The Swindlers (Korea)Opened Nov. 22Action, crime. Directed by Jang Chang-won Ambitious, ruthless prosecutor Park Hee-soo (Yoo Ji-tae) decides to venture outside the law and employ the help of a gang of scammers to entrap another renowned scam artist. Skilled scammer Hwang Ji-sung (Hyun Bin) is central to the plan, hatching a grand scheme to both help Park and catch his father’s killer. Prosecutor Park goes on to form precarious ties with politicians and does not hesitate to delve into the illega

Schedules for the annual award ceremonies hosted by major television networks remain murky this year in the aftermath of major broadcasting union strikes, which lasted from September until last week.　Only SBS, which was not affected by the strikes, has confirmed that it will host the SBS Entertainment Awards on Dec. 30 and the SBS Drama Awards on Dec. 31. The SBS Gayo Daejeon, a major end-of-the-year music program, will take place on Dec. 25.　Planning for the events is in full swing at SBS, acco

Comedy police drama “Two Cops,” starring Jo Jung-seok and Hyeri, is the first series broadcaster MBC will be airing after the end of a two-month strike by MBC union members that crippled the broadcaster’s programming. 　The show, airing Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m., mixes elements of fantasy with romantic comedy and police thriller, producer Oh Hyun-jong said at a press conference at MBC headquarters in Mapo-gu, Thursday. “It will deliver a satisfying blow through a multi-genre drama,” he said

Comedian Kim Saeng-min, who has risen to popularity for his humorous penny-pinching habits, will attempt to scrape by on a shoestring-budget travel plan in “Salt Tour,” which begins airing on tvN Saturday. “It is actually my first reality show,” said Kim at a press conference for the show in Mapo-gu, Seoul on Thursday. 　The veteran television presenter who debuted in 1992 recently became popular for his advocacy of the frugal life. His KBS pilot program “Receipt,” where he analyzed and criticize

In reality show “Livin’ the Double Life,” set to air on cable channel tvN on Thursday, K-pop songstress CL opens up on her struggles to break through the American pop scene, post-2NE1 gloom and more. “The reason I went to the US and the reason I agreed to shoot this show is because I wanted to give hope to young aspiring singers,” CL said at a press conference for the show in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on Wednesday. “I wanted to show them that I could do it.　“It could also help other singers who wan

Next up on cable channel JTBC is a bleak drama series that centers on three generations of a wealthy and powerful family.“Untouchable,” set to begin airing Friday, stars Jin Goo as Jang Joon-seo, a police detective seeking revenge on his wife’s murderer.After witnessing his father engaging in ruthless murder, Joon-seo comes to despise the immoral upper class and severs ties with his family. “He loses his wife and becomes lost in life. I’m working hard to express agony and conflict,” said Jin at

A bomb threat was made to the venue where a press conference for upcoming JTBC drama series “Untouchable” was set to take place Tuesday at 2 p.m.According to police, a call came in to the Imperial Palace Hotel, the press conference’s venue, at 12:53 p.m. stating “a bomb has been installed” and “people should be evacuated.” The caller then quickly hung up, police said. Police searched Selena Hall, where the press conference was set to take place, and other parts of the hotel. No suspected explosi

The popular financial self-help program “Kim Saeng-min’s Receipt” has been scheduled for regular programming twice a week beginning Sunday, KBS announced Tuesday. The show, originally a podcast hosted by comedian Kim Saeng-min, became popular after running on a trial basis of 15-minute episodes last month on KBS. Episodes of “Kim Saeng-min’s Receipt” will air every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Special episodes will air Wednesdays at 11 p.m. Song Eun-yi (left), Kim Sook and Kim Saeng-min star in KBS’ fin

Korean director Gina Kim’s “Bloodless” won the award for best virtual reality film at the 58th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which ran through Nov. 12. The 12-minute work was awarded best film by a separate international jury at the Greek film festival’s 58th edition. The award comes with a prize of 3,000 euros. 　Thessaloniki’s newly created section dedicated to virtual reality films had 10 contenders this year. A special mention went to “Notes On Blindess,” helmed by British directo

Yewon School, Korea’s first middle school dedicated to arts founded in 1967, is to hold an anniversary concert at Lotte Concert Hall on Nov. 26. 　The concert will feature prominent alumni musicians active in the global classical music scene. 　A duet by flutist Choi Na-kyung and harpist Na Hyun-sun will kick off the concert, followed by violinist Baek Ju-Young, cellist Cho Young-chang and pianist Kim Kyu-yeon, who will perform Beethoven’s Triple Concert in C Major, Op. 56. 　 Yewon School’s upcomi

Justice League(US)Opened Nov. 15Action, science fiction. Directed by Zack Snyder. Superman (Henry Cavill), the defender of mankind, has died. The villainous alien military officer Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) has seized this opportunity to lead an army of Parademons into Gotham City, in search of the three ancient Mother Boxes scattered across Earth. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and his newfound ally Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) gather a team of heroes and outcasts including Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Ar

In Korea, the country with the longest working hours among OECD nations, traveling abroad and escaping the everyday holds a special meaning. And this was the idea behind the JTBC drama series “The Package,” which began airing last month. K-pop singer-turned-actor Jung Yong-hwa plays the lead San Ma-roo, a tired Korean youth who feels as if he’s lagging behind in life: San went to university, completed his military service and got a steady job several years later than his peers. Abandoned by his

Lee Soo-man, founder and head producer of K-pop behemoth S.M. Entertainment, and CJ E&M Pictures CEO Jeong Tae-sung were selected among the top 500 most influential business leaders in the international entertainment industry by Variety on Wednesday. 　The two names are included in the annual “Variety 500” index, which lists the most influential business leaders in the global entertainment scene, reflecting their accomplishments over the past 12 months. 　Lee and Jeong are included in the “Oversea

Public broadcaster MBC resumed airing variety programs Wednesday as a two-month strike came to an end.Unionized workers at the major terrestrial network decided to end the strike, which began in September, following the removal of MBC’s President Kim Jang-kyom on Tuesday.　The Foundation for Broadcast Culture, a majority stakeholder in MBC, passed a motion to dismiss Kim, citing overt political bias in programming.　Programming for most shows will return to normal this week at MBC, which aired rer

Hyun Bin has been working nonstop in recent years. 　After rising to popularity through the 2005 romantic comedy series “My Lovely Sam-soon,” the actor cemented a heartthrob status with the 2010 drama “Secret Garden,” where he played the irritable but charming heir to a vast fortune with a penchant for flamboyant fashion. 　He completed his military service, and returned to screens with drama series “Hyde, Jekyll, Me” and the period film “The Fatal Encounter.” 　 Hyun Bin poses in a photo shoot pri