Latest news with #TheGlory
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
K-Pop comebacks: All the South Korean celebrities returning from military service in 2025
South Korea's entertainment industry is experiencing a powerful resurgence in 2025 as several beloved celebrities return from their mandatory military service. With K-pop and K-drama stars known worldwide, fans have been counting down the days for their favourites to resume their careers. Military conscription is mandatory for all able-bodied South Korean men, typically before the age of 30, and even the most famous idols are no exception. This year marks the return of major stars — from members of BTS to rising actors — and their reentry into the spotlight is being celebrated across the globe. Actor Lee Do-hyun, best known for his roles in The Glory and 18 Again, completed his military service on May 13, 2025. He served in the Republic of Korea Air Force military band for 21 months. His agency, YUEHUA Entertainment Korea, confirmed that he's been flooded with project offers and is expected to return to acting soon. A post shared by 이도현 (@ldh_sky) The global phenomenon BTS is on the brink of a full-group reunion. Jin and J-Hope have already completed their service, while RM, V, Jimin, Jungkook, and Suga are set to be discharged throughout June 2025. V will be discharged on June 10, followed by Jungkook and Jimin on June 11, RM on June 10 as well, and Suga on June 21. With the countdown underway, fans worldwide are marking their calendars for what could be the biggest K-pop comeback in years. A post shared by BTS official (@ Sehun, the youngest member of EXO, began his service in December 2023 and will be discharged on September 20, 2025. A full-group fan meeting is already in discussion for later this year, as confirmed by EXO leader Suho. A post shared by SEHUN (@oohsehun) Known for Business Proposal and The Heavenly Idol, Kim Min-kyu began his service in April 2024 and is expected to be discharged by September 20, 2025. Fans are eager for his return to the screen. A post shared by 김민규 (@mingue.k) The Love Alarm and Nevertheless star joined the military after filming My Demon and is currently serving. He is expected to complete his duties by December 1, 2025. A post shared by 송강 (@songkang_b) As 2025 progresses, the return of these stars is not just a relief for fans — it signals a major wave of new music, drama, and excitement in Korean pop culture.
Tatler Asia
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Fact meets fiction: 10 K-dramas inspired by true events
'The Glory' Above Song Hye-kyo delivers a powerful performance in this revenge drama based on a shocking 2006 South Korean school bullying case. (Photo: IMDb) Inspired by: A real-life 2006 school bullying case in South Korea that involved a curling iron Writer Kim Eun-sook ( Descendants of the Sun , Goblin , The King: Eternal Monarch , Mr. Sunshine ) was spurred to write The Glory after having a candid conversation with her daughter about school violence. The K-drama's emotional core—and its raw, often harrowing depiction of bullying—was partly inspired by a 2006 case that shocked South Korea, in which middle school students extorted and assaulted a classmate using, among other things, a curling iron. Fans of The Glory will recognise this chilling detail, as it plays out on screen in a pivotal scene involving Song Hye-kyo's character, Moon Dong-eun. Don't miss: 6 K-dramas that master the art of payback 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' Above Ae-sun's resilience echoes the real stories of Jeju's women divers, who face life's depths with courage. (Photo: Netflix) Inspired by: Jeju residents and haenyeo, particularly Hong Kyung-ja Although the award-winning K-drama is fictional, it draws plenty of inspiration from the experiences of Jeju Island's resilient community, especially the haenyeo, who embody quiet strength and perseverance. The show paid tribute to one haenyo in particular, Hong Kyung-ja, whose name appears on a diver's floating device in one episode. She also caught the imagination of fans, thanks to the many parallels her life shares with that of IU's character, Ae-sun. Like Ae-sun, Hong Kyung-ja lost her mother at a young age and grew up shouldering responsibility for her family. And also like the show's protagonist, she married her childhood sweetheart, a man who, like Park Bo-gum's Gwan-sik, was so devoted, he would later be honoured with the 'Beautiful Husband Award' by the Jeju YWCA. See also: 5 life lessons from 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' 'Queen of Tears' Above Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun portray a troubled couple in Queen of Tears, a drama speculated to mirror the real-life marriage of Samsung heiress Lee Boo-jin. (Photo: tvN) Inspired by: Speculated parallels to the real-life marriage of Samsung heiress Lee Boo-jin and Lim Woo-jae In Queen of Tears , chaebol heiress Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) marries Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), a man from a modest background who works within their family-owned business empire. While the show never explicitly confirms any real-life connections, many viewers and media outlets have pointed out striking similarities to the marriage of Samsung heiress Lee Boo-jin and Lim Woo-jae, sparking widespread speculation about the inspiration behind the plotline. The ending, however, is very different for our K-drama couple, who manage to overcome estrangement, family intrigue and even a terminal illness to live happily ever after, until death do them part. See also: K-drama love language: How characters say 'I love you' without ever saying it 'The Red Sleeve' Above Lee Jun-ho and Lee Se-young portray King Jeongjo and Royal Consort Seong Uibin in this romanticised retelling of a documented royal love story. (Photo: MBC) Inspired by: The lives of King Jongjo and royal consort Seong Uibin Adapted from the novel of the same name, The Red Sleeve offers a fictionalised account of the romance between King Jeongjo and his beloved concubine, Royal Consort Seong Uibin. While the drama takes creative liberties, historical records exist attesting to the king's deep affection for her. After her death, Jeongjo famously composed an epitaph professing his enduring love for Seong Uibin. It is also said that her mortuary was set up at Anhyeon Palace—typically reserved for members of the royal bloodline, further underscoring the exceptional place she held in his heart. Don't miss: 4 recent period K-dramas to add to your watchlist 'Juvenile Justice' Above Kim Hye-soo commands the screen as a tough juvenile court judge in a legal drama inspired by real criminal cases involving minors in South Korea. (Photo: IMDb) Inspired by: Real-life criminal cases in South Korea Though a work of fiction, this gripping K-drama, starring the outstanding Kim Hye-soo as juvenile court judge Shim Eun-seok, draws chilling inspiration from high-profile crimes committed by minors in South Korea. From the brutal murder of a young girl to a harrowing brick-throwing incident, several storylines mirror real-life cases that shocked the nation. Juvenile Justice doesn't shy away from the moral and legal grey areas of youth crime, instead tackling themes of justice, accountability and the moral complexities surrounding youth offenders. 'The Hymn of Death' Above Shin Hye-sun and Lee Jong-suk portray doomed lovers Yun Sim-deok and Kim Woo-jin in this short but unforgettable period melodrama. (Photo: IMDb) Inspired by: The true story of Yun Sim-deok and Kim Woo-jin This tragic, two-episode historical melodrama recounts the ill-fated love between Korea's first soprano, Yun Sim-deok (Shin Hae-sun), and playwright Kim Woo-jin (Lee Jong-suk). Set during the Japanese occupation, their romance defied societal expectations and ended in their joint suicide—an event that shocked the nation. Sim-deok's haunting recording of 'Death Song', based on a Western aria, became a posthumous hit and remains one of Korea's most iconic musical pieces. 'Signal' Above This genre-blending thriller, starring Lee Je-hoon and Kim Hye-soo, weaves real-life cold cases—including the Hwaseong murders—into its gripping narrative. (Photo: tvN) Inspired by: Real-life cases in South Korea Though the K-drama weaves supernatural elements into its core narrative, Signal , much like Juvenile Justice , draws inspiration from headline-making criminal cases that shocked the nation. Its central serial killer storyline references the infamous Hwaseong murders, one of South Korea's most notorious cases. The drama also incorporates disturbing details that echo the Ochang manhole murder and the tragic Park Chorong Bitnari kidnapping-murder cases, grounding its time-slip thriller elements in unsettling real-world events. 'Hwarang' Above Set in the Silla dynasty, this star-studded historical youth drama is loosely based on the real Hwarang warrior elite. (Photo: IMDb) Inspired by: The Hwarang, the youth warriors of the Silla dynasty The K-drama—starring then-rising stars Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik and Kim Taehyung (V of BTS), among others—may be highly stylised and fictionalised, with scenes that borrow from modern times like clubbing, K-pop moves and football. However, it's loosely based on the real Hwarang, an elite group of youth warriors during the Silla dynasty. Originally formed to cultivate both martial and scholarly excellence, the historical Hwarang played a significant role in unifying the Three Kingdoms of Korea. While the drama takes many creative liberties, it pays tribute to the spirit of camaraderie, loyalty and idealism that defined these legendary young knights. 'Move to Heaven' Above Tang Jun-sang and Lee Je-hoon star as trauma cleaners uncovering untold stories of the dead, inspired by real-life trauma cleaner Kim Sae-byul. (Photo: IMDb) Inspired by: The accounts of trauma cleaner Kim Sae-byul This poignant K-drama is inspired by the experiences of Kim Sae-byul, South Korea's first certified trauma cleaner, as shared in his essay collection Things Left Behind . For the sake of authenticity, screenwriter Yoon Ji-ryeon ( Boys Over Flowers , Angel Eyes ) shadowed Kim on the job, experiencing trauma cleaning first-hand and using those encounters to inform the show's emotional depth and realism. While the stories in Move to Heaven are fictional, they echo the kinds of human experiences Kim encountered—stories of loss, loneliness and love left behind—making the drama a heartfelt tribute to lives often forgotten. Don't miss: 8 K-dramas with jaw-dropping cinematography
Tatler Asia
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Clean slates: How 6 Korean stars bounced back from scandal
2. Seo Yea-ji At the peak of her icy-glam allure from It's Okay to Not Be Okay , Seo Yea-ji was shaping to be an up-and-coming Korean star. Then came 2021. Allegations surfaced that she had manipulated then-boyfriend Kim Jung-hyun into acting cold toward his female co-star. Add in accusations about her résumé embellishments and abusive behaviour, and suddenly the industry turned cold at the former future screen queen. Seo Yea-ji pulled the oldest trick in the K-celeb playbook: vanish, regroup, reappear with cheekbones sharper than public memory. She returned in Eve (2022), a revenge-driven makjang drama that leaned into her femme-fatale brand. While ratings were mixed, her presence was undeniable. Her redemption? Still a work in progress, but as anyone in K-dramaland knows, even a half-likeable anti-heroine gets a second act. 3. Lee Byung-hun He's one of the biggest Korean stars, but you don't get to be Korea's A-list royalty without some tarnish on the crown. In 2014, Lee Byung-hun was embroiled in a blackmail scandal involving two younger women who threatened to leak a video of him making lewd jokes. Cue moral outrage, press conferences and awkward public apologies to his wife, actress Lee Min-jung. But here's the thing: Lee Byung Hun is an actor's actor. He weathered the scandal with a mixture of contrition and sheer onscreen dominance. A year later, he was back, starring in Inside Men (2015), Master (2016) and Hollywood blockbusters. His saving grace? A long résumé of brilliant performances, a loyal fanbase and a national tendency to forgive men with gravitas and box office receipts. Now he's back on the global stage with Squid Game , whose third season is airing in June. 4. Song Hye-kyo Yes, the K-drama queen hasn't always had a squeaky-clean reputation. Long before The Glory (2022) turned her into the unofficial face of elegant vengeance, Song Hye-kyo faced a quieter scandal: a tax evasion incident in 2014. While she claimed the unpaid taxes were due to an accountant's error, the damage was rapid, especially for an actress known for her pristine image and clean-cut rom-com leads. Rather than launch into defence mode, Song Hye-kyo paid her dues, issued a sincere public apology and took a step back. She came back smarter, picking roles that aged with her: more introspective, less bubblegum. Revenge saga The Glory didn't just reignite her allure, it rebranded her entirely and solidified her as one of the most enduring Korean stars in history. Proof that in Korea, a scandal can be a footnote if your next act is pitch-perfect. Don't miss: The rise of the antihero: 10 K-drama characters who played by their own rules 5. T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) As BigBang's chicest member and the reigning king of aloof cool, T.O.P had it all, until a 2017 marijuana scandal (still illegal in Korea) and a highly publicised overdose during his military service nearly derailed his career. The public's response was swift and cold; this was no minor misstep. After years of low-profile living, art collecting and cryptic Instagram posts, T.O.P slowly returned, rejoining BigBang for their 2022 single 'Still Life'. The moody, mature ballad served as a comeback and a quiet reintroduction. He's since stepped away from the group, refocusing on his passions in art and space (he was even slated for a lunar mission via Elon Musk's SpaceX project, although that has yet to materialise). He also played a scene-stealing rapper in the second season of Squid Game (2024). 6. G-Dragon G-Dragon is one of the biggest Korean stars in music. After a drug scandal in 2011, G-Dragon's reputation saw a dip in public favour, especially given Korea's strict drug laws. But his case was relatively minor, a one-time incident in Japan, reportedly from an offer he 'didn't know' was laced. His comeback? Immaculately styled. GD continued to dominate both music and fashion, re-cementing his icon status with a solo album, global campaigns for Chanel and museum-level fashion credibility. He's proof that, in Korea, scandal can be forgiven, especially if you're the kind of celebrity who's more cultural institution than idol.
Gulf News
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
K-Drama Rewind, My ID is Gangnam Beauty: Icy Cha Eun-woo and fiery Im Soo-hyang challenge hollow beauty ideals
Bullying is brutal, ugly and messy—it tears you apart from inside. It's merciless and leaves a person scrambling to rewrite the entire psyche. And South Korean dramas have never disguised the sheer misery of it, the most traumatising being The Glory. Yet, another one that often slips through the cracks, possibly because it's considered more of a fluffy romance, is My ID is Gangnam Beauty. Starring Cha Eun-woo and Im Soo-hyang, the show revolves around a girl, who was so badly harassed in school, that she undertakes plastic surgery to feel remotely human about herself again. The title refers to the Korean word gangnammin (gangnam beauty), which is a derogatory term in South Korea for people who are attractive, but look like they went through several plastic surgeries. And so, with this knowledge, she tries to navigate a new college and start still crippled by the fear that someone might discover her past—and isolate her all over again. Im Soo-hyang does an absolutely stellar job in this series as a woman, who is never quite at peace. There's always a sense of tension, even when she is falling in love with Eun-woo 's brooding Kyung-seok, she is rather hesitant about herself. People are vicious, particularly a rival, who hits her with verbal punches. Her gradual acceptance of her past and present is perhaps the real focus of the series, though for obvious reasons, the romance and possible love triangle gets the spotlight. Nevertheless, in all the subdued fluffiness of the drama, the show is still a lot grittier than you would expect from a K-Drama—if you look hard enough. The romance is sweet and a slow-burn, without too much dramatic flair. While Soo-hyang carries the emotional weight of the series, Cha Eun-woo brings in a different kind of tension—ice-cold detachment. But it's not a flaw. It's debatable, but Cha Eun-woo's role in My ID is Gangnam Beauty is actually the most entertaining. At first glance, you wouldn't believe it. He is so stony-faced and blank to the point that he spits out his dialogues with sheer snark. But it isn't an acting glitch: He just chose to give the battered Do Kyung-seok such a personality. It's fun to watch their love story unfold, through cryptic words, silences, and rainy confrontation. There's a possibility of a love triangle too, but that's shut down quickly. The show keeps a remarkable boundary between the love story and the main storyline, never once taking away the protagonist's agency, or her internal turmoil. It is possibly one of the more nuanced dramas dealing with appearances—given the weight of expectations that people carry about looking 'flawless'. The subject is handled with sensitivity and a sense of realism that most other dramas with the same theme, dilute with the excessive, sugary romances. True Beauty, which released two years later, also starring Cha Eun-woo, told the story of a bullied girl, who hid her flaws behind makeup—till she finally decided to abandon it all, and embrace her real self. While True Beauty was fun and kitschy—largely thanks to the dramatic love triangle and divided fandom—the obsession with appearances didn't hit as hard as the emotionally fraught friendship between Eun-woo's Su-ho and Hwang In-youp's Seo-jun, both grieving the loss of their third friend. The real pain lay in the guilt they carried, and the storyline about appearances gradually faded into the background, overshadowed by the love triangle. On a lighter note, if Eun-woo had borrowed a little of Kyung-seok's edge for Su-ho, Seo-jun fans might have had a better shot. But who's to say? Either way, My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Time Out
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The V&A is planning a display about London's lost music venues – and it needs your help
The Glory, G-A-Y Late, the Borderline, Dance Tunnel. Over the past decade London has lost a lot of its most beloved, and iconic clubs and music venues. In fact, more than 3,000 bars, pubs and nightclubs have closed in the capital since the pandemic. In 2026 the V&A is planning an exhibition all about London's lost music venues, and it's asking for your help. The 'Lost Music Venues' exhibition will go on display next year. It promises to be a 'groundbreaking' show about the importance and cultural significance of independent and grassroots music spaces, 'from sweaty basement gigs to legendary nightclubs'. The museum is asking Londoners to send in any artefacts or music ephemera that remembers the closed-down independent nightclubs, gig spaces and pub venues of the capital. They are asking for everything – flyers, signage, flooring, equipment, set lists, posters, photographs, film footage, DJ decks, clothing, designs and more – dating from 1988 to 2025. If you think you can help, you can email musicvenues@ before Saturday, May 31. Submitted material could be used in V&A displays, blogs and websites.
