The popular Korean gaming franchise CookieRun is being adapted into a Hollywood feature film, with a release planned for 2029 to mark the franchise's 20th anniversary. Los Angeles-based studio Big Shot Pictures will oversee production of the film, working closely with Devsisters, the company behind the franchise, to shape its core creative direction. The studio was founded by Brian Robbins, former co-CEO of Paramount Global and former president of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. Devsisters C

“Doctor X: Mafia In White," starring Kim Ji-won, is facing criticism over its medical accuracy, with viewers arguing that the medical drama's depiction of medical procedures is undermining the series’ realism and disrupting immersion. The series centers on Gye Soo-jung (Kim), a brilliant yet maverick surgeon who challenges the corrupt power dynamics and political structures governing hospital administration. Its first two episodes aired on Friday and Saturday on SBS, securing nationwide viewersh

South Korean users are showing significantly less interest in domestic content. According to a report by the Korea Creative Content Agency, Korean Netflix users’ preference for domestic content on Netflix stood at 58.58 percent in the third quarter of this year, down 10.33 percentage points from the second quarter. Preference for Korean-produced content excluding Netflix originals also fell sharply, dropping from 52.06 percent in the second quarter to 37.67 percent in the third quarter — a decli

Actor Yoo Seung-ho’s agency has dismissed rumors that he is currently dating actress Lim Se-joo, clarifying that the two previously dated but have since broken up. On Thursday, local news outlets reported that Yoo and Lim first met while working on the 2020 tvN drama “Memorist,” subsequently developed a romantic relationship, and have been together for six years. Yoo’s agency 333 Entertainment issued an official statement later that day in response to the reports, stating that although the pair

The 2026 Seoul International Drama Awards, one of Korea's largest events for celebrating excellence in TV programming, is set to take place Thursday afternoon, featuring a record 352 entries from 46 countries and regions. This is the 21st edition of the event since its launch in 2006. Organized by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee and the Korean Broadcasters Association, the awards recognize outstanding television programming from Korea and around the world. Prior to Thursday's ceremon

After "Queen of Tears" took the world by storm, Kim Ji-won is finally returning to the small screen following a two-year hiatus with a Korean remake of the megahit Japanese franchise "Doctor X." “I spent some time wondering what kind of image I should show after taking a two-year break, and there was also a period when I was waiting for the right project. Then I received such a wonderful script that I decided to take it on,” Kim said during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday when asked abo

Netflix on Wednesday unveiled the official cast lineup for "Solo Leveling," starring Byeon Woo-seok, with Hallyu megastars Han So-hee and Jung Ji-hoon — better known by his stage name Rain — joining the cast. "Solo Leveling" is Netflix's live-action adaptation of one of Korea's most popular intellectual properties. The franchise began as a web novel of the same name and grew into a global hit before expanding into a webtoon, anime series and games. Netflix announced plans for the live-action ser

As artificial intelligence reshapes how designers create art, the question of how they can preserve their creative roles and navigate an increasingly uncertain landscape took center stage at a panel discussion on Friday at Herald Design Lounge 2026. The panel brought together creatives from different backgrounds and countries, including Grammy-winning designer Stefan Sagmeister and Yu Ji-won, director of the Institute of Typography & Culture. The session was moderated by Lee Jin-joon, a professo

In an age when artificial intelligence allows anyone to produce polished, high-quality work with a tap of a finger, creators need to find their own perspective and develop work that is distinctly their own, according to Emmy-winning motion graphic designer Kim Gryun. Based in Los Angeles, Kim designs Apple TV prototypes following his tenure as lead animator at Elastic, where he created the main title sequences for HBO’s "The Last of Us" and "Doom Patrol." His work on both "The Last of Us" and Ap

A woman who gains the ability to electrocute people after being struck by lightning crosses paths with a chaebol heir whose heart runs on a battery — and who depends on her to recharge him to stay alive. That fantastical, almost comical premise is at the heart of Netflix Korea’s new romantic comedy series "Take Charge of My Heart," starring K-drama romance veterans Chae Soo-bin ("The Fabulous," "Rookie Cops") and Kim Young-kwang ("Call It Love"). Yet beneath its whimsical setup, the series taps

Lim Jin-a, better known by her stage name Nana, and T.O.P are officially dating. The two met while filming the music video for T.O.P.’s “Totally Crazy!,” a track from his solo album “Another Dimension,” and began dating in June after getting to know each other during the shoot. T.O.P debuted as a member of K-pop group Big Bang in 2006 and left the group in June 2023. He then made his musical comeback in April with his first full-length solo album “Another Dimension.” Nana debuted in 2009 with th

Anticipated Korea-Japan crime thriller "The Blue Road," starring top stars Son Suk-ku and Eita Nagayama, is set to premiere on Netflix on Nov. 20, the streaming service announced Friday. Based on the Korean-Japanese co-produced cartoon "Blue Road," the series follows a string of grisly murders taking place across Japan and Korea. The story begins when a mutilated body is discovered in Tokyo with a chilling Korean phrase written in blood. Soon after, another disfigured corpse is found in Korea, t

Koo Kyo-hwan, one of South Korea’s most in-demand screen actors following a string of high-profile projects including "We Are All Trying Here" and "Colony," has been legally married to filmmaker Lee Ok-seop since 2022. Koo and Lee publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2020, but local reports on Wednesday said that the couple had registered their marriage in 2022. On Thursday, Koo’s agency, Namoo Actors, confirmed to The Korea Herald that the marriage registration was official. "Koo Kyo-hwa

Jeong Ye-in, an actor and member of K-pop girl group Lovelyz, will join the upcoming second and third seasons of Netflix’s “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” reportedly taking over the role previously played by Ahn Ha-young. Netflix confirmed Wednesday that Jeong will appear in the hit series. The streaming platform did not disclose her role, but she will reportedly take over the role of Cheon Jang-mi, a veteran nurse who is part of the drama’s central trio alongside genius surgeon Baek Gang-hye

South Korean A-list actors Lee Young-ae and Kim Go-eun have faced intense online backlash after praising "The Assassin(s)," a controversial political thriller recently released in Korean theaters. The controversy began following a VIP screening on Sept. 21, where both actors left supportive handwritten reviews. Lee called the film "thrilling and deeply moving" while praising director Hur Jin-ho. Kim noted that the movie made her feel "deeply grateful for the present." Their social media accounts