Culture minister vows to support pandemic-hit movie theaters

Hwang Hee, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, met with six executives of the top three local multiplex operators -- CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox -- at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul on Saturday, on the first day of the five-day Lunar New Year holiday. After a thorough quarantine inspection at the theater, he listened to the difficulties the movie operators are experiencing while doing business under the government’s stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “S

Jan. 29, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] NCT launches music project led by Mark

NCT will kick-start “NCT Lab,” a project to release a series of new songs written by its members, the group’s label SM Entertainment announced Friday. 　 Songs by the bandmates that have not been included in the band’s official albums will be put out through SM Station, the label’s digital music channel. 　 Mark will be the first to be featured, with a solo song titled “Child” on Feb. 4. It will be his first solo song and the musician co-wrote both the ly

Jan. 28, 2022

Mnet’s ‘I Can See Your Voice’ aims to become long-running music show

The ninth season of “I Can See Your Voice,” a mystery music game show from South Korean cable music network Mnet, is set to premiere Saturday at 10:40 p.m. In line with the program’s global popularity, it hopes to become a long-running music show. “I wonder how long ‘I Can See Your Voice’ can last. I wish it to become a long-running program like ‘Show Me the Money’ and ‘National Singing Contest,’” Super Junior’s Leeteuk, on

Jan. 28, 2022

‘The Beatles’ Get Back: The Rooftop Concert’ to hit local IMAX theaters

A documentary film on the Beatles featuring the group’s final performance will hit local theaters next month. “The Beatles’ Get Back: The Rooftop Concert” will be screened Feb. 11-13 at IMAX theaters, according to Walt Disney Company Korea on Friday, The one-hour movie is the edited highlights of Peter Jackson’s documentary series “The Beatles: Get Back,” which was released on Disney+ last month. Jackson completed the documentary series based on 60

Jan. 28, 2022

'Squid Game' nominated for best TV drama series at US producers guild awards

South Korean global phenomenon "Squid Game" has been nominated for the annual Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards. The PGA on Thursday (US time) announced nominations for this year's awards show, honoring excellence in film and TV productions. The 33rd edition will take place on March 19. "Squid Game," a Korean-language Netflix original, was listed as a contender for the category of Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television - Drama. It will vie

Jan. 28, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Pirates: Goblin Flag (Korea) Opened Jan. 26 Action, Comedy Directed by Kim Jung-hoon Set in the Joseon era, pirate captain Hye-rang (Han Hyo-joo) and her crew members go on a journey to look for hidden treasures of the Goryeo Kingdom that no longer exist. Trouble-making swordsman Muchi (Kang Ha-neul) and his followers also decide to join the pirates. However, on their way, they are met with all sorts of adversities.  Kingmaker (Korea) Opened Jan. 26 Drama Directed by Byun Sung-hyun O

Jan. 28, 2022

BTS wins eight prizes at 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards

K-pop boy group BTS swept the 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards with eight trophies for its successful album and songs released last year, along with the act’s immense popularity. At the annual music awards ceremony held at Jamsil Arena in eastern Seoul on Thursday, the seven-piece act won the most awards this year among all singers, including three trophies in the artist of the year -- digital music category and one in artist of the year -- physical album category. The awards are give

Jan. 27, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream will be back in March

    NCT Dream is gearing for its return in March, according to its label SM Entertainment Thursday. 　 The company said that the band is working on a new album, corroborating media reports. 　 The NCT subunit was formed in August 2016 with the debut release “Chewing Gum,” which was followed by “We Go Up,” “We Boom,” and “Reload.” 　 Last year, Mark, who “graduated” from the subunit upon turning 20, rejoined to help the gr

Jan. 27, 2022

Director Jang Cheol-soo returns after nine years with provocative romance film

Director Jang Cheol-soo has returned after nine years with a provocative romance film titled “Serve the People.” Jang is known for creating “Bedevilled,” which was invited to the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival, and hit film “Secretly, Greatly” which drew over 6.9 million moviegoers. “Every director’s dream is to create a movie that can be screened in front of an audience. But it was not easy. I think I grew up a lot during the last nine

Jan. 27, 2022

Netflix's 'All of Us Are Dead' brings a different class of zombie

For 51-year-old director Lee Jae-kyoo of Netflix’s “All of Us Are Dead,” adapting a classic zombie webtoon was a high-pressure project, but he was certain that the thriller would entertain viewers with its fascinating storyline and heart-pounding action sequences. “I would be lying if I said I felt no pressure in reproducing the legendary webtoon into a 12-part Netflix series. However, I consulted with author Joo Dong-geun numerous times to create the series and I am ex

Jan. 27, 2022

[Today's K-pop] Pentagon tops iTunes chart in 30 regions

Pentagon’s new EP swept the charts at home and abroad, topping the iTunes top albums chart in 30 regions as well as a series of music charts in Korea. 　 The band’s 12th EP “In:vite U” came out on Monday, approximately 10 months since the previous album “Love or Take.” 　 Title track “Feelin’ Like” landed atop the iTunes top songs chart in 11 regions and the accompanying music video surpassed 10 million views on YouTube on Wednesday, only 33

Jan. 26, 2022

Bringing KBS Symphony Orchestra to world stage: Pietari Inkinen shares his vision

Pietari Inkinen, the 9th music director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, said Wednesday that he hopes to take the helm of the orchestra’s development into a leading Asian orchestra. The 42-year-old conductor who officially kicked off his three-year term in January 2022 and has many plans in mind, ranging from more frequent concerts to a music academy for children. “During the upcoming seasons, I‘d like to increase the number of concerts held across the country, to go and meet

Jan. 26, 2022

[Feature] What do you know about Korean zombies?

From their bloody makeup to bone-breaking motions, the zombies in Korean films and drama series have been satisfying viewers’ lust for the zombie apocalypse. But zombies were never the favored choice for films and drama series at first, as local horror fans were much more drawn to evil-possessed characters or ghosts. However, the spine-tingling zombies in horror-thriller “Train to Busan” (2016) and Netflix’s “Kingdom” (2019) have changed all that, with the

Jan. 26, 2022

Enhyphen's new album debuts at No. 14 on Billboard 200

South Korean boy group Enhypen's latest album, "Dimension: Answer," has ranked 14th on the Billboard 200 main albums chart. "Dimension: Answer," a repackaged version of its first full-length album "Dimension: Dilemma" released in October, became the third album from the septet to make it onto the chart. Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical album sales and other digital

Jan. 26, 2022

'Kill This Love' becomes second BLACKPINK video to top 1.5 billion YouTube views

The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" has exceeded 1.5 billion views on YouTube, its management agency said Wednesday. The video hit the milestone at about 6 p.m. the previous day, becoming the second video from the group to do so after the 2018 hit song "Ddu-du Ddu-du," according to YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK is now the only K-pop group with more than one music video that has over 1.5 billion views. "Kill This Love" reached No. 41 of

Jan. 26, 2022

Kyuhyun colors frosty weather with last chapter of ‘Love Story’

Kyuhyun of boy band Super Junior bid farewell to the first month of the year by becoming the latest to hop into the January music melee with his new album. The singer-turned-soloist’s “Love Story,” released Tuesday evening, touches on the moods and melodies of the fall and winter ambience. The fall-winter-themed six-track package aims to talk about the little stories that happen in love and the moments that happen, as well as the emotions he feels while looking back at those

Jan. 25, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Treasure announces album title, member tests positive for COVID-19

    The title of Treasure’s upcoming first EP is “Jikjin,” announced label YG Entertainment on Tuesday. 　 No other details for the song have been given out yet but according to the label, it will be the most dynamic song the band has put out so far and the perfectly choreographed and powerful dance will captivate fans. 　 The boy band is releasing its first EP “The Second Step: Chapter One” on Feb. 15. The EP sold over 600,000 copies in preorders as o

Jan. 25, 2022

Korean Theater Association urges government aid amid COVID-19

The Korean Theater Association on Tuesday released a statement to urge the government to give assistance to local theaters that have been suffering since COVID-19 broke out two years ago. The Korean Theater Association’s members include the top three local multiplex operators -- CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox. “We have been complaining about the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic and asked for support for the survival of our film industry, but we have not received any c

Jan. 25, 2022

[Feature] Training to become a K-pop idol in the US

Christina Opie, 21, says she spends over 10 hours every day at the K-Pop Center in Los Angeles, California, honing not just her vocals and dancing, but familiarizing herself with Korean music production, language and culture. Opie is a part of the American K-pop institute’s 16-week audition preparation program, APP16, that runs specifically with the purpose of overcoming the high walls of South Korea’s entertainment agencies. According to Opie, she aspires to become an inspirationa

Jan. 25, 2022

Women’s sport shows to take Korean TV spotlight

Korean TV broadcasters are set to launch female-led sports shows in the coming weeks, hoping to attract viewers that have grown tired of stories and formats featuring male athletes and TV personalities who have long dominated entertainment programs in the genre. Terrestrial broadcaster MBC is scheduled to premiere the pilot program “Curling Queens” during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, or also known as Seollal. The show will present celebrities from four different fields --

Jan. 25, 2022