From living with moms to facing exes, Korean dating shows raise stakes

Dating reality shows have emerged as one of the most popular TV formats in Korea, prized by producers for their cost efficiency and reliable ratings and by viewers for their vicarious romance and emotional release at a time when dating has become increasingly difficult. As the genre grows more and more crowded, creators are pushing formal boundaries to stand out — from JTBC's "My Sibling's Romance" to Coupang Play's "Chain Reaction," which literally binds pairs together in chains. The latest fla

Jan. 12, 2026

Malicious rumors swirl as 'Culinary Class Wars' popularity soars

As Netflix’s hit cooking competition "Culinary Class Wars" continues to gain traction both in South Korea and overseas, its success has been accompanied by a wave of malicious rumors and misinformation targeting its chefs. At the center of the controversy is Anh Sung-jae, the show’s viral judge together with Paik Jong-won. Online rumors have falsely alleged that Anh is Chinese, and that he was affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. The claims gained traction on online forums amid accusatio

Jan. 11, 2026

Disney finalizes tie-up with Webtoon Entertainment, takes 2% stake

The Walt Disney Company has finalized its strategic partnership with Webtoon Entertainment in a deal expected to accelerate the global expansion of Korean webtoons while supporting Disney’s broader push to further monetize its content library. Disney acquired a roughly 2 percent equity stake in Webtoon Entertainment on Thursday, according to filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Webtoon Entertainment, which debuted on the Nasdaq in June 2024, is the parent company of

Jan. 11, 2026

Korea’s first bisexual dating reality series set for release

South Korea is set to debut its first-ever bisexual dating reality series. Korean streaming platform Wavve has greenlit "Stand Bi Me," a reality format featuring bisexual participants as they pursue romantic relationships. Applications were accepted online through September 2025. Specifics regarding "Stand Bi Me" remain limited other than the fact that the series will be released via Wavve during the first half of 2026. Wavve said details, including the cast size, specific premiere date and form

Jan. 8, 2026

Bake-off version of 'Culinary Class Wars'?

South Korea is set to roll out its first-ever televised bake-off, arriving amid heightened anticipation fueled by Netflix’s hit competition series "Culinary Class Wars" Season 2. Titled "Cheonha Bakery: Bake Your Dream," the series assembles 72 acclaimed bakers, ranging from nationally recognized master bakers to world-renowned patissiers, for a survival-style baking showdown. The competition unfolds on a 1,000-pyeong custom-built set, outfitted with 300 pieces of baking equipment across 32 cate

Jan. 8, 2026

'Squid Game 3' earns Actor Award nomination for stunt ensemble action performance

Netflix's Korean original series "Squid Game" Season 3 received this year's Actor Award nomination for a stunt ensemble action performance category on Wednesday, as organizers unveiled the list of nominees for the annual prizes presented by a US labor union representing actors and other media workers. The series was nominated in the category of the outstanding action performance by a stunt ensemble in a television series for the 32nd Actor Awards that the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation

Jan. 8, 2026

Were chefs always this wild? The colorful backstories behind 'Culinary Class Wars'

The most surprising thing about Netflix’s smash-hit culinary survival series "Culinary Class Wars" may not be the food or the final rankings, but the stories of each chef. Season 2’s beloved judges and the white team — the elite figures who helped shape Korea’s contemporary culinary scene — make their on-screen entrances like kings. Yet behind the status and the Michelin credentials is something far messier and more cinematic than any edited competition show: a motley crew of runaways, war veter

Jan. 7, 2026

Byeon Woo-seok, IU, A-list writers: K-drama’s big bet for 2026

“For Netflix CEOs like Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, Korea is a market that practically stretches their smiles ear to ear every time they think about it,” says Seo Bo-kyung, a Netflix marketing and strategy expert, in a YouTube video. It’s easy to see why the global streaming services can’t help but smile at the thought of K-dramas: Production costs are nearly half of US shows, and they’re finding audiences everywhere. Building on a continued boom, Korea’s K-drama industry is entering 2026 with

Jan. 6, 2026

'KPop Demon Hunters' scores Critics Choice win

Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” won best animated feature and best song for “Golden,” a standout track from the film, at the 31st Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, Sunday. . The first overseas-produced animated feature centered on K-pop idols prevailed over fellow contenders including “Zootopia 2,” “Elio,” “In Your Dreams,” and “Arco.” The triumph over traditional animation powerhouses such as Disney and Pixar, with titles like “Zootopia 2” and “Elio” respectively, has fueled exp

Jan. 5, 2026

Beloved star Ahn Sung-ki, six-decade fixture of Korean cinema, dies at 74

Ahn Sung-ki, one of the country's most beloved actors, widely known for his warm public image and decades-long contributions to Korean cinema, died Monday. He was 74. He had been receiving treatment in an intensive care unit of a Seoul hospital after collapsing while choking on food at his home Tuesday. He died at the hospital at around 9 a.m., surrounded by his family, according to the Korea Film Actor's Association. Ahn, affectionately known as the "Nation's Actor," appeared in approximately 1

Jan. 5, 2026

Korea’s drama awards marked by joint wins, mourning and muted ratings

South Korea’s terrestrial broadcasters wrapped up the year with their annual drama awards ceremonies, events defined less by competitive clarity than by an unusually high volume of joint honors, as well as a shared atmosphere of mourning for the death of Lee Soon-jae -- a veteran actor credited with shaping Korea's screen acting tradition. KBS staged its year-end drama awards on Wednesday, where actors Ahn Jae-wook and Uhm Ji-won shared the grand prize for their performances in "For Eagle Brothe

Jan. 2, 2026

More than 80% of South Koreans watch streaming

Over 80 percent of South Koreans used streaming services in 2025, with adoption among those in their 40s reaching 98 percent, according to a recent survey. According to the Korea Media and Communications Commission’s 2025 survey on broadcasting media usage, released Tuesday, the nationwide streaming usage rate reached 81 percent this year, up from 77 percent in 2023. The survey was conducted through in-person interviews with 8,320 individuals aged 13 and older from 5,566 households across all 17

Jan. 1, 2026

Seoul Vibe offers glimpse of Korea’s influencer future

The halls of Dongdaemun Design Plaza pulsed with star power Monday night as influencers, models and actors converged for Seoul Vibe, a high-profile influencer networking event held in the heart of the capital. Decked out in statement dresses, polished glam and expertly styled hair, roughly 450 attendees turned the venue into a showcase of Seoul’s creator economy. The event brought together digital tastemakers across fashion, beauty, wellness and entertainment for an evening that blended business

Dec. 30, 2025

Guide to hidden rules of K-drama romance

Romance in K-dramas is rarely driven by overt declarations alone. Instead, it unfolds through smaller signals such as a shift in speech level or the timing of a snowfall. These details, often flattened or lost in translation, carry the emotional weight of a relationship. To watch a Korean romance closely is to read a language of love embedded not just in dialogue, but also in forms of address, seasonality and social obligation, all compressed into a system that turns Korean culture into a form o

Dec. 29, 2025

iQIYI expands Chinese drama push in Korea

China’s leading streaming platform iQIYI, often referred to as the "Netflix of China," is moving to expand the range of shows or "C-dramas" it distributes in Korea, signaling a shift away from the long-dominating costume romances. Under the new strategy, more than 20 C-dramas will be rolled out in phases across four major Korean cable TV channels, including DramaCube and Cinef. According to iQIYI, 12 of the titles already have confirmed programming slots and are set to reach Korean audiences in

Dec. 28, 2025