‘Negotiations’ to resume overseas shooting in July

Star-studded blockbuster “Negotiations” may become the first Korean film to restart overseas shooting since the COVID-19 pandemic virtually stopped all international travel The film’s local distributor, Megabox Plus M on Tuesday announced that the film’s producers will return to shooting in Jordan in early July. The producers of the film starring top-tier actors Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin halted all overseas shooting plans earlier this year, just after the global out

June 23, 2020

Lee Seung-gi, Jasper Liu team up in Netflix travel show ‘Twogether’

Netflix’s upcoming variety show “Twogether” features star actors from two countries who set off on a journey to meet their fans in Asia. Featuring Korean actor-singer Lee Seung-gi and Taiwanese actor Jasper Liu, the upcoming show will draw the bromance between the two stars as they overcome language and cultural barriers on their way to connect with fans. Star variety producer Cho Hyo-jin -- who produced Netflix’s “Busted” -- and producer Ko Min-seok have

June 23, 2020

[Herald Review] ‘Mozart!’ sings of miracle

The curtain went up on the musical “Mozart!” amid tears. The show depicts the great maestro as an ordinary human being that the modern audience can easily relate to. The musical, written by celebrated duo Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay, features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) as a fragile being trapped by his childhood. Though a grown man, Mozart is consistently haunted by Amade, the personification of his genius.   Though Mozart is an 18th century figure, the musical

June 23, 2020

Seventeen is back and they are fearless

Seventeen released their seventh mini-album “Heng:garae,” with “Left & Right” as its lead track, on Monday. The record, featuring six tracks, comes about nine months after their third full album “An Ode.” While the previous album focused on the concept of fear, the new album carries a much more upbeat and optimistic theme. In fact, the first song is called “Fearless.” Speaking to the press during a livestreamed press showcase, the bandmates

June 23, 2020

Gugak performed against backdrop of Korean calligraphy show

The National Theater of Korea is collaborating with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA), featuring contemporary gugak performances held against the backdrop of Korean calligraphy. The 2020 Yeowoorak Festival, an annual festival of traditional Korean music organized by the National Theater of Korea, is to kick off on July 3, featuring 12 performances over its 23-day run. Since March, the MMCA Seoul has been hosting its first calligraphy exhibition, titled “The

June 22, 2020

Portrayal of LGTBQ characters slowly evolves in K-dramas

In recent years, the portrayal of LGBTQ characters in Korean dramas has evolved, with more sexual minorities appearing as main and supporting characters in various series. Rather than shunning sexual minorities or describing them comically, as has been the case in the past, Korean dramas have begun to portray LGBTQ characters in ways that were once considered taboo in the Korean entertainment industry. In the past, LGBTQ characters rarely had major parts and appeared in dramas for no more tha

June 22, 2020

‘The Shaman Sorceress’ wins at Annecy animation fest

Korean director Ahn Jae-huun’s feature animation “The Shaman Sorceress” bagged the Contrechamp Jury Distinction award at the 44th Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, Saturday. Based on a 1936 Korean novel of the same title, the film depicts the breakdown of a traditional family following a clash between shamanism and Christianity. Taking the form of an animated musical, the film features Korean singer and actor Sonya as the shaman Mohwa, who comes into con

June 22, 2020

K-pop powerhouses ask for financial support from government

K-pop powerhouses on Friday participated in a roundtable meeting with Culture Minister Park Yang-woo, discussing the financial difficulties they face due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The meeting, hosted by the Culture Ministry, in addition to listening to the challenges entertainment companies face, was intended to set the agenda for expanding the Korean Wave in the post-coronavirus era. Eight senior executives of K-pop companies including S.M. Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, Big Hit

June 21, 2020

Korean films hope to repeat Cannes success in 2020 Cannes Film Market

The 2020 Cannes Film Market, an annual marketplace where the global movie industry convenes for business opportunities, will be held online for the first time this week from Monday to Friday, featuring several Korean films attempting to follow the success of last year’s grand prize winner “Parasite” by director Bong Joon-ho. The online film market will try to mirror the offline experience by hosting online concerts, keynote talks and over 150 events, with more than 1,200 onlin

June 21, 2020

Second show in Sejong Center’s Contemporary S project looks at fine line between art and prank

In his upcoming contemporary dance show, dancer and choreographer Kim Seol-jin offers a close look at the fine line between art and prank. Kim, who is well known for his modern dance works and has also appeared in many musicals, films and dramas, is to present his latest work at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, July 15-19. The show, “Japari,” is part of the theater’s Contemporary S project, launched last year with ballerina Kim Ju-wo

June 20, 2020

BTS' 'Stay Gold' sweeps global iTunes charts

  K-pop group BTS' "Stay Gold," the lead track on the upcoming Japanese album, has topped global iTunes charts in more than 80 countries, the band's management agency Big Hit Entertainment said Saturday.  The song, sung in Japanese, ranked No. 1 on the Top Songs chart in 82 countries, including the United States, Britain, Brazil and India, the company said in a release. The agency released the song prior to the official release of the full-length album.  It is yet

June 20, 2020

High-profile female comebacks to cap off H1 K-pop release calendar

Leading female voices in K-pop today are gearing up for comebacks later this month, closing off the first half of the K-pop industry's 2020 release calendar largely shaken up by the new coronavirus pandemic.   Solo artist Sunmi plans to make a comeback with her new single, "Pporappippam," on June 29. The song marks Sunmi's first new material in 10 months since her hit single "Lalalay" from last year. For her new song, the ex-Wonder Girls member partnered with DJ and pro

June 20, 2020

‘Backstreet Rookie’ draws family, rom-com inside 24-hour convenience store

Convenience stores are located at almost every corner of Seoul. Inside the small stores, stories of the most ordinary yet extraordinary everyday life take place. A new TV series “Backstreet Rookie” depicts those heartwarming stories of family, comedy and romance taking place inside the 24-hour stores.  Rom-com queen Kim You-jung stars as the lead character Jung Saet-byul of the drama -- titled “Convenience Store Saet-byul” in Korean -- who has a part-time job in t

June 19, 2020

[Herald Review] SPO holds in-person concert after four-month pause

Returning to the stage after a four month virus-mandated absence, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s reunion with its audience was full of emotion for both sides. The SPO performed “Related Giants – Mahler & Sibelius” at the Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul on Thursday. It was the first time the SPO had performed in front of a live audience since February. Though the concert had been much anticipated, the concert hall was relatively empty, as the SPO limited the nu

June 19, 2020

CGV introduces electronic visitor registration to combat COVID-19

CGV, South Korea's largest multiplex chain, said Friday it will introduce an electronic visitor registration system based on quick response (QR) code verification technology at all of its theaters nationwide to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. CGV's announcement came after South Korea last week mandated QR code-based registration of visitors at bars, clubs and other entertainment facilities across the country, stepping up measures against COVID-19. Those facilities are required to use

June 19, 2020

Peace film fest kicks off amid rising tension with NK

Amid tightening tension on the Korean Peninsula, the second edition of the Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival kicked off Thursday. The festival, set to run for six-days until Tuesday, is the first local film festival to take place as usual in the presence of audiences and guests since the ongoing novel coronavirus situation broke out in the nation. Though there had been one-day film awards, it is the first film festival event to be held for multiple days. “We have had our c

June 19, 2020

SM Entertainment expresses support for US Black Lives Matter movement

SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's oldest and most influential K-pop entertainment companies, on Friday expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. "We stand with our Black collaborators, friends and fans and all who are speaking out to insist that Black Lives Matter," SM said in an English-language statement shared on its @SMTOWNGLOBAL Twitter account. The K-pop powerhouse behind such top-billed acts as EXO, NCT 127, TVXQ, SHINee and Girls' Gene

June 19, 2020

BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' becomes No. 1 sold album in Japan during H1

K-pop group BTS was the biggest seller of music in album format in Japan during the first half of 2020, according to Japan's main music sales tracker Friday. "Map of the Soul: 7," the septet's studio album released in February, has sold 429,009 copies in Japan to date to become the best-selling album so far in 2020, Oricon reported. BTS was trailed by Japanese acts, King Gnu and Johnny's West, selling 389,449 and 220,508 copies of albums, respectively. According to Big Hit Entertai

June 19, 2020

[Herald Interview] Yoo Ah-in talks about being alive

Yoo Ah-in says the main theme of his life these days is being relaxed, and his acting as Jun-woo in the upcoming thriller film “#Alive” also comes in line with this relatively new attitude towards life. “(Jun-woo) Is a not-so-special guy who is pushed to the most extreme situation in the film, and I wanted to show his emotional changes rhythmically and naturally. Personally, the essence in acting Jun-woo was making him seem comfortable and loveable to the viewers. I wished pe

June 19, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Baseball Girl (Korea) Opened June 18 Drama Directed by Choi Yun-tae The only female baseball player in the nation and on her high school team, Soo-in (Lee Joo-young) pitches a 130-kph fastball. She strives to make it on a professional team, but everyone around her doubts her dream. Watching her fighting a lonely challenge, the team’s new coach Choi (Lee Joon-hyuk) tells Soo-in that her goal is impossible not because of her gender, but because of her physical limits and suggests a new str

June 19, 2020