Latest news with #KimJi-eun
Tatler Asia
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
From ‘My Dearest' to ‘Our Movie': the definitive list of must-watch K-dramas starring Namkoong Min
'My Dearest' (2023) My Dearest is a sweeping epic that follows the romance between Lee Jang-hyun (Namkoong Min) and Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin). Set during the Qing invasion, their love story spans decades and survives almost insurmountable obstacles. Time and time again, they are torn apart only to be brought back together by fate—or by Jang-hyun's unwavering devotion. Beyond their palpable chemistry, both leads deliver powerful performances that earned rave reviews and numerous accolades, including the Baeksang for Best Actor in a Drama for Namkoong Min, who was also crowned the 'viewership king'. By its final episode, My Dearest had become one of the defining K-drama events of 2023, thanks to its critical acclaim, enthusiastic audience response and soaring viewership ratings. See also: 4 recent period K-dramas to add to your watchlist 'One Dollar Lawyer' (2022) In One Dollar Lawyer , Namkoong Min was able to stretch his comedic muscles as the quirky attorney Cheon Ji-hun. Brilliant but a touch eccentric, he only charges his clients—to the dismay of his longtime office manager—KRW1,000. It's a bargain considering he's a skilled and passionate lawyer who defends the rights of ordinary citizens against corrupt corporations and big law firms. When Baek Ma-ri (Kim Ji-eun) is forced to work with him, she initially views his unorthodox investigation style and courtroom antics with disdain. But the results speak for themselves, and over time, she grows to admire and trust him. Soon, what was once an antagonistic relationship turns into a genuine partnership and friendship. Together, they continue to take on systemic corruption and fight for justice. 'The Veil' (2021) If Namkoong Min flexed his comedic muscles in One Dollar Lawyer , he flexed his actual muscles, bulking up to an impressive 78kg from his usual 64kg to play elite National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent Han Ji-hyuk in the spy-action thriller The Veil . In the K-drama, Ji-hyuk returns under mysterious conditions after having been missing for an entire year, sans memory and with a serious case of PTSD. He is determined to uncover the mole within the NIS who compromised his last mission—an act that led to the death of his teammates. Along the way, he teams up with rookie agent Yoo Je-yi (played by Kim Ji-eun, who would later star alongside Namkoong in One Dollar Lawyer ), who is secretly investigating the decade-old disappearance of her father, a former NIS agent. 'Hot Stove League' (2019-2020) Namkoong Min's portrayal of Baek Sung-soo in Hot Stove League is another standout role that solidified his status as one of South Korea's top actors. As the newly hired general manager of the Dreams, a flailing baseball team on the brink of being disbanded, stoic and level-headed Sung-soo must find a way to turn them into winners. The series delves into the behind-the-scenes drama of the off-season: salary negotiations, inter-team politics, drafts and player trades. To the members of the Dreams—especially its dedicated operations manager Lee Se-young (Park Eun-bin)—Sung-soo's methods seem ruthless and unpopular. But he ultimately wins them over when his exceptional and uncompromising leadership turns the team's luck around. And while they may not have ended up as champions, they emerge stronger and more united—winners in every sense that matters. Don't miss: 10 unforgettable K-drama athletes you can't help but root for 'Doctor Prisoner' (2019) Namkoong Min stars as Na Yi-je, a brilliant and compassionate doctor whose career is destroyed when a chaebol heir accuses him of malpractice. Sent to prison to cover up a hit-and-run accident, Yi-je learns about the rampant corruption in the penal system—the many ways the wealthy and influential receive special treatment and are given early paroles and releases. He then meticulously plots his revenge by returning to the prison as its medical director, leveraging this position, using cunning tactics and forming unlikely alliances with inmates to expose the various criminal activities and corruption of the family responsible for his downfall. 'Good Manager' (2017) In Good Manager , Namkoong Min establishes his leading-man status and showcases his comedic timing. Here, he plays Kim Sung-ryong, an accountant who embezzles money from corrupt organisations to fund his early retirement, preferably somewhere in Denmark. Planning his next big score, he applies for a mid-manager position in TQ Group, hoping to siphon off enough funds to finally live out his dream. But the company is even more corrupt than he initially thought, and in his selfish attempts to protect the money he has managed to steal, he inadvertently exposes embezzlement schemes far grander than his own, becoming an unlikely—and reluctant—hero. 'Beautiful Gong Shim' (2016) In this 2016 romcom K-drama, Namkoong Min stars opposite Minah of the K-pop idol group Girl's Day. More known for playing villains at the time, Namkoong Min's turn as the goofy and lovable Ahn Dan-tae helped him step into more traditional leading man roles, broadening his appeal and proving his versatility. At the heart of the story is Gong Shim, a quirky heroine whose need for a steady job is eclipsed only by her need for self-confidence. The one thing she doesn't need? The antagonistic relationship she develops with her rooftop apartment tenant Ahn Dan-tae. But his friendship and unconditional support turn out to be the very things that help her grow. In Beautiful Gong Shim , Namkoong Min deft handling of both the enemies-to-lovers romance and the lost-heir subplot showcased his growing range as an actor.
Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Can South Korea afford a 4.5-day work week?
If implemented, the 4.5-day week would reduce the legal work week from 40 to 36 hours. PHOTO: AFP SEOUL - With President Lee Jae Myung now in office, one of his most eye-catching campaign pledges – introducing a 4.5-day work week – is facing questions over whether it can really work. For many workers, the proposal is a welcome one. 'I can't even describe how much I hope this happens,' said 39-year-old office worker Kim Ji-eun in Seoul. 'Right now, I leave work exhausted every Friday evening and have barely enough time to rest, let alone enjoy life or take care of my kids. Just half a day more would mean a real chance at balance.' Ms Kim's view is widely shared. According to a recent survey by business networking platform Remember, seven in 10 salaried workers out of more than 11,000 surveyed said they would prefer a four-day work week. In a different survey by Saramin, 86.7 per cent of employees said they prefer a four-day work week, and of those more than 60 per cent said they would take the shorter hours even if it meant a lower salary. But the reality is more complicated. South Korea is widely known for its gruelling work culture. In 2022, South Koreans worked an average of 1,901 hours annually – 149 hours more than the OECD average. The country's job market is also notoriously rigid, largely due to labour laws that make it difficult for employers to dismiss regular workers, contributing to a stark divide between secure, permanent jobs and unstable, non-regular employment. 'Shaped by decades of regulations that prioritise employment stability over labour market agility, rigid legal frameworks and cultural norms make it difficult for companies to reward excellence or address underperformance. This makes it risky for businesses to experiment with reduced work hours,' Professor Kim Seong-hee, a labour don at Korea University, told The Korea Herald. At the same time, the country ranks low in terms of labour productivity. According to the Korea Labour Institute, South Korea placed 33rd out of 38 OECD countries in 2023, with hourly productivity at US$44.4 (S$56.92) – just 57 per cent of the United States' output at US$77.9 and 65 per cent of Germany's. Employers worry that without a significant leap in productivity, a reduced work week would only add to their burden. 'Some pioneering firms might adopt a four-day or 4.5-day work week to attract talent,' said Mr Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, at a presidential forum in May. 'But for many companies, this change would be a serious strain.' Mixed signals from labour and business South Korea's largest labour union, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, has taken the opposite stance. At a press conference in April ahead of the presidential election, the union pushed for the introduction of a four-day work week. 'Seventeen per cent of Korean workers still put in more than 48 hours per week – more than twice the EU average of 7.3 per cent,' the group said, citing long work hours as a pressing national issue. Pointing to successful pilot programmes in countries like Iceland, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, the union argues that advances in automation, AI and platform labour models demand an overhaul in how working time is structured. 'If work is changing, then the standard of what we consider acceptable labour hours must also evolve,' the federation stated. If implemented, the 4.5-day week would reduce the legal work week from 40 to 36 hours. Coupled with another Lee campaign pledge to abolish the fixed-salary overtime system known as the 'inclusive wage system', business groups say they fear a compounded cost burden. Law firm Lee & Ko warned that just as the adoption of the five-day work week in 2003 imposed added costs without wage cuts, the proposed shift – especially with inclusive wage reform – could significantly impact corporate operating costs. Still, labour law experts say shorter work hours may be inevitable. 'A reduction in working hours aligns with global trends, and no major political party in Korea is actively opposing the idea,' the firm noted in its report after the election. The firm expects phased implementation alongside flexible work arrangements. Addressing structural gaps The road ahead is not without conditions. Law firm Yulchon emphasised in a recent report that labour productivity must improve first. With South Korea's low hourly labour productivity, the firm argued that 'reducing working hours without lowering wages is only socially sustainable if accompanied by productivity growth'. A law firm's labour expert advised that companies prepare for the change by adopting practical measures, such as encouraging the use of annual leave, offering more flexible working hours, and updating existing legal frameworks to maximise the use of flexible work arrangements. 'From redesigning work environments and staffing plans to ensuring fair compensation levels, the private sector must begin preparing for structural transformation,' the expert said. However, labour experts warn that without careful planning, a reduced work week could exacerbate inequality in South Korea's dual labour market – one dominated by secure jobs in big corporations and the public sector, and another filled with low-paid, unstable work in small businesses and services. The service sector's low productivity adds to the challenge. According to the Korea Productivity Centre, the value-added productivity per service worker is only 64 per cent of the OECD average, while manufacturing productivity exceeds the OECD average – illustrating South Korea's dichotomy of 'developed manufacturing, underdeveloped services'. This imbalance means shorter work weeks could result in reduced income and job insecurity for the vast majority of workers in the service sector if reforms do not also address deeper structural issues. Experts agree that any meaningful attempt to adopt a 4.5-day work week must go hand-in-hand with comprehensive labour reform – one that considers the realities of small businesses, non-regular workers and platform-based labour. 'In today's changing work environment, the old formula of 'more hours equal more productivity' doesn't hold up, especially in manufacturing,' said Professor Kwon Hyuk, who teaches labour at Korea University. 'What matters now is when and how effectively the work is done.' Professor Kwon warned that implementing a shorter work week only at large firms or government offices could deepen inequality. 'We need to strengthen the competitiveness of small businesses and fix the labour market's dual structure before we move forward with such a policy,' he said. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
17-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Can South Korea afford a 4.5-day workweek?
Workers cheer shorter week, but employers warn of hidden costs With President Lee Jae Myung now in office, one of his most eye-catching campaign pledges — introducing a 4.5-day workweek — is facing questions over whether it can really work. For many workers, the proposal is a welcome one. 'I can't even describe how much I hope this happens,' said Kim Ji-eun, a 39-year-old office worker in Seoul. 'Right now, I leave work exhausted every Friday evening and have barely enough time to rest, let alone enjoy life or take care of my kids. Just half a day more would mean a real chance at balance.' Kim's view is widely shared. According to a recent survey by business networking platform Remember, 7 in 10 salaried workers out of more than 11,000 surveyed said they would prefer a four-day workweek. In a different survey by Saramin, 86.7 percent of employees said they prefer a four-day workweek, and of those more than 60 percent said they would take the shorter hours even if it meant a lower salary. But the reality is more complicated. South Korea is widely known for its grueling work culture. In 2022, South Koreans worked an average of 1,901 hours annually — 149 hours more than the OECD average. The country's job market is also notoriously rigid, largely due to labor laws that make it difficult for employers to dismiss regular workers, contributing to a stark divide between secure, permanent jobs and unstable, non-regular employment. "Shaped by decades of regulations that prioritize employment stability over labor market agility, rigid legal frameworks and cultural norms make it difficult for companies to reward excellence or address underperformance. This makes it risky for businesses to experiment with reduced work hours," Kim Seong-hee, a labor professor at Korea University, told The Korea Herald. At the same time, the country ranks low in terms of labor productivity. According to the Korea Labor Institute, South Korea placed 33rd out of 38 OECD countries in 2023, with hourly productivity at $44.4 — just 57 percent of the United States' output at $77.9 and 65 percent of Germany's. Employers worry that without a significant leap in productivity, a reduced workweek would only add to their burden. 'Some pioneering firms might adopt a four-day or 4.5-day workweek to attract talent,' said Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, at a presidential forum last month. 'But for many companies, this change would be a serious strain.' Mixed signals from labor and business South Korea's largest labor union, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, has taken the opposite stance. At a press conference in April ahead of the presidential election, the union pushed for the introduction of a four-day workweek. 'Seventeen percent of Korean workers still put in more than 48 hours per week — more than twice the EU average of 7.3 percent,' the group said, citing long work hours as a pressing national issue. Pointing to successful pilot programs in countries like Iceland, France, the UK and the US, the union argues that advances in automation, AI and platform labor models demand an overhaul in how working time is structured. 'If work is changing, then the standard of what we consider acceptable labor hours must also evolve,' the federation stated. If implemented, the 4.5-day week would reduce the legal workweek from 40 to 36 hours. Coupled with another Lee campaign pledge to abolish the fixed-salary overtime system known as the 'inclusive wage system,' business groups say they fear a compounded cost burden. Law firm Lee & Ko warned that just as the adoption of the five-day workweek in 2003 imposed added costs without wage cuts, the proposed shift — especially with inclusive wage reform — could significantly impact corporate operating costs. Still, labor law experts say shorter work hours may be inevitable. 'A reduction in working hours aligns with global trends, and no major political party in Korea is actively opposing the idea,' the firm noted in its report after the election. The firm expects phased implementation alongside flexible work arrangements. Addressing structural gaps The road ahead is not without conditions. Law firm Yulchon emphasized in a recent report that labor productivity must improve first. With Korea's low hourly labor productivity, the firm argued that 'reducing working hours without lowering wages is only socially sustainable if accompanied by productivity growth.' Park, a labor expert at a law firm, advised that companies prepare for the change by adopting practical measures, such as encouraging the use of annual leave, offering more flexible working hours, and updating existing legal frameworks to maximize the use of flexible work arrangements. 'From redesigning work environments and staffing plans to ensuring fair compensation levels, the private sector must begin preparing for structural transformation," Park said. However, labor experts warn that without careful planning, a reduced workweek could exacerbate inequality in Korea's dual labor market — one dominated by secure jobs in big corporations and the public sector, and another filled with low-paid, unstable work in small businesses and services. The service sector's low productivity adds to the challenge. According to the Korea Productivity Center, the value-added productivity per service worker is only 64 percent of the OECD average, while manufacturing productivity exceeds the OECD average — illustrating Korea's dichotomy of 'developed manufacturing, underdeveloped services." This imbalance means shorter workweeks could result in reduced income and job insecurity for the vast majority of workers in the service sector if reforms do not also address deeper structural issues. Experts agree that any meaningful attempt to adopt a 4.5-day workweek must go hand-in-hand with comprehensive labor reform — one that considers the realities of small businesses, non-regular workers and platform-based labor. 'In today's changing work environment, the old formula of 'more hours equal more productivity' doesn't hold up, especially in manufacturing,' said Kwon Hyuk, a labor professor at Korea University. 'What matters now is when and how effectively the work is done.' Kwon warned that implementing a shorter workweek only at large firms or government offices could deepen inequality. 'We need to strengthen the competitiveness of small businesses and fix the labor market's dual structure before we move forward with such a policy,' he said.
South China Morning Post
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Check-in Hanyang: long-winded period K-drama should have been shorter
Published: 6:15pm, 12 Feb 2025 This article contains mild spoilers. 2.5/5 stars Lead cast: Kim Ji-eun, Bae In-hyuk, Jung Gun-joo, Park Jae-chan Latest Nielsen rating: 4.16 per cent When we watch something that we deem to be too long, it all well and good to say that its makers should have cut a certain amount of minutes or episodes. It is another thing to determine exactly where those judicious cuts should have been made. Every so often, though, it is obvious what should have gone, and seldom do we get so clear an example of this as Check-in Hanyang .
