Music video of BTS' 'Idol' garners more than 200 m YouTube views

The original music video of BTS' latest song "Idol" surpassed the 200 million-view mark on YouTube, 43 days after its release, the band's management agency said Sunday. The video achieved the milestone at 1:13 a.m., according to Big Hit Entertainment. The song's album "Love Yourself: Answer," the finale of BTS' "Love Yourself" trilogy, was released on Aug. 24.(Yonhap)Two weeks later, BTS dropped another "Idol" music video, featuring American pop icon Nicki Minaj.The second music video had garner

PerformanceOct. 7, 2018

‘Ode to the Goose’ explores communication, paths of characters’ lives

“Ode to the Goose” by Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu is a curious film. The main characters go through numerous conflicts in their lives, many of which remain unresolved.“I do not know the answers (to the conflicts). A director’s job is to find (things) to be curious about in life,” he said at a press conference for his film, screened at the Busan International Film Festival on Friday.True to his words, the director refused to spell out what his film was about, leaving the audience to interpre

FilmOct. 5, 2018

Typhoon Kong-rey jeopardizes Saturday’s fireworks festival

The 16th Seoul International Fireworks Festival, slated for Oct. 6, might have to be postponed if the rain brought by Typhoon Kong-rey does not subside.According to international weather agencies, the worst of the storm will be felt Friday night and into Saturday as Kong-rey makes landfall on the southern coast of Korea.Hanwha Group, the organizer of the fireworks event, said it will closely monitor the weather and decide Saturday morning around 10 a.m. whether to go ahead with the festival.  (H

CultureOct. 5, 2018

Seoul invites citizens to share ideas on digital city

Seoul City is inviting citizens to share ideas on creating a “smarter city.”The Seoul International Digital Festival, organized by the Seoul Digital Foundation, will open on Oct. 27 at Gaepo Digital Innovation Park and Dongdaemun Digital Plaza for a five-day run, according to the city government on Friday.The third SIDiF features forums and contests held under the slogan “We Digitalize Seoul,” in an effort to share insights and discuss the use of digital technology to resolve urban problems.  (Y

CultureOct. 5, 2018

[Newsmaker] K-pop fans take action against online scalpers

With so many events slated for this month featuring artists with huge fan bases, the race is on to get tickets to see our favorite singers live.Most concerts featuring world-famous singers can’t accommodate all the fans who want to be there, and ticket-reservation websites often crash as soon as tickets to a popular concert become available. The impact of too many people logging in at the same time is just too much for the servers.Knowing that competition will be fierce, fans gear up in advance

PerformanceOct. 5, 2018

Spouses seek ‘Best Divorce,’ end up learning what love is

Two couples learn the true meaning of love by going through a divorce in KBS2’s upcoming rom-com drama series “The Best Divorce.”The Monday-Tuesday series is an adaptation of a popular Japanese drama that made a splash on Fuji TV in 2013. In it, two more or less average couples start divorce proceedings just because they can’t get along.  Actors Cha Tae-hyun and Bae Doo-na pose for photos at a media event held Friday at Times Square, a shopping center in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. (Yonhap)“The drama i

TelevisionOct. 5, 2018

Goo Ha-ra’s ex faces outrage over revenge porn allegation

Goo Ha-ra’s ex-boyfriend is facing public outrage in the wake of a revelation that he allegedly threatened the singer with revenge porn.In a shocking turn of events, Dispatch released a report Thursday that claimed the singer’s ex-boyfriend surnamed Choi had threatened to release video footage of the two engaging in sexual intercourse. The case had initially centered on assault allegations involving Goo and her ex. Police were reportedly considering charges of bodily harm against Goo on Wednesda

TelevisionOct. 5, 2018

BIFF jurors seek fresh talent to shape the future of cinema

A film festival isn’t just a place to appreciate top-notch contemporary cinematic works, but also an opportunity to uncover new talent and determine the future of cinema. This is what the jurors for the New Current section of the Busan International Film Festival are looking to do, they vowed at a press conference in Busan on Friday, saying they were seeking directors with fresh perspectives.“Any industry -- film is no exception -- you must have new blood to prosper. We’re very interested to see

FilmOct. 5, 2018

Japanese actor criticizes use of controversial flag

Actor Kunimura Jun suggested that Japan should back down from its insistence on flying the controversial Rising Sun Flag during its visit to Jeju Island.Kunimura, one of the jury members for the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival, said that he understands how Koreans feel about the flag.“I know very well that it is a tradition of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, but I know that Koreans think differently about that flag,” he said at a press conference Friday in Busan. “

FilmOct. 5, 2018

Twice to hold 3rd anniversary fan meeting

Twice will celebrate the third anniversary of its debut with an official fan meeting this month. “The upcoming meet-and-greet event will take place at the outdoor stage at Yonsei University in Seoul on Oct. 28,” said the group’s agency JYP Entertainment on Friday.  (JYP Entertainment)Under the theme of “Halloween,” the band is preparing an eye-catching performance for its first outdoor event with fans.The 150-minute fan meeting titled “Once Halloween” will feature talk sessions, games and surpri

PerformanceOct. 5, 2018

BIFF sets sail, begins 10 days of cinematic splendor

World premieres, time-honored classics, special exhibitions and a tribute to a South Korean master auteur are among the delights in store for avid moviegoers Oct. 4-16 at this year’s Busan International Film Festival. The 23rd annual BIFF kicked off Thursday evening with an opening ceremony hosted by actors Kim Nam-gil and Han Ji-min at the Busan Cinema Center’s outdoor theater. The venue was filled to capacity with a crowd of 5,000. (Yonhap)Despite storm warnings, attendees lucked out with noth

FilmOct. 4, 2018

Poet Heo Su-Kyoung dies of cancer in Germany

The poet Heo Su-kyoung has died of gastric cancer in Germany where she had been studying archaeology for the past 26 years, her publishing agency said Thursday. She was 54.Heo passed away at around 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday at her home in Germany, Kim Min-jeong, the head of Nanda, Heo's publisher, told Yonhap News Agency. Heo will be buried in a woodland in Germany, Kim said, citing Heo's acquaintance. (Yonhap)Since her debut in 1987, Heo's regular subjects have been human hunger, grief and longing

CultureOct. 4, 2018

BIFF opener ‘Beautiful Days’ a film about family

The lives of the protagonists in “Beautiful Days,” which opened the 23rd Busan International Film Festival, are anything but beautiful.“It was originally called ‘Eomma (Mom),' but I liked the irony of the new title. It represents the hopes of what may come to be … It is the opposite of what the mother goes through in the movie, but it is a story of a hopeful future,” director Yun Jero said on his newest family drama at a press conference Thursday, ahead of the BIFF’s opening ceremony.The movie f

FilmOct. 4, 2018

NCT 127 pushes hard for American dream

NCT 127 is planning a string of aggressive stateside promotions ahead of the release of its first full-length studio album, “NCT #127 Regular Irregular,” slated for release Oct. 12.The album’s preorder sales notice, posted Sept. 26, allows shipping to the US through Amazon for the first time in addition to S.M. Entertainment’s online shop.The Seoul-affiliated band will also make its American television debut. The band is to appear on the Oct. 8 episode of ABC network’s late-night talk show “Jimm

PerformanceOct. 4, 2018

Visions of Korean cinema at Busan film fest

“Don’t Go Too Far” (BIFF)The biggest film event of the year is upon us in Busan, with numbers as astounding as ever: 324 films from 79 countries across 30 screens, including 140 world and international premieres. And for all its international flavor, some of the tastiest treats are in what’s down the pike for Korean cinema.  Over the 10 days of the fest until Oct. 13, the Korean Cinema Today program will show 17 of the year’s highlights in local mainstream products, such as top ticket-seller “Al

FilmOct. 4, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Dark Figure of Crime (Korea) Opened Oct. 3Crime, Drama, MysteryDirected by Kim Tae-kyunConvicted murderer Kang (Ju Ji-hoon) calls up detective Kim Hyung-min (Kim Yoon-seok) from his cellphone and confesses to six additional murders that were never reported to authorities. Kim tracks investigates the cases, but soon learns a plethora of lies is mixed into Kang’s testimony, and the criminal is manipulating him.The Great Battle(Korea) Opened Sept. 19Drama, History, ActionDirected by Kim Kwang-sikTh

FilmOct. 4, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Venom’ is a little fun...If you forget that it’s a Venom film

An R-rated superhero film has always been seen as bit of a gamble: It means giving up on the huge teenage audience, but it also allows the film to tackle darker and more “adult” themes.Amid a plethora of family-friendly superhero blockbusters, this was the road less traveled that “Deadpool” took in 2016, whose success inspired “Logan” to follow suit.Why am I talking so much about R-rated superhero films when I’m about to review one that isn’t even one? Because Ruben Fleischer set out to make “Ve

FilmOct. 4, 2018

G-Dragon tops list of artists with most song copyrights

Among K-pop idols equipped with song-crafting skills, G-Dragon remains firmly atop a list of those with the most copyrights under their name. According to rankings released by the Korea Music Copyright Association on Sept. 30, the Big Bang frontman topped the list for being registered with 172 works, which consists of songs that the artist has either composed, produced or written lyrics.  (YG Entertainment)The hitmaker has been mainly in charge of crafting songs for the group’s albums including

PerformanceOct. 4, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

‘Healing Yoga’ at Coex AquariumCoex Aquarium is holding an event that allows visitors to look at aquatic life while doing yoga. The “Healing Yoga” session to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 will take place at the Ocean Kingdom zone of the aquarium, which has various sea creatures including sharks, rays and sea turtles. A specialist in Jivamukti Yoga will lead the session.Those who wish to participate can register via the aquarium’s homepage (www.coexaqua.com). No additional charge is required fo

TravelOct. 4, 2018

Hanyangdoseong Festival to offer glimpse into life in Joseon

Commonly known as the Seoul Fortress, the Hanyangdoseong is a series of walls built during the Joseon era (1392-1910) to protect the kingdom’s capital -- today’s Seoul -- against invaders. 　Completed in 1396, the 18.6-kilometer wall remains a significant historical monument in South Korea today. Originally built along the ridges of Seoul’s four inner mountains -- Baekgaksan, Namsan, Naksan and Inwangsan -- the fortress has undergone a number of reconstruction projects to be in today’s form. 　An

CultureOct. 4, 2018