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Netflix has lined up its next high-profile Korean drama series — and this one could get steamy. Currently given the working title Scandals, the show will be an adaptation of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which reimagined the promiscuous world of the classic French novel Dangerous Liaisons within the context of Korea’s Joseon era. The show will be led by a star-studded cast including Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You), Ji Chang-wook (Welcome to Samdal-ri) and Nana, aka Im Jina (Mask Girl). It has already started shooting in Seoul, South Korea.

Directed by K-drama mainstay Jung Ji-woo (Somebody, Tune in for Love), Scandals revolves around a daring and dangerous love game between the remarkable, high-born Lady Cho (Son) and Cho Won (Ji), the era’s greatest playboy —with the conflicted young widow Hui-yeon (Nana) unknowingly entangled in the middle.

A sumptuous re-creation of Korea’s Joseon era, Scandals “brings to...

Kim Go-eun's versatility shines through in her diverse roles, from bubbly Eun-tak in Goblin to the sinister In-joo in Little Women. Despite tonal inconsistencies in Monster, Kim Go-eun's portrayal of Bok-soon is both heart-warming and intense, showcasing her acting skills. In Yumi's Cells, Kim Go-eun's performance as Yu-mi balances humor and sincerity, making the K-drama a joy to watch with its relatable nature.

Since her on-screen debut in 2012, Kim Go-eun has continued to show her versatility as an actor through incredible and varied performances in both K-dramas and in movies. Born in South Korea in 1991, Kim Go-eun stumbled into the world of acting by chance, yet has not looked back since. Now over a decade into her career, Kim Go-eun has been involved in some of the best K-dramas and South Korean movies to date and does not show any signs of slowing down.

Kim Go-eun's commitment to...

Rights to “I, The Executioner,” which will premiere as a Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival this year, have been picked up by South Korea’s Cj Enm.

The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”

Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”

Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.

“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...

South Korean movies on Netflix span a wide range of genres, from romance and comedy to historical drama, action, sci-fi, and horror. Space Sweepers is a praised sci-fi movie with likable characters and special effects that explores morality in a dystopian future. Kill Boksoon is a thrilling action movie with shades of John Wick that follows an assassin seeking revenge in South Korea.

The best Korean movies to stream on Netflix encompass nearly every existing genre in modern film. Like Hollywood in the West, South Korea's movie industry has grown globally, not just through theatrical releases, but also through streaming platforms like Netflix. Over the past couple of years, Netflix has broadened its horizons to include movies and K-dramas from South Korea, creating an even bigger fanbase. While certain Korean movies have become cult classics, like Oldboy and Train to Busan, there many on Netflix that aren't as well-known but are just as high quality.

Prolific Japanese film director Miike Takashi and Indonesian genre specialist Kimo Stamboel will be among the star names in the ‘On Screen’ section of the Busan International Film Festival given over to TV series.

Miike has made “Connect,” a Korean-language crime fantasy thriller about a man who is kidnapped and has one of his eyes removed by a gang of organ harvesters and transplanted into the body of a notorious serial killer. The unwilling donor now has terrible visions as he witnesses terrifying attacks on the residents of Seoul. The show was written by Nakamura Masaru and Heo Dam (“Monstrum”).

It features Korean talent including Jung Haein in the lead role and Ko Kyungpyo as the serial killer, and Kim Hyejun as the mysterious Irang.

The 6-part, 45 mins per episode series is produced by Studio Dragon and is to be presented as a Star Original on the Disney+ streaming platform.

The Korean drama series ‘Snowdrop’ is all set for its Ott premiere on February 9. The 16-part period drama series stars Jung Hae-In, the star of ‘Tune in for Love’ and ‘While You Were Sleeping’ Blackpink’s Jisoo. The series, which explores the forbidden love between a young couple trapped in a time of political turmoil, […]...

The Korean drama “Snowdrop” from Disney+ starring Jung Hae-In (“Tune in for Love”) and Blackpink singer Jisoo will premiere in the U.S. on Feb. 9, the streaming service said Monday.

The period drama, which is set in 1987, tells the forbidden love story of a Southern Korean college student (Jisoo) and a North Korean spy (Jung Hae-in) as South Korea fights for its independence.

The series, produced by jTBC, has received strong criticism in Korea over its lack of historical accuracy, prompting lawsuits and petitions to bar it from airing, according to NME. One such petition had gathered more than 300,000 signatures in December as several advertisers bowed out.

“Snowdrop” also made headlines earlier this month for the untimely death of 29-year-old cast member Kim Mi-Soo, who plays student activist Yeo Jungmin. According to CNN, no cause of death was given in her Jan. 5 death.

The logline for “Snowdrop: “When a...

Bong Joon-ho’s multi-Oscar winning “Parasite” keeps winning. A year after its triumphant Cannes debut, the film took home five trophies at Korea’s Daejong Awards (a.k.a Grand Bell Awards) held in Seoul on Wednesday.

Awards included best film; best director for Bong; best supporting actress for Lee Jung-eun; best script for Bong and Han Jin-won; and best original music score for Jung Jae-il. The awards ceremony was held without public audience, due to coronavirus prevention measures.

“I miss the audiences that were filling up the cinemas [for “Parasite” at this time last year],” said “Parasite” producer Kwak Sin-ae as she accepted the best film prize. “I hope we can overcome the hard time and meet again, with cinema screens in front of us.”

Best actor and actress went to Lee Byung-hun for disaster drama “Ashfall” and Jung Yu-mi for feminist drama “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,” respectively. It was the...

By Nathan Sartain

Despite topping the box office in South Korea, “Tune in for Love” never quite achieved the same acclaim abroad after its international release on Netflix. Despite an appearance at the London East Asian Film Festival, Jung Ji-woo’s eighth feature-length directorial effort only really manifested itself at arthouse production, pockets of audiences ever committed to viewing. Although not completely ignored, with some online buzz present, this release certainly slipped under the radar. That is quite difficult to understand, though. There’s an easily accessible plot, succinct narrative threads, and writing from Lee Sook-yun which transcends the realm of tired tropes.

Beginning the story in 1995, the film opens with a scene at Misu Bakery, a shop owned by Eun-ja (Kim Guk-hee). It is a place where her friend’s daughter Kim Mi-Soo (Kim Go-eun) works and studies, and also where Cha Hyun-woo (Jung Hae-in) visits upon his release from a juvenile detention centre,...

Two locally-made new releases, “Ashfall” and “Start-up” topped the weekend box office in South Korea, beating “Frozen 2.”.

Opening on Thursday, Cj Entertainment’s “Ashfall” debuted on top of the box office. The volcano action drama earned $18.2 million from 2.46 million admissions between Thursday and Sunday, including $15.13 million earned over the weekend. It accounted for 56% of the country’s total weekend box office.

Produced by “Along with the Gods” franchise director Kim Yong-hwa, “Ashfall” is co-directed by Lee Hae-jun (“Like a Virgin”) and cinematographer-turned-director Kim Byeong-seo. Starring some of South Korea’s top actors such as Lee Byung-hun, Ha Jung-woo and Don Lee, the disaster film follows the unexpected eruption of Korea’s tallest volcano, Baekdusan that straddles the border between China and North Korea, and plunges the Korean peninsula into chaos.

Wednesday opener, “Start-up” landed in second. The Next Entertainment World release earned $8.3 million over five days, including $5.45 million earned over the weekend.

Once again, Ma Dong-seok looks to be finishing his year strong. Where last year he had two films, “The Villagers” and “Unstoppable” in November last year, this year he has two films releasing yet again in the month of December. Along with “Ashfall“, he will also be seen director Choi Jeong-yeol’s coming-op-age comedy “Start-Up”.

Synopsis

Taek-il recklessly leaves home, defying his mother who asks him to go to college. In the unfamiliar neighborhood, he happens to get a job as a delivery man for a Chinese restaurant, where he mingles with new people such as Geo-seok, a chef, and Kyung-ju, a boxer. Meanwhile, Sang-pil, a friend of Taek-il, enters the private loan business to make money.At first, it seems easy to make a big fortune, but soon he finds himself in pain as he faces unexpected things. The two boys in stormy period are becoming real adults as...