Wavve offers BIFAN films online

Local streaming service Wavve announced Friday that has launched a special Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival section, offering online screenings of the films that are being screened at this year’s film festival. The 27th edition of BIFAN, which kicked off Thursday, mainly focuses on Korean and international horror, thriller, mystery and fantasy films. Wavve subscribers can enjoy the same program as at BIFAN, including films in the international competition, Korean competition,

June 30, 2023

K-pop high school to open in Busan

A high school specializing in educating students in K-pop and related performances will open in Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, by 2028, the city’s education authorities announced Friday. The school will provide quality vocal, dance, composing and songwriting lessons taught by experienced K-pop faculty. International students will be eligible to apply, Ha Yoon-su, the superintendent of education in Busan, said in an official briefing. An official at the Busan Metropolitan

June 30, 2023

Global K-pop girl group launching project 'A2K' to be unveiled next month

K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment and the American music label Republic Records will unveil its new K-pop girl group production project “A2K” on JYP’s official YouTube channel starting from July 13, JYP Entertainment said Friday. “A2K” is the first project between the two labels to create a female band under the K-pop idol training system. Through a series of clips on YouTube, JYP Entertainment will be sharing the process of selecting candidates of diverse national

June 30, 2023

Jungkook of BTS to debut solo with single ‘Seven’ next month

Jungkook of BTS is making his official solo debut next month with the digital single “Seven.” The artist announced through the global fandom communication platform Weverse on Friday that he would be dropping the single on July 14 at 1 p.m. The single “Seven” will be a rhythmic song perfect to tune into in the summer season, according to Big Hit Music. Jungkook is the sixth member of BTS to debut solo, following J-Hope, Jin, RM, Jimin and Suga. This series of solo debuts o

June 30, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“The Childe” (South Korea) Opened June 21 Adventure Directed by Park Hoon-jung Gwi Gong-ja (Kim Seon-ho) -- a name that roughly means "the nobleman" -- goes on a mysterious, mad chase after a boxer, Marco, from the Philippines to Seoul. Rookie actor Kang Tae-joo plays Marco, a Kopino -- mixed Korean Filipino -- in search of his father. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (US) Opened June 21 Animation Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos The Multiverse opens up i

June 30, 2023

Tom Cruise focused on bringing cinematic journey in 7th ‘Mission Impossible’ film

Tom Cruise, the “Mission Impossible” franchise star, urged fans to watch the seventh installment of the world famous spy series in the cinema for a “shared experience.” “I love cinema. I love the people and people from all cultures and walks of life. We sit down at cinemas and share community experience. I think it’s one of the joys in the life for me,” Cruise told reporters during a press conference in Lotte Cinema World Tower on Thursday. “I don&

June 29, 2023

Monthlong summer Yeowoorak Festival explores future of traditional music

The National Theater of Korea's summer music festival Yeowoorak Festival kicks off Friday, featuring collaborations across generations, cultures and genres that seek to redefine traditional Korean music. Under the theme of “Homo Festivus,” the festival presents 12 performances until July 22 at the Daloreum Theater, the Haneul Round Theater and the Cultural Plaza. Master pansori singer Yun Jin-cheol and shaman Kim Dong-eon will perform “Break a Common Law” on Friday.

June 29, 2023

Ukiss celebrates 15th anniversary with 'Play List'

It seems like time has not been wasted for Ukiss' members, despite the years they have spent apart. The members have spent several years -- a dozen years at the longest -- apart, but the six men boasted a boisterous yet smooth demeanor onstage at their 15th anniversary comeback showcase event on Wednesday. It was a long-awaited comeback, a feat achieved five years and six months after the group dropped its last single, "Ready For You," in December 2017. But for each of the six mem

June 29, 2023

IU to cherish her 15 years with media art exhibition

Singer-songwriter IU is set to launch a media art exhibition in celebration of her 15th anniversary in July. "IU is set to hold a media art exhibition 'Moment,' for around a month between July 21 until Aug. 20 at The Seouliteum in Seongdong-gu, Seoul," the singer's agency, Edam Entertainment, said Thursday. The title "Moment," portrays IU's wish to cherish the memories she has made with her fandom, Uena, through the exhibition, the agency explained. This i

June 29, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s Jun to drop 4th solo single in China

Jun of Seventeen will put out his fourth solo digital single in China on July 4, agency Pledis Entertainment announced Thursday. The teaser video for the upcoming single, “Psycho,” opened with a view of the idol's back and showed a box wrapped up in chains fall and a moving logo change from Limbo to Psycho. “Limbo” is his previous solo single that came out about nine months before. In the meantime, the band’s tenth EP “FML” from April is proving its sta

June 29, 2023

Summer queens Oh My Girl to return with new album in late July

K-pop girl group Oh My Girl is making its long-awaited full-unit comeback with a new album in late July. Oh My Girl’s new album will be released next month, a year and four months after the act dropped its second LP “Real Love,” according to WM Entertainment on Thursday. The seven-member group debuted in April 2015 with its EP “Oh My Girl" and has since released hit singles such as “Nonstop,” “Dolphin,” and “Dun Dun Dance.” The lin

June 29, 2023

More familiar names announced for 'Squid Game 2'

Netflix Korea on Thursday revealed the additional cast members joining the second season of South Korean phenomenon “Squid Game.” Actors Park Gyu-young, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yu-ri, formerly of disbanded IZ*ONE, Choi Seung-hyun -- also known as Big Bang member T.O.P. -- are among eight more to be confirmed for the cast of “Squid Game 2.” Though the cast may seem unfamiliar to some viewers, many of them have made a name for themselves in other Netflix Korean originals. Park, 2

June 29, 2023

K-pop artist Kim Sungkyu drops 5th EP '2023 S/S Collection'

Kim Sungkyu is ready to cool off the sweltering summer season with his new album “2023 S/S Collection.” The singer's fifth mini-album, which was released on Wednesday, is led by the track “Small Talk.” “I wanted to make bright and energetic music this time, unlike my prior albums which mostly consisted of serious and sad tracks. This album comprises tracks perfect for summer,” said Kim Sungkyu during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. “The ti

June 29, 2023

[Herald Interview] WEi ends odyssey of 'Love' with sixth EP

Boy band WEi is marking the end of its odyssey of love with the new EP "Love Pt. 3: Eternally." The new album, the sixth EP from the sextet, comes out on Thursday, marking their return to the music scene after eight months. Ahead of their return, the members held a joint press interview last Thursday in Seoul. The final episode of the band's love trilogy "Eternally" takes the topic of love to a more profound level and addresses the universal emotion of self-love. With th

June 29, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim to hold 1st international tour from August

Le Sserafim announced plans for its first global tour, “Flame Rises,” on Wednesday. The group will begin the tour in Seoul with a two-day concert slated for Aug. 12-13 and head over to Japan to visit fans in three cities -- Nagoya, Tokyo and Osaka. In September and October, the five members will perform in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Bangkok, Thailand. In the meantime, the quintet will release its second single in Japan, “Unforgiven,” on Aug. 23. It will be fronte

June 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] Christian Burgos finds roots, opportunities in Mexico

In 2017, Mexican TV personality Christian Burgos told The Korea Herald that his dream was to one day become Mexico's ambassador to Korea. Although not quite there yet, the 30-year-old star has stepped closer to that dream, taking on various roles beyond the small screen to connect the two countries. Returning to The Korea Herald's building after six years, Burgos said, "I still have that dream with me, but so much has happened since. The pace and direction of my life has changed.

June 28, 2023

Ari Aster makes ‘unhomelike’ home in his movies

The masterful filmmaker behind hit horror films “Hereditary” (2018) and “Midsommar” (2019) arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for the release of “Beau Is Afraid,” another film that deals with the protagonist’s darkest fear becoming a great adventure. Written and directed by Ari Aster, the American surrealist tragicomedy horror film starring Joaquin Phoenix revolves around Beau, a paranoia-ridden middle-aged man. His epic journey begins as he heads home to

June 28, 2023

How hit Korean dramas plan to avoid sophomore slumps

A number of smash hit Korean dramas that enjoyed both local and global popularity are scheduled to return for second seasons this summer, gunning to shoot past a sophmore slump. Global streaming service Netflix confirmed that the military series “D.P.” (2021) will return for a second season on July 28. Short for “Deserter Pursuit,” the series presents the lives of Pvt. Jun-ho (played by Jung Hae-in) and Cpl. Ho-yeol (played by Koo Kyo-hwan). The show reveals the reasons w

June 28, 2023

Fifty Fifty applies for injunction to suspend exclusive contract with agency Attrakt

All four members of rising K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty have applied for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contract with their agency Attrakt. Members Keena, Aran, Sio and Saena have applied for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contract with Attrakt on June 19 to the Seoul Central District Court, according to their legal representative Barun Law on Wednesday. “Such a measure was taken for breach of contract by Attrakt and for having lost trust with the members. We’ve r

June 28, 2023

Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder expresses undying love for Beethoven

Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder is finally bringing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas to South Korea, marking his 60th cycle since he embarked on the journey in the 1970s. Starting from Wednesday, he takes the stage seven times at Seoul Arts Center through July 9. Several hours before his first performance of the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle, for which he will perform Nos. 1, 4, 10, 13 and 14, the famed "Moonlight Sonata," he met with reporters and delved into his dedication t

June 28, 2023