ktown konnection #16 | "Chief Detective 1958" premieres

PREMIERES

• April 19 “Chief Detective 1958” (MBC) (Disney+)

I’m looking forward to Lee Je-hoon’s return since “Taxi Driver 2,” and am curious about the series - firstly, the time period - 1950s postwar South Korea isn’t a frequent kdrama backdrop; second - it’s a prequel spinoff from a 1970s hit.

(And if you need more Lee Je-hoon, check out the treat at the bottom of this issue.)

Freshly bingeable: “Parasyte: The Grey” is a quick 6 eps (I got sucked in, and I’m not one for horror); melo “Wonderful World” also just wrapped. (Sidenote: why are some actors at their best when they’re playing characters all dark and broody? Just me?)

What I’m Watching “Blood Free” - slow start, but am expecting/anticipating more character development in this week’s eps from the writer of “Stranger” (aka “Forest of Secrets”). Also: “Queen Of Tears,” “Nothing Uncovered.”

Wednesday-Thursday Apr 17-18
“Blood Free” (Disney+)

Friday-Saturday Apr 19-20
“Escape of the 7: Resurrection” (SBS) (Viki)
“Chief Detective 1958” (MBC) (Disney+)

Saturday-Sunday Apr 20-21
“Queen of Tears” (tvN) (Netflix)
“Beauty and Mr. Romantic” (KBS2) (Viki)
“Hide” (Coupang Play, JTBC) (Viki)
“Missing Crown Prince” (MBN) (Viki)

Monday-Tuesday Apr 22-23
“Lovely Runner” (tvN) (Viki)
“The Midnight Studio” (ENA) (Viki)
“Nothing Uncovered" (KBS2) (Viki)

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

KDRAMA/FILM/TV

This week’s Top Global Titles 🌎  “Parasyte: The Grey,” “Queen Of Tears,” “Marry My Husband.” FlixPatrol

“Oldboy” TV series in the works Park Chan-wook’s cult classic feature is getting a small screen version. THR

CJ shares upcoming releases “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” starring Wi Ha-jun (“Squid Game”) and Jung Ryeo-won (“May It Please The Court”) premieres May 11, and other new content from CJ includes Shin Ha-kyun, Song Seung-heon, and Oh Yeon-seo. Worldscreen

And more kdramas to get excited about this season, including familiar faces Jang Ki-yong (“Search: WWW”), Chun Woo-hee (“Be Melodramatic”), Kim Hee-sun, Im Soo-jung. (My eyes are on: the next title from the writer of “Marriage, Not Dating.”) dramabeans

Will share more as release dates get announced.

Korea’s watching “Queen Of Tears” 📺 It’s bulldozing the weekend competition. dramabeans

Netflix Korea reported an annual profit of $7.8 M USD last year - though a drop from the year prior, it’s the only streamer to turn a profit as Korea’s domestic OTT players TVING and Wavve are operating in the red. We’ll see what happens: the two companies announced a merger last year. KJD

SOUTH KOREA NEWS 🇰🇷

Korean won weakens, rebounds ₩ The South Korean won dropped to a low of 1400 KRW to the US dollar on Tuesday. Bloomberg

Current (political) mood ⬇︎ Also slumping: post-election approval ratings for President Yoon. The Korea Herald

North Korea dismantles street lamps connecting the two Koreas. Presumptions abound as to why, but dimming relations are apparent. The Korea Times

Samsung’s 6-day work week 🗓 SMH. KED Global

Disputing Dokdo Islands 🏝 Longstanding territorial disputes persist with Japan’s latest 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook, released this week. TCD