces for this survival series from Ahn Gil-ho and Han Sang-woon, the director and writer duo behind the show Watcher. Calling to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3133428/han-hyo-joo-park-hyung-sik-lead-survival-k-drama-series-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3133428/han-hyo-joo-park-hyung-sik-lead-survival-k-drama-series-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 May 2021 11:15:16 +0000 Given the riches that Korean TV offered the world last year, it’s hard to imagine the industry topping that in 2021. But with networks and streamers busy working on a range of exciting new stories, there’s reason to be very optimistic as we enter the new year. Expect high altitude adventure, a sci-fi drama set on the moon, a high-stakes survival game show, more zombies than you can shake a stick at and, of course, plenty of romance. Read on for our 12 most anticipated K-dramas of 2021 – which is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3117342/12-most-anticipated-k-dramas-2021-jun-ji-hyuns-star-turn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3117342/12-most-anticipated-k-dramas-2021-jun-ji-hyuns-star-turn?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Jan 2021 23:45:15 +0000 The film industry is facing an unprecedented crisis with the Covid-19 pandemic, and South Korea is no exception. Still, as we adjust to our “new normal”, actors and film crews have started to get back to work, albeit in a variety of socially distanced ways – with a number of big screen titles already wrapped on set and given the go-ahead to finish production. As we look forward to the cinema release schedule being repopulated with blockbusters, here are nine K-movies you can look forward to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/k-pop/news/article/3110010/9-korean-movies-watch-2021-k-pop-idols-bae-suzy-and-exos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/k-pop/news/article/3110010/9-korean-movies-watch-2021-k-pop-idols-bae-suzy-and-exos?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Nov 2020 06:35:06 +0000 Han Hyo-joo, a household name across Asia and a former best actress winner at South Korea’s prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards, turns 33 today. She also celebrates 17 years in the television and film industry. Here are some of her most outstanding performances. 1. Spring Waltz (2006) Han’s profile got a boost when she starred in the television drama Spring Waltz, the fourth and final season of director Yoon Seok-ho’s Endless Love series, which helped propel the emerging “Korean wave” across... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3051742/k-drama-actress-han-hyo-joos-best-tv-and-film-roles-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3051742/k-drama-actress-han-hyo-joos-best-tv-and-film-roles-she?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Feb 2020 00:45:13 +0000