Avid Korean drama fans will soon be able to cozy up with the perfect binge-watching companion. From July 12 to August 1, Viu Singapore will be launching Take Your Stars Home – a three-week campaign aimed at giving viewers a chance to take home limited edition, one-of-a-kind 60cm giant plushies featuring their favourite Korean celebrities. A total of five plushie designs will be available over the three weeks, with different designs released for purchase weekly. Viu-ers can score a giant plushie of their choice when they purchase a 180 Days Viu Premium Subscription. The subscription is priced at $33.51, and eager fans can click-in and make their purchase at Viu Singapore’s official store on Shopee. The plushies are available in limited quantities, while stocks last.
Ms. Cheryl Lim, Country Head of Brand, Marketing & Communications, Viu Singapore, said, “We are always looking into our data to uncover insights that would elevate the experience of our Viu-ers. There is just something about Korean dramas that gets our adrenaline pumping, tears flowing and hearts fluttering. Whether you have had a stressful work day or are simply looking to unwind over the weekend, there is nothing like a relaxingly good binge-watching session on Viu to relieve some pressure from your everyday life. And what is better than having the perfect drama watching companion to accompany you through your laughter and tears? 

Kingdom: Ashin of the North, a special episode from the Kingdom series universe, is coming soon! The special episode will show the beginning of everything in the popular series as it dives into Ashin’s story and the origins of the resurrection plant. Whether you’ve watched the first two seasons or not, you can start your journey through Kingdom: Ashin of the North. If you have seen the first two seasons and need a refresher on what to expect, check out the details below!

1. The Time and Place
Kingdom: Ashin of the North is where everything begins. The zombie plague that spreads in the first season takes place in the southern region Dongnae. However, the origin of the resurrection plant begins in the northern region. The northern border close to the Pajeowi tribe and the Seongjeoyains is where the action will take place. Pyesa-gun, a place where entrance is forbidden for 100 years, is where young Ashin discovers the resurrection plant.

2. The Resurrection Plant
The resurrection plant, which we learn about in the first two seasons, is a rare purple flower that can resurrect the dead. Unfortunately, someone who is resurrected through the plant becomes a bloodthirsty zombie. The plant has white eggs which hatch into parasitic worms when ingested. The worms infect the brain and turn the person into a monster.

3. The Context
Prior to the zombie problem, the kingdom of Joseon faced various issues with its neighbors. One area of concern is the northern region where Jurchens have consolidated into a powerful group called the Pajeowi tribe. Joseon keeps an eye on the tribe by using another group of Jurchens called the Seongjeoyains to spy on them. The Seongjeoyains are Jurchens who have lived in Joseon lands for over a 100 years.

4. Ashin
The story will begin with young Ashin (Kim Si-a)’s life in her Seongjeoyain village. Her father is the head of their village and her mother is bedridden. Desperate to cure her ill mother, Ashin ventures deep into the forbidden area in search of something to help. She comes across the resurrection plant, but she experiences a great tragedy. As a result, adult Ashin (Gianna Jun) is intent on getting revenge.

5. Key Characters
Besides the adult Ashin we see at the end of the second season, the special episode also includes Min Chi-rok (Park Byung-eun) who was the Head of the Royal Commandery in season 2. Some new important characters include Ashin’s father Tahab (Kim Roi-ha) who is the head of their Seongjeoyain village and Aidagan (Koo Kyo-hwan) who is the Pajeowi tribe leader.

Now that you’ve checked out this overview, you’re ready to enjoy all of Kingdom. Don’t miss out when Kingdom: Ashin of the North is released on July 23, only on Netflix!

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Singer 10CM to hold an online concert 'History Live' on July 24, 8PM KST.

Hospital Playlist S2 is such a feel-good show, never failing to make us laugh. Amidst the heartwarming and cute scenes, the funny scenes always make us smile and put us in a good mood. While we wait impatiently for our next dose of Hospital Playlist, here are some of our favourite LOL moments to get you through the week!

1. The time Kim Jun-wan got hit in the face with toilet paper
Pettiness can often be a mark of true friendship. Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho) gets hit in the face with a toilet paper roll after he admits to using Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok)’s shampoo. Even though Jeong-won uses most of his salary to help those in need, he gets annoyed when his friend and roommate uses his nice shampoo.

2. When Song-hwa said she wants to be the greatest “villain” in this hospital
Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do) tells Yong Seok-min (Moon Tae-yoo) and Heo Seon-bin (Ha Yoon-kyeong) that she doesn’t want to become a geezer, she wants to be a “villain” instead. This is a fun joke crossing over from the first season where Lee Ik-jun (Cho Jung-seok) lies to Song-hwa that the English word “villain” means someone who works hard.

3. The fight over crackers
Ik-jun gets caught eating Jun-wan’s crackers and Jun-wan scolds him for eating his favourite snacks. Ik-jun then sprinkles water on Jun-wan to get Jeong-won’s petty spirit out of Jun-wan.
This prompts Jun-wan to attack Ik-jun with a pillow. Ik-jun hilariously manages to eat another cracker during all of this and they eventually end up having a tickle fight. Their childish behaviour is such a funny contrast from their serious doctor moments.

4. The friends’ interaction with Song-hwa’s new car
Seeing the four friends gape at Song-hwa’s swanky new car was cute, but it gets even funnier once they’re inside the car. Ik-jun gets on Song-hwa’s nerves by peeling the plastic film from the car and Jeong-won keeps complaining about sitting in the middle seat.

5. When Jun-wan and Jeong-wan freeload off of Ik-jun’s card
After discovering Jang Gyeo-ul (Shin Hyun-been) in possession of Ik-jun’s card, they take it and order practically everything from the menu.

Poor Ik-jun gets so flustered when he gets notifications about the pricey purchases and almost loses a shoe.

6. When Song-hwa accidentally splashes Ik-jun’s face with ramyun
Song-hwa and Jun-wan are the biggest eaters of the group, so it’s no surprise when Song-hwa tries to grab as much noodles as she can. Unfortunately, the noodles slip and fall resulting in Ik-jun’s face getting splattered with ramyun soup. It gets even more funny when Jun-wan takes advantage of the opportunity to grab the lid and eat up.

7. When Ik-jun dances in the cafeteria
Cho Jung-seok has got some moves! Ik-jun has danced in the previous season, but his cheeky little dance here on his way out of the cafeteria was quite funny.

8. All the times the Winter Garden Couple didn’t get caught

Gyeo-ul and Jeong-won are keeping their relationship a secret, but their hospital colleagues have seen Jeong-won taking care of Gyeo-ul in various ways. While this kind of behaviour would make most people assume they are dating, everyone chalks it up to Jeong-won being a gentleman and incredibly well-mannered. It gets funnier when Jeong-won threateningly pinches Ik-jun after Ik-jun almost blows the secret couple’s cover.

There are so many funny moments whether the friends are being silly or petty. Which is your favourite? Go and watch all the funniest moments of Hospital Playlist S2 only on Netflix, with new episodes available every Thursday at 10 PM MYT.

Venture into the vast forests, a forbidden land where a strange plant grows. Netflix unwraps the trailer for Kingdom: Ashin of the North, taking us back to the beginning of the great tragedy that fell upon Joseon and a story of Ashin, and the origins of the resurrection plant.

The tragedy began in the depths of the northern region of Pyesa-gun, an area that has been forbidden for 100 years where dead bodies were suddenly discovered.

We meet young Ashin who loses everything in a blink of an eye when her village is horrendously attacked. Driven by loss and with vengeance on her mind, Ashin makes it her mission to “kill every living thing”. The anticipation builds as we unravel the calamities that besiege Joseon.

Starring Gianna Jun, Kim Sia, and Park Byung-eun, Kingdom: Ashin of the North will be released on 23 July 2021, only on Netflix.

Check out the official trailer below