Long-awaited ‘Avatar 2’ leads year-end movie releases

Following the dire, years-long pandemic-related difficulties, local theaters are hoping the box office records will get a year-end boost with a slew of new releases -- from the much-anticipated James Cameron blockbuster “Avatar: The Way of Water” to South Korea’s first ever musical-to-screen movie “Hero.” Will those films bring back to theaters people who have been streaming Netflix in the comfort of their homes? Or will they stay home, begrudging the ticket price

Dec. 7, 2022

With new all-Korean crossover album, Sumi Jo shows relentless energy

In releasing an all-Korean crossover album “In Love: Korean Love Poem,” internationally acclaimed soprano Sumi Jo said Tuesday that she hopes that the genre of Korean art songs, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, can be enjoyed more globally like K-pop. “Korean art songs were introduced a century ago, but people still find Korean art songs difficult. I paid a lot of attention to the singing method and arrangement and poured all my passion, soul and time into it

Dec. 6, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink is ‘Entertainer of the Year’: Time

Blackpink was chosen by Time magazine as Entertainer of the Year. Its highly anticipated second studio album “Born Pink” came out in September and sold over 2 million units, a record as the bestselling album by a Korean girl group. The LP became the first to debut atop Billboard 200 and UK’s Official Chart, a first for an Asian musician. The quartet “has managed to become the biggest girl group in the world,” the magazine wrote, and the key lies in “allowing

Dec. 6, 2022

Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Mickey 17’ confirmed for March 2024 release

Oscar-winning film director Bong Joon-ho’s next movie, “Mickey 17,” will hit theaters on March 29, 2024, Warner Bros. Pictures confirmed Tuesday. The movie is based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 sci-fi novel “Mickey7,” which tells the story of Mickey7, an expendable employee who is sent on a dangerous mission to colonize an ice world called Niflheim. “Twilight” series’ Robert Pattinson plays the lead role. The cast also includes Hollywood stars Nao

Dec. 6, 2022

Soprano Jo Sumi says new Korean-language album 'In Love' transcends time

Famed South Korean soprano Jo Sumi said Tuesday her new Korean-language crossover album "In Love" contains elements of the past, present and future to deliver the beautiful emotions of falling in love. The Grammy-winning singer said she had a hard time selecting 11 Korean tracks for the love-themed album released on Warner Classics as she wanted to introduce a wide range of Korean songs by contemporary composers in her own style. "It is a compact collection of Korea's past, p

Dec. 6, 2022

Youn Yuh-jung parts ways with Hook Entertainment

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung is leaving her agency Hook Entertainment following the expiration of her contract, according to the company on Tuesday. The Oscar-winning actor signed on with Hook Entertainment in March 2017. The company earlier denied news reports of Youn's departure, claiming that Youn was not leaving the company although their exclusive contract had expired. Youn is reportedly undecided on a new agency to represent her. Youn made history last year by winning the best supporti

Dec. 6, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Suga reaches 400m views with ‘Daechwita’ video

    Suga of BTS amassed 400 million views on YouTube with the music video for his solo work “Daechwita,” according to label Big Hit Music on Monday. The video came out in May 2020 and reached the milestone on Sunday. “Daechwita” fronted the artist’s second solo mixtape “D-2,” sampling a traditional Korean marching tune of the same name. The song hit the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 76 and the mixtape on listed on the Billboard 200 at No. 11, e

Dec. 5, 2022

Jongno Culture Diversity Film Festival kicks off this week

The fourth annual Jongno Culture Diversity Film Festival will kick off Thursday to share the meaning and value of diversity through film, according to the Jongno Foundation for Arts & Culture on Monday. Established in 2019, the annual event will take place Dec. 8-20 at Emu Arts Space in Jongno under the slogan “Stories of Yours, Mine and Ours.” Eight films designated as "films of the year" by the foundation that look into diversity on the topics of generation, era, rela

Dec. 5, 2022

[Herald Review] RM: Seeing the person before the art

RM of BTS released his first official solo album "Indigo" on Friday, marking a blue dot on the canvas of his life. The 10-track project functions not only as a record of the global superstar's life between 2019-2022, but expresses his deep respect for the late Korean artist Yun Hyong-keun. The master of Korea's monochrome painting movement served as an inspiration for the album and traces of his influence can be found throughout "Indigo," starting with his picture &

Dec. 2, 2022

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi ends longtime contract with Hook Entertainment

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi has left his longtime agency Hook Entertainment after a payment dispute for digital streams of his songs. Lee Seung-gi notified Hook Entertainment that their exclusive contract has been nullified, according to industry sources on Thursday. This comes after the star released an official statement through his legal representation, the law firm Bae, Kim & Lee, on Nov. 24 denouncing the agency for not having once made a payment for his song’s digital streams o

Dec. 2, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Big Bang’s Taeyang to return as a solo artist after 5 years: report

    Taeyang of Big Bang will make a comeback as a solo musician with an album in January, according to a local media report on Friday. “Nothing has been confirmed yet,” said the singer's label YG Entertainment following the report. His last solo release was his third studio album “White Night” which dropped in August 2017. He released “Louder,” a track for the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games, in January 2018, as honorary ambassador for the event.

Dec. 2, 2022

Global dating show ‘Ramyun & Chill’ picks up steam on YouTube

Korean dating reality show “Ramyun & Chill” is gaining global attention following its launch on the official YouTube channel of DKDKTV earlier last month. “Ramyun & Chill” is a five-episode show that features five Korean male participants and five female participants from the US, Hong Kong, Belgium, South Africa and Malaysia, dating each other for four days and three nights to find true love while overcoming language and cultural barriers. “The biggest cha

Dec. 2, 2022

Yellow Door: Netflix presents new look at director Bong Joon-ho

Netflix confirmed Friday the production of a new documentary film, with the working title, “Yellow Door: Looking for Director Bong’s Unreleased Short Film.” The upcoming film will take the audience on a journey to uncover Bong Joon-ho's first film as told through the stories of others around him during his younger directing days. Prior to the 18-minute short film “White Man” (1994), a film widely known as the director’s first film, the Oscar-winning dir

Dec. 2, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Men of Plastic (Korea) Opened Nov. 30 Comedy Directed by Lim Jin-sun Born and raised in the posh, affluent Apgujeong-dong in southern Seoul, Dae-guk (Don Lee) is familiar with plastic surgery and skin care shops, as so many are located in Apgujeong-dong. To realize his business idea to start his own plastic surgery clinic, he meets the area’s most renowned plastic surgeon Ji-woo (Jung Kyung-ho), and together they begin to realize the dream of opening Asia’s most famous plastic surger

Dec. 2, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] HyunA, Dawn split after 6 years

HyunA and Dawn have decided to go their separate ways after dating for six years. HyunA broke the news to her fans via Instagram. “We decided to remain as good friends and colleagues from now on,” she said, thanking fans for supporting them. Dawn “liked” the post. The two started dating in 2016 and went public with their relationship in 2018. HyunA debuted as a member of Wonder Girls in 2007 and after a brief stint as part of 4Minute, went solo. Dawn was a member of Pent

Dec. 1, 2022

Maroon 5 makes grand return to S. Korea after 4 years

American pop-rock band Maroon 5 made a grand return to South Korea on Wednesday night, almost four years after their last concert in the country. As soon as the lights went off at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, signaling the beginning of the long-awaited concert, the audience's whistles, claps and cries of joy filled the air. Maroon 5 kicked it off with the hit “Moves Like Jagger” — a dance-pop piece that pumped up the atmosphere. The 22,000 attendees danced and sang along to

Dec. 1, 2022

Director Kang Yun-sung satisfied with 'Big Bet' on first drama series

Korea Herald correspondent SINGAPORE -- From the shooting locations to the cast and presentation of stories, director Kang Yun-sung shared nothing but satisfaction with upcoming Disney+ noir series “Big Bet.” “Our story takes place in the Philippines, so we spent almost three months shooting the scenes there. We were grateful to film the series in a cheerful atmosphere, surrounded by wonderful crews,” Kang said in a press conference held at Sands Expo & Convention Cen

Dec. 1, 2022

‘Call It Love’ to warm viewers’ hearts next year

Korea Herald Correspondent SINGAPORE -- Director Lee Kwang-young is certain that Korean and international viewers will immerse themselves in the touching love story presented by South Korea’s go-to romance masters -- Kim Young-kwang and Lee Sung-kyoung. “‘Call It Love’ does not have a character who has a crush at first sight. It does not have a specific event making them fall in love with each other either. Our series tells you a small story, but one that is powerful enou

Dec. 1, 2022

Friends Ju Ji-hoon and Park Sung-woong team up in ‘Gentleman’

Ju Ji-hoon is returning to the screen for the first time in four years with the comedy film, “Gentleman,” alongside his close friend and fellow actor Park Sung-woong who gets to become a different type of villain. “At first, I refused because I have played so many similar bad guy roles before, but it was Ju Ji-hoon who persuaded me to team up for this film, rather than appearing in each other’s movie for brief cameo parts,” Park said during a press conference held a

Dec. 1, 2022

More Korean originals, sequels to come on Disney+

Korea Herald correspondent SINGAPORE -- More Korean originals, sequels to hit shows and more are to come on the Disney+ horizon, Jessica Kam-Engle, vice president of Walt Disney Co. Asia Pacific’s content and development, said Wednesday at a Disney content showcase in Singapore. “Showcasing the best storytelling and regional contents are critical for our long-term success. Starting with ‘Connect’ and ‘Big Bet’ launching in December, more scripted dramas with t

Nov. 30, 2022