National Theater Company of Korea to stage Chekov's tragicomedy

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to stage Anton Chekhov’s posthumous work of Russian theater, “The Cherry Orchard,” at the National Theater of Korea’s Myeongdong Arts Theater from May 4 to 28. Chekhov’s final full-length play will be directed by Kim Kwang-bo, the artistic director of the NTC who has been at the helm of the state theater since 2020. Although Chekhov labeled this work as a comedy in his notes, the play is known for its realistic portrayal

April 24, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to return in June: report

Stray Kids will make a comeback in early June, according to a local media report on Monday. JYP Entertainment confirmed the news following the report. It will be about eight months since its last EP “Maxident,” which notched the top spot on Billboard 200. It was the band’s second EP to claim the No. 1 spot on the main albums chart after its previous EP “Oddinary,” and the eight-piece act became the second K-pop artist to top the chart more than once, after BTS. The

April 24, 2023

Seventeen shouts 'F--- My Life' in new album

Seventeen returned Monday with its 10th EP, titled "FML," through which the K-pop band treats young ears to cheerful tunes and hopeful messages. "FML" marked the 13-piece group's return with a new album nine months after the release of its fourth LP reissue, "Sector 17," in July. "We've embodied all the music and messages that we had wanted to do and deliver in this album,"the group's leader S.Coups said in an official statement to the local

April 24, 2023

‘Yonder’ tops Paramount+ international series chart

Tving’s 2022 sci-fi series “Yonder,” which was released globally via Paramount+ on April 11, has topped the streamer's international series chart. “Yonder” became the most-viewed work among other international series that were aired this year the first week after its release, Tving said in a press release Monday, quoting Paramount+. The international series chart includes all non-American projects that are serviced by Paramount+. “Yonder,” which was

April 24, 2023

[Herald Interview] Veteran producer Lil Moshpit rolls out red carpet for rookie rapper Fleeky Bang

Hwimin, from the renowned music-producing duo GroovyRoom, and rookie rapper Fleeky Bang met for the first time as a judge and participant respectively through Mnet’s rap competition TV show “Show Me the Money 11." Although Fleeky Bang didn't advance to the final round of the competition, his unique rapping style caught the eye of the veteran producer, leading them to collaborate for the project album “Fleeky Season” that came out on April 17. The album, the firs

April 24, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Pansori Les Miserables,' blend of pansori, band music and theater

A pansori adaptation of Victor Hugo’s timeless classic “Les Miserables” performed by Ip Koa Son, a pansori creative group, ended its 13-day run at Doosan Art Center’s Space 111 in Seoul on Saturday. A seamless blend of old and new, “Pansori Les Miserables” follows the general plot of the original narrative, but reconstructs it with the traditional form of pansori, in which a “sorrikkun” (vocalist) and “gosu” (drummer) lead the story. Se

April 23, 2023

BTS' Suga dominates Japan's Oricon charts with solo album 'D-Day'

BTS' Suga has taken over the Japanese music charts with his latest solo album "D-Day." Dropped under his alias Agust D, "D-Day" and its tracks landed in the top tiers of Japan's Oricon charts. The album soared to No. 1 of Oricon's daily album ranking after its release on Friday, with over 110,000 copies sold inside Japan on its first day. The album's title track, "Haegeum," landed at No. 3 on the daily digital singles ranking, with the album'

April 23, 2023

BTS' Suga sells over 1m copies of 'D-Day' on 1st day of release

Superstar Suga of boy group BTS has recorded the biggest first-day sales as a K-pop soloist with his official debut solo album, "D-Day," according to sources in the music industry Saturday. The sources said the album sold over 1,070,000 copies in the first day following its release under Suga's other stage name, Agust D, on Friday, citing data from Hanteo Chart, a local album sales tracker. The record was previously set by his bandmate Jimin last month with "Face," whi

April 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Army officially denies doing favors for BTS’ J-Hope

On Friday, the Korean Army commented on a media report that claimed it gave J-Hope of BTS certain privileges when he entered the boot camp. A local media asserted that six cars were allowed into the camp in Gangwon Province on Tuesday instead of one, as announced by the military. Access passes were given to the artist’s entourage in advance while other people were only given one on the site after confirming notice of enlistment. There have been prior consultations with his label to preven

April 21, 2023

BTS’ Suga fills 1st solo album 'D-Day' with honest thoughts

BTS’ Suga finally dropped his first official solo album, “D-Day,” on Friday under his soloist name, Agust D. The full-length album comes seven years after Suga began his solo career with his first self-titled mixtape, “Agust D,” in August 2016. His second mixtape, “D-2” was unveiled in 2020, led by chart-topping single “Daechwita.” “D-Day” comprises 10 tracks, including lead track “Haegeum” alongside the prerelease tra

April 21, 2023

Korean bands to perform at New York’s Lincoln Center

Punk band Crying Nut and indie band Say Sue Me will be performing at Damrosch Park at New York's Lincoln Center on July 19. According to the Korean Cultural Center in New York, Crying Nut and Say Sue Me will be the second group of Korean bands to perform at the Lincoln Center, following Jannabi and byebyesea last year. The bands will play at the K-Indie Music Night, a highlight of the Lincoln Center’s Korean culture and arts-themed festival, Korean Arts Week. Having debuted in 1995, C

April 21, 2023

‘The Uncanny Counter’ to return with season 2

South Korea’s beloved 2020 fantasy thriller “The Uncanny Counter” is scheduled to return in the second half of the year with expanded stories for its second season, featuring new and original faces. Cable channel tvN confirmed Thursday the star-studded lineup for “The Uncanny Counter 2.” Adapted from Kakao Page’s popular web comic of the same title written by creator Jang Yi, “The Uncanny Counter” presents the story about the counters, a group of p

April 21, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Killing Romance” (South Korea) Opened April 14 Comedy Directed by Lee Won-seok A former superstar, Yeo-rae (Lee Ha-nee) abandons her acting career after receiving bad reviews for her acting. She leaves Korea to go on vacation and lands on Quala Island, where Jonathan Na, a chaebol scion, is waiting to save her life -- and her heart. “John Wick: Chapter 4” (US) Opened April 12 Action Directed by Charles F. Stahelski Legendary hit man John Wick embarks on a journey to de

April 21, 2023

[Graphic News] K-pop generates 8 of world’s 10 most-sold albums in 2022

Eight of the top 10 bestselling albums worldwide last year were K-pop albums, a global album sales chart showed. According to the Global Album Sales Chart 2022 released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide, albums by K-pop acts swept eight of the top 10 positions on the chart. The IFPI Global Album Sales Chart ranks the biggest albums of the year based on the number of units sold across all

April 21, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Three Victon members leave agency

Three members of six-piece act Victon left agency IST Entertainment, said the company on Thursday. Choi Byungchan, Do Hanse and Jung Subin decided not to renew their contracts that expired as of Thursday. Han Seungwoo, Kang Seungsik and Im Sejun will stay with the agency as theirs are extended due to serving their military duties. Han was discharged in January and Kang is currently serving, as will Im from June. The remaining three members “will carry on their activities as arranged inclu

April 20, 2023

Seo Se-won dies in Cambodia at age 67

Comedian-turned-pastor Seo Se-won passed away at a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at age 67 on Thursday. According to reports, the veteran comedian was announced dead at around 3 p.m. after experiencing cardiac arrest at around 1 p.m. He was reportedly getting an IV at a Korean hospital there. He reportedly moved to the country for business. Seo debuted on a program that aired on the local radio station TBC in 1979. He became famous for hosting several hit talk shows including the "Seo Se

April 20, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Dream,’ yet another ‘we did it’ sports film that lacks Lee Byeong-heon’s true colors

“Dream,” the country’s third sports comedy film this year, was expected to be different for many reasons. For one, it was director Lee Byeong-heon’s return after helming the country’s highest-grossing comedy, “Extreme Job” (2019). And the star-studded cast including Park Seo-joon and IU and approachable plot based on the real-life event 2012 World Homeless World cup added expectations for a strong comeback. The plot rolls along quickly for the first 20 m

April 20, 2023

‘Bargain’ wins for best screenplay at Canneseries competition

“Bargain,” South Korean streamer Tving’s six-episode crime-thriller, won the award for best screenplay at this year’s Cannes International Series Festival, widely known as Canneseries. During the closing ceremony held Wednesday evening in Cannes, “Bargain” was announced as beating out nine other projects, including Israel’s 2022 series “Carthago” and South Africa's “Spinners.” It becomes Korea’s first-ever drama as well

April 20, 2023

Classical music meets media art at Lotte Concert Hall's 'In House Artist' series

Two artists-in-residence at the Lotte Concert Hall, pianist Lee Jin-sang and violinist Yoon So-young, will perform three sets of classical performances incorporating media art in April, June and November. Joining the pair are creative director Cha Jin-yeob, a dancer-turned-director, and media artist Hwang Sun-jeong. Since 2021, the classical music concert venue has sponsored the “In House Artist” series, a program which gives promising artists an opportunity to experiment with their

April 20, 2023

[Profile] Moonbin, beloved Astro all-rounder, leaves behind 14-year entertainment career

Singer and actor Moonbin was found dead Wednesday evening at his home in Seoul. Moonbin entered the entertainment industry at just 11 years old, making his debut in the 2009 KBS drama “Boys Over Flowers.” Even before his official debut in the entertainment industry, Moonbin used to model for kid fashion brands. In 2016, Moonbin made his way into the K-pop scene as a member of Astro, a six-member boy band under Fantagio. He was 18 at the time and took on the role of a sub-vocalist and

April 20, 2023