ITZY's 'Checkmate' debuts at 8th on Billboard main albums chart

South Korean girl group ITZY claimed its first top 10 spot on the US Billboard's main albums chart, with its fifth EP, "Checkmate." "ITZY's Checkmate debuts at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, giving the South Korean quintet its first top 10 effort," Billboard said Sunday (US time) in a preview of the upcoming chart. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical album sales and ot

July 25, 2022

Streaming platforms fight for market share in Korea

Streaming platform operators, homegrown and from abroad, are seeking to expand their market share in an increasingly crowded Korean market, adopting different strategies. Netflix, which has been defending its position as the market leader since entering Korea in 2016, recently suffered a hit when its highly anticipated “Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area” was not received as well as expected by Korean viewers. To bounce back, the US-based streaming platform is strengthening i

July 24, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] The Boyz to return with 7th EP next month

The Boyz will make a comeback with its seventh EP on Aug. 16, agency IST Entertainment announced Friday. 　 The EP comes about nine months after it released its third single “Maverick” that swept a series of television music chart shows and sold over 480,000 copies in the first week of sales. The single topped the iTunes top albums chart in seven regions and the titular track hit the iTunes worldwide songs chart at No. 17. 　 Since late May, the 11-member act has been touring the worl

July 22, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘Hansan’ director wants to shed more light on already famous Adm. Yi Sun-sin

“Hansan: Rising Dragon” director Kim Han-min decided to create a trilogy about Adm. Yi Sun-sin, thinking the beloved historic figure deserves even more attention. He believes that the Joseon-era war hero holds an undying quality that is crucial for the leaders of our time. “Adm. Yi Sun-sin played a special role in Korean history and was different from other admirals like Gang Gam-chan and Eulji Mundeok. He was closer to the people and from the King’s point of view, Yi

July 22, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korean actor Park Hae-il impressed by sentimental side of Adm. Yi Sun-sin

Before sitting down on his chair, Korean actor Park Hae-il took out his smartphone and started reading a poem written by Adm. Yi Sun-sin during an interview with a group of local reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul on Thursday. The poem featured Adm. Yi’s concerns over the country’s future. Then the actor started talking about how impressed he was to find out that Adm. Yi, a historical war hero and the character he played in director Kim Han-min’s new film &

July 22, 2022

Musical “Mrs. Doubtfire” to hit local theater

Musical “Mrs. Doubtfire,” based on the 1993 hit movie with the same title, will hit local theaters as the first licensed production of the Broadway show, according to its production companies, Sem Company and Studio Sunday. The Korea production will feature three actors for Daniel Hillard - versatile singer Im Chang-jung, comedian-turned actor Jung Sung-hwa and musical actor Yang Joon-mo. The plot unfolds around Daniel Hillard, a struggling, out-of-work voice actor, who is also a

July 22, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

　Alienoid 　(Korea) 　Opened July 20 　Action 　Directed by Choi Dong-hoon Guard (Kim Woo-bin) is an alien in charge of managing alien prisoners confined in mortal human brains on present-day Earth. His main job is to arrest prison breakers with his robotic colleague Thunder. One day, an alien prison-breaker runs away to the year 1390, late in the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392). While carrying out his duty in the past, Guard comes across a baby girl and Thunder brings her to the present time. 　Elv

July 22, 2022

[Herald Interview] Director explains why ‘Remarriage & Desires’ eschews erotic scenes

While they enjoy increasing popularity worldwide, one of the few criticisms that Netflix‘s Korean originals face from viewers is that they often include too many“ unnecessary ”erotic scenes that do not relate to the stories or are seemingly only used to be provocative. But despite its themes of love, marriage and infidelity, “Remarriage & Desires” director Kim Jung-min decided to resist the temptation. Directors Kim Jin-min of “My Name” (2021) an

July 21, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Kep1er to officially debut in Japan in September

Rookie girl group Kep1er will debut in Japan with the single “Fly-Up” on Sept. 7, agencies Wake One and Swing Entertainment announced Thursday.   　 The single will be available in four versions and will consist of three tracks: focus track “Wing Wing” and Japanese-language versions of the main tracks from its first and second EPs: “Wa Da Da” and “Up!” Some albums will also have the new Japanese-language song “Daisy.”   　 The

July 21, 2022

Quad, Seoul’s public theater opens

The Quad, a public theater operated by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, opened in Daehagno on Wednesday, with a goal to revive the local arts scene hit by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and gentrification of the theater district. The Quad is a transformative black box theater that can accommodate as many as 258 seats and offer several types of stage settings, according to the SFAC, a Seoul-city funded nonprofit organization. It sits on the site of the former Dongsoong Art Center, w

July 21, 2022

[Interactive] Illegal scanlation is ruining the webtoon industry

July 21, 2022

BTS members to release collaborative single with U.S. artists

Four BTS members -- Jin, Jimin, V and Jungkook -- will drop a collaboration project with US producer-singer-songwriter Benny Blanco and rapper Snoop Dogg next month, the K-pop group's agency said Thursday. The song "Bad Decisions" will come out Aug. 5 and will be included on Blanco's third full-length album set for release later in the year, Big Hit Music said. "The collaboration was accomplished as Blanco offered to do so," the agency said. "Jin, Jimin, V and

July 21, 2022

HyunA spreads her wings with powerful album ‘Nabillera’

K-pop soloist HyunA’s new album is titled “Nabillera,” a Korean phrase that means “to fly like a butterfly,” according to the artist’s explanation. Speaking about the album through an online press conference conducted on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the release later that day, HyunA said, “the title conveys my will to fly softly like a butterfly on the hearts of the listeners. I want to leave my trace wherever I go, and I hope that many people could thi

July 20, 2022

Back on stage, actor Kim Seon-ho apologizes for rumors involving ex-girlfriend

Actor Kim Seon-ho on Wednesday publicly apologized over controversies involving his former girlfriend while making his first public appearance in about nine months. “I’m deeply sorry for bad news that has caused concerns to many people. I’ve looked back on my past times and reflected on my conduct,” he said while sobbing during a press conference for the play “Touching the Void.” “Many people have made efforts for this play since the spring. I’m

July 20, 2022

Boy band Blitzers return with 3rd EP ‘Win-Dow’

Setting a foot out into the world through the window, K-pop rookie band Blitzers dropped the group’s third EP, “Win-Dow,” on Wednesday. Jinhwa, Go_U, Juhan, Sya, Chris, Lutan and Wooju said they are finally embarking on a journey to discover their fans in the upcoming album. The album marks the septet‘s return with new music six months after the first single “Bobbin” in January. Ahead of the album drop later in the day, the seven bandmates conducted a pres

July 20, 2022

P1Harmony says great teamwork, diverse charms are keys to global success

Having successfully wrapped up its first global tour in March, P1Harmony said the secret behind its growing popularity overseas is each member’s unique charms and great synergy. At a press showcase event ahead of the fourth EP “Harmony: Zero In”’s 6 p.m. online release, the act’s leader Keeho said, “Since it was our first tour, everything seemed so strange. We were so nervous but felt thankful.” “After seeing the fans’ reactions in person

July 20, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘Remarriage & Desires’ offers new look at society: Kim Hee-seon

Marriage, infidelity, divorce, low morals, social climbers, political and business feuds were some of the major setting and themes that captivated Korean TV viewers up until a few years ago. With their seemingly identical characters and implausible stories, such series were labeled “makjang dramas” and seen as trashy soap operas. But while Netflix’s latest presentation revolves around similar themes -- with an upper-class matchmaking company the central point of the drama --

July 20, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS J-Hope’s solo album tops Oricon chart

J-Hope of BTS lept straight to the top of Oricon chart with his solo album “Jack In The Box.” 　 The album debuted at No. 1 on Oricon’s weekly digital album ranking, according to the latest tally announced on Wednesday. 　 The 10-track album topped iTunes top albums charts in 49 regions and lead single “Arson” ranked No. 1 on its top songs chart in 62 regions. “More,” a double title track from the LP, was the chart-topper in 84 regions. 　 The latter en

July 20, 2022

‘Hansan’ director claims film is more than just a nationalistic flick

When creating a movie about a heroic figure central to Korean history, there is always the risk of making “gukppong” content, a usually derogatory Korean term for nationalistic works. Director Kim Han-min, who is returning with a movie about the country‘s beloved Adm. Yi Sun-sin titled “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” said he aimed to create a motion picture that is more than just nationalism. “I tried to portray the genuine spirit of Yi Sun-sin in the film with s

July 20, 2022

[Herald Interview] Saay on making music that brings life

A seasoned singer-songwriter with a career stretching over a decade, Saay says the past year and eight months was a time to reposition herself for her musical journey. Although she did not release new songs under her own name during that time, the 30-year-old musician has been busier than ever expanding her horizon as a composer, lyricist and producer for other artists. “It’s taken me a year and eight months to tear down the whole foundation upon which I had stood and reorganize it

July 20, 2022