Park So-dam returns as professional driver in car chase film ‘Special Cargo’

Park So-dam, one of the stars of the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” is returning to the big screen as a driver in the upcoming car chase film “Special Cargo” directed by Park Dae-min. “Special Cargo” is a crime-action film that centers around a special professional delivery driver Eun-ha (Park So-dam). She delivers anything that cannot be delivered legally. One day, Eun-ha receives a mission to deliver a young boy Seo-won (Jung Hyeon-jun) that a criminal group is

Jan. 3, 2022

‘Girls Planet 999’ project group Kep1er makes big ‘First Impression’

Multinational girl group Kepler, stylized as Kep1er, made a splash debut with EP “First Impression” on Monday. Comprising nine members from Korea, China and Japan, the group consists of the final winners of Mnet’s idol competition program “Girls Planet 999.” The show was aired between August-October 2021. A project group launched under Swing Entertainment, Kep1er is set to stay active for 2 1/2 years before disbanding. The group conducted an online media showcase

Jan. 3, 2022

P1Harmony ready to make 2022 their year with ‘Do It Like This’

Boy band P1Harmony opened the door to a January music craze with their 3rd LP, “Disharmony: Find Out,” released Monday evening, returning in nearly eight months since their previous release. In a press conference on Monday, the band said “Find Out” is a follow-up to their previous album – “Disharmony: Stand Out” and “Disharmony: Break Out,” released in 2020 and last April, respectively, and is the last series of its “Disharmony”

Jan. 3, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Kep1er debuts with 1m followers on TikTok

Girl group Kep1er hosted an online showcase to signal its debut Monday.   　 The nine members of the band were chosen through a competition that started with 99 candidates from China, Japan and Korea. The program wrapped up in October and the band was originally set to debut last month, but that was postponed as two members tested positive for COVID-19 while preparing.   　 “I’m so excited and happy that I am making a debut that I’ve been only dreaming about,” gu

Jan. 3, 2022

Despite recovery, performing arts sector remains cautious about 2022

South Korea’s performing arts sector grew almost 80 percent in terms of revenue in 2021, despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but insiders said uncertainty still looms over the industry in 2022. In 2021, revenue from theatrical plays, musicals, classical concerts and other performances stood at 307 billion won ($258 million), jumping 78 percent from 172 billion won recorded in 2020, data from the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System showed. The recovery was backed

Jan. 3, 2022

[Herald Interview] Bae Doo-na and Gong Yoo believe ‘The Silent Sea’ mark meaningful step for Korean sci-fi genre

With the success of Korean original content on Netflix in 2021, the makers and stars of “The Silent Sea,” the streaming provider’s last Korean release of 2021, might have felt under pressure. But actors Bae Doo-na and Gong Yoo are more than satisfied with their Netflix sci-fi mystery and hope the project can lead to the development of the genre in Korea. “I am well aware of the different opinions from the critics and the viewers. And I totally respect them all,”

Jan. 3, 2022

Rapper-songwriter B.I to be first Asian artist on Grammys’ ‘Global Spin’

Rapper-songwriter B.I will be performing in the Grammys’ digital performance series titled “Global Spin,” according to the artist’s agency IOK Co. He will be the first Asian artist to perform on the music show. “Global Spin” highlights the diversity of noteworthy music from around the world. Each episode of the biweekly performance series features performances by artists and groups and celebrates both the creators and their home countries. After receiving t

Jan. 3, 2022

BTS' Suga fully recovers from COVID-19, released from isolation

Suga of K-pop supergroup BTS has fully recovered from the new coronavirus and been released from isolation, his agency said Monday. "Suga was released from isolation at noon as he was confirmed to have fully recovered from COVID-19," Big Hit Music said on the agency's fan community platform Weverse. The rapper tested positive for the virus on Dec. 24 after returning home the previous day from Los Angeles, where the group had large-scale live concerts between late November and early D

Jan. 3, 2022

S.M. Entertainment launches digital passport membership for fans

K-pop powerhouse S.M. Entertainment has launched the Music Nation SMTown Meta-passport, a digital passport membership for fans, the company said Monday. The digital passport membership is a new version of identification issued by the entertainment firm to the “citizens” of SMTown Virtual Nation in August 2012. The new digital passport membership can be used to identify as a virtual Music Nation citizen. Music Nation SMTown was established nearly a decade ago to integrate the agenc

Jan. 3, 2022

'Spider-Man' tops 6m admissions for 1st time since pandemic

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" has surpassed a cumulative 6 million admissions for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began in South Korea, box office data said Monday. The latest Marvel superhero film attracted 705,000 people from Friday-Sunday, bringing its combined total to 6.07 million, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. It is the first time a film has reached the 6 million line since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country in January in 2020. &

Jan. 3, 2022

[Herald Review] From Seventeen to Justin Bieber, Hybe artists open new year with ‘2022 Weverse Con’

Global music powerhouse Hybe honored Korean pop legend Seo Taiji while looking ahead to the future at its year-end “2022 Weverse Con (New Era)” concert. Taking place Friday night at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, the concert was held in front of a live audience and livestreamed through the agency’s fan community platform Weverse. The lineup included artists from the multi-label music giant, including groups Seventeen, Tomorrow X Togeth

Jan. 2, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] The Boyz’ New shares 1st self-written song

   New of The Boyz put out his first self-written song “0329 from.24,” said agency IST Entertainment Friday. 　 Through the song the idol singer expressed his gratitude for the love he has received from fans and wrote a letter before the release of the song to elaborate. 　 “There have been many times I was lonely and sad but thanks to you I could be a happy 24-year-old. I made this song hoping that The B could get what little consolation whenever you are overwhelmed b

Dec. 31, 2021

Top 10 singers from ‘Tomorrow’s National Singer’ say their music sets them apart

For the top 10 contestants of TV Chosun’s K-pop audition program, “Tomorrow’s National Singer,” their range of music is what differentiates them from other outstanding singers from other audition programs. “From a folk singer to vocalist in a rock band and from a K-pop boy band to actor in a musical stage, all the members have unique charms to make an appeal to the public,” Park Jang-hyun said in an interview in Gangnam, southern Seoul, on Wednesday. “

Dec. 31, 2021

S.M. Entertainment launches streaming platform Beyond Live

K-pop powerhouse S.M. Entertainment has launched Beyond Live, an online-only streaming platform for concerts, the company said Friday. The announcement came ahead of the entertainment firm’s “SMTOWN LIVE 2022 : SMCU EXPRESS@KWANGYA,” a free online concert slated for Saturday. The online streaming platform, operated under Beyond Live Corp., was jointly created last year by South Korea’s largest web portal operator, Naver, and S.M. Entertainment. It is currently a subsidi

Dec. 31, 2021

BoA, Girls’ Generation, Red Velvet and aespa team up for ‘GOT the beat’

On Monday, K-pop powerhouse S.M. Entertainment unveiled its plans to augment its musical portfolio by launching a new seven-member female unit called “GOT the beat.” GOT the beat is the first subunit that marks the beginning of the label’s “Girls On Top” project aimed at bringing together the different voices of female artists. The new project group is a rotational unit, so fans can expect a different lineup of singers for the group’s other songs. The co

Dec. 31, 2021

BTS' J-hope donates W100m for children in need amid pandemic

J-hope, a member of K-pop superband BTS, donated 100 million won ($84,000) Friday for children suffering economic hardships amid the protracted COVID-19 pandemic, a charity group said. According to ChildFund Korea, J-hope expressed hope that his donation will be used to help children in need have a warm winter. "I was concerned for children who would be spending a cold and lonely holiday season due to economic hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic," J-hope said. The donation will be

Dec. 31, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The King’s Man (UK) Opened Dec. 22 Action Directed by Matthew Vaughn 　 In the early years of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency is formed to stand against the worst tyrants and criminal masterminds that joined hands to start a war and wipe out millions of people. Conrad (Harris Dickinson), who had witnessed World War I, hopes to join the army and fight for the country but his dad, Duke of Oxford, (Ralph Fiennes) is against the idea.  Spider-Man: No Way Home (US) Opened Dec. 15 Act

Dec. 31, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa sets record on Spotify with solo song

Lisa of Blackpink generated 300 million streams on Spotify with her solo song, “Money,” in 112 days, the shortest time for a K-pop solo musician, according to label YG Entertainment.   　 The song, which ranked No. 93 on Billboard’s Hot 100 when it came out, is from her solo debut album, “Lalisa.” It also topped iTunes’ top songs chart in 72 regions.   　 Last month, the performance video for “Money” surpassed 300 million views on YouTube

Dec. 30, 2021

[Herald Interview] Jo Gwangil blazes fast raps to express emotions in his heart

When hip-hop music made its way into the limelight in Korea, little did listeners know that the blossoming genre would become a musical staple. The east-meets-street style beats and rapping styles are leading trendsetters here and have built their own culture. And now, rapper Jo Gwangil is a new face in the hip-hop roster among a strong batch of talents.  ‘Show Me The Money 10’ as road to Damascus First launched in 2012, “Show Me The Money” is an audition program

Dec. 30, 2021

Can ‘Policeman’ be next Spider-Man in 2022?

Despite the toughened social distancing rules, Korean action film “The Policeman’s Lineage,” directed by Lee Kyu-man, is set to be released Wednesday, with hopes of becoming a hit akin to “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Marvel ‘s latest Spider-Man film, which was released Dec. 15 here, has sold more than 5 million tickets, according to box office figures released by the Korean Film Council, setting a high mark for a film since the pandemic began. The charm of Lee

Dec. 30, 2021