#69 | "Squid Game 3" continues global dominance, "Better Late Than Single" premieres

IN THIS ISSUE:

• “Squid Game” takes top 3 spots on Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English TV

• Korea’s latest dating show: “Better Late Than Single”

• How much are you paying for lunch? Averages rise in business districts

• Movie theaters turn into fan meetings as industry struggles

PREMIERES

• July 8 “Better Late Than Single” (Netflix)

Latest premieres Singles who have never dated are front and center in reality show “Better Late Than Single,” host commentators include Kang Han-na and Seo In-guk.

What I’m watching Workplace drama “Law and The City” quietly premiered last week. I expected more from the show which marks Lee Jong-suk’s (“Big Mouth”) return, but such is life and (unfulfilled) expectations. An intro to an uninspired plot and equally bland characters (jaded attorney and friends, meh) left little desire to see more.

And I just started the final season of “Squid Game” - massive hype aside, a few thoughts are marinating; will share in the coming weeks.

And waiting for “S Line” which screened at Canneseries and is risqué for a Kdrama (yes, even in 2025). From the trailers it looks like a very adult, darker-and-bloodier-than-expected fantasy thriller.

Wednesday-Thursday July 9-10
“The First Night With The Duke” (KBS)(Viki)

Friday-Saturday July 11-12
“Oh My Ghost Clients” (MBC)(Viki)
“Our Movie” (SBS)(Hulu)

Saturday-Sunday July 12-13
“For Eagle Brothers” (KBS)(Viki)
“Our Unwritten Seoul” (tvN)(Netflix)
“Good Boy” (JTBC)(Amazon Prime Video)
“Law and The City” (tvN)(Viki)

Monday-Tuesday July 14-15
“Head Over Heels” (tvN)(Amazon Prime Video)

(*Streaming platforms shown are for U.S. only; distributors vary by country.)

KDRAMA/FILM/TV/ETC.

Among Top 10 Global Titles Today (7/10/25) 🌎 “Squid Game 3,” “Head Over Heels,” “Good Boy.” FlixPatrol 

Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV (June 30-July 6): “Squid Game 3” (#1) “Squid Game 2" (#2), “Squid Game” (#3), “Our Unwritten Seoul” (#6), “Mercy For None” (#8).

Korea’s watching: 📺 (June 30-July 6) “For Eagle Brothers,” “Good Boy,” “Law and the City.” dramabeans

🇰🇷 box office 🍿: “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Noise,” “F1.” Screendaily

“Solo Leveling” heads to Kdrama Attached with “Lovely Runner” star Byun Woo-seok, the hit webtoon is getting a live action version on Netflix. THR

OTT NEWS ETC.

Canada orders TikTok shutdown, TikTok pulls funding After being ordered to shutter due to national security issues, the company is pulling sponsorship funding of cultural events. THR 

SOUTH KOREA NEWS 🇰🇷

New arrest, more charges Already on trial for insurrection, former president Yoon is back in prison facing other charges, including obstruction of justice. NYT

Now Hiring 🪧 A new minister of culture. TKT

The US’ 25% tariffs on Korea is set to go into effect on August 1. Officials are stepping up talks to negotiate. (Waving around those letters were a bit dramatic.) Reuters

Less startups, more stability Young Koreans are leaning away from risky entrepreneurship and prefer public sector and conglomerate jobs instead. KJD

‘Peak age’ system cuts pre-retirement salaries Approaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 is rife with anxiety and demoralizing pay cuts - and pushes the elderly toward poverty. Some argue to delay retirement to 65, others call out mandatory retirement as a human rights violation; it’s complicated. TheGuardian

11,583₩ work lunch The average cost of the midday meal has risen across 12 major business districts; at the highest end was 15,000 KRW ($11 USD). (Sure, it’s all relative. But there’s also no tipping! Sigh.) KoreaBizwire

Mega-stadium-plex in the works A new retail and entertainment complex, Starfield Cheongna - complete with stadium, 9 floors, 350 retailers, and comparable to 65 football fields - is coming to Incheon. KEDG

Movie theaters-turned-fan-meetings Struggling theaters are trying to bring audiences back - by promoting screenings with appearances by stars. KJD

‘Gwangju Running Man’ pulled from game A mod, or user-generated alteration for a video game, was removed from the game Mount and Blade: Warband after the Korean government flagged it for an offensive historical revision - which referenced the 1980 protests in Gwangju during Korea’s dictatorship era. PCGamer

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