'The Boys' director says blending fact, fiction necessary to deliver message

Adding a completely new character to "The Boys" was necessary to make the based-on-a-true-story film more compelling, director Chung Ji-young said Monday. "Some people call me the Ken Loach of South Korea. But I create more dramatic devices than (he does) to share my story with a wider audience," Chung said at a press conference in Seoul. He referred to British director Ken Loach, who is famous for making films based on true events. "The Boys" revisits a 1999 case i

Oct. 23, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] TXT hits Billboard 200 at No. 3

    Tomorrow X Together’s third studio album charted No. 3 on the Billboard 200, according to the chart preview the publication posted on Sunday in the US. The LP “The Name Chapter: Freefall” is the ninth album from the band to enter the main albums chart, the second-most for a K-pop artist, only after BTS. The five-piece act placed all three albums from this year on the chart as well. Its fifth EP “The Name Chapter: Temptation” came out in January an

Oct. 23, 2023

Billlie opens a new world in 'Side-B: Memoirs of Echo Unseen'

Girl group Billlie made its long-awaited return Monday with its first single, "Side-B: Memoirs of Echo Unseen." The four-track package comes seven months since the release of its fourth EP, "The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three," in March. Billlie's Haram, Tsuki, Siyoon, Sheon and Haruna on Monday held a press conference in Seoul ahead of the album's release later that evening. Moon Sua and Suhyeon are currently on a break due to health concerns and did not take

Oct. 23, 2023

Fifty Fifty’s agency terminates contract with 3 of 4 group members

K-pop agency Attrakt has notified Saena, Sio and Aran of Fifty Fifty of the termination of their exclusive contracts. “We notified Saena, Sio and Arin of Fifty Fifty, excluding Keena, of the termination of their exclusive contracts on Thursday,” Attrakt announced Monday in a press release. “This move comes as these three members show no remorse for breaching the contract with the agency. We will discuss what actions we will take against these members later on,” the statem

Oct. 23, 2023

Lee Sun-kyun drops out from ‘No Way Out’

Prolific actor Lee Sun-kyun, who has recently come under police investigation for suspected drug use, is dropping out from his latest project, “No Way Out,” a mystery thriller series that began shooting this month. According to the entertainment industry, the production company notified its actors and staff that shooting would be postponed for two weeks to reorganize the cast. Following the police announcement on Friday concerning the investigation into Lee, staff of “No Way Ou

Oct. 23, 2023

[Herald Review] Stray Kids perform new standard of '5-star' show

Thousands of international fans gathered at Gocheok Sky Dome, the biggest concert venue in South Korea, on Sunday for the last day of the K-pop boy band Stray Kids’ “5-Star Dome Tour 2023 Seoul Special.” Stray Kids’ signature red rippled through the dome to signal the beginning of the globally popular artists’ show. Soon, members of the group jumped one by one on the stage from an underground lift, eliciting deafening roars from the audience. Stray Kids were dressed

Oct. 23, 2023

'Seventeenth Heaven' logs record-high 5.2m preorder sales

Seventeen continues its record-setting streak with its 11th EP "Seventeenth Heaven," racking up 5.2 million copies in preorder sales. "Seventeenth Heaven" tallied pre-order sales of 5,206,718 units, the group's agency Pledis Entertainment said on Monday citing the data from the album's distributor YG Plus. The album will come out later at 6 p.m. This marks a milestone for both K-pop and Seventeen, as it had been the group's own album -- the 10th EP "FML&qu

Oct. 23, 2023

Singer-songwriter Oohyo returns with new album

Singer-songwriter Oohyo is dropping a new album, "Oohyo Returns," on Monday. The extended play marks Oohyo's first step as she sets off on her independent journey, the album's distributor Mirrorball Music said in a statement. An album celebrating her ninth debut anniversary, "Oohyo Returns" is packed with old and new sounds from the singer. According to Mirrorball Music, the album includes revised versions of three previously released songs -- "Teddy Bear,"

Oct. 23, 2023

NewJeans, Ive win first national culture merit

K-pop girl groups NewJeans and Ive were awarded a national culture merit on Saturday for their role in the promotion of Korean culture and arts. The rookie groups were recognized with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation at the 14th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards. The ceremony was held on Saturday at Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul. "We are honored to receive such big award. We feel grateful to our fans, Bunnies, and everyo

Oct. 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Ian Bostridge enjoys incorporating great works of literature into music

The Hic Et Nunc! music festival, which strives to focus on subtly changing trends in the classical music world, is set for its sixth edition next month. From Nov. 9-22, Hic Et Nunc!, a Latin phrase that means "here and now," will present six main programs with its organizer Sejong Soloists, featuring emerging Korean musicians as well as acclaimed international musicians like tenor Ian Bostridge and saxophonist Steven banks. Presenting the festival's goal of nonconformity and bound

Oct. 22, 2023

[Herald Review] 'Brave Citizen,' a delightful comic action flick that punishes school bullies

Director Park Jin-pyo, behind the 2005 romance movie “You Are My Sunshine,” has returned with a delightful comic action hero flick that shows a straightforward tale of a high school teacher seeking vengeance on a school bully. In Park's "Brave Citizen," substitute civic education teacher So Si-min (Shin Hae-sun) silently endures exploitation, having to grade test paper of her peers, and sexual harassment by the vice principal, for the sole purpose of making it as a ful

Oct. 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids float teaser for upcoming EP

Stray Kids released a sample of their forthcoming EP, floating a teaser video for a B-side track on Friday. The trailer for “Megaverse” instantly grabs attention with shattering glass, following the eight bandmates crossing over time and space with strong sounds in the background. The band is gearing up to roll out eighth EP “Rock-Star” on Nov. 10, about five months since the group's third studio album, “Five-Star.” The LP charted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 a

Oct. 20, 2023

43 films to premiere at Seoul International Pride Film Festival

The Seoul International Pride Film Festival, focusing on films dealing with LGBTQ+ themes, is set to kick off for a seven-day run from Nov. 2 at the CGV Cine Library in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. This year, a total of 116 films from 39 countries around the world will be screened throughout the festivities. Among the lineup, 27 films will be world premieres. The 2023 SIPFF will open with "Femme," directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. "Femme" revolves around around dra

Oct. 20, 2023

BTS’ Jungkook features The Kid Laroi’s new single 'Too Much’

Jungkook of BTS announced a music collaboration with world-renowned artists on Friday. He featured in the Australian rapper The Kid Laroi’s new single “Too Much” along with British rapper Central Cee, according to Big Hit Music. This marks the first time the artists have collaborated with each other. Jungkook added his rapping and unique rhythmic vocal styling to the song composed of funky instrumentals with an addictive hook. He also starred in the music video of the new singl

Oct. 20, 2023

Fifty Fifty's Keena says outsourcing rep stoked bad blood with Attrakt, Fifty Fifty

Keena of Fifty Fifty confessed that Ahn Sung-il, a representative of outsourcing company The Givers, incited the group to apply for an injunction to suspend the group’s exclusive contract with agency Attrakt. In an interview with local media outlet Dispatch, Keena said that Ahn suggested that she fake having been diagnosed with COVID-19 in June to use the isolation time to leave the dormitory provided by Attrakt. “Producer Ahn said that we would be able escape the agency’s atte

Oct. 20, 2023

Lotte Cinema to screen NBA game

Cinema operator Lotte Cinema confirmed Friday that it will livestream an upcoming NBA game between Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings on Oct. 28. A total of 22 screens, including Lotte Cinema World Tower, Gimpo Airport and more, will feature the basketball showdown between last year’s playoff qualifying teams, according to the cinema chain. Rules have been relaxed so that visitors can cheer while watching the game at the cinema during the match. Those watching will be invited to ma

Oct. 20, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Hopeless” (South Korea) Opened Oct. 11 Drama/Thriller Directed by Kim Chang-hoon Eighteen-year-old Yeon-kyu (Hong Xa-bin), who lives with his abusive stepfather and exhausted mother, meets Chi-gun (Song Joong-ki), the right-hand man of a gang boss, who takes him in. “30 Days” (South Korea) Opened Oct. 3 Comedy Directed by Nam Dae-joong The idyllic newlywed life of Jung-yeol (Kang Ha-neul), an intelligent lawyer, and his wife Nara (Jung So-min), a passionate film produc

Oct. 20, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Taemin to host solo concert in December

  Taemin of SHINee will hold a solo concert in Incheon, Gyeonggi-do on Dec. 16-17, JYP Entertainment announced Thursday. It has been over four and a half years since the veteran performer hosted a solo gig offline. The live event, dubbed “Metamorph,” will be the first standalone gig at the Inspire Arena, the country’s first multi-purpose arena that is part of a $5 billion resort built near Incheon Airport. The youngest member of SHINee is gearing up to make his comeback as

Oct. 19, 2023

Will K-pop singers be likely contenders for Grammy nods?

K-pop acts' race to the Grammys continues this year, with a growing number of artists bidding to make inroads into the world's most prestigious music event. And this time, it's not just BTS. Reports from the US music industry showed that the nominee selection process for the 66th Grammy Awards has commenced recently, with a sizable batch of K-pop singers and groups spotted among the hopefuls. K-pop's biggest group and three-time Grammy nominee BTS is taking another shot -- th

Oct. 19, 2023

In a first, Le Sserafim collaborates with Overwatch for in-game content

K-pop sensation Le Sserafim has teamed up with Overwatch 2, a free-to-play team-based action game developed by Blizzard Entertainment, for an in-game collaboration. Le Sserafim-inspired game mode and exclusive in-game items will be revealed on Tuesday and go live in-game on Nov. 1, Blizzard Entertainment said in a statement Thursday. It also announced that they took part in creating the music video for Le Sserafim’s first English single, “Perfect Night,” which will debut on Oct

Oct. 19, 2023