'Produce 101' tops popularity chart, dramas take back seat

The new season of "Produce 101," Mnet's idol survival show, debuted on the top of a TV popularity index, while most prime time dramas on weekdays took a back seat, data showed Tuesday. (Yonhap)The second season of "Produce 101" scored 265.7 points on the Content Power Index (CPI), becoming the most popular TV program from April 3-9.CPI, developed by entertainment company CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the popularity of TV shows based on the number of views of related news stories, online sea

TelevisionApril 18, 2017

Entertainment program shipments rise as drama exports fall in 2015: data

South Korea's exports of entertainment, sports and animation programs rose sharply in 2015 amid the total shipments of TV programs shrinking due to the historical row with Japan, South Korea's biggest content market, data showed Tuesday. (Yonhap)Exports of entertainment programs climbed to US$31.9 million in 2015 from $19.8 million in 2014 and $14.4 million in 2013, according to the data by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.Sports programs shipments skyrocketed to $5.2 million in

April 18, 2017

Gong Minzy speaks growth, femininity in post-2NE1 career

K-pop singer Gong Minzy has released her first solo debut album, tapping into her more approachable and feminine inner self as she navigates her post-2NE1 career. (Yonhap)"Whereas I had a 'tough sister' image from emphasizing the 'girl crush' concept in my 2NE1 days, I think I've taken on a more friendly image now," Gong told reporters at a recent media showcase for her new album "Minzy Work 01 Uno" held at the Shinhan Card FAN square in northern Seoul."Before, it was hard for people to approach

April 18, 2017

Rain, Kang So-ra to star in ‘Uhm Bok-dong’

Singer-actor Rain and actress Kang So-ra have confirmed their roles in the upcoming film tentatively titled “Uhm Bok-dong.” Singer-actor Rain (left) and actress Kang So-ra (Rain Company/Plum Entertainment)“Rain and Kang So-ra have decided to accept the lead roles. Rain will play Uhm Bok-dong, a cyclist hero, and Kang will play an independence fighter," an official related to the film project said. This will mark Rain’s return to the big screen after tying the knot with actress Kim Tae-hee on Jan

FilmApril 18, 2017

Twice confirms new album release in May

K-pop group Twice on Tuesday confirmed its new album release here in May.K-pop group Twice (JYP Entertainment)“Twice is gearing up to return to the spotlight next month, but the exact date of the album release has not been set yet,” the group’s agency JYP Entertainment said, confirming an earlier media report that Twice was planning to drop a new album around the third week of May. But JYP Entertainment denied the report about the group’s plan to promote the album for two weeks before heading to

PerformanceApril 18, 2017

Actress Lee Young-ae of 'Saimdang' donates 150 mln won to low-income new mothers

Actress Lee Young-ae has donated 150 million won (US$131,984) to a local hospital here to help new mothers of low-income families, the hospital said Tuesday. (Yonhap)Cheil General Hospital in central Seoul revealed that Lee has made donations on several occasions, asking that the money be used for those mothers.The actress gave birth to her twin babies in the hospital, one of the largest maternity clinics in the country, in February 2011.She has since paid attention to the work of helping new mo

April 18, 2017

Challenge accepted: All-American 'Korean' group seeks glory in K-pop land

Over the past few years, South Korean pop music, or K-pop, as a whole has grown into a legitimate cultural force to be reckoned with. And while the scene has moved and evolved at lightning pace, some also began to look back and wonder: what makes K-pop K-pop?EXP Edition, an experimental boy band which released its debut single "Feel Like This" on Monday in South Korea, is the brain child of Kim Bora, through which she asks that exact question in a unique and interesting approach.The four-member

PerformanceApril 17, 2017

[Seoul Saunter] Remnants of good ol’ days

Seoul is a vibrant megalopolis with modern high-rises crowding the city’s major arteries. Nestled among the gleaming buildings are maze-like alleys that appear to have escaped the passage of time. The Korea Herald explores the many nooks and crannies of Seoul, proclaimed the capital of Joseon in 1392, that reveal a multifaceted city. -- Ed. Halfway up the stairs of Euljiro 3-ga Station in central Seoul, a sharp smell of metal pierces your nose. Stepping away from the passing vehicles into the na

CultureApril 17, 2017

Big Bang’s Daesung launches Japan tour

Daesung of Big Bang on has successfully launched his first dome concert tour in Japan, YG Entertainment said Monday.According to the agency, the singer held concerts in Metlife Dome -- formerly known as Seibu Prince Dome -- in Saitama, Japan on Saturday and Sunday. It marked the first of his “D-lite Japan Dome Tour 2017,” after his Japanese stage name “D-lite.” Daesung performs at his solo concert held at the Metlife Dome in Saitama, Japan. (YG Entertainment)Daesung showed off his hit solo singl

PerformanceApril 17, 2017

60 rising K-pop stars to grace KCON Japan next month

KCON, a global Korean pop music and culture convention, will be held in Japan next month, showcasing 60 fast-rising K-pop idol artists, according to its organizer Monday. (Yonhap)The three-day event at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of Tokyo, from May 19 will feature Apink, CNBLUE, Cosmic Girl, GFriend, Lovelyz, Seventeen and more of the hottest K-pop names, the organizer of the annual event said.CJ E&M's cable TV subsidiary Mnet will broadcast its music chart show MCountdow

April 17, 2017

‘We Got Married’ comes to an end, for now

Following reports that the reality program “We Got Married” will be taken off the air in May, broadcaster MBC announced that the show will take a break to revamp for yet another season. 　“Season four of ‘We Got Married’ will end with the May 6 episode,” MBC announced Monday. 　However, MBC remarked that this will mark a “new beginning rather than an end.”Lee Guk-joo (left) and Sleepy star in “We Got Married.” (MBC)“Since the show has been going on for such a long time, we will take time to wrap u

TelevisionApril 17, 2017

Shinhwa’s Eric, actress Na Hye-mi to marry

Mun Jung-hyuk, the leader of boy band Shinhwa also known by his stage name Eric, is set to tie the knot with model and actress Na Hye-mi on July 1.Shinhwa’s Eric and actress Na Hye-mi (E&J Entertainment/Imagine Asia)Mun, 38, posted a letter to fans via the band’s official social media page on Monday morning to announce his upcoming marriage with his partner of three-years. “I met a lifelong-caring friend of mine, and I will be having a quiet and respectful marriage with my family and friends in

TelevisionApril 17, 2017

Director-actor duos of Korean cinema

Actress Kim Min-hee has been enjoying a year of unprecedented success, winning best actress at the Berlin film fest for “Alone on the Beach at Night” and with two other films she has starred in -- “Clair’s Camera” and “The Day After” -- set to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The common factor between the three films is director Hong Sang-soo, with whom she has openly admitted to having a romantic relationship. Strong creative bonds commonly exist between directors and actors, with the

FilmApril 16, 2017

SHINee’s Taemin to hold solo concert in Japan

K-pop boy band SHINee’s Taemin will hold a solo concert in Japan, according to his agency. “Tae-min will hold his very first concert titled, ‘Taemin the 1st stage Nippon Budokan’ from July 1-2,” S.M. Entertainment said.  SHINee's Taemin (S.M. Entertainment)The concerts will take place at the Nippon Budokan arena, which can accommodate more than 8,000.The venue has hosted not only famous Japanese artists but also other big-name foreign celebrities including the Beatles, Celine Dion, Deep Purple a

PerformanceApril 16, 2017

Coldplay comes to Korea

Coldplay entered Korea through Incheon Airport on Thursday. The group posted a photo of fans waiting at the airport via its official social media channels. (Coldplay Facebook)The band will host concerts in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday at Jamsil Olympic main stadium. It is the group’s first visit to Korea since its debut in 1998. Coldplay added an extra performance due to the enthusiastic response from fans. Tickets sold out in minutes. Coldplay is a four-piece rock band consisting of Chris Marti

PerformanceApril 14, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Fate of the Furious(US)Opened April 12Action, thriller. Directed by F. Gary GrayA team of criminals and racers led by Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) has been enjoying their long-awaited lives of normalcy and peace when they uncover plans for a large-scale attack by a group of cyberterrorists, helmed by the criminal mastermind Cipher (Charlize Theron). Cipher soon forces Dominic to betray his crew of many years, who must come together to put a halt to their former boss and friend from causing w

FilmApril 14, 2017

[Movie Review] ‘The Fate of the Furious’ is mostly spinning its wheels

Barely five minutes have elapsed in “The Fate of the Furious” before Michelle Rodriguez mutters, “It’s gonna be a bomb.” She is not talking about the movie (duh) but, rather, about a 1953 Chevy Fleetline whose hunkajunk engine Vin Diesel has cleverly souped up — though it might be more accurate to say he’s turned it into a dynamite stick on wheels — using little more than his wits, his muscles and the tab of a Coke can. You’ve got to admire that last part: it’s a plot point, a product placement

FilmApril 14, 2017

[Movie Review] ‘Colossal’ is an amazing experience

Talk about flipping the script! “Colossal” is a subversive, wildly ambitious groundbreaker among giant creature features. It ditches every classic trope and screenwriting rule from Asian kaiju films, telling the tale with a quirky voice all its own. It turns the monster movie genre into something darkly witty, weirdly modern, simultaneously sincere and screwball absurd.Don’t worry, traditionalists. There are dazzling sequences of a skyscraper-tall, roughly humanoid wild thing battling a massive

FilmApril 14, 2017