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Netflix's most-watched shows see strong presence from non-English content: report
English-language shows are no longer dominating Netflix's most-watched list, its latest biannual engagement report showed, with non-English-language titles from the UK and South Korea boasting a strong global performance. The streaming service has released viewership data every six months for titles that surpass 50,000 hours of watch time since December 2023. The latest report, covering January to June, accounts for 99 percent of all viewing on the platform. Non-English series made up a signific
July 18, 2025 -
K-pop competition gathers together 160 global contestants competing for cross-cultural stardom
K-pop survival audition program “Boys II Planet” is set to premiere with a unique format featuring contestants from across the world. The show will follow over 160 aspiring K-pop singers as they embark on a journey divided between two teams: “Boys II Planet K,” composed of Korean trainees, and “Boys II Planet C,” primarily featuring trainees from Greater China. Together, they will compete for a chance to debut as a single boy group, though specifics such as the group’s final lineup, name, and co
July 16, 2025 -
Financial regulator raids SBS over suspected insider trading linked to Netflix deal
The Financial Services Commission on Tuesday raided the major TV station SBS over allegations that some of its officials engaged in illegal insider trading using undisclosed information about a partnership with Netflix, government sources said. The FSC's Capital Market Investigation Division carried out the raid while questioning an SBS official on charges of insider trading, according to the sources. The official is suspected of purchasing SBS shares upon learning of the company's planned strat
July 15, 2025 -
CJ ENM to host star-studded celebration of Korean pop culture
South Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM is set to host a star-studded celebration of Korean pop culture in Los Angeles. The “K-Culture Night at the Academy Museum with KCON" event is slated for July 31 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, one day ahead of CJ ENM’s flagship K-pop fan and artist festival, KCON LA 2025, which runs from Aug. 1-3. Presented as part of a strategic partnership between CJ ENM and the Academy Museum— one of the world’s premier institutions dedicated to the art
July 15, 2025 -
KBS to hold free Cho Yong-pil concert
Cho Yong-pil, a living legend of the Korean music industry, is set to return to the solo stage with a free concert slated for Sept. 6 at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome. Presented by national broadcaster KBS, the special event will air on KBS2 during the Chuseok holiday. This marks Cho’s first solo concert broadcast on public television in 17 years. The singer holds the distinction of being the first Korean artist to sell over 1 million copies of a single album, as well as being the first to surpass 10
July 14, 2025 -
JTBC’s 'The Nice Guy' blends first love with gangster grit
A fresh yet nostalgic mix of romance and crime is coming to the small screen this summer in the new JTBC series “The Nice Guy,” starring Hallyu favorites Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung. The story follows Seok-cheol (Lee Dong-wook), the eldest son in an organized crime family who dreams of becoming a writer, and his first love Mi-young (Lee Sung-kyung). Together, they navigate a story brimming with youthful longing and harsh realities. Speaking at a press event in Seoul on Monday, Lee Dong-wook
July 14, 2025 -
Busan to host international streaming festival celebrating digital content
A festival spotlighting the global streaming ecosystem is set to debut this summer on the shores of Busan. The inaugural 2025 International Streaming Festival, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Busan Metropolitan Government and co-organized by the Korea International Streaming Festival Committee and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, will run Aug. 22-25 at Busan Cinema Center and Paradise Hotel. The event has been separated from the Busan International Film Festival, w
July 14, 2025 -
Tragic couple of 'Squid Game' Season 3: interview
One of the emotional high points in "Squid Game" Season 3 unfolds with the birth of a baby amid the deadly competition, as contestants find themselves torn between protecting the child or exploiting the situation for their own survival. At the center of this harrowing storyline is the tragic couple Myung-gi, portrayed by Im Si-wan, and Jun-hee, played by Jo Yu-ri. Set against the brutal backdrop where participants risk everything for the 45.6 billion won ($33 million) prize, the couple faces a t
July 10, 2025 -
Disney+'s ‘Low Life’ brings 1970s treasure hunt to life
One of Disney+ Korea’s most ambitious original series for 2025 is about to make its debut, backed by a star-studded cast and the creative forces behind Korean hits such as "Misaeng" and "Big Bet." Bringing together director Kang Yoon-sung — best known for Disney+’s "Big Bet" and the box office smash "The Outlaws" — and "Misaeng" creator and acclaimed webtoon writer Yoon Tae-ho, “Low Life” unfolds in 1977, following a group of individuals locked in a battle over a sunken treasure ship. The projec
July 8, 2025 -
Hit webtoon 'S Line' turned into drama series, exploring world with visible sexual connections
What would happen to society if red lines visibly shot out of people's heads, linking everyone who had had sex with each other? That provocative question lies at the heart of "S Line," a genre-blending new series from Korean streaming service Wavve adapted from the hit webtoon of the same name. While the popular original webtoon explored the ripple effects of this surreal phenomenon — delving into themes of infidelity, religion, celebrity culture, sexual violence and homosexuality in a world whe
July 8, 2025 -
Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai’s first TV series 'Blossoms Shanghai' to air on SBS
Studio S, the drama production arm of Seoul Broadcasting System, is bringing Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai’s first-ever television series “Blossoms Shanghai” to South Korean audiences. The period drama will premiere Monday on SBS F!L UHD, with streaming availability beginning Tuesday on multiple streaming channels, including Tving, Watcha, Wavve, KT GenieTV, LG U+TV and SK Broadband Btv. “Blossoms Shanghai” marks Wong’s long-awaited series debut. Widely regarded as one of Asia’s most influential
July 4, 2025 -
Controversial webtoon 'The Elementary School Student I Love' pulled, drama canceled amid backlash
The webtoon "The Elementary School Student I Love," which has drawn widespread criticism for depicting a romantic storyline between an elementary school teacher and her student, has been pulled from distribution across major platforms, with plans for a live-action adaptation also being scrapped in response to the mounting controversy. As of now, the series is no longer available for purchase on Naver Series. “We suspended sales of the webtoon as a precautionary measure in response to widespread
July 4, 2025 -
Lee Jung-jae breaks down Gi-hun’s journey and the line that left fans hanging
Lee Jung-jae’s journey with "Squid Game" has come to a close, delivering a finale befitting a hero. The veteran actor, who made history by becoming the first Asian to win a Primetime Emmy with the global Netflix sensation, expressed a bittersweet farewell as the series wrapped its third season, released on June 27. Rather than mourning the end of the show, Lee reflected on parting ways with the cast and crew. “The shoot lasted a long time, and during the process, the actors and staff built a lot
July 3, 2025 -
Romance rookies get glow-up in Netflix's 'Better Late Than Single'
Following the success of “Single’s Inferno,” known for its steamy chemistry between "experienced" singles, Netflix Korea is switching gears with a softer, more heartwarming take on the dating reality genre. “Better Late Than Single” introduces a group of individuals who have never been in a relationship, giving them not only a physical makeover but also emotional guidance as they take their first steps toward romance. The Korean title translates to “Even Though I Have Never Dated Before, I Want
July 3, 2025 -
What you need to know about Saja Boys, Korea’s grim reapers in K-pop form
When the Saja Boys appeared on screen for the first time, dressed in floor-length black hanbok and wide-brimmed hats casting shadows over pale, painted faces, Kang Chan-mi, a 32-year-old office worker in Seoul, immediately recognized the look. “I knew instantly what they were,” she said. “If you’re Korean, it’s almost impossible not to.” The Saja Boys, a fictional K-pop group in Netflix's new animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” may appear to be just another stylish boy band debuting for a global
July 3, 2025