Seventeen becomes highest-ranked K-pop artist on Billboard Japan’s Mid-Year Chart

Popular K-pop boy band Seventeen of Pledis Entertainment became the highest-ranked K-pop artist on Billboard Japan Hot Albums Mid-Year Chart 2024 announced on Thursday. According to Billboard Japan, the boy band’s hit album, “17 is Right Here,” released on April 29, came in at No. 2 on the Hot Albums chart, which ranks top albums by the artist’s physical record sales and downloads combined. It is the highest ranking achieved by a K-pop artist. Seventeen also ranked No.

CultureJune 7, 2024

Soprano Sumi Jo demonstrates fusion of art, technology at Innovate Korea

DAEJEON -- At Innovate Korea 2024 on Wednesday, jointly hosted by Herald Media Group, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) and the National Research Council of Science and Technology, celebrated soprano Sumi Jo sang “Dome Epais (The Flower Song),” a duet song from Leo Delibes’ opera Lakme. Her duet partner was an artificial intelligence-generated voice modeled on her own voice. As Jo performed “Lascia ch'io pianga,” AI technology analyze

CultureJune 7, 2024

G-Dragon to pioneer AI, metaverse integration in K-pop

DAEJEON -- Singer G-Dragon, best known as a member of Big Bang and an icon of K-pop, explained how he looks to pioneering the new field of "Enter-Tech" -- combining entertainment and technology -- as he prepares for the future of K-pop with artificial intelligence, at a forum on the campus of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Speaking at Innovate Korea, jointly hosted by Herald Media Group, KAIST and the National Research Council of Science & Technology, Wedne

CultureJune 7, 2024

Webtoons from Korean distributors dominate Best Webcomic nominees at Eisner Awards

Webtoons published by Korean webtoon distributors dominated the Best Webcomic category nominees at this year's Eisner Awards, which are considered the equivalent of the Academy Awards for the comic industry. Eisner Awards annually recognizes outstanding cartoon works in 32 categories at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. The awards ceremony is regarded one of the most prestigious for comic books in North America. Amid a surge in popularity for webtoons, this year, four out

CultureJune 7, 2024

Four Korean authors to visit Paris for literary events

Four Korean authors -- novelists Lee Seung-u and Pyun Hye-young, poet Jin Eun-young and graphic novelist Ma Yeong-shin -- will meet with French readers in Paris next week, said the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea). LTI Korea is hosting the "Invitation to Korean Literature" event in conjunction with the Paris Olympics. It will kick off with all four authors discussing Korean literature on June 12 at Librairie Le Divan in Paris. From June 13 to 15, Librairie Le Pheni

BooksJune 7, 2024

Faker makes history again with Hall of Legends induction

South Korean esports legend Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, an undisputed superstar in the world of competitive gaming, etched his name as the first-ever inductee to the Hall of Legends at The Shilla Seoul in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Thursday. “With his mastery of League of Legends, Faker inspired millions of esports fans across the globe and brought numerous contributions to the sport. We sincerely congratulate Faker for this stunning achievement and hope for great performances in the

CultureJune 7, 2024

Donghae's lavender festival to kick off Sunday for two-week run

Donghae, a popular summer getaway spot and seaside city in Gangwon Province, is scheduled to hold its annual lavender flower festival at Mureung Byeolyucheonji starting this Saturday to June 23. Mureung Byeolyucheonji, a large natural area on the site of an abandoned mine, has turned into a popular local tourist destination, beckoning travelers with the country’s first-ever sky glider, alpine coaster and walking trail along the artificial Blue Lake, among others. The 21,000-square-meter ou

TravelJune 7, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Garden show along Han River The Seoul International Garden Show 2024 is running through Oct. 8 at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Gwangjin-gu. The park, illustrating the theme “Seoul, Green Vibe,” is divided into different gardens arranged by participants ranging from citizens to companies to artists. The park is open from noon to 7:00 p.m. until August, and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from September to October. Find more details at festival.seoul.go.kr. Blooms on Jara Island A f

TravelJune 7, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wonderland” (South Korea) Opened June 5 Sci-fi/Drama Directed by Kim Tae-yong Wonderland, an artificial intelligence service that allows people to communicate with departed loved ones through simulated video calls, confuses Jeong-in (Suzy), as her comatose boyfriend Tae-joo (Park Bo-gum) wakes up from the hospital. “The Plot” (South Korea) Opened May 29 Crime/Thriller Directed by Lee Yo-sup It is Yeong-il's (Gang Dong-won) job to arrange commissioned contract ki

FilmJune 7, 2024

[Well-curated] Playful animated characters, street dance fest

Even in bustling Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, you can feel a peaceful rural sensibility if you find the right place. Follow narrow and winding alleys and you will find just such a mood at a tiny shop named Kohukku Market. Named "Kohukku," which means "happiness" in Japanese, the store sells character antiques and vintage items related to Japanese animation from the '80s and' 90s. This tiny, one-room shop is filled with a variety of items from dolls, key rings, vintage

CultureJune 7, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul adds new design to outdoor pool Grand Hyatt Seoul, located in Yongsan, central Seoul, has opened its outdoor swimming pool featuring Bottega Veneta’s iconic foulard intreccio design until Sept. 22. The swimming pool, located at the hotel’s GL floor, is available to all guests. Holidaymakers can enjoy the scenic views of Namsan and quench their thirst with cool draft beer alongside snacks prepared by the hotel’s chefs. Reservations are available online via Gran

CultureJune 7, 2024

Mayor pitches ‘renaissance’ for tech-savvy Yongin City

Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il painted the future of a technologically advanced and culturally vibrant city during The Korea Herald Global Business Forum 2024 held at Marina Park in Seoul on Wednesday. The meeting, attended by business leaders and academics as well as senior government officials, included Polish Ambassador to South Korea Piotr Ostaszewski. Offering congratulatory remarks, the envoy lauded the annual gathering on the global political and business landscape. Ambitious but prudent, Lee,

PeopleJune 6, 2024

Teen commended for helping neighbors evacuate in fire

A 16-year-old high school student received a certificate of appreciation from local police Wednesday for alerting his neighbors and helping them escape during a fire earlier this month. Kim Min-jun, in his second year of Gwangdong High School in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, was commended by the Namyangju Bukbu Police Station for his contribution during the June 1 fire at an apartment complex in the town of Jinjeob-eup. When the fire broke out at around 9:25 p.m. at a second floor unit, Kim -- a

PeopleJune 6, 2024

Lee Jung-jae says criticism of casting in 'The Acolyte' is 'natural'

"Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae said any criticism regarding the casting of actors from diverse backgrounds in the latest "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte" is "natural," considering the immense popularity of the franchise. The 8-part series tells the story of Osha (played by Amandla Stenberg), who is accused of a string of murders targeting Jedi -- the practitioners of the Force's energies. The series is set a century before the events of "Star War

TelevisionJune 5, 2024

[Herald Interview] Contemporary dance project 'Init' brings together dancers across Asia

When dancers who appear to be performing without rules suddenly move together in unison, each movement and step falling perfectly into beats, it creates a breathtaking effect. Choreographer Kim Sung-yong of “Init” likened this to an ink-and-wash painting, where different colors blend naturally and unpredictably. The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company is set to premiere the DMAU project, "Init," from Friday to Sunday at the National Theater of Korea's Haeoreum Gr

PerformanceJune 5, 2024

Renowned US, UK artists across genres to perform in Seoul

Several renowned American and British artists of diverse genres will perform in Korea in the latter half of this year. American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly will hold her first concert in Korea, performing at Myunghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Aug. 27 as part of her Asia tour "Purple Skies," according to Live Nation Korea. Kelly, winner of two Grammy awards in 2019, is best known in Korea for her collaboration with Le Sserafim's Kim Chaewon on her song "Spruce.&

PerformanceJune 5, 2024

[Herald Interview] Suzy, Park Bo-gum boast real chemistry in ‘Wonderland’

South Korean heartthrobs Suzy and Park Bo-gum said they were satisfied with their romantic chemistry as portrayed in upcoming AI fantasy romance movie “Wonderland.” Helmed by Kim Tae-yong of “Late Autumn” (2010), the movie revolves around people reuniting through AI in a simulated virtual world called Wonderland. Suzy and Park, who have developed special rapport as emcees of the Baeksang Arts Awards for many years, showed their special on-screen chemistry in “Wonder

FilmJune 5, 2024

Blockbuster show at Hoam highlights Buddhist art from Asia

A special exhibition on Buddhist art in East Asia at the Hoam Museum of Art has attracted over 60,000 visitors since March, averaging over 1,000 a day in what could be one of the country’s biggest art shows this year. “Unsullied, Like a Lotus in Mud,” explores contributions women made to the religion and, as the title suggests, their struggles along the way with 92 pieces including Buddhist statues, paintings and scriptures. The gilt-bronze standing Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva,

Arts & DesignJune 5, 2024

More chances to watch Haman Nakhwa Festival

The Korea Tourism Organization announced it is turning Haman’s firework event -- the Haman Nakhwa Festival -- into a monthly festival held from June to November this year. The Nakhwa Festival, or “Nakhwanori” in Korean, is a firework festival where oak charcoal powder wrapped in “hanji” (Korean mulberry paper) is set on fire, creating balls of fire falling into the small pond at Mujinjeong Pavilion in Haman, South Gyeongsang Province. After the county came under h

TravelJune 5, 2024

Gyechon Festival ends with four-hand performance by Kim Sun-wook, Cho Seong-jin

The 10th Gyechon Classic Festival concluded Sunday with the final concert featuring the Gyeonggi Philharmonic led by pianist-turned-conductor Kim Sun-wook and pianist Cho Seong-jin. The last performance of the three-day festival began right after a half-hour rain delay. The orchestra and star pianist Cho performed Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 35 in front of 7,000 spectators. For the encore, Kim and Cho joined forces to perform Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5, whi

PerformanceJune 4, 2024