There have been many captivating South Korean dramas that have already hit the small screen in the first half of this year. This includes titles such as The Glory Part 2, The Good Bad Mother and Crash Course in Romance.
However, there are still plenty of other shows that are gearing up to return or be broadcast before the year ends. Although some still have not had their release dates officially confirmed, they are expected to debut sometime before the end of the year.
Here are the titles to keep on your radar.
DP, season two, Netflix
Cast: Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun
July 28
The show picks up after the events of season one, which ended with a shocking death and cliffhangers. DP, which stands for Deserter Pursuit, tells the story of a team of South Korean military police, who have been tasked with catching those who abandon their military duty or post. The series delves into the complexities of South Korean military life, the reasons behind desertion and the emotional toll it takes on those involved.
The Uncanny Counter, season two, Netflix
Cast: Jo Byeong-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong
July 29
Based on a webtoon, the series centres around So Mun (Jo), a high school student, who is left with a disability after surviving a car accident that killed his parents. So Mun is recruited to be part of the Counters, a group of demon hunters who fight against evil spirits that escape the afterlife and prey on humans. They disguise themselves as employees of a noodle restaurant.
Moving, Disney+
Cast: Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung
August 9
The series tells the story of high school students Kim Bong-seok, Jang Hee-soo and Lee Gang-hoon, who have superpowers inherited from their parents. Kim can fly, Jang has athletic abilities and the power to regenerate from injuries and Lee has power and speed. The students try to hide their secrets and their parents struggle to protect them from being used by others. The show is based on a webtoon of the same name by Kang Full.
Mask Girl, Netflix
Cast: Go Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong, Yeom Hye-ran
Second half of 2023
Based on a webtoon of the same name, Mask Girl tells the tale of ordinary office worker Kim Mo-mi (Go) who is insecure about her appearance but loves her body. She works as a video streamer, but wears a mask to cover her face. Her colleague Joo Oh-nam (Ahn) is a huge fan of “Mask Girl” and once he discovers her identity, develops a crush on her. However, both are soon involved in a shocking case.
The Worst of Evil, Disney+
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon, Im Se-mi
Second half of 2023
Set in the 1980s, the crime-action drama follows undercover police who infiltrate a massive criminal organisation responsible for the illegal drug trade between South Korea, China and Japan. Ji stars as lead officer Kang Joon-mo, with Im as Yoo Eui-jung, a narcotics officer. Meanwhile, Wi plays Jung Ki-cheol, the leader of the criminal enterprise.
A Time Called You, Netflix
Cast: Ahn Hyo-seop, Jeon Yeo-been, Kang Hoon
Third quarter of 2023
The series, an adaptation of the Taiwanese show Someday or One Day, follows Han Jun-hee (Jeon) whose boyfriend Gu Yeon-jun (Ahn) died one year ago. She is having trouble getting over his death and still grieves for him. One day, she is transported back in time to 1998 and finds herself as high school student Kwon Min-joo. There, she meets fellow student Nam Si-heon, who resembles her late boyfriend.
Daily Dose of Sunshine, Netflix
Cast: Park Bo-young, Yeon Woo-jin, Jang Dong-yoon, and Lee Jung-eun
Late 2023
The story revolves around the daily lives and experiences of patients and staff in a mental hospital. It follows nurse Jung Da-eun (Park), who works in the department of psychiatry, and the patients she comes across. The series aims to delve into various mental health issues, shedding light on the struggles faced by individuals with mental illnesses and the people who care for them.
Gyeongseong Creature, Netflix
Cast: Park Seo-jun, Han So-hee, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Hae-sook, Jo Han-chul, Wi Ha-joon
Late 2023
The series is set in Gyeongseong (modern-day Seoul) in 1945 and follows people who battle monstrous creatures who have been created out of human greed. Jang Tae-sang (Park) is the wealthiest, most-connected person in the city and he puts money before justice. However, that changes when he crosses paths with Yun Chae-ok (Han), who is investigating a series of missing person cases.
Sweet Home, season two, Netflix
Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Si-young, Go Min-si
Late 2023
Sweet Home is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. The second season will follow the surviving members of the Green Home apartment complex, including the main protagonist Hyun-soo (Song), as they navigate a new world in which people get turned into horrifying monsters.
Chicken Nugget, Netflix
Cast: Ryu Seung-ryong, Ahn Jae-hong, Kim Yoo-jung
Late 2023
The comedy series, based on the webtoon Fried Chicken by Park Ji-dok, revolves around a young woman Choi Min-ah (Kim), who uses a mysterious machine to help with her fatigue, and is accidentally turned into a chicken nugget. Her father and an intern who has a crush on her try to turn her back into human form, only to discover some dark secrets along the way.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
