[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

Sales of BTS' latest album hit all-time high

K-pop superstars BTS' latest "Map of the Soul: Persona" has sold more than 3.22 million copies, marking an all-time high in number of albums sold, a market tracker said Thursday.The accumulated sales for the band's seven-track EP, released on April 12, came to a record 3,229,032 in April alone, according to data from Gaon Chart.It is the most copies sold for an album since 2011 when Gaon Chart started to compile such data. Gaon's earlier album sales record was 2.13 million copies set by BTS' pre

May 9, 2019

‘From Tomorrow On, I Will,’ ‘Scattered Night’ win at Jeonju IFF

The 20th annual Jeonju International Film Festival on Wednesday announced the winners of this year’s international and Korean competitions, along with winners in other categories.“From Tomorrow On, I Will,” a Chinese-German-Serbian film directed by Ivan Markovic and Wu Linfeng, took the grand prize in the international competition category. The second directorial feature by Markovic was a collaboration with the Chinese director Wu about a migrant worker in Beijing and his roommate whose lives ru

May 9, 2019

Bong Joon-ho’s oeuvre to be screened ahead of ‘Parasite’ release

Celebrating the upcoming release of director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite,” a local cinema chain is offering moviegoers the opportunity to rediscover the acclaimed director’s filmography.CGV Arthouse will screen Bong’s past films from May 16 to 29 at its seven branches across the nation, in Myeong-dong and Apgujeong in Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon and Incheon. Director Bong Joon-ho speaks during a press conference for “Parasite,” held at the Westin Chosun Seoul on April 22. (Yonhap)Five fil

May 8, 2019

‘Fuerza Bruta Wayra’ revisits Seoul

“Fuerza Bruta Wayra” is back in Seoul with a few changes and upgrades after a successful run last year.The 70- to 80-minute show features eye-catching acrobatics, heart-thumping sounds, multicolored lights and projections, as well as wind machines.  A scene titled “Corredor” in “Fuerza Bruta Wayra” (Fuerza Bruta) “Salto” is a new segment in the scene titled “Corredor.” /Fuerza BrutaThe show is all about partying, the production’s team said during a press conference on April 30 at FB Theater, a t

May 8, 2019

Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s ‘Asylum’ to unveil at 2019 MODAFE

The world premiere of Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s “Asylum” will open the 38th International Modern Dance Festival (MODAFE) at Arko Arts Theater on May 16.The Israel-based dance company’s most recent work, “Asylum,” which touches on the on-going issues of refugees, immigration, and asylum seekers. Born to a family of Holocaust survivors in 1957, artistic director Rami Be’er has translated his own experience, troubled emotions and identity crisis into a dance.  A scene from “Asylum,“ a ne

May 7, 2019

Super Junior's Kyuhyun completes military service, returns to show biz

Kyuhyun, the youngest member of the 11-piece K-pop boy band Super Junior, will finish his mandatory military service Tuesday, finally returning the band to its full lineup.The 31-year-old started his mandatory service at a state welfare institution in the Seongbuk district in Seoul in May 2017 and reported for duty there for his final day of the two-year stint Tuesday.The return of Kyuhyun will bring all the 11 Super Junior members back together for the first time in many years.  (Yonhap)The pop

May 7, 2019

Momoland to drop new single featuring Vietnamese singer Erik

K-pop girl group Momoland is set to drop a new single, "Momola," featuring famed Vietnamese singer Erik, on Tuesday, its management agency said.The new single, which is on its way to hit the music scene Tuesday evening, is a sentimental ballad song that veered from the group's other energetic, dance numbers, according to MLD Entertainment.The new song, whose Korean title is translated as "You are the only love," delves into the longing and sentimental feelings of love through medium-tempo melodi

May 7, 2019

Xiumin joins military as 1st EXO member to enlist

Xiumin, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, has uploaded on his SNS account a selfie showing his new military-style haircut, hours before officially starting his military service Tuesday.The 29-year-old, whose real name is Kim Min-seok, is set to enter a military boot camp in Gangwon Province in the afternoon to start his 21-month military service as an active-duty soldier.Ahead of the enlistment, Xiumin posted an uncaptioned selfie showing his new haircut online Monday, marking his impending milita

May 7, 2019

‘Beethoven is the center of my life’

Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, an influential Beethoven expert, is to share his understanding of the maestro with the Korean audience through a six-day concert tour.The renowned Austrian pianist, who has put on more than 50 performances of Beethoven’s complete 32 sonata cycle and has recorded the set three times, is to delight the locals with a series of recitals across the nation from Tuesday to Sunday. 　Titled “Rudolf Buchbinder & Beethoven,” the series will comprise a selection of Beethoven’s pia

May 6, 2019

[Herald Interview] Turning the tables on geomungo

Much like other Korean instruments, the geomungo is considered an instrument of the past -- one of royal court music and traditional compositions.But here is a musician who has turned the tables on those preconceptions. Park Woo-jae literally turns the 2,000-year-old instrument around, opening up a whole new dimension to how it sounds. After a five-year absence from performance in Korea, the musician recently held a solo recital at Seoul Namsan Gukakdang. In recent years, he has mostly performed

May 6, 2019

‘Avengers: Endgame’ continues record run despite dispute

“Avengers: Endgame,” the final installment of the Infinity Saga from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has tied the fastest film in Korean cinema history to top the 11-million mark for ticket sales. Citing the Korean Box Office Information System, Walt Disney Company Korea announced, the film reached the milestone Monday -- day 13 of its run here -- tying the 2014 period piece “The Admiral: Roaring Currents.” “Avengers: Endgame” / Walt Disney Company KoreaTwo days earlier, “Endgame” broke another r

May 6, 2019

BTS kicks off world stadium tour in Los Angeles

South Korean pop group BTS was to begin its world tour at a 90,000-seat stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday night (local time).The septet was to perform before sold-out crowds at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, according to its management agency.Concert-goers gather outside Rose Bowl Stadium inin Los Angeles for the BTS concert on Saturday.YonhapThe "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" stadium tour follows last month's release of BTS' new EP "Map of the Soul: Persona" that became its thi

May 5, 2019

All eyes on BTS as the group bags two awards at BBMAs

In another sign of its success, BTS took home two awards and rocked the stage to a cheering crowd at this year’s Billboard Music Awards.From winning top duo/group and top social artist and sitting in the front row to being the second to last act to perform, the group was front and center at the awards show, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday night (US time).(Yonhap-UPI)The band’s leader RM said, “Thank you, Army. Still can’t believe we’re here on this stage

May 2, 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 2, 2019

Sibelius expert becomes SPO’s new music director

Conductor Osmo Vanska, who specializes in Sibelius, has been appointed as music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, ending the orchestra’s four-year leadership vacancy.SPO CEO Kang Eun-kyung revealed the appointment -- made after a three-year screening process -- at a press conference Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary since she took office. “I had the confidence that Vanska is the person that the SPO needs, seeing the devotion he had shown to the orchestras he worked with. The

May 2, 2019

BTS wins two prizes at Billboard Music Awards

K-pop boy band BTS lifted two prizes at this year's Billboard Music Awards, including the competitive Top Duo/Group award.The septet won Top Duo/Group and Top Social Artist in the 2019 BBMA at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday (US time). It was BTS' third consecutive win in the fan-voted Top Social Artist category.  (Yonhap)With the victories, BTS became the first Korean act to win more than one honor at the annual event.The South Korean band competed with four other groups --

May 2, 2019

BTS wins third Top Social Artist prize at Billboard Music Awards

K-pop boy band BTS won the Top Social Artist award at this year's Billboard Music Awards, their third consecutive victory in the category.American rapper and radio personality Sway Calloway broke the news during his red carpet interview with the band ahead of the award event held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday (US time)."In addition to Top Duo/Group, you guys are also up for Top Social Artist, which you have won in the last two years in a row," Calloway told the seven me

May 2, 2019

Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja wins grand prize at Baeksang Awards

Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja won the grand prize in the television category at this year's Baeksang Arts Awards on Wednesday for her work in the time travel drama "Radiant."It is the fourth time that the 77-year old has clinched Baeksang's highest honor. She first won the award in 1979. (Yonhap)In the drama that aired in February, Kim played the part of a woman who loses her youth and travels through time to meet a man who throws away the brightest days of his life by living a listless life. She s

May 2, 2019

K-pop to be performed at Lincoln Center

K-pop music is headed to New York’s Lincoln Center, where it will be performed by an orchestra. An orchestral concert exploring Korean popular music over the past century will be held at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall on June 20. According to the Korean Cultural Center in New York on Wednesday, the orchestral pieces will be performed by a 50-piece orchestra composed mainly of students from the Juilliard School. (AP)The upcoming event, titled “K-Factor,” will showcase orchestral versions o

May 1, 2019