[Today’s K-pop] aespa to host 1st concert in February

Super rookie group aespa will hold its first standalone concerts on Feb. 25 and 26, SM Entertainment announced Friday. Under the title “Synk: Hyper Line,” the two-day gig will be held in Seoul and be a showcase of both its hit songs and never-before-seen performances. The second day’s live show will be broadcast online as well for fans across the world. Separately, the foursome is set to become the first K-pop group to perform at the Governors Ball Music Festival 2023 in New Y

Jan. 20, 2023

Beloved actor Yoon Jeong-hee dies, aged 79

Yoon Jeong-hee, a South Korean cinema icon and beloved actor, passed away at the age of 79 in Paris, according to a movie industry official on Friday. She had long suffered Alzheimer's disease. She had been staying in Paris since 2010 with her violinist daughter Paik Jin-hee. "Yoon Jeong-hee, my wife and beloved actress, left the world peacefully, as if she was dreaming, listening to the sound of our daughter Jin-hee playing a violin. Based on her will, we will quietly conduct a privat

Jan. 20, 2023

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek brings back Chopin after seven years

Korean classical pianist Lim Dong-hyek is bringing an all-Chopin program in February. This recital is to celebrate Lim’s first LP version released with Warner Music International and is also the first all-Chopin recital in seven years since 2016. Last year, marking the 20th anniversary of his debut, the pianist focused on Schubert for his recital. Under the title of “Regarding Chopin,” Lim will perform Nocturnes, Op. 27 and Scherzo No. 2 and Piano Sonata No. 2 and No. 3. &quo

Jan. 20, 2023

‘Decision to Leave’ receives two nominations at BAFTA

Although director Park Chan-wook left this year’s Golden Globe Awards and Critics Choice Awards empty handed, now all eyes are on whether he will be given a trophy at the 2023 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), whose finalists were announced Thursday night. According to BAFTA, Cannes-winning romance-thriller “Decision to Leave” has been nominated in two categories: Best director and best film not in the English language. It marks Park’s second time recei

Jan. 20, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS reenters Billboard 200 with 2017 EP

BTS reclaimed a spot on Billboard 200 with its fifth EP from 2017, according to the chart dated Jan. 21. EP “LOVE YOURSELF ‘Her’” ranked No. 13 on the albums chart, reentering the chart for the first time in over four years. The EP debuted on the chart at No. 7, the highest spot for an Asian musician at the time, and stayed on the chart for 29 weeks. Main track “DNA” peaked at No. 67 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and “MIC Drop Remix” came in at No.

Jan. 19, 2023

What will BTS' Jin do as a drill instructor?

Last December, Jin of BTS officially enlisted for duty, the first of the seven members. Jin has completed five weeks of training at a front-line infantry division boot camp in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and has been assigned as an assistant drill instructor as his permanent military position. The assistant instructor's main responsibility is to discipline recruits and demonstrate training exercises. Only a handful are selected at each division, and the position requires strict qualificat

Jan. 19, 2023

Revenge K-drama leads to overseas movement to expose school violence

The global popularity and attention on Netflix thriller and suspense drama “The Glory” has resulted in an unforeseen development: Past bullying incidents of overseas celebrities have come to light as victims of school violence speak up by taking to social media. “The Glory,” which was released on Netflix in December of last year, depicts the life of a school violence victim Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a revenge-driven female character who survived horrific abuse and see

Jan. 19, 2023

[Herald Review] Arts on stage: two plays on how music and art shape our lives

Actors on stage do more than just read lines -- they sing songs, appreciate paintings and rekindle inspiration. Two gripping plays currently running in Seoul -- John Marans’ “Old Wicked Songs” and Lee Halls' “The Pitmen Painters” -- bring music and art to the stage, exploring the depth of arts and how they shape our lives. Music school drama in "Old Wicked Songs” Set in the spring of 1986 at a music school in Vienna, the play “Old Wicked Song

Jan. 18, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans makes 1st entry on Billboard’s Hot 100

NewJeans hit Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first time with “Ditto,” a pre-release track from the single album “OMG.” “Ditto” debuted on the chart at No. 96, about six months since the rookie girl group’s debut. It is a record time for a K-pop artist to hit the main singles chart. Last week, “Ditto” hit UK’s Official Singles Chart Top 100 at No. 95 and ranked No. 11 on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs Global chart. “Ditto&rdqu

Jan. 18, 2023

NCT 127 to hold virtual concert in Roblox

NCT 127 is launching a virtual concert in collaboration with Roblox. SM Entertainment on Wednesday announced NCT 127 will hold a global virtual concert, "The NCT 127 Concert Experience," in the metaverse space of Roblox. Along with the platform's developer Roblox Corp., the nine-piece K-pop band will launch the first-ever K-pop concert inside the metaverse space. From Jan. 28-30, the concert will take place every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Korean time, allowing fans from around

Jan. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director Yim Soon-rye’s first-ever action movie minimizes killing, focuses on humanism

Many know director Yim Soon-rye for her flagship storytelling about humanism and art-house scenes in “Little Forest” (2018) and “Forever the Moment” (2008). “The Point Men,” which opened in theaters Wednesday, is Yim's first-ever action film in a career that spans nearly three decades. The film, starring two much sought-after stars, shows Yim's unconventional approach to action scenes that reflects her insistence on relaying a heartfelt drama. &ldquo

Jan. 18, 2023

Bamberg Symphony to perform with pianist Kim Sun-wook

The Bamberg Symphony, a prestigious German orchestra led by rising Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa, will return to South Korea for the first time since 2017. This time, the orchestra will join hands with South Korean pianist Kim Sun-wook. On March 29, the 77-year-old orchestra will perform Bruckner’s Symphonic Prelude, WAB 332 and Schumann's Piano Concerto, Op. 54 with Kim. After intermission, they will return to the stage with Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Op. 88, B. 163. at Seoul Arts Center

Jan. 18, 2023

NewJeans’ ‘Ditto’ lands on Billboard Hot 100 at No. 96

NewJeans, the fresh K-pop sensation, has placed its track “Ditto” on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time among the fourth generation K-pop groups. “Ditto,” the side track from its latest single album “OMG,” hit the chart dated Jan. 21 at No. 96. Such an accomplishment comes only within a year since its debut on last August. The success of the track “Ditto” comes as its streaming gradually accumulated ever since its release on Dec. 19. Previous

Jan. 18, 2023

Aespa to perform in New York in June

Aespa will be taking the stage at New York's Governors Ball Music Festival this summer. SM Entertainment on Wednesday announced that the girl group has been invited to the annual festival, becoming the first female K-pop act to perform at event. This year's Governors Ball is set to take place on June 9-11 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, with Lizzo, Odesza and Kendrick Lamar among the headlining artists. According to the performers lineup unveiled by the festival on Tuesday,

Jan. 18, 2023

Korean-language play to be staged at Belgian theater

A Korean play called “Chronicles of Alibis” will be staged at KVS, Brussels, on Wednesday, the first time a Korean-language play is being performed in Belgium. English subtitles will be provided, according to the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, which organized the performance in conjunction with the Korean Culture and Information Service. “Chronicles of Alibis” is an autobiographical narrative of playwright-director Kim Jae-yeop’s father and o

Jan. 18, 2023

Conductor Jaap van Zweden shares his vision for Seoul Philharmonic

Just three days before the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's New Year's Concerts on Jan. 12 and 13, the Seoul city orchestra’s incoming music director Jaap van Zweden arrived in Seoul, some six months earlier than scheduled. Van Zweden stepped in for Osmo Vanska, SPO’s music director until 2022, who was unable to conduct the concerts due to an unexpected fall the previous month. “I pray for Vanska’s fast recovery. For me, I was able to get to know the orchestra m

Jan. 17, 2023

'Showman' takes home best musical of the year

“Showman: A Dictator’s Fourth Body Double,” a black comedy created by a Korean creative team, took home the award for best musical of the year at the 7th Korea Musical Awards ceremony, Monday evening at LG Arts Center in Seoul. “Showman,” a story revolving around Nebula, a mysterious, eccentric old man who insists that he is a body double, and Sua, a fake photographer who tries to prey on Nebula, was created by writer Han Jung-seok, composer Lee Sun Young, and direc

Jan. 17, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key to return as solo next month: report

Key of SHINee will bring out a reissue of his second solo studio album in February, according to a local media report on Tuesday. Label SM Entertainment confirmed the news following the report. It has been about six months since he released LP “Gasoline” that topped iTunes top albums chart in 24 regions. The veteran idol held solo concerts in Seoul in October and in Yokohama the following month. It was his first solo concert in Japan in about four years. In March, he will host conce

Jan. 17, 2023

Late-night KBS music talk show legacy returns in 'The Seasons-Jay Park's Drive'

Cheeky and fresh is how public broadcaster KBS wants to make over its 30-year legacy of late-night music talk shows, with the first new version of “The Seasons,” starting next month. The program will be a one-year project divided into four different seasons, each hosted by different stars. The first season, “The Seasons-Jay Park’s Drive,” will be led by the Korean singer and rapper Jay Park. It is the first time for Jay Park to host a music program for a local broad

Jan. 17, 2023

Cignature paints a colorful palette with 'My Little Aurora'

Ending a hiatus that had stretched over a year, Cignature marked a long-awaited return Tuesday. The K-pop girl group on Tuesday dropped its third EP, "My Little Aurora." Ahead of the album's release at 6 p.m. that day, the act conducted an online press conference. Cignature consists of Chaesol, Jeewon, Seline, Chloe, Belle, Semi and Dohee. "I'm nervous but it feels good. We've waited a long time -- and our fans also -- and we worked hard so that we could live up to

Jan. 17, 2023