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Visit the filming location of ‘Crash Landing on You’ and eat Korean chicken 2024.04.21 [ASIA ECONOMY] A Korean tour package that includes a tour of the filming location of the drama 'Crash Landing on You' (Pocheon Hantan River Sky Bridge) and a taste of Korean chicken is being launched. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 21st that they will support the development and promotion of seven types of tourism products for visiting Korea . These include ‘Meeting Korean Wave Content with Fascinating History and Culture’, ‘K- Dance: Tonight’s Main Character Is Me’, ‘Marry My Husband Drama Tour’, and ‘A Day in Pyeongchang with Samyang’. It is a package tour planned jointly by a domestic travel agency and a K- content company. We guide you to K- pop and K-drama attractions and provide special experience opportunities. This is a result that reflects the high interest in K- content. According to a survey of foreign tourists in the fourth quarter of last year, the biggest reason foreigners became interested in visiting Korea was 'after encountering Korean Wave content ( 31.9%).' However, many foreign visitors have had difficulty visiting K- content filming locations. Travel agencies were also unable to use Korean Wave stars or works due to content intellectual property ( IP ) issues. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has provided opportunities for cooperation, such as joint product development, through a contest. We encouraged the conclusion of business agreements between companies and supported initial costs for smooth IP use negotiations. It will also support a portion of future IP costs, product planning costs, and promotional costs. In order to quickly establish itself, various marketing projects are being carried out in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Park Jong-taek, Director of Tourism Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, “We will pursue this as a pilot project by reflecting the voices of the tourism industry,” and added, “We expect it to be a catalyst for developing new winter products.”

(Posted on: Wednesday, April 2024) Deng Wei : Maison Maigiela Fragrance - Spokesperson

'Queen of Tears' spikes viewership with character-focus, short clips, comic flair By KTimes The hit drama "Queen of Tears" achieved a peak viewership rating of 21.6 percent on April 21, securing its position as tvN's second-highest-rated drama, trailing narrowly behind "Crash Landing on You" at 21.7 percent in 2020. With just two episodes remaining, it is on the brink of potentially eclipsing this record and could rival JTBC's "SKY Castle," which holds a record viewership of 23.7 percent in 2019. The comic melodrama has enthralled audiences with its unique character development as the male lead, Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun), is dubbed the "heartbreak prince." Unlike typical fairy-tale princes who simply add a touch of fantasy, Hyun-woo brings depth to his role. A brilliant lawyer, he engages himself in domestic life at his in-laws' home, frequently seen cooking in the kitchen during the family's ancestral rites. Although he initially confesses that he desires a divorce, Hyun-woo is ready to fight for his wife, Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won), breaking car windows with his bare fists to save her, if necessary. "Baek Hyun-woo is a subordinate character who can still be relied upon, and though he is in a weaker position, he remains steadfast," says Park Jin-kyu, a novelist and drama critic. "This nuanced variation of the typical wealthy man in romance dramas has maximized his appeal, making him a character that is both pitiable and thrilling to viewers." Short-form content strategy Despite its incredible success, "Queen of Tears" has faced criticism for its lapses in story continuity and verisimilitude. The tale, filled with coincidences, tells of Hyun-woo, who unknowingly saves Hae-in from drowning during their childhoods. The two later reunite in high school and eventually marry after recognizing each other as adults. Critics argue that this diminishes the story's plausibility. However, the drama's popularity may be linked to the current trend of short-form content. In an era where platforms like TikTok force audiences to consume quick, impactful videos, viewers have become more invested in characters rather than narratives. This shift toward character-driven, episodic storytelling aligns with the preferences of younger audiences who are accustomed to engaging in content that pops like kernels — often referred to as popcorn brain. "The way 'Queen of Tears' highlights its characters mirrors the punchy, hit-and-run strategy of short-form content, says Yun Seok-jin, a professor of Korean literature at Chungnam National University. "In the age of short-form, consumers show more interest in character-focused episodes than in a centralized, message-driven narrative structure, and this trend is evidently contributing to the drama's success." This trend is evident in the viewer demographics of "Queen of Tears." Interestingly, the drama scores a higher viewership rating among teenage boys (5.3 percent as of the April 14 broadcast) than in their twenties (4.3 percent) and thirties (4.9 percent). Given that older demographics typically dominate weekend drama ratings and teens are more engaged with YouTube, these figures are unconventional. Pop culture critic Kim Heon-sik interprets this as a targeted success, "Character-centric drama direction that can generate memes and clips has hit the preferences of teenage viewers precisely." As new generations emerge, the style of drama productions is evolving. "When monitoring real-time viewership ratings, it's noticeable that the ratings dip significantly when the focus shifts away from the main characters," a veteran drama writer said on condition of anonymity. "The attention span of viewers is becoming so short that in youth-centric trendy dramas, the narrative is heavily concentrated on the protagonists, and the editing is now styled more like YouTube content." Unique supporting characters and comic elements The supporting characters are as uniquely crafted as the leads. Yeong-song (played by Kim Young-min), who lives in Yongdu-ri picking berries and caring for his cognitively declining mother, invites Hong Hae-in's aunt Beom-ja (played by Kim Jeong-nan) to his home and engages in flirting over tea and madeleine treats. The image of a bachelor from the countryside serving madeleines as snacks adds a quirky touch. The drama's cliched storyline about "a husband's love for his terminally ill wife" diverges into unexpected territories through the distinctive characters. The creation of such vibrant characters is a specialty of Park Ji-eun, the writer behind "Queen of Tears." Known for her imaginative characters like the scholarly alien (Do Min-joon) in "My Love from the Star" and the quirky mermaid (Shim Cheong) in "The Legend of the Blue Sea," Park brings her experience as a variety show writer to fashion "Queen of Tears" like a show. She orchestrates scenes reminiscent of the real-life wedding venue of Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, who starred as a couple in her previous drama "Crash Landing on You" (2019-2020), and keeps the audience engaged with witty dialogue such as "Loyalty is like a coffee coupon. You don't know someone is a regular until all ten stamps are filled." The peak of KBS's comedy show, "Gag Concert," was helmed by producer Seo Soo-min, who contributed to the planning of "Queen of Tears." Park and Seo previously collaborated on the KBS drama "Producer" (2015). Their reunion in "Queen of Tears" demonstrates the synergy of character-driven storytelling, once again proving successful in engaging viewers. credit : Korea Times https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/04/398_373311.html

@tvn_drama Celebrating the 20% tvN viewer ratings milestone after 4 years! Here's an actor verification shot from Kim Soohyun! He caption it: Viewer ratings surpassing 20%! Wow! Thank you! Until the end, until the very end, Baek Hyunwoo. Fighting!! Kim Soohyun's IG

April Movie Star Brand Reputation Rankings Announced Apr 23, 2024 by E. Cha The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for film actors! The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of 50 popular movie stars, using big data collected from March 16 to April 16. Check out the top 30 for this month below! Son Suk Ku Ma Dong Seok Choi Min Sik Park Ji Hwan Lee Byung Hun Im Siwan Kim Hye Soo Song Joong Ki Lee Jung Jae Hyun Bin Jo Jung Suk Gong Hyo Jin Honey Lee Hwang Jung Min Han Hyo Joo Jung Ho Yeon Lee Dong Hwi Gong Yoo Kim Tae Ri Choi Sung Eun Kang Dong Won Go Yoon Jung Go Min Si Yoo Hae Jin Lee Yi Kyung Jo In Sung Jung Woo Sung Ra Mi Ran Park Bo Young Kim Da Mi SOOMPI >>> April-movie-star-brand-reputation-rankings-announced

*** Whenever I re-watch the drama "The Heirs", it keeps me coming back watching this scene. Actually, it's one of the K-drama tropes, which is the "wrist grab" - hahaha -

*** Whenever I re-watch the drama "The Heirs", it keeps me coming back watching this scene. Actually, it's one of the K-drama tropes, which is the "wrist grab" - hahaha -

*** According to the latest data from the Netflix TOP 10 website as of April 24 KST, 'Queen of Tears' has secured its position in the global TOP 10 TV series, ranking third in the (non-English) category. This marks a notable increase from the previous week's 4.4 million views. This achievement marks the drama's seventh consecutive week in the top 10, maintaining its strong presence on the platform. Impressively, it clinched the top spot in 12 countries, including Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, and others, while also making it to the top 10 in 40 countries.

I understand, but... my mother's words are so painful. Doctors' ruined lives CPR romantic comedy 💓 < Doctor Slump > Now on TVING

I understand, but... my mother's words are so painful. Doctors' ruined lives CPR romantic comedy 💓 < Doctor Slump > Now on TVING

(Posted on: Wednesday, April 2024) Deng Wei : Maison Maigiela Fragrance - Spokesperson He looks so Ethereal, Dreamy and Neat in "White". I just want to "Hug" him - like a Big Stuffed Teddy Bear. With this Simple Hairstyle, he looks so "Boyish" and "Fresh". The Video is very well done. What do you all think? https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:5026447463743572 https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:5026633942237235 https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:5026648496472095 (Credits to cdrama tweets for this clip below) (Credits to Remi for this clip below)

'Queen of Tears' Holds Second Wrap-Up Party The tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Queen of Tears' is set to hold its second wrap-up party, as reported by Joy News 24 on the 24th. According to the report, the staff and available actors of 'Queen of Tears' will gather for a dinner party on the 27th.'Queen of Tears' completed filming at the end of February this year and initially had a dinner party with the actors and staff to unwind. However, following the drama's successful broadcast and discussions about holding a finale party to celebrate, the date was scheduled for the 27th to coincide with the airing of the 15th episode. Expected attendees include actors such as Kim Soohyun, Kim Ji-won, and Park Sung-hoon, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Plans to discuss a reward vacation after the drama's conclusion are also underway. Attention is now drawn to whether 'Queen of Tears' will surpass the highest viewership rating of 21.7% achieved by 'Crash Landing on You', the highest-rated tvN drama in history. Source: Joy News 24

@Magician thanks for sharing this. True, those celebrities who are active duty soldiers will be “reserve duty” after discharge. Here, they must serve four years in the Mobilization Reserve and then another four years as a Homeland Reservist.There is such a thing they call “training for military reservists” (this is for all Korean male become military reserve personnel for 5-7 years after their discharge from their mandatory military service) SKorean military reserve personnel have to undergo training every year whether or not there is tension in the Korean Peninsula.After serving in active duty, Korean men are considered to be serving in an inactive duty. For eight years after the end of service, Korean men are supposed to report for a mandatory training up to 100 hours a year. In case of a war, Korean men in the 8-year period are drafted to fight. Also in case of a war, all Korean men between ages 18 and 45 are drafted for labor mobilization.

"Single's Inferno 3: Couples Debate" sounds like an intriguing concept! In this edition, perhaps the contestants could be paired up into couples and face challenges and debates together. These challenges could test their compatibility, communication skills, and ability to work as a team. Each episode could feature different topics for debate, ranging from everyday issues to more profound philosophical questions. The couples could be given scenarios to discuss and debate, allowing viewers to see how they handle disagreements and differing perspectives. The show could also incorporate elements of relationship-building, such as couples' counseling sessions or bonding activities, to explore the dynamics between the pairs and see if they can strengthen their connections throughout the competition. Ultimately, "Single's Inferno 3: Couples Debate" could provide not only entertainment but also valuable insights into the complexities of romantic relationships and the importance of effective communication and mutual respect.

Chun Woo Hee Has A Tense Confrontation With Kim Geum Soon, Ryu Abel, And Roy Choi In "The Atypical Family” Apr 23, 2024 by E Ezeji https://www.soompi.com/article/1656707wpp/chun-woo-hee-has-a-tense-confrontation-with-kim-geum-soon-ryu-abel-and-roy-choi-in-the-atypical-family

*** RAIN posted this clip yesterday with the caption, "#2024Concert#Interpark#Ticketing❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Link at top of profile" - https://www.instagram.com/p/C6GeuH1xFRT/?hl=en

Watch: "The Midnight Studio" Star Joo Won Plays Fun Games And Answers Fan Questions In Live Interview With Viki Apr 24, 2024 by S Kim "The Midnight Studio” star Joo Won has joined global OTT platform Rakuten Viki for an exclusive live event! Previously on April 19, Joo Won, who takes on the role of photographer Seo Ki Joo in “The Midnight Studio” who runs a professional photo studio that only exists for the deceased, joined an exciting live broadcast hosted by Rakuten Viki. More https://www.soompi.com/article/1656406wpp/watch-the-midnight-studio-star-joo-won-plays-fun-games-and-answers-fan-questions-in-live-interview-with-viki

I went to reserve force training today and saw Kim Soo Hyun. I also watched Queen of Tears yesterday, but it was so cool to suddenly see him in real life. His face is small and looks exactly like on TV. He is really handsome. According to relevant sources, Kim Soohyun participated in a reserve army training and received training along with more than 500 reservists

*** From the behind-the-scenes clip released by tvN, the "Player" sequel appears to boast bigger and flashier filled with fights, betrayals, and cash — lots of it. The sequel also showcases some foreign locales with the team donning their best vacation wear and soaking in the sun in the middle of their usual swindling routine. Despite the action-packed sequences, the show seems to have retained its sense of fun, highlighting plenty of silly moments between the characters from impromptu dances to over-the-top aegyo. Of course, no con is complete without its villains. What a cast! It's just that - sucks that Krystal didn't return. Again, it looks like fun indeed! The first sentence that went off in my head when I knew about the sequel was: Song Seung-hoon is back!!!. I have missed him! I adore him! It is a MUST-watch for me since I've watched the part 1. I liked the first season. tvN’s Player 2: Master of Swindlers will air sometime in June of this year.

Kim Nam Gil, Honey Lee, And Kim Sung Kyun Confirmed To Reprise Roles In "The Fiery Priest" Season 2 + BIBI Joins Cast Apr 24, 2024 by S Nam The unforgettable trio from “The Fiery Priest” will be back for a new season! “The Fiery Priest,” which first aired in 2019, is about a Catholic priest with anger management issues and a cowardly detective who work together to solve a murder case. Season 1 originally starred Kim Nam Gil, Honey Lee, and Kim Sung Kyun, and the drama recorded a peak viewership rating of 22.0 percent. On April 24, it was confirmed that Kim Nam Gil, Honey Lee, and Kim Sung Kyun will be reprising their roles in “The Fiery Priest” Season 2 and that BIBI will be joining the cast lineup. In Season 2, Kim Nam Gil will be returning as the hot-blooded Catholic priest Kim Hae Il. Although he has the appearance of a graceful priest, Kim Hae Il has a dirty temper, raising anticipation for Kim Nam Gil’s comedic portrayal once more. Honey Lee, who captivated viewers in Season 1, will also reprise her role as prosecutor Park Kyung Sun, who has a silver tongue, guts, and great combat skills. Kim Sung Kyun will once more transform into Goo Dae Young, a detective of the violent crimes unit at Gudam Police Station, raising anticipation for his synergy with Kim Nam Gil. Singer and actress BIBI is additionally confirmed to play Goo Ja Young, a passionate detective of the Narcotics Unit, drawing excitement for her acting transformation. “The Fiery Priest” Season 2 will be a collaboration between director Park Bo Ram and screenwriter Park Jae Bum from Season 1. The production team shared, “‘The Fiery Priest 2,’ which is scheduled to premiere in the second half of 2024, will return with greatly upgraded laughter, action, and crime narratives amidst an even wilder background.” https://www.soompi.com/article/1656826wpp/kim-nam-gil-honey-lee-and-kim-sung-kyun-confirmed-to-reprise-roles-in-the-fiery-priest-season-2-bibi-joins-cast

Kim Nam Gil, Honey Lee, And Kim Sung Kyun Confirmed To Reprise Roles In "The Fiery Priest" Season 2 + BIBI Joins Cast Apr 24, 2024 by S Nam he unforgettable trio from “The Fiery Priest” will be back for a new season! “The Fiery Priest,” which first aired in 2019, is about a Catholic priest with anger management issues and a cowardly detective who work together to solve a murder case. Season 1 originally starred Kim Nam Gil, Honey Lee, and Kim Sung Kyun, and the drama recorded a peak viewership rating of 22.0 percent. On April 24, it was confirmed that Kim Nam Gil, Honey Lee, and Kim Sung Kyun will be reprising their roles in “The Fiery Priest” Season 2 and that BIBI will be joining the cast lineup. In Season 2, Kim Nam Gil will be returning as the hot-blooded Catholic priest Kim Hae Il. Although he has the appearance of a graceful priest, Kim Hae Il has a dirty temper, raising anticipation for Kim Nam Gil’s comedic portrayal once more. Honey Lee, who captivated viewers in Season 1, will also reprise her role as prosecutor Park Kyung Sun, who has a silver tongue, guts, and great combat skills. Kim Sung Kyun will once more transform into Goo Dae Young, a detective of the violent crimes unit at Gudam Police Station, raising anticipation for his synergy with Kim Nam Gil. Singer and actress BIBI is additionally confirmed to play Goo Ja Young, a passionate detective of the Narcotics Unit, drawing excitement for her acting transformation. “The Fiery Priest” Season 2 will be a collaboration between director Park Bo Ram and screenwriter Park Jae Bum from Season 1. The production team shared, “‘The Fiery Priest 2,’ which is scheduled to premiere in the second half of 2024, will return with greatly upgraded laughter, action, and crime narratives amidst an even wilder background.” https://www.soompi.com/article/1656826wpp/kim-nam-gil-honey-lee-and-kim-sung-kyun-confirmed-to-reprise-roles-in-the-fiery-priest-season-2-bibi-joins-cast

Taipei 101 Mall Official IG post. 🥟🥢 “I believe all fans have seen the news about the goddess Son Ye- jin visiting Taipei 101 right? Son Fairy also posted a video of happily tasting dinner on IG. How could she be so satisfied with her meal? That's right! It's our "85 TianDi" located on the 85th floor with a Michelin-starred chef. […]”

Jung Ryeo Won And Wi Ha Joon Reunite After 10 Years As Coworkers In "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon" Apr 24, 2024 by S Kim tvN’s upcoming romance drama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” has released heart-fluttering stills of Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon! Helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok of the hit drama “Something in the Rain,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is set against the backdrop of Daechi, a neighborhood renowned as the epicenter of private education in Korea. The plot centers around an instructor who tirelessly assists a student named Lee Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon) in gaining admission to a prestigious university. In a twist of fate, Lee Joon Ho later returns to the academy as a rookie instructor after resigning from a large company because he remains fixated on his first love, his academy teacher Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won), even after becoming an adult. The newly released stills capture the subtle change in the relationship between Seo Hye Jin and Lee Joon Ho, who used to be Seo Hye Jin’s student. The two, who are the protagonists of the “Miracle of Daechi” incident 10 years ago, seem to maintain their trust and friendship even after a long period of time. However, their relationship takes an unexpected turn when Lee Joon Ho joins Daechi Chase, an academy that Seo Hye Jin works at, as a new instructor More https://www.soompi.com/article/1656831wpp/jung-ryeo-won-and-wi-ha-joon-reunite-after-10-years-as-coworkers-in-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon

Visit the filming location of ‘Crash Landing on You’ and eat Korean chicken 2024.04.21 [ASIA ECONOMY] A Korean tour package that includes a tour of the filming location of the drama 'Crash Landing on You' (Pocheon Hantan River Sky Bridge) and a taste of Korean chicken is being launched. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 21st that they will support the development and promotion of seven types of tourism products for visiting Korea . These include ‘Meeting Korean Wave Content with Fascinating History and Culture’, ‘K- Dance: Tonight’s Main Character Is Me’, ‘Marry My Husband Drama Tour’, and ‘A Day in Pyeongchang with Samyang’. It is a package tour planned jointly by a domestic travel agency and a K- content company. We guide you to K- pop and K-drama attractions and provide special experience opportunities. This is a result that reflects the high interest in K- content. According to a survey of foreign tourists in the fourth quarter of last year, the biggest reason foreigners became interested in visiting Korea was 'after encountering Korean Wave content ( 31.9%).' However, many foreign visitors have had difficulty visiting K- content filming locations. Travel agencies were also unable to use Korean Wave stars or works due to content intellectual property ( IP ) issues. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has provided opportunities for cooperation, such as joint product development, through a contest. We encouraged the conclusion of business agreements between companies and supported initial costs for smooth IP use negotiations. It will also support a portion of future IP costs, product planning costs, and promotional costs. In order to quickly establish itself, various marketing projects are being carried out in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Park Jong-taek, Director of Tourism Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, “We will pursue this as a pilot project by reflecting the voices of the tourism industry,” and added, “We expect it to be a catalyst for developing new winter products.”

@Magician thanks for sharing the photos. On the popular Chinese movie website Douban, "Queen of Tears" has 47,640 ratings for an average score of 7.6 out of 10. This fact might not be especially notable, except that the drama has no official distribution in China. The worldwide distribution rights for it lies with Netflix, which does not operate in the Chinese market. Nevertheless, Chinese K-drama fans find a way, and so the drama is enjoying some popularity there. Domestically, "Reborn Rich" and "Queen of Tears" have comparable popularity. It's just that piracy used to run rampant due to the lack of legal distribution options. credit : William Schwartz