EXCLUSIVE: Squid Game: The Challenge has piqued the interest of quite a few spectators.
21.11.2023 - 05:47 / nme.com
Welcome to Samdal-ri, starring Shin Hye-sun and Ji Chang-wook.Welcome to Samdal-ri will star Shin Hye-sun as a small-town girl named Cho Sam-dal, whose sole goal in life was to make it big and move to Seoul. Meanwhile, her childhood best friend Jo Young-pil (played by Ji Chang-wook) has always been content with staying in their hometown of Samdal.The new trailer for Welcome to Samdal-ri opens with Cho Sam-dal reflecting on her life: “Back in my hometown, Jeju Island, there’s one thing they stress the most with new Haenyeos: ‘Don’t try to outdo yourself.
Only stay under water as long as your breath allows.'”A montage of scenes show Cho’s life in Seoul as a hot shot photographer, before a controversy suddenly takes that life away from her. “And when you can’t hold your breath anymore, come out of the water to catch your breath,” she adds.It then cuts to Cho back in her hometown of Jeju Island, getting some sage advice from her childhood best friend Jo Young-pil: “So try to find yourself again.
Not Cho Eun-hye, the photographer, but Cho Sam-dal.” Later, Cho slowly rediscovers her passion for photography as well as what appears to be a blossoming romance with Young-pil.Welcome to Samdal-ri will premiere December 2 on Netflix. The K-drama will also air at 10:30pm KST every Saturday and Sunday on JTBC in South Korea.Earlier this year, Ji Chang-wook appeared in the Disney+ original K-drama series, The Worst of Evil, which also starred Squid Game‘s Wi Ha-joon.
In a mixed three-star review of the series, NME‘s Tanu I. Raj called it a “pretty one-dimensional undercover cop thriller”.Meanwhile, Shin Hye-sun recently led the tvN series See You in My 19th Life, which is also available to stream on Netflix.
EXCLUSIVE: Squid Game: The Challenge has piqued the interest of quite a few spectators.
ASTRO member Rocky has opened up about the sudden passing of his former bandmate and friend Moonbin earlier this year.Rocky opened up about the death of Moonbin in a new interview with South Korean news outlet 10 Asia, where he spoke about their long friendship and how the passing had affected him.“I wasn’t myself for the first couple of weeks after he passed away. It was a big shock to me,” Rocky said, per SBS Star, revealing that he and Moobin had known one other for over 12 years.“If I’m being completely honest here, I’m still getting over the whole thing.
KISS OF LIFE member Belle recently covered Ariana Grande‘s 2013 ballad with Nathan Sykes, ‘Almost Is Never Enough’.KISS OF LIFE’s Belle made an appearance on the South Korean radio station KBS Cool FM on Friday (November 24), where she performed a faithful live rendition of the Ariana Grande ballad.“Almost, almost is never enough / So close to being in love / If I would have known that you wanted me / The way I wanted you,” she sings on the cover.Belle, who is best known as a co-writer of LE SSERAFIM’s hit single ‘Unforgiven’, made her debut as a K-pop idol with KISS OF LIFE earlier this year. The girl group released their first mini-album, which was self-titled, in July 2023.Earlier this month, KISS OF LIFE made their return with their second mini-album, ‘Born to be XX’, featuring the title track ‘Bad News’.
Single in Seoul made his reflect on his own love life.Single in Seoul is a romantic-comedy that stars Lee Dong-wook as Young-ho, a writer and influencer who has learned to be comfortable with doing everything alone after a series of bad relationship and heartbreaks.Starring opposite Lee Dong-wook is Cobweb actress Im Soo-jung, who plays Hyeon-jin, the editor-in-chief of a publishing company. Unlike Young-ho, Hyeon-jin is a hopeless romantic who is working on a series of essays about singles in the city.Lee Dong-wook revealed in an interview with The Korea Times that he relates strongly to his Single in Seoul character of Young-ho.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are facing “their duties as equal partners”, a royal expert has claimed. On Tuesday 20 November, the pair were all smiles when they joined other members of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace to view artefacts from the Royal Collection alongside President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of the South Korean president’s state visit to the UK.
Alison Herman TV Critic From the moment Reed Hastings tuned into an earnings call wearing a green-and-white tracksuit, it was clear Netflix may have learned the wrong lessons from the success of “Squid Game.” In 2021, the South Korean drama — created, written and directed by auteur Hwang Dong-hyuk — became a surprise global sensation with a grim and violent allegory of capitalism exploiting the desperate many for the enjoyment of a wealthy few. Hastings, a rich and powerful tech founder, was closer to one of the titular game’s masked spectators than a contestant risking their life for a chance at the prize, though he didn’t seem to see the irony.
Kate Middleton turned heads in a stunning red cape as the royals welcomed the South Korean president to London for a three-day state visit.
Kate Middleton left royal watchers delighted as she wore the Strathmore Rose Tiara as she attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.The tiara, which had belonged to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother, and was last worn by her in the 1930s. It has been rumoured to have fallen into disrepair in the years since until it was briefly displayed in a 2002 exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.The Princess of Wales stunned in the rarely-seen tiara, which was designed to resemble a garland of roses.
aespa member Karina has been announced as part of the cast for Netflix’s upcoming original Korean reality show Agents of Mystery. The streaming service announced the cast of Agents of Mystery earlier today (November 22) through its official Netflix K-Content account on X (formerly known as Twitter).
BTS members RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook have started their “military enlistment process”, Big Hit Music has announced.In a statement published on fan community platform today (November 22), BTS’ label Big Hit Music announced that members RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook have officially begun the process of enlisting for mandatory military service in South Korea.“We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook [of BTS] have initiated the military enlistment process,” Big Hit Music announced. “The artists are preparing to fulfil their military service duties.
royal etiquette and years of training to good use when she dropped into a curtsy worthy of the record books on Tuesday.Wearing a stunning red hat by Jane Taylor and a matching wool cape by Catherine Walker & Co., the Princess of Wales accompanied her husband, Prince William, both 41, to greet the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, 62, and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, 51, for their formal state visit to the United Kingdom.After introductions were made, the couples arrived at the Horse Guards Parade in London to meet King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, for the ceremonial welcome.As Princess Kate walked up the stairs behind Prince William, who bowed his head to acknowledge his father and Camilla, she stopped at the top and dropped into the perfect curtsy to the King and Queen, mere inches away from certain disaster.
The Princess of Wales turned heads on Tuesday, 21 November as she sported an all-red ensemble at Horse Guards Parade complete with a statement hat. Kate, 41, attended a ceremonial welcome for The President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea in London on Tuesday.
G-Dragon has reportedly tested negative for drugs in his hair and nails.Korea JoongAng Daily reported today (November 21) that the Big Bang member has allegedly tested negative for drugs in his fingernails and toenails. A day prior (November 20), Yonhap New Agency reported that a sample of the singer’s hair had also tested negative.According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the two tests “mean that the singer has likely not used drugs for up to a year”.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Mystery-horror film “Five Nights at Freddy’s” landed on top of the South Korean cinema box office. But fellow new release title “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songs and Snakes” managed only a fourth placed start. “Five Nights” earned $1.78 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council.
EXCLUSIVE: Korean American comedian, writer and producer Cathy Shim is the latest to join the cast of the film K-Pops! from first-time director and eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak (who also stars). She will play Diamond, the energetic iconic host of a K-pop competition show in Seoul, and .Paak’s hard-to-please boss.
SM Entertainment has announced plans to begin a talent search for the formation of an upcoming UK-based boyband, in partnership with production company Moon&Back.SM Entertainment – home to top K-pop acts such as aespa, Red Velvet, Girls’ Generation and more – announced its partnership with UK-based television production company Moon&Back yesterday (November 15). In the newly announced partnership, both companies revealed an upcoming television project in the works to create and debut a brand-new British boyband to global television audiences.Slated to be filmed over the course of six months, the upcoming television series will follow a fresh-faced boy group as they depart London some time in early 2024 “on the adventure of a lifetime”, according to a press release.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Concrete Utopia,” South Korea’s Oscar contender, was Wednesday named best film at the country’s annual Grand Bell Awards. It also won prizes for best actor, best supporting actress, art direction, sound mixing and visual effects.
Overwatch 2 and Dead Island 2 are getting streetwear drops from luxury streetwear brand ARK/8 following a drop earlier this year of Elden Ring-related streetwear earlier this year.ARK/8 announced the news today (November 16), and confirmed that both collections will have different inspirations. The Overwatch collection will be “shining a spotlight on two countries – South Korea and Japan” and will be specifically focused on “two fan-favorite characters, D.
YG Entertainment trainee Ahyeon will no longer be debuting as part of the label’s highly anticipated girl group BABYMONSTER.Earlier today (November 15), South Korean news outlet News1 reported that BABYMONSTER will be debuting as a six-piece rather than a seven-piece with the departure of member/trainee Ahyeon from the group. The report cited “personal reasons” for her withdrawal, and also claimed that Ahyeon may re-join the group’s ranks at a later stage, but will not be present for their debut.Several hours after the reports surfaced, a representative from YG Entertainment released an official statement through press confirming the absence of Ahyeon from the debuting BABYMONSTER line-up.
Park Seo-joon has a brief role in the new movie The Marvels and it marks his Hollywood debut!