Latest news with #KDrama
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How Squid Game brought prestige to South Korea but also reflected a dark side
The third and final season of Netflix's Squid Game broke viewer records on the streaming platform following its release on June 27, marking a fitting close for what has arguably been the most successful South Korean TV series in history. Although reviews have been mixed, Season 3 recorded more than 60 million views in the first three days and topped leaderboards in 93 countries for two consecutive weeks, making it Netflix's biggest launch to date. Squid Game has been transformative for South Korea, with much of the domestic reaction focused not on the plot, but on the prestige it has brought to the country. In Seoul, fans celebrated with a parade to commemorate the show's end, shutting down major roads to make way for a marching band and a parade of characters from the show. Fans of Squid Game hold signs before a parade through central Seoul, which was followed by a fan event with the cast to celebrate the third season of Netflix's hit series, on June 28, 2025. Photo: Reuters In one section of the procession, a phalanx of the show's masked guards, dressed in their trademark pink uniforms, carried neon-lit versions of the coffins that appear on the show to carry away the losers of the survival game. They were joined by actors playing the contestants, who lurched along wearing expressions of exaggerated horror, as though the cruel stakes of the game had just been revealed to them.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Disney+ K-drama Law and the City: Lee Jong-suk, Moon Ga-young in slice-of-life legal drama
Lead cast: Lee Jong-suk, Moon Ga-young Latest Nielsen rating: 5.12 per cent Not seen in a leading role since Big Mouth in 2022, Lee Jong-suk once again plays a lawyer in Law and the City, this time opposite Moon Ga-young ( True Beauty ). Unlike the larger-than-life excess of his previous show, Lee's latest is a slice-of-life legal drama about young lawyers balancing a demanding profession with, hopefully, a rewarding personal one. Play The show's English title, which references the classic HBO series Sex and the City, hints at this more laid-back narrative style, while the Korean title is simply 'Seocho-dong' – the name of a district within Gangnam that, as the show's opening narration helpfully explains, has 'more law firms than restaurants'.
UAE Moments
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Love K-Pop Demon Hunters? Try These K-Dramas Next
Why 'K‑Pop Demon Hunters' Fans Will Love These K-Dramas Netflix's animated hit 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' captivated audiences by blending idol culture with supernatural action. With fans obsessed over its voice cast and plot twists, it's the perfect time to dive into live-action K-dramas that peel back the colorful veneer of K-pop life. You're Beautiful (2009) Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki This classic follows the fictional pop-rock band When actress Park Shin-hye goes undercover as her twin brother, she navigates love, secrets, and fame. Though ratings were modest on broadcast, it later earned a loyal cult following—complete with sold-out soundtracks and fan festivals. Dream High (2011) Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki Set in an elite arts school, 'Dream High' follows six aspiring idols finding their voices and selves. Featuring stars like Suzy, Taecyeon (2PM), IU, and Kim Soo‑hyun, it offers an insider's view of the idol-making process. The show's huge impact includes a Japanese stage adaptation and sequel. Top Management (2018) Where to Watch: YouTube (1theK) A fresh take combining fantasy and idol drama. Follows Seo Eun-soo, a former trainee with psychic powers, who steps in as manager for rookie group S.O.U.L. A deep dive into industry politics, featuring Ahn Hyo‑seop and ASTRO's Cha Eun‑woo. Reply 1997 (2012) Where to Watch: Viki Step into the golden age of K-pop with this nostalgic look at first-gen fandom. Centered on teenage fangirls and their favorite boy band, the show stars H.O.T. and a cast including Jung Eun‑ji, Seo In‑guk, and Hoya —a perfect cultural time capsule. Idol: The Coup (2021) Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video Not all idol stories end with fame. This gritty drama follows struggling girl group Cotton Candy fighting for one last shot. With EXID's Hani leading, this series shines a light on the sacrifices of idols outside the spotlight. The Big Picture Fans of 'K‑Pop Demon Hunters' love the bold mix of flashy idol life and unexpected drama. These K-dramas deliver that same thrill—minus the demons—and offer a deeper, more emotional look at the K-pop grind: If you're hooked on the idol-drama tension of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', these K-dramas are your next binge. They bring charisma, ambition, heartbreak, and fierce shine straight from the K-pop machine—no demon slaying required.
Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Squid Game is back to being dark, bloody and brilliant
As it at last wriggles across the finish line, Squid Game (Netflix) finds itself in a sticky spot. The tricky task confronting the final series of Netflix's ultra-violent thriller about a group of desperate, destitute citizens competing in a series of bloody contests is to recapture the zany, almost comedic energy of its sensational first season from 2021 – a challenge it never quite accomplishes, though not for lack of effort. Action-heavy, packed with twists – and the occasional sprinkling of Hollywood stardust – it's a well-intentioned and on-the-whole successful conclusion to a brutal South Korean blockbuster that has captured the world's imagination. Fans will be generally satisfied, even allowing for several well-signposted 'shocks' yanked like a reluctant rabbit from a blood-drenched hat. Squid Game has also, of course, added a reported $900 million to Netflix's bottom line. Which is presumably why executives went to such lengths to coax the show's initially reluctant creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, into turning what was supposed to be a one-off drama into a franchise. He said yes, but there was always a sense of an auteur shackled to a production line. These six concluding episodes are an improvement on last Christmas's dour second season, which replaced the satirical edge of the original with an onslaught of gunplay seemingly aimed at fans of Keanu Reeves's John Wick. Taking care not to waste viewers' time, Hwang sensibly gets straight into the fray. As we catch up with seemingly unkillable Contestant 456 (Lee Jung-jae), his short-lived uprising against the evil billionaires behind the show's brutal survival puzzles has been suppressed, his friends shot dead in front of him. Rather than send 456 to meet his maker, the game's masked 'Front Man' In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) has decided the upstart (real name, Seong Gi-hun) must continue to participate in the trials, alongside fellow competitors such as pregnant Kim Jun-hee and the mother-son duo of Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim) and Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun). Awaiting them is another sequence of brutally absurdist contests. These have the now-familiar sinister, childlike names, such as 'Jump Rope' – and a first prize of around £25 million. There is no second prize. Unless a gory death counts. With the games continuing, renegade guard 011/Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young) pushes on with her plot against Front Man and his wealthy backers, motivated by her trauma over her separation from her daughter in the outside world. Back on the mainland, Front Man's brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) proceeds with his frantic search for the hidden island hosting the games. Amid the bloodshed and gunsmoke, it is often forgotten that the original Squid Game had a tongue-in-cheek energy that, at times, veered towards a sort of violent camp. Much of the fun stemmed from the borderline infantile quality of the specific games. Red light / green light (move on red, bullet to the head) and a Korean version of tag took on a surreal quality when juxtaposed with wanton death and mayhem. That magic was lost in year two as the games were elaborate and a bit too try-hard. Third time out, the challenges hark back to the cartoonish cruelty of series one. Hwang Dong-hyuk also fulfils his promise that the tone would be 'more dark and bleak'. Nothing will recapture the sheer 'what the hell am I watching?' quality of a first season that came out of nowhere. But this is a satisfying sign-off – tied up winningly with a blood-stained bow.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lee Je-hoon Returns for ‘Taxi Driver 3,' Mirror's Edan Lui Joins Cast as Viu Expands Pan-Asian Slate
Lee Je-hoon is buckling up for another ride as the vigilante taxi driver Kim Do-gi in 'Taxi Driver 3,' with Viu and SBS announcing the third season of the global hit series will premiere in Q4 2025. The announcement was made at the ongoing APOS conference in Indonesia. The streaming platform revealed that the latest installment will debut as a Viu original worldwide, excluding South Korea and mainland China, following the record-breaking performance of Season 2. Je-hoon returns alongside fan favorites Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin and Bae Yoo-ram for what promises to be the Rainbow Taxi team's most dangerous missions yet. More from Variety Onza Distribution Sells Hit Italian Crime Drama 'Flowers Over the Inferno' in Key Markets (EXCLUSIVE) Canal Plus Increases Stake in Asian Streamer Viu to 30% - Global Bulletin Mirror, Hong Kong Boy Band, Sets Dates for 'Feel the Passion' Tour Adding international flavor to the Korean production, Hong Kong boy band Mirror member Edan Lui will make his Korean drama debut as a character who forms an unpredictable alliance with Kim Do-gi. Writer Oh Sang-ho and director Kang Bo-seung return to helm the series, which centers on Je-hoon's brilliant yet tormented vigilante. 'We are delighted to introduce 'Taxi Driver 3' through our trusted and long-standing partnership with Viu, a platform with strong global influence and reach,' said Park Jeong-hoon, CEO of Studio S, the in-house production arm of SBS Media Group. 'Our production team is working diligently to create a high-quality drama that lives up to the legacy of Seasons 1 and 2, striving to meet and exceed the expectations of viewers.' The announcement comes as part of Viu's expanded 2025 content slate. The platform's Q3 2025 highlights include 'My Youth,' starring Song Joong-ki as a reclusive ex-child actor reunited with his first love, and 'My Girlfriend Is a Man!,' a gender-bending romantic comedy adapted from a hit webtoon featuring Astro's Yoon San-ha and Oh My Girl's Arin. Viu's slate also encompasses Chinese productions like historical fantasy 'Immortal Ascension' starring Yang Yang and contemporary romance 'Love's Ambition' with Zhao Lu Si and William Chan. Indonesian content includes psychological romance sequel 'Rintik Terakhir' and teen thriller 'Secret High School.' Malaysian productions round out the offering with 'Seadanya Kita,' an age-gap romance starring Mierul Aiman and Emma Maembong, and social media romance 'Putri & Phrince,' directed by Liyana Jasmay. Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and managing director of PCCW Media Group, said: 'Our fresh slate of titles reinforces our commitment to compelling storytelling that resonates locally and travels globally. In 2025, we are bringing new international collaborations such as 'Taxi Driver 3,' 'My Youth' and 'The Season,' delivering authentic, locally rooted productions with cross-border appeal.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
