Cellist Kim Hyo-jeong to hold solo recital

Cellist Kim Hyo-jeong will hold a solo recital on Aug. 13 at Ilshin Hall in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. At the 80-minute recital, Kim will perform Beethoven’s 7 variations on “Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen,” Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, Op. 47, Ligeti’s Cello Sonata and Mendelssohn’s Cello Sonata in D major, Op. 58. “The program consists of works that best express me. Except for Ligeti, the rest of the composers, Beethoven, Bruch and Mendelssohn, were all

Aug. 5, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink lands atop Oricon chart with 1st LP

Blackpink hit No. 1 on Oricon’s daily album chart with its first studio album in Japanese, YG Entertainment announced Wednesday. 　 The band’s “The Album” also topped Japan’s iTunes’ top albums chart. 　 This is the Japanese version of Blackpink’s first LP that came out in October last year in Korea, which sold over 1.3 million copies and became the first million-selling album from a K-pop female group. It also ranked No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and

Aug. 4, 2021

Snzae ends long break with ‘Born To Be Cool’

Artist Snzae is returning with a new EP, “Born To Be Cool,” after a two-year break, according to the artist’s agency Amoeba Culture on Wednesday. The company shared the album jacket images via Snzae’s official Twitter account on Tuesday, arousing fans’ curiosity about the concept of the upcoming album. Making his first appearance in hip-hop TV competition “School Rapper,” Snzae was recognized for his unique voice in his songs “Home Dance”

Aug. 4, 2021

Immersive tech locks 'Guimoon' audiences in abandoned building

For veteran actor Kim Kang-woo, playing a role in a horror movie for the first time in his 19-year career gave him mixed feelings. “Having shot ‘Guimoon: The Lightless Door,’ I feel that an actor in the horror genre is required to have the skill to cover a wide range of emotions. It was difficult, but very exciting. I don’t know why I didn’t do any horror movie earlier,” Kim said in an online interview after the film’s press preview Tuesday. The film,

Aug. 4, 2021

'Mogadishu' tops 1m admissions on 7th day of release

Homegrown actioner "Escape from Mogadishu" has topped a cumulative 1 million admissions on the seventh day of its release, becoming the first South Korean flick to achieve the feat this year, box office data showed Wednesday. The film, released on July 28, attracted 121,000 people on the previous day, bringing its combined total to 1.03 million, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, the film became the first South Korean-made title shown in 202

Aug. 4, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Astro hits iTunes No. 1 for the 1st time

Astro landed atop the iTunes top songs chart in five regions with “After Midnight,” the title track from its eighth EP “Switch On” that came out on Monday. 　 It is the first time the six-member band hit No. 1 on the chart. 　 The song also was No. 1 on the iTunes K-pop songs chart in seven regions while the EP hit No. 1 on top albums chart in five and K-pop albums chart in 20 regions. 　 Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo shared pictures taken between shooting the music video for th

Aug. 3, 2021

Yoo Teo to star in new film by A24, CJ ENM

Actor Yoo Teo is joining A24’s “Past Lives,” written by screenwriter Song Celine, US online entertainment publication Deadline reported Monday. Shooting of the film starring Yoo and Greta Lee will begin later this year with John Magaro co-starring in a key supporting role. “Past Lives” will be the first movie directed by Song, and will portray the story of a couple from childhood reuniting in South Korea, but the exact plot has not been revealed. Yoo played the

Aug. 3, 2021

Women’s sports rises as trending content in Korean TV

Female celebrities are leading a new content trend in the Korean broadcasting industry, reflecting a growing interest in women’s sports. South Korean cable network Echannel’s original series “Sporty Sisters” sparked the public‘s interest in women’s sports, starring legendary Korean athletes such as golfer Pak Se-ri, fencer Nam Hyun-hee and volleyball player Han Yoo-mi. The series shows sports stars leading a lifestyle that is not restricted to rigorous daily

Aug. 3, 2021

Boy band SHINee tops Japanese music chart with new EP

South Korean boy band SHINee topped a key music chart in Japan with its latest Japanese-language EP "Superstar," the group's agency said Tuesday. The five-track album, released on July 28, ranked No. 1 on Oricon's weekly album chart after reaching number one on the daily album chart, according to SM Entertainment. It marks the group's fourth No. 1 on the weekly chart after "I'm Your Boy," "D×D×D" and "SHINee: The Best from Now On" released be

Aug. 3, 2021

BTS reigns Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks, with 'Butter' leading for 9

South Korean superband BTS sat atop Billboard's main singles chart for the 10th consecutive week, with "Butter" leading the latest Hot 100. "'Butter' is officially No. 1 on this week's #Hot100 chart for a ninth week," Billboard said on its Twitter account on Monday (US time). The song had sat atop the main singles chart for seven consecutive weeks before giving way to a new BTS song, "Permission to Dance," and returning to the throne last week. After spending nin

Aug. 3, 2021

Astro ready to ‘switch on’ button to summer with wider musical taste

Boy band Astro welcomed the bright and sunny season of August by hopping on the summer music craze. The six-piece act returned after nearly four months with an aim to expand their musical taste and popularity with the eighth EP, “Switch On,” released Monday evening. The six-song package is a “gift by the band to themselves,” as the album talks about the group’s footprints over the past six years and the path the six bandmates aim to walk in the future, the group

Aug. 2, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Astro returns with ‘Switch On’ EP

Astro dropped its eighth EP “Switch On” Monday and hosted an online media conference to introduce its latest release to fans and local media. 　 It has been only four months since the release of the group’s second studio album “All Yours” and the bandmates said that they came back with new music quickly in response to the popularity of the album. 　 The new EP contains the past, present and future of the band who has been together for six years. 　 “We’

Aug. 2, 2021

Seoul Cinema to hold special farewell screenings

Seoul Cinema, which earlier announced its closure by the end of August, will hold a series of special farwell screenings. Free tickets will be provided for all films that are being screened from Aug. 11 to Aug. 31, the last day of its operation, on a first-come, first-served basis, the theater said Monday. On weekdays, 100 free tickets will be given out daily, while 200 free tickets will be given out on weekend days. In addition to the recently released action film “Escape From Mogadis

Aug. 2, 2021

Jeon Somi returns bold and blonde in ‘Dumb Dumb’

Soloist Jeon Somi is returning with her new single “Dumb Dumb” on Monday. The comeback follows a yearlong break since her latest release “What You Waiting For” dropped July 2020. “I’m really excited to finally go on the stage. I’ve been preparing hard, and I feel both thrilled and nervous right now,” the 20-year-old singer said in a video released to the media by her agency The Black Label on Monday. With a sparkly black dress and hair dyed bri

Aug. 2, 2021

S. Korean viewers acknowledge KBS for successful Olympic broadcast

Public broadcaster KBS has been the most-watched network in Korea so far for the Tokyo Olympics, beating the two other terrestrial network broadcasters, SBS and MBC, in the ratings. KBS1’s coverage of the Tokyo Games on Sunday recorded 17.2 percent viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. It was the highest rated Tokyo Olympics broadcast, while SBS and MBC followed with 5.4 percent and 5 percent, respectively, Sunday. With its two channels, KBS offers the most events for viewing. &ldqu

Aug. 2, 2021

Music from StarCraft to be brought to stage

Music from the beloved PC strategy game StarCraft will be brought to life through an orchestral performance later this year. According to the game music platform Flasic, “StarCraft Live Concert: Encore” will be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Sept. 29-30. The concert will feature original soundtracks from the popular PC game launched by Blizzard Entertainment, including the iconic 12th Area (Terran Theme) and more. To provide a mo

Aug. 2, 2021

K-pop act Red Velvet set to return this month with new music

Five-piece girl group Red Velvet will release a new EP in mid-August, the first new album in nearly two years, its management agency said Monday. The group's upcoming album "Queendom," which carries six tracks, will drop globally at 6 p.m. on Aug. 16, according to SM Entertainment. In line with the release, Red Velvet will host a virtual fan meet the following day. The physical album will hit shelves the same day, with preorders set to start this week. The upcoming album is the grou

Aug. 2, 2021

Homegrown action film 'Mogadishu' tops S. Korean box office over weekend

Homegrown actioner "Escape from Mogadishu" topped South Korea's weekend box office in the first week of its release, revitalizing pandemic-hit theaters, data showed Monday. The film, directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, sold more than 561,000 tickets over the Friday-Sunday period, bringing its combined total to over 788,000 since its release last Wednesday, according to data from the Korean Film Council. The big-budget tentpole starring popular actors like Kim Yun-seok and Zo In-sung is based

Aug. 2, 2021

Star stage actors to put on musical concert

Star stage actors Michael Lee and Ramin Karimloo are to go onstage together in South Korea as part of a musical theater concert. The “Michael & Ramin Concert” is slated to take place at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center, west of Seoul, Aug. 27-29. Produced by Lee, it marks the veteran stage actor’s debut as a producer. “I think there is a natural progression for actors and performers to evolve into directors and producers. For many years, I have been in this indus

Aug. 2, 2021

MBC under fire for misleading subtitles in Tokyo Games clip

Less than a week after MBC President Park Sung-jae publicly apologized for inappropriate coverage of the Tokyo Games, the broadcaster came under fire again Sunday for misleading captions on an interview with South Korean volleyball captain Kim Yeon-koung. After South Korea beat Japan in Tokyo Olympic women‘s volleyball Saturday, the broadcaster’s YouTube channel posted an interview with Kim. In the video, the reporter says, “You may not know this, but the South Korean socce

Aug. 1, 2021