• Unique Privileges for BLACKPINK's Rose as New Zealand Citizen Awarded MBE Spark Netizens' Discussion

    As a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Rose from BLACKPINK enjoys certain privileges that have sparked a discussion among netizens.

    Being a dual citizen of South Korea and New Zealand, Rose's MBE status allows her to use the post-nominal title of MBE, making her officially recognized as "Roseanne Park MBE."

    One significant privilege is that she has the opportunity to receive a knighthood and have her wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral, a prestigious venue famous for hosting the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

    This news has left Korean netizens impressed, with many considering her to be akin to true royalty and referring to her as a "queen."

    Reactions to this news have been varied. Some netizens expressed awe at the royal treatment Rose would receive by having her wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral, while others pointed out that she may be the first Korean to receive an MBE while holding dual citizenship.

    Many were fascinated by the unique privileges she would be entitled to, emphasizing her status as a groundbreaking Asian celebrity.

    However, some netizens reassured each other that despite these privileges, Rose's focus should remain on her music and not on her personal life.

    Nevertheless, admiration for Rose's remarkable life, achievements, and the efforts of her parents were expressed by others, who felt that she had achieved great fame, wealth, and glory in her career.

    Overall, netizens were intrigued by the privileges Rose enjoys as an MBE and her potential wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral.

    The discussion around her status as a dual citizen and her representation as an Asian celebrity with such honors was evident, with many expressing their admiration and astonishment.

    Source(1)

  • Yook Sung Jae and Bona’s new drama ‘The Haunted Palace’ dominates Netflix charts and beats all SBS shows with double-digit ratings from the start

    SBS's new fantasy historical drama The Haunted Palace is already making waves both in South Korea and around the world.

    Starring Yook Sung Jae and Bona, the show exploded in popularity during its very first week — topping Netflix charts in multiple countries and hitting double-digit TV ratings straight out of the gate.

    On Korean television, The Haunted Palace shocked viewers with a strong start. Episode 1 pulled in a peak nationwide rating of 10.7%, instantly breaking the double-digit barrier.

    The Seoul area rating and the national average were both 9.2%, making it the highest-rated premiere of any SBS drama in 2025 so far.

    It also beat out other SBS dramas like Love Scout and Buried Hearts, and even took the #1 spot among all mini-series aired that week, showing that this drama isn’t just trending — it’s leading the pack. (According to Nielsen Korea)

    And the success didn’t stop on TV.

    As soon as The Haunted Palace dropped on Netflix, it jumped straight to #1 on “Today’s Top 10 TV Shows in South Korea”, proving its massive popularity on streaming platforms.

    Globally, it also ranked #1 in the TV series category in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, showing that international fans are just as hooked.
    (According to FlixPatrol, April 21)

    The drama is also doing incredibly well on South Korea’s own streaming trend charts. On KinoLights — a platform that tracks trends across all streaming services — The Haunted Palace ranked #1 overall, beating both films and dramas. (As of April 19)

    Fans are loving the unique story, which mixes fantasy, comedy, and creepy mystery. The drama follows Yeori, a shaman who denies her fate, and Kang Cheol I, a mythical Imoogi spirit trapped inside her first love’s body. Together, they face off against a terrifying ghost called Palcheok Gui — who has a dark grudge against the royal family.

    Episode 2 added even more excitement, with Kang Cheol I hilariously struggling to live like a normal human after 1,000 years.

    At the same time, Yeori starts hearing the voice of Yoon Gap’s spirit and tries to save him. By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Prince Wonja (played by Park Jae Joon) is going mad due to Palcheok Gui — and that the ghost has already consumed Yoon Gap’s soul. The showdown between Kang Cheol I, Yeori, and the evil spirit is just getting started.

    With high ratings and top OTT rankings, The Haunted Palace is quickly becoming one of the biggest drama hits of the year.

    Episode 3 of The Haunted Palace airs on Friday, April 25 at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.

    Source: [1]