Rumors of Kim Sae-ron, Kim Soo-hyun dating swirl after social media post

South Korean actors Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun have become embroiled in dating rumors after the former uploaded a picture of the two together on her social media account on Sunday. Around 1 a.m. on Sunday, Kim Sae-ron posted and swiftly deleted a picture featuring herself and Kim Soo-hyun on her Instagram account. After deleting the photo, Kim Sae-ron did not post any further updates. Gold Medalist, the agency representing Kim Soo-hyun, told local news outlets Sunday morning that it is current

March 24, 2024

S. Korean celebrities call for action from major social media platforms against online phishing scams

A group of South Korean TV celebrities and media personalities on Friday called on major social media platforms, including YouTube, to take action against increasing online phishing scams exploiting their identities. "Since last year, phishing scam organizations have been targeting famous or influential figures, such as former presidents, the leader of a conglomerate, entertainers and YouTubers, on Facebook and Instagram," a joint statement released by a coalition of more than 130 peop

March 22, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Twice receives 500m views on ‘Feel Special’ video

Twice has amassed 500 million views on YouTube for the music video for “Feel Special,” JYP Entertainment announced Friday. It is the seventh video from the girl group to reach the milestone, following those of “TT,” “Likey,” “What is Love?,” “Fancy,” “Cheer Up” and “I Can’t Stop Me.” “Feel Special” is the title track from the group’s eighth EP that was released in September 2019 and renewe

March 22, 2024

NTOK Live+ lets theatergoers enjoy plays from UK, Netherlands onscreen

The National Theater of Korea will screen three plays in April as part of NTOK Live+, a program introducing prominent overseas theatrical performances. The three plays -- Ivo van Hove’s “The Hidden Force,” Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Lyndsey Turner’s “The Crucible” -- were produced by the International Theater Amsterdam; DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna Theatre; and the National Theatre in London, respectively. They will be scree

March 22, 2024

Zerobaseone tops Oricon chart with 1st Japanese single album

K-pop boy band Zerobaseone has topped Oricon’s daily singles chart for two consecutive days with its debut Japanese single album, “Yurayura-unmeinohana.” Selling 187,694 copies of the Japanese single album on the day of its release, the group landed at No. 1 on the daily singles chart, which is based on physical album sales. Zerobaseone made its official debut in Japan with the release on March 20 under a contract with Sony Music Label. The single album is led by the titular &l

March 22, 2024

Hybe artists ready to return in April

K-pop powerhouse Hybe has a roster of artists waiting to make spring that much sweeter, beginning with J-Hope of BTS releasing a special album on March 29, followed by TXT on April 1 and Boynextdoor on April 15. J-Hope is also set to release a documentary series, “Hope on the Street,” on March 28, a day before the release of “Hope on the Street Vol. 1.” The documentary series comes in six episodes that show J-Hope visiting Osaka in Japan, Paris, New York and his hometown

March 22, 2024

[Herald Interview] ‘Exhuma’ director Jang Jae-hyun won't make sequel

South Korean supernatural mystery thriller “Exhuma,” which has been sweeping not just the domestic box office, but box offices across Asia, will not release a sequel nor a spinoff, the movie’s director told reporters Thursday. “Exhuma,” which opened in Korea on Feb. 22, has topped the local box office for 27 consecutive days, aggregating 9.52 million admissions as of Thursday. Captivated by its immersive storyline, filmgoers are already eager for a sequel or spinoff

March 22, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Spy x Family Code: White” (Japan) Opened March 20 Action/Comedy Directed by Takashi Katagiri A spy agent Loid decides to help his stepdaughter Anya, who holds supernatural power, win a cooking competition at Eden Academy by making the principal's favorite meal -- the only way to help him prevent from getting replaced in a new operation. “Poor Things” (US) Opened March 6 Comedy Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos Bella (Emma Stone), a Frankenstein-like woman brought back

March 22, 2024

Im Soo-hyang, Ji Hyun-woo ready to play romance between celeb and producer in 'Beauty and Romantic'

South Korean actors Im Soo-hyang and Ji Hyun-woo said with the help of veteran director and screenwriter, they are ready to embody their intriguing roles in the new KBS weekend drama series, "Beauty and Romantic," set to premiere Saturday. "Beauty and Romantic" is a 50-part series that tells the story of a top celebrity (played by Im Soo-hyang), who experiences a decline in popularity and a drama series producer (played by Ji Hyun-woo), who falls in love with her. The drama s

March 21, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink tops 600m views with ‘Shut Down’ music video

Blackpink amassed 600 million views on YouTube with the music video for “Shut Down,” said label YG Entertainment on Thursday. It is the group’s 15th video to reach the milestone and achieved the feat in about 1 1/2 years. “Shut Down” fronted its second studio album, “Born Pink,” and the hip-hop tune sampling Paganini’s “La Campanella” hit Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 25. It also landed atop Spotify’s global songs chart. The

March 21, 2024

'Queen of Tears' garners popularity on global, domestic stage

As South Korean romance drama series "Queen of Tears" continues to receive critical acclaim, the show has recorded high viewership ratings and ranked high on the charts of global streaming platforms, according to entertainment giant CJ ENM, Thursday. Written by star screenwriter Park Ji-eun, who wrote the scripts for a slew of hit Korean romance dramas such as "My Love from the Star" and "Crash Landing on You," "Queen of Tears" stars Kim Ji-won and Kim Su-

March 21, 2024

[Herald Review] In ‘Troll Factory,’ Son Suk-ku walks tightrope of daring docu-like black comedy

Son Suk-ku is the kind of actor who doesn’t rest on his laurels -- from melancholic stranger Mr. Gu in a remote town in “My Liberation Notes” to psychopathic kidnapper Kang Hae-sang who perfectly fits the slasher cinematic universe in “The Roundup,” he is one of the busiest, hottest stars in the Korean entertainment scene. This time, his versatility has landed him in another experimental and unprecedented story – documentary-style crime flick “Troll Fact

March 21, 2024

UK Deputy PM Oliver Dowden visits SM Entertainment

British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden visited K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment during his visit to South Korea for the 3rd Summit for Democracy, according to SM Entertainment. Dowden met with chief officials of the agency including the Chief Executive Officer Jang Cheol-hyuk and the Chief Global Officer Choi Mi-na, at the headquarters of SM Entertainment in Seoul on Tuesday. British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks and Edward de Minckwitz, a special adviser to Dowden, were also pres

March 21, 2024

Hybe named among Fast Company’s top 50 innovative companies in the world

K-pop powerhouse Hybe made it on Fast Company’s list of the world’s 50 most innovative companies for the current year. Fast Company, an American business magazine, tracks 58 industries and sectors from advertising to video to compile the annual list. Hybe landed at No. 23 on the list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024, according to Fast Company. This is the third time Hybe has been named on the list, following 2020 and 2022. Fast Company directs the success of

March 21, 2024

The New Six returns as full unit with Junhyeok back from 14-month break

K-pop boy group released its first digital single, “Fuego,” its first new project in nine months. This is also the group’s full unit comeback as a group of six for the first time in 14 months with Junhyeok back with the group to promote the new digital single. Junhyeok had been taking a break from group activities since January last year due to health issues. “I want to thank the members for waiting for me and also for telling me that they need me in the team. Their suppo

March 20, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] TXT announces US tour

Tomorrow X Together will hit eight cities in the US for its third international tour, “Act : Promise," said label Big Hit Music on Wednesday. The American leg will run from May 14 to June 8 and bring the five members to Tacoma Washington; Oakland; Los Angeles; Houston; Atlanta; New York; Rosemont, Illinois; and Washington, DC. The tour will kick off in Seoul with a three-day concert slated to be held May 3-5, following the release of its sixth EP, “minisode 3: Tomorrow.”

March 20, 2024

[Herald Interview] Choo Ja-hyun realizes her dream of melodramatic role in ‘While You Were Sleeping’

South Korean actor Choo Ja-hyun, who enjoys greater acclaim as an actor in China than in her home country, returned to the silver screen after 13 years with “While You Were Sleeping.” In recent years, she starred in Korean dramas in various genres such as “Green Mother’s Club,” “My Unfamiliar Family” and “Little Women.” Most of her roles in her 20s were fierce, wild characters which made it difficult to land roles in melodramas, according to

March 20, 2024

Stray Kids to headline Lollapalooza Chicago

K-pop boy group Stray Kids will headline Lollapalooza Chicago, scheduled to take place at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois on Aug. 1-4, according to JYP Entertainment. Lollapalooza, which began as a touring show in 1991, has since made Chicago's Grant Park its annual venue and become one of the leading music events in the US. Stray Kids previously performed as a headliner at Lollapalooza Paris held last July, a first for a K-pop artist. Other headliners of the Chicago festival this year incl

March 20, 2024

[Herald Interview] Like cilantro, some will love Netflix's 'Chicken Nugget', others won't: actor, director

While Netflixes new mystery-comedy-drama series "Chicken Nugget" has elicited mixed responses from viewers, the show has a distinct, never-before-seen comedic style, said actor Ryu Seung-ryong and director Lee Byeong-heon. "Chicken Nugget" is a 10-part Netflix original series about the adventures of Choi Seon-man (Ryu Seung-ryong) and Go Baek-joong (Ahn Jae-hong), as they try to turn Choi's daughter, Choi Min-ah (Kim Yoo-jeong), back into a human after a mysterious mac

March 20, 2024

XG to kick off first world tour

Japanese K-pop band XG is to hold its first world tour since its debut in March 2022. XG released the schedule poster of its first world tour "The First Howl" on its official social media channel. The silhouette of a wolf, which brings up the image of the group's official fan club Alphaz and the world tour title Howling, is drawn on the background of the schedule poster. The world tour will begin in Japan on May 18 and 19 in Osaka, and Yokohama on May 25 and 26, followed by concer

March 20, 2024