Sep 15, 2017

K-dramas to screen at major French television festival

Korea has been invited as the honorary guest country to Festival de la Fiction TV, a prominent drama festival funded by the French government.It is the first time a non-French-speaking, non-European country has been invited as the festival’s honorary guest. Producers, writers and directors of popular Korean drama series will attend the festival. 　Three Korean drama series have been invited for screening -- MBC’s “W,” a fantasy romance written by Song Jae-jung and directed by Jung Dae-yoon and Pa

Sep 13, 2017

Actor Ryu Jun-yeol to release single for fans

Ryu Jun-yeol will release his first official single, according to Amoeba Culture and Loen Entertainment.  Actor Ryu Jun-yeol to release single for fansThe agencies said Tuesday that the actor had collaborated on a music production project called “Mixxxture” and would release a single later this month. Continuing from the project’s first volume, “Nosedive” by Dynamic Duo and EXO’s Chen in January, Ryu’s upcoming song has been produced and written by Philtre, the mastermind behind “A Little Girl,”

Sep 11, 2017

US remake of 'Good Doctor' set for premier this month

An American remake of the South Korean TV series "Good Doctor" is poised to make its premier this month in the US, with the collective eyes of the Korean television industry fixed on whether the show can make a successful landing.The American adaptation of the show, titled "The Good Doctor," is scheduled to premier on Sept. 25 on ABC, according to the network and producers. The weekly show is the first remake of South Korean source material to get prime time treatment. (Sony Pictures Television)

Sep 8, 2017

'Love in the Moonlight' wins best drama at Seoul Int'l Drama Awards

KBS 2 TV's "Love in the Moonlight" received two awards from this year's Seoul International Drama Awards while the annual event was overshadowed by the on-going labor strike at the network. The popular drama, which aired Aug. 22-Oct. 18, 2016, and featured Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung, won best drama and best actor in the Korean Wave or, or hallyu, category.The awards ceremony took place at KBS Hall in Seoul's Yeouido on Thursday at 7 p.m. The show was planned to air live, but was forced to canc

Sep 6, 2017

Alcohol flowing freely on Korean TV

As programs spotlighting alcohol abound on Korean television, concerned viewers are questioning whether there are too many portrayals of uninhibited drinking on the small screen.On Aug. 26, K-pop girl group Mamamoo’s Wheein alarmed viewers by drinking during an online live-streaming and cursing in English. 　The next day, “I Live Alone” showed singer Tony An’s friends revealing his drinking habits. An had been discovered numerous times sprawled next to the door to his home or on his bedroom floor

Sep 5, 2017

‘Shadow Singer’ vows to unearth more hidden gems

Despite skeptics’ view that it is but a copy of other music variety shows, “Shadow Singer” is seeking to become a regular on tvN, with officials confirming eight more episodes.The creators of the show said Monday that the cable channel would air at least eight more episodes of the program. “It was originally supposed to be only eight, but it was extended due to favorable fan response. It will be extended further, if ratings keep climbing,” said Min Chul-ki, the show’s producer.The program aims t

Sep 1, 2017

[Herald Interview] Daniel Dae Kim wants to populate productions with multiethnic casts

Daniel Dae Kim is widely credited with having broken barriers for Korean-American actors in Hollywood. Since his debut in 1992, Kim has starred in popular series, including “Lost” and “Hawaii Five-0,” and has been outspoken in his advocacy of racial equality in the American entertainment industry.Now, the 48-year-old is branching out into production, in particular Korean titles in the US. Next month, “The Good Doctor,” a remake of the hit 2013 KBS drama of the same name, written by Park Jae-bum,

Aug 31, 2017

Park Si-hoo returns in ‘My Golden Life’

Actor Park Si-hoo is returning to the small screen with the new drama “My Golden Life” for the first time since a scandal four years ago. He plays Choi Do-kyung, who is from an affluent family and is studying how to run a business in his family’s company. The show marks Park’s return to the Korean drama scene after he was embroiled in a sex scandal in 2013.  Actor Park Si-hoo speaks at a press conference for KBS’ new drama series “My Golden Life” in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Tuesday (Herald DB)Park w

Aug 31, 2017

‘Legend of Blue Sea’ cleared of plagiarism

SBS hit drama “Legend of the Blue Sea” has been cleared of accusations of plagiarism.In January, screenwriter Park Ki-hyun filed a lawsuit against Park Ji-eun, screenwriter of the SBS show, claiming the TV series violated copyright of an unmade movie scenario titled “The Legend of Hae Wol Sea: Pearly Shells.”The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office on Monday decided there was no charge to make, as “there is no possibility that Park Ji-eun or the production company could have seen the claim

Aug 30, 2017

Ha Ji-won returns as surgeon in ‘Hospital Ship’

Actress Ha Ji-won is set to return to the small screen with the new MBC medical drama series “Hospital Ship.” 　Ha previously played lead roles in hit K-dramas such as the 2011 “Secret Garden.” She made her last drama appearance in “The Time We Were Not in Love,” which aired in 2015.　“The doctors on this show personally seek out patients who do not have medical benefits. It’s a different premise from many other medical dramas,” Ha said at a press conference for the show Monday in Seoul. 　The sett

Aug 25, 2017

Actor Park Hae-jin to star in new drama with singer-turned-actress Nana

Actor Park Hae-jin and former After School member Nana will star in a new TV romantic thriller, its producers said Friday.Park will play four different characters, including a mysterious business executive, while Nana will perform the role of a woman who unexpectedly bumps into a dead ringer of a man she loved, according to Victory Contents Co. and Mountain Movement Story.Park Hae-jin (left) and NanaThe drama whose Korean title means “four men,” will go into production in November and is expecte

Aug 23, 2017

Celebrity couple Bae Yong-joon, Park Soo-jin expecting second baby

Actors Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin are expecting their second baby, some 10 months after the celebrity couple welcomed their first son, the two stars' agency said Wednesday.Keyeast Co. said Park is very early into the pregnancy so her due date hasn't been confirmed yet. (Bae Yong-joon`s Instagram)The two stars married in July 2015. (Yonhap)

Aug 21, 2017

KBS rolls out round-the-clock English radio broadcast

KBS World Radio, an international radio broadcast run by the public network of KBS, will launch a 24-hour English broadcast next month, the network said Monday.The radio channel has recently reorganized to create several new English programs that will go on air starting Sept. 4, including "One Fine Day," a music show run by Korean-American singer Park Jung-hyun, "KOREA 24," a news show by Henry Shinn, and "K-Pop Connection" by Angela Park and Oneway Peter.The move is in line with growing demands

Aug 21, 2017

2PM’s Lee Jun-ho to take lead role in ‘Just in Love’

Lee Jun-ho of 2PM has been cast as the lead in an upcoming JTBC drama, according to his label JYP Entertainment on Monday.  Lee Jun-ho of 2PM (JYP Entertainment)According to the creators of “Just in Love,” which will air in the second half of this year, the show is about ordinary people experiencing love and hardship. It will be Lee’s first time in a lead role in a drama series. He will play Lee Gang-du, a former athlete who was injured in an accident that killed his father and shattered his dre