Actress Son Ye-jin to return to small screen

Veteran actress Son Ye-jin will return to the small screen for the first time in five years with the new JTBC series “Pretty Sister who Treats Me to Meals” (working title), the channel said Wednesday. The upcoming drama will revolve around the love story between Yoon Jin-ah, a 30-something supervisor of a coffee franchise played by Son, and Seo Joon-hee, the younger brother of Yoon’s best friend. The story unfolds as Yoon, who finds her life monotonous, suddenly develops romantic feelings toward

TelevisionJan. 10, 2018

EXID uncovers ‘hidden gems’ in ‘Re:flower’ project

EXID became a household name with “Up & Down” in 2014, but the K-pop act has more to offer. It plans to re-release songs that were not heavily promoted in the past. Banana Culture Entertainment on Wednesday announced the group would kick off its “Re:flower” project next week, unveiling re-mastered versions of EXID’s previously released songs. The first song will be released at 6 p.m. Monday. A promotional image for EXID’s “Re:flower” project (Banana Culture Entertainment)The agency said that the

PerformanceJan. 10, 2018

'The Handmaiden' nominated for best non-English film at British film awards

"The Handmaiden" by Korea's celebrated film director Park Chan-wook has been nominated for best non-English movie at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the organizer said Tuesday.The movie, based on Sarah Waters' Victorian lesbian crime novel "Fingersmith," is among five nominees for the Best Film Not in the English Language category. Other films include "First They Killed My Father" produced by Hollywood actress and director Angelina Jolie.The erotic thriller was one of 21

FilmJan. 9, 2018

Block B’s Park Kyung thanks fans

(Youtube)Park Kyung, a member of Block B, expressed his gratitude toward fans for helping the K-pop group’s song reach No. 1 on a Korean music chart. He posted a snapshot of the song “Don’t Leave” at No. 1 on the Bugs chart on his Instagram account, along with a comment that said, “Thank you so much for making the song No. 1. We will always try our best to make better music for you guys.”Park Kyung was in charge of producing the song “Don’t Leave,” the lead song of Block B’s latest album “Re:Mon

PerformanceJan. 9, 2018

How North Korean women do their makeup: defector actress (Video)

Snow-white skin and a round, full-moon face -- these are the elements of a beautifully made-up North Korean female face, according to actress Kim Ah-ra. Kim, who defected to the South in 2009, featured in a YouTube clip by beauty vlogger Min Sae-rom on Friday to give a tutorial on North Korean women’s makeup.The two applied makeup to their faces using a photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju as a reference.  Min Sae-rom (left) and Kim Ah-ra (YouTube)North Korean music groups l

Arts & DesignJan. 9, 2018

After long break, Infinite revamps as six-piece with ‘Top Seed’

Ever since K-pop superstar Infinite became a six-member act with the departure of Hoya last August, the group seems to have spent its time preparing for its comeback hoping to prove it is still intact from the blow. Infinite’s latest full-length album “Top Seed,” released Monday, is the group’s first release since its 2016 EP “Infinite Only,” also the first full-length album since 2014’s “Season 2.” “We named the album ‘Top Seed’ as it refers to the highest ranking team in sports. We hope it bec

PerformanceJan. 9, 2018

[Herald Interview] Out of dark tunnel, Yangpa sings to send message of ‘comfort’

In 1996, when cassette tapes were not old-fashioned and wide-legged pants were trendy, there was one particular song dominating the Korean airwaves: “Novice’s Love,” a love ballad by an 18-year-old high-schooler. Even after 20 years, Yangpa, whose real name is Lee Eun-jin, vividly remembers the first performance of that smash hit, her debut song that immediately shot the teenager to stardom. “That tense, that jittery feeling before going up onstage... It’s still fresh in my memory. I was singing

PerformanceJan. 9, 2018

Lee Dong-wook to star in drama ‘Life’ as doctor

After being a charming Grim Reaper, Lee Dong-wook is ready to take on the role of a doctor. Lee, who is currently in the tvN megahit drama “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” will star in JTBC’s new drama series “Life (Working title).”Lee Dong-wook (King Kong Entertainment)“Lee will star in JTBC’s new medical drama series,” his management agency King Kong by Starship Entertainment said Monday. Lee will play the role of an emergency room doctor.“Life” is not a typical medical drama show, as its

TelevisionJan. 9, 2018

T-ara refutes ‘super car’ report

Members of girl group T-ara publicly denied media reports that a Chinese business mogul gave them luxury cars and paid a huge sum of money to the group’s former agency MBK Entertainment to sign the group onto his own media firm.In an Instagram post late Monday, the group said it contacted Banana Culture founder Wang Sicong, who confirmed that such reports were false. T-ara (Yonhap)A Korean news outlet reported earlier that Wang -- reportedly an avid fan of the group -- paid T-ara’s former agency

PerformanceJan. 9, 2018

‘Joseon Beauty Pageant’ highlights traditional Korean music

Period drama “Joseon Beauty Pageant” broke barriers between old and new last weekend by highlighting gugak, or traditional Korean music. The two-episode TV drama, which aired Saturday and Sunday on KBS, centered on participants of a Joseon-era beauty contest, who find love and achieve their dreams.The series was well-received by viewers, contrary to initial concerns that young viewers might find gugak too unfamiliar. Many left positive comments on social media and the broadcasting station’s webs

TelevisionJan. 9, 2018

Best Korean TV shows of 2017: index

Fantasy romance series “Guardian: The Great and Lonely God” and medical drama “Dr. Romantic” were among the most popular TV dramas of 2017, according to statistics released by CJ E&M Monday. The two shows nabbed first and second places respectively in content company CJ E&M’s year-end index, which measures popularity based on ratings, online searches and social media posts. The third and fourth most popular drama series were “Defendant” and “The Legend of the Blue Sea,” respectively. In variety

TelevisionJan. 8, 2018

YG chief hints solo album for Winner’s Mino

Yang Hyun-suk, the head of YG Entertainment, issued on Monday a not-so-subtle hint at rapper Mino’s solo album. Yang posted a picture of a long line of fans waiting outside of a hip-hop club in Hongdae, Seoul, where the Winner member was to perform. Accompanying the photos were hashtag “the longest line in Hongdae history,” and “Instructing preparation for a solo album tomorrow.”  Mino (YG Entertainment)“From what we know, he (Yang) has talked to Mino about it (solo album),” said an official fro

PerformanceJan. 8, 2018

From ‘Idol School,’ fromis_9 to debut Jan. 24

Nine trainees who survived Mnet competition “Idol School” are to make their official debut as a K-pop group later this month.Promoters of the unit, named “fromis_9,” said Monday that the girl group will release its debut EP on Jan. 24, the title of which was not yet been revealed. fromis_9The nine-piece group has already been showcased on the public stage, performing its predebut single “Glass Shoes” at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Japan.The group consists of the top placers from “Idol Sc

PerformanceJan. 8, 2018

[Herald Review] GFriend rocks first solo concerts

After three years in the K-pop scene, GFriend’s dream has finally come true: The group successfully wrapped up its first solo concerts “Season of GFriend” in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday. The concerts, held at the Olympic Hall at Olympic Park in Seoul, were a testament to the six-piece group’s reputation as one of Korea’s most promising young acts. The event, which ran for more than three hours on each day, featured the group’s hits and individual members’ solo performances for the first time. 

PerformanceJan. 8, 2018

Violinist Yang In-mo welcomes challenge of playing 24 Paganini caprices

Violinist Yang In-mo expressed confidence in performing Niccolo Paganini’s 24 caprices for solo violin -- notorious for their difficulty -- during a showcase at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul on Monday.“I have always wanted to play the 24 caprices by Paganini. I remember my aunt buying me the album when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I listened and thought that I would also play them someday. Instead of overwhelming me, they encouraged me to play the string instrument,” said Yang, Kumho Art Hall’s artis

PerformanceJan. 8, 2018

T-ara faces unknown future

Dark clouds are gathering over K-pop act T-ara’s future, with its former agency seeking exclusive rights to the group name. On Monday, local media reported that MBK Entertainment, which had represented T-ara for a decade until the members’ departure last week, had applied to register the group’s name “T-ara” as its trademark at the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 28 last year, three days before the members’ contract with the agency expired.  T-ara (MBK Entertainment)The application,

PerformanceJan. 8, 2018

‘Kang’s Kitchen’ cooks up delicious food, high viewership ratings

Entertainment TV show “Kang’s Kitchen” has closed up the show’s titular restaurant, leaving only the director’s cut to air Tuesday. The six-episode show aired on tvN was a spinoff of the reality TV show “New Journey to the West,” produced by megahit producer Na Young-seok. Original cast members of “New Journey to the West” -- Kang Ho-dong, Lee Su-geun, Eun Ji-won, Mino and Ahn Jae-hyun -- starred in the show, excluding only Kyuhyun, who had recently enlisted in the Army.  Poster for “Kang’s Kitc

TelevisionJan. 8, 2018

Actress Ko Sung-hee considering role in ‘Suits’

Rising actress Ko Sung-hee is considering the lead role in the new courtroom drama series “Suits.” “The production staff offered Ko a role in ‘Suits’ and she is favorably considering it,” said Ko’s management agency Saram Entertainment Monday. (Yonhap)If Ko agrees to star in the series, she will take the role of Kim Ji-na, an extremely perceptive and intelligent legal assistant. Kim is admired by people at work, but secretly suffers from an inferiority complex.“Suits” is a remake of the popular

TelevisionJan. 8, 2018

Korean locations spotted in Hollywood films

Korea’s landmarks are being increasingly featured in Hollywood films in recent years. Seoul’s Gangnam area and Garak Market are briefly seen in director Alexander Payne’s upcoming film “Downsizing,” which opens in local theaters Thursday. In the sci-fi drama film, scientists discover how to shrink human beings to ten centimeters tall as a solution to overpopulation and pollution.  A scene from “Downsizing” (Lotte Entertainment)Koreans are depicted responding to the jaw-dropping development in th

FilmJan. 7, 2018

iKon to release second full-length album ‘Return’

K-pop boy group iKon is gearing up for a comeback with its second full-length album “Return,” according to YG Entertainment Saturday. A teaser video for the upcoming album, released on the agency’s official blog Saturday, featured the members in a short film that was dubbed with member Bobby’s short reflective monologue.  iKon (YG Entertainment)“Return” marks the group’s first full-length album in over two years since 2015’s “Welcome Back,” the agency said. Following its debut with the single “M

PerformanceJan. 7, 2018