Seventeen hits No. 2 on Billboard albums chart

Seventeen continues to write history with its 10th EP, "FML," with the album landing at No. 2 on Billboard's main albums chart. The US music publisher on Monday announced the chart placing, which beats the groups previous best performance, when it hit No. 4 with its fourth LP-reissue "Sector 17" in July 2022. Since its debut on the chart at No. 15 with eighth EP "Your Choice" in 2021, all of Seventeen's albums made it into the chart and set highs every tim

May 9, 2023

K-pop boy band CIX announces comeback in May

K-pop boy band CIX is dropping a new album this month. The upcoming album marks the quintet’s first release since its fifth EP “OK’ Episode 1: OK Not” in August last year. CIX unveiled its first teaser clip on Tuesday to announce its new release, in which all members are wearing school uniforms and each is expressing a different kind of sadness. According to the group’s management agency C9 Entertainment, the upcoming album is the second episode of the act’s &

May 9, 2023

[Herald Interview] ADYA embarks on adventure with debut single 'Per'

ADYA, Starting House Entertainment’s new girl group, set sail on Tuesday with its debut single “Per." The name of the five-member group is a combination of the word “adventure” and the Spanish word “ya,” which means now. ADYA comprises Chaeeun, Sena, Seungchae, Yeonsu and Seowon. The team, whose members are aged 17 to 20, aims to portray the younger generation who love themselves and are honest about their feelings and desires, ADYA said. “We don&rs

May 9, 2023

Taiwanese company creates new BIFF award for Korean indie films

A new award aimed at discovering new Korean indie films has been created by Busan International Film Festival in conjunction with Rising Films International, a Taiwanese production company. Taiwan’s Rising Films International will fund the award, which carries up to 1 billion won ($758,000) in prize money to cover the film's production costs, according to Asia Contents & Film Market, BIFF's platform supporting content trading and international sales of local content. The aw

May 8, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook sets Guinness record with Spotify streams

Jungkook of BTS set a Guinness World Record for amassing 1 billion streams on Spotify in the shortest time for a K-pop male solo artist, said the global record authority on Monday. He achieved the feat on the platform in 409 days with three songs: “Stay Alive” from the original soundtrack for the webtoon “7Fates: Chakho,” the Charlie Puth collaboration track “Left and Right” and “Dreamers” from the official soundtrack for the 2022 FIFA Qatar World

May 8, 2023

Led by 'Spicy,' aespa returns with 3rd mini album 'My World'

Aespa finally made its long-awaited return on Monday with songs filled with bright young energy, unlike its powerful and intensely conceptual previous tracks. Aespa dropped its third mini album, “My World,” on Monday, 10 months after the release of its last album. "This album shows a new side of aespa. We've mostly done dark and intense music so far because of our Kwangya story line, in which we fought with a villain called Black Mamba. But as we are back in the 'real

May 8, 2023

Boynextdoor to debut with 3-track single

Hybe's rookie boy band Boynextdoor is set to unveil three songs on its debut single. KOZ Entertainment, Hybe's affiliate label under which the band will debut, on Monday said Boynextdoor's debut single, "Who!," will consist of three songs: "But I Like You," "One and Only" and "Serenade." Rapper-producer Zico, who is the CEO of the team's label, took part in producing "One and Only," teaming up with his longtime musical partner

May 8, 2023

MCND takes stage in Dubai for '2023 K-Travel Week in UAE'

K-pop boy band MCND performed in Dubai Festival City, United Arab Emirates, in celebration of "2023 K-Travel Week in UAE," its agency TOP Media said Monday. According to the agency, MCND was the only K-pop artist to perform at the festival held on Friday and Saturday. The event was organized by South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization to promote South Korean culture and tourism in the Middle East. Appearing onstage to fans' cheering, MCND

May 8, 2023

K-pop's 5th gen kicks off with boy band rush

K-pop is entering a new era, with rookie boy bands rushing to open doors. The fourth generation of K-pop groups, mainly defined by those who debuted from 2019 to 2022, saw the flourishing of girl groups. From aespa to Ive, NewJeans, Le Sserafim and Itzy, unique and talented groups reigned on the stage and charts during those years. But trends come and go, and it appears boy bands may be in vogue again. One of the most anticipated groups from the next generation is the string of new boy bands set

May 8, 2023

[Herald Interview] Born to perform: For Choi Jung-won, musical theater is not a job, but a calling

Musical actress Choi Jung-won made her debut as Donna in "Mamma Mia!" on Jan. 18, 2007 -- the beginning of a remarkable journey that is 16 years in the running, encompassing more than 1,033 performances. Choi holds the record for the longest stint as Donna and has the second highest number of total performances in the role. Nowadays, the 53-year-old proudly identifies herself as "Choi Jung-won, born to play Donna," a statement that few would challenge. However, it wasn't

May 8, 2023

iKon starts 'Take Off' world tour in Seoul

Six-piece boy band iKon kicked off its world tour "Take Off" with a set of Seoul concerts. The first and second day of iKon's global concert tour "Take Off" took place on Friday and Saturday at Jangchung Arena in Seoul. The concerts followed the band's long-awaited comeback on Thursday with its third full-length album "Take Off." The six members packed both nights with three hours of live performances and talk sessions, showcasing old hits, such as "R

May 7, 2023

Soprano Jo Su-mi to go on five-city tour in June

Internationally acclaimed soprano Jo Su-mi will embark on a five-city tour in June, performing in Gongju and Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province; Ulsan; Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province; and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Titled “2023 Jo Sumi Concert: In Love,” the tour will kick off at the Gongju Culture and Art Center on June 8. The tour will continue at the Dangjin Culture and Art Center on June 10, at the Ulsan Culture and Arts Center on June 25, at the Seongnam Arts Center on

May 7, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director Davy Chou does away with cliches about adoptees in ‘Return to Seoul’

“Return to Seoul” is a melancholy drama film revolving around Freddie (Park Ji-min), 25, who is on a search for her biological parents after returning to Seoul for the first time -- similar to other films about Korean adoptees. But that’s where the similarity ends, as the film then takes a surprising turn. Freddie’s arrival in Seoul is also spontaneous. She arrives after her trip to Tokyo is cancelled. Davy Chou, the Cambodian French filmmaker of “Return to Seoul,&r

May 7, 2023

'Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 3' surpasses 1m admissions on 4th day

Marvel Studios' new film "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" has surpassed 1 million admissions at the fastest pace among this year's releases in South Korea, its local distributor said Saturday. The film had garnered a cumulative audience of 1.02 million as of midnight Friday, the fourth day of its release, according to Walt Disney Company Korea. It became the fastest film to surpass 1 million admissions this year, outpacing the year's top-grossing films, which include the

May 6, 2023

Fifty Fifty becomes 1st K-pop girl group to enter British Official Singles Chart Top 10

Fifty Fifty has made it into the top 10 of the British Official Singles Chart for the first time as a K-pop girl group with its new viral hit song "Cupid." According to the latest chart released Friday, "Cupid" rose nine places from last week to rank No. 9 in its sixth consecutive week on the chart. Since debuting at No. 96, the song has climbed rapidly up the rankings to reach No. 61, 34, 26, 18 and now ninth. It marks the first time a K-pop girl group has reached the Britis

May 6, 2023

T1 to open new cultural complex for esports fans

T1, South Korea’s one of the most popular esports organization, is scheduled to launch a new cultural complex T1 Base Camp in Seoul’s bustling Hongdae district. T1 made a name for itself as the most successful esports organization after winning League of Legends World Championships in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Korean League of Legends virtuoso "Faker" plays as a midlaner for T1 as well. Unlike regular PC bang -- internet cafes often used to play PC games -- T1 Base Camp also has

May 5, 2023

'The Story of Dreams: Picture Brides' wins award at Houston Film Fest

The documentary “The Story of Dreams: Picture Brides” received an award at the 56th-edition of Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival. The South Korean documentary won the Silver Remi at the film festival, founded in 1968 and the third-oldest film festival in the US. Past winners of the annual festival include Steven Spielberg. The film festival ran from April 25 to 30 in Houston. Created by filmmakers Song Ji-hwan, Lee Jeong-tae and Jo Hyun-woo, “The Story of Dreams: Pi

May 5, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3” (US) Opened May 3 Action Directed by James Gunn The American superhero franchise concludes its trilogy by looking deeper into the story of Rocket, and showing how Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, gathers his team to defend the universe and complete the last mission to protect the Guardians. “Dream” (South Korea) Opened April 26 Drama Directed by Lee Byeong-heon Yoon Hong-dae (Park Seo-joon), a professional football play

May 5, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NCT’s Taeyong to drop solo album next month

Taeyong of NCT will bring out his first solo album early next month, according to label SM Entertainment Thursday. He is shooting a music video for the album, added a source. He will be the first member of the mega band to release an album on his own although many, including Mark, Taeil, Jaehyun and Doyoung, dropped solo singles before. Taeyong also put out “Long Flight” as the label’s singles project in 2019. The musician debuted in 2016 as a member of the band and has partic

May 4, 2023

‘Tale of the Nine Tailed’ returns with unexpected twist

While many popular dramas make triumphant returns with a second season, usually centering on the lives of the lead characters after the end of the previous season, "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938,” the second season of the tvN’ 2020-fantasy series “Tale of the Nine Tailed” will take viewers back in time, bringing the lead character to the Korean Peninsula in 1938. Director Kang Shin-hyo shared that the male “gumiho” Lee Yeon, played by Lee Dong-wook, become

May 4, 2023