[Herald Interview] Yoo Yeon-seok attracted to values in canine film ‘My Heart Puppy’

For Yoo Yeon-seok, it was a clear choice for him to appear in canine-themed film “My Heart Puppy,” as a person who has had dogs from a young age and acted as ambassador of Seoul Animal Film Festival. A chance to act with the four-legged friends and tell stories of the companion animals through the screen were his priorities. “I first grabbed the script with a light-hearted mind because the title was cute. Then after I finished reading it, there was no choice for me (but to appe

Feb. 26, 2023

‘Hidden Earth,’ explores 3 billion-year history of Korean Peninsula

Marking its 50th anniversary, public broadcaster KBS has produced a wildlife documentary titled “Hidden Earth,” presenting geoheritage sites in Korea. “Even though Korea is a very small country compared to the US or China, the land is filled with mountains and rocks that are worth studying to find out about the history of Earth. I am certain that ‘Hidden Earth’ will offer an opportunity for the public to learn that this small country (Korea) in the East is such a pr

Feb. 25, 2023

Jung Jae-il releases first Decca album 'Listen'

Jung Jae-il, 41, one of South Korea's best-regarded composers and music directors, released "Listen," his first album under Decca Records, on Friday. Jung earned his international reputation with his musical work for the critically acclaimed film “Parasite” as well as Netflix series “Squid Game.” He was recognized by the Hollywood Music In Media Awards for his work on “Squid Game.” The seven-track record conveys his message to pay attention to t

Feb. 24, 2023

Nine-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis in Seoul for jazz concert in March

Nine-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is scheduled to perform on March 19 at LG Arts Center Seoul as part of the center's signature program CoMPAS23, a specially curated series of eight performances by top Korean and international artists. The American jazz musician is recognized for his wide range of techniques and genres, from classical to modern jazz as well as composition. Sharing the stage with Marsalis are pianist Dan Nimmer, bassist Carlos Henriquez, drummer Obed Calvari

Feb. 24, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'My goal from the start was runner-up'

The key to staying inside the realm of stardom is making hay while the sun shines, and rapper Huh, the runner-up of the latest 11th season of "Show Me the Money," is doing just this. Less than two months after the end of the hip-hop survival show, Huh, who goes by his real name Heo Sung-hyun locally, is making a swift comeback on Friday with a two-track album titled "Midnight Law." "Some people vanish soon after getting the spotlight in a TV show because they're not

Feb. 24, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Kai floats teaser for solo EP

Kai of EXO uploaded a teaser poster for his third solo EP “Rover” on Friday. The performer instantly drew attention with neon green feathered wings on his back. A series of teaser content will follow until the EP is rolled out on March 13. The album will have six tracks including the titular track. His second EP “Peaches” topped the iTunes top albums chart in 65 regions when it came out in November 2021. Separately, EXO greeted fans in Japan with a video letter on Thursd

Feb. 24, 2023

American adaptation of KBS' 'My Fellow Citizens!’ gets off to a good start

US television network ABC premiered a new drama series called “The Company You Keep” on Feb. 19, starring “Gilmore Girls” star Milo Ventimiglia alongside Korean American actor Catherine Haena Kim. The series is an adaptation of South Korean public broadcaster KBS’ 2019 crime comedy series “My Fellow Citizens!" Starring “Mr. Sunshine” (2018) star Kim Min-jung, Lee Yoo-young of Apple TV+’s “Dr. Brain” and Super Junior member Ch

Feb. 24, 2023

‘A Clean Sweep’ entertains baseball fans ahead of 2023 KBO season

Cable channel JTBC’s baseball reality show “A Clean Sweep” invites sports lovers and baseball fans to an exhibition match on March 19. “A Clean Sweep” follows CK Monsters, a team of former professional baseball players, as they complete 30 matches with a winning percentage of 70 against non-professional teams, including amateur, top high school and university baseball teams. Given that the team’s members are retired Korean baseball legends decorated with multi

Feb. 24, 2023

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (US) Opened Feb. 15 Action Directed by Peyton Reed In this sequel to "Ant-Man" (2015) and "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (2018) and the 31st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man and the Wasp explore the Quantum Realm and interact with strange new creatures. “The Amazing Maurice” (US) Opened Feb. 15 Comedy/Family Directed by Toby Genkel An animated comedy based on Terry Pratchett’s semi-parodic children&rs

Feb. 24, 2023

Changgeuk adaptation of 'Jeong-nyeon' offers what only live theater can

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea kicks off the 2023 season with a changgeuk adaptation of the hit webtoon series “Jeong-nyeon” from March 17 to March 29 at Daloreum Theater, the National Theater of Korea in Seoul. Based on the webtoon of the same title by Seo Ireh and Namon, the changgeuk follows Jeong-nyeon, a young actor-singer in the making who dreams of becoming the best "gukgeuk" performer in the the heyday of the performing art form in the 1950s. Gukgeuk, or &q

Feb. 23, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids lands on top of Oricon chart with 1st Japan LP

Stray Kids ranked No. 1 on Oricon’s daily album ranking with its first studio album in Japan. LP “The Sound” was rolled out on Wednesday and headed straight to the top of the chart. The album consists of 10 tracks including the titular track as well as Japanese-language version of “Case 143” and “Thunderous,” lead tracks from EP “Maxident” and LP “Noeasy,” respectively. The eight-member act will take to the stage in Osaka this we

Feb. 23, 2023

Song Joong-ki dismisses rumors surrounding his wife

Actor Song Joong-ki, 37, said most of the rumors surrounding his wife are wrong and that he was “angry” about the snowballing gossip concerning his family. In a recent interview with GQ Korea, Song said all the rumors circulating online, except the school from which she graduated, were wrong. On Jan. 30, Song revealed that he had registered his marriage with Katy Louise Saunders on that day and that they were expecting a baby. He did not mention when the baby is due. “At firs

Feb. 23, 2023

Minnie of (G)I-dle and Anne-Marie to release collab track ‘Expectations’

The collaboration between the K-pop star Minnie of (G)I-dle and the global pop star Annie-Marie is official. The two vocalists dropped the cover image of their collaboration track “Expectations” Wednesday on their respective social media feeds. The collaboration, to be unveiled on March 9 at 6 p.m., was produced with Warner Music Korea. Warner Music Korea has continuously served as a bridge between K-pop and foreign artists. Previous collaborations it has forged are Crush and Pink Sw

Feb. 23, 2023

Jeon Jong-seo’s Hollywood debut film ‘Mona Lisa and Blood Moon’ to open in March

New Hollywood thriller “Mona Lisa and Blood Moon” starring actor Jeon Jong-seo will hit local theaters on March 22. It is the Hollywood debut for the 28-year-old actor, who made her silver screen debut in award-winning director Lee Chang-dong’s thriller “Burning” (2018). Most recently, she appeared as Tokyo in Netflix series “Money Heist: Korea -- Joint Economic Area” (2022). This thriller fantasy film revolves around Bonnie Hunt (Kate Hudson), a single

Feb. 23, 2023

SM Entertainment to grant Kakao exclusive rights to distribute albums, music: sources

SM Entertainment has agreed to give Kakao Entertainment, a subsidiary of technology firm Kakao Corp., exclusive rights to circulate its albums and music as part of its alliance with the tech giant against rival K-pop company Hybe's takeover bid, music industry sources and investment banks said Thursday. They said the transfer of rights was included in a contract Kakao signed earlier this month to buy a 9.05 percent stake in SM through a rights offering and convertible shares and become a st

Feb. 23, 2023

Hybe becomes largest shareholder in SM Entertainment 　

Hybe, the K-pop company behind boy group BTS, said Wednesday it has acquired a 14.8 percent stake in its industry rival SM Entertainment to become its largest shareholder. Hybe said in a regulatory filing that it has paid for the purchase earlier than scheduled. On Feb. 10, the company agreed to buy the shares from SM‘s founder and former chief producer Lee Soo-man for 422.8 billion won (US$335.8 million) and said the deal will be sealed on March 6. Lee had an 18.46 percent stake in SM at

Feb. 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook tops 300m views with Charlie Puth collab video

The music video for the collaboration of BTS’ Jungkook and Charlie Puth, “Left and Right,” has surpassed 300 million views on YouTube. The American singer and songwriter and the Korean idol joined forces for the song unveiled in June last year. It stayed on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 17 weeks in a row after hitting the chart at No. 22. It also was No. 1 on iTunes top songs charts in 106 regions and has been streamed via Spotify over 500 million times. The single was picked

Feb. 22, 2023

Park Hae-soo returns to theater as Mephisto in 'Faust'

Actor Park Hae-soo is returning to the theater stage after sweeping the globe in Netflix’s “Squid Game,” “Money Heist” and “Narco-Saints.” Park plays Mephistopheles, or Mephisto the devil, in Goethe’s tragic play “Faust” slated to run at LG Arts Center Seoul, from March 31 to April 29. Before his fame in film and television after making a breakthrough performance in tvN’s “Prison Playbook,” Park had been a prolific sta

Feb. 22, 2023

BTS' V interns as a cook in cutthroat ‘Jinny’s Kitchen'

Cable channel tvN’s smash-hit cooking and travel show “Youn’s Kitchen” is set to return with the spinoff series “Jinny’s Kitchen.” “I am at that age where I should become a boss and run my own business. I felt happy doing whatever I wanted,” actor Lee Seo-jin, the new CEO of the Korean street food restaurant featured the show, said in an online press conference Wednesday. Lee has worked alongside the Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung in &ld

Feb. 22, 2023