Cover Check out the latest news in the Korean entertainment scene this week (Art: Chesca Gamboa/Tatler Hong Kong)

Want to know the latest news on the Korean entertainment scene? Read our weekly round-up to find out the hottest news

It’s another relatively quiet week in the Korean entertainment scene but there’s still some exciting news. Two K-pop girl groups, T-ara and Red Velvet, have announced their highly-anticipated comebacks. Meanwhile, Netflix’s D.P., an original Korean series starring Jung Hae-in, is confirmed to be released this month. Hospital Playlist’s Shin Hyun-bin is also confirmed to be starring opposite Song Joong-ki in his new drama while Teo Yoo is slated to make his Hollywood debut.

Find all that out and more in this week’s Korean entertainment news. Missed last week’s round-up? You can still read it here.

See also: 30 New Korean Dramas To Binge-Watch In 2021

1. Kim Sejeong and Ahn Hyo-seop confirmed to star in webtoon-based drama

We previously reported that Gugudan’s Kim Sejeong is in talks to star opposite 2020’s Baeksang Arts Award Best New Actor, An Hyo-seop, in a new drama. This week, it was confirmed that the two will be working together in A Business Proposal (working title), according to Kakao Entertainment.

The upcoming series is a romantic comedy about an office employee who goes on a blind date with her company’s CEO on her friend’s behalf, all while trying to hide her identity. It will be based on a web novel by Hae Hwa in 2017 which was turned into a webtoon the following year. The series will adopt elements from both the web novel and webtoon.

Ahn will be playing third-generation chaebol, Kang Tae-mu, while Kim is taking on the role of Shin Ha-ri, an ordinary office worker. Meanwhile, Seol In-ah will be playing Shin Ha-ri’s best friend, who is the only daughter of a chaebol and Kim Min-kyu will be playing Cha Sung-hoon, Kang’s chief secretary. The drama will be helmed by director Park Sun-ho, who previously worked on Wok of Love and Suspicious Partner.

See also: 10 Baeksang Awards-Nominated Dramas And Movies To Watch

2. Shin Hyun-bin is confirmed to star opposite Song Joong-ki

Following reports that Shin Hyun-bin is joining Song Joong-ki’s new drama, it has officially been confirmed that the Hospital Playlist star will be part of Chaebol Family’s Youngest Son. The fantasy drama will follow a chaebol family’s secretary who reclaims himself as the family’s youngest son.

Song is taking on the lead role of Yoon Hyun-woo, who "dies" after being framed for embezzlement for the chaebol group he was loyal to. To enact his revenge, he reclaims himself as the family’s youngest son, Jin Do-joon to take over the company. Meanwhile, Shin will be playing prosecutor Seo Min-young of the anti-corruption department. Her job is to track down the family’s illegal practices of hereditary succession to main their power. She gets involved with Jin along the way.

It’s also confirmed that Lee Sung-min will be playing Jin Yang-chul, the head of Sunyang Group while Tiffany Young is still reviewing the offer for the drama. This drama will see the reunion of writer Kim Tae-hee and Song who previously worked on Sungkyunkwan Scandal together. It will be directed by Jung Dae-yoon who worked on W and She Was Pretty.

See also: ‘Chaebol Family's Youngest Son’: 4 Things To Know About Song Joong-Ki’s New Drama

3. Jung Hae-in's new drama, "D.P." will be released on Netflix this month

D.P., an upcoming Netflix series based on the popular webtoon D.P Dog Day, is coming to the streaming platform this month. It will star Jung Hae-in as Ahn Joon-ho, Koo Kyo-hwan was Han Ho-yul, Kim Sung-kyun as Park Bun-goo, and Son Seok-koo as Im Jo-sup among others.

The series will look at the lives of South Korean men who between the age of 18 and 28, are required to complete two-year mandatory military service. But some choose to be deserters. As a member of the military defector arrest team, Ahn (Jung) is tasked with capturing soldiers who went AWOL. But his conscience is starting to take a toll on him as he deals with more cases, seeing that some soldiers feel that they have no choice but to become deserters.

D.P. is directed by Han Jun-hee, best known for the movie, Coin Locker Girl and penned by both the director and the writer of the original webtoon, Kim Bo-tong.

See also: 9 New Netflix Shows And Movies To Watch In August 2021

4. Red Velvet reveals their comeback schedule

Red Velvet just revealed their comeback schedule! The K-pop girl group will be releasing their sixth mini-album, Queendom on August 16—their first comeback in a year and a half.

As part of the comeback announcements, Red Velvet released archive videos for fan-favourite B-sides for the special promotional event, Queens Mystic General Store. The comeback announcement is also followed by a calendar, mood sampler and teaser photos of members.

5. BTS' "Butter" spends 9th week at #1 on Hot100 chart

BTS’ Butter is still going strong. The unstoppable hit remains at number one on the Hot100 chart for the ninth week and is now the longest-reigning number one song of 2021. The group’s follow-up, Permission to Dance, also debuted at number one and is currently still in the top 10. This means BTS has topped the charts for 10 straight weeks.

Notably, Butter also remains the top-selling song of the week and holds a steady position of number 21 on the Billboard’s Radio Song charts.

See also: BTS Graces Louis Vuitton Men’s FW21 Show In Seoul As House Ambassadors

6. "Lovers Of The Red Sky" reveals new teaser

The highly-anticipated pairing of Kim Yoo-jung and Ahn Hyo-seop is finally happening. Their upcoming drama, Lovers of the Red Sky, has just released a new teaser. The historical fantasy romance drama set in the Joseon era is based on the eponymous novel by Jung Eun-gwol, whose other works have been adapted into famous dramas Sungkyunkwan Scandal and The Moon Embracing the Sun.

Kim is playing the role of Hong Chun-gi, the only female painter during that time. She was born blind but suddenly regains her vision. Opposite her is Ahn, taking on the role of Ha Ram, a blind astrologer. Meanwhile, Gong Myung is playing the role of Prince Yangmyung and Kwak Si-yang is playing Prince Joohyang.

Kim and Ahn were supposed to star together in Clean With Passion For Now but Ahn dropped due to scheduling conflicts. The teaser trailer also hinted at their chemistry with the caption, “A fateful love begins”.

7. T-ara announces plans for comeback

Last July 29, the group celebrated their 12th anniversary together and as part of the festivities, the members hosted a live broadcast to talk with their fans. There, they revealed that they are preparing for their comeback.

Hyomin said, “We’d always talked about the possibility [of making a comeback together] whenever we met up, but realistically, we faced a lot of obstacles. This time, however, we think we’ve found an opportunity, and I think it’s the right time for us to take advantage of that opportunity. So we’re currently working hard on preparing for a comeback!”

Other members chimed in, “We’re making a comeback!” But Jiyeon said that the date hasn’t been finalised yet but hopefully it will be before the end of the year, “before winter comes”.

8. Han So-hee steps down from film with Joo Ji-hoon citing health concerns

Just as Han So-hee is confirmed to join Joo Ji-hoon in Gentlemen last year, she’s already stepping down to focus on her health. According to her agency, 9ato Entertainment, “We are informing you that actress Han So-hee has stepped down from the wavve original film Gentlemen”.

“Amidst her busy schedule, Han So Hee closely discussed with the film production team and had the desire to star in Gentleman, but due to the doctor’s recommendation and judgement that she needs rest for the time being because of health reasons such as accumulated fatigue, she has decided to take the time to reorganise her body and heart after discussing with the production team and agency,” they added.

Park Sung-woong is joining the cast as a former prosecutor and current CEO of a law firm.

See also: Exclusive: Han So-Hee On Portraying Yu Na-Bi In ‘Nevertheless’

9. Sooyoung in talks to join Jang Keun-suk in new drama

Sooyoung may be starring alongside Jang Keun-suk in a new drama. The actress’ agency, Saram Entertainment confirmed that she received a casting offer for Unexpected Country Diary but is “currently reviewing the offer”. The drama is yet again, based on a web novel of the same name about a man from Seoul meeting a policewoman in the countryside.

Sooyoung is offered the role of the policewoman, Ahn Ja-young, while Jang is offered the role of Han Ji-yool, a vet from Seoul. Should he accept the offer, it will mark his first drama in four years since 2018’s Switch.

10. Teo Yoo will be starring opposite Greta Lee in A24 film

Korean actor, Teo Yoo is making his English debut in A24’s Past Lives opposite Greta Lee. The movie will be helmed by Celine Song and set to begin filming later this year. Not many details about the plot have been revealed, only that John Magaro is part of the cast. Greta Lee has a recurring role in The Morning Show and starred in Sisters, while Yoo has worked on several Korean dramas such as Arthdral Chronicles and Vagabond.

The German-born actor went to the US and England to study acting and debuted as an actor in the Korean entertainment scene in 2008. Meanwhile, Lee is a Korean American actress who was born and raised in Los Angeles. A24 is an independent entertainment company known for producing Academy Award-nominated or winning movies such as Lady Bird and Moonlight.

See also: Cannes Film Festival 2021: 14 Asian Films Taking The Spotlight

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