Kim Seon-ho to make film debut as planned with ‘Sad Tropics’

Actor Kim Seon-ho will remain on the cast of the upcoming film “Sad Tropics (working title),” the movie’s production company NEW said on Monday. Since the actor stepped down from the films “2 O’Clock Date” and “Dog Days” in the aftermath of a controversy surrounding his ex-girlfriend, “Sad Tropics” is the first project to keep its offer of a lead character to Kim. According to NEW, the production staff held a long discussion in makin

Nov. 1, 2021

'Eternals' hits No. 1 in presale tickets ahead of local premier

The upcoming superhero film "Eternals" is expected to smash the pandemic-hit South Korean box office, with its presale tickets outpacing those of its Marvel predecessor "Black Widow," data showed Monday. Marvel Studios' latest film to be released Wednesday had recorded 200,000 presold tickets as of 2:30 p.m., two days before its local release, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. The movie accounted for 78.8 percent of all tickets reserved at that time, overwhe

Nov. 1, 2021

BLACKPINK's 'Boombaya' tops 1.3b YouTube views

The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Boombaya" has surpassed 1.3 billion YouTube views. The video, released in August 2016, hit the milestone at 9:34 a.m. Monday, 146 days after passing the 1.2 billion mark, according to the group's management agency, YG Entertainment. "Even though four years have passed since the release of the music video, (the number of its YouTube views) has been on the steady rise," the agency said. "BLACKPINK now has its third music

Nov. 1, 2021

K-pop industry sees bigger opportunities in international market

Big-name K-pop companies saw their revenues from overseas rise sharply in the first half of the year, financial data showed Monday, as the number and influence of overseas-based fans grew to a point where they can determine the rankings of local music charts. According to data available on the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system as of Monday, Hybe, which manages BTS, Seventeen and Enhypen, saw domestic sales account for only 24.96 percent out of 456.9 billion won ($390

Nov. 1, 2021

2021 Isang Yun Competition kicks off

After a yearlong postponement, the Isang Yun Competition 2021, organized by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation, is underway with the first round of competitions taking place Monday. The annual competition, held in remembrance of the renowned Korea-born composer I-sang Yun (1917-1995), takes place at the coastal city of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, alternating among three disciplines: cello, piano and violin. This year, the competition is held for the violin discipline, fol

Oct. 31, 2021

Local movie theaters ready for ‘living with COVID’

As the South Korean government raised hopes for a gradual return to normal with their “living with COVID-19” scheme, cinemas will see many of the pandemic restrictions lifted starting Monday. From Monday, multiplex operator CGV will be offering incentives for those who have been fully vaccinated in special “vaccine-pass theaters.” “Moviegoers who have been fully vaccinated for 14 days can eat and drink in the theaters, which was strictly prohibited after the outb

Oct. 31, 2021

KBS under fire for program on beleaguered actor Kim Seon-ho

Public broadcaster KBS has come under fire for what viewers say was unnecessary programming concerning the beleaguered actor Kim Seon-ho. On Friday, “Entertainment Weekly Live,” an entertainment show covering pop culture figures and industry news, aired a segment on recent controversy surrounding the actor. The segment dealt with the question of whether the actor, whose ex-girlfriend claimed he had urged her to have an abortion only to later dump her, could be in any legal hot wat

Oct. 31, 2021

Sumi Jo to go onstage in Korea with I Musici

Celebrated Korean soprano Sumi Jo is to hold recitals in Korea in December with the renowned Italian chamber ensemble I Musici. 　 Jo, 58, one of the most beloved sopranos in Korea and in the world, is to release a new album under the title “35/70” with the Rome-based chamber group in November to celebrate the 35th anniversary of her European operatic debut. The album also marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Baroque music ensemble. The album, recorded in Rome in May

Oct. 31, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice reveals song list for upcoming LP

Twice announced the list of songs that will consist its third studio album Friday. 　 In keeping with the album title, “Formula of Love: O+T=<3,” the main track is called “Scientist,” putting a study of love into frank and upbeat lyrics. 　 The bandmates took a bigger role in making the songs: Dahyun, Nayeon and Jihyo wrote the words for “Cruel,” “Fall In Love Again,” and “Real You,” respectively while Jihyo got the credit for the me

Oct. 29, 2021

World DJ Festival returns to stage to meet fans offline

After two years of being limited to online concerts by the lingering pandemic, the World DJ Festival will return to the stage next year at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul. This year’s World DJ Festival will be held for three consecutive days starting June 4, and is expected to accommodate tens of thousands of audiences which can occupy the size of the whole stadium, BEPCTangent Creative, the festival organizer announced on Thursday. But the number of acceptable audiences is s

Oct. 29, 2021

'Squid Game' director Hwang Dong-hyuk to deliver speech at local online forum next month

"Squid Game" creator Hwang Dong-hyuk will talk about his stories behind the smash hit Netflix drama in a local online forum next month, the event's organizer said Friday. At the SBS D Forum to be held Nov. 18, Hwang will deliver a speech, titled "The Portrayals of the Times, Things We Have to Talk About," sharing his experience on his theatrical works and the social impact of the global success of "Squid Game," according to the SBS TV station. He took the helm of

Oct. 29, 2021

Jeon Somi is confident about her first full-length album ‘XOXO’

Female soloist Jeon Somi is back, unveiling her first full-length album, “XOXO,” on Friday. Ahead of the album’s release at 6 p.m., Jeon held a media showcase in Seoul, livestreamed due to the pandemic. “XOXO” comes only three months after the singer gave a preview of the album with the single “Dumb Dumb.” “I want to show my confidence with the new album. If I showed a relaxed manner with ‘Dumb Dumb,’ now I have self-confidence. I ca

Oct. 29, 2021

Korean actor Lee Byung-hun wins US award for Asian entertainer

South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has won a US entertainment award for Asian and Asian American contributions to film and television, the event organizer said Friday (Korean time). Lee was included in the list of recipients of the US Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards, along with Bela Bajaria, head of global TV at Netflix, and Destin Daniel Cretton, director of the superhero film "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" (2021). Hosted by the nonprofit organization As

Oct. 29, 2021

BTS gets three nods at American Music Awards, including Artist of The Year

K-pop superband BTS has been nominated for three categories in this year's American Music Awards, including for the top Artist of The Year prize for the first time. In the 2021 AMA nomination list released Thursday (US time), BTS was recognized in the Artist of The Year, Favorite Duo or Group and Favorite Pop Song categories. It is the first time that the Korean boy band has made the cut for Artist of The Year, the grand prize of the fan-voted AMA, one of the largest music shows in the United

Oct. 29, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Dune (US) Opened Oct. 20 Science fiction Directed by Denis Villeneuve In the year 10191, Paul Atreides (Timothy Chalamet) is born into a great destiny beyond his understanding. In his dream, he meets a strange woman from the dangerous desert planet Arrakis. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over Arrakis’ exclusive supply of precious resources that could unlock humanity’s great potential, Paul and his family receive an order to head to the planet.  Venom: Let There Be C

Oct. 29, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Park Jihoon comes out with 5th EP

Park Jihoon held a media showcase to roll out his fifth EP, “Hot & Cold,” in southern Seoul on Thursday.   　 It has been only two months since his previous EP. During that short period he has also hosted an online concert and appeared on TV shows.   　 “I can’t not be busy since there are fans who like me,” he said, thanking them and adding that they are the source of momentum for him. He said he keeps himself healthy by boxing and learning how to pla

Oct. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa sets record with solo music video

Lisa of Blackpink’s solo debut song reached over 300 million views on YouTube on Wednesday, her label YG Entertainment announced . 　 It took 48 days to reach the milestone, the shortest time for a music video released by a K-pop solo female artist. This replaces the previous record held by bandmate Jennie’s “Solo,” at 183 days. The two are the only music videos made by a K-pop female solo musician to achieve the feat so far. The video for “LaLisa” set the wor

Oct. 27, 2021

Music industry calls for more equitable social distancing guidelines

While the government on Monday unveiled a draft version of its road map for “living with COVID-19,” raising hopes of a gradual return to normal, the music industry is accusing it of bias against the sector and is calling for changes. Several music industry organizations -- the Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association, Korea Management Federation, Korean Singers Association, Recording Industry Association of Korea, Korea Music Content Association, Korea Music Copyright Associ

Oct. 27, 2021

K-pop stars set to perform at 'World K-pop Concert' next month

A two-day Korean culture festival will bring together K-pop acts like NCT Dream and aespa next month to provide comfort to people around the world who are exhausted from COVID-19, the culture ministry said Wednesday. "The K-Culture Festival - 2021 World K-pop Concert" will take place at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul, on Nov. 13-14, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The event is aimed at comforting Korean Wave f

Oct. 27, 2021

Violinist Chung Nu-rie wins 2nd prize at Paganini Competition

Violinist Chung Nu-rie, 16, came in second place at the 56th International Violin Competition Premio Paganini. According to the Korea National University of Arts on Wednesday, Chung won second prize at the latest Paganini Competition held in Genoa, Italy. He also won two other special prizes, including one for the youngest finalist and one for the best performance of a contemporary piece in the semifinal round. The competition, founded in 1954 and named after the legendary Italian violinist a

Oct. 27, 2021