Latest news with #JungHae-in
Tatler Asia
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
6 noona romance K-dramas where love blossoms against the odds
'Something in the Rain' (2018) Above 'Something in the Rain' (2018) conveys romance through the smallest gestures—stolen glances, secret hand-holding and tender moments that pulse with intimacy Starring Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) is navigating a quarter-life crisis at 35: trapped in a dead-end corporate job, recovering from a painful breakup and watching her younger colleagues advance past her. Her comfortable but stagnant life takes an unexpected turn when Seo Joon-hee (Jung Hae-in) returns to Korea after three years of studying abroad. As her best friend's little brother, he was just a kid when she last saw him, but now he's a confident, thoughtful man working as a game developer. Their relationship evolves from nostalgic reconnection to something deeper as they discover they're both searching for authentic connection in a world that seems determined to keep them apart. The magic lies in Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in's ability to convey volumes through the smallest gestures—stolen glances, secret hand-holding and tender moments that pulse with intimacy. This noona romance earned Jung Hae-in the title 'Nation's Younger Boyfriend', a testament to the undeniable charm that captivated hearts everywhere. 'Forecasting Love and Weather' (2022) Above 'Forecasting Love and Weather' (2022) transforms awkward senior-junior workplace dynamics into compelling romantic tension. Starring Park Min-young and Song Kang In this noona romance K-drama, Jin Ha-kyung (Park Min-young) has built her reputation as one of Korea's most respected meteorologists through pure determination and scientific precision. After returning from years of international weather research, she's determined to revolutionise Korea's weather forecasting systems whilst battling workplace sexism and bureaucratic inefficiency. Enter Lee Si-woo (Song Kang), a passionate young forecaster whose enthusiasm for weather patterns matches his idealistic belief that accurate forecasting can save lives. When budget cuts threaten their department and a series of unpredictable weather events test their professional credibility, Ha-kyung and Si-woo must navigate not only atmospheric pressure but the growing tension between their professional responsibilities and personal attraction. Park Min-young and Song Kang transform potentially awkward senior-junior workplace dynamics into genuinely compelling romantic tension. Their chemistry builds from professional respect into something surprisingly intense, proving that sometimes the most unexpected pairings create the most memorable spark. 'Temperature of Love' (2017) Above 'Temperature of Love' (2017) offers slow-burning chemistry that keeps viewers invested through every emotional high and low Starring Seo Hyun-jin and Yang Se-jong Lee Hyun-soo (Seo Hyun-jin) dreams of becoming a successful screenwriter, but after years of rejections and financial struggles, she's questioning whether talent is enough in Korea's competitive entertainment industry. Working part-time jobs to survive whilst crafting scripts no one seems to want, she finds solace in an online cooking community where she connects with On Jung-sun (Yang Se-jong), an ambitious young chef climbing the ranks in Seoul's brutal restaurant scene. Jung-sun is fighting his own battles—working gruelling hours under demanding head chefs whilst harbouring dreams of opening his restaurant. Their virtual friendship becomes a lifeline as they support each other through professional setbacks, but when they finally meet in person, their relationship becomes infinitely more complicated as career ambitions clash with deepening feelings. Seo Hyun-jin and Yang Se-jong master electric, slow-burn chemistry that keeps viewers invested through every high and low. Their connection feels both deeply emotional and physically compelling, creating an almost hypnotic viewing experience where their chemistry transcends simple attraction. 'When the Camellia Blooms' (2019) Above 'When the Camellia Blooms' (2019) features a heart-warming dynamic where the younger man's golden retriever energy perfectly complements the older woman's guarded vulnerability Starring: Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Ha-neul Seeking a fresh start, single mother Oh Dongbaek (Gong Hyo-jin) settles in the small town of Ongsan, opening a bar called Camellia and hoping to create a stable life for her young son. However, the conservative townspeople, particularly the local women, view her with suspicion and judgment, whispering about her unmarried status and making her feel like an outsider. Into this unwelcoming environment steps Hwang Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul), the town's cheerful police officer whose sunny disposition masks a sharp investigative mind. As a serial killer begins targeting women in the area, Yong-sik becomes determined to protect Dongbaek whilst helping her find acceptance in the community that's been so cruel to her. Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Ha-neul create an utterly heartwarming dynamic where his golden retriever energy perfectly complements her guarded vulnerability. Their chemistry builds beautifully from protective friendship to devoted love, making Yong-sik one of the most supportive male leads in K-drama history. 'Romance is a Bonus Book' (2019) Above 'Romance is a Bonus Book' (2019) celebrates second chances and patient love, with Lee Jong-suk delivering one of his most tender performances Starring Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young) thought she had her life figured out—a successful career in advertising, a stable marriage, a bright future. But at 37, divorce and ageism in the job market leave her starting over with nothing but rejection letters. Desperate for work, she discovers that lying about her age and education gets her a junior position at Gyeoroo Publishing, where she's determined to prove that experience and passion matter more than youth. The irony? Her new boss is Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk), her childhood friend who's now a celebrated author and editor-in-chief. Eun-ho has harboured secret feelings for Dan-i for years, but now he must pretend not to recognise her whilst watching her struggle in an industry that undervalues women over 30. Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk create comfort-food chemistry that feels like a warm embrace. Their connection celebrates second chances and patient love, with Lee Jong-suk delivering one of his most tender performances as the utterly devoted Eun-ho, who's been quietly waiting for his chance. Credits This article was created with the assistance of AI tools
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Bukchon emerges as a new shopping hot spot in South Korea for global tourists
The House of Sulwhasoo, located in the heart of Bukchon. PHOTO: THE HOUSE OF SULWHASOO BUKCHON/FACEBOOK Bukchon emerges as a new shopping hot spot in South Korea for global tourists SEOUL – Nestled between the historical grandeur of the main palace Gyeongbokgung and the winding alleys of traditional hanok, Bukchon is being transformed from a heritage enclave into one of Seoul's most dynamic shopping destinations, particularly for international travellers. Once known primarily for its well-preserved architecture and cultural significance, it is now a growing hub for fashion, beauty and fragrance brands. With an influx of flagship stores, limited-edition product launches and experiential spaces, the neighbourhood is drawing attention fro m domestic trendsetters and foreign visitors. The transformation began around fiv e y ears ago, with small, independent perfumers popping up around Bukchon. 'That became a unique characteristic of the area, which then attracted an increasing number of fragrance brands. Now, you can find many domestic scent-related brands here. And with Tamburins – the most popular among foreign visitors – opening a store here too, it really proves Bukchon's growing status,' said a staff member of a local perfumery. That growth is backed by hard data. According to Seoul's real-time statistics, monthly credit card spending in Bukchon Hanok Village rose from 1.9 billion won (S$1.78 million) in January to more than 2.57 billion won in April. Projections suggest spending may exceed three billion won by the end of May. Recognising its potential , global and local brands are establishing a presence in the neighbourhood. Tamburins, a K-beauty fragrance label known for its minimalist design and immersive retail experience, opened its Bukchon flagship store in 2023. Tourist Giselle Roberts from Britain said: 'I'm a huge fan of South Korean actor Jung Hae-in, and after watching K-drama Love Next Door (2024), I really wanted to visit this area. It feels so authentic with all the traditional Korean architecture. Since Tamburins is one of the must-have items in South Korea, visiting the store was a top priority for me.' Luxury skincare brand Sulwhasoo also launched its House of Sulwhasoo Bukchon in a renovated hanok-yangok hybrid space that blends traditional Korean and Western architectural styles in 2021. A look into the interior of The House of Sulwhasoo. PHOTO: THE HOUSE OF SULWHASOO BUKCHON/FACEBOOK 'Bukchon is a symbolic area where the past and present coexist beautifully,' a Sulwhasoo representative said. 'The concept of 'house' is both private and expressive of one's tastes, which allows for a deeper connection to the brand.' House of Sulwhasoo Bukchon offers guided tours in Korean, English and Chinese, with foreign visitors making up about 60 to 70 per cent of attendees. 'I'm an exchange student from Mexico, and my Korean friend arranged this guided tour for me,' said Dominique Rodriguez. 'I really enjoyed experiencing the products while learning about the brand's history. It felt more like being in an exhibition than a typical store.' Fashion has followed suit. In August 2024, Adidas opened the Adidas Bukchon Heritage Store – its first sneaker-focused location in Korea. The shop features hanok-inspired architecture, traditional motifs and exclusive product drops. Adidas Bukchon Heritage Store. PHOTO: ADIDAS KOREA 'The Adidas Bukchon Heritage Store is a special place where customers can experience the history and culture of South Korea, which is gaining worldwide attention, while enjoying shopping,' said Mr Peter Kwak, general manager of Adidas Korea. The store's standout release, the Samba Tal, reinterprets the Samba sneaker with design elements from traditional Korean mask dance. Adidas Korea reports that more than half of the customers at its Bukchon Heritage Store are international visitors, highlighting the location's growing global appeal. Other notable openings include K-beauty store Yless, artisan fragrance atelier Granhand and lifestyle brand Nonfiction. Global brands, such as fragrance house Le Labo, are preparing to enter the scene sometime in 2025. Industry insiders say Bukchon's unique blend of heritage and innovation gives it a distinct edge. Yless' flagship store in Bukchon. PHOTO: YLESS 'Unlike areas like Seongsu-dong or Hannam-dong, Bukchon leverages the appeal of 'Korean tradition', making it the perfect place for experiential space marketing,' said fashion editor Lee Han-gyu. 'From hanok-inspired interiors to cultural storytelling, these brands give tourists a reason to visit and come back.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Bukchon emerges as new shopping hot spot in Seoul for global tourists
Bukchon becoming must-visit Seoul shopping district, where global visitors discover Korean style rooted in tradition Nestled between the historical grandeur of the main palace Gyeongbokgung and the winding alleys of traditional hanok, Bukchon is being transformed from a heritage enclave into one of Seoul's most dynamic shopping destinations, particularly for international travelers. Once known primarily for its well-preserved architecture and cultural significance, Bukchon is now a growing hub for fashion, beauty and fragrance brands. With an influx of flagship stores, limited-edition product launches and experiential spaces, the neighborhood is drawing attention from both domestic trendsetters and foreign visitors. The transformation began with small, independent perfumers. 'Around five to six years ago, small perfume shops by independent perfumers began to pop up around Bukchon. That became a unique characteristic of the area, which then attracted an increasing number of fragrance brands. Now you can find many domestic scent-related brands here. And with Tamburins — the most popular among foreign visitors — opening a store here too, it really proves Bukchon's growing status,' said a staff member of a local perfumery. That growth is backed by hard data. According to the city of Seoul's real-time statistics, monthly credit card spending in Bukchon Hanok Village rose from 1.9 billion won ($1.38 million) in January to over 2.57 billion won last month. Projections suggest spending may exceed 3 billion won by the end of this month. Recognizing its potential, both global and local brands are establishing a presence in the neighborhood. Tamburins, a K-beauty fragrance label known for its minimalist design and immersive retail experience, opened its Bukchon flagship store in 2023. 'I'm a huge fan of Jung Hae-in, and after watching 'Love Next Door,' I really wanted to visit this area,' said Giselle Roberts from the UK. 'It feels so authentic with all the traditional Korean architecture. Since Tamburins is one of the must-have items in Korea, visiting the store was a top priority for me.' Luxury skin care brand Sulwhasoo also launched its House of Sulwhasoo Bukchon in a renovated hanok-yangok hybrid space. 'Bukchon is a symbolic area where the past and present coexist beautifully,' a Sulwhasoo representative said. 'The concept of 'house' is both private and expressive of one's tastes, which allows for a deeper connection to the brand.' House of Sulwhasoo Bukchon offers guided tours in Korean, English and Chinese, with foreign visitors making up about 60 to 70 percent of attendees. 'I'm an exchange student from Mexico, and my Korean friend arranged this guided tour for me,' said Dominique Rodriguez from Mexico. 'I really enjoyed experiencing the products while learning about the brand's history. It felt more like being in an exhibition than a typical store.' Fashion has followed suit. In August last year, Adidas opened the Adidas Bukchon Heritage Store — its first sneaker-focused location in Korea. The shop features hanok-inspired architecture, traditional motifs and exclusive product drops. 'The Adidas Bukchon Heritage Store is a special place where customers can experience the history and culture of South Korea, which is gaining worldwide attention, while enjoying shopping,' said Peter Kwak, general manager of Adidas Korea. The store's standout release, the Samba Tal, reinterprets the iconic Samba sneaker with design elements from traditional Korean mask dance. Adidas Korea reports that over half of the customers at its Bukchon Heritage Store are international visitors, highlighting the location's growing global appeal. Other notable openings include K-beauty store Yless, artisan fragrance atelier Granhand and lifestyle brand Nonfiction. Industry insiders say Bukchon's unique blend of heritage and innovation gives it a distinct edge. 'Unlike areas like Seongsu-dong or Hannam-dong, Bukchon leverages the appeal of 'Korean tradition,' making it the perfect place for experiential space marketing,' said fashion editor Lee Han-gyu. 'From hanok-inspired interiors to cultural storytelling, these brands give tourists a reason to visit and come back.' With global brands like Le Labo preparing to enter the scene sometime this year and hundreds of weekend visitors at stores like Yless, Bukchon is fast becoming a premier destination for experiential retail.
Gulf News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
5 K-Dramas that took dream leads and ruined them with ice-cold chemistry: K2 to Forecasting Love and Weather
K-Dramas are usually on point with the leads and the chemistry. Not often, does it miss the mark even if the storytelling does. But then there are some that build up the hype: You see actors, who have had stunning chemistry with every other actor before, and you are sure it can't go wrong. But sigh, when it does, you're left with rather dull, lifeless and soulless chemistry between two otherwise very charismatic leads. 1) Forecasting Love And Weather *Grumbles* This one still singes. How do you go wrong with Song Kang and Park Min-young, who have had practically sizzling chemistry with everyone other lead character in their shows? Set in a weather forecasting agency, the story sees their characters fall in love early on, only to spiral into a storm of work stress and emotional baggage. Even the reunion and love confession lacked warmth. What should've been heart-fluttering felt like… a drizzle. 2) Love Next Door It was almost there. We felt the tension rising slightly between Jung Hae-in and Jung Som-in, till…we didn't. Jung Hae-in's character quickly devolved into a man-child who threw tantrums over So-min's career decisions—including a major one where she considered going abroad. The romance drowned in ego and immaturity. 3) Memories of the Alhambra If you thought Forecasting was a dull disappointment, you should see what happens to the pairing between Hyun Bin and Park Shin-ye in this fantastical drama. We're talking about two actors who practically reshaped the K-entertainment industry, instead we got a very awkward romance between the two of them, or barely anything at all. Not to mention that the story itself went off the rails by the last episode. 4) The K2 Ji Chang-wook, another lead actor who could have chemistry with a stone, if he wants. And there's the stunning Yoona, in this action-packed thriller, where Ji Chang-wook is just busy flexing muscles, beating up people as he suffers from bullet wounds. Yoona plays a traumatised woman, trapped by her devious stepmother, who ironically seemed to have had more chemistry with Chang-wook. That's right, we said it. You know what you had to do, K2 writers. 5) Doctor Stranger So much chaos, so little chemistry. Between political conspiracies, North Korean escape plots, and absurd medical drama, Lee Jong-suk and Jin Se-yeon's love story never found its pulse. The emotional beats felt forced, the reunion lacked spark, and honestly? Jong-suk had much more chemistry with the second lead. But in true K-Drama fashion, the second lead never stood a chance.
