Public broadcaster KBS has been the most-watched network in Korea so far for the Tokyo Olympics, beating the two other terrestrial network broadcasters, SBS and MBC, in the ratings. KBS1’s coverage of the Tokyo Games on Sunday recorded 17.2 percent viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. It was the highest rated Tokyo Olympics broadcast, while SBS and MBC followed with 5.4 percent and 5 percent, respectively, Sunday. With its two channels, KBS offers the most events for viewing. &ldqu

Less than a week after MBC President Park Sung-jae publicly apologized for inappropriate coverage of the Tokyo Games, the broadcaster came under fire again Sunday for misleading captions on an interview with South Korean volleyball captain Kim Yeon-koung. After South Korea beat Japan in Tokyo Olympic women‘s volleyball Saturday, the broadcaster’s YouTube channel posted an interview with Kim. In the video, the reporter says, “You may not know this, but the South Korean socce

Korean contents are being virtually screened at “2021 K-Format Virtual Screenings in the US,” which kicked off July 26. The event is aimed at promoting Korean television programs and creative formats to international buyers, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency which organized the virtual event. Major US networks, including Warner Brothers, HBO Max and Lionsgate, as well as Hollywood producers and directors, Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca and other Latin American buyers h

While the nation hunkers down for its worst wave of the pandemic, a flare-up in COVID-19 infections among actors and film crew members have forced major drama and movie productions to cancel their schedules. “The Sound of Magic,” an original Netflix drama series based on the popular webtoon “Annarasumanara,” immediately halted operations after starring actor Ji Chang-wook and one of the staff members tested positive for the virus. An official from Netflix Korea told Th

Public broadcaster MBC apologized once again after it became mired in yet another controversy, this time concerning a caption that was used during its broadcast of the Tokyo Olympic men’s soccer game on Sunday. After admitting the broadcaster‘s callousness, MBC President Park Sung-jae made a public apology during a press conference held at MBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, Monday afternoon. “Today, I am standing in front of you to publicly apologize for undermi

Terrestrial network MBC admitted its carelessness and apologized for offensive images and captions that aired during its coverage of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony. While broadcasting the parade of national teams in the virtually empty stadium, MBC showed images and captions introducing each delegation of athletes. Several of the images were inappropriate and insensitive. As the Ukraine delegation marched in, MBC showed an image of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. El Salvador was int

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, local broadcaster MBC is launching a Friday-Saturday drama season for the first time with “The Veil,” the company announced in a press release Thursday. The drama, made by MBC with streaming platform Wavve as a co-investor, is a spy action series set to start airing in September. The new Friday-Saturday drama scheduling will offer more contents to viewers, according to MBC. MBC's analysis of viewer consumption of content on television and streami

Actor Song Joong-ki is to star in the new JTBC drama “Youngest Son of Sunyang Family” (working title), the local cable channel JTBC said Tuesday. The drama is an adaptation of a web novel of the same title, and is a thriller and fantasy tale. Song will first appear as the top conglomerate Sunyang family’s personal secretary, who is put in charge of managing the family‘s financial risks and problems. Despite his devotion and loyalty to the family, the secretary, Yun H

The South Korean entertainment scene is suffering a setback in the production of TV shows as the fourth wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic sweeps nearly every sector of the country. Last week, global media giant Netflix suspended the production of its original series "The Bride Of Black" for two weeks as actress Cha Ji-yeon tested positive for the virus. Her case also affected the stage musicals "Red Book" and "Gwanghwamun Sonata," as the actress is currently

The number of video content evaluated by the local media rating authority increased more than 80 percent in the first half of this year from a year ago amid the protracted novel coronavirus pandemic, data showed Thursday. The Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB) reviewed 6,784 shows for online streaming platforms and video-on-demand services in the first six months of 2021, up 81.3 percent from the same period last year, according to the data by the KMRB. A total of 1,674 films were evaluated by th

The COVID-19 pandemic is once again standing in the way of the South Korean entertainment industry, as the coronavirus and its more contagious delta variant slash through the nation. Local broadcaster KBS is on alert as Lee Kun-jun, a producer at the KBS drama department, has tested positive for the virus. Lee is believed to have been in close contact with a cast member on June 29 and was informed the following day that person had been confirmed with the virus. He immediately went into self

Star chef Paik Jong-won is casting his net yet wider, with a show aimed at introducing Korean cooking to an international audience. “Paik Jong-won Class,” also starring Korean singer Sung Si-kyung, invites “trainees” from across the world to learn Korean recipes. Most of the participants have no culinary background, but the team behind the show hopes they will put their own spin on the dishes, giving Korean viewers new ideas to try out in the kitchen as well as an intr

Thanks to the growing global presence of South Korean content through online streaming platforms, the world's entertainment industry is wooing Korean professionals who are behind big-name films and TV series. Not only screenwriters and directors who have come into the spotlight for their global hits like Netflix originals "Sweet Home" (2020) and "Space Sweepers" (2021) but also experts in post-production jobs like poster designing, color grading and visual effects are also i

Criticized for cultural insensitivity and racism, content creators urged to transcend stereotypes

The second season of hit medical drama series “Hospital Playlist” got off to an auspicious start Thursday, recording the highest first-episode viewership rating in tvN history. Thursday night’s episode recorded an average viewership rating of 10 percent, according to Nielsen ratings, making it the first tvN drama series to chart double-digit ratings on day one, as it reached as high as 12.4 percent at its peak. The TV drama written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho