tvN's ‘Behind Every Star’ shows little-known world of management agents

Depicting the lives of the people behind celebrities, cable channel tvN’s “Behind Every Star” presents celebrity managers' drama-filled lives with their clients, who are real Korean celebrities playing themselves. According to director Paek Seung-lyong, the 12-part series will be a magical TV drama featuring a star-studded stream of cameos, including Cho Yeo-jeong from 2019's Oscar-winning movie “Parasite.” “To make our series more realistic, we tr

Nov. 8, 2022

Lee Jung-jae confirmed to join new ‘Star Wars’ series

Disney+, the flagship streaming service of US media giant Walt Disney Co., announced that top South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae will be among the star-studded lineup of its new “Star Wars" series “The Acolyte.” US actor Amandla Stenberg of “The Hate U Give” (2018), British and Spanish actor Dafne Keen of “His Dark Materials” (2019) and the Philippines-born Canadian actor Manny Jacinto of “Nine Perfect Strangers” (2021) have also been confi

Nov. 8, 2022

BoA to return to stage after 2-year hiatus with 3rd EP ‘Forgive Me’

K-pop diva BoA will make a grand return with her third EP on Nov. 22, the singer’s agency SM Entertainment announced on Tuesday. The agency preceded the official announcement by dropping a teaser image for BoA’s new album “Forgive Me” at midnight Tuesday on the artist’s official social media. It will mark her first album release in nearly two years since “Better” came out in December 2020 in celebration of the artist’s 20th debut anniversary. Al

Nov. 8, 2022

Seller admits all allegations surrounding BTS' Jungkook's hat

The online seller who asked for 10 million won for K-pop superstar BTS' member Jungkook's lost hat has admitted to all the allegations surrounding the case. Seoul Seocho Police on Monday said it has completed its investigations into the seller -- referred to anonymously as A -- who had put a hat allegedly worn by Jungkook up for sale on a online market. According to the police, A, an alleged former employee of the Foreign Ministry, was booked in early November on charges of embezzlemen

Nov. 7, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Twice’s ‘Talk That Talk’ music video tops 100m views

The music video for Twice’s “Talk That Talk” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, according to JYP Entertainment on Monday. “Talk That Talk” is the main track from its most recent album, 11th EP “Between 1＆2,” which came out in August. The video became the group’s 21st to reach the milestone and extends its own record for the most music videos with over 100 million views from a female band anywhere in the world. The EP debuted on the Billboard

Nov. 7, 2022

Filmmaker Park Chan-wook honored with LACMA Art+Film Gala

Renowned director Park Chan-wook was honored for his film “Decision to Leave” at the 11th annual LACMA Art+Film Gala held Saturday at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California. The director was selected for the honor along with American artist Helen Pashgian. The LACMA Art+Film Gala was established in 2011 by the annual event’s co-chairman Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Every year, it selects winners who contributed to cultural development in are

Nov. 7, 2022

[Herald Interview] Park Ha-sun on harsh reality of motherhood

Park Ha-sun, the star of hit shows such as "Birthcare Center" and "No, Thank You," is now a proud mother to a three-year-old daughter whom she had with fellow actor Ryu Soo-young. She had always dreamed of a marriage and family life but her familial bliss was impacted by the harsh realities of giving birth and raising a child in her industry. Recalling her experience of becoming a mother, Park said that South Korean female actors are faced with a unique set of hurdles. &qu

Nov. 7, 2022

First Ukrainian film festival in Korea to kick off next week

A Ukrainian film festival exploring the country’s history and culture will be held for the first time in Korea next week. Cinema Aid Ukraine, a film marathon, is scheduled to kick off Nov. 15 at the Korean Film Archive, located in Mapo-gu, western Seoul. The film marathon project was initiated by the Ukrainian State Film Agency in May with the Ukrainian Film Academy, the Watch Ukrainian! Association, the Ukrainian Motion Picture Association, the nongovernmental organization UkrKinoFest, th

Nov. 7, 2022

Educational talk shows, a new trend in Korean TV

Talk shows that incorporate storytelling in exploring topics in the humanities and other areas are gaining popularity on Korean television. While global streaming services focus on big budget shows featuring top TV celebrities, like “Take 1” and “The Zone: Survival Mission,” local broadcasters and cable channels are offering programs that aim to satisfy intellectual curiosity. These shows are notable for the absence of jokes or entertainment elements that are often employ

Nov. 7, 2022

Disabled musicians in limelight at Soliall Philharmonic US concerts

Under the theme “Visual Music, Musical Art,” two concerts featuring an orchestra and disabled guest musicians, were held in the US last weekend. The Soliall Philharmonic Orchestra from Korea performed with eight guest musicians -- including pianist Son Eun-young, blind violinist Kim Ji-sun, blind clarinetist Lee Sang-jae and blind cellist Kim Min-joo -- first at the Davis Theater for the Performing Arts in Alabama on Saturday, and then at the Gas South Theater in Georgia on Sunday. S

Nov. 7, 2022

Violinist Edwin E.S. Kim pays tribute to Vienna in third solo album

Violinist Edwin E. S. Kim pays tribute to his second hometown Vienna, where the 45-year-old violinist spent almost half of his life, in his third solo album, “Mein Niener Herz.” The album, which translates to “My Vienna Heart,” includes 10 pieces by Fritz Kreisler, Ede Poldini, Franz Lehar and Franz Schubert, composers all associated with the Austrian capital. Kim arranged the track list, which starts with Kreisler’s Rondino on a theme by Beethoven and ends with Sch

Nov. 7, 2022

[Herald Interview] Reddy leaves bitter experiences behind for new beginning

Reddy knows the cheat code to be an august solo artist: being comfortable in his own skin. That’s when he finds himself cultivating creativity, and when his music is at its finest. Unlike the chic and mellow rap beats the artist is known for, Reddy is beguiling. Sitting in his studio in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, he exudes a distinct friendliness -- it’s his way of relaxing into his confidence. “I newly joined 131 (ONE THREE ONE), so I’m starting fresh after moving out of my

Nov. 7, 2022

Red Velvet to drop new EP 'Birthday' on Nov. 28

Red Velvet is celebrating the end of the year with new album titled "The ReVe Festival 2022 – Birthday." The girl group's label SM Entertainment on Monday announced Red Velvet will be dropping the new mini album on Nov. 28. The album will be fronted by the title track "Birthday," and will also feature several more songs of various genres representing Red Velvet's rich sounds, the label explained in a statement released on Monday. The new album will be the quin

Nov. 7, 2022

16-year-old cellist Han Jae-min takes first prize from Isang Yun Competition

Han Jae-min, a 16-year-old cellist, took home first prize from the International Isang Yun Competition on Saturday at the Tongyeong Concert Hall, South Gyeongsang Province. Earlier last week, the four finalists, including three South Korean cellists -- Han Jae-min, Joeng Woo-chan, Kim Deok-yong -- and Florian Pons from France, were announced. The finalists were required to perform one concerto with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra led by Venezuelan conductor Christian Vasquez. Han performed Is

Nov. 6, 2022

[Photo News] BTS star Jin's 'The Astronaut' debuts at No. 61 on British chart

Jin, a member of K-pop supergroup BTS, holds his single "The Astronaut," his first first official single that has landed at No. 61 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100.  According to the latest chart updated Friday, the song entered the chart together with Rihanna's "Lift Me Up" and SZA's "Shirt.” "The Astronaut" is a pop-rock genre song co-written by British band Coldplay, which also played on the recording. Jin participated in wr

Nov. 5, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM to collaborate with Cherry Filter: report

  The first solo album of BTS’ RM will feature a collaborative work with K-pop band Cherry Filter, according to a local media report on Friday. Label Big Hit Music neither denied nor confirmed the report, asking the media to confirm it later. The leader of the septet will be the third member – after J-Hope and Jin – to roll out a solo album that is due out end of this month. Cherry Filter is a veteran rock band that debuted in 2000 with album “Head-Up.” It has

Nov. 4, 2022

Paramount+ to present Tving’s ‘Bargain’ in 2023

Tving's latest original series “Bargain” is scheduled to premiere globally via Paramount+ in 2023, the local streaming service announced Friday. The six-part thriller will be Tving and Paramount+’s second shared series, following director Lee Joon-ik’s sci-fi series “Beyond the Memory,” widely known by its Korean title “Yonder.” Paramount+ landed in South Korea as a free-to-view addition to Tving in June. As to why the series is being released

Nov. 4, 2022

TikTok creator Changha drops single for SBS’ ‘One Dollar Lawyer’ soundtrack

South Korean TikTok creator Changha dropped a single titled “Don’t Be Late” created for the latest drama series “One Dollar Lawyer." Composed by Ryu Won-kang, the soundtrack is a song that can comfort those flowing through challenging times in their lives. The content creator is the sixth singer to contribute music for the drama. The star-studded lineup for the original soundtrack announced by the production company Danal Entertainment also includes rapper DinDin, si

Nov. 3, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jisoo worries fans during tour

Fans of Blackpink voiced concerns over Jisoo online as a photograph showing a visible bump on her neck circulated. A coin-sized lump on the right side of her neck can be spotted in the photograph. This is not the first time it has been seen, however. Some fans claim that it gets smaller while the group is on a break, but gets bigger when the group is busy. Some suggested that this may indicate swelling in lymph node. The quartet is touring the US, where it will have 14 concerts in seven cities

Nov. 3, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin notches record spot on UK Official Chart

Jin of BTS debuted on UK Official Singles Chart with his solo single at No. 34, the highest rank for a K-pop solo act. “The Astronaut” hit the UK’s Top 100 biggest singles of midweek only three days after its release, even though the physical album is yet to be shipped overseas. The collaboration with British band Coldplay topped the iTunes top songs chart in 100 regions so far, landing atop the chart in Britain in six hours since its release. This also is the first time

Nov. 2, 2022