Korean entertainment, K-pop, Korean cinema, Korean drama, BTS, BLACKPINK

The global pop market has been closely watching Korea since last year, as both BTS, the most successful K-pop boy group in history, and BLACKPINK are set to return. BTS will complete their military service in June, with all members returning to civilian life. While Jin, the eldest member, is already actively performing solo, expectations for the 'complete seven-member group' continue to rise. However, public reaction to SUGA's return following his drunk driving controversy last year remains a potential variable.

BLACKPINK will also reunite as four, planning to release a new album and embark on a world tour this year. The girl group market, which saw the rise of aespa, IVE, NewJeans, and (G)I-DLE during BLACKPINK's hiatus, is expected to experience another shake-up. The atmosphere is ripe for BLACKPINK's return, given their members' remarkable individual achievements. ROSÉ's collaboration with pop star Bruno Mars, 'APT.', set new records for K-pop female soloists on Billboard charts, creating a syndrome-like phenomenon, while JENNIE and LISA's solo releases also garnered significant attention.

The drama market, previously criticized for lacking compelling content, shows signs of revival this year. As the saying goes, "Drama is the art of the writer," and Korea's most prominent screenwriters are simultaneously releasing new works.

Kim Eun-sook leads the pack. After addressing school violence issues in Korean society with 'The Glory' (2022), Kim returns to her specialty - romantic comedy. 'Da Irueojiljini', starring Kim Woo-bin and Suzy, tells the story of a genie (Kim Woo-bin) awakening after 1,000 years and meeting an emotionally reserved human, Ga-young (Suzy). Additionally, Lee Byung-hun, who directed the 14-million-viewer hit 'Extreme Job', takes the helm, creating synergy with Kim.

The global pop market has been closely watching Korea since last year, as both BTS, the most successful K-pop boy group in history, and BLACKPINK are set to return. BTS will complete their military service in June, with all members returning to civilian life. While Jin, the eldest member, is already actively performing solo, expectations for the 'complete seven-member group' continue to rise. However, public reaction to SUGA's return following his drunk driving controversy last year remains a potential variable.

BLACKPINK will also reunite as four, planning to release a new album and embark on a world tour this year. The girl group market, which saw the rise of aespa, IVE, NewJeans, and (G)I-DLE during BLACKPINK's hiatus, is expected to experience another shake-up. The atmosphere is ripe for BLACKPINK's return, given their members' remarkable individual achievements. ROSÉ's collaboration with pop star Bruno Mars, 'APT.', set new records for K-pop female soloists on Billboard charts, creating a syndrome-like phenomenon, while JENNIE and LISA's solo releases also garnered significant attention.

The drama market, previously criticized for lacking compelling content, shows signs of revival this year. As the saying goes, "Drama is the art of the writer," and Korea's most prominent screenwriters are simultaneously releasing new works.

Kim Eun-sook leads the pack. After addressing school violence issues in Korean society with 'The Glory' (2022), Kim returns to her specialty - romantic comedy. 'Da Irueojiljini', starring Kim Woo-bin and Suzy, tells the story of a genie (Kim Woo-bin) awakening after 1,000 years and meeting an emotionally reserved human, Ga-young (Suzy). Additionally, Lee Byung-hun, who directed the 14-million-viewer hit 'Extreme Job', takes the helm, creating synergy with Kim.

Writer Im Sang-chun, who achieved a peak rating of 23.8% with 'When the Camellia Blooms' (2019), presents 'Poksyak Sogassuda' starring Park Bo-gum and IU. As suggested by its title, which means "thank you for your hard work" in Jeju dialect, the drama is set on Jeju Island. Director Kim Won-seok, known for 'My Mister' and 'Misaeng', joins as a strong collaborator.

Additionally, Kim Hae-ja reunites with the production team of 'Radiant', which earned her a Baeksang Arts Award. This offers an opportunity to witness the performance of Kim Hae-ja, now in her 80s. June will see the release of Netflix's 'Squid Game' Season 3, which has already completed filming and continues to dominate global markets. In the latter half of the year, '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife', starring 2024's breakout star Byun Woo-seok, will unveil itself.

The drama landscape shows promising signs of revival after previous criticism for lacking compelling content. As the saying goes, "Drama is the art of the writer," and many of Korea's leading screenwriters who have dominated the Korean drama market are simultaneously releasing new works.

All these returns signal a potential renaissance in Korean entertainment, with established game changers poised to redefine their respective fields once again. The convergence of cinema, music, and television talent in 2025 suggests a pivotal year for Korean cultural content on the global stage.