
Missing Alchemy of Souls? Top 5 Korean fantasy-supernatural romance shows to watch in 2025
Also read: Top 5 BL dramas on Netflix trending in 2025: From Thai to Taiwanese, best Asian romance shows
Premiered on June 11, 2025, the show may not have landed a Netflix or Prime deal, but it became one of the biggest hits in South Korea. Based on a popular webtoon, it's now streaming on Viki and Dailymotion for global viewers. The K-drama follows a university student who suddenly wakes up as a minor character in her favourite historical romance novel. To set the plot back on track, Cha Seon Chaek (Seohyun) is compelled to cross paths with the male lead (Ok Taecyeon), sparking a new beginning filled with unexpected romantic twists. Available in over 14 languages, the drama also stars Kwon Han Sol, Seo Bum June, and Ji Hye Won.
Released in April 2025, The Haunted Palace streamed on Netflix in select regions and on Viki elsewhere. A fantasy period drama with a touch of horror, it stars Yook Sung Jae, Kim Ji Yeon, and Kim Ji Hoon. The story follows a palace official who becomes possessed by an Imoogi spirit desperate for heaven. Yeo Ri, a shaman refusing her fate as a medium, must face an ancient serpent spirit trapped in the body of her first love. Directed by Yoon Seong Sik, known for Bridal Mask (2012), You Are the Best! (2013), and Mr. Queen (2020), the 16-episode series closed with one of South Korea's highest ratings, peaking at 11 percent.
Also read: Netflix to release K-drama that got its lead actor banned after massive popularity sparked messy court battle
Released earlier this year, Newtopia, starring Park Jeong Min (Hellbound) and Kim Jisoo (Blackpink), is based on Han Sang Woon's novel Influenza. The story follows Lee Jae Yoon, a soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young Joo, a newcomer in the corporate world. After a messy breakup, a sudden zombie outbreak wrecks havoc in South Korea, forcing the ex-lovers back into each other's life in a deadly downtown Seoul. Blending romance, fantasy, zombie action, and a pinch of comedy, the series delivers nail-biting suspense from start to finish. Newtopia is streaming on Coupang Play in South Korea and on Amazon Prime Video worldwide.
While not a 2025 release, this Netflix addition has shot up to number 6 on Ranker's list of most popular K-dramas, grabbing a spot as one of the strongest supernatural fantasy shows in recent years. The story follows modern-day head chef Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin Hyuk), who, after a string of mishaps and clashes with the police, falls into a pool to escape, only to wake up in the Joseon Dynasty, trapped inside the body of Queen Kim So Yong (Shin Hye-sun). The queen is on the verge of marrying King Cheoljong. Now, a man stuck in a woman's body, Bong, struggles to adjust to palace life. The queen's strange antics and surprising cooking skills soon catch the attention of the cunning king (Kim Jung Hyun), who harbours secrets of his own. What's next is a wild, complex love story.
After a long wait, Netflix is set to drop a high-stakes supernatural rom-com on August 23. The K-drama stars Lim Yoon A (King the Land, Big Mouth) and rising star Lee Chae Min (Crash Course in Romance, High Cookie) in yet another time travel tale set against a lavish royal backdrop. As the title hints, the story follows chef Yeon Jiyoung, who has trained to perfection in mastering French cuisine. At the peak of her career, she's suddenly transported back to a royal palace. There, she's ordered to cook for the 'infamously temperamental tyrant, King Yeonhui (Lee Chae-min), a ruler with a killer palate and a deadly temper,' according to the official synopsis.
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Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
BLACKPINK makes history, joining BTS as the only K-pop group to headline the legendary venue ruled by Taylor Swift, Oasis and more
BLACKPINK just scripted history. The four-member band comprising Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa became the first K-pop girl group to perform at London's Wembley Stadium, one of the most iconic venues in the world. Members are scheduled to play two nights in a row, Friday and Saturday, drawing in nearly 78,000 fans each night. Following in the footsteps of Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, BTS, and Oasis, the world's biggest girl group lit up the sold-out stadium with a high-voltage show on day one. 'What an absolute honour to be performing here at Wembley Stadium,' Lisa said, staring out at the sea of fans, soaking in the deafening cheers. 'We're absolutely in awe of you guys for showing up and making this possible.' Also read: BTS' RM reveals surprising reason for wearing sunglasses next to Kim Taehyung during their military discharge: 'I appeared in the news a lot' 'It's an epic dream,' Jennie added. 'And it still feels a little unreal.' Rosé, visibly overwhelmed, said: 'The last time we were here in London was insane, but this was a whole other level. We're really grateful you stuck around and supported us.' Blackpink's Wembley set was a two-and-a-half-hour spectacle filled with lasers, pyros, and their biggest hits, from Kill This Love and How You Like That to Pink Venom, Shut Down, Whistle, and DDU-DU DDU-DU. In the latter half of the show, the YG ent group performed their brand-new single Jump for the first time, which already broke YouTube records with 26 million views in a day. BLACKPINK's Wembley concert had a massive visual punch that took the fan experience to another level. The setup featured a giant video wall split into four screens, giving each member close-up focus, from solo fancams to choreography synced with fans waving their pink lightsticks. At points, the group even loosened up, ditching strict choreography to vibe with the crowd, joking around and hyping fans. Rosé paused mid-song to tie her shoelace while the others laughed it off. Soon, clips flooded social media, followed by viral memes. But above all, fans were glad that even with solo ventures and their own labels (Lisa bringing rockstar energy, Rosé on ballads, Jennie in her bold era, and Jisoo holding down strong vocals), BLACKPINK's chemistry on stage was still unshakable. They ended by hugging together on stage, promising that this tour is the start of a new chapter. Also read: BTS RM says he's an 'attention seeker' and sees nothing wrong with it; rapper admits life often feels like 'unjust criticism' and reveals how he deals with it The Wembley shows concluded the European leg of their 'Deadline' world tour, which has 31 concerts in 16 cities worldwide. The tour began in Seoul in July amid tensions around the group's disbandment over ending individual contracts with YG last year. Next, they head to Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, and finally, Hong Kong in 2026. BTS were the first K-pop act to headline Wembley back in 2019, but now Blackpink are the first female group to do it. They've also become the first K-pop girl group to sell a million albums, and in no time, will break their own record for the highest-grossing tour by a female group, previously beating the Spice Girls with their Born Pink tour.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Shah Rukh Khan gives a funny reply to Netflix as fan asks about first look of Aryan Khan's new show ' The Ba***ds of Bollywood'
When one fan cheekily asked if he ever throws tantrums on set, SRK's witty reply won hearts, 'Nobody allows me to throw tantrums on sets. Now on King even less, the director is so too strict and organised.' Shah Rukh Khan recently delighted fans during his popular #AskSRK session on X, where he shared exciting updates about his much-anticipated film King. The film, directed by Siddharth Anand and co-starring his daughter Suhana Khan in a key role, has been generating massive buzz ever since it was announced. When asked about the progress of the shoot, SRK revealed that work is already underway and more schedules will begin soon. 'Did some good shoot… starting soon again. Only leg shots then move to upper body… Insha Allah will be done fast. @justSidAnand is working hard to finish,' the actor wrote, giving fans a candid peek into the behind-the-scenes.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Did some good shoot….starting soon again. Only leg shots then move to upper body….Insha Allah will be done fast. @justSidAnand is working hard to finish. — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 16, 2025 The star also gave a cheeky reply to Netflix about the first look of his son Aryan Khan's show 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood.' Khan wrote- 'Yes yes yes. Please tell me the time also as Aryan doesn't tell me anything. Aapke saath toh purana rishta hai…so please tell me and everyone else. Too excited. Here's to a great First Look. Thanks.' Yes yes yes. Please tell me the time also as Aryan doesn't tell me anything. Aapke saath toh purana rishta hai…so please tell me and everyone else. Too excited. Here's to a great First Look. Thanks — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 16, 2025 Netflix had written- 'Bete ka teaser post karne se pehle baap se permission chahiye thi.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When one fan cheekily asked if he ever throws tantrums on set, SRK's witty reply won hearts, 'Nobody allows me to throw tantrums on sets. Now on King even less, the director is so too strict and organised.' Finally, in a trademark SRK style, the actor teased fans with a reminder of the title itself, 'Just KING… naam toh suna hoga?' Nobody allows me to throw tantrums on sets. Now on King even less the director is so too strict and organised. — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 16, 2025 King is the upcoming action-drama starring Shah Rukh Khan alongside daughter Suhana Khan. The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and slated for a 2026 release. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Akhilism of Wearable Utilitarianism
At first glance, Akhil Anand looks like any other 14-year-old with a sketchbook. But hand him a pen and a pile of geometry, and you'll witness something quietly radical—a mind that bends maths into mandalas, endangered animals into caped crusaders, and centuries-old art styles into modern merch. The Chennai teen calls it Akhilism—an ever-evolving world of patterns, creatures, stories, and sharp lines where art is both a canvas and a conscience. Blame the brainy genes. Son of chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and arts educator Aruna Anand, Akhil grew up in a home where logic and imagination weren't at odds—they danced together. 'Numbers were never scary,' he says, casually flipping through a sketchbook of elephants reimagined as protectors of forests, each trunk curling into spirals of Fibonacci perfection. 'Appa used to make me solve logic puzzles for fun, and amma always filled bedtime with stories of gods, painters, and wild animals. Somewhere in the middle, I started drawing my own versions.' During the pandemic, when most teens were discovering banana bread and binge-watching K-dramas, Akhil stumbled into the world of pointillism—an art form that uses tiny dots to form images. 'I liked how it felt like a puzzle,' he says. 'You don't know what you're making until you step back and look at all the dots together.' The idea of Akhilism was born not just from this technique, but from a playful rhyme with pointillism. 'Amma and I laughed about the word, and then we thought—why not make it a brand?' And so, Akhilism slowly grew from a doodle on a notebook to an idea that could live on mugs, bags, T-shirts, and veshtis. 'It was never a plan,' he shrugs. 'I just drew whatever I felt like, and then Amma said, 'Hey, this would look great on a tote bag!'' But don't be fooled by the casual tone—Akhil's work is steeped in research, heritage, and heart. From Warli stick figures dancing in moonlight to Gond-inspired animal forms layered with geometry, his pieces tap into the deep reservoir of Indian folk traditions. 'Indian art is so cool,' he insists. 'The lines, the storytelling… even something simple has layers.' One of his early artworks—an owl with eyes shaped like the Sri Yantra—was inspired by a trip to a village crafts mela. 'I met this artisan who painted birds on clay pots and told me about symbols that protected homes,' Akhil recalls. 'I went home and started doodling guardians—birds, tigers, snakes—all with shapes I had seen in maths class!'