Can Disney+ and Tving equal Netflix's success in Korea?

With plans to release a star-studded lineup of original content, Disney+ and local streaming platform Tving -- among others -- are set to begin another round of competition in the streaming video and content production markets in South Korea. Disney+, the flagship streaming service of US media giant Walt Disney Co., was widely considered a possible rival to Netflix when it launched in November 2021. It found strong early demand with hit Marvel and Disney series, but things did not go as antici

Sept. 6, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to return with 7th EP

   Stray Kids will make a comeback with its seventh EP on Oct. 7, said label JYP Entertainment on Tuesday. The songwriting trio within the band, 3Racha – which consists of Bang Chan, Changbin and Han -- will continue to be the main force in making music that builds up the eight-member act’s identity, the company added. The EP “Maxident” comes about seven months since its previous EP “Oddinary” that landed atop the Billboard 200, which made the band t

Sept. 6, 2022

[Herald Interview] Daniel Henney relates to Korean American character in 'Confidential Assignment 2’

  Actor Daniel Henney said he was excited to play FBI agent Jack in "Confidential Assignment 2: International," directed by Lee Suk-hoon, because he saw similarities between himself and the Korean American character. “Here, he is able to speak a little Korean, he's been brought up in the States and I can relate to that,” Henney said during an interview with a group of local reporters on Tuesday. In “Confidential Assignment 2: International,” FBI agent Ja

Sept. 6, 2022

Kim Jae-hwan paints his musical canvas blue with 'Empty Dream'

K-pop musician Kim Jae-hwan is back with his fifth EP "Empty Dream," and he hopes the package of self-made songs feels like a gift set for listeners ahead of the holidays. The 26-year-old singer held a media showcase on Monday afternoon in Seoul, a few hours ahead of the album’s release at 6 p.m. that day. The EP comes a month after the release of Kim’s single "Snail," and is his first album released since his fourth EP “The Letter” which came out nin

Sept. 5, 2022

[Feature] Korean webtoons expand globally with different strategies

A leading power in the new era of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, webtoons are expanding their global presence and being adapted into different formats: TV dramas, variety shows, films and K-pop. Vertically scrolling comics on smartphones have captured readers' attention with innovative approaches such as animation effects, background music and their own soundtracks. Though Korean webtoon companies began global businesses in 2014, it is only in the last few years that the companies have been

Sept. 5, 2022

Gravitate to what your heart says: Oneus on 8th EP ‘Malus’

Right in time for the autumn breeze and the changing of seasons, boy band Oneus hopped on the September music craze lineup with its eighth EP, “Malus,” released Monday evening. This marks a return for the K-pop act for the first time in four months since its last musical project, “Trickster,” released in May. “I believe it’s the first time showing our slinky and seductive side since our debut. I know how meaningful it is for us to be able to showcase our so

Sept. 5, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Twice lands at No. 3 on Billboard 200 with 11th EP

Twice hit the Billboard 200 at No. 3 with its 11th EP “Between 1＆2,” said label JYP Entertainment on Monday. This ties with the record of third studio album “Formula of Love: O+T=〈3” from November last year. The nonet made its first entry into the chart in June 2020 with ninth EP “More ＆ More” and has put a total of five albums on the chart so far, a record for a K-pop girl group. Nayeon’s first solo EP “Im Nayeon” from June ranked No. 7 on

Sept. 5, 2022

[Herald Interview] Blending old and new: SMMT on what makes timeless music

Comfortable in a pair of sneakers and a T-shirt, SMMT has been soaking up the spotlight as a globe-trotting DJ. Not much is known about him, but concertgoers will see him mixing live sessions for local rappers pH-1 and Sik-K and taking over the deck at parties. He’s also a member of Yelows Mob, a music crew helmed by Sik-K. Born Jung Sung-min, SMMT is one of the faces under H1ghr Music with a unique background. He kicked into gear as a DJ at 20. In 2020, he earned his first credit as a p

Sept. 5, 2022

Disappointed by Brad Pitt's 'Bullet Train'? Hop on Korean train films for an unforgettable ride

  Even with a big Hollywood star, Brad Pitt's “Bullet Train” failed to appeal to Korean moviegoers, which is contrary to North American box office results. As of Sunday, the film’s accumulated number of audiences here since its release Aug. 24 stood at 136,147. Even the Korean low-budget comedy film “6/45” directed by Park Kyu-tae that came out the same day performed better. Park’s film saw more than 1.1 million tickets sold as of Sunday. Reviews of &

Sept. 5, 2022

[Newsmaker] Lee You-mi wins Emmy, first for Korean actor

Lee You-mi, 28, won the Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series on Monday. At the televised ceremony of the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys, Lee was named the winner of outstanding guest actress in a drama series, beating Marcia Gay Harden from “The Morning Show,” Martha Kelly from “Euphoria” and Hope Davis, Sanaa Lathan and Harriet Walter from “Succession.” “I’m so happy to win a prestigious award. I would like to thank director Hwan

Sept. 5, 2022

Hybe Labels Japan's first boy band &Team to debut on Dec. 7

Hybe Labels Japan, the indie label affiliated to the K-pop powerhouse Hybe, is set to launch its first global group in December. The Japan-based company on Monday said through a press statement that its first idol group, &Team, will make its Japan debut on Dec. 7. The statement came two days after the band conducted a press event on Saturday in Japan to announce their debut and thank its fans who have waited long for them. "We wanted to share this joyful news first with our family and

Sept. 5, 2022

[BREAKING] 'Squid Game' Lee You-mi wins Emmy

  Lee You-mi, who played Ji-yeong in Netflix's global phenomenon "Squid Game," won the Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series on Monday. Lee was nominated in the category along with Marcia Gay Harden from "The Morning Show," Martha Kelly from "Euphoria" and Hope Davis, Sanaa Lathan and Harriet Walter from "Succession."

Sept. 5, 2022

Dutch conductor named Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden as its new music director. The orchestra announced Sunday that the Dutch conductor, 61, will begin his five-year tenure in January 2024. The search for the new music director began earlier this year as the current music director Osmo Vanska decided not to renew his contract, which ends at the end of the year. Vanska was appointed in January 2020. Guest conductors will be sought for the orchestra's 2023 performa

Sept. 4, 2022

BTS' Busan concert venue changed to Asiad Main Stadium

The venue of K-pop giant BTS' upcoming concert in the southern port city of Busan has been changed to Asiad Main Stadium for the convenience of fans coming to see their favorite artists, the band's agency said Friday. The septet had planned to hold a one-day concert at a makeshift stage in Gijang, northeastern Busan, for free on Oct. 15 to support the city's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The "Yet To Come in Busan" concert was expected to accommodate 100,000 spectators

Sept. 2, 2022

Hyun Bin says he discussed 'Confidential Assignment 2’ with his wife Son Ye-jin before shooting

  Since “Confidential Assignment 2: International" is Korean top star Hyun Bin’s first film that he is presenting to the public since he exchanged nuptials with Son Ye-jin, lots of questions about their newlywed life were posed during a group interview with local reporters on Thursday via Zoom. While trying to keep most of their personal life private -- he feels being married and becoming a father do not seem to have much impact on his career yet -- Hyun Bin said he did a

Sept. 2, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] NCT 127 to host showcase to mark return

    NCT 127 will mark the release of fourth full album with a showcase in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province on Sept. 16, announced label SM Entertainment on Friday. At the event “Faster,” the band will put on a series of performances including those for “2 Baddies,” titular track from the upcoming LP, and “Kick It,” one of its hits. It will be broadcast live as well via Beyond Live. The LP comes about 11 months since “Favorite,” reissue of th

Sept. 2, 2022

‘K-pop artist-driven content contributes to further spread of Hallyu’: Hybe’s content business lead

Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, has long been a global phenomenon around the globe. Amid the continued success of Korean content and the never-ending growing popularity of K-pop, the local entertainment industry has offered an exciting content strategy to meet the Hallyu fans' demand. The content business lead of Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind boy band BTS, believes that producing K-pop artist-driven content has largely contributed to enlarging global fandoms, as well as the spread of Korean cult

Sept. 2, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim gears up for return as quintet: report

Le Sserafim is preparing for a new album due in the fall, according to a local media report Thursday. Agency Source Music confirmed the group is getting ready to for a return to the scene following the report, but did not provide any specifics. It will be the first album since the group reorganized into a quintet. Kim Garam left in July after her school bullying rumors stirred up controversy. The group debuted amid much hype in May and largely lived up to the anticipation. The band’s debu

Sept. 1, 2022

Veteran director Kwak Kyung-taek takes on new challenges in audio movie ‘Far East’

  Veteran filmmaker Kwak Kyung-taek, best known for directing 2001 box-office hit “Friend,” has taken on new challenges in his new audio movie, “Far East.” “There were challenges that I did not expect. For instance, I had to make sure that the voice of actors who play minor roles do not sound similar to main cast members,” Kwak said in an online press conference Thursday. Also, in action scenes it was not easy directing actors to control their breath i

Sept. 1, 2022

Free BTS concert in Busan faces snowballing concerns

Voices of concern are mounting over a megasized BTS concert in Busan, as problems stemming from an influx of concertgoers remain unresolved ahead of the event’s launch in October. On Oct. 15, under the title "BTS ‘Yet to Come’ in Busan," the K-pop septet will hold a concert in Gijang-gun of Busan as part of an effort to support the coastal city in its bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The seven members of BTS are honorary ambassadors of the 2030 Busan World Expo. Th

Sept. 1, 2022