[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

Lim Yun-chan signs exclusive recording deal with Decca

South Korean piano sensation Lim Yun-chan is expected to release a new album in the first quarter of 2024 under the Decca label. On Thursday, entertainment giant Universal Music Group announced that Lim had signed an exclusive recording deal with Decca, Universal Music Group's London-based affiliate. The British record label has produced albums with leading musicians including Georg Solti, Luciano Pavarotti, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Chung Kyung-wha. “The company worked hard for a long t

Oct. 19, 2023

2023 Melon Music Awards to take place Dec. 2

Melon Music Awards, one of the nation's biggest music award shows, will take place on Dec. 2, its organizer announced Thursday. Melon, Kakao Entertainment's music streaming company, said Thursday that the 15th Melon Music Awards, or MMA2023, will take place at the Inspire Arena, a new concert venue on Yeongjongdo, Incheon. Under the slogan "K-pop Changes the World," the MMA 2023 will officially kick off its promotions starting with a teaser video on Oct. 27. Next month, the v

Oct. 19, 2023

D.O. of EXO to leave SM

D.O. of EXO is leaving SM Entertainment after his exclusive contract with the agency expires next month. “Our exclusive contract with Doh Kyung-soo (D.O.) expires early next month. After a thorough discussion, he decided that he will continue to work as a member of EXO even after leaving SM,” announced SM Entertainment on Wednesday in a press release. D.O. will establish his own agency with his manager from SM Entertainment and will continue his career as an actor and singer. D.O. de

Oct. 19, 2023

Coupang Play seeks turnaround with exclusive content

With plans to release BTS’ Busan concert film -- “BTS: Yet to Come” -- and a survival show titled “University War” (unofficial translation) in November, local video streaming service Coupang Play seeks to cement its position in Korea's streaming market. While the streamer garnered viewers’ interest with the mystery thriller “Anna” (2022) -- starring K-pop star and actor Suzy -- and multiple seasons of comedy variety show “Saturday Night

Oct. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] Rising star conductor Klaus Makela to meet Korean audiences

Klaus Makela, a fast-rising Finnish conductor and cellist, will finally meet the Korean audiences after two pandemic-induced cancellations. "I was truly sad and felt sorry. However, because of the sadness I had felt through the pandemic, the expectation for the upcoming performance in Korea doubled," Makela said in an email interview this week. At 27, Makela is chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic, which last performed in Korea 27 years ago. The orchestra will perform on Oct. 28

Oct. 18, 2023

Chuu makes tearful solo debut with 'Howl'

Singer Chuu has made her long-awaited solo debut with EP "Howl." The new album, launched Wednesday, marks Chuu's first solo foray, coming six years after she debuted as part of the group Loona, and after she was removed from the group in November due to a contract dispute. The young musician, appearing tearful at her debut showcase, has had to chart a rough course, having fought with her past agency and needing to rebuild her career. "I felt bad to be involved in an issue tha

Oct. 18, 2023

Kingdom introduces last of its 7 kingdoms in 7th EP

K-pop boy group Kingdom on Wednesday made a comeback with its 7th EP, “History Of Kingdom: Part. VII. Jahan.” The album faced difficulties before its official release as all 70,000 pre-made copies of the album had to be discarded and redesigned due to its resemblance to the Quran. The album cover drew backlash from fans as soon as the group’s agency, GF Entertainment, shared the design of the album for pre-orders, which had been scheduled to start on Sep. 21. “We want t

Oct. 18, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Red Velvet to return with 3rd LP next month

Red Velvet returns with a third studio album on Nov. 13, label SM Entertainment announced Wednesday. The LP is titled “What A Chill Kill” and consists of 10 genre-spanning tracks. It is the group’s first full album in about six years and comes approximately a year since its last album, EP “The ReVe Festival 2022 – Birthday.” The EP was the quintet’s first album to sell over a million and topped the iTunes top albums chart in 47 regions as well as a seri

Oct. 18, 2023

Star musicians add own touches to films as music directors

Well-known musicians are joining hands with renowned and rookie filmmakers who want to create a unique atmosphere and maximize the dramatic elements in their films through sound. Rapper-composer Gray recently took part in the production of "Ballerina" as the Netflix original film's music director. It was Gray's first time composing music for a film. Soon after the movie’s release on Oct. 6, the film garnered global attention for protagonist Ok-joo's (Jun Jong-seo)

Oct. 18, 2023

Is Blackpink leaving YG?

The globally renowned K-pop girl group Blackpink’s exclusive contract with YG Entertainment ended in August, but it remains unclear whether or not the group will renew their contract with the agency and rumors over the group's future have continued to circulate. The rumors were further fueled after Blackpink's Rose was spotted in Paris with Ron Perry, the chairman and CEO of Columbia Records. A picture of Perry talking with Rose was shared among Blackpink’s French fan comm

Oct. 18, 2023

BTS' Jungkook headed to Paris as MTV EMA nominee, performer

BTS' Jungkook will be attending the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards in Paris next month as a nominee and performer. The full list of performers for this year's MTV EMA ceremony was revealed on the event's official website Wednesday. Jungkook was among the list of 10 artists, including Anne-Marie, Coi Leray and David Guetta. This celebrates the BTS member's first in-person attendance at the annual European award. Jungkook has already marked a landmark feat at the MTV EMA this yea

Oct. 18, 2023