[Herald Interview] Lee Min-ho, Kim Min-ha talk about what ‘Pachinko’ means to them

Apple TV+’s Korean original series “Pachinko” aired its first episode of season two on Aug. 23. The show’s main protagonists Lee Min-ho and Kim Min-ha, who played a fish broker tied to Yakuza Hansu and a sturdy, hard-working young woman from a small town Sunja, respectively, said they assimilated to their characters. The second season of the period drama chronicles the life of a Korean family spanning four generations, who moved to Japan in the early 1900s. Over the eight

Aug. 28, 2024

Jo Jung-suk says his wife Gummy gave him most confidence for 'A-List to Playlist'

Korea's beloved actor Jo Jung-suk said his wife and popular singer Park Ji-yeon, more famously known by her stage name Gummy, has been his greatest source of confidence in pursuing his dream of becoming a singer, via Netflix original "A-List to Playlist." "A-List to Playlist" will follow actor Jo Jung-suk's quest to fulfill his dream of debuting as a singer-songwriter. The eight-part series documents Jo's 100-day journey to create an album, with support from

Aug. 27, 2024

Why K-Pop idols face stricter scrutiny: cultural and economic forces behind Korea's high standards

The recent drunk driving incident involving BTS's Suga and the criticism he has faced have sparked discussion about why K-pop idols face such strict scrutiny. Experts point to the unique fan-idol relationship and the way entertainment companies treat idols more as products than individuals. The domestic K-pop fandom is intense and deeply involved. Every K-pop group has a dedicated fandom that supports its idols in every conceivable way. When a group releases a new album, fans often purchase

Aug. 27, 2024

[News Analysis] Are movie tickets in Korea too expensive?

Veteran actor Choi Min-sik’s remarks on an interview show recently have sparked debate about whether movie tickets at South Korean cinemas are indeed expensive. While his comment drew mixed reactions, the country’s largest multiplex cinema chain decided to halve its ticket prices for four days. “Movie theaters have raised (ticket) prices a lot. Please lower them a bit. If you suddenly raise them like that, I wouldn’t go anywhere either (even as an actor). Do you think peo

Aug. 27, 2024

Two takes on 'La Bayadere' set to dazzle this fall

This fall, Seoul will see a captivating artistic duel, as two leading ballet companies stage their productions of “La Bayadere,” a timeless ballet masterpiece. The Universal Ballet will perform the piece from Sept. 27 to 29, while the Korean National Ballet’s production will go onstage Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. Both productions will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera House. “La Bayadere,” which translates to “The Temple Dancer” in French, is set a

Aug. 27, 2024

Ador’s Min Hee-jin replaced by new CEO amid ongoing dispute

Min Hee-jin is stepping down as CEO of Hybe music subsidiary Ador, with the company announcing on Tuesday that Kim Ju-young has been appointed Ador's new CEO. The decision came amid an ongoing dispute between Min and Hybe that began in April over her alleged attempt to seize management rights of Ador. “On the 27th, the company held a board meeting and appointed Kim Joo-young, a current Ador director, as the new CEO,” the statement read. “While former CEO Min Hee-jin is ste

Aug. 27, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Zerobaseone continues 1m sales streak with 4th EP

The fourth EP from Zerobaseone sold more than 1 million copies on release day, as did all three previous albums, agency WakeOne Entertainment said Tuesday. EP “Cinema Paradise” was released Monday and debuted atop the iTunes Top Albums chart in 15 regions and the main track “Good So Bad” landed on its Top Songs chart at No. 8. The lead single also claimed the top spot on the Top 100 chart of LINE Music, a leading music website in Japan, while all seven songs from the mi

Aug. 27, 2024

K-pop singer Kwon Eun-bi makes acting debut in Japanese film ‘Stolen Identity: The Last Hacker’

K-pop star Kwon Eun-bi is making her official debut as an actor through a Japanese film, “Stolen Identity: The Last Hacker,” set to hit local theaters on Nov. 1. A poster and trailer for the Japanese film starring Kwon Eun-bi were unveiled Tuesday. The film is the third installment of “Stolen Identity,” an adaptation of the novel series of the same name by Japanese author Akira Shiga. The first installment released in 2018 became a massive hit, attracting over 1.5 million

Aug. 27, 2024

Christopher and Lee Young-ji to present collaboration

Danish singer-songwriter Christopher and Korean rapper Lee Young-ji are set to release their new song "Trouble" in September. Christopher revealed the collaboration news during his solo concert, to which he had invited Lee Young-ji as a guest, held Sunday at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. The two first met in 2022 on Lee Young-ji's YouTube variety show "Nothing Much Prepared." Their candid and humorous conversation garnered attention and the two have maintained their co

Aug. 27, 2024

Zerobaseone ready to spread positive energy with ‘Cinema Paradise’

A happy ending awaits everyone after bad things happen: This is the message that K-pop rookie group Zerobaseone wants to deliver through "Cinema Paradise," its fourth EP released Monday. “Our album is led by the title track ‘Good So Bad’ which is a song that honestly expresses the feeling of falling deeply in love. It's also about being afraid of losing a bittersweet love,” said Zhang Hao of Zerobaseone during a press conference Monday in Seoul. The lead tr

Aug. 27, 2024

From EDM to jazz, fall is time for music festivals

Whether you are a fan of electronic dance music, rock or jazz, this fall promises to be full of rich experiences with music festivals set to take place across different venues. EDM fans will not want to miss Mega DJ Festival Korea, taking place at Wave Park in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 7 and 8. The festival will feature a lineup of world-class DJs, including Sebastian Ingrosso, DJ R3HAB, DJ Quintino, Bassjackers, Wiwek, Sikdope and Moksi. Popular DJs from Korea -- Glory & Vandal Rock

Aug. 27, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin goes double platinum with ‘Like Crazy’

Jimin of BTS earned double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America with his solo single “Like Crazy” last week, according to the organization. It was the first time a K-pop solo act achieved the feat, and he did so in 518 days. “Like Crazy” fronted his first solo album “Face” which was released in March 2023. It debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100 -- the first-ever K-pop solo song to do so – and made him the first K-p

Aug. 26, 2024

Comedy actors take charge on silver screen

Actors who have gained nationwide popularity for their comedy skits and trending memes are increasingly making their marks on the silver screen. Experts say such a trend may be attributed to the actors' flexibility to tackle various roles and the growing preference among filmmakers to adopt a lighter atmosphere in films. Yoon Ga-i, who recently won the rookie entertainer award at the 3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards in July for her performance in Coupang Play's "Saturday Night Live K

Aug. 26, 2024

NCT Jaehyun debuts solo with first solo album ‘J’

Jaehyun of the popular K-pop boy group NCT debuted as a solo artist with the release of his first solo album “J” on Monday. “J” carries eight tracks led by the title song “Smoke” released in both Korean and English versions. The album showcases a range of emotions and sounds reflecting Jaehyun’s unique music style. “The album is designed to be the perfect soundtrack to tune into for the late afternoon to early dawn,” said Jaehyun in a press r

Aug. 26, 2024

Is Korea being too harsh on Suga?

There has been a lot of discussion recently about Suga’s drunk driving incident, raising the question of whether the global K-pop star deserves the level of criticism he has received. Opinions on the issue are particularly divided among local and international fans of Army, BTS’ dedicated fanbase. Suga drove an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol, registering the highest blood alcohol concentration level ever reported in a DUI (driving under the influence) case involving

Aug. 26, 2024

[Exclusive] YouTube says account of singer convicted of sex crimes terminated according to guidelines

YouTube said that it decided to shut down the account of Go Young-wook, a former member of '90s band Roo'Ra who served 30 months in prison for raping minors, according to its guidelines, Monday. “We have terminated Go!Youngwook GoDog Days channel in accordance with our Creator Responsibility guidelines, which prohibit off-platform behavior that harms YouTube’s community. This means that the uploader is unable to use, own or create any other YouTube channels.” a YouTub

Aug. 26, 2024

20th JIMFF to kick off next week, features 98 music films

The 20th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival will kick off Sept. 5 for a six-day run, with a program combining contemporary music and cinema and live concerts. Under the slogan of “Superascendo,” which means “to transcend” in Latin, the festival will screen 98 movies from 37 countries and hold music concerts by 26 performers. The slogan represents JIMFF’s commitment to advancing into a new era, reflecting on its 20 years of history while looking forward

Aug. 26, 2024

[Herald Interview] Oh My Girl presents soothing music to bring listeners comfort

K-pop summer queens Oh My Girl return Monday with their 10th EP, “Dreamy Resonance,” led by “Classified,” a fresh track that brings something new to the table. “It’s a dreamy and lyrical music, which is quite different from our popular summer songs that involve energetic rhythm. This song conveys a message of comfort to those who need someone by their side for support. As you would see in the music video for the song, we are portrayed as dolls that comfort chi

Aug. 26, 2024

R-rated changgeuk 'Madam Ong' returns for 10th anniversary

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s comical and provocative changgeuk, “Madam Ong,” a long-standing favorite, is set to return to the stage this September, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Changgeuk is a Korean form of opera that combines elements of pansori, a traditional narrative singing style. "Madam Ong," the first changgeuk to be rated for adults only, has garnered attention for its bold themes and vibrant portrayal of human vitality. This year's pro

Aug. 25, 2024

Rise of empowered women on Korean variety shows

Korean audiences have been thrilled by wrestling athlete Jang Eun-sil pushing a massive boat with burly men in "Physical: 100," female Korean police officers, firefighters and soldiers competing in the reality competition series "Siren: Survive the Island," as well as female celebrities passionately participating in soccer matches in "Kick a Goal," in recent years. These shows are among the popular women-led Korean variety shows -- including "Unpretty Rapstar,&

Aug. 24, 2024