Korean Entertainment News

The main male-female duo for the upcoming new drama "A Gentleman's Dignity" has been confirmed. Top actress Kim Ha-neul will be joining Jang Dong-gun on his small screen comeback.

This is the first time for the two to be working together. The name value of each of these two stars alone has kicked up the anticipation for this project. The staff behind is is just as notable. Producer Sin Woo-cheol will be joining hands with writer Kim Eun-sook, the team that brought you "Lovers in Paris" and "Secret Garden"...More

This is the fourth year already that the star charity couple Sean and Jeong Hye-yeong have donated 100 million won to kids who grow up in poverty. The two said they hope their total of 400 million won will help these children to grow up with hopes and dreams despite their discouraging environments...More

(Above picture: Big Bang)

K-pop seems ready to take the world by storm this year to capitalize on the momentum of the resurgent Korean Wave, with leading bands such as Girls' Generation, Big Bang, and JYJ staging world tours or debuting overseas in the coming months.

Big Bang plan to launch their first world tour next month, with 25 cities in 16 countries packed into their whistle-stop itinerary. The group will return to the stage with their mini album "Alive" on Feb. 29, and will tour Asia, North and South America, and Europe after a concert in Seoul on March 2...More

Actress Han Hye-jin poses at a press event for her new drama "Syndrome" in Seoul on Tuesday...More

K-pop group Girls' Generation will appear on a popular French talk show ahead of its first release of a music album in Europe early next week, the group's entertainment agency said Wednesday.

The group will be on the "Le Grand Journal", a talk show program of the French pay-TV channel "CANAL plus" on Thursday (on Paris time), S.M. Entertainment Co. said...More

Formerly an assistant director to Hong Sang-soo, Lee Kwang-kuk has struck off on his own to make his feature debut with "Romance Joe". After a world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, "Romance Joe" made its international premiere in the Tiger Awards Competition at the recently wrapped International Film Festival Rotterdam. Lee spoke with Jean NOHahead of and at the festival about his work...More

Above picture: Left: Traditional architecture can be found in the unlikeliest corners of Pimatgol. Right: A restaurant is adorned with a giant yangban mask, which originally served as a parody of the aristocracy.

The bustle of downtown Seoul can be overwhelming at times, leaving one feeling trampled. That's why there are alleys of refuge such as Pimatgol. Meaning "Horse-Avoiding Alley", this narrow alleyway preserves a lesser-known side of Korean culture through its 600-year-old history.

Pimatgol was first created during the Joseon Dynasty by the peasant class, known as sangmin. As the lowest class of Korean society, they were subject to many customs and obligations in the presence of aristocrats, known as yangban. Travel along the main street of Jongno was tedious, as the sangmin would often be required to prostrate themselves every time a nobleman passed, usually on horseback...More

I had the pleasure recently of watching the 25th Polar Bear Swimming Contest on Busan's beautiful Haeundae Beach. I rolled out of bed early on a Sunday to catch the festivities. The opening ceremonies and welcoming activities began at 9:00 that morning, but the real action started at 11:00 with the official swim event.

The swimmers were called to the front-and-center of the beach for the warm-up. Naturally the majority of the swimmers were Korean, but a few flag-toting foreigners could be made out in the crowd as well. The swimmers joined a warm-up group led by a quartet of attractive young Korean dancers. They were pushed through stretches, aerobic exercise and some fun games, all to the beat of loud and exciting music and cheers from the attending crowds. Cameras and tourists circled the competitors, all hoping for a glimpse of the fun...More