Jo Jung-suk’s gender-bending comedy ‘Pilot’ sells 1m tickets in 4 days

“Pilot,” a South Korean comedy flick about an unemployed former pilot disguising himself as a woman to get a new role, has attracted over 1 million moviegoers since the movie’s release on July 31. According to the Korean Film Council data, the movie has attracted an accumulated 1.33 million moviegoers in four days since its opening here. The movie attracted 441,537 moviegoers on Saturday alone, leading the local box office. A trusted name in comedy flicks, actor Jo Jung-suk sta

Aug. 4, 2024

Solo debut rush of K-pop artists

In the latter half of this year, the K-pop scene will witness several high-profile solo debuts of K-pop artists. Yoon San-ha of Astro releases his debut solo mini-album "Dusk" on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in his eight-year career. The album features six tracks, each designed to signify the stages of dusk, from the setting sun to the deep night. San-ha, who debuted as the youngest member of Astro in 2016, has been steadily building his solo musicality, contributing to the

Aug. 3, 2024

Hybe announces 'Hybe 2.0' strategy, emphasizes commitment to fans

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, has unveiled its new business strategy, "Hybe 2.0," aiming to secure "superior leadership" in the global K-pop scene while underscoring its dedication to fans. The strategy was announced through a letter sent to Hybe's shareholders recently, which has been in preparation since the latter half of last year to ensure long-term business competitiveness, the company said on Thursday. "Based on Hybe 2.0, which focuses on nurturing f

Aug. 2, 2024

SM reveals first British K-pop group 'Dear Alice'

K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment introduced their first British K-pop boy band “Dear Alice” on Thursday at the Soho Hotel in London, the agency said Friday. The group is a collaborative effort between SM Entertainment, the North American corporation of Kakao Entertainment, and the British entertainment company Moon & Back. The British company handled casting in the UK, while SM Entertainment provided K-pop expertise in music, vocals and choreography. "Training at SM has bee

Aug. 2, 2024

Film inspired by 'spin kick' crime in Busan ready to film

A film is being produced based on a notorious 2022 case that took place in Busan, where an assailant viciously attacked a female stranger with the intent to rape her. To be titled "I Had No Reason But To Become Evil," the film has finished preproduction and is awaiting filming, according to a local media outlet. Jun Hyo-seong, who is also the leader of K-pop girl group Secret, has reportedly been tapped to play the main protagonist in the film. This will mark Jun's first lead role

Aug. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM spotted at local festival

RM of BTS was spotted at a local festival in Gangwon Province Thursday. He is serving his mandatory military service as a member of the 15th Infantry Division’s marching band, which is set to perform at a tomato festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province where the division is based. The artist was seen preparing for the stage alongside fellow soldiers, according to local media reports. The fest will run until Sunday. Meanwhile, RM uploaded a photo of himself Thursday sharing the news that he m

Aug. 2, 2024

FT Island to launch Asia tour

FT Island is gearing up for a tour of Asia, FNC Entertainment announced Friday. The tour, under the banner of "Pulse in Asia," kicks off in the Philippines' capital Manila on Sept. 14, followed by performances in Hong Kong on Sept. 28, Kaohsiung in Taiwan on Oct. 26 and Macao on Nov. 10. As implied by the tour's name, FT Island plans to deliver live performances filled with intense musical energy, reminiscent of a beating heart. The band recently held a concert in Seoul, also

Aug. 2, 2024

G-Dragon secures trademark rights ahead of comeback

K-pop icon G-Dragon is preparing for a long-awaited comeback after securing the trademark rights to his stage name from his former agency, YG Entertainment. G-Dragon has taken a significant step towards his future activities by acquiring the trademark rights to his name. His former agency extended a favor by transferring the rights to “G-Dragon” and “GD” to his current agency, Galaxy Corporation, without any compensation. “Thanks to the generosity of Chief Executive

Aug. 2, 2024

Top contestants of 'Magic Star' to begin national tour

SBS series "The Magic Star" kicks off its national tour Friday, featuring performances by the six contestants. "The Magic Star" is a reality competition where magicians from around the world showcase their magical prowess. The show is hosted by TV personality Jun Hyun-moo and star magician Lee Eun-gyeol, with a panel of judges that includes film director Jang Hang-jun, actor Jin Sun-kyu, Portuguese magician Luis de Matos, actor Han Hye-jin, TV personality Kim Jong-min and ann

Aug. 2, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Pilot” (South Korea) Opened July 31 Comedy Directed by Kim Han-gyeol Han Jung-woo (Jo Jung-suk) who, after getting fired from his job and divorced by his wife, is now searching for a new job. Out of desperation, he disguises himself as a woman to get a position at Han Air, a company seeking a female pilot. “Deadpool & Wolverine” (US) Opened July 24 Action/Comedy Directed by Shawn Levy A retired Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), who lives an ordinary life as a car dealer, s

Aug. 2, 2024

Korean ballet dancers from prestigious companies to perform in homecoming gala

Korean ballet dancers working abroad in prestigious international companies are set to grace their home stage, bringing a curated selection of rarely seen pieces in the country at the Korea World Dance Stars Festival this weekend. This year's festival highlights six Korean dancers, including Kang Min-ju, a first artist with the English National Ballet, making her first performance in Korea in 12 years. Joining her are An So-young from the Martha Graham Dance Company, returning after a decad

Aug. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin to drop English-language version of solo song

Jimin of BTS will sing a B-side track from his second solo EP in English, according to label Big Hit Music on Thursday. He will release an English version of “Be Mine,” one of the seven tracks from EP “Muse,” on Friday. The mini album was rolled out on July 19 and hit Billboard 200 at No. 2 and topped iTunes Top Albums chart in 80 regions. Focus track “Who” claimed the No. 1 spot on its Top Songs chart in all 119 regions, as did the pre-release from EP “

Aug. 1, 2024

Le Sserafim's tearful documentary criticized for emotional displays

Le Sserafim’s latest YouTube documentary series, “Make It Look Easy,” which depicts the girl group's hardships over the past year, is facing criticism for playing on emotions related to the band’s recent controversies. Released on Hybe's official YouTube channel on Monday, the five-part series showcases the group’s intense preparations and emotional struggles. It captures the endless practice sessions, anxiety about public performances and the pressure to

Aug. 1, 2024

Why do sequels flop?

Korean series traditionally did not produce sequels, primarily due to Korea's production structure. Unlike other countries, a series' intellectual property rights are distributed among production staff in a complex manner, which makes creating sequels challenging. However, the landscape is changing. International streaming platforms, especially Netflix, have begun introducing seasonal formats for Korean series. Following this trend, local cable channels such as tvN have also started ad

Aug. 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] Min says her ‘prime time’ is not over

K-pop solo artist Min used to be swayed by how the public evaluated her. She used to react to criticism by dwelling on past glories. But not anymore. "At some point, I thought to myself, 'Why let these strangers influence the way I live my own life?'" she said during an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. This was when Min came up with her latest song “Prime Time,” the title track of her first EP that was released on June 21. “People defined my glo

Aug. 1, 2024

K-pop summer queens set to return in August

Female K-pop artists are returning to earn the title of summer queens. Hyolyn, known for her energetic and summer-ready image since her time as a member of the girl band Sistar and as a solo artist, is making a comeback. Her new single "Wait," set to be released on Aug. 12, is an Afrobeat track featuring addictive beats and lyrics celebrating freedom. Concept photos and teaser videos show Hyolyn with tanned skin, wandering through streets and lush forests. Hyolyn showcased the performa

Aug. 1, 2024

'Squid Game Season 2' to be released in December, with final season coming in 2025

The second season of "Squid Game," the South Korean Netflix original series that captivated the world upon its 2021 release, will return on Dec. 26, with its third and final season set for release in 2025, according to Netflix, Thursday. "The real game will begin," said Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of "Squid Game" who also helms the remaining two seasons, via a press release. "I am genuinely excited to bring to fruition the idea I developed by brainstorming th

Aug. 1, 2024

Ador’s Min denies ignoring sexual harassment at agency

Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has taken the bull by the horns, disclosing her KakaoTalk messages on her Instagram account on Tuesday to combat allegations that she disregarded a female employee who claimed to have been sexually harassed by a male executive. Min shared six conversations that involved the male executive, the female employee, an advertiser and herself. These conversations show the male executive and the female employee arranging a meeting over dinner with an advertiser during which the fema

July 31, 2024

Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang gets spotlight at CGV Arthouse

CGV Arthouse is running a special exhibition and screenings highlighting Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang and his works from Aug. 7 to 20. CGV Arthouse theaters screen independent and art films as part of South Korean multiplex chain CGV. Celebrating the first-ever screening of his 1994 action comedy “A Confucian Confusion” in Korea, CGV Arthouse will also screen six other works by Yang -- “In Our Time” (1982), “That Day, on the Beach” (1983), “Taipei Sto

July 31, 2024

K-pop’s dilemma: ‘Super fans’ vs. ‘casual fans’

A significant dilemma has surfaced in the ever-evolving world of K-pop: Should the industry focus on nurturing casual fans or continue to cater to its dedicated superfans? This debate came to the forefront when Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, addressed the issue on a local TV show last November. Bang expressed concerns about K-pop being in crisis, partly due to the intense consumption patterns of its superfans. “The basis of my crisis theory lies in the intense consumption

July 31, 2024