Streams of BTS hit 'Dynamite' surpass 300m in Japan: Oricon

Combined streaming of the BTS megahit "Dynamite" has reached more than 300 million in Japan, a music chart tracker in the Asian country showed Wednesday. The disco-pop track added 6.69 million streams in the latest weekly streaming chart compiled by Oricon between April 19 and 25, hitting 306.53 million streams in total, said Big Hit Music, the K-pop act's agency, citing the Japanese music chart. "Dynamite," which achieved the feat in 36 weeks, is the third song to break th

April 28, 2021

'Minari' eyes 1m attendees on Youn Yuh-jung's historic Oscar win

The number of combined moviegoers for "Minari" is expected to surpass 1 million in South Korea this weekend, boosted by supporting actress Youn Yuh-jung's history Oscar victory, data showed Wednesday. The US drama film on the struggles of a first-generation Korean immigrant family in America sold 8,500 tickets on Tuesday, bringing its combined total to 952,000, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. Its box office ranking bumped up to second after the thriller "Reca

April 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen sets record with 3rd Japanese single

Seventeen ranked No. 1 on Oricon’s weekly singles chart with hits third Japanese single “Hitorijyanai” last week. 　 The single sold over 314,000 units in the first week of sales, repeating the feat of its second Japanese single from last year that also topped the weekly tally and sold over 300,000 units in seven days. 　 “Hitorijyanai” also made the boy band the first international male musicians to have three consecutive singles with over-200,000-unit sales in th

April 27, 2021

‘Congratulations Youn Yuh-jung’ heard all around

With Youn Yuh-jung making history by becoming the first Korean to win an Academy Award for acting, social media was flooded with posts congratulating the feat by the 73-year-old veteran actor. Actors Lee Seo-jin, Choi Woo-sik, Park Seo-joon and Jung Yu-mi who appeared with her on recent tvN entertainment show “Youn’s Stay” all congratulated the veteran actor. “As I’ve said many times, I thought Youn would win this award and despite her saying that I was counting

April 27, 2021

Global music streaming giants target Korea with tailor-made lists

The two biggest music streamers Spotify and Apple Music are attempting to penetrate the Korean market with unique playlists and music charts. Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, announced the launch of “Jazzy Korea,” a new playlist curated to introduce a wide range of rising Korean jazz artists and tracks to celebrate the upcoming International Jazz Day on April 30. The new playlist containing 30 tracks by 30 Korean jazz artists was launc

April 27, 2021

Oscars finally acknowledges Youn Yuh-jung's decadeslong contribution: Bong Joon-ho

Director Bong Joon-ho has said that South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung's history-making Oscar victory is the result of the US Academy Awards' belated acknowledgement of her versatility and decadeslong contribution to the South Korean film industry. The 73-year-old screen veteran was awarded Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in the immigrant film "Minari," written and directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung. She is the first South Korean to win an acting Oscar. Bong's

April 27, 2021

Lee Kwang-soo to step away from 'Running Man' after 11 years

Lee Kwang-soo, a core member of the long-running popular TV show "Running Man," will step away from the program after 11 years, his management agency said Tuesday. The 35-year-old actor-entertainer will film his last episode for the show on May 24, KingKong by Starship said. According to the agency, Lee has been having trouble playing his role on the show due to an injury he suffered from a car accident last year, though he has been doing physical therapy. Lee decided to take some t

April 27, 2021

BTS to release 2nd English single 'Butter' on May 21

K-pop sensation BTS is ready to come back next month with the cheerful summer number "Butter," its agency said Tuesday. The "fun and upbeat summer song," which will be the seven-piece act's second English single following "Dynamite" released last year, will drop globally in a digital version at 1 p.m. on May 21, according to Big Hit Music. The physical version of the new single will be available this summer, the company added, without elaborating on a release date

April 27, 2021

Enhypen speaks of growth and pains through ‘Border: Carnival’

Big-name rookie group Enhypen has returned even bigger than before with the second EP “Border: Carnival,” which sings about the ferocious five months since the group’s debut. The seven-piece group held a media event in Seoul on Monday ahead of the album‘s release at 6 p.m. that day. Taking on the story from their first EP “Border: Day On,” which depicts a complication of emotions faced ahead of debut, “Border: Carnival” sings of another wave of

April 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhyphen rolls out 2nd EP

Enhyphen held a showcase in central Seoul on Monday to introduce its second EP, “Border: Carnival.”   　 “It’s been five months and I’m way more nervous than I thought,” confessed Jeongwon. The rest of the members agreed that they could not believe that it already is their second album. Debut album “Border: Day One” came out in November last year.   　 “Enhyphen is trying a variety of genres in every album,” said Jake, “a

April 26, 2021

Youn’s Oscars win tops prestigious acting awards won by Koreans

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung, 73, opened a new chapter in Korean cinema by becoming the first actor to win the best supporting actress prize at the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday for her role in “Minari.” She portrays an unconventional Korean grandma Soon-ja who comes to America to look after her two grandkids while Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica are (Han Ye-ri) are out working to pursue the American dream in Arkansas. With the Oscar trophy, Youn has bagged more than 40 trophies at

April 26, 2021

Youn Yuh-jung’s 50-year film career: filmography

Since making her film debut in 1971 as the lead actor in “Women of Fire,” Youn Yuh-jung has taken on numerous roles, eventually winning the Best Supporting Actress at the 93rd Academy Awards for her portrayal as quirky grandmother Soon-ja in “Minari.” Here are some of her major films. Woman of Fire (1971) After gaining domestic fame with her TV drama appearances, Youn debuted on the big screen with “Woman of Fire” in 1971 by director Kim Ki-young, starting

April 26, 2021

[Photo News] Youn makes history at the Oscars

 Youn Yuh-jung and Han Ye-ri arrive at the 93rd Academy Awards, at Union Station, in Los Angeles, US, Sunday.  Youn Yuh-jung, winner of the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Minari," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, at Union Station in Los Angeles.  Actress Youn Yuh-jung in her early days. Youn Yuh-jung's debut flim, 'Women of Fire.' By Gha Hee-sun (lizka98@heraldcorp.com) (Photos: Yonhap)

April 26, 2021

Actor Youn clarifies her name in a witty speech at Academy Awards

Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung showed her witty and candid personality in her acceptance speech for the best supporting actress award at the 93rd Academy Awards, mentioning how her name has been mispronounced in different ways. “As you know I am from Korea, and my name is Yuh-jung Youn, and most European people call me Yuh-young, and some of them call me Yoo-jung, but tonight you are all forgiven,” Youn said in the beginning of her speech in English, evoking laughter from the audience

April 26, 2021

Bong praises art of filmmaking at Oscars

Director Bong Joon-ho made an appearance at the 93rd Academy Awards, as a presenter for the best director award. Bong, whose film “Parasite” last year won four Oscars, spoke in Korean with his interpreter, Sharon Choi, from Dolby Cinema at Megabox Coex in southern Seoul. “If you have to explain to a random kid on the street what directing is in 20 seconds, what would you say?” Bong said, saying the five nominees were asked the same question. “Their replies were

April 26, 2021

Youn Yuh-jung’s storied 5-decade career culminates in Oscars win

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung clinched the best supporting actress award at the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday for her performance in US film “Minari” as an eccentric grandmother. With the win, Youn became the first South Korean to win an Oscar for acting. No other Korean actor, including those in the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” has ever been nominated for an Academy Award. The four other actors vying for the prize were Maria Bakalova for “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,&

April 26, 2021

Youn Yuh-jung wins Oscar

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung, 73, won the best supporting actress prize at the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday for her portrayal of eccentric grandmother Soon-ja in the US film “Minari.” Youn became the first Korean to win an Oscar trophy in an acting category. No other Korean actor, including those from last year’s breakthrough Oscar winner “Parasite,” had received any trophies from the Academy Awards. “Tremendous thanks to Academy members who vote for me,&rdq

April 26, 2021

'Minari’ awaits big Oscar wins

The film “Minari” is awaiting its big night at the Oscars. Directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung, the film has been nominated for best picture, best directing, best original screenplay, best actor, best supporting actress and best score at the 93rd Academy Awards. It has garnered the second most nominations following “Mank,” directed by David Fincher, which has been shortlisted in 10 categories, including best picture.   Actor Youn Yuh-jung has been nomina

April 26, 2021

The Oscars bring back red carpet glam in whites and gold

NEW YORK (AP) -- Red carpet glam was back Sunday at the Oscars with Andra Day and Carey Mulligan shimmering in award-worthy gold and Maria Bakalova among several stars in bright white princess gowns during the pandemic era's first big parade of fashion. Day dressed all the way up in a sexy look cut to the thigh on one side with a cutout at the waist. It was custom Vera Wang made of actual metal. Mulligan stunned in gold Valentino couture, a midriff look with a tiny metallic top and a huge

April 26, 2021

[Herald Interview] Kang Ha-neul says he enjoyed filling in blanks in ‘Rain and Your Story’ script

Actor Kang Ha-neul said he liked the script of “Rain and Your Story” because it had blanks that he could fill in. “I like that the script did not have precise directions about the character‘s emotions and reactions,” Kang told local reporters during a joint media interview Thursday via Zoom. “It only had a minimum amount of words that are required to proceed with the story.” Set mostly in 2003, “Rain and Your Story” introduces Young-ho, w

April 25, 2021