[Newsmaker] Former Big Bang member Seungri to start military service March 9

Seungri, formerly of boy band Big Bang, will begin his mandatory military service on Monday. According to reports, Seungri will go through a five-week training program at the 6th Infantry Division in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. This is the same training facility bandmate Taeyang began his enlistment at in March 2018. Due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, enlistment ceremonies have been suspended until further notice. Some of Seungri’s close associates posted pictures of what seemed to

March 5, 2020

TIMF 2020 canceled over virus outbreak

This year’s Tongyeong International Music Festival, one of Korea’s biggest classical music events, has been canceled amid the rapid spread of COVID-19. This year, the annual music festival that takes place in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, was to be held from March 27 to April 5 under the theme of “Reality,” featuring 26 main performances and 363 artists from 23 countries.  Although the festival had set off to a robust start with five of its programs sold

March 4, 2020

Three BTS songs hit Billboard Hot 100, while band reclaims Artist 100

Global super band BTS debuted three of its new songs on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for this week on Wednesday while topping a string of other Billboard charts with its new album, "Map of the Soul: 7." According to the weekly Billboard chart updates, "ON," the lead track of "7," ranked 4th on the Hot 100 chart dated March 7, as previously announced by the music magazine. It was BTS' first top 5 hit on the Hot 100. "My Time," a solo song by Jungk

March 4, 2020

Maestro Chung Myung-whun in home quarantine

Maestro Chung Myung-whun has canceled performances in Italy after going into home quarantine in France upon returning from a trip to Tokyo. Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, based in the Italian city of Florence, announced that Daniele Gatti, music director of Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, would conduct the orchestra’s Saturday concert instead of Chung. Chung was to lead the orchestra in a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor on Saturday. The orchestra exp

March 3, 2020

Korean animation ‘Underdog’ to open in France

South Korea’s hit animation “Underdog” will be screened in France next month under the title “Nous, Les Chiens,” according to the film’s producer-distributor NEW. “The picture’s time-transcending style will bring joy to both adults and children,” The Jokers, which is releasing the film in France, was quoted as saying by NEW. The company also distributed the Korean film “Parasite” in France. The 2018 feature animation “Und

March 3, 2020

‘Inner Child’: How the emotional stadium anthem came to life

To much anticipation and buzz around the world, BTS released its fourth studio album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” in late February. One week in, the septet’s latest album has broken multiple records, including the biggest first-week album sales of the year so far. It also helped the group achieve a fourth No. 1 hit in the US, making BTS the fastest band to do so since the Beatles in the late ’60s. While fans celebrate, there is a small group of people for whom this record is

March 3, 2020

BTS' 'ON' debuts at career-best 4th on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart

"ON," the lead track of BTS' new album, debuted at 4th on the Hot 100 singles chart this week, the highest rank for any BTS song, Billboard said Monday (US time). "BTS scores its third and highest-peaking Hot 100 top 10, and the highest-charting song ever for a K-pop group, as 'On' roars in at No. 4," Billboard said, announcing the weekly chart dated March 7. It is BTS' first top five hit on the highly competitive singles chart and the band's third top 10 entry. "Boy

March 3, 2020

Coronavirus takes heavy toll on K-pop

Mounting fears of the coronavirus outbreak are taking a heavy toll on K-pop overall. High-profile concerts like those of BTS and Twice are getting canceled, while multiple artists back from global events are being tested for possible infections. On Friday, K-pop juggernaut BTS announced it has canceled the Seoul leg of “Map of the Soul” world tour scheduled for April to prioritize the health of artists, fans and staff.  The act’s label Big Hit Entertainment said the

March 2, 2020

Hop aboard the DMZ Peace Train

DMZ Peace Train Music Festival 2020 will be held June 12-14, across Seoul and near the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas. Launched in 2018, the popular music festival takes place at five venues in Seoul and near the Demilitarized Zone in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, promoting peace between South Korea and North Korea.  As in previous editions, the festival will feature Goseokjeong, a pavilion in Cheorwon, as the main venue, and will welcome a diverse selection of musicians

March 2, 2020

BTS fans flock to donate for coronavious fight

Donations for Korea’s fight against coronavirus led by BTS fans, collectively known as “Army,” exceeded 400 million won ($334,000) over the weekend, according to the Korea Disaster Relief Association on Monday. As of 10 a.m., 9,230 donations worth a combined 425.3 million won had been given to the organization under names such of “Bulletproof Boy Scouts,” “BTS” and “Army.” “The actual amount is likely much higher than the official co

March 2, 2020

BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' tops Billboard 200 album chart

"Map of the Soul: 7," the new album from K-pop super band BTS, landed atop the Billboard 200 chart this week in a history-making fourth No. 1 victory for the band on the American album list, Billboard said Monday (Korean time). "'Map of the Soul: 7' storms in atop the chart with 422,000 equivalent album units earned in the US in the week ending Feb. 27," the pop music magazine said on its website, citing data from Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of the total, 347,000 was in albu

March 2, 2020

Korean films continue winning streak at international film festivals

Korean films continue making history at the three big prestigious film festivals-- Berlin, Cannes and Venice. South Korean director Hong Sang-soo on Saturday in Berlin won best director at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival for “The Woman Who Ran.” Last year, director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” won the country’s first Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It might seem like the country’s films have become the toast of the town in the

March 1, 2020

Number of moviegoers hits 16-year low in Feb. over coronavirus fears

The number of moviegoers in South Korea last month dropped to its lowest level for a February in 16 years, as people stayed home over growing fears of the novel coronavirus. According to the Korean Film Council on Sunday, just over 7.34 million people went to the movies in February, the lowest for the month since 3.11 million watched films in February 2004. In February 2019, almost 22.3 million tickets were sold across the nation. The outbreak of the coronavirus in South Korea and the recent

March 1, 2020

Hong Sang-soo wins best director at Berlin film fest for 'The Woman Who Ran'

Renowned South Korean director Hong Sang-soo on Saturday (Berlin time) won best director at the Berlin International Film Festival for his latest film, "The Woman Who Ran." At the awards ceremony held at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, the director's 24th feature film was awarded the Silver Bear prize for best director at the 70th edition of the Berlin film fest, which kicked off Feb. 20 and closes Sunday. Hong is the second South Korean filmmaker to earn the prize in the category,

March 1, 2020

Park Seo-jun talks about ‘Itaewon Class,’ cancellation of pop-up bar plan

Owing to the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak, actor Park Seo-jun said he would have to cancel the pop-up bar he had promised to open if the drama series “Itaewon Class” succeeded to reach a 10 percent viewership rating. “I will try to find some other way to express our gratitude. I had not expected this situation when I had made the promise. Although promises are important, I believe it is more important that the (COVID-19) situation gets better,” Park, who plays the lead

Feb. 28, 2020

Green Day pushes back dates for Asian tour

Green Day has postponed its Seoul show originally slated for March due to mounting fears over the coronavirus outbreak. The American rock band is pushing back the dates for the Asian leg of its “Hella Mega” tour, including the March 22 show in Seoul, local organizer Live Nation Korea said in a statement on Friday. The band was to return to Korea in more than a decade, since its last concert here in January 2010. “Unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to pos

Feb. 28, 2020

BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' breaks 1st-week sales record in S. Korea

"Map of the Soul: 7," the new album by K-pop boy band BTS, sold more than 3.37 million copies in the first week of its release, the biggest first-week sales volume for any K-pop album, the band's management agency said Friday. The album sold 3,378,633 copies during the period of Feb. 21 till Thursday, breaking the former record high first-week sales of 2,130,480 copies, set by BTS' previous album, "Map of the Soul: Persona." This marks another sales record set by the new,

Feb. 28, 2020

‘Train to Busan’ sequel ‘Peninsula’ confirms summer release

“Peninsula,” the sequel to hit zombie flick “Train to Busan,” will be released this summer, distributor NEW said Friday. Though the company did not reveal the release date, the film may hit theaters in August. Taking off from where the story ended in “Train to Busan,” the upcoming movie is expected to have the same setting as the first film. According to Yeon Sang-ho, director of both films, “Peninsula” will take place four years after the z

Feb. 28, 2020

BTS cancels Seoul leg of world tour over coronavirus concerns

BTS has canceled its Seoul concerts amid growing fears over the coronavirus outbreak. On Friday, the act’s agency, Big Hit Entertainment, announced it had canceled the Seoul leg of the band’s “Map of the Soul” world tour scheduled to be held April 11, 12, 18, 19 at Olympic Stadium, prioritizing the health of the artists, fans and staff worldwide. It said in a statement, “The current global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has made it impossible at this time to pr

Feb. 28, 2020

CGV to halt service in Daegu

South Korea’s largest cinema chain CJ CGV said Thursday it will temporarily shut down its screens in the Daegu area from Friday. 　 Due to the rapid increase of the COVID-19 infections in Daegu, the nine CGV outlets in the area will temporarily be closed due to concerns about the safety of customers and staff, CGV said on its webpage. The cinema franchise said reserved tickets will be canceled automatically and it will further notify about the reopening dates. By Im Eun-byel (silvers

Feb. 28, 2020