[Exclusive] Mnet to air ‘Street Man Fighter’ this summer

South Korean cable channel Mnet is planning to air the men’s version of its hit dance competition show “Street Woman Fighter,” featuring some of the most talented male dancers in Korea this summer, according to industry sources on Tuesday. “Kwon Young-chan, the chief producer of ‘Street Woman Fighter’ and the same staff members from the program are set to lead ‘Street Man Fighter,’” an industry official who wished to remain anonymous told T

TelevisionJan. 4, 2022

Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu to star in Netflix‘s ‘Kill Boksoon’

Global streaming platform Netflix on Tuesday announced that it will produce director Byun Sung-hyun‘s “Kill Boksoon,” an action thriller with big names Jeon Do-yeon and Seol Kyung-gu. Jeon will play legendary assassin Kill Bok-soon, who is put into a life-threatening situation before renewing her contract with her employer M.K. Enterprise. Kill is also a single mother of a 15-year-old daughter. Seol will play Cha Min-kyu, the CEO of M.K. Enterprise. The two actors are wor

FilmJan. 4, 2022

[Herald Interview] Playing villain in ‘Special Cargo’ gave Song Sae-byeok ’bad headaches‘

Even for veteran performer Song Se-byeok, 42, who debuted in 1988 as a stage actor, understanding the reckless character of Kyung-pil in the upcoming film “Special Cargo” by Park Dae-min was not easy. “Special Cargo” is a crime-action film that centers around a professional delivery driver named Eun-ha (Park So-dam). She delivers anything that cannot be delivered legally. One day, Eun-ha receives a mission to deliver a young boy named Seo-won (Jung Hyeon-jun) who is bei

FilmJan. 4, 2022

Festering conflict between galleries, auction houses laid bare in giddy Korean art market

As the art market grows exponentially in South Korea, the tension between primary and secondary players has heightened with galleries uniting to launch an auction event in late January, claiming the country‘s major auction houses have violated a “gentlemen’s agreement” struck in 2007. The Galleries Association of Korea announced Monday that it will hold an auction on Jan. 26 at the Westin Josun Seoul with an aim to protect the art market, particularly young artists. S

Arts & DesignJan. 4, 2022

Violinist Kim Dong-hyun to kick off Kumho Art Hall’s 2022 season

Kumho Art Hall’s artist-in-residence violinist Kim Dong-hyun will kick off the new season at the concert hall Jan. 13 with the first of the Beautiful Thursday Concerts series. At the upcoming recital themed “22 degrees: Refreshing,” Kim will play Morzart’s Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 32 in B-flat Major, K. 454, Ysaye’s Sonata for Solo Violin No. 6 in E Major, Op. 27/6 and Hubay’s “Carmen -- Fantasie Brillante“ for Violin and Piano, Op.3/3.

PerformanceJan. 4, 2022

Chinese version of Korean musical 'Brothers Karamazov' to be staged at Shanghai Grand Theater

”The Brothers Karamazov,” an original musical produced by a South Korean production company, will hit a major theater in Shanghai in June, Orchard Musical Co. said Tuesday. The Korean musical is the first original musical licensed to take the stage at the Shanghai Grand Theater. “The Brothers Karamazov” is a small-budget musical that is based on Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel of the same title. The show premiered in 2018 in South Korea and has returned

PerformanceJan. 4, 2022

[Herald Interview] Actor Jung Woo-sung open to more challenges as producer

An accomplished actor, Jung Woo-sung, 48, wishes to offer stunning Korean content to viewers as a producer. “‘The Silent Sea’ was my second experience in reproducing a short film, following ‘Remember You’ in 2014. I always find the task of an executive producer difficult, but I wish to continue this work to bring the splendid projects created by the skilled directors to more viewers,” executive producer Jung said in an online interview Tuesday. The actor and

TelevisionJan. 4, 2022

Can ‘Single’s Inferno’ repeat Korean drama series’ success on Netflix?

Ahead of the release of its final episodes later this week, Korean reality dating show “Single’s Inferno,” first released on Dec. 18, 2021, notched the 10th spot on Netflix’s global TV list as of Monday. The series became the first Korean reality show to be listed on the service’s global top 10 chart. While the streaming service had previously showcased a number of Korean reality shows -- “Busted!” (2018), travel documentary “Twogether” (20

TelevisionJan. 4, 2022

Webtoon-based TV series set to catch eyes of viewers in 2022

In 2022 TV lineups released by South Korean broadcasters and global streaming services, a slew of webtoon-based series are drawing attention from Korean drama fans at home and abroad. In recent years, homegrown webtoons, or web-based comics, have risen as a tried-and-true source of fresh ideas for producers and screenwriters here. Many of their TV adaptations, including the drama "Itaewon Class" (2020) and Netflix's original "Hellbound" (2021), have become global hits. Tvin

TelevisionJan. 4, 2022

Park So-dam returns as professional driver in car chase film ‘Special Cargo’

Park So-dam, one of the stars of the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” is returning to the big screen as a driver in the upcoming car chase film “Special Cargo” directed by Park Dae-min. “Special Cargo” is a crime-action film that centers around a special professional delivery driver Eun-ha (Park So-dam). She delivers anything that cannot be delivered legally. One day, Eun-ha receives a mission to deliver a young boy Seo-won (Jung Hyeon-jun) that a criminal group is

FilmJan. 3, 2022

Despite recovery, performing arts sector remains cautious about 2022

South Korea’s performing arts sector grew almost 80 percent in terms of revenue in 2021, despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but insiders said uncertainty still looms over the industry in 2022. In 2021, revenue from theatrical plays, musicals, classical concerts and other performances stood at 307 billion won ($258 million), jumping 78 percent from 172 billion won recorded in 2020, data from the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System showed. The recovery was backed

PerformanceJan. 3, 2022

[Herald Interview] Bae Doo-na and Gong Yoo believe ‘The Silent Sea’ mark meaningful step for Korean sci-fi genre

With the success of Korean original content on Netflix in 2021, the makers and stars of “The Silent Sea,” the streaming provider’s last Korean release of 2021, might have felt under pressure. But actors Bae Doo-na and Gong Yoo are more than satisfied with their Netflix sci-fi mystery and hope the project can lead to the development of the genre in Korea. “I am well aware of the different opinions from the critics and the viewers. And I totally respect them all,”

FilmJan. 3, 2022

Metaverse rises to cultural mainstream

The metaverse, regarded as a technology whose emergence was seen as timely in the pandemic era, has cemented its position as a key avenue to pushing cultural experiences to another level. While prepandemic cultural contents were based on face-to-face experience, the virtual world-centered metaverse emerged as a notable alternative, offering a similar experience as face-to-face encounters as the coronavirus and a multitude of its variants have changed the way people interact. With the advances

CultureJan. 3, 2022

Rapper-songwriter B.I to be first Asian artist on Grammys’ ‘Global Spin’

Rapper-songwriter B.I will be performing in the Grammys’ digital performance series titled “Global Spin,” according to the artist’s agency IOK Co. He will be the first Asian artist to perform on the music show. “Global Spin” highlights the diversity of noteworthy music from around the world. Each episode of the biweekly performance series features performances by artists and groups and celebrates both the creators and their home countries. After receiving t

PerformanceJan. 3, 2022

STO recruits ‘Global Seoul Mates’ to promote Seoul

The 2022 “Global Seoul Mate” project, jointly initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization, is recruiting members to produce and promote Seoul’s tourism-related digital content, the STO announced Monday. The Global Seoul Mates are a delegation of foreigners living in Seoul who have both expertise and passion in producing digital content and utilizing social media, looking to introduce and promote Seoul’s attractions, festivals and ev

TravelJan. 3, 2022

S. Korean performing arts scene sees revenue jump nearly 80% in 2021

The local performing arts scene saw its revenue soar nearly 80 percent in 2021 from a year earlier, thanks to eased social distancing rules and a rising vaccination rate, data showed Monday. The combined revenue of 12,000 theatrical plays, musicals, classical concerts and other performances reached 307.1 billion won ($258.1 million) last year, according to the data by the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS). The 2021 amount marked a 78.4 percent on-year surge from 172.1

CultureJan. 3, 2022

'Spider-Man' tops 6m admissions for 1st time since pandemic

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" has surpassed a cumulative 6 million admissions for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began in South Korea, box office data said Monday. The latest Marvel superhero film attracted 705,000 people from Friday-Sunday, bringing its combined total to 6.07 million, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. It is the first time a film has reached the 6 million line since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country in January in 2020. &

FilmJan. 3, 2022

Galleria Gwanggyo wins UNESCO-administered architecture prize, Prix Versailles 2021

The newly-built upscale department store Galleria in Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province, was recognized by UNESCO’s annual Prix Versailles Awards, winning the top Prix Versailles 2021 prize in the shopping mall category. The sixth branch of Galleria -- South Korea’s first and major upscale department store franchise founded in the 1970s -- opened in March 2020 in Gwanggyo, a new town just 25 kilometers south of Seoul. The building was designed by OMA, an architectural firm headquartered

Arts & DesignJan. 2, 2022

Year of the Tiger: Why tigers have a special place in Koreans’ hearts

After winning the John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished children’s book in 2020 with “When You Trap a Tiger,” author Tae Keller said the book was inspired by a folktale that her Korean grandmother used to tell her. The Korean folktale she was referring to was “The Sun and the Moon” that centers on two siblings and a tiger. Keller’s storybook also includes a tiger from a Korean folklore which appeared at a grandmother’s house to find something t

CultureJan. 2, 2022

Carrying traditions to the future: Finding Jeonju

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- An hour and thirty minutes from Seoul’s Yongsan Station by KTX train is Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, wrapped in both unaltered traditions and the vibrant future of South Korea. Designated by the Culture Ministry as one of the five “Tourism Hub City Development” project cities in 2020 -- along with Busan, Gangneung, Mokpo and Andong -- the city is stretching its wings to greet global visitors who wish to experience Korea beyond what its densel

TravelJan. 1, 2022