National Theater Company's 'Hamlet' delves into political drama

Three distinct interpretations of the Shakespearean tragedy "Hamlet" are coming to Korea's stages in the coming months, showing that a timeless classic can still be made new. Prince Hamlet is Princess Hamlet in the production by the National Theater Company of Korea, whereas Seensee's production directed by Sohn Jin-chaek and currently running at the Hongik Art Center turns to contemporary mise-en-scene for new inspiration. October will see yet another "Hamlet," dir

July 26, 2024

Liberation Day eve concert with Song Ga-in at Gwanghwamun

A concert titled "8.15 Seoul My Soul" will be held at Gwanghwamun Square at 7 p.m. on Aug. 14, to celebrate Liberation Day, with "queen of trot" Song Ga-in performing the finale. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is organizing the event to commemorate the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day. The concert will begin with a performance by male percussion group Tago. Also performing will be Seodo Band, who describe

July 26, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Treasure to publish magazine for debut anniversary

Treasure has put together a magazine to mark the fourth anniversary of its debut, according to label YG Entertainment Friday. The magazine will be available from Aug. 7 and include a 188-page photobook and sticker book as well as a set of photocards and a poster. A postcard bearing the message from the bandmates along with pictures drawn by them will also be part of the publication. Separately, the ten members are set to host a concert in Seoul on Aug. 15. It will be the final gig for their seco

July 26, 2024

BTS Jimin tops Spotify’s Daily Top Song Global chart for 2 days

Jimin of BTS’ “Who,” the lead track from his second solo album, “Muse,” ranked at the top of Spotify’s Daily Top Song Global chart for two consecutive days, July 23-24. Only two K-pop solo artists have topped the chart so far and both are BTS members: Jimin and Jungkook. “Who” debuted on Spotify’s Daily Top Song Global chart at No. 3 on July 19, recording the most daily streams among K-pop songs released this year. "Who" is a hip-ho

July 26, 2024

Blackpink reunites in time for 8th anniversary

All four members of the K-pop girl group Blackpink will attend the “Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] in Cinemas” red carpet event scheduled for Aug. 9 at Times Square in Seoul, according to YG Entertainment. The members will get together for the first time in 11 months on the “pink carpet” to have a photo session and share greetings with fans and reporters. Blackpink’s concert film will be released on July 31. The pink carpet event will take place a day after Blackp

July 26, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Deadpool & Wolverine” (US) Opened July 24 Action/Comedy Directed by Shawn Levy A retired Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), who lives an ordinary life as a car dealer, seeks out Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) for a superhero team-up, as he tries to maintain the existence of all the people important to him. “Despicable Me 4” (US) Opened June 24 Animation Directed by Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage Gru and Gru Jr. face their peaceful life crashing down as criminal mastermind Maxime Le

July 26, 2024

Yoo Seung-ho to make stage debut as drag queen in 190-minute 'Angels in America'

Actor Yoo Seung-ho hopes to make a bold transformation on stage with his role in the Korean production of the play "Angels in America." Yoo has been cast as Prior Walter, a gay character and drag queen, who becomes a victim of social prejudice and self-hate after being diagnosed with AIDS and is abandoned by his lover. This is a stage debut for the actor who started as a child actor in 2000 and has appeared on television dramas and films. "There wasn't a specific reason. I ju

July 25, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen to tour from October

Seventeen surprised fans with the news that it will launch an international tour in October. The band unveiled a trailer for the event after its fan meeting in Seoul on Wednesday which gave the audience a sketch of tour “Seventeen Right Here,” which will take it across Asia and the US. The tour is named after its best-of album, “17 Is Right Here,” that was rolled out in April and sold over 2.96 million copies in the first week. The album debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 5

July 25, 2024

2NE1 to reunite in concert in October

Legendary K-pop girl group 2NE1 is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a much-anticipated concert in October. 2NE1's “Welcome Back” concert will take place Oct. 5-6 at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, according to YG Entertainment. The concert comes more than a decade after the group's “All or Nothing in Seoul” concert in March 2014. 2NE1, composed of CL, Sandara Park, Park Bom and Minzy, debuted in 2009. The members were known for their bold performan

July 25, 2024

Illit’s ‘Magnetic’ is Spotify's most streamed K-pop track outside Korea in H1

K-pop girl group Illit’s song “Magnetic,” the featured track of its debut album “Super Real Me,” was Spotify's most streamed K-pop track outside of Korea in the first half of this year. Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming platform, unveiled its Global Impact List in South Korea consisting of 30 K-pop tracks that were streamed the most overseas in the first half of 2024. Illit’s “Magnetic” released on March 25 recorded 300 m

July 25, 2024

Seventeen announces world tour at fan meeting

K-pop sensation Seventeen of Pledis Entertainment concluded its eighth fan meeting with a surprise announcement of a world tour later this year. Seventeen held two editions of "2024 SVT 8th Fan Meeting (Seventeen in Carat Land)" at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event left unforgettable memories for both the fans in attendance and those from 118 countries and regions watching live. By the end on Wednesday, Seventeen released a teaser video announcing its world

July 25, 2024

What is happening at Hybe?

Hybe CEO Park Ji-won has been replaced by Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Lee Jae-sang, just three months after becoming embroiled in a dispute between Hybe and Ador CEO Min Hee-jin. The controversy began when Hybe launched an internal audit on Min over an alleged attempt at a hostile takeover of Ador on April 22 and Min held a press conference three days later to push back. Park, along with Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, were the main targets of Min, who blamed Park and Bang for failing to manage the

July 25, 2024

Dignity makes ambitious debut to ‘Cool Down’ summer

Five-member group Dignity is making an ambitious debut with “Digmotion,” its first mini album after a long hiatus following the release of its predebut song. The boy band released the predebut track “Rambo” in September 2022, but only officially debuted on Wednesday with “Digmotion.” At a press conference in Gangnam, Seoul, on Wednesday, Minseok expressed his confidence, saying, "We have prepared for a long time due to the extended break after our predebu

July 25, 2024

Ador's Min files suit against 5 Hybe officials

The feud between Hybe and Ador CEO Min Hee-jin shows no signs of abating as Min filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Hybe’s CEO Park Ji-won, Outside Director Lim Soo-hyon, Chief Legal Officer Jung Jin-soo, Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-jun and Chief Communications Officer Park Tae-hee for obstruction of business, detection of content such as electronic records and defamation. Min claims the five Hybe officers have repeatedly illegally acquired messenger conversations between individual

July 24, 2024

Blackpink’s Lisa named Louis Vuitton ambassador

Lisa of Blackpink has been named as a new house ambassador for Louis Vuitton, the luxury brand announced Tuesday. "I am very excited to welcome Lisa as a House Ambassador. She has a daring spirit and charisma that I find incredibly compelling. She is as bold and creative with her music as she is with her fashion, and it is a privilege to accompany her on this journey,” Nicolas Ghesquiere, Louis Vuitton’s artistic director of women’s collections, said in a press statement.

July 24, 2024

Hybe taps Lee Jae-sang as new CEO

Hybe has appointed its current Chief Strategy Officer Lee Jae-sang to be the new CEO, the company said Wednesday. According to the K-pop powerhouse, Lee's appointment is to be finalized following approval at the upcoming shareholders and board of directors meetings. Lee has been selected to lead the forthcoming "Hybe 2.0" strategy, with a leadership transition project underway since the beginning of the year. Lee graduated from Yonsei University and previously worked at global man

July 24, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Minho heads to Paris Olympics

Minho of SHINee will join the Paris 2024 Olympics as one of the “Olympic Friends,” said label SM Entertainment Wednesday. He and actor Lee Dong-wook were selected as the first “friends” of the sporting event and promoted the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 earlier this year. The veteran idol will attend the 33rd Olympic Games which open Friday and will root for the national team and promote the event. Separately, the singer and actor will return to TV screens as t

July 24, 2024

Source Music, Ador CEO Min locked in legal battle

Hybe subsidiary Source Music and Ador CEO Min Hee-jin are taking legal action against each other for purportedly spreading false information regarding the launch of K-pop girl group NewJeans. Source Music took to social media platform X on Tuesday to post: “Min Hee-jin’s claim that Source Music copied her (girl group) launching strategy is false.” “We did not copy the launching strategy she presented when she was the then-chief business officer at Source Music,” Sou

July 24, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Deadpool and Wolverine' is salute to Marvel fans

Fueled by fans' excitement to see two beloved superheroes together in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, "Deadpool and Wolverine" is currently the talk of the town here. Despite its R-rated status, as of Wednesday, the film achieved a 46.5 percent pre-sale rate with more than 210,000 tickets sold in advance. The pre-sale rate is nearly three times higher than that of its competitors, such as "Pilot" (18.2 percent) and "Despicable Me 4" (10.2 pe

July 24, 2024

Why are K-pop powerhouses advancing into Latin America?

JYP Entertainment announced last Thursday that it will establish a Latin America subsidiary in the third quarter of this year. The move is aimed at expanding its local business and better communicating with fans from the region. Ahead of JYP, the agency behind popular K-pop bands Twice, Stray Kids and Itzy, was Hybe, the powerhouse behind BTS, Seventeen and NewJeans. Hybe established a foothold in the Latin market with the opening of a Mexico-based business unit in November last year. The compan

July 24, 2024