Purple Kiss to return with 5th mini album ‘Cabin Fever’

K-pop act Purple Kiss is set to return with its fifth mini album, “Cabin Fever,” on Feb. 15, according to agency RBW on Wednesday. "Cabin Fever" comes seven months after the release of Purple Kiss’ fourth mini album “Geekyland” in July last year. It is also the act’s first appearance as a six-member group following Jieun’s departure in November. She left the group for health reasons and anxiety problems upon a doctor's recommendation. Purp

Feb. 1, 2023

StayC to return with new single album ‘Teddy Bear’

K-pop girl group StayC is releasing its fourth single album “Teddy Bear” on Feb. 14, according to an announcement Wednesday by High Up Entertainment. This comeback comes seven months after the release of StayC’s third single album “We Need Love” in July. Along with the comeback announcement, the agency dropped a cover image for the new album, featuring a collage in the shape of a teddy bear filled with messages of hope, trust and dreams. All eyes are on what kind of

Feb. 1, 2023

‘Physical: 100’ star Kim Chun-ri lambastes internet trolls

Korean bodybuilder Kim Chun-ri is seeking to put an end to a controversy regarding her match with a male opponent on Netflix’s survival show “Physical: 100.” The latest preview of “Physical: 100” on the Swoon -- Netflix’s YouTube channel used to promote its Korean originals, features a preview of the upcoming intergender match between Kim and mixed martial arts fighter Park Hyung-geun. After the 174-second video was released, more than 1,800 comments were post

Feb. 1, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Twice hits Billboard Hot 100 at No. 84 with ‘Moonlight Sunrise’

Twice entered Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 84 with single “Moonlight Sunrise,” tweeted Billboard on Tuesday. “Moonlight Sunrise” was dropped on Jan. 20 as the group’s second English-language single and is its second entry on the chart. It first made the chart in October 2021 with its first English-language single “The Feels” that ranked No. 83. Twice is the third K-pop girl group to hit the chart more than twice, following Blackpink and NewJeans. It

Jan. 31, 2023

Song Joong-ki’s family to receive ‘multicultural family’ benefits

South Korean actor Song Joong-ki and his British wife Katy Louise Saunders are eligible for a slew of benefits tailored for multicultural families in South Korea, which range from a 25 percent discount on phone bills to priority admissions to public daycare, international schools and local colleges. Song announced Tuesday that the couple has just completed their legal marriage registration in Korea in a letter to his fan club online. The couple’s latest decision allows them to receive be

Jan. 31, 2023

‘My Heart Puppy’ offers smiles, laughter with ‘bromance’

Cha Tae-hyun and Yoo Yeon-seok promise to bring smiles and laughter to a not-so-easy journey from Seoul to Jeju with eight dogs in “My Heart Puppy.” Written and directed by Jason Kim, the filmmaker behind the 2017 award-winning action comedy “Midnight Runners,” “My Heart Puppy” is based on his personal experience of separation from his 10-year-old dog. The film revolves around the efforts of Min-soo (Yoo) and Jin-guk (Cha) to find a new family for Min-soo&rsqu

Jan. 31, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Big Bet’ a true collaboration between director and actors

While feeling relieved to meet the expectations of long-awaiting drama fans, hit filmmaker Kang Yun-sung, who made his drama debut with Disney+’s crime thriller “Big Bet,” said what the viewers saw on screen was a little different from story that was toyed with at the production stage. “A screenwriter cannot create the whole story by himself. If the creator wishes to present a realistic character, the actor’s personality, tone and interpretation must be considered.

Jan. 31, 2023

Twice wins at 2023 Billboard Women In Music

K-pop girl group Twice has been honored as this year's breakthrough artist by Billboard Women In Music, becoming the first Korean artist to win at the awards. Billboard on Monday, US time, announced on its website that Twice has been named the winner in the Breakthrough Artist category at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music awards. This marks the first time in history that a Korean artist earned a trophy at the US music event. Billboard Women in Music is an annual event held since 2007 by Bil

Jan. 31, 2023

8TURN aims to become new sensation unlike any other

After four years of intense and strategic idol training, MNH Entertainment’s first K-pop boy group 8TURN made its debut Monday with its first mini album “8TURNRISE.” “We put the most effort into performance. They are rookies but we can proudly say they are near perfection as you can see from their performance videos released prior to their debut,” said Lee Ju-seop, the founder of MNH Entertainment who took the stage to introduce 8TURN himself during the media showca

Jan. 31, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s unit album to feature Peder Elias

The upcoming album from Seventeen’s unit BSS will feature Peder Elias and Lee Youngji, according to agency Pledis Entertainment on Monday. Although details are yet to be known, the band’s trio unit of Seungkwan, Dogyeom and Hoshi collaborated with the Norwegian singer and songwriter as well as the South Korean rapper for its first single album “Second Wind” that is due out on Feb. 6. In the meantime, the 13-member act’s reality show “In The Soop Seventeen&rdq

Jan. 30, 2023

Musicians hope to revive love in Itaewon through music

The country's top musicians are coming together to bring hope and revive love in Itaewon through a music festival set to take place Saturday and Sunday. A total of 99 musicians including big-name bands such as Leenalchi and Woongsan Band will perform at 13 venues of concert halls, lounges, pubs and clubs as part of "Let There Be Love, Itaewon." while many concerts and festivals were canceled or suspended to express condolences for the tragic Halloween crowd crush disaster in Itaew

Jan. 30, 2023

Jin Seon-kyu takes on first lead role in ‘Count’

Actor Jin Seon-kyu took the role he was offered for comedy film “Count” immediately after reading the scenario because the character was just like himself, according to Jin. “When I first read the scenario four years ago, not only was the story fun, but many parts of Si-heon were similar to myself,” the actor told reporters during a press conference heldat CGV Yongsan, in Seoul, Monday. In “Count,” Jin plays Si-heon, a former boxing Olympic medalist who now

Jan. 30, 2023

Webtoons, K-pop come together in Tving's XR music competition show 'Webtoon Singer'

South Korean online streaming service provider Tving is scheduled to premiere an extended reality music show called “Webtoon Singer” in February. “Webtoon Singer” is set to present K-pop artists’ performances, combining hit webtoons with extended reality, or XR, technology. XR is an umbrella term encompassing virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. The computing technology can merge physical and virtual worlds, bringing digital elements to the viewers.

Jan. 30, 2023

From rookies to older generation: The K-pop aritists set to make a comeback next month

Just a month into the new year, a handful of K-pop acts are vying to announce their latest comeback. Unlike the first two months of previous years, the comeback of some of K-pop's biggest idol groups is yet to come as the groups aim to expand their reach overseas and are out on world tours. “A lot of groups that have global fans are on tours because they haven’t been able to in the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said an industry insider. But we can still exp

Jan. 30, 2023

Actor Park Bo-gum signs exclusive contract with the Black Label

South Korean actor Park Bo-gum has signed an exclusive contract with the Black Label, a YG Entertainment affiliate, according to the agency on Monday. "We are very happy to have Park Bo-gum who not only has influence in the country but also overseas," said the Black Label, calling Park a "representative actor" that is "loved and trusted by the public." "We will make use of our strengths and know-how as much as possible to help the actor deepen his talents as an

Jan. 30, 2023

Dawn joins hip-hop label At Area founded by Groovyroom

K-pop singer Dawn signed an exclusive contract with the label AT AREA after leaving P Nation, the management company headed by Psy. “We are glad to introduce Dawn as our first new member of the year 2023. We have always had our eyes on Dawn. We will actively support his potential artistry to the fullest to quench his musical thirst,” announced AT AREA on Monday. “I am happy to be with AT AREA. I feel reassured that we have a deep connection with the goal of going forward as an

Jan. 30, 2023

After pandemic postponements, Korean movies flow into theaters

A variety of Korean films are opening in cinemas after their releases were delayed due to COVID-19, as the local film industry starts to show signs of recovery. In the upcoming month, “The Outlaws” and “Extreme Job” actor Jin Seon-kyu’s new comedy film “Count” will open. The film centers on Si-heon, played by Jin, who is a former Olympic medalist and now teaches students at a high school as a stubborn and sometimes annoying physical education teacher. Af

Jan. 29, 2023

[Herald Review] Musicals that are treats for the ears, feasts for the eyes

With production companies and audiences moving past the pandemic, musicals are returning en masse. "West Side Story," the 65-year-old Stephen Sondheim-Leonard Bernstein romp, the Asian premiere of "Moulin Rouge!" and more Sondheim in the dark tale of London's murderous barber, "Sweeney Todd" are among those warming up the cold winter season. There was a time when someone who had watched a musical on Broadway would be excited to see it in South Korea, only to be

Jan. 28, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NCT’s Haechan to resume activities from next week

Haechan of NCT will restart all activities when NCT 127 returns with repackaged version of its 4th studio album on Jan. 30, SM Entertainment announced Friday. He has been taking a break for about three weeks for health reasons. He had chest problems and has been resting and recovering in accordance with his doctor’s orders. The idol will join the nine-member subunit of NCT as it rolls out “Ay-Yo,” a reissue of its fourth LP “Two Baddies.” “Ay-Yo” will c

Jan. 27, 2023

Ajaeng concert to explore reinterpretations of court, folk music

A concert dedicated to the traditional Korean string instrument ajaeng will be held on Feb. 14, at the Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater, located in Jongno-gu. Titled “Choi Hye-rim’s Ajaeng with Yang Seung-hwan,” the 60-minute performance is part of the traditional music performance hall’s project for this year, the organizer announced in a press release last week. Ajaeng is a horizontal zither mainly played in court music and folk music. The instrument has seven string

Jan. 27, 2023