S. Korean TV directors set to tap into Hollywood

Talented South Korean directors of popular TV series are poised to begin their Hollywood career amid the unprecedentedly strong presence of Korean content across the world. Director Lee Myung-woo, who helmed the action comedy "The Fiery Priest" (2019) and the crime thriller "One Ordinary Day" (2021), signed a contract with the American talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) last month. The CAA is one of the biggest management agencies in North America, representing filmm

March 16, 2022

BTS to perform at Grammy Awards for third consecutive year

K-pop supergroup BTS will take the stage for the annual Grammy Awards for the third consecutive year, organizers have said. The South Korean group was among the artists announced by the US Recording Academy on Tuesday (US time) to perform during the 64th awards ceremony on April 3. Other big names on the list were Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Brandi Carlile and Brothers Osborne. BTS performed jointly with Lil Nas X at the 62nd Grammy Awards held two years ago and hit the stage alone

March 16, 2022

After multiple cancellations, SPO’s artist-in-focus to perform for the first time since 2019

Augustin Hadelich, an Italian-German-American violinist and Seoul Philharmonic’s Artist-In-Focus, will take the stage later this month for the first time without any cancellations as a visiting artist since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Five concerts featuring the 37-year-old violinist will take place as planned starting from March 31, an official at SPO confirmed on Monday. During his visit to Korea as SPO’s Artist-In-Focus, he will play a wide-ranging repertoire, includi

March 16, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Astro’s Moonbin, Sanha return with second EP

　 Moonbin and Sanha of Astro held an online showcase Tuesday to introduce their second EP as a unit. 　 The EP comes out about 1 1/2 years since the previous EP “In-Out” and the title “Refuge” signifies how they want to offer shelter for listeners, taking a step further from the message of healing from the first EP. 　 They had high expectations for each other and were pleased that they managed to release the EP on the originally planned date. They tested positive for COVI

March 15, 2022

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek marks 20th anniversary with new album, recital series

Korean classical pianist Lim Dong-hyek on Tuesday said that he is still hoping to improve as he marks the 20th anniversary of his debut. “When I was a teenager and also in my 20s, I focused more on achievements, mainly winning piano competitions. Now there are new tasks in front of me. It might sound a little abstract but I aim to be a better musician,” he said during a press conference at Cosmos Art Hall in southern Seoul for his upcoming solo recital tour. “I’m not

March 15, 2022

K-pop rookie Ive to drop second single next month

New girl group Ive will release its second single album "Love Dive" on April 5, the group's agency Starship Entertainment said Tuesday. The K-pop agency posted a teaser image about the upcoming record on social media. It will mark the first release from the six-piece group since its debut single "Eleven" last December. "Eleven" became an instant hit with K-pop fans at home and abroad, topping various domestic music charts and made it onto music charts across the wor

March 15, 2022

JYP Entertainment sets up US arm to expand access to North American market

JYP Entertainment, the K-pop label behind TWICE and Stray Kids, said Tuesday it has established a US branch to expand its reach to the North American market. "We have set up JYP USA to secure a foothold in the North American market, where the K-pop base continues to expand, and attempt a new strategic evolution," the company said in a release. The local corporation will work to help JYP-managed artists' advance to the US market in the future as well as to discover and nurture new talen

March 15, 2022

Hybe's Bang to get honorary doctorate from Seoul Nat'l University

Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman of K-pop powerhouse Hybe that manages BTS, will receive an honorary doctorate from Seoul National University (SNU), school officials said Tuesday. Bang will be the first entertainment industry figure to get the SNU degree that is given to a person who has made a special contribution to academic development or improvement of the cultural heritage of mankind, according to officials. The 49-year-old Bang is a music producer best known for launching BTS in 2013 and

March 15, 2022

One member down, but (G)I-dle is still alive and kicking

Often in troubled moments, we need to take a step back in order to take two steps forward. Likewise, K-pop girl group (G)I-dle is returning to the music scene after over a year, short a member from their original six, yet stronger and more determined than ever. On Monday, the girl group conducted a media showcase event ahead of the release of the first full-length album, “I Never Die,” later the same day. “As it’s our comeback after a long hiatus, I prepared as if we

March 15, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] (G)I-dle returns as quintet

(G)I-dle came out with its first studio album on Monday and held an online showcase to discuss it return. 　 It has been over a year since the band put out new music and is the first time it presents itself as a five-member act. 　 The LP is titled “I Never Die” and the group wanted to show spirit and determination, said leader Soyeon. It focuses on speaking out against prejudices, exuding confidence that “I’m just me,” added Minnie. 　 Main track “Tomboy&rdqu

March 14, 2022

‘Squid Game’ makes history again with two Critics Choice Awards

Netflix’s global megahit drama “Squid Game” won two trophies at the 27th Critics Choice Awards held in Los Angeles on Monday. The show’s lead Lee Jung-jae won best actor in a drama series for his role as Gi-hun, a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man who takes part in the deadly “Squid Game.” “Thank you, god. Thank you very much Critics Choice Awards and everyone who loved and supported ‘Squid Game.’ I can’t express how wonderful I am. Th

March 14, 2022

Popular Korean content remade into films, TV series globally

A lieutenant’s life is turned upside down after accidentally killing a man. He desperately hides all the pieces of evidence, including the dead man’s body. Just when he thinks he has succeeded, he receives threats from a mysterious witness. This is the plot of a recent hit French film on Netflix, “Restless,” directed by Regis Blondeau. Released on Feb. 28, the film immediately became popular globally with its fresh and tight plot, topping the streaming service platform&

March 14, 2022

Red Velvet's Irene, Joy, Yeri test positive for COVID-19; live concerts canceled

Three members of K-pop girl group Red Velvet -- Irene, Joy and Yeri -- have tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of all two concerts scheduled for the weekend, the group's agency said Monday. The members recently tested positive through self-test kits and then underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which returned positive results, SM Entertainment said. Having completed their vaccination, the three are receiving treatment at home without presenting any special symp

March 14, 2022

Seventeen's The 8 to drop individual Chinese single

The 8, a member of K-pop boy group Seventeen, will release his fourth individual single sung in Chinese this week, his agency said Monday. The single, "Hai Cheng," will hit online music services across the world at 11 a.m. Friday, Pledis Entertainment said. It marks the first individual song from the member in about 11 months, after he dropped "Side By Side" in April last year. The title "Hai Cheng" was named after Haicheng, the singer's hometown in China's central

March 14, 2022

BTS Seoul concerts attract 2.46 million fans around the world

K-pop supergroup BTS' three live concerts in Seoul have attracted 2.46 million fans both on and offline, the group's agency said Monday. The "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage - Seoul" shows were held at Seoul Olympic Stadium on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with the first and third-night shows streamed live online and the second-night concert available for "live-viewing" at movie theaters across the world. The shows drew a total audience of 45,000 at Seoul Olympic Sta

March 14, 2022

BTS' Seoul concert scores more than $32m at global box office: report

The second of K-pop supergroup BTS's three concerts in Seoul has raked in more than $32 million from movie theaters across the world, where fans in different countries were able to watch it live, according to a report by a US entertainment magazine. "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage - Seoul" was held Saturday as one of the septet's first shows before a live audience in its home country since 2019 and accumulated $32.6 million from 3,711 theaters in 75 countries around the world, Variet

March 14, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Jay Park happy with IU collaboration

    Jay Park discussed his new digital single “Ganadara,” which features IU.   　 This is the first time the two musicians have teamed up, with the single having come out Friday.   　 “She said ‘Let’s work together someday when there’s an opportunity,’ and I instantly started making the song and asked her (to collaborate),” he confided. He said she was the ultimate professional and he loved her vocal tone, describing the re

March 11, 2022

[Herald Review] Noiseless yet louder: BTS and fans brought closer through pandemic concert

Masks on at all times, no shouting, no jumping, only clapping -- never before had there been a K-pop concert with such rules, but even with these regulations in place, BTS’ Seoul concert on Thursday rocked Jamsil Olympic Stadium louder than ever. The band on Thursday kicked off the BTS Permission To Dance On Stage – Seoul concert series at the sports complex in southern Seoul, the same venue they had last held a domestic in-person concert in October 2019. Olympic Stadium was where t

March 11, 2022

Actor Kim Dong-wook makes Tving debut with mystery thriller ‘The King of Pigs’

Top movie star Kim Dong-wook will make his streaming platform debut with Tving’s upcoming series “The King of Pigs” on March 18. Kim, 38, takes on the role of Hwang Kyung-min, who was bullied in school in the past and is being investigated by police as the prime suspect in a serial murder case. Actor Kim Sung-kyu co-stars as detective Jung Jong-suk, who seeks to find the truth behind the killings. Adapted from the 90-minute animation of the same title by “Hellbound&rdq

March 11, 2022

'Squid Game' stars to present at US Critics Choice Awards

South Korean actors Lee Jung-jae, Jung Ho-yeon and Park Hae-soo of Netflix's smash hit "Squid Game" will present at this year's US Critics Choice Awards. The three were in the star-studded lineup of presenters who will take the stage at the 27th annual ceremony Monday (US time), the Critics Choice Association recently announced on its website. Among other presenters were Jimmy Kimmel and Alan Kim, an actor of the award-winning immigration film "Minari," as well as actors Kris

March 11, 2022