KCC decides to remove KBS, EBS fees from electricity bills

The Korea Communications Commission, the state broadcasting watchdog, cleared the way for the license fees for public broadcasters KBS and EBS to be removed from household electricity bills. The change, which does not require Assembly approval, is expected to be confirmed in mid-July after it is passed by the vice ministers, the Cabinet and then approved by the president. But the KCC expects it will take more time to put the change into effect as KBS and the state-run company Korea Electric Po

July 5, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink refutes rumor about concert set list

Blackpink’s forthcoming Hanoi gig will be carried out in the same format as other concerts of its tour, said label YG Entertainment Wednesday. This announcement came after complaints arose in response to rumors that the event would only have 13 songs and would not include solo performances. The group is set to hold concerts in the Vietnamese capital on July 29-30 for the first time in the country. Separately, the quartet went live in London on Sunday in the UK, headlining the 2023 British

July 5, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director says storytelling vital to ‘The Food of Love’

Documentary director Chung Hyun-sook shared that her latest food documentary series, “The Food of Love,” meant more than just creating entertaining video content. “The Food of Love” was a joint production series between five Asian countries -- South Korea, India, Mongolia, Thailand and Malaysia, featuring their cuisines to present each country's culture and life. Chung was the director who helmed the entire project. The veteran director discussed some of the difficul

July 5, 2023

Seventeen's 'FML' sells record-high 6.2m copies

Boy band Seventeen's 10th EP, "FML," has become K-pop's top-selling album of all time. "FML" recently surpassed 6.2 million copies in sales, the group's agency Pledis Entertainment said Wednesday, citing data from the album's distributor YG Plus. It reached the feat two months since its release on April 24. This is the first time that any K-pop album has reached 6 million copies in sales. Seventeen broke the record of 5.03 million copies set by BTS' 2

July 5, 2023

Teen Top says forever with fans is 'for sure'

Teen Top, which made a smash debut as rookies in 2010, is now in its 13th year but the group still retains its boylike freshness. Teen Top on Tuesday dropped its new album "4Sho," making a comeback after three years. With the album, the team celebrates its first comeback as a four-piece and promises their firm resolution to stay together "for sure." Much have happened in the meanwhile. The members' exclusive contracts with TOP Media ended, leading to members Niel and Cha

July 5, 2023

Lapillus tapped as ambassadors of Boryeong Mud Festival

K-pop girl group Lapillus has been appointed as the ambassadors of the 26th Boryeong Mud Festival. The appointment ceremony took part at the Boryeong City Hall on June 29, according to MLD Entertainment on Wednesday. The 26th Boryeong Mud Festival starts on July 21 and runs through Aug. 6 at various parts of Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province. The annual Boryeong Mud Festival is one of Asia’s three major festivals selected by the International Festivals & Event Asso

July 5, 2023

SHINee movie to premiere in September

The documentary film “My SHINee World,” produced to celebrate the K-pop boy group SHINee’s 15th debut anniversary, will be released in September. SM Entertainment announced Wednesday that the film will consist of exclusive clips that have never been previously released. The movie will go over the past 15 years of SHINee and its journey with its fandom, SHINee World. It also includes footage of the act’s recent three-day standalone concert “Perfect Illumination&rdquo

July 5, 2023

For Yoo Jun-sang, enduring means living every moment to the fullest

Since its premiere in 2013, “The Days," a jukebox musical based on songs by the late Kim Kwang-seok, has had five successful runs, garnering 11 prestigious awards and captivating countless audiences. Throughout this journey, actor Yoo Jun-sang has continued to grace the stage as Jeong-hak, the central character of the musical. As the musical returns for its sixth run in July, Yoo will share the role of Jeong-hak, a security guard who works at the presidential office, with three ot

July 5, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink hits 1.6b views with ‘Boombayah’ music video

    Blackpink garnered 1.6 billion views on YouTube with the music video for “Boombayah,” according to label YG Entertainment on Tuesday. It is the group’s third video to reach the milestone, after those of “Ddu-du Ddu-du” and “Kill This Love.” “Boombayah” is one of the two main tracks from debut single “Square One” that was released in August 2016. On Sunday in London, the group made its festival debut in the UK at

July 4, 2023

Treasure to make an early comeback on July 28

K-pop band Treasure will make a full group comeback on July 28 with the band's second studio album, "Reboot," earlier than the previously announced August timeline. "We're happy to announce a comeback on July 28, earlier than initially announced. The boys have devoted themselves to the production to return the love of the fans who have been waiting," YG said in a press release on Tuesday. The band also posted an announcement film on its official blog, which showed t

July 4, 2023

'Shadow Detective' cast confident season 2 is worth the wait

Veteran actor Lee Sung-min, who dominated 2022's year-end with two suspense series -- “Shadow Detective” and “Reborn Rich” -- shared his confidence about the second season of Disney+’s mystery-thriller “Shadow Detective.” Lee said the series returns with new characters and has expanded the original stories. “My character Taek-rok has changed a bit. If ‘Shadow Detective’ had dynamic, breathtaking action, the upcoming season will be

July 4, 2023

[Herald Interview] Actor-director Kai Ko uses experience to guide actors

A decade after Taiwanese acting heartthrob Kai Ko, also known as Ko Chen-tung, attended Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for the first time, he is returning this year not as an actor, but for his directorial debut. “I’ve been to various film festivals around the world but I really like Bifan’s vibrant and dynamic mood as well as its concertlike opening ceremony. As I have visited this time as a director, I feel like I’m showing my baby to the world,” Ko

July 4, 2023

Oh My Girl to release 9th EP ‘Golden Hourglass’ this month

K-pop girl group Oh My Girl is set to release its ninth mini album, “Golden Hourglass,” on July 24. WM Entertainment revealed the act’s comeback schedule on its official social media account Tuesday, along with a teaser image of the upcoming album that shows an hourglass on a beach. This is a long-awaited full-unit comeback as the new album comes in a year and four months. The seven-member group debuted in April 2015 with its EP “Oh My Girl" and has since released hi

July 4, 2023

IVE to drop Pepsi campaign song “I Want”

Girl group IVE is releasing a new Pepsi campaign song “I Want” on July 13. IVE has been a Pepsi brand ambassador since the beginning of the year. Pepsi and Starship Entertainment dropped teaser images of the upcoming campaign song on Monday on their official social media accounts. The images show Yujin posing in front of refrigerators filled with Pepsi, Rei holding up a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar, and Gaeul working as a cashier scanning the barcode of a cola can. Yujin of IVE was a Peps

July 4, 2023

Seoul Arts Center features rising new musicians, Rachmaninoff in 2 upcoming series

South Korea's top performing arts institute Seoul Arts Center has prepared two series featuring rising talent at a relatively unknown facility. Inchoon Art Hall, which opened on Aug. 28, 2020, has 100 seats, allowing for an intimate setting for both the performers and the audience. Titled “The Next,” one of the series feature the next generation of Korean classical talent, introducing 10 rising young musicians selected by the Seoul Arts Center. The series kicked off in May with

July 3, 2023

Son Suk-ku makes comeback in highly anticipated play 'Army on the Tree'

South Korean actor Son Suk-ku, who emerged as one of the biggest stars of 2022 with the TV series “My Liberation Notes” and action blockbuster “The Roundup,” has made a comeback with the play “Army on the Tree.” All tickets to the play, which was to run June 20-Aug. 5 at the LG Arts Center, have been sold out. The play has been extended by a week to Aug. 12, and the tickets for the extra shows have yet to go on sale. When asked about the difference between act

July 3, 2023

Mystery, suspense thrillers find growing popularity this summer

The popularity of thrillers like “Lies Hidden in My Garden” and “Revenant” suggest that horror-themed shows and movies have become a spine-chilling way for many Koreans to escape the blistering summer heat. Cable channel Genie TV kicked off the summer season on June 19 with “Lies Hidden in My Garden” an eight-part suspense thriller series. With the release of its fifth episode on Monday, the project continues to draw drama fans, meeting the show's well-de

July 3, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Enhypen to drop 3rd single in Japan in September

Enhypen will bring out third single in Japan on Sept. 5, announced agency Belift Lab on Monday. The album, dubbed “結 – You,” will consist of three tracks including Japanese-language version of “Bite Me,” main track from its fourth EP “Dark Blood” and “Bills,” a B-side track from the same album. The single comes about 11 months since its first studio album in Japan, “Sadame,” which topped Oricon’s weekly combined album ranki

July 3, 2023

YG's Treasure taps into US market with Columbia Records

K-pop boy band Treasure has joined hands with Columbia Records, a label unit under Sony Music, in its ambitious bid to make inroads into the US market. Treasure's agency YG Entertainment on Monday announced the group forged a partnership with Columbia Records to support the launch of the band's second studio album "Reboot" in the US next month. Columbia Records will be assisting Treasure in the global distribution as well as local marketing and promotion of the new album, YG

July 3, 2023

BTS' Jimin sets new K-pop record on Billboard

BTS' Jimin continues to set new K-pop milestones on the Billboard charts. Jimin's "Angel Pt.1," from the original soundtrack for action flick "Fast X," landed at No. 96 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for July 1, charting for the second nonconsecutive week. "Fast X" is the latest release from the popular “Fast & Furious” series, and Jimin is the first South Korean singer to feature on one of its soundtracks. With Jimin as the main vocalis

July 3, 2023