Blackpink becomes 1st K-pop group to have music video with over 1b YouTube views

Blackpink has become the first K-pop group to have a music video with more than 1 billion views on YouTube, the group's Seoul-based agency said Monday.YG Entertainment said that the female group's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" music video surpassed the threshold in the afternoon, nearly 17 months after it was released last June. Blackpink is the second K-pop artist with the achievement, after singer PSY, whose mega-hit "Gangnam Style" has 3.4 billion views on YouTube.The quartet, who

Nov. 11, 2019

‘Parasite’ biggest commercial success among foreign films in N. America this year

The Cannes-winning Korean film “Parasite” has garnered more than $11 million in revenue in North America, becoming the most commercially successful foreign language title of this year so far, industry data showed Monday. The film’s revenue from the one-month period since its North American release on Oct. 11 till Sunday came to $11.28 million, according to the data by the US box office and the American magazine Variety. This marks the most revenue garnered by a foreign-lan

Nov. 11, 2019

‘Women can be great conductors,’ without qualifiers

Cellist-turned-conductor Chang Han-na will embark on a South Korean tour with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra from Wednesday to Sunday. Chang, 37, is the artistic leader and chief conductor of the Norway-based orchestra. The orchestra’s first-ever Korean tour will kick off at the Seoul Arts Center on Friday, followed by concerts in Busan (Thursday), Daegu (Saturday) and Iksan (Sunday). The program includes Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 1

Nov. 11, 2019

Singer Kim Gun-mo to end tour in February

Singer Kim Gun-mo, who will tie the knot with a pianist in January, will wrap up his nationwide concert tour in February. The 51-year-old has been touring the nation since December 2016, a month after he released the EP “50” in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his debut.  The final stop of the two-year tour will be held at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park in eastern Seoul on Feb. 29. Since his debut in 1992, Kim has been one of the most celebrated artists with his unique voice, r

Nov. 11, 2019

'Parasite' biggest commercial success among foreign films in North America this year

The Cannes-winning Korean film "Parasite" has garnered more than $11 million in revenue in North America, becoming the most commercially successful foreign language title of this year so far, industry data showed Monday.The film's revenue from the one-month period since its North American release on Oct. 11 till Sunday came to $11.28 million, according to the data by the US box office and the American magazine Variety.  This marks the most revenue garnered by a foreign-language ti

Nov. 11, 2019

Audition show's fall from grace derails high-flying careers of winning bands

A fall from grace by "Produce 101," South Korea's most sensational idol audition show to date, is derailing the burgeoning K-pop careers of the show's winners.Last week, police put in custody An Joon-young, the director of the Mnet cable show, and the program's chief producer over suspicions of rigging the results of the fan-voted competition show's four seasons.The police have reportedly secured circumstantial evidence alluding to the production staff's collusion with talent agencies

Nov. 11, 2019

With 2 more Big Bang members discharged from military, what now?

Taeyang and Daesung of K-pop group Big Bang returned to civilian life on Sunday after finishing their 20-month compulsory military service, drawing attention on Big Bang’s next move with all members now having completed military service. The two vocalists -- who enlisted in March last year -- greeted hundreds of fans who gathered to congratulate them on their discharge early Sunday morning at Ground Operation Command in Yongin, Gyeonggi province. “I have spent meaningful time an

Nov. 10, 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, a preview of Korea’s 2020 film scene

As 2019 slips away, it’s clear that comedy and Hollywood blockbusters have dominated South Korea’s box office this year.Four films -- two domestic and two Hollywood blockbusters -- have broken the 10 million ticket sales mark this year. “Extreme Job” became the second most successful film in Korean box office history with 16.2 million and the top-selling comedy, while “Avengers: Endgame” became the most successful foreign film of all time. They were followed b

Nov. 10, 2019

BIGBANG members set to return to show biz amid ongoing scandal

With all of its members coming back to public life over the weekend, popular K-pop band BIGBANG is set to return to show business, but the future of the group remains unknown due to an ongoing corruption scandal.As a well-known fashion icon across Asia, its leader G-Dragon, who was discharged from the military on Oct. 26, resumed his entertainment activities with a fashion collaboration with Nike.He participated in designing the US-based firm's flagship sneaker line of the Air Force 1 Para-noise

Nov. 10, 2019

Cartoon penguin with attitude charms Korea

A few years ago, Korea’s cartoon industry saw arguably its biggest triumph with “Pororo the Little Penguin.” The cute, innocent penguin character was a massive hit across the nation and in other countries.Over the past few months, another penguin character has charmed Koreans. This time, the penguin character is far from innocent. Rather, it is blunt, careless and tough. Pengsoo debuted six months ago under Educational Broadcasting System, a public broadcasting station tha

Nov. 8, 2019

[Herald Interview] Zico returns with new reflective album ‘Thinking’

As a musician who used to fiercely jump around the stage spraying a bottle of water over hyped audiences, Zico admitted that showing his vulnerability required quite a lot of courage. The talented rapper, producer and member of K-pop boy band Block B, Zico, whose real name is Woo Ji-ho, explained that his real identity has always been shadowed by his externally confident demeanor and edgy style, or what the public expected from him. As his career progressed, through all the pressure that come wi

Nov. 8, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Weathering with You(Japan)Opened Oct. 30AnimationDirected by Shinkai MakotoThe summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka (Kotaro Daigo) runs away from his island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina (Nana Mori) on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky.Terminator: Dark Fate(US)Opened Oct. 30Action, Sci-fiD

Nov. 8, 2019

Girl band IZ*ONE postpones release of new album amid vote-rigging scandal

K-pop girl band IZ*ONE has postponed the release of its new album amid snowballing vote-rigging allegations at "Produce 48," a popular K-pop competition show.    "Off the Record, the management agency of IZ*ONE, has decided to delay the release of the group's first full-length album, originally scheduled for Nov. 11, out of respect for the opinions of fans," cable channel Mnet, which runs the K-pop competition show, said in a release on Thursday.  &nb

Nov. 7, 2019

[Herald Interview] Actress knocks up marionette story in directorial debut, ‘Judy and Punch’

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- When director Mirrah Foulkes finished her first feature film, “Judy and Punch,” just before it was due to premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January, she put together a small screening in Sydney for the cast, “just so they could make sure they liked it -- decide whether or not to go to Sundance.”After a pause and moment of relief, “They all went,” Foulkes said. The premise of the Australian flick from Vice Films -- a relat

Nov. 7, 2019

‘Barefoot diva’ celebrates 30 years of singing

Singer Lee Eun-mee is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her debut with a nationwide concert tour and the release of an album.The 53-year-old debuted in 1989 as a guest singer of band Sinchon Blues. Three years later, she began a solo career and has since released more than 10 albums. In 1993, she took her shoes off onstage “to be free.” She has since been performing barefooted, earning the nickname of “barefoot diva.” Two tracks from her upcoming album were prerele

Nov. 7, 2019

BTS becomes 1st K-pop act to spend 1 year on Billboard 200

International K-pop sensation BTS has become the first act from South Korea to spend a year on the Billboard 200, setting a record in a career already full of many.The group's "Love Yourself: Answer" reentered Billboard's main albums chart at No. 165 on Monday.According to Billboard, the album has now spent 52, non-consecutive weeks on the chart, making it the first K-pop album to be on the Billboard 200 for a full year.Citing Nielsen Music, Billboard said the album has also sold 1.1 m

Nov. 7, 2019

Let it go? Disney thaws 'Frozen' for blockbuster sequel

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Six years ago, "Frozen" shattered box office records, melted the hearts of youngsters and spawned a franchise so popular Disney was never likely to let it go.And so Queen Elsa and Princess Anna return this month in "Frozen II" -- a sequel its creators promise will be "even bigger and more epic," with its world premiere taking place in Los Angeles Thursday night.Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," the original follow

Nov. 7, 2019

Director Park Chan-wook recognized at Geneva film festival

Korean director Park Chang-wook on Tuesday received the Film and Beyond award at the Geneva International Film Festival, commended for his works including “The Handmaiden,” which will be screened at the festival until Sunday.The award was given to the director in recognition of Park’s body of work to the field of cinema, at the 25th annual event at the Swiss city from Nov.1-10.“This is an award usually given to a director with a long career who is about to retire, but I w

Nov. 6, 2019

[Kpopherald x Twitter] GOT7 talks about name, fans, comeback and ‘TMI’

Following the release of new EP “Call My Name” on the previous day, GOT7 returned to Twitter’s Blueroom on Tuesday afternoon for a live broadcast to chat with their fans.The seven members, all dressed in black except for JB who wore a brown sweater, were excited to return to the music scene. It’s been six months since it dropped “Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity” in May.  Kicking off the broadcast by streaming its latest music video &l

Nov. 6, 2019

Experimental play ‘Human Fuga’ looks at 1980 Gwangju massacre

A “fuga” -- Italian for fugue -- is a musical composition that introduces two or more themes in the beginning that recur throughout the piece.In the play “Human Fuga,” which began its run Wednesday at the Namsan Arts Center in central Seoul, the themes are the painful memories, scars and ill health of the victims of the 1980 Gwangju massacre, the dictatorial government’s response to the Gwangju Democratic Uprising.Theater troupe Tuida’s production takes its le

Nov. 6, 2019