[Exclusive] 'Physical 100: Sweden' opens casting for 2026 shoot

Netflix has officially confirmed that “Physical 100: Sweden” is underway. The streamer said 100 contestants will compete for the top prize, with casting now open through shortaudition.com/Projekt-00. Producers are seeking a wide range of participants — including elite athletes, military personnel, dancers, firefighters, and fitness enthusiasts — with no profession-based restrictions. According to the application materials, filming is scheduled to take place over two to three weeks in Sweden in M

Nov. 20, 2025

Netflix’s 'Physical: Asia' comes to life with Seoul pop-up

Netflix’s hit variety show "Physical: Asia" is bringing its grueling challenges to life with a Seoul pop-up store open through Sunday. Located in Seongsu-dong, the pop-up will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the intense physical trials of the survival series. Challenges range from pushing heavy poles to battling ropes, with the latter requiring visitors to execute dynamic movements, such as waves and slams with ropes anchored to a fixed point. Completing each challenge will earn visitors

Nov. 19, 2025

Traditional drama powerhouse KBS struggles to bring weekend hits

Korean Broadcasting System, once a dependable ratings engine, is facing a 10 billion won ($6.8 million) deficit as its recent tentpole projects stumble — a slump industry watchers attribute to a mismatch between the shows’ genres and KBS’ core, middle-aged audience. The network recently launched two high-profile weekend series — “Twelve,” starring superstar Don Lee (“The Outlaws,” “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil”) and “Walking on Thin Ice,” led by veteran actress Lee Young-ae (“Sympathy for La

Nov. 19, 2025

SBS’ hit vigilante franchise 'Taxi Driver' revs up with third season

One of Seoul Broadcasting System’s most bankable franchises, “Taxi Driver” -- the vigilante procedural in which a band of renegade cabbies take justice into their own hands -- returns with Season 3, promising a fresh slate of cases inspired by real crimes from Korea’s underbelly. The third season of “Taxi Driver” once again centers on Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon) and the clandestine crew at Rainbow Transport, who carry out private revenge missions on behalf of victims failed by the legal system. The dram

Nov. 18, 2025

'Heroes Next Door': Coupang Play’s year-end tentpole reunites 'The Outlaws' alumni

Coupang Play -- the country’s most-watched streaming service after Netflix -- is rolling out its marquee year-end release, “Heroes Next Door,” a comedic action series that reunites several unforgettable faces from “The Outlaws” universe. The result is a light-hearted comedy that blends feel-good humor with punchy action. “Heroes Next Door” centers on a band of seemingly ordinary neighbors who turn out to have extraordinary pasts. Leading the ensemble is Yoon Kye-sang, the “Outlaws” alumnus who p

Nov. 18, 2025

Tving partners with Disney+ to launch Korea’s first 3-way streaming bundle

Korean streamer Tving, home to hits like “Yumi’s Cells” and “Pyramid Game," announced Tuesday it has partnered with Disney+ to launch a bundle offering access to Tving, Disney+ and Wavve under one subscription. The rollout marks the first three-way streaming bundle from a Korean platform and the first partnership of its kind between a Korean platform and a global streamer in the domestic market. The new bundle comes in two variations: 3 Pack, which unlocks all three services for 21,500 won per m

Nov. 18, 2025

From ramyeon to chimaek, K-dramas’ real love language is food

In K-dramas, food often operates as its own kind of language — a conversational channel that runs parallel to dialogue and, at times, speaks louder than it. From late-night ramyeon to after-work chimaek (chicken and beer), food in K-dramas does more than fill screen time; it functions as a kind of on-screen tell, revealing what characters can’t articulate. K-dramas thread the country's everyday food culture into the fabric of their storytelling, using familiar touches — a shared pot of noodles,

Nov. 17, 2025

Jung Woo-sung stays silent at first press appearance since child revelation

HONG KONG — For the first time since confirming he had fathered a child out of wedlock with model Moon Ga-bi, actor Jung Woo-sung appeared before the press to take questions, but the veteran actor was reserved throughout the appearance. Jung attended the Disney+ Originals Preview event held Thursday in Hong Kong, promoting his upcoming series, "Made in Korea." The showcase, which unveiled Disney+’s 2026 APAC and global content lineup, drew some 400 reporters from across the region. Known for his

Nov. 13, 2025

Korean dramas get spotlight as Disney+ unveils 2026 APAC power slate

Korea Herald correspondent HONG KONG — Disney+ on Thursday unveiled its upcoming slate of titles, a mix of global releases and a strong lineup of Asia Pacific originals, during a major showcase event held in Hong Kong. The event largely spotlighted the streaming platform's upcoming Korean originals for 2026, headlined by “Made in Korea,” starring two of Korea’s top actors, Jung Woo-sung and Hyun Bin. The highly anticipated series is set to premiere Dec. 24. “‘Made in Korea’ has a certain power i

Nov. 13, 2025

'Squid Game' star Lee You-mi finds power in fragility in 'As You Stood By'

Learning life’s toughest lessons often begins with empathy — the ability to inhabit someone else’s pain. Few professions demand a level of emotional surrender quite like acting. In the new Netflix Korean psychological thriller "As You Stood By," Lee You-mi embodies that challenge, portraying a terrified wife trapped in an abusive marriage — a role she says made her stronger and helped her grow in a healthy way. The series follows Hee-soo (Lee) and Eun-soo (Jeon So-nee), two close friends who con

Nov. 11, 2025

Titles, romances and drinks: inside K-drama offices

Like much of workplace television around the world, K-dramas often unfold within the office walls, where ambition, romance and rivalry are part of the daily grind. Yet Korea’s office dramas carry a distinctly local flavor. They follow a social choreography unique to Korean work culture — from hoesik (after-work gatherings) to the tradition of addressing colleagues by title rather than by name. To international viewers, these customs may seem both fascinating and foreign. But within K-dramas, the

Nov. 10, 2025

K-beauty artists take over New York in 'Perfect Glow'

Nearly every facet of Korean culture seems to have gone global, from K-pop and K-dramas to K-food. Now, K-beauty is taking its turn in the spotlight. "Perfect Glow" brings K-beauty to the streets of Manhattan, where some of Korea’s most popular makeup artists bring their craft to an international clientele. The show follows their journey as they open a pop-up beauty salon in New York City, offering makeovers to locals eager to experience K-beauty firsthand. The elite lineup includes makeup artis

Nov. 6, 2025

Two women and one dead man — new thriller hits Netflix

A gripping new thriller about two women who conspire to kill an abusive husband — led by breakout actors from “Squid Game” and “Parasyte: The Grey” — is soon to release on Netflix. “As You Stood By” follows Hee-soo (Lee You-mi) and Eun-soo (Jeon So-nee), two close friends who conspire to murder Hee-soo’s violent husband. The drama series is adapted from Hideo Okuda’s acclaimed Japanese novel “Naomi and Kanako,” with the Korean remake reimagining the story through the lens of female solidarity an

Nov. 5, 2025

Tving launches in Japan

Korean streaming platform Tving, home to hit originals such as "Lovely Runner" and "Transit Love," will become available in Japan starting Wednesday. According to Tving, the platform entered into a strategic partnership with Disney+ and will officially roll out a dedicated hub, titled Tving Collection, within Disney+ Japan. The launch marks both Tving’s debut in Japan and the first time Disney+ has created a dedicated streaming brand hub within its platform in the Asia-Pacific region. Tving desc

Nov. 4, 2025

Ji Chang-wook returns for revenge in 'The Manipulated' on Disney+

Korean heartthrob Ji Chang-wook is once again driven by vengeance in the upcoming Disney+ original thriller, "The Manipulated." The series marks a rare film-to-series adaptation for Disney+ Korea, bringing director Park Shin-woo and Ji back together to reinterpret Park’s 2017 action hit "Fabricated City" through a fresh lens. At the story’s core is a premise familiar to the original: Tae-joong (Ji Chang-wook), an ordinary man whose life is upended after being falsely accused of a brutal crime, d

Nov. 3, 2025