BLACKPINK's 'As If It's Your Last' tops 700m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK's "As If It's Your Last" hit the milestone of 700 million YouTube views Thursday.The music video, released in June 2017, surpassed the 700 million threshold early Thursday morning, according to the band's label, YG Entertainment.  The feat made "As If It's Your Last" the four-piece girl band's third music video to achieve the 700-million-view record, following "Ddu-du Ddu-du" and "Boombaya," making BLACKPIN

Oct. 31, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful’ a flawed, but entertaining piece

“The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful” is flamboyant, preposterous and exaggerated, taking viewers on a wild ride. Directed by Lee Khan and starring Kwon Sang-woo, the sequel to the “The Divine Move” (2014) -- about high-stakes gambling via the game of Go -- has an obvious premise and plot as well as one-dimensional characters. But it manages to provide fun and action.The film starts by tracing the footsteps of a boy who was abandoned by everything in the world. He stumbles ac

Oct. 30, 2019

Arts Center Incheon celebrates first anniversary

Arts Center Incheon in Songdo International City will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Nov. 16. Since opening last year, the center’s concert hall -- a mix of shoebox and vineyard styles -- has been praised for its exceptional acoustics.  The center was originally envisioned to house a concert hall, a museum and an opera house. But only the concert hall has been completed. While the center has secured land for construction, its plans have not been finalized due to financial issue

Oct. 30, 2019

[Newsmaker] BTS bids farewell to ‘Love Yourself’ era with triumphant, emotional homecoming

It ended where it started. BTS on Tuesday staged the grand finale of its “Love Yourself” series in Seoul, wrapping up a yearlong world tour that kicked off in the capital of band’s home country. Tuesday’s show at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium was the last of three sold-out shows of BTS’ “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” stadium tour, an extension of “Love Yourself,” which kicked off in August on the same stage last year. When BTS

Oct. 30, 2019

[Graphic News] 9 in 10 K-pop fans want to visit South Korea: poll

Nine in 10 K-pop fans would like to visit South Korea in the future, a survey showed, highlighting K-pop’s positive impact on the tourism sector.In a survey of 12,663 people from 111 countries who identified themselves as K-pop fans, 89.8 percent of the respondents said they would like to visit the country, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.The survey showed BTS was the most popular group followed by EXO, Super Junior and Big Bang. (Yonhap)

Oct. 30, 2019

'Game of Thrones' prequel series confirmed by HBO

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- A prequel series to "Game of Thrones" titled "House of the Dragon" has been ordered, WarnerMedia announced Tuesday, as it set out launch details for its new HBO Max streaming service.The new show in George RR Martin's epic fantasy world will be set 300 years before the events of TV smash hit "Thrones," and is based on the book "Fire and Blood.""It's my pleasure to announce today that we are ordering 'House of the Dragon' straight

Oct. 30, 2019

With tears and sweat, BTS wraps up globe-trotting concert tour in home country

Tears and sweat wrapped up K-pop superband BTS' year-long world concert tour in the capital of their home country on Tuesday. The famous home ARMY's fan chant consecutively naming the seven BTS members brought to a close BTS' "Love Yourself" world tour at the thundering Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul, 14 months after the same chant launched the band from here onto the forefront of the world music scene.The finale edition of the three days of concerts officially capped the band's hea

Oct. 30, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Black Money’ tells a convincing tale in a questionable manner

There is a certain risk in making a movie based on a true story: The creator takes sides and ends up having an agenda. When the audience is on board with the idea, it’s great. Otherwise, it becomes a problem.“Black Money” is a movie that has a clear purpose and a message to get across, which is to raise awareness about the ongoing multibillion-dollar investor-state dispute between the South Korean government and a private equity firm. “‘Black Money’ is differe

Oct. 29, 2019

Monsta X Party: 9 bangers to fire up the dance floor

Monsta X has had a busy year, entering uncharted territory for a K-pop act by appearing on a number of high-profile TV shows as well as collaborating with pop heavy hitters like French Montana and Steve Aoki.And the seven-piece group is back again with its new album “Follow: Find You.”The septet became the first K-pop act to perform at the iHeart Radio Music Festival this year and performed on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” in September. Behind its growing popularity is its u

Oct. 29, 2019

BTS brings historic world tour to close with finale in Seoul

K-pop superband BTS' more than one-year-long globe-trotting concert journey will come to a successful close Tuesday with the finale show in Seoul, the capital of the septet's home country.The final edition of BTS' three-day concerts in Seoul, set for Tuesday evening at Seoul Olympic Stadium, caps the sensational "Love Yourself" world tour and its extension, "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself." The concert tour kicked off in Seoul in August 2018 to promote the band's career-making

Oct. 29, 2019

Camarata Chamber Singers win national choir award

The Camarata Chamber Singers won the “Best of the Best” Presidential Award at the 23rd National Choral Competition in Daejeon.The multicultural choir was among 40 that entered Saturday’s national choral competition, the only amateur competition recognized with a presidential award. Sixteen choirs made it to the final, where they each sang twice, with at least one Korean song. The Chamber Singers sang “Nyon Nyon” by Jake Runestad, and Aeo-rang, based on a North Korea

Oct. 29, 2019

Bronx steps in 'Joker' movie become a tourist attraction

NEW YORK (AP) -- Move over, Rocky, there's a new stairway to climb.A set of outdoor steps in the Bronx has become a tourist attraction in recent weeks since the release of the movie "Joker."The stairs are between two buildings on Shakespeare Avenue, about a half-mile from Yankee Stadium. In the movie, lead actor Joaquin Phoenix dances as he goes down the steps, wearing a bright red suit and clown makeup.These days, neighborhood residents using the steps are being joined by tourist

Oct. 29, 2019

With special event zones for fans, BTS concerts evolve into ARMY festival

A package of outdoor activities and fan services will be awaiting excited fans at Jamsil Sports Complex in southern Seoul when global superband BTS throws the finale of its world tour this week. The septet is poised to finally wrap up the much-acclaimed "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" tour in the capital of its home country on Tuesday.The first two of a series of three concerts took place at the complex's Seoul Olympic Stadium over the weekend, entertaining 88,000 fans in total. On Tue

Oct. 28, 2019

[Herald Review] Parking lot turns circus tent for Halloween

The first edition of the Escape: Psycho Circus Korea music festival lit up the pre-Halloween weekend in Seoul.The Halloween-themed festival, organized by US festival company Insomniac, landed in Korea this year at the parking lot of Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The lot was transformed into a circus-themed wonderland, filled with sounds from more than 27 notable dance music names. The mainstage Slaughter House set up inside a large circus tent featured a stage designed in

Oct. 28, 2019

Comedienne Park Na-rae's new stand-up show creates buzz in S. Korean show biz

Making off-color jokes is taboo in the South Korean entertainment industry, especially for a woman.Comedians have to be mindful of broadcasting regulations and harsh criticism when they engage in explicit and inventive dirty talking.But Park Na-rae, a 34-year-old who made her debut on KBS' flagship Gag Concert in 2006, is pushing the boundaries in comedy."Park Na-rae: Glamour Warning," which was released on Oct. 16 on global media giant Netflix, is a stand-up comedy that delivers a fun

Oct. 28, 2019

Netflix to release 'Kingdom' season 2 next year

Global media giant Netflix said Monday its original Korean drama series "Kingdom" will return for a second season next year.The first season of "Kingdom," a genre-defining six-episode zombie mystery thriller set in the last Korean kingdom of Joseon, premiered globally on the US video streaming service in January. "The second season of Netflix's original 'Kingdom' will be released in March next year," the US-based company said in a press release.In the new season, th

Oct. 28, 2019

9 in 10 K-pop fans want to visit S. Korea: poll

Nine in 10 K-pop fans would like to visit South Korea in the future, a survey showed Monday, highlighting K-pop's positive impact on the local tourism sector.In a survey of 12,663 people in 111 countries who identified themselves as K-pop fans, 89.8 percent of the respondents said they would like to visit the country, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. Of those who expressed their desire to visit South Korea, 76.4 percent said they would like to visit within a year."K-pop's popula

Oct. 28, 2019

TWICE announces Tokyo Dome edition of world tour

K-pop girl band TWICE will hit the Tokyo Dome stadium next year on a new Tokyo leg of its ongoing world tour, the band's management agency said Monday. The girl band is currently on the globe-trotting concert tour, with its Japanese leg having kicked off last week in Hokkaido. According to JYP Entertainment on Monday, the ongoing Japanese leg will newly include two days of concerts at Tokyo Dome from March 3-4.It will be the girl band's second year in a row to perform at one of Japan's biggest c

Oct. 28, 2019

Despite Penderecki’s absence, SIMF continues with Polish-themed concerts

In spite of numerous hiccups -- the biggest one being the unexpected absence of Polish maestro Krzysztof Penderecki -- the 11th Seoul International Music Festival kicked off as planned and continues to introduce classical music to a wider audience. The 86-year-old composer and conductor was to visit South Korea for a concert Saturday at the Seoul Arts Center, but canceled a few days prior due to health concerns. Polish composer Maciej Tworek filled in and led the KBS Symphony Orchestra for

Oct. 27, 2019

[Newsmaker] G-Dragon discharged from military

G-Dragon, the leader of K-pop boy band BIGBANG, was discharged from the military Saturday, bracing himself for a return to show business. Meeting with media and fans in front of the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, south of Seoul, G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, thanked his fans for their support. Some 3,000 fans came to the military base to greet the 31-year-old singer.   "I want to thank all the fans who have been waiting for me," said Kwon, using a megaphone

Oct. 26, 2019