[Herald Interview] 'Single's Inferno 3' may be most successful season yet

The producers of Netflix dating show "Single's Inferno 3" said the third season was the most successful compared to previous seasons. The last episode of "Single's Inferno 3" was aired Tuesday amid much excited squabbles about the cast's actions and their decisions on their final partners. "'Single's Inferno' and 'Single's Inferno 2' garnered total viewing hours of some 6 million viewing hours, respectively, but the third seas

Jan. 15, 2024

[Herald Interview] KCM celebrates 20th anniversary with gratitude for fans

Marking the 20th year of his ballad singer career, KCM returned with a new album, “US,” sending gratitude to his fans on Sunday. The album is the finale of the first chapter of his life, as well as the starting point of his next chapter, according to KCM. From the album title, "US," to the first track "To My Fans," which he wrote and composed himself, KCM's new album is full of his love for his fans. "When I held my 20th anniversary concert in November,

Jan. 15, 2024

'Island' wins best original digital drama at Asian Television Awards

South Korean streaming service Tving said Sunday its original drama series "Island" notched an accolade at the 2023 Asian Television Awards, which honors production achievements in the Asian television industry annually. According to Tving, the first part of "Island" won the award for best original digital drama series at the 28th ATA held in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. "Island," helmed by star director Park Bae-jong, who is best known for the hit film "Welcom

Jan. 14, 2024

[What to watch] 'Kim Dae-jung on the Road,' experimental film at Emu Cinema

Away from big blockbusters and crowded multiplex chains, enjoy a cozier and calmer cinema experience at Emu Cinema. Emu Cinema, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul is part of the four-story building, Emu Art Space, which also houses a bar, a cafe and a gallery. The small cinema screens Korean and foreign-language independent films as well as other non-blockbuster films and classics. Tickets cost 9,000 won and students get a discount at 8,000 won. For early screenings, seniors, and moviegoers with disabi

Jan. 13, 2024

NewJeans wins 4 trophies at CCMA

Girl group NewJeans won the most trophies at the Circle Chart Music Awards 2023, a popular music award ceremony hosted by Circle Chart, while Babymonster, Zerobaseone and Riize all won the Rookie of the Year award. Circle Chart, a leading tracker of local album sales, held the annual music awards ceremony at Bexco in Busan on Wednesday. The winners for 2023 were determined by the commercial performances of albums and songs based on the tracker's chart from Dec. 1, 2022, to Nov. 30, 2023. Ar

Jan. 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] From Spain to Korea, Grupo Vocal Millennium hopes to rekindle Korean folk music

Dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, Spanish vocalists serenade audiences with the melodic tunes of Korean folk songs and "Arirang "-- not in Korea, but in Spain. Well before the global phenomenon of K-pop took hold, Lim Jae-sik, the artistic director of Spain's Grupo Vocal Millennium, dedicated himself to getting professional singers in Spain to sing Korean songs. In 1999, Lim, a lifelong member and head of tenors at RTVE Choir, the oldest professional choir in Spain, recruited

Jan. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans hits 2m sales mark in record 17 months

The second EP of NewJeans sold over 2 million units as of last month, said agency Ador on Friday. It is the group’s first album to hit the milestone and the quintet achieved the feat in 17 months since its debut, setting a record for a K-pop female artist. The EP was rolled out in July last year and sold more than 1.65 million copies in the first week, becoming the second-most sold album from a K-pop female act.  The album debuted atop Billboard 200 and is staying on the main albums

Jan. 12, 2024

Jungkook nominated in 4 categories at People’s Choice Awards

BTS’ Jungkook has been nominated in four categories at this year's People’s Choice Awards, a record-breaking feat for a K-pop soloist. The list of nominees for the 2024 People’s Choice Awards unveiled on Thursday showed Jungkook was nominated for the Male Artist of the Year, the Pop Artist of the Year, the New Artist of the Year and the Collaboration Song of the Year awards. The People’s Choice Awards is a US awards show that began in 1975 to recognize people in the

Jan. 12, 2024

Netflix ‘The Bequeathed’ the most ‘Korean’ thriller: director

“The Bequeathed” director Min Hong-nam said Friday he was focused on creating the most “Korean” thriller, while making the drama, which will be Netflix Korea’s first original this year. Having worked as the assistant director to Yeon Sang-ho in “Train to Busan” (2016), “Psychokinesis” (2018) and “Peninsula” (2020), Min is making his directorial debut with the six-part series, which was produced and co-written by Yeon. “The p

Jan. 12, 2024

Monsta X’s I.M to return with new digital single this month

I.M of boy band Monsta X is releasing a new digital single, his first in seven months. The artist is set to drop a digital single on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m., according to Sony Music Entertainment Korea. I.M announced his comeback on his official Instagram account Friday by dropping two teaser images of his upcoming digital single. The teaser images show I.M dressed in a white knit sweater standing in front of a window. The details of his comeback are yet to be unveiled. I.M made his solo debut with &l

Jan. 12, 2024

Aespa opens pop-up store to promote upcoming movie

K-pop girl group aespa is celebrating its third debut anniversary with its fans by opening a pop-up store and through the release of a special movie on the group's story in February. The pop-up store which opened Friday at the Lotte World Mall in Seoul, is decorated around the group’s key color, “aurora,” which is light pink and sky blue. The store offers diverse and interactive content, including photo booths and a message zone where the visitors can leave messages for th

Jan. 12, 2024

Bong Joon-ho questions legitimacy of drug probe into Lee Sun-kyun

Cultural figures including internationally acclaimed “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho criticized police and media outlets in connection with the death of actor Lee Sun-kyun. They said they would band in unity to submit the so-called “Lee Sun-kyun Act” to protect artists’ human rights. Lee, 48, died last month amid a weekslong police investigation into allegations he had used illegal drugs. The Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists, a newly established organi

Jan. 12, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifico of Rosas on the day of her grandfather Sabino's 100th birthday. The interview goes well until Magnifico declines Asha's requests for Sabino's wish to be granted, seeing the wish as a potential threat to his power. “Noryang: Deadly Sea” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 20 History/Action Directed by Kim Han-min I

Jan. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NCT’s Haechan fined for smoking e-cigarette indoors

Haechan of NCT was issued a fine for smoking an e-cigarette inside a building, acknowledged label SM Entertainment on Thursday. He was seen smoking an e-cigarette device at the studio in the video clip showing the members of NCT127 practicing dance, which was uploaded on the day before, and will pay the penalties, explained the firm, adding an apology for his “negligent behavior.” The scene of him smoking has been edited out. Fines for smoking indoors here are customarily 100,000 wo

Jan. 11, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri say “Alienoid” is about relationships

Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Tae-ri said “Alienoid” wraps up the story on humans’ fate and relationships, which also well-translated the two actors’ close friendship to the screen. “After watching the completed version of part 2, I thought that yes, this is what director Choi wanted to say, a story on relationships and fate,” Ryu said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul on Jan. 3. He said that the close friendship between him and Kim was also transla

Jan. 11, 2024

KCON to kick off in Hong Kong this year

South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM is holding its largest Korean culture and music celebration, KCON, in Hong Kong for the first time this year. KCON will kick off in Hong Kong, the sixth-biggest K-pop album importer, on March 30-31, organizer announced Thursday. KCON Hong Kong 2024 is to be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, one of the two major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong capable of accommodating up to 10,000 visitors. Previously, the MAMA Awards were held at this venue fro

Jan. 11, 2024

Stray Kids land at No. 52 on SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, breaking record

K-pop boy group Stray Kids landed at No. 52 on the French music industry association SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, a record-breaking feat for a K-pop artist. According to SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, Stray Kids landed at No. 52 with its third studio album, “Five-Star,” and at No. 135 with its eighth EP, “Rock-Star.” The group made their career debut on the French annual album chart with these two albums, which were the top two most successful K-pop al

Jan. 11, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Boy band All Ours debuts

A seven-member team named All Ours debuted and held a media conference in Seoul on Wednesday. It brought out a namesake EP that consists of five tracks, including focus track “Gotcha.” The lead single is filled with thumping bass sounds that underline the band’s daring performance. The band's Kunho described the group's “turn” as a signature move from the choreography, and Minje added that they all practiced day and night for three months straight without taking a

Jan. 10, 2024

K-pop idols to hold first solo concerts, fan meetings of their career

Several K-pop idols are gearing up for their first solo concerts and fan meetings in February. Ten of NCT will hold his first fan concert as he tours four Asian cities, including Seoul. The first "2024 Ten First Fan-Con 1001" concert will be held at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 17. Other concert venues for Ten's tour include the Bangkok Impact Arena on March 3, the Asiaworld-Expo Hall in Hong Kong on March 9 and the Kasablanka Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia, on A

Jan. 10, 2024

Hybe takes measures against illegal use of BTS name, images

Hybe, the K-pop agency whose sub-label Big Hit Music, represents BTS, is taking action against the illegal use of its intellectual property, including the use of BTS' name, logo and related pictures. “We will strengthen monitoring and take stern measures for acts that violate the rights of our company and artists to make commercial use of them,” an official from Hybe told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. The agency noted that Busan’s Nam-gu district office is using BTS&rsquo

Jan. 10, 2024