Tenor Kim Sung-ho wins Song Prize from BBC Cardiff Singer of the World

South Korean tenor Kim Sung-ho became the Song Prize winner at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition held at St David's Hall, Cardiff, on Thursday. Kim, 32, took home the prize for his rendition of “Let Beauty Awake” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, “Mit Myrten und Rosen” by Schumann, “Do not sing, my beauty” by Rachmaninoff, “Morgen!” by Strauss and “Dongsimcho” by Kim Seong-tae. The winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the Wor

June 18, 2023

Hybe's &Team takes first global step with 'Firework'

Japan-based K-pop boy band &Team held a global media showcase event on Sunday, following the release of its second EP, "First Howling: We." The event, held at Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo, was livestreamed via YouTube for overseas media. The nine bandmates spoke mostly in Japanese with Korean, English and Chinese mixed in between. "First Howling: We," which released Wednesday, marked a return from the boy band just six months since its debut under Korean entertainment co

June 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Bloodhounds’ producer, actors bond tightly after final two episodes rewritten

Director Jason Kim’s first-ever drama series “Bloodhounds,” which released on Netflix on June 9, runs for a total of eight hours, about four times longer than his previous films “Midnight Runners” and “The Divine Fury.” Yet with an unexpected setback involving the series’ main female actor, the effort and time invested in bringing the eight-episode series to life ended up far exceeding the director’s initial expectations of a mere fourfold in

June 18, 2023

[BTS' 10th] Yeouido covered in purple with BTS festivities

The color purple dominating everything is not a rare sight at a gathering for K-pop superband BTS and its fans, Army. But what stood out the most on Saturday at the main event of the group's 10th anniversary fete, "2023 BTS Festa," held in Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul was the diverse make up of the people who came, ranging widely in terms of race, age and gender. The day-long event not only welcomed fans, but also families and residents of the city to mingle and enjoy the atmosphere.

June 18, 2023

Netflix announces new cast for ‘Squid Game 2’

Netflix Korea on Sunday announced the new cast for the second season of the sensational series “Squid Game.” Joining the original cast will be actors Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong-geun. Yim most recently starred in the Netflix thriller flick “Unlocked,” while Park played a villain in Netflix’s “The Glory.” Kang was the lead actor in hit TV drama “When the Camellia Blooms” (2019) and Yang appeared in Netflix action fli

June 18, 2023

[BTS' 10th] RM of BTS tunes in live with fans at Yeouido

Laughter rippled across the grass field in Yeouido Hangang Park on Saturday as RM, the leader of BTS, read out a story from one of the group's 10-year fan who first discovered BTS in her middle school and grew up with the band. She recently landed her first job, RM read from her message. "I remember training to become a singer as a student with Yoongi (Suga), and it feels strange celebrating our 10th anniversary like this right now," RM said. "Thank you for being with us as you gr

June 17, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“The Flash” (US) Opened June 14 Action Directed by Andres Muschietti The Flash uses his superpowers to travel back in time to change events of the past. But his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future and he becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (US) Opened June 6 Action Directed by Steven Caple Jr. Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge ye

June 17, 2023

Fifty Fifty's 'Cupid' spends 12th consecutive week on British chart

K-pop rookie sensation's hit song "Cupid" has charted for the 12th consecutive week on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100. According to the latest chart released Friday (British time), the song ranked 12th, dropping five places from 11th the previous week. "Cupid" tied for the longest-charting song from a K-pop girl group with "Kiss and Make Up," a collaborative single between BLACKPINK and Dua Lipa. After entering the chart at No. 96 in early April,

June 17, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NCT127, NCT Dream to mark 7th debut anniversary with fan meets

NCT127 and NCT Dream will celebrate their seventh anniversaries with fan meet events in Seoul, announced label SM Entertainment on Friday. NCT127 will greet fans on July 16 under the title “Once Upon a 7uly” themed after a party held at a kingdom. It will include a range of performances and games. NCT Dream will hold its, dubbed “Dream Land,” on July 22 inviting fans to the event fashioned after a theme park. On July 17, the seven-piece subunit is slated to make a comeba

June 16, 2023

Star-studded Disney+ series ‘Moving’ to premiere in August

Disney+, the flagship streaming service of US media giant Walt Disney Co., announced the release of its new action hero series “Moving” in early August. With a star-studded lineup of actors, ranging from top stars Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo, go-to actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Sung-kyun to veteran actors Cha Tae-hyun, Kim Hee-won and rising star Go Youn-jung, “Moving” is one of the most anticipated series of the year. Based on the webtoon of the same title by renowned webtoon

June 16, 2023

LUN8 hopes to enlighten listeners through music

Nervous but poised, eight talented young boys were ready to introduce themselves as a new K-pop boy band, LUN8. “This is our first time being on a stage. It took us a lot of effort and patience to introduce an album made up of only our voices. We will do our best to show good performances to give a good impression of the group LUN8 to the public,” said Jinsu, the leader of LUN8 during their debut press conference held in Seoul on Thursday. The rookies from the agency Fantagio which h

June 16, 2023

Netflix confirms 2nd season of ‘XO, Kitty’

Global streamer Netflix will renew its teen romance series “XO, Kitty,” with expanded stories for the second season. Netflix confirmed the launch of its second season through a press release on Thursday. “XO, Kitty,” a sequel series of the “To All The Boys” franchise, presents the heart-racing journey of Kitty Song Covey (played by Anna Cathcart), who sets off on an adventure of romance in South Korea to meet her long distance boyfriend Dae (played by Choi Min

June 16, 2023

Ateez sizzles, sets sights on US award shows with 'Outlaw'

Boy band Ateez is returning sizzling and spicy, ready to shake up the world with a new episode off its "The World" album series. The album, "The World EP.2: Outlaw" (hereafter referred to as "Outlaw"), marks the eight-piece's return after about six months following the release of its first single, "Spin Off: From the Witness," in December. Ateez's members on Thursday held a press showcase event in Seoul, a day prior to the new album's releas

June 15, 2023

[Herald Interview] Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s living history on opportunities created on fringes

In South Korea, the term "fringe" is increasingly being used at various festivals, such as the DIMF Fringe of the Daegu International Musical Festival, the Kocaca Fringe Festival alongside the Jeju Haevichi Arts Festival, the Dynamic Street Fringe of the Busan International Performing Arts Festival, the Seoul Fringe Festival and many more. The term "fringe" has typically referred to the border or outer edges, and now represents the inclusive and experimental nature of perfo

June 15, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] iKON’s Kim Jinhwan to drop 1st solo album

Kim Jinhwan of iKON will debut as a solo musician on June 21, announced agency 143 Entertainment on Thursday. The news came as a surprise to fans and according to the timetable poster, the solo album project will consist of two parts -- “Paradise” and “Blue Moon.” The second part will be unveiled on July 12. Meanwhile, the band is in the middle of its international tour “Take Off” that started last month with a two-day concert in Seoul and will be held in mor

June 15, 2023

NCT Dream to unveil track 'Broken Melodies' prior to album drop

NCT Dream is set to make a return with its third studio album in July, and will drop one of its tracks, “Broken Melodies,” next Monday prior to the album’s release. The track “Broken Melodies” sings about overcoming diverse emotions evoked by being apart from a loved one and doing anything one needs to protect that love. NCT Dream dropped a teaser clip of the pre-release track on Thursday in which its member Mark recites a line from William Shakespeare’s play

June 15, 2023

‘KCON LA 2023’ artist lineup unveiled

"KCON LA 2023" will open on Aug. 18 for a three-day run with a star-studded lineup ranging from K-pop legends to the latest sensations, CJ ENM revealed Thursday. The event, which is the largest K-culture festival, will be held at the Crypto.com Arena and the LA Convention Center with a total of 20 K-pop acts. Among the K-pop acts are those making their US stage debut through this event. That includes one of the major fourth-generation female players IVE, which debuted on the Billboard

June 15, 2023

Sandara Park to drop solo album in July

Singer Sandara Park is making her long-awaited solo comeback in July with a digital album, her agency, Abyss Company, announced Thursday. "Sandara Park's fans have waited for her long. We have decided to release a special album and are currently putting all our hearts into it to return to fans," the agency added in the statement to the local press. Sandara Park debuted in 2009 as a member of now defunct group 2NE1. This marks the 38-year-old singer's return as a musician in s

June 15, 2023

Song Joong-ki greets new baby boy

Actor Song Joong-ki has uploaded a photo of his newborn son's hand grasping his finger Thursday. In January, Song announced his marriage to British former model Katy Louise Saunders a month after confirming their relationship. On Thursday, Song wrote on an online fan site that he has “met with the baby boy in Rome” where his wife was also born. Song said both mother and baby are healthy and that he’s been taking care of his family with gratitude and happiness. “(The

June 15, 2023

DKB hopes for a turning point with 'I Need Love'

Starting this year with fierce competition in JTBC's "Peak Time," boy band DKB is back ever more confident and energized with its sixth EP, "I Need Love." Ahead of dropping the new album, DKB held a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday afternoon. "I Need Love" marks the return of the nine-piece act with a new album 10 months after the release of its fifth EP, "Autumn," in August 2022. So much has happened for the boy band since it debuted amid the g

June 14, 2023