TikTok to launch global K-pop competition ‘Time Turner’

TikTok is to launch its first K-pop girl group competition, “Time Turner,” in November. TikTok has collaborated with new media companies Pi Corp. and MakeStar to produce the audition show that will premiere on TikTok. “Time Turner" is a unique real-time competition set in the boundless realm of space-time known as "P-314," where aspiring dreamers embark on a journey to achieve their dreams through time travel. The ultimate winners of the show will be determined b

Sept. 6, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] TXT’s Yeonjun to drop 1st solo album: report

Yeonjoon of Tomorrow X Together will bring out a solo album by the end of the month, according to a local media report Friday. The main dancer of the five-member act has established himself as one of most noteworthy performers among K-pop idols, not only as a member of the band, but also through a series of dance challenge videos. He also participated on the original soundtrack for TV drama “Cinderella at 2 AM,” which began airing last month, a first for him. Meanwhile, TXT is in the

Sept. 6, 2024

Park Bo-young, Ahn Jae-hong to host Busan film fest opening ceremony

Actors Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong have been announced as the hosts of the opening ceremony of the 29th Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off Oct. 2. The 29th BIFF’s opening ceremony takes place at the Busan Cinema Center BIFF Theater at 7 p.m., Oct. 2. Park, 34, made her acting debut with drama series “Secret Campus” (2006) and rose to prominence as a leading rookie in Korean cinema after hit family comedy “Scandal Makers” (2008). In 2015, her film

Sept. 6, 2024

Park Chan-wook-produced Netflix period flick ‘Uprising’ to be released Oct. 11

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will be released Oct. 11, the global streaming platform confirmed Friday. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. “I’ve been writing the screenplay (for this project) for a long time and completed it in 2019. Because it’s a perio

Sept. 6, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Lim Young Woong: Im Hero the Stadium” (South Korea) Opened Aug. 28 Documentary Directed by Jung Hyun-cheol, Jo Woo-young South Korean hit trot singer Lim Young-woong's two concerts in May that attracted a combined 100,000 people at Seoul World Cup Stadium come to the big screen. “Alien: Romulus” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Horror/Sci-fi Directed by Fede Alvarez Set in 2142, a group of young space colonizers go on an adventure and land in a derelict space station, only t

Sept. 6, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Taeyong’s solo concert film to premiere

NCT Taeyong's first solo concert will be made into a movie and will come to cinemas Sept. 25, according to distributor CJ4D Plex on Thursday. “Taeyong: TY Track in Cinema” will not only let the audience relive the live show but also get a glimpse of Taeyeong's preparation for the stage along with candid commentaries. He hosted his first solo concert “TY Track” in Seoul in late February and put on “Tap,” the titular track from his second solo EP, ahea

Sept. 5, 2024

Twice’s Tzuyu reveals new, mature side in solo debut

Twice's youngest member Tzuyu is set to make her solo debut Friday, promising fans a more mature and sexy side they haven’t seen before. The Taiwanese singer becomes the third Twice member to go solo, following Nayeon in June 2022 and Jihyo in August 2023, with the release of her first mini-album, “abouTZU.” "While performing with Twice members and seeing various stages, I started wondering what it would be like to have my own stage, inspired by other female solo arti

Sept. 5, 2024

Day6 to become 1st Korean band to perform at Gocheok Sky Dome

Korean band Day6 is set to become the first Korean band to hold a standalone concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome, the largest dome venue in Seoul, which can accommodate around 25,000 people. JYP Entertainment announced Wednesday that it is currently planning for the band’s show near the year-end to celebrate their 10th debut anniversary. Specific details of the concert will soon be announced, according to the agency. Day6, a Korean pop rock band consisting of guitarists Sungjin and Young K, ke

Sept. 5, 2024

Fans call for zero-waste K-pop industry

Kpop4Planet (K4P), a climate activist group founded by K-pop fans advocating for a more sustainable K-pop industry, held a protest titled "Plastic Album Sins" in front of Hybe’s headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Wednesday, urging the industry to take stronger environmental protection measures. During the protest, K4P cited an August survey that gathered input from over 12,000 K-pop fans here and overseas. According to the survey, 42.8 percent of respondents identified marketing

Sept. 5, 2024

[Herald Interview] Younha delivers hope to people facing new journey

Singer-songwriter Younha returned with a fairytale of comfort and encouragement. Celebrating her 20th debut anniversary this year, Younha embarked on a journey to Australia after the success of her 6th album’s main track, “Event Horizon.” While contemplating the next album, she encountered mangrove trees standing resiliently on a coastline, enduring the salty seawater. It was the moment that sparked the concept for her next album. “My agency suggested exploring stories ab

Sept. 5, 2024

[Off the Pages] 'Underground' blends sound and darkness in immersive audio experience

The immersive theater experience “Underground” transports audiences into an entirely new dimension of sensory storytelling -- a captivating, pitch-dark descent into the unknown. Based on acclaimed Korean science fiction author Kim Bo-young's short story “Underground” (featured in her collection “The Fifth Sense” in 2022), the Wooran Foundation’s production plunges viewers deep into a labyrinthine underground set in a dystopian future. “Undergr

Sept. 4, 2024

[Herald Interview] Yerin returns as healing magician

Yerin is making a return as a soloist with vibrant energy. For her third solo mini album, the singer has embraced the concept of a magician who heals people’s wounds and brings happiness. Yerin shared her thoughts from the early stage of album planning. “Listening to the lyrics of the songs on this album, you'll notice that the tracks are arranged in a way that takes you on a journey — from a resolve to heal someone to the path toward happiness," said Yerin. Upon rece

Sept. 4, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Itzy to return next month including Lia: report

Itzy will return in October as a full group, local media reported Wednesday. Lia, as label JYP Entertainment told fans in July, will resume activities starting with the new album as her condition has improved significantly. She has been taking a break due to anxiety. The group’s last album in Korea was its eighth EP “Born To Be” which came out in January. Its latest was “Algorhythm,” its third single in Japan, which came out in May. Itzy wrapped up its second inte

Sept. 4, 2024

K-pop agencies hop on the virtual artist bandwagon

The entertainment industry continues to be captivated by the virtual K-pop artist phenomenon, despite initial skepticism that it would fade into obscurity like the once-popular notions of the metaverse and NFTs. As virtual idols are increasingly being recognized beyond the niche market, major K-pop agencies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe are entering the virtual artist market, aiming to replicate the success of virtual groups like Vlast's Plave. Jumping on the bandwagon SM Entertainment

Sept. 4, 2024

Adaptation of Dutch best-seller ‘A Normal Family’ highlights ‘Korean’ elements

Dutch author Herman Koch’s best-seller novel “The Dinner,” which has been adapted into films around the world three times already, becomes “A Normal Family” in the hands of director Hur Jin-ho, who said he has highlighted “Korean elements.” Hur, the director behind the country’s legendary 1998 romance flick “Christmas in August,” marks his return to the silver screen with the adaption. His latest work was the JTBC series “Lost&rdq

Sept. 4, 2024

'The Devil's Plan Season 2' to return bigger with games devised by fans

Jung Jong-yeon, producer of the hit Netflix survival game series "The Devil's Plan," said the series' second season has been upgraded to showcase an intricately designed filming set, alongside games created by some of his most dedicated fans. In its first season, "The Devil's Plan" brought together 12 contestants, including actors, doctors and YouTubers, to compete in a battle of wit and strategy. Upon its release in September 2023, the show quickly gained glob

Sept. 4, 2024

Netflix Korean period film ‘Uprising’ to open 29th BIFF

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will open the 29th Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 2, the first time for a streaming platform movie to open Asia’s largest film festival. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. The period film stars Gang Dong-won, in the role of C

Sept. 3, 2024

Is Ador moving to isolate Min Hee-jin?

Ador may be taking steps to distance NewJeans from the influence of former CEO Min Hee-jin, as her close associate and director behind the music videos for “ETA” and “Ditto,” Shin Woo-seok, announced Monday that he would cease collaboration with the group. In May, Shin had submitted a petition opposing Min's dismissal as Ador's CEO. Shin revealed that the Hybe-owned label recently requested that he remove all NewJeans-related content from his production company

Sept. 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin hits 100m views with ‘Super Tuna’ dance video

The performance video for “Supertuna,” a solo song from Jin of BTS, surpassed the 100 million milestone on YouTube as of Monday, according to label Big Hit Music on Tuesday. The artist uploaded the video in December 2021 to celebrate his birthday with his fans. Donning denim overalls and a T-shirt with a tuna he drew himself, he danced on a beach in Los Angeles. Inspired by his hobby, fishing, Jin’s self-written song “Supertuna” was officially released the following

Sept. 3, 2024

'River and Liver' sets stage for surrealism in Seoul

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to stage the surrealist "River and Liver" from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19 at the Myeongdong Theater in Seoul. Written by Dong I-hyang, the play won the 14th Cha Beom-seok Award in 2020. The script was recognized for its rhythmic, ping-pong-like dialogue, fragmented scenes and surreal situations. The story centers on L, a middle-aged woman living in an old home overlooking the Han River with her husband, O. Her life takes a bizarre turn as strange o

Sept. 3, 2024