[Herald Interview] Indonesian theater director finds inspiration, hopes for future collaboration

Visiting Korea for the first time, Bambang Prihadi, chairman of the Theater Committee at the Jakarta Arts Council, said he is leaving Korea with good memories and new inspiration. Prihadi participated in the “K-Fellowship,” an annual program organized by the Korean Culture and Information Service, which invites prominent cultural figures from overseas to experience Korean culture and network with Korean counterparts. As the artistic director and actor of his own theater company, Labo

May 17, 2023

[Herald Review] 'The Cherry Orchard' reflects loss hidden beneath laughter

People cope differently when society rapidly changes: Some ignore the changes and fall behind while others adapt and thrive. Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard,” set at the turn of the 20th century, contrasts the fate of the declining aristocracy with that of the rising middle class. Currently running at the National Theater Company of Korea until May 28, Chekhov’s final full-length play stars actor Baik Ji-won in the lead role under the direction of NTCK artistic direct

May 17, 2023

Mijoo breaks out solo with 'Movie Star'

Mijoo's media showcase on Wednesday was full of laughs and tears as she shared her long-awaited solo debut story in her single "Movie Star." Mijoo, who began her career as a member of girl group Lovelyz and has made her name as a comic entertainer more recently, is back as a singer, but this time, alone. "I feel more nervous than my first debut," Mijoo said speaking to the local press during Wednesday's event held in Seoul. "I'm making my solo debut after

May 17, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Suga stays on Billboard 200 for 3rd week

Suga of BTS maintained a spot on the Billboard 200 for the third week with his solo album, “D-Day,” according to the latest chart published on Tuesday in the US. It debuted on the chart at No. 2, tying the record for a K-pop solo artist set by bandmate Jimin. The album ranked No. 36 in its third week. The EP also sat at No. 3 on its world albums chart, No. 5 on its top album sales and top current albums chart, and No. 8 on top rap albums chart. “D-Day” is the final insta

May 17, 2023

NewJeans' Danielle to drop 'The Little Mermaid' soundtrack song

K-pop band NewJeans member Danielle will drop an original soundtrack song for Disney's new film "The Little Mermaid" on Wednesday. The song, "Part of Your World," is the Korean version of the film's theme song sung by Danielle. The K-pop singer will voice Ariel, the main character, in the film's Korean-dubbed version, making her voice-over debut with the film. A music video for "Part of Your World" featuring Danielle will also be released via Disney M

May 17, 2023

Women-centered series go mainstream in Korean content industry

Portraying relationships between female leads -- be it friendship or rivalry -- is becoming the dominant trend for successful projects in South Korea. While 2022 TV dramas received both local and global popularity with strong, independent woman -- “Juvenile Justice,” “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” and more -- this year’s projects explore more female-centered stories with multiple female leads. Lim Ji-yeon and Song Hye-ky

May 17, 2023

Mamamoo to hold 3 encore concerts in Seoul next month

Mamamoo will hold three encore concerts in Seoul as part of its first world tour, “My Con," from June 16-18 at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium. The encore concerts are to wrap up Mamamoo's world tour that has taken the quartet to nine cities in Asia and nine cities in the US beginning from November last year. Ahead of the encore gigs, Mamamoo unveiled a cinematic teaser clip with Wheein walking in a meadow, Hwasa immersed in thought, Sola walking down an eternal tunnel and Moonbyul

May 17, 2023

Jay Park to release new single 'Candy'

Singer Jay Park is set to drop a new single “Candy” next Tuesday. He announced the comeback by unveiling teaser content through his agency More Vision’s official social media account on Wednesday. The teaser image shows pieces of candy with “JAY PARK Flavor” written on their wrappers. The upcoming single “Candy” was produced by the renowned Cha Cha Malone and features singer Zion.T. All eyes are on what kind of synergy Jay Park will have with Zion.T'

May 17, 2023

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 at center of controversy

Beethoven's beloved Symphony No. 9 has found itself at the center of controversy in South Korea in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a Korean-language version of Beethoven's masterpiece was performed for the first time at the Seoul Arts Center on May 7. The performance was led by conductor Koo Ja-bom, who said the symphony was the reason he became a conductor, but that he had refrained from conducting it due to his immense reverence for the piece. Koo, who dedicated two years to transl

May 17, 2023

BIFF leadership comes under fire after executive director, chairperson resign

Busan International Film Festival, Asia’s largest, has come under fire for a string of leadership changes that has exposed internal differences over how the festival should be run. BIFF Executive Director Huh Mun-young and BIFF Chairperson Lee Yong-kwan submitted their resignations in the space of a week, following the appointment of Cho Jong-guk as head of operations on May 9. Huh, who had been appointed to lead the festival in March 2021, turned in his resignation on Thursday, less than

May 16, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook logs 1.1b Spotify streams in record time

Jungkook of BTS generated 1.1 billion streams on Spotify on his own in the shortest time for a K-pop solo artist. He was recognized by the Guinness World Records for surpassing 1 billion streams on the platform in record time for a K-pop male solo artist on March 27, and added another 100 million to that tally in 44 days. Jungkook has been setting records with Spotify streams with just three solo songs: “Stay Alive,” a theme song for webtoon “7Fates: Chakho,” the Charlie

May 16, 2023

‘EXchange’ to be made into Japanese Amazon Prime original

Local streaming platform Tving confirmed that its dating reality show “EXchange” is being adapted into a Japanese remake “Love Transit.” The eight-part dating program “Love Transit” will be the released as Amazon Prime original by Amazon Prime Video -- a subscription-based video streaming service run by Amazon -- on June 15, according to a Tving official. The upcoming show follows the basic format of “EXchange,” in which a group of ex- couples coha

May 16, 2023

3rd generation K-pop girl group Twice still adored in Japan

The third-generation K-pop girl group Twice continues to be loved by many in Japan. Last weekend, Twice became the first K-pop girl group to hold a concert at a stadium in Japan. Tickets to the nine-member group’s two-day concert at the Yanmar Stadium in Osaka, Japan were sold out. These gigs were part of the Japanese leg of Twice's world tour “Ready to Be.” Next up are the act’s gigs at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday. Around 220,000 fans are e

May 16, 2023

BTS medal hits record sales for Korea Minting; 2nd edition to follow

South Korea's state-run minting agency said Tuesday the commemorative medal for the 10th anniversary of K-pop sensation BTS' debut has racked up its all-time highest sales ever. Korea Minting and Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp., or Komsco, on Tuesday said the first edition of BTS' 10th anniversary medal sold over 10,000 copies last year, racking up around 6 billion won ($4.49 million) in sales. Komsco said it is the highest sales recorded by any commemorative medal

May 16, 2023

N.Flying to release new fan song for 8th anniversary

K-pop rock band N.Flying is celebrating its eighth anniversary with a new single devoted to its fans. FNC Entertainment, the group's management, announced Tuesday that N.Flying will release a digital single, "Once in a Blue Moon," on Saturday. According to the agency, the new single embodies the band's wish to stay in this moment forever with its fans, watching the blue moon, a term poetically referring to something that occurs extremely rarely. Leading the single package is

May 16, 2023

(G)I-dle sings about self-esteem in new album 'I feel'

(G)I-dle has returned with a new album to deliver the message that those who are filled with self-esteem are the ones who look truly beautiful to others. The five-piece group released its sixth mini album “I Feel” on Monday, seven months after the group's last release. The girls took on a new challenge to dramatize the album through tracks that develop around one single story in which each member has their own character. “We wanted to make a dramatized album because when I

May 16, 2023

Fromis_9 to make summer splash with first LP

K-pop girl group Fromis_9 will kick off the summer with its first full-length album, "Unlock My World." The act's agency, Pledis Entertainment, on Tuesday announced Fromis_9 is dropping its first LP, "Unlock My World," on June 5. The new album will mark the return of the eight-piece group after almost a year since the release of its fifth EP, "From Our Memento Box," in June. This is the group's first comeback with eight members, following the departure of

May 16, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] aespa sets first-week sales record with 3rd EP

Girl group aespa sold more than 1.69 million units of its third EP, breaking the first week sales record for a K-pop girl group, according to label SM Entertainment on Monday. This dethrones Blackpink, whose second full-length album “Born Pink” logged 1.54 million copies in September last year. The EP “My World” sold more than 1.8 million albums in pre-orders and over 1.37 million on the day of release, another record for a K-pop girl group. The quartet has been touring

May 15, 2023

Hybe opens up an era of 'tech-tainment' with new artist Midnatt

South Korean singer Lee Hyun re-debuted on Monday as Midnatt, an alter ego created through the incorporation of artificial intelligence. Midnatt is the first artist to debut through Hybe's new music project, Project L. Midnatt officially debuted on Monday with "Masquerade," a song jointly produced by Hybe's label Big Hit Music and the company's interactive media technology subsidiary Hybe IM. The song was released in six different languages. "It feels strange and ex

May 15, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kim Hye-sook stresses passion as key to being good animator

“The world compliments those who have a clear dream early on and achieve their goals by working hard. I felt that is how I should live as well,” said Kim Hye-sook, a San Francisco-based Pixar senior animator, in an online interview with The Korea Herald earlier this month. “But that is not how I became an animator,” she said. “I was just an ordinary student who loved to read comics after the class was over.” Growing up in the small county of Hongseong, South C

May 15, 2023