Two South Korean shows top Netflix's non-English charts

SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - Two South Korean shows have topped Netflix's latest charts for non-English series. According to the U.S. streaming giant, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" starring singer and actress IU and heartthrob Park Bo-gum took the top spot for TV shows, while director Yeon Sang-ho's thriller "Revelations" ranked atop the film charts, amassing 5.7 million and 5.5 million viewing hours, respectively for the week ending last Friday. Shortly

March 27, 2025

Controversy continues to brew over Actor Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - A sordid saga involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron deepens as fresh evidence surfaces one after another, met with repeated denials and conflicting accounts. The story began to unfold shortly after the 24-year-old actress, who had been in a relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, was found dead in an apparent suicide at her home in eastern Seoul last month, reportedly struggling with financial difficulties. With the rumor mill grinding even more over what l

March 24, 2025

Actor Kim Soo-hyun denies allegations of inappropriate relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun denied allegations of being involved in an inappropriate relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, in a statement released by his agency on Friday. After a brief denial, the actor said the previous day that he would come clean sometime next week, but he apparently couldn't remain silent any longer as the controversy snowballed further with more evidence surfacing about his alleged long-term romantic relationship with the actress.

March 14, 2025

Racy teaser clip stirs controversy ahead of reality show featuring kids

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN's upcoming reality show featuring young K-pop wannabes is set for release later this month. Some 59 contestants under the age of 15 from over 70 countries have been selected as finalists for "Under 15," slated to air on March 31, where they will compete for a chance to become K-pop's next big stars. But a teaser clip released on Thursday stirred unexpected controversy, raising concerns over whether it is appropriate for

March 14, 2025

Actor Kim Soo-hyun to address accusations over relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun will publicly respond to allegations concerning his relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who took her own life last month, his agency announced on Thursday. Kim, 37 years old, is one of South Korea's most popular actors, known for his roles in hit TV dramas like "My Love from the Star.” Kim Sae-ron, who gained fame as a child star in the 2010 crime noir "The Man from Nowhere," later struggled to maintain

March 13, 2025

Actor Kim Soo-hyun loses endorsement deals amid mounting allegations

SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun is facing growing scrutiny after allegations about his romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron recently surfaced. The family of the 24-year-old actress revealed earlier this week that Kim had been in a long-term relationship with her, allegedly beginning when she was 15 and he was 12 years her senior. Under South Korean law, any romantic involvement with a minor under 16 is considered a criminal offense. Shortly after

March 12, 2025

Actress Kim Sae-ron laid to rest

SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron was buried in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Police said there is no suspicion of foul play, although no suicide note was found. Earlier in the morning, the young actress' private funeral was held

February 19, 2025

Actor Son Suk-ku most favored star in advertising

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - Actor Son Suk-ku appeared most frequently in TV commercials last year, according to an analysis released by an IT startup on Tuesday. IGAWorks analyzed about 9.5 million users of telecom KT's internet protocol television (IPTV) service and satellite subscribers to calculate data, also using its own mobile algorithm it developed. It found that Son was the most sought-after model with 6.96 billion ad exposures, followed by actress Go Youn-jung (

February 4, 2025

Actress Kim Min-hee expecting baby this spring

SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - Actress Kim Min-hee is pregnant and expected to give birth this spring, multiple online entertainment outlets reported on Friday. The actress, in her early 40s, was caught by paparazzi cameras earlier this week on her way to an ob-gyn clinic with her lover and filmmaker Hong Sang-soo. Kim has been involved in a May-to-September romance with Hong who is in his mid-60s, since 2016. The couple went public with their romance the following year and have been

January 17, 2025

Han Kang's books sell like hotcakes after Nobel Prize win

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Koreans are snapping up Han Kang's books following her Nobel Prize win last week. A throng of people lined up in front of Kyobo Book Centre, the country's largest bookstore chain in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, even before it opened early Monday morning, rushing to get their hands on her books. Best known for her surreal novel "The Vegetarian," which won the International Booker Prize in 2016, Han won this year's Nobel Prize in Liter

October 14, 2024