Latest news with #JoseonDynasty
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Kim Soo Hyun-starrer My Love from the Star to re-release globally amid Kim Sae Ron controversy
Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun continues to make headlines almost every day with the never-ending controversy around his involvement in late actor Kim Sae Ron's life. The actor previously admitted to dating the late actor, but several allegations have been raised by Sae Ron's family which the actor and his agency have rejected so far. Amid this, reports about his hit K-drama, My Love from the Star re-releasing in countries have surfaced. The K-drama will be making its debut in South America, Brazil, as per multiple reports. It will be broadcast on SBT, starting June 9. The show is said to be a part of the network's recently introduced Asian content block. It is set to air in Brazil for the first time, more than a decade after its original release in South Korea. SBT attributed the premiere to a growing appetite for Korean content among viewers in Brazil, which has seen a sharp rise in recent years, much like everywhere else in the world. Besides Brazil, the show will be reportedly re-airing in Taiwan where several fans previously came out in support of the actor amid reports about his relationship with Kim Sae Ron. In Taiwan, it will be released on Korea Entertainment TV. Its comeback amid the controversy is likely to benefit the ratings, especially in a time when Kim Soo Hyun is dealing with setbacks at work due to the controversy. My Love from the Star was originally released in 2013 on SBS) from December 18, 2013, to February 27, 2014. It has 21 episodes. It starred Jun Ji Hyun, Kim Soo Hyun, Park Hae Jin, Yoo In Na, Shin Sung Rok, and Ahn Jae Hyun. Directed by Jang Tae Yoo, the show is written by Park Ji Eun. It revolves around the story of an alien who landed on Earth in 1609 during the Joseon Dynasty. As he stays back, 400 years later he falls in love with a popular actor. The show is originally inspired by historical records from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty dating to autumn 1609, when residents reported sightings of unidentified flying objects across the Korean peninsula. The K-drama is backed by Choi Moon Suk and Moon Bo Mi. The show was met with an average nationwide television viewership rating of 24 per cent in South Korea and is considered one of the cult K-dramas that contributed to spreading the Hallyu wave.
Tatler Asia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
10 unforgettable romantic gestures in K-dramas that raised the bar for love
2. Ri Jeong-hyeok risks it all: 'Crash Landing on You' (2019) When South Korean CEO Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) accidentally paraglides into North Korean territory, she's found by Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), a principled captain with a soft centre. Despite the enormous political danger, he protects, shelters and eventually sneaks her back to Seoul. But when an unscrupulous villain pursues her to the South, Ri Jeong-hyeok risks it all. He goes spelunking through the border, squeezing himself through tiny crevices to reach and protect her. Love under authoritarian regimes has never been this stylish—or this emotionally wrecking. 3. Do Min-joon stops time: 'My Love from the Star' (2013) What's more romantic than flowers or fireworks? Halting the entire space-time continuum to kiss your favourite person. Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) is a centuries-old alien who crash-landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty and has spent the last 400 years keeping his identity and emotions hidden. He meets Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun), a self-absorbed Hallyu superstar with a heart as big as her ego. Despite his best efforts to remain distant, Do Min-joon finds himself hopelessly smitten. In the last episode, he pulls out one of his secret alien powers: time-stopping. The series' iconic scenes happen after the duo trades tearful goodbyes. Song-yi, now back to being a celebrity, stops when the world around her literally freezes. Min-joon steps out amid the frozen photographers and reporters, proceeding to kiss her like it's the last moment in eternity. It's quiet, surreal and impossibly tender. 4. Lee Gon crosses parallel worlds: 'The King: Eternal Monarch' (2020) Love knows no bounds, but Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho) takes that idea and gallops with it (literally, on a white horse, through a portal between universes). As the refined, lonely emperor of a reimagined Kingdom of Corea, Lee Gon's life is all protocol and political chess—until he stumbles upon a photograph of a woman from a parallel world and becomes obsessed with finding her. Enter Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun), a no-nonsense detective from our version of South Korea, who doesn't have time for fairy tales, let alone monarchs claiming interdimensional destiny. But Lee Gon isn't your average emperor. He risks collapsing the fabric of space-time to spend fleeting moments with her—slipping through universes, defying logic and dodging villains with distorted identities. Whether it's a surprise appearance in her world just to say hello, or rewriting the rules of time to give their love a fighting chance, Lee Gon proves that no universe is too far, no dimension too dangerous, for a man with a horse, a half-flute and a heart full of devotion. 5. Han Ji-pyeong uplifts a girl through letters: 'Start-Up' (2020) It begins with a lie, but oh, what a tender one. When young Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) is reeling from her parents' divorce and the loss of her sister, a mysterious pen pal named 'Nam Do-san' starts writing her letters—thoughtful, encouraging, full of hope. What she doesn't know is that the words aren't from a genius boy in suspenders, but from Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho), a prickly orphan-turned-teen investor, coaxed into helping by her grandmother. What starts as a reluctant favour becomes an emotional lifeline. Ji-pyeong pours his heart, fears and best career advice into those letters, unknowingly becoming her first love, guiding light and invisible mentor. Fast forward years later, and Dal-mi is chasing her tech startup dreams, still believing in a man who doesn't exist. Ji-pyeong is right there, successful and brooding, watching her from the sidelines like a K-drama Cyrano with better suits. He has every chance to confess, but he doesn't. Because his love isn't loud. It's quiet, patient and gut-wrenchingly selfless. In a drama filled with unicorn startups and love triangles, Ji-pyeong proves that grand romantic gestures aren't just about shouting or chasing, but also about writing, waiting and walking away. 6. Hong Dae-young time travels for his family: '18 Again' (2020) Middle-aged Hong Dae-young (Yoon Sang-hyun) is on the brink of divorce and struggling to connect with his children. By some supernatural twist, he wakes up in his 18-year-old body (Lee Do-hyun). Instead of using the moment to start over, he returns to high school to secretly protect his family, understand his wife and re-fall in love. Only this time, he does it with more empathy. 18 Again is time-travelling therapy, essentially. 7. Ha Ram fights heaven and hell: 'Lovers of the Red Sky' (2021) In the lush, painterly world of Joseon-era fantasy, love isn't just a feeling—it's a war between gods, demons and fate itself. Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo-seop), once a kind scholar, is blinded during a fateful ritual and becomes host to the Demon King, a furious celestial being with a grudge against, well, everything. By day, Ha Ram is a calm government official. By night, he's a vessel of darkness. And through it all, he's hopelessly, devastatingly in love with Cheon Gi (Kim Yoo-jung), a once-blind artist blessed with divine talent. Ha Ram doesn't just risk his life for Cheon Gi; he risks his soul. He hides his torment behind a stoic facade, battling the demon within while protecting her from priests, prophecies and his cursed fate. And when words fail, he lets his actions scream devotion: shielding her from assassins, fighting off divine wrath and surrendering himself to eternal darkness if it means she gets to paint the skies free. With his romantic gestures, he repeatedly reinforces that love isn't about happy endings. It's about choosing each other, even when the heavens say no. 8. Kim Shin waits for an eternity: 'Goblin' (2016) Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) has been alive for 900 years—not out of choice, but as punishment. As a cursed goblin, he roams around Earth, waiting for the only one who can pull the 'sword' from his chest and grant him peace. Enter Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a quirky, unlucky teen who sees ghosts and can summon him by blowing out a birthday candle. Trust us, it's better that it sounds. Of course, they fall in love. And Kim Shin, once ready to die, has found someone to live for. When the time comes for him to sacrifice himself, he does it to save her, vanishing into ash. But death, it turns out, isn't the end—just a detour. Kim Shin ends up in a foggy spiritual afterworld, caught between realms, with nothing but memory and yearning to keep him company. He waits for years for a glimpse of her in the real world and a sign that their love wasn't a cosmic glitch. And when Eun-tak finally begins to remember, it all comes flooding back—him writing her name in the snow, standing alone in a field of buckwheat flowers, hoping against time itself. 9. Ha Eun-gyeol changes the past: 'Twinkling Watermelon' (2023) Ha Eun-gyeol (Ryeo Un) is your typical model student by day, rock band guitarist by night. He's also the only hearing member of a deaf family. When a mysterious music shop throws him back to 1995, he meets his teenage dad, Ha Yi-chan (Choi Hyun-wook), who's awkward, loud and not the man Eun-gyeol idolises. Worse, his parents don't even like each other (yet). Suddenly, the time-travel mishap becomes a family intervention. To ensure his future existence and protect the love story that raised him, Eun-gyeol forms a band with his unsuspecting dad, becomes his best friend and covertly nudges his parents toward destiny. But it's not all meet-cutes and music montages. He must reckon with generational trauma, disability and the weight of secrets that could shatter timelines. Through hidden identities, messy emotions and spine-tingling musical performances, Eun-gyeol fights not just for love, but for the right of his family's story to be heard—literally and metaphorically. It's Back to the Future , but with sign language, stolen glances and tearful guitar solos. Who needs a flux capacitor when you have filial piety and a killer set list? 10. Lee Jun-ho waits with patience: 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' (2022) In a K-drama landscape overflowing with grand romantic gestures and whirlwind romances, Lee Jun-ho (Kang Tae-oh) chooses the revolutionary path: quiet, unwavering presence. Working at the same law firm as Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin)—a brilliant rookie attorney on the autism spectrum—he doesn't charge into her world with assumptions. Instead, he waits at the edges, learning her rhythm, her boundaries, her extraordinary mind. Jun-ho's love doesn't come in sweeping romantic gestures or tragic monologues. It arrives in the form of holding the elevator door, listening to her talk about whales, picking trash with her on Saturdays or simply walking alongside her in silence. Jun-ho listens first—and listens well. He asks, then adapts. He's patient when others rush, tender when others retreat and persistent without pushing. It may sound boring when you have someone crossing universes or killing demons for you, but the radical, everyday act of truly seeing someone and staying is highly underrated. See more: 5 things we loved about Netflix's K-drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Carro brings back award-winning 'No Drama' ads to celebrate 10 years of revolutionary car buying and selling services for customers
SINGAPORE, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Carro, Asia Pacific's largest and fastest-growing online used car platform, is celebrating thousands of satisfied customers in Asia Pacific since 10 years of inception, in a new campaign that spotlights their drama-free and seamless car buying and selling experience. A second Hong Kong crime genre ad will be released in June. Produced by Carro's in-house team and fully shot in South Korea, the first 'No Drama' ad takes us back to the Joseon Dynasty where even the king cannot escape conniving tricksters who are trying to persuade him to sell off his trusty ride for a fraction of what it's worth. How will Carro save the kingdom from ruins? Carro's 'No Drama' series first launched in 2023 in the form of 3 short films that tapped into typical drama cliches to juxtapose the drama-free nature of buying a Carro Certified car that is As Good As New. The campaign went viral with more than 38 million views in total, and earned Carro six awards at the YouTube Works Awards Southeast Asia, including the Overall Winner for "The Big Bang Southeast Asia" category. Carro Chief Marketing Officer Katherine Teo says, "We've heard what our customers have said over the last 10 years: that selling their car can be stressful, complicated and long drawn. That's why we keep our processes transparent and stress-free, and all the drama they see will only be from our ads – no matter whether they're selling to us or buying a Carro Certified car that is As Good As New. Comedy remains a great medium for us to tell our story and we are so excited to be able to deliver our message in a manner that is entertaining and fresh." Carro offers a 100% transparent and convenient process that allows customers to begin their car-selling journey online at In markets like Hong Kong and Malaysia, customers don't even have to leave their home as Carro staff take the inspection and quotation processes right to their homes. "At Carro, we take pride in setting a new standard of transparency and trust in the used car industry. Our commitment to providing 100% clear quotations and straightforward processes ensures that our customers feel confident and cared for at every step, even if it means appearing at their doorstep," says Carro Chief Operating Officer Chua Zi Yong. "With the understanding that every market is unique, we are deeply committed to delivering the Carro experience in a way that is not only convenient and worry-free, but also truly resonates with what our customers value and need." Since its founding in 2015, Carro has been building its proprietary technologies and tapping into AI solutions to revolutionise the car ownership experience. Carro has grown from a Singaporean used car marketplace to Asia Pacific's No. 1 used car online marketplace spanning 7 markets, complete with a strong in-house ecosystem that includes financing options, insurance offerings and aftersales services. The company also started selling brand new cars in Singapore, with plans to roll out this product line in other selected markets. The ad is running in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Hong Kong. Look forward to No Drama Part 2 in June 2025, and head over to for all your car needs. Founded in 2015, Carro is Asia Pacific's largest online used car marketplace. By offering a trustworthy and transparent experience, Carro transforms the traditional way of buying and selling cars through proprietary pricing algorithms, AI-enabled capabilities, and innovative technological solutions. As of March 2025, Carro has started selling Brand New cars in Singapore. Headquartered in Singapore, the unicorn startup has raised over S$700 million from Softbank Vision Fund and several sovereign funds. It recorded its best ever full-year positive EBITDA of S$43 million in FY2024. Together with its subsidiaries and business lines, Carro is supported by more than 5,000 employees across Asia Pacific:
Pink Villa
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Is Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah's Dear Hongrang about incest? Fans say romantic triangle between siblings feels ‘awkward and wrong'
Netflix's new period mystery, Dear Hongrang, was expected to be a major success thanks to its high-profile cast and compelling historical premise. However, since its premiere on May 16, the series has become the subject of widespread online debate. It's largely due to what many viewers are calling a controversial romantic subplot involving characters positioned as siblings. Set against the backdrop of the Joseon Dynasty, Dear Hongrang follows the story of Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah), a noblewoman burdened by the past. Her life is overshadowed by the unresolved disappearance of her younger half-brother, Hong Rang, who went missing years ago. The incident fractured her family, particularly her stepmother, Min Yeon Ui, who has never forgiven Jae Yi for the loss of her only son. As time passed, the family adopted a boy named Mu Jin (Jung Ga Ram), hoping he would fill the emotional void left behind. Things take a strange turn when a mysterious man (Lee Jae Wook) appears years later, claiming to be the long-lost Hong Rang. Although he lacks any memories of his early life, Min Yeon Ui quickly embraces him as her missing son. Jae Yi, on the other hand, remains skeptical and begins her own investigation to uncover the truth about his identity. As Jae Yi searches for answers, she finds herself emotionally drawn to the man posing as her brother. Despite her initial hesitation, her feelings grow deeper. This was an unsettling development for viewers, given the context of their supposed sibling relationship. Meanwhile, her adopted brother Mu Jin struggles silently with romantic feelings for Jae Yi as well. It adds yet another layer of discomfort to the love triangle. This emotional entanglement between characters who were raised or referred to as 'siblings' has left a significant portion of the audience disturbed. The situation has sparked heated discussions across social media, with many viewers criticizing the show's writers for blurring familial boundaries for dramatic effect. Some viewers have defended the drama, pointing out that there's no actual incest depicted in the plot. The man claiming to be Hong Rang is later revealed to be an assassin. He is not related to the family by blood, and Jae Yi had always harbored suspicions about his true identity. Mu Jin, too, is an adopted child with no blood ties to Jae Yi. However, these technicalities haven't stopped viewers from feeling uneasy. Critics argue that, while the characters are not biologically related, the show's choice to frame their relationships within a familial setting makes the romance problematic.
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Trails open in royal forestlands
The Korea Heritage Service will open walking trails through several Joseon-era (1392–1910) royal tombs nestled in forested areas across Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces from Friday through June 29. In Seoul, the tombs of Taereung and Gangneung in Nowon-gu, as well as Uireung in Seongbuk-gu, will be accessible to the public. In Guri, Gyeonggi Province, visitors can explore Donggureung — a major royal tomb site comprising nine graves collectively known as the East Nine Royal Tombs. Nearby in Namyangju, Sareung will also be open. Samneung, or the Three Royal Tombs, in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, will welcome visitors as well. The trails will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in May, and until 5:30 p.m. in June. All sites will be closed on Mondays. There are 40 royal tombs from the Joseon Dynasty across the country, many of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. siyoungchoi@
