RM's second studio album named ‘Best K-Pop Album of 2024’ by Billboard staff

"Right Place, Wrong Person," the second album of RM, the leader of BTS, was named the “Best K-Pop Album of 2024 (So Far)” by Billboard, according to Hybe on Saturday, highlighting RM's ongoing success and influence as a solo artist. Released in May, "Right Place, Wrong Person" debuted at No.5 on the Billboard 200, making RM the first K-pop solo artist to have two consecutive albums in the Top 5. The album reached No.37 on the UK Official Albums Chart, setting

July 14, 2024

"Inside Out 2" becomes most-watched Pixar film in Korea

"Inside Out 2" is the most-viewed Pixar film to open in Korean theaters. According to the Korean Film Council, as of Sunday at 9:30 a.m., the total number of admissions sold for "Inside Out 2" logged 7.45 million. This surpasses the 7.24 million tickets sold for the US animation studio's "Elemental" (2023), which previously held the record as the most-watched Pixar movie in Korean theaters. "Inside Out 2" is currently the third most-watched film in

July 14, 2024

'Exhuma' to open in Japanese theaters

South Korean occult flick "Exhuma," which set a record as this year's first film to hit 10 million admissions, will be released in Japanese theaters this October. According to Kadokawa, the Japanese distributor of "Exhuma," the film will hit local theaters across Japan on Oct. 18. Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, known for his success with occult films such as "The Priests" (2015) and "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" (2019), and featuring veteran actors Choi Min-s

July 14, 2024

[What to Stream] Short animated films will captivate you this weekend

Tune in this weekend to witness some of the most imaginative pieces of content available — short animated films. Utilizing the creative liberty afforded by fewer restrictions compared to feature-length films, these series of short animations will not only captivate you with its artistic innovation but also deeply impact you with profound, heartfelt and thought-provoking messages. “Love, Death & Robots” on Netflix Since its debut in 2019, "Love, Death & Robots,&qu

July 13, 2024

Enhypen's second LP sells 1.88 million copies on release day

K-pop boy group Enhypen has broken its own first-week sales record by selling more than 1.88 million copies of its second full-length album, a market tracker said Saturday. Sales of the album, titled "Romance: Untold," reached 1,883,143 units on Friday alone, the day of its release, according to Hanteo Chart, a leading local album sales tracker. It broke the group's previous record of 1.87 million copies set in November last year with its latest EP, "Orange Blood." The

July 13, 2024

Soprano Sumi Jo's singing competition debuts in France

Renowned soprano Sumi Jo has successfully launched her first international vocal competition in France, drawing hundreds of aspiring singers from across the globe. The inaugural Sumi Jo Vocal Competition took place over seven days, beginning last Sunday at the historic Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley. "I pinched myself to see if this competition, which I'd been dreaming of and preparing for, was really happening," the soprano said Friday. "It'

July 13, 2024

BTS' Jin to carry Olympic torch near Louvre Museum on Sunday: reports

Jin of K-pop supergroup BTS will be the first torchbearer in the Louvre Museum section of the 2024 Paris Olympics torch relay in Paris this weekend, according to local news outlets specializing in Olympic news. The South Korean singer is expected to begin carrying the flame at the Louvre Pyramid at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The French domestic torch relay, which began May 8 in Marseille, southern France, has been under way for more than two months. The torch is scheduled to arrive in Paris o

July 13, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Twice surpasses 500m views with debut music video

The music video for Twice’s debut song reached 500 million views on YouTube Thursday, label JYP Entertainment said Friday. It is the group’s eighth music video to reach the milestone, following “TT,” “Likey,” “What Is Love?,” “Fancy,” “Cheer Up,” “I Can’t Stop Me” and “Feel Special.” The group debuted in October 2015 with “Ooh-Ahh” which was the main track on its debut EP “The

July 12, 2024

[Herald Review] In play 'Trigger,' weary rifle retells Korea's turbulent history

An old film prop warehouse in Paju unfolds an array of items of seemingly everything. A wooden case, in particular, stands out, atop a weathered piano and beside a Segovia guitar case. The wooden case houses a Type 99 Arisaka rifle from 1945 -- one of the last legacies left behind by the Japanese Army as the war came to a close. The rifle, affectionately named Bbangya, becomes the unlikely protagonist in “Trigger” by award-winning playwright Kim Eun-sung. The play premiered in 2023

July 12, 2024

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet to debut with contemporary spin on 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will debut “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from Aug. 23-25. Choreographer and director Joo Jae-man will explore the Shakespeare comedy from the perspective of the fairy Puck. The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will be the first in the world to reinterpret the piece as a contemporary ballet, according to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The US-based Joo -- who previously worked with American ballet companies like Complexions Contemporary Ballet and

July 12, 2024

Enhypen heralds sweet romance with second studio album 'Romance: Untold'

K-pop sensation Enhypen marked a triumphant return to the music scene with the release of its second studio album, “Romance: Untold,” at a showcase event held at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul on Thursday. Returning with a full-length album after nearly two years and nine months, the K-pop septet expressed gratitude to fans for their unwavering support and patience. “We prepared this album with a determination to present a complete work to the fans who have waited

July 12, 2024

BBC to unveil entertainment series encapsulating launch of British K-pop boy group this summer

BBC is airing the entertainment series “Made in Korea: The K-pop Experience” this summer, encapsulating the process of launching a British K-pop boy group under the K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment. SM Entertainment partnered with the British entertainment company Moon&Back to launch the upcoming five-member boy group. The six-episode series follows the members being brought together by Moon&Back and the K-pop training they underwent with SM Entertainment. SM Entertainment a

July 12, 2024

Unis to return next month with new single ‘Curious’

K-pop girl group Unis is making a comeback in August. According to F&F Entertainment, Unis is introducing its new single “Curious” on Aug. 6. Unis is a K-pop girl group comprising eight finalists from the SBS audition program “Universe Ticket” that debuted with its first mini album “We Unis” in March. The album sold more than 55,000 copies just within five days of its release. Unis recently won the Asia Star Award at the 2024 Korea Best Brand Awards held i

July 12, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Escape” (South Korea) Opened July 3 Action Directed by Lee Jong-pil North Korean soldier Gyu-nam (Lee Je-hoon) is about to be discharged after 10 years of service. Faced with no alternative other than a future of working on a farm or in a mine, he devises a plan to defect to South Korea in search of a better life. “Handsome Guys” (South Korea) Opened June 26 Comedy Directed by Nam Dong-hyup Two well-meaning carpenters and friends, Jae-pil (Lee Sung-min) and Sang-gu (Le

July 12, 2024

Kim Hong-park reflects on three decades with horn in debut album

After nearly 30 years as a horn player in South Korea and abroad, Kim Hong-park released his first album, "Schumann & Brahms," last Friday. The 42-year-old musician, who is also a professor at Seoul National University, discussed his inspiration to produce an album highlighting the instrument, which is pivotal in an orchestra due to its versatile contributions to melody, harmony, dynamic range, rhythmic support, color, texture and signaling cues. “Despite its significance a

July 11, 2024

Enhypen embraces sweet romance with 2nd studio album

K-pop boy group Enhypen embraced a new musical direction, unveiling a bright and romantic song from its upcoming album "Romance: Untold," which captures the heartfelt confessions of a young boy. Set for release on Friday at 1 p.m., the second full-length album from the group follows its fifth EP, "Orange Blood," released last November. "We've released many dark songs in the past, so it feels unfamiliar and nerve-wracking to return with a bright and sweet song as

July 11, 2024

Lee Isaac Chung returns with American disaster film ‘Twisters’

Korean American filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung is returning with the American disaster film “Twisters,” slated for August release in local theaters. Director Chung, who won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2021 with his autobiographical family drama "Minari," has collaborated with Steven Spielberg for this movie. Spielberg is the executive producer of this standalone sequel to the 1996 movie "Twister." “Twisters” follows the story

July 11, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans adds Japan debut single to million-seller list

NewJeans’ debut single in Japan sold more than 1 million copies and became the group’s fifth straight million-selling album, agency Ador said Thursday. The single “Supernatural” was rolled out on June 21 and hit the milestone following in the steps of all NewJeans' four previous albums. The single landed atop Oricon’s daily single ranking and kept the spot for two more days. Both songs from the single album -- titular track and “Right Now” – a

July 11, 2024

[Herald Interview] From busker to Coachella star, The Rose blooms

Last April, the four-member band The Rose from Korea took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the largest music festival in the United States, becoming the first Korean indie band to perform at Coachella. Park Dojoon, the guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist of The Rose, sat down for an interview with The Korea Herald on June 20, sharing the dynamic story of the band from its busking days to its rise to internationally traveling band. The Rose – consisting of Park Do

July 11, 2024

Onew of Shinee to release solo EP in September

Onew of the legendary K-pop group Shinee is returning to the K-pop scene with a solo album. On Thursday, the artist posted on Instagram that he is releasing his third mini album “Flow” in September. Onew’s comeback as a solo artist follows the release of his first LP “Circle” in March 2023. Before releasing his third EP, Onew is also dropping a new digital single entitled “All Day” at 6 p.m., July 15. He will hold an Instagram live on the day of the digi

July 11, 2024