Former EXO member Kris Wu detained in China on rape allegations

SHANGHAI -- Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu, a former member of the K-pop boy band EXO, has been detained in China over suspicions of rape. Police in Beijing said in a posting on the Chinese social media platform Weibo late Saturday that they took the 30-year-old, whose legal Chinese name is Wu Yi Fan, into criminal custody on rape charges after looking into allegations that he seduced and had sex with female minors multiple times. Police did not give further details on the rape charges. Th

Aug. 1, 2021

SPO to highlight Yun I-sang in August

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is to highlight the work of the iconic composer Yun I-sang in August under the baton of Music Director Osmo Vanska. The SPO will go onstage with violinist Park Sue-ye at the Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul, Aug. 26-27, for performances titled “Vanska Celebrates Isang Yun.” The program features Yun’s “Silla” Legend for Orchestra and Violin Concerto No. 3, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92. Finnish

July 31, 2021

Dreamcatcher thinks “BEcause” can defeat the scorching heat

K-pop girl group Dreamcatcher is set to release a new summer special EP, “Summer Holiday,” Friday evening. Fronted by lead track “BEcause,” the six-song package aims to alleviate music lovers’ pandemic fatigue and, most importantly, to bring the septet closer to the public, its members said during an online media showcase. 　 “We’ve prepared several songs to let InSomnias all over the world feel the summer breeze just by listening to them,” said

July 30, 2021

EPEX: A high-profile rookie band ready to make a splash

In the highly competitive K-pop scene, it’s hard for rookies to rise above the crowd and make a splash. Despite the global lockdown during the ongoing pandemic era, EPEX is off to a good start. Hailed as a super-rookie band, the eight-piece group under C9 Entertainment released its first EP, “Bipolar Pt. 1: Prelude of Anxiety,” June 8 and achieved the highest first-week sales for a debut album among newcomers this year: a total of 33,353 copies sold on the Hanteo chart. Wit

July 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Dreamcatcher ready for summer holidays

Girl group Dreamcatcher held an online media showcase Friday to promote its latest EP, “Summer Holiday.”  　 It has been six months since the band wrapped up its “Dystopia” series with “Dystopia: Road to Utopia,” and the musicians are enjoying a breather before they embark on a new narrative. 　 “We’ve prepared special new songs to let InSomnias all over the world feel cool just by listening to them,” said Gahyun, referring to the band&

July 30, 2021

Ahn Ye-eun returns with new horror song

A Korean artist is making a comeback with a horror song that will send a chill down fans’ spines this summer. Singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun released a highlight teaser of her third single, “Changgwi” on Friday, according to the artist’s agency JMG. The 21-second video, considered a short horror movie by some, shows Ahn sitting alone surrounded by mysterious shadows, creating an eerie atmosphere. “Changgwi” -- a soul from the dead bitten by a tiger -- stems

July 30, 2021

[Herald Review] Pianist Kim Sun-wook shines in conductor role

Following his debut as a conductor in January, concert pianist Kim Sun-wook took the baton once again Thursday evening. The program for Thursday’s concert with the KBS Symphony Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center included Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944 “The Great.” The Seoul Arts Center’s concert hall, which has some 2,500 seats, was only half full because of the government’s social dist

July 30, 2021

New releases to heat up August music charts

A handful of K-pop acts are vying to control domestic music charts during the sweatiest season. From rookies to heavyweights, many artists are gearing up for a spin next month. Following is a list of singers who are ready to showcase their new summer anthems that will allow music lovers to unplug from pandemic-triggered fatigue.  Astro Astro is ready to switch on the summer button with the release of its eighth EP, “Switch On.” The sextet revealed a snippet of their album

July 30, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Escape from Mogadishu (Korea) Opened July 28 Action, Drama Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan Set in 1991 Somalia, South Korean Ambassador to Somalia Han Shin-sung (Kim Yoon-seok) and National Security Planning Agency agent Kang Dae-jin (Jo In-sung) are competing against North Korean Ambassador (Heo Jun-ho) for South Korea’s membership in the United Nations. When a civil war breaks out in the African country, South and North Korean diplomats have to cooperate to escape the country together. Th

July 30, 2021

[Herald Interview] Global zombie sensation ‘Kingdom’ director hopes to quench fans’ thirst

A single 92-minute episode of historical zombie thriller “Kingdom” was not meant to be a hit, according to director Kim Seong-hun, who has headed the series since 2019. “‘Kingdom: Ashin of the North’ is more like a prequel or a stepping stone for the next season,” Kim said during an online interview with a group of reporters on Wednesday. “I was very focused on expanding the “Kingdom” universe and explaining the story of Ashin, I was glad t

July 29, 2021

[Herald Interview] ‘Escape from Mogadishu’ took burden off my shoulders: Jo In-sung

For top actor Jo In-sung, “Escape from Mogadishu” was the movie that he could enjoy filming, as the burden of playing the sole lead role was lifted off his shoulders. “In previous films, nobody told me that I should feel pressured but I felt responsible,” Jo said during an interview via Zoom with a group of reporters. “When filming a movie, there are things that the leading actors should take care of. They have to make sure that the staff is doing okay. They also

July 29, 2021

Korean contents promoted to global buyers

Korean contents are being virtually screened at “2021 K-Format Virtual Screenings in the US,” which kicked off July 26. The event is aimed at promoting Korean television programs and creative formats to international buyers, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency which organized the virtual event. Major US networks, including Warner Brothers, HBO Max and Lionsgate, as well as Hollywood producers and directors, Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca and other Latin American buyers h

July 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Girls’ Generation to appear in variety show to mark 14th debut anniversary: report

All bandmates of Girls’ Generation will appear in a variety show in time for the group’s 14th anniversary, according to media reports Wednesday. 　 It has been four years since they were seen on an entertainment program although they have been seen together on each other’s social media and YouTube channels. 　 Producers of “You Quiz on the Block,” a show hosted by veteran comedian/emcee Yoo Jae-seok, confirmed their appearance saying that they are discussing the ti

July 28, 2021

[Herald Interview] Kim Yoon-seok returns as ordinary man in ‘Escape from Mogadishu’

For veteran actor Kim Yoon-seok, the absence of a hero in the action-drama movie “Escape from Mogadishu” directed by Ryoo Seung-wan was the reason he decided to join the cast. “It is easy for war movies to have a single hero that saves everyone. This movie did not take that road,” Kim said during an interview with a group of reporters via Zoom. “Escape from Mogadishu” is based on a real-life event involving South and North Korean diplomats in Somalia who

July 28, 2021

KNO to depict ‘han’ through opera ‘Nabucco’

The Korea National Opera will present Verdi’s celebrated opera “Nabucco” at the Haeoreum Grand Theater at the National Theater of Korea from Aug. 12-15. It will be the first time for the troupe to present the full-act opera in 16 years, since the last production in 2005. The 1842 opera portrays the Babylonian invasion of Judah and the forced detention of Jews as they are exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco. The best-known number from the opera is the

July 28, 2021

BTS makes debut performance on BBC's 'Live Lounge'

South Korean superband BTS appeared on a BBC radio show on Tuesday to perform two of its biggest hits, as well as a cover of the Billboard-topping hit "I'll be Missing You." The seven-piece act sang "Dynamite" -- the group's first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard's main singles chart -- and its latest single "Permission to Dance," which topped the music chart last week, on BBC Radio 1's "Live Lounge." In addition to the group's own songs, BTS also pe

July 27, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s D.O. tops iTunes charts in 59 regions with solo debut album

The first solo album of EXO’s D.O. hit No. 1 on iTunes top albums chart in 59 regions.   　 The album came out Monday and swept all major music charts in Korea as well.   　 The eight-track album marks the debut of the veteran idol as a solo vocalist after almost 10 years of providing the main vocals of EXO.   　 It also is the first release since he returned after completing his mandatory military service in January, besides the band’s special album that came out in

July 27, 2021

Red alert for showbiz industry as confirmed COVID-19 cases escalate

While the nation hunkers down for its worst wave of the pandemic, a flare-up in COVID-19 infections among actors and film crew members have forced major drama and movie productions to cancel their schedules. “The Sound of Magic,” an original Netflix drama series based on the popular webtoon “Annarasumanara,” immediately halted operations after starring actor Ji Chang-wook and one of the staff members tested positive for the virus. An official from Netflix Korea told Th

July 27, 2021

Legends to bring back old melodies through ‘Sound Project’

Legendary Korean pop music singers from the late 20th century will go onstage for a series of concerts, hoping to encourage the diversity of the local music scene. With an aim of supporting the older adult contemporary music genre in Korea, music contents company Sound Friends is to run “Sound Project,” a series of concerts featuring big-name singers from the 1960s to 1990s such as Kim Chang-ki, An Chi-hwan, Han Young-ae, Kim Hyun-chul and more. Kim Chang-ki and An Chi-hwan were

July 27, 2021

BTS vs BTS: 'Butter' returns to top of Billboard after giving way to 'Permission to Dance'

South Korean supergroup BTS sat atop the Billboard's main singles chart for the ninth consecutive week as its hit single "Butter" returned to the throne after briefly giving way to its own latest single. "'Butter' officially returns to No. 1 on this week's #Hot100 chart for an eighth total week," Billboard said on its Twitter account Monday (US time). The song had reigned on the singles chart for seven straight weeks before giving way to the septet's latest single, "Pe

July 27, 2021