Latest news with #Reply1994
Tatler Asia
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Architects of Korean shows: 11 K-drama screenwriters whose works never miss
2. Park Ji-eun If you've laughed (and cried) through a chaebol comedy or swooned over a high-concept romance, chances are Park Ji-eun was behind it. Her credits include the iconic My Love from the Star , The Legend of the Blue Sea and Crash Landing on You . Known for her razor-sharp wit and crowd-pleasing storytelling, Park pens addictive dramas that marry escapism with emotional payoff. She's a ratings queen, and her dramas often spark global K-drama trends. Don't miss: 10 K-dramas that will never (and should never) be remade 3. Song Jae-jung The time-twisting brainiac of K-dramaland, Song Jae-jung is known for her genre-bending narratives that challenge logic while tugging at your heart. Her works include Nine: Nine Time Travels , W: Two Worlds and Memories of the Alhambra . She seamlessly puts together sci-fi, fantasy and romance, keeping viewers on their toes from start to finish. Her inventive plots and emotional arcs have made her a cult favourite among fans who crave something cleverer than your average love story. 4. Lee Woo-jung If K-dramas had a neighbourhood watch for emotionally grounded, slice-of-life excellence, Lee Woo-jung would be the beloved captain. A longtime collaborator with director Shin Won-ho, she is the pen behind the Reply series ( Reply 1997 , Reply 1994 , Reply 1988 ) and Hospital Playlist . If you need a reminder, these shows quietly became cultural landmarks. Her writing is celebrated for turning the everyday into the unforgettable, often weaving in nostalgia, subtle laughs and deeply human characters whose stories feel personal no matter where you're watching from. Though her dramas lack flashy antagonists or melodramatic twists, Lee's magic lies in developing character dynamics that resonate. Her stories are a masterclass in warmth, making her a go-to writer for those who want their heartstrings pulled in the most realistic but charming way possible. See more: 8 slice-of-life K-dramas with no villains—just love, growth and healing 5. Yoon Nan-joong Yoon Nan-joong has a knack for turning nostalgic slice-of-life stories into cultural touchstones. Best known for co-writing Reply 1994 and Reply 1997 , she captures the ache of youth and the comfort of family with wit and tenderness. Her characters feel like old friends, and her writing taps into the shared memories of a generation. She's part of the powerhouse behind the Reply series, which helped redefine the coming-of-age genre in K-drama. Don't miss: 10 K-drama friendships that define ultimate loyalty and unbreakable bonds 6. Park Hae-young Minimalist but deeply affecting, Park Hae-young's writing is all about subtlety and depth. With hits like Another Miss Oh , My Mister and My Liberation Notes , she weaves emotionally rich dramas whose effect lingers long after the final scene. Her stories explore loneliness, healing and the quiet strength of ordinary people. Her work is widely acclaimed for its poetic sensibility and psychological insight, earning her critical and fan devotion alike. Also read: Here's why healing K-dramas resonate worldwide 7. Kim Eun-sook You know her dramas even if you don't know her name— Goblin , Descendants of the Sun, The King: Eternal Monarch and Mr Sunshine are all part of her glittering resume. She alone has more hits than other K-drama screenwriters combined. Kim Eun-sook is the go-to for sweeping romances, memorable one-liners and blockbuster-level production. Her scripts are often the launchpad for megastar pairings and cultural phenomena. Love her or roll your eyes at her flair for cheesiness, she's undeniably the most commercially successful of all K-drama screenwriters. 8. Hong Sisters (Hong Mi-ran and Hong Jeong-eun) Beautiful writing must be genetic because these K-drama screenwriters always churn out hits. The queens of rom-com, the Hong Sisters have given audiences genre-defining hits like You're Beautiful , My Girlfriend is a Gumiho , The Master's Sun and Hotel del Luna . Their flair for fantasy, humour and sizzling chemistry has made them favourites among viewers and stars. They're not afraid to get weird or whimsical, and their ability to balance zany with heartfelt keeps their dramas irresistibly bingeable. 9. Lim Sang-choon Five words: When Life Gives You Tangerines . Lim Sang-choon is one of the industry's rising K-drama screenwriters. She's known for balancing social critique with emotional uplift, evident in successes like Fight for My Way and When the Camellia Blooms . She presents stories that spotlight underdogs and everyday heroes, often with a touch of comedy and a lot of heart. Her characters resonate because they feel lived-in, flawed and full of hope. Lim is praised for bringing warmth to gritty realities, and her work has won ratings and accolades, including a Grand Prize (Daesang) at the KBS Drama Awards. See more: 14 scene-stealing cameos in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' 10. Kim Eun-hee If you've ever been emotionally wrecked by Signal or binge-watched Kingdom like your life depended on it, you've encountered the genre-defying brilliance of Kim Eun-hee. As Korea's queen of crime thrillers and supernatural suspense, her writing combines airtight plotting with morally complex characters. Signal (2016) remains one of the most acclaimed K-dramas ever made, capturing the suspense of cold cases, time travel and ethical dilemmas. Kim's strength lies in her ability to humanise the genre. For example, her historical zombie epic Kingdom (2019) is more a sharp critique of power, class and survival disguised as a thriller. Of all the K-drama screenwriters out there, she's the only one who can successfully make brains, blood and brilliance coexist, all thanks to her clinical sense of tension and tempo. Don't miss: 12 intense K-drama thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat 11. Jeong Yoon-jung Jeong Yoon-jung doesn't write dramas. She builds worlds. From the soul-crushing cubicles of Misaeng (2014) to the myth-laden continent of Arthdal Chronicles (2019), her range is cerebral but still wildly imaginative. In Misaeng , adapted from a webtoon, she turned office politics into an emotional battlefield, exploring ambition, burnout and quiet victories with devastating precision. On the other side of the spectrum, Arthdal Chronicles revealed her penchant for high fantasy and deep lore, taking viewers to a prehistoric world filled with tribal alliances and existential stakes. Jeong's signature? An unflinching look at systems, whether corporate or mythological, and the people caught within them. Also read: Love thy neighbour: 10 K-dramas where love was found living right next door
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Yoo Yeon-seok hit with biggest tax bill amid scrutiny over celebrity finances
Recent tax controversies may involve celebrities' use of personal corporations to minimize taxes Yoo Yeon-seok, the star of hit K-dramas such as the "Hospital Playlist" series and "Reply 1994," has joined a list of celebrities facing hefty tax bills. Yoo was recently slapped with a tax bill of approximately 7 billion won ($4.8 million), reportedly the largest ever imposed on a South Korean celebrity. In response to mounting criticism and allegations of tax evasion, Yoo's agency, KingKong by Starship Entertainment, issued a statement on Friday explaining that the tax assessment results from the National Tax Service "stem from a difference in the way (Yoo's) tax representative and the tax authorities have interpreted and applied tax law." The agency further noted, "This income tax assessment has not been finalized or officially notified, and we plan to actively clarify the points of contention regarding the interpretation and application of the law through proper legal procedures." Yoo is not alone in facing scrutiny over tax issues. In February, actress Lee Ha-nee, known for her work in "Knight Flower" and "Extreme Job," was hit with a 6 billion won tax assessment. Last year, actor Park Hee-soon underwent a tax investigation by the Seoul Regional Tax Office, resulting in an additional tax bill of approximately 800 million won. The trend has drawn scrutiny over celebrities' use of personal corporations -- often with themselves as CEOs -- to minimize their tax liabilities. The three celebrities each operate personal corporations despite being affiliated with other agencies — Park Hee-soon, Lee Ha-nee and Yoo Yeon-seok serve as CEOs of Twopark Playground, Hanee, and Forever Entertainment, respectively. Under Korean law, corporations are generally taxed at lower rates than individuals, with higher thresholds for taxable income, making corporate structures more advantageous for tax purposes. Additionally, expenses related to maintenance, vehicle upkeep and other business operations can be deducted as business costs, effectively reducing the owner's taxable income. The celebrities contend that the disputes stem from differing interpretations of tax law rather than deliberate tax evasion, with Park Hee-soon denying the allegations in an official statement, asserting that "This tax assessment arose during the process between the tax authorities and my tax representative and has no direct connection to my legal obligations as an actor." Lee Ha-nee similarly defended her position, stating, "The additional tax resulted from a difference in perspective between the tax authorities and my tax representative, and I have paid the full amount." Public sentiment, however, has grown increasingly critical as suspicions mount over high-profile figures allegedly avoiding billions in taxes. Criticism has been mounting over Yoo Yeon-seok's appearance in Seoul Broadcasting System's new series "Shinyirang Law Office" (direct translation), set to premiere this August, where he plays a lawyer who punishes evil. SBS has yet to release an official statement regarding Yoo's involvement in the series.
Korea Herald
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Go A-ra makes return in steamy romance series 'The Scandal of Chunhwa'
19+ rated period drama explores free love in an era of strict traditions "Reply 1994" star Go A-ra is back on the small screen, this time in a steamy romance series titled "The Scandal of Chunhwa." The period drama explores love in an era when rigid decorum dictated interactions between men and women. It follows Hwa-ri (Go A-ra), a princess determined to choose her own husband, even as her father, the king, rushes to arrange her marriage after rumors spread that she is the protagonist of a provocative anthology titled "Chunhwa Love Stories." Rated 19+ for its explicit content, the Tving drama portrays the honest desires of young people who dream of choosing their own partners in a society bound by strict traditions. Director Lee Kwang-young emphasized that his focus was on storytelling rather than sensationalism. 'The series unfolds as 'Chunhwa Love Stories' gains popularity in an era of strict gender norms. Instead of dwelling on the novel's explicit elements, we explore who wrote such a book at the time and why,' he said during a press conference in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. Lee also shared the inspiration behind the story: 'The head of the production company once told me he stumbled upon an old book in a secondhand bookstore as a child. Shocked, he immediately closed it -- but on his way out, he wondered who might have written such a story in the past. That curiosity led to this project. My focus was on uncovering the motivations behind those tales rather than highlighting explicit content.' For Go, widely known for her lead roles in "Reply 1994" and "Miss Hammurabi," "The Scandal of Chunhwa" marks a return to the small screen for the first time in five years. On choosing the project, she said with a laugh, 'It feels like I took that break just to come across this incredible work.' Hwa-ri starts off as somewhat immature, but as she faces numerous challenges, she grows -- that was the most compelling part for me,' said Go in describing her character. Go took over the role from actor Go Ah-sung, who was originally cast but stepped down due to an injury. 'I'm truly grateful -- it was a bit of luck. I was already preparing for a historical drama at the time, so I was ready for the role,' she said, adding, 'There were many aspects of Hwa-ri's personality and choices that I could relate to and understand.' With a wave of historical dramas like "The Tale of Lady Ok" and "The Queen Who Crowns" hitting screens, director Lee highlighted what makes "The Scandal of Chunhwa" stand out. 'There are traditions we must uphold, but there are also customs that need to evolve with time. (With 'The Scandal of Chunhwa,') we focused on reshaping these traditions in our own way,' he said. "The Scandal of Chunhwa" premieres Thursday on Tving.
