[Newsmaker] Netflix’s ‘Hellbound’ may be the next big Korean hit

Netflix’s fantasy thriller “Hellbound” directed by Yeon Sang-ho is off to a good start in following in the footsteps of global sensation “Squid Game.” A day after being released Friday, Yeon’s Netflix series topped the Top TV show on Netlflix chart, according to streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol. “Squid Game” grabbed the No. 2 spot on the chart Saturday. The global hit TV series directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk had stayed atop FlixPatrol’s T

Nov. 21, 2021

BTS chosen Variety’s 2021 ‘Record of The Year’

K-pop superstar BTS’ “Butter” has been named as Variety’s 2021 record of the year, its agency Big Hit Music said Sunday. Influential US entertainment magazine Variety had announced the final list of honorees for its annual Hitmakers celebration Friday in the US, elaborating that the writers and producers -- “multi-hyphenate creatives/executives Jenna Andrews and Ron Perry, RM, Stephen Kirk, Alex Bilowitz and Rob Grimaldi” -- had crafted the perfect hit. The

Nov. 21, 2021

‘Nothing Serious’ director creates female character talking openly about sex

Rookie Korean director Jung Ga-young, 31, said she focused on creating a female character with a daring personality when writing the script for romantic comedy “Nothing Serious” “I wanted to make a rom-com. I am a big fan of the genre and on top of that I wanted to create a film that centers around a female character,” the director said during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul on Wednesday. “I also wanted the female character to be honest when

Nov. 20, 2021

Leenalchi to put on XR concert

Traditional Korean music-inspired band Leenalchi, which rose to stardom last year with its song “Tiger Is Coming,” is to hold an extended reality concert online. The concert, “Sugungga: Catch the Rabbit,” will be released on local mobile streaming platform Kakao TV on Nov. 30. Extended reality is an umbrella term that covers virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. 　 The XR concert will revive scenes from the band’s album “Sugungga,” a

Nov. 20, 2021

BTS' 'Dynamite' video passes 1.3 bln YouTube views

The music video for K-pop superband BTS' "Dynamite" has passed 1.3 billion views on YouTube, its management agency said Saturday. The video for the megahit single released in 2020 reached the milestone at 10:15 p.m. Friday, Big Hit Music said. It became the seven-member group's third music video to hit 1.3 billion YouTube views following "DNA" and "Boy with Luv." BTS has a total of 35 music videos with more than 100 million views on the global music sharing sit

Nov. 20, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ha Sungwoon looks back on his music career with 6th EP

  Singer-songwriter Ha Sung-woon rolled out his sixth EP “Electrified: Urban Nostalgia” on Friday. 　 The album, titled “Electrified: Urban Nostalgia,” consists of four tracks that describe the complexity of feelings and duality of reality and our memories of it. His dreamy vocals blends with guitar riffs and synth sounds against punk rhythm in the main track “Electrified” that brings a sun-filled cityscape to mind. 　 “I have faced myself in differe

Nov. 19, 2021

Kim Jong-kook lambastes Canadian fitness YouTuber

Entertainer Kim Jong-kook is seeking to put an end to doping rumors, and most recently he appeared in a YouTube video with a media lawyer to talk about defamation. In the video, posted Thursday on Kim’s bodybuilding channel, media and telecommunications practice lawyer Park Min-chul joined the singer as he denied the doping rumors. “I have worked as a television celebrity for 27 years and believed that the most important role as a celebrity is to bring joy and happiness to the pu

Nov. 19, 2021

'Bad and Crazy’ teaser shows Lee Dong-wook, Wi Ha-jun as detectives

TvN’s new Friday-Saturday drama “Bad and Crazy” is scheduled to kick off on Dec. 17, after “Happiness” comes to an end Dec. 11. Directed by You Sun-dong who produced OCN’s hit drama “The Uncanny Counter,” the cable network presented a 15-second teaser Friday showing its lead characters. Top actor Lee Dong-wook takes the role of “bad” detective Ryu Su-yeol, who is willing to do anything and everything to accomplish his objectives. Co

Nov. 19, 2021

'Arcane' lands at No. 2 on Netflix global top 10 chart

Riot Games made a successful debut on Netflix with the League of Legends-themed animation “Arcane,” soaring to No. 2 on the service’s official weekly chart. Riot Games released its animated series Nov. 7 after the Worlds 2021 Championship, one of the most popular global esports events. “Arcane” ended the historic 46-day reign of Netflix global sensation “Squid Game,” topping the chart within a few days of its release. The series has made the top 10

Nov. 19, 2021

Monsta X ready to go all in with ‘No Limit’

K-pop sensation Monsta X welcomed the start of the winter season with  their 10th EP, “No Limit,” on Friday, returning in nearly five months after their previous work. In an online press conference Friday, the six-member group described the latest album as “perfect,” and one that “delineates Monsta X’s identity as a group that shines in an era where there’s an infinite supply of competitors and how they unlimitedly keep pushing the envelope in an

Nov. 19, 2021

[Herald Interview] Turning a quirk into a perk: Junny on his Canadian side

The odds of making it in the music industry and into a listener’s playlist are so small that a career in the entertainment industry is a long row to hoe. But singer-songwriter Junny’s “Thank You” sat at No. 17 on the Apple Music R&B Chart in 2018, even before his official debut. And now the singer is embarking on a journey of tunes and songs. ‘Hide & Sick’ As a famous saying goes, musicians don’t hold back on emotion in their songs. The same

Nov. 19, 2021

Korean films set to hit local screens in time for year-end season

Long-awaited Korean movies are gearing up to hit local screens in the coming months to lure film buffs and holiday shoppers in the year-end winter vacation season. The political drama "Kingmaker," starring Lee Sun-kyun of "Parasite" and Seol Kyung-gu, will forefront the move, as distributor Megabox Plus M has earlier confirmed its public release in December. The film, which revolves around an opposition party politician who dreams of becoming the president and his excellent

Nov. 19, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Perhaps Love (Korea) Opened Nov. 17 Romantic comedy Directed by Cho Eun-ji Bestselling writer Hyun (Ryu Seung-ryong) is trying to overcome writer’s block after producing a hit novel seven years ago. One day, Hyun reads a rough draft of a novel written by his student, Yoo-jin (Mu Jin-sung), and suggests further developing the work together. Yoo-jin, who is gay and has feelings for Hyun, takes up the offer. Tomb of the River (Korea) Opened Nov. 10 Action Directed by Yoon Young-bin Gangste

Nov. 19, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s “As If It’s Your Last” video tops 1.1b views

The music video of Blackpink’s “As If It’s Your Last” surpassed 1.1 billion views on YouTube on Thursday, according to label YG Entertainment. 　 The band now has four music videos -- including those of “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love” and “Boombayah” -- that reached the milestone, the most for a K-pop artist. 　 “As If It’s Your Last” came out in June 2017 as a single and the dance number was included in YouTube&rsquo

Nov. 18, 2021

’Hellbound‘ director Yeon Sang-ho continues observation of humans in apocalyptic world

For director Yeon Sang-ho, 43, producing new Netflix series “Hellbound” felt like creating his own playground. “When I was creating ‘Hellbound’ as a web comic, I was expecting to reproduce the series as a video. The project shows different sides of humans in a desperate situation surrounded by extreme social chaos. I want to keep presenting my views about humanity via ‘Hellbound.’ I will continue to play around by creating unique characters and stories

Nov. 17, 2021

BTS’ time capsule displayed in National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

A time capsule that global K-pop phenomenon BTS presented to President Moon Jae-in on Sept. 19 during an event marking Youth Day held at Cheong Wa Dae is now on display at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The box is displayed in the permanent exhibition hall located on the fifth floor of the museum. The box measures 40 centimeters in length, 30 centimeters in width and 26 centimeters in depth, according to the museum. The box is purple -- a color associated with the band and

Nov. 17, 2021

Seoul Independent Film Festival programmers recommend 17 films

Ahead of the 47th Seoul Independent Film Festival, program committee members Huh Nam-woong and Jung Ji-hye on Wednesday recommended 17 films for viewing. Ten recommended features include “Hot in Day, Cold at Night,” directed by Park Song-yeol, which depicts the story of Young-tae and his wife, Jeong-hee, who make ends meet with part-time jobs. The film is a great example of how a minimum amount of directing and acting can be effective, according to the programmers. “The Con

Nov. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT floats teaser photos for 3rd LP

NCT dropped teaser photos for its third studio album, “Universe,” Wednesday. 　 Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaemin, Yangyang and Jisung were featured in the first batch of photographs, which were imbued with a futuristic and sophisticated ambience. The phrase “New Axis” is shone onto the face of the youngest member. 　 It has been about 14 months since the band put out a full-group album. The second album “Resonance” sold over 2 million copies. Subunits NCT 127 a

Nov. 17, 2021

Tenor John Noh’s album certified multi-platinum

Tenor John Noh, who appeared on cable channel JTBC’s audition show “Phantom Singer 3,” has received multi-platinum certification from the local recording industry. More than 20,000 physical copies of Noh’s latest album, “The Classic Album: NSQG,” have sold since its release in September under Warner Music Korea. According to Noh’s agency, Credia, the local recording industry gives multi-platinum certification to albums that sell more than 20,000 physic

Nov. 17, 2021

[Video] An invitation to Taehyung Forest No. 1

Nov. 17, 2021