[Herald Interview] Gong Yoo says ‘Seobok’ is thought-provoking film about purpose of life

When actor Gong Yoo first read the script for his upcoming film “Seobok,” he felt like it was asking him a question. “I felt like it was asking me ‘So, what is the purpose of your life?’,” Gong Yoo told local reporters during a joint media interview Tuesday via Zoom. “I could not give an answer to that question. This experience stunned and interested me.” He explained that he decided to perform for “Seobok” because it was not only wri

April 14, 2021

K-pop girl group ITZY set to release EP 'Guess Who' this month

K-pop girl group ITZY is ready to come back with its fourth EP, "Guess Who," later this month, its agency said Wednesday. The album, due out on April 30, includes main track "In the Morning" produced by their label founder and K-pop guru Park Jin-young, according to JYP Entertainment. The six-track EP also includes songs by songwriters who have collaborated with top-notch K-pop acts BTS, TWICE and IU like KASS, danke and earattack, it added. ITZY, consisting of Yeji, Ryuji

April 14, 2021

[Herald Interview] Why K-pop juggernaut Hybe invested millions into AI sound startup Supertone

In February, Hybe, the new name for megahit K-pop group BTS’ label Big Hit Entertainment, invested a hefty 4 billion won ($3.6 million) in artificial intelligence sound company Supertone. One of the first major moves taken by the K-pop powerhouse since going public in October 2020, the investment shed light on the new possibilities that AI has opened up. Supertone’s technology is about creating hyper-realistic voice that can sing. Simply put, Supertone’s system clones and syn

April 14, 2021

BTS enters Billboard Hot 100 with new Japanese single

K-pop dynamo BTS has done it again. After making it on the Billboard's main singles chart with its Korean and English songs, the group landed its new Japanese single on the Hot 100. "Film Out," the seven-piece act's Japanese single released on April 2, ranked No. 81 on the Hot 100 chart Billboard announced on Tuesday (US time). The song also topped the Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart and ranked No. 3 and No. 5 on the Billboard Global Excl. US and Billboard Global 200 charts, res

April 14, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Kang Daniel compares new album to diary

Kang Daniel talked about his third EP, “Yellow,” at a media conference held in southern Seoul on Tuesday. 　 It had only been two months since his single “Paranoia,” and he explained that the EP had been completed first but was so strong that he’d decided to put out the single first. 　 “(The EP) has been in the planning for a long time and is like a diary that holds things I’ve been wanting to say,” he said. 　 “Yellow” is the third a

April 13, 2021

Hit romance film director returns with sci-fi flick about first human clone ‘Seobok’

Director Lee Yong-joo, who is known for “Architecture 101,” a hit romance film that came out in 2012, has returned with a science fiction film about the first human clone “Seobok.” “I changed the genre of movie that I make, and this was not done on purpose,” Lee said during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul. “My first film was the horror film ‘Living Death,’ and it was about human fears. After that, I have always wante

April 13, 2021

Osmo Vanska’s 2021 SPO season to begin with Sibelius

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director, Osmo Vanska, will deliver his first performance of the 2021 season Thursday and Friday at the Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul. At this week’s performances, the orchestra will present Bartok’s “Dance Suite,” Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39, and Eotvos’ “Speaking Drums” for percussion solo and orchestra, featuring percussionist Bak Hye-ji, under the baton of Vanska. After p

April 13, 2021

[Newsmaker] Korean entertainment companies wary of Chinese money

The entertainment industry is on high alert for Chinese money in South Korean dramas after the SBS historical drama “Joseon Exorcist” was canceled after just two episodes last month. One of the criticisms leveled at “Joseon Exorcist” was that Chinese foods -- such as moon cakes and Chinese-style dumplings -- as well as Chinese-style sets and props were used in the drama, which was set in Korea’s Joseon Kingdom. Although the drama was made with 100 percent Korean

April 13, 2021

[Newsmaker] 'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho to present at upcoming Oscars

Bong Joon-ho, the Oscar-winning director of South Korean black comedy "Parasite," will be part of a 15-member "ensemble cast" that will present at the Academy Awards later this month. Bong, who directed the 2019 film that fetched four Oscars, including best picture and best director, will join former winners and nominees to present at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony slated for April 25 (US time). The list of the first round of presenters, released on the Academy of Motion

April 13, 2021

BLACKPINK amasses 60m subscribers on YouTube: agency

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK now has more than 60 million subscribers around the world following its YouTube channel, the biggest account based in South Korea and the second largest among global artists, the band's agency said Tuesday. The number of subscribers for the four-piece act's YouTube channel passed the milestone at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, with cumulative views hitting more than 17 billion, according to YG Entertainment. The group's most-watched videos include the 2018 release "D

April 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream to drop 1st LP in May

NCT Dream will return with its first studio album titled “Hot Sauce” on May 10, its label SM Entertainment announced Monday. 　 The album will consist of ten tracks and will span multiple genres. 　 The subunit of NCT originally debuted as a group of teenagers -- Mark, Renjun, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung. Mark left the team when he turned 20 in 2018, but SM Entertainment has since changed the group’s age requirement, and he will return for the LP. It will be the singer&

April 12, 2021

‘Snowdrop’ Cheong Wa Dae petition gets 200,000-plus signatures

An online petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website demanding a halt to the production of the upcoming JTBC drama “Snowdrop” awaits an official response from the presidential office, having gathered more than 200,000 petitioners as of Monday. The Cheong Wa Dae website states that a Cheong Wa Dae representative will respond to any online petition signed by more than 200,000 people within 30 days of its posting. As of 2 p.m. on Monday, 205,812 people had signed the petition. “Sno

April 12, 2021

[Newsmaker] Youn Yuh-jung bags another trophy at BAFTAs

In the film “Minari,” Korean grandmother Soon-ja, played by Youn Yuh-jung, arrives in the US with her luggage packed with seeds for Korean vegetables and other home goods for her daughter. Youn’s own bag has been overflowing with trophies from the US for her acting in “Minari” alone, and on Monday, she added another feather to her cap with one from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. At the BAFTA ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Yo

April 12, 2021

BLACKPINK's Rose sets 2 Guinness World Records with solo release

Rose, the main vocalist of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has set two Guinness World Records (GWR) titles with her recent debut solo release. The singer, who debuted as a member of the four-piece group in 2016, released her first solo EP "R," featuring songs "On the Ground" and "Gone," in March. "On the Ground," the Korean-New Zealand singer's debut main track, was certified as the most-watched YouTube music video in its first 24 hours of release by a solo

April 12, 2021

BTS to stream concerts in weekend Bang Bang Con event

Global K-pop dynamite BTS is set to hold "Bang Bang Con 21," the latest in a series of streaming events for fans amid the ongoing pandemic, its management agency said Monday. The online event will be streamed on the seven-piece act's official YouTube channel Bangtan TV starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, according to Big Hit Music. The show will include clips of past concerts and fan events, including "2015 BTS Live Trilogy: Episode 1. BTS Begins," "BTS 5th Muster [Magic S

April 12, 2021

Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month

South Korean all-female group Mamamoo will perform for an online K-pop show series to be launched by a British music streaming service next month, its management agency said Monday. The quartet will hold a special online concert of their hit songs and also share behind-the-scenes moments on LIVENow's K-pop series on May 1, according to RBW. The show, titled "LIVENow K-pop Presents Mamamoo," will be streamed worldwide at different times according to regional time zones to reach more v

April 12, 2021

'MIC Drop' becomes 5th BTS video to top 900m views

The music video for a remix of the 2017 BTS hit "MIC Drop" has earned 900 million views on YouTube, becoming the group's fifth song to reach the milestone, its agency said Sunday. YouTube views for the "MIC Drop" remix, uploaded in November 2017, reached the milestone at around 9:21 a.m. Sunday, according to Big Hit Music. The record was reached only three days after the K-pop superstar's "Fake Love," the main track for the seven-piece act's third full album "

April 11, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS nominated for 3 iHeartRadio awards

BTS became candidates for iHeartRadio Music Awards in three categories, according to a list that became public Friday. 　 The band is one of the nominees for best duo/group of the year, alongside Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers, Dan + Shay and twenty one pilots. It is also up for two socially voted categories: best music video for “Dynamite” and best fan army for its fandom called Army. The septet was the winner for both categories last year. 　 Its choreographer Son Sungdeuk also got a n

April 9, 2021

TV Chosun’s ‘Taste of Wife’ wraps up, leaving a bad taste

The third season of TV Chosun reality show “Taste of Wife” will end earlier than planned, as actress Ham So-won and the show producers apologized Thursday for fabricating many elements of the show. The show became mired in controversy when viewers alleged that the program‘s most popular couple, Ham and her husband Jin Hua, had fabricated several scenes in the reality show that looks at the everyday lives of celebrity couples. Viewers pointed out that the luxury villa where

April 9, 2021

Video saved the K-pop stars: Brave Girls reborn via YouTube

GWACHEON (AFP) -- The Brave Girls were losing courage just weeks ago, on the verge of breaking up and abandoning their dreams of K-pop stardom after years of going nowhere. Then a pseudonymous YouTuber called Viditor uploaded a compilation of them performing on South Korean army bases -- and saved their careers. "Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'/I am waiting for you/Babe just only you," they chant, as wildly enthusiastic uniformed conscripts dance and wave glow-sticks. It went viral

April 9, 2021