Netherlands wins Eurovision as Madonna dancers spark flag controversy

The Netherlands won the 2019 Eurovision song contest early Sunday at a show in the seaside Israeli city of Tel Aviv that featured a performance from Madonna, plenty of glitz and some controversy.The oh-so-glamorous and famously kitschy finale gave Israel a chance to showcase its credentials as a culturally progressive nation, but politics lurked in the background as pro-Palestinian activists called for a boycott. Duncan Laurence of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the 2019 Eurovision Son

May 19, 2019

'Avengers: Endgame' becomes most-viewed foreign film in S. Korea

"Avengers: Endgame" became the most-watched foreign film in South Korean history, with over 13.33 million admissions Sunday, its distributor said.The latest Marvel superhero flick set the record at around noon, Walt Disney Company Korea said based on a real-time box-office tally from the Korean Film Council.The previous No. 1 was "Avatar" (2009), which sold 13.30 million tickets from 2009 to 2010. (Yonhap)"Endgame," the epic finale to the superhero studio's decadelong series, has been breaking S

May 19, 2019

Actor So Ji-sub dating former TV presenter

Actor So Ji-sub has been dating a former TV broadcaster for a year, the actor's agency said Friday.The 41-year old actor has been in a good relationship with Cho Eun-jung since they first met on the set of an SBS TV entertainment news program, the agency, 51k, said.Cho, 25, was an onscreen reporter of the show when So appeared on it to promote his latest film, "Be With You," in March last year. She debuted on the small screen as a presenter for the popular online game "League of Legends" on cabl

May 17, 2019

Song Kang-ho becomes first Asian to receive Excellence Award at Locarno Film Festival

Actor Song Kang-ho is to be recognized at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival, becoming the first Asian to receive the Excellence Award. The festival, founded in 1946, is a prestigious film festival held every August at the Swiss-Italian town of Locarno. The film festival organizers announced in a press release Thursday that Song would receive this year’s Excellence Award, becoming the first Asian awardee.  Actor Song Kang-ho poses for photos during a press conference for “Parasite,” held at The West

May 17, 2019

Maestro Chung, One Korea Orchestra hope to perform with NK artists

One Korea Orchestra, led by Maestro Chung Myung-whun, 66, will hold its third performance, amid hopes for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Chung and the orchestra will present Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B Minor at the Seoul Arts Center on Aug. 18. The pianist has yet to be confirmed, as the organizers are finalizing plans to invite a North Korean pianist. Maestro Chung Myung-whun (Jean-Francois Leclercq / Credia)For the performance, the organizers

May 16, 2019

Rock legend Queen to hold Seoul concert in January

Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen will hold a concert in Seoul on Jan. 18-19, marking the first solo concert by the legendary rock band.According to Hyundai Card, the latest artist to be featured in its Hyundai Card Super Concert project are the guitarist and drummer of Queen, who will be joined by singer Adam Lambert.Lambert has been touring with May and Taylor to fill the shoes of Queen’s famed lead vocalist, the late Freddie Mercury. The other original member of the band, bass guitarist Joh

May 16, 2019

Ultra Korea’s latest lineup includes Knife Party, Underworld

Ultra Korea recently revealed new headliners in the third phase of the lineup for the upcoming festival, slated for June 7-9. “Bass-fueled electronic outfit Knife Party and pioneering British luminaries Underworld have been added as headliners for the eighth annual edition, setting the tone for one of the biggest Phase 3 lineups in the festival’s history,” the organizers of the event said. Hot Since 82 will join the roster for the Resistance stage. Also added to the list were psychedelic duo Inf

May 16, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil(Korea)Opened May 15Crime, ActionDirected by Lee Won-taeA notorious gangster Jang Dong-soo (Ma Dong-seok) narrowly survives a random attack by a serial killer, and sets out to bring justice to his attacker in his own way: by brutally murdering him. At the same time, a cop Jung Tae-suk (Kim Mu-yeol) seeks to arrest the killer. The two men join forces to form the most unorthodox and perilous team, which will break down the moment they locate Kang.Miss & Mrs. Cops(Ko

May 16, 2019

2PM's Ok Taecyeon set for return to show biz after finishing military service

Ok Taecyeon, a member of K-pop boy band 2PM, completed his 20 months of military service Thursday, setting himself up for a return to show business."I still can't believe (I was discharged) after waking up to a morning bugle today. Maybe I could if I wake up to an alarm instead of a morning bugle tomorrow morning," the 31-year-old told reporters and fans at the 9th Infantry Division in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, just north of Seoul. He served the division as a training coach, earning the nicknam

May 16, 2019

BTS kicks off summer concert series by US TV show

K-pop boy band BTS kicked off this year's summer concert series by US TV show "Good Morning America," staging an outdoor performance at New York City's Central Park on Wednesday (local time).BTS was the first performer for the 2019 GMA Summer Concert Series, which will run from May 15 to Aug. 30 and feature a high-profile pop act every week, including Ellie Goulding, whose show is set for June 14, the band's management agency Big Hit Entertainment said. South Korean boy band BTS perform on ABC`s

May 16, 2019

Scandal-ridden director Kim Ki-duk's newest film screened at Cannes

Scandal-tainted South Korean movie director Kim Ki-duk's newest film was unveiled at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.According to the Cannes Film Market, Kim's latest film, titled "3,000" in English, was screened exclusively to buyers on Wednesday night.Only about 20 invited buyers were admitted to the screening of the 72-minute film, reportedly shot in Kazakhstan, at the Palais H hall in Cannes. (Yonhap)With a "Guest List Only" notice placed at the entrance, many journalists and uninvited peo

May 16, 2019

WINNER to drop new album fronted by cheerful breakup song

Four-piece K-pop boy band WINNER will release a new album, "WE," Wednesday, returning to the music scene with the band's full lineup.The title of the new album, scheduled to hit the shelves Wednesday evening, stresses "the synergy the four members with unique personalities create when they get together as the band WINNER," their talent agency, YG Entertainment, said. The album carries four new songs, including the main track, "Ah Yeah," as well as "Zoo" and "MOLA."It also has two bonus tracks --

May 15, 2019

‘Wedding Singer’ to kick off 18 days of musical festivities at DIMF

The largest musical festival in Korea is winding up for opening next month, with the organizers for Daegu International Musical Festival on Tuesday announcing that this year’s event will feature 23 musicals from eight countries.From June 21 to July 8, the 13th annual DIMF will be held at major theaters across Daegu. Set in the self-proclaimed “musical city,” the DIMF will be promoted by Suho of EXO, who has been selected as the promotional ambassador for the event.The K-pop star is himself a ren

May 14, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘Sons of Denmark,’ a glimpse into a dystopian future

Danish director discusses his debut feature, a political thriller about a future marred by extremismJEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- There is a thin line between standing up for what you believe is right and extremism, a line that fades when the safety and security of the ones you hold dear are on the line. This is realm the young director Ulaa Salim ventures into in the film “Sons of Denmark,” set in 2020s Denmark, where a terrorist attack by an extremist group sends the country spiraling down

May 13, 2019

Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon to pay homage to Schumann with ‘My Clara’ tour

Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon is embarking on a series of recitals in 10 cities. Titled “My Clara,” the nationwide tour begins Thursday and continues through June 1. The program, drawn up by the pianist himself, includes Clara Schumann’s Notturno in F Major, Robert Schumann’s Fantasie in C Major and Johannes Brahms’ Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor.  Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon performs the first movement of Robert Schumann’s Fantasie in C Major during a press conference for his nationwide tour “My Clara” held M

May 13, 2019

[Herald Interview] Clean Bandit supports ‘expandability’ of Seoul Jazz Festival

Clean Bandit’s Seoul performance is drawing near with the 2019 Seoul Jazz Festival slated to take place in late May. The British band’s performance is much anticipated by the South Korean audience, as last year’s appearance was canceled at the last moment. “Very excited. I have been to Korea once before, but we had to leave almost immediately after the show so I was disappointed,” Grace Chatto said via email, representing the trio of three siblings -- herself and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson

May 12, 2019

BLACKPINK becomes 1st K-pop group to have music video with over 800 mln YouTube views

BLACKPINK has become the first K-pop group to have a music video with more than 800 million YouTube views, its Seoul-based agency said Saturday.YG Entertainment said that BLACKPINK's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" surpassed the threshold at around 4:16 p.m. Saturday, nearly 11 months after the music video was released last June. Excluding PSY, the South Korean solo artist whose mega-hit "Gangnam Style" has 3.3 billion views on YouTube, BLACKPINK is the first K-pop group to see one of its music videos reach 800

May 12, 2019

Actor Ma Dong-seok returns to tough guy character in new movie

Actor Ma Dong-seok has carved out his own presence in the South Korean movie industry, with viewers coming to mostly know him for his muscular arms, rock-solid build and rugged looks. But alongside his tough exterior, he exhibits a friendly, cute demeanor that earned him the nickname "Mavely," a combination of his surname, "Ma," and "lovely." Actor Ma Dong-seok (Yonhap)    In the action-adventure film "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil," to be released next week, Korean movie fans may find themse

May 11, 2019

2019 UMTF kicks off with Teatr Biuro Podrozy’s ‘Macbeth’

The 2019 Uijeongbu Music Theatre Festival kicks off Friday with Teatr Biuro Podrozy’s “Macbeth: Who Is That Bloodied Man?”Starting with the Polish theater company’s reinvention of “Macbeth” on Friday, the 18th UMTF will feature some 40 productions from May 10-19, coming to a close with Geoff Sobelle’s “Home.” A scene from Teatr Biuro Podrozy’s “Macbeth: Who Is That Bloodied Man?” (Tomasz Plaskowski)“Macbeth: Who Is That Bloodied Man?” returns to Uijeongbu 10 years after it was first performed at

May 9, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Avengers: Endgame(US)Opened April 24Action, Adventure, FantasyDirected by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo After the devastating events of last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe. Inseparable Bros(Korea)Opened May 1Drama, ComedyDirected by Yook Sang-hoSe-ha (Shin Ha-kyun) possesses a sharp mind but cannot go anywhere without Dong-gu (Lee Kwang-soo), who is

May 9, 2019