E’last stages complete comeback with new single ‘Dark Dream’

The eight-piece boy band E’last returned on Wednesday as a complete group in 10 months with their single album “Dark Dream.” Member Wonjun, who had sat out during the promotional activities for the previous EP “Awake” to emcee television show “Boni, Hani,” has returned, rejoiced to be back with his bandmates. In an interview conducted ahead of their comeback, the group said via email, “E’last shines the brightest when all eight members ar

Sept. 29, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] CL drops 2nd single, “Lover Like Me"

CL unveiled the second single from her debut studio album in advance on Wednesday. 　 British singer/songwriter Anne-Marie co-wrote the song, titled “Lover Like Me,” which exudes confidence as the narrator coolly lets go of a partner who tried to cheat, saying the cheater will never meet anyone else like her. “Lover Like Me” highlights her vocals, while the previous single, “Spicy,” focused on her rapping and performance skills. 　 The first single from her u

Sept. 29, 2021

[Herald Interview] News about ‘Squid Game’ continues to surprise its creator

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the writer and director who recently made his Netflix debut with “Squid Game,” expected the bloody survival battles to make the series a hit -- but not at the international level. “I thought the series was either a hit or a complete failure. But I believed in the potential of my work and hoped the viewers would enjoy the episodes by feeling nostalgia. This was the reason why I decided to work with Netflix and put myself in a small extra challenge to knock on

Sept. 29, 2021

Ciipher welcomes love during autumn with ‘Blind’

As the days are shortening, the leaves are starting to change, people are pulling out their sweaters, and rookie boy band Ciipher is hoping to capture the mood of the season. The septet has returned with their second EP “Blind,” released Tuesday evening, a follow-up to their debut “I Like You” which dropped in March. The seven-member group said their title track, “Blind,” is a song about how a guy succeeds in confessing his love to his crush and how one cou

Sept. 28, 2021

From childhood games to iconic track suits, Netflix ‘Squid Game’ syndrome grips the world

The worldwide excitement over Netflix’s “Squid Game” is not likely to cease any time soon as even the small details of the nine-part series are fanatically enjoyed by the global audience. The mystery sci-fi thriller has reached the top spot in countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand, according to the US-based streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol. The popularity of “Squid Game&rdq

Sept. 28, 2021

[Herald Interview] CIX ready for new journey with first studio album

We know that a K-pop idol group is on the right track when they set the bar higher with every comeback. For quintet boy band CIX, the recent release of their first studio album “‘OK’ Prologue: Be OK” was more than enough to prove to the world and to themselves that they were heading the right way. One of K-pop’s up-and-coming boy bands, CIX made a splash with the 10-track album on Aug. 17, instantly placing five tracks on the top of Bugs’ real-time chart and

Sept. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key tops iTunes chart in 32 regions

Key of SHINee landed atop iTunes top albums charts in 32 regions with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” which came out Monday. 　 The EP also topped a series of charts in Japan and China as well as at home. 　 The album consists of six tracks and he wrote the lyrics for two. “Hate That ...” featuring Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation was dropped in advance last month and topped iTunes top songs charts in 11 regions. 　 The title track was performed for the first time a day

Sept. 28, 2021

Netflix's co-CEO says 'Squid Game' may become its most popular show ever

"Squid Game," Netflix's new Korean survival drama, may become the global streaming entertainment giant's most successful original content ever, its chief has said. "Squid Game will definitely be our biggest non-English language show in the world, for sure," Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, said Monday (US time) during Code 2021, an annual technology conference hosted in Beverly Hills, California, by American media company Vox Media. "It's only been out for nine days,

Sept. 28, 2021

BIFF ticket sales open

The 26th Busan International Film Festival announced that it was selling tickets online for its opening and closing films, as well as its opening and closing ceremonies, from Tuesday at 2 p.m. through Oct. 15.　 This year’s opener is South Korean buddy drama “Heaven: To the Land of Happiness,” directed by Im Sang-soo. The closing film is “Anita,” directed by Leung Longman, a biopic about Hong Kong star Anita Mui. Tickets for the festival’s other films can be

Sept. 28, 2021

Documentary reveals joys, challenges of making BTS-Coldplay collab 'My Universe'

South Korean supergroup BTS has released a heartwarming documentary about its collaboration with British rock band Coldplay for their recent single "My Universe." The 13-minute video was posted on BTS' YouTube channel Sunday, two days after the song dropped amid high anticipation from fans worldwide. The documentary opens with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin relaying a story about how the high-profile collaboration began."About 18 months ago, I got a message from somebody. They s

Sept. 28, 2021

BTS to hold first in-person concerts in 2 years with events in LA

K-pop sensation BTS will hold a series of live in-person concerts in Los Angeles in November and December after two years away from such events due to the new coronavirus, the band's label said Tuesday. "BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA" will be held at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 1 and 2, according to Big Hit Music. They will be the septet's first live in-person concerts since 2019, when the group performed in Seoul. "The time is approaching when we can dance

Sept. 28, 2021

SBS “Master in the House” shows different sides of presidential hopefuls

The race for the South Korean presidency is heating up in both the political and entertainment scene. As the upcoming presidential election is about half a year away, the presidential hopefuls are seeking to appeal with their personal sides to woo voters. Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, the current ruling party front-runner, appeared in the latest episode of SBS’ Sunday reality show “Master in the House.” “I realized there are many misunderstandings about me. I t

Sept. 27, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee’s Key drops 1st EP “Bad Love”

Key of Shinee came out with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” on Friday.   　 It has been 2 1/2 years since his previous solo album.   　 “It will be impossible to make an album that is perfect in every aspect but I am satisfied in that I’ve been able to have quite a say,” said the veteran idol. He was inspired by the combination of retro and space and the overall concept was based on that idea.   　 The title track boasts a powerful choreography all the

Sept. 27, 2021

Schiff to hold solo, four hands piano recitals in Korea

With the local performing art scene preparing for the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic, pianist Andras Schiff is to go onstage in Korea with a series of performances, from solo concerts to a four hands piano recital. Classical pianist Schiff who has received numerous awards, including Grammy and Grammophon awards, the Bartok Prize and the Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize, is to hold multiple performances in Korea in October.　 Schiff will hold a solo recital at the Seoul Arts Center in s

Sept. 27, 2021

KSO International Conducting Competition to take place in November

The final rounds of the first KSO International Conducting Competition will take place in November with the 12 finalists confirmed on Monday. The competition, launched this year by the Korean Symphony Orchestra and the Seoul Arts Center, to find and support young conductors across the world, has rounded up the 12 finalists. The final rounds are slated to be held from Nov. 10 to 14 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Some 166 contenders from 42 countries applied for the competition, a

Sept. 27, 2021

[Newsmaker] Netflix unveils 10 upcoming Korean dramas, shows after ‘Squid Game’ success

Days after “Squid Game” became the first Korean drama series to rank first on Netflix’s US top 10 TV show list, the global streaming service has unveiled its line-up of Korean programming for the upcoming months, spotlighting 10 drama series and reality shows. Netflix Korea introduced the shows during Tudum, Netflix’s global fan event, on Saturday, which was streamed on Netflix Korea’s YouTube channel. The real-time fan event was moderated by K-pop band Super J

Sept. 26, 2021

'Kill This Love' becomes second BLACKPINK video to top 1.4 billion YouTube views

The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" has exceeded 1.4 billion views on YouTube, its management agency said Sunday. The video hit the milestone at about 6 p.m. the previous day, becoming the second video from the group to do so after the 2018 hit song "Ddu-du Ddu-du," according to YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK is now the only K-pop group with more than one music video that has over 1.4 billion views. "Kill This Love" reached No. 41 of the B

Sept. 26, 2021

BTS performs from iconic Seoul gate for 'Global Citizen Live'

K-pop sensation BTS kicked off an international music festival Sunday with a performance of its hit song "Permission to Dance" from an iconic gate in Seoul. The septet opened "Global Citizen Live," a 24-hour concert featuring dozens of top artists from around the world, with a prerecorded performance filmed at night outside Sungnye Gate, South Korea's No. 1 national treasure. "Welcome to Seoul, Korea!" the band said in unison before starting the show. The seven memb

Sept. 26, 2021

Seoul International Music Fair seeks to pave way for future of K-pop

The 2021 Seoul International Music Fair (MU:CON), known as Asia’s largest music market fair, will be held online from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, MU:CON has consistently kept up with its aim to promote “K-pop Hallyu,” by establishing a network of domestic and foreign music industry stakeholders and promoting exchanges among them. Under the theme “A Decade of K-pop and the Future ahead,” MU:CON is set to broaden the scope and vision

Sept. 25, 2021

‘Squid Game’ pop-up set to close amid concerns on quarantine rules raised

A temporary replica set of Netflix original drama series “Squid Game,” installed at Itaewon Station in Yongsan, central Seoul, closed earlier than scheduled after doubts over violations of quarantine rules had been raised. In response to the growing concerns of the public, the Seoul Metro announced that it will close the operation of the set, Ogame World, on Saturday, a day earlier than the expected closing date. The set, situated on an underground common waiting at the station ope

Sept. 25, 2021