Ensemble to play Schumann at Deoksugung

A local ensemble featuring a violinist, violist, cellist and pianist will present Schumann in Seokjo Hall at Deoksugung, a historic palace in Seoul, on June 26. This free concert is open to all, with registration starting on June 19 for the one-night performance. On June 26, violinist Kim Yong-uck, violist Lee Han-na, cellist Kim Min-ji and pianist Park Jong-hai will present Schumann’s three works -- Op. 15, Op. 47 and Op. 94 -- during the biannual classical music festival at the Joseon-er

June 15, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa hints at solo return

Lisa of Blackpink uploaded a clip Thursday signaling her return as a solo artist. Along with the video that fully demonstrated her status as a leading fashionista, she also posted a notice on her individual website that included “Coming Soon” and how to “pre-save” her upcoming new music on Spotify and Apple Music. She cinched a partnership with American record label RCA Records in April via her own agency, Lloud Company, which was established in February. Her namesake sol

June 14, 2024

[From the scene] BTS' Jin returns, fans erupt with joy

K-pop sensation BTS' oldest member, Jin, returned to his role as a singer just a day after he finished his mandatory military service on Wednesday. On Thursday, Jin showed up at 2024 Festa, an annual fan-meeting event celebrating the anniversary of BTS' debut on June 13, held at Jamsil Arena in Seoul. "I told my company that I will perform at 2024 Festa even if I have less than a day to practice. I had to do it myself since the other members are all away. I forgot how to sing, and

June 14, 2024

Global K-pop girl band Katseye confirms US debut on June 28

Katseye, the global K-pop girl group launched through a collaboration between Hybe and American record label Geffen Records, is poised to debut in the United States on June 28. The group's debut will be the first attempt for both labels to penetrate the mainstream pop market in the US with a global girl group. Eyes are on whether the six-member multinational K-pop act will show potential for the globalization of Hybe’s training and development system. According to Hybe and Geffen Reco

June 14, 2024

Fifty Fifty to return as quintet with four new members in September

K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty is returning as a quintet with four new members joining original member Keena in September. “We’ve been holding auditions in search of new members for the group’s new leap. We finalized four new members in April,” announced Fifty Fifty’s agency, Attrakt, on Friday in a press release. Fifty Fifty’s comeback was initially scheduled for June. “We know that many people have been waiting for their comeback but we needed more time

June 14, 2024

‘Inside Out 2’ leads local box office, ‘Wonderland’ sits in second

Pixar animated film “Inside Out 2” is leading the local box office after its release this week, according to Korean Film Council data on Friday. “Inside Out 2,” the sequel to the 2015 charming and intelligent journey through the emotions of adolescence, opened Wednesday. On Thursday, the movie attracted 135,782 moviegoers, bringing its accumulated admissions to 332,286 for two days. “Inside Out 2” centers on a now-teenaged Riley as her “mind headquarters

June 14, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wonderland” (South Korea) Opened June 5 Sci-fi/Drama Directed by Kim Tae-yong Wonderland, an artificial intelligence service that allows people to communicate with departed loved ones through simulated video calls, causes mixed emotions for Jeong-in (Suzy) as her comatose boyfriend Tae-joo (Park Bo-gum) wakes up. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (US) Opened May 22 Action/Sci-fi Directed by George Miller A young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy), left with only fury after her mother i

June 14, 2024

Global fans flock to Seoul to celebrate BTS anniversary

Despite sweltering temperatures Thursday, the area around the Seoul Sports Complex in southern Seoul transformed into a vibrant sea of purple, as fans gathered to celebrate the 11th anniversary of K-pop megastar BTS. Hours before the 2024 Festa -- an annual event hosted by BTS' agency, BigHit Music -- throngs of fans crowded a subway exit leading to the complex, demonstrating the band's immense popularity. The diverse crowd included fans conversing in Korean, Japanese, English and Fren

June 13, 2024

Late Lee Sun-kyun’s ‘Project Silence’ confirms July 12 opening

“Project Silence,” an action thriller by director Kim Tae-gon, confirmed its theatrical release on July 12, according to the movie’s distributor CJ ENM. The film revolves around a national security officer Jung-won (the late Lee Sun-kyun), who is stranded on a collapsed bridge shrouded in thick fog on his way to send off his daughter at the airport. Ju Ji-hoon appears as a tow truck driver Jo-bak, who appears on the scene to clear crashed cars from the bridge. Veteran actor Kim

June 13, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Twice’s Nayeon brings out 2nd solo EP

Nayeon of Twice held a media showcase in Seoul Thursday to bring out her second solo EP, “NA.” She confided that she felt pressure from the success of her first solo album that far exceeded her expectations. Her previous EP from 2022 “Im Nayeon,” hit Billboard 200 at No. 7 and set a record for a K-pop solo musician at the time while main track “Pop!” swept all music charts at home. “I tried to enjoy as much as I can putting together the album,” s

June 13, 2024

Yunmin of Touched makes history with 9 wins on ‘King of Masked Singers’

Yunmin, the lead vocalist of the prominent South Korean band Touched, has made a significant mark on “King of Masked Singers” by achieving nine consecutive wins, a milestone not seen in nine years. “King of Masked Singers,” which has been airing on MBC since 2015, is a singing competition where singers and celebrities wear masks, leaving behind their careers and fame to compete solely based on their voice and singing ability. Yunmin maintained her top position from mid-Ja

June 13, 2024

Riize to open pop-up store promoting 1st EP ‘Riizing’

K-pop boy group Riize is opening a pop-up store to promote its first mini album, “Riizing,” to be released on Monday. The pop-up store will be open at Starfield Suwon in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province for 10 days, June 14-23. Visitors can tune into “Boom Boom Bass,” the lead track of Riize’s upcoming EP, at a special listening zone in the pop-up store. The six-piece band has also prepared a photo booth in which fans can take pictures with members of the group in its frame

June 13, 2024

XG expands first world tour to US, Europe

K-pop girl group XG, which consists of seven Japanese members, is expanding its first-ever world tour to the US and Europe. Starting with a concert in Las Vegas on Oct. 4, XG is to visit seven more cities in the US to meet with American fans. The group is then crosses the Atlantic to perform in Manchester, England, on Nov. 18, followed by shows in five more cities in Europe. XG kicked off its first world tour with two days of concerts at the Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka, Japan, on May 18 and 19. Altho

June 13, 2024

Canneseries-invited 'TAROT' will tell stories of people attempting to defy fate

Structured within a unique omnibus format, horror flick "TAROT" will tell the stories of individuals who try to challenge their destinies, the director said Wednesday. Produced by Studio X+U, "TAROT" is originally an omnibus drama series consisting of seven episodes. The series follows the stories of individuals who face ominous events predicted by tarot cards. For the movie version, three episodes from the series -- "Do You Believe in Santa?," "Going Home"

June 13, 2024

Bucheon film fest unveils 2024 lineup

BUCHEON, South Korea -- The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) on Wednesday unveiled the list of movies to be screened at this year's edition, with "Love Lies Bleeding" selected as the opening film and "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" chosen as the closing film. In addition to that, the annual film fest, a celebration of genre films from around the world, will showcase 255 short and feature films from around the world. The opening film, "Lo

June 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Riize to unveil 1st EP at June 17 showcase

Riize will unveil its first EP, “Riizing,” in Seoul on June 17 at a “premiere” showcase, according to label SM Entertainment on Wednesday. The six-piece band will perform “Boom Boom Bass,” its main track from the eight-track album, for the first time at the event, which will be broadcast live as well. The pop dance tune is mainly based on bass guitar, as the title suggests, and continues the theme of musical instruments that weaves through debut single “

June 12, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Jellyfish' playwright discusses authenticity of disabled portrayals

The preproduction showcase of "Jellyfish," starring actors with disabilities at Seoul's Modu Art Theater in late May, was different in many ways. From the outset, it set itself apart with an unconventional beginning where the cast and creative team gathered on stage in a small circle, introduced themselves and engaged in a quick chanting game to check on each other’s mental and physical states before the performance. The play was presented in a relaxed style, with dim lighti

June 12, 2024

[Herald Review] Son Suk-ku’s 13-minute-long ‘Night Fishing’ a dynamic one-man show

South Korean actor Son Suk-ku’s upcoming film, “Night Fishing,” is a sci-fi thriller short with a running time of 12 minutes and 59 seconds. The number of cameras used for this short film is seven, all of which are built-in cameras integrated into an electric car. The movie, which unfolds a story from the car’s point of view, revolves around an anonymous agent (Son) who is on a mission to track down an unidentified creature flying in the sky. As the sun sets, he lies in w

June 12, 2024

2024 Dream Concert to be held in October in Goyang

The 2024 Dream Concert will be held Oct. 19 at Goyang Stadium in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, according to the Korean Entertainment Producer’s Association on Wednesday. Dream Concert is the longest-standing K-pop concert, held annually since 1995. This year’s event is co-hosted by the Korean Entertainment Producer’s Association, the Korea Tourism Organization and Goyang city. Dream Concert has attracted 1.98 million concertgoers so far over the past nearly 30 years. Fro

June 12, 2024

[Herald Review] Propaganda play turns into absurdist black comedy

Playwright Cha Beom-seok's "Hwal Hwa San," which premiered in 1974, was a work of political propaganda inspired by the real-life figure Kim Myung-soon, a model example of the Saemaul Undong movement. In bringing the play back to the stage after almost half a century, director Yoon Han-sol was intrigued by the question of how a 50-year-old propaganda play could resonate with a contemporary audience. Rather than adapt or alter the script, he chose to add twists in directing through

June 11, 2024