‘Baby Shark Dance’ becomes most viewed video on YouTube

The English version of the “Baby Shark Dance” video became the most viewed video on YouTube, with more than 7.03 billion views as of 1:20 p.m. on Monday. The video overtook Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” on YouTube and is now the first children’s content ever to become the most viewed video on YouTube. Released in 2015, the song featured in the video is a remake of an American folk song. The video was recorded by Pinkfong, a content creator un

Nov. 2, 2020

Middle seat vacancy rule to be lifted for performance venues, cinemas when new Level-1 distancing goes into effect

Under the new five-tier social distancing system announced by the authorities on Sunday, performing arts theaters and cinemas will not be required to leave an empty seat between every audience member when Level 1 social distancing is in effect. 　 When South Korea eased the social distancing scheme to the lowest level of the three-tier system on Oct 12, major performing arts theaters and cinemas, both public and private, continued to leave an empty seat between every audience member in concern

Nov. 2, 2020

Big-name screenwriters returning to small screen with provocative melodramas

Famous TV screenwriters have been returning to small screens with sensational melodramas that have stirred up controversy over their provocative storylines but guarantee high viewership ratings. As viewers increasingly prefer binge-watching streaming services like Netflix, only a few of the new TV series have been successful this year. Local television channels, terrestrial and cable alike, are now pinning their hopes on masters of typical Korean hit melodramas -- Kim Soon-ok, Im Sung-han and M

Nov. 2, 2020

Popular MBC content to be released in HD

The worldwide hit drama “Jewel in the Palace” will be now be available in high definition, using artificial intelligence-based technology, according to broadcaster MBC on Monday. MBC announced that it has succeeded in turning standard-definition videos with a resolution of around 340,000 pixels into HD format, with a resolution of 2 million pixels, in collaboration with SK Telecom. Low resolution was one of the problems in exporting old South Korean content abroad. MBC announced t

Nov. 2, 2020

SM Entertainment's new girl group to debut on Nov. 17

SM Entertainment said Monday that aespa, the agency's first K-pop act in four years, is set to officially debut on Nov. 17. The all-female quartet will release its first single "Black Mamba" at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17, the agency said. SM Entertainment recently released the profiles of the members -- Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning -- ahead of the group's debut this month. The band's name, aespa, comes from the English words "avatar, experience and aspect," with the name me

Nov. 2, 2020

Korean movies choose Netflix over big-screen release

Highly anticipated local thriller “The Call” chose to follow the steps of crime thriller “Time to Hunt,” which skipped its theatrical release and went straight to Netflix in April. “Since many movie fans have been waiting for the release of ‘The Call,’ we considered many different options for quite a long time, and finally came up with the decision to release it on Netflix. We see that it is the best way to present our movie to a wide variety of audie

Nov. 1, 2020

Lee Je-hoon returns to big screen as witty royal tomb raider

Lee Je-hoon is returning to the big screen as a witty tomb raider in the upcoming comedy-crime “Collectors.” “Looking back at how I have been selecting my characters, I tried to choose movies with social messages or ones with a unique genre. But we all have experiences of having a truly good time after watching a movie that is not thought-provoking, don’t’ we? I do too and I’ve been wishing to do that kind of movie,” Lee said during the press conference

Oct. 31, 2020

BTS to debut new lead single 'Life Goes On' at American Music Awards

K-pop megastar BTS will debut its highly anticipated new single, called "Life Goes On," at a US music award show next month, the band's agency said Saturday. The seven-member boy band will hold a live performance at this year's American Music Awards scheduled for Nov. 22 (local time), according to Big Hit Entertainment. The upcoming new album, "BE (Deluxe Edition)," will be released next month, following February's "Map Of The Soul: 7." Other details of the lea

Oct. 31, 2020

Regulator orders 6-month suspension of cable channel MBN for accounting fraud

South Korea's telecommunications regulator on Friday ordered a six-month suspension of services for cable TV channel MBN for accounting fraud in an unprecedented heavy punishment of a broadcaster in the country. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said MBN manipulated its balance sheet in 2011 to conceal a portion of the capital raised under borrowed names of its employees. MBN's move was part of its plans to raise 300 billion won, the minimum requirement to acquire a license to operate

Oct. 30, 2020

[Herald Interview] Verivery goes beyond the barrier, makes inroads on Billboard

Verivery thanked fans for celebrating the band’s milestone Billboard debut during an interview with The Korea Herald on Tuesday. With “G.B.T.B,” the lead track on its new album “Face Us,” the seven-piece act landed atop Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart earlier that day, making inroads on the American music chart for the first time since its debut last year. “We really did not expect this. We feel numbed,” band leader Dongheon said. &

Oct. 30, 2020

Film fest in COVID-19 times: BIFF wraps up with hope

The 25th Busan International Film Festival wrapped up its 10-day run Friday with an online press conference. The acclaimed film fest kicked off Oct. 21 with “Septet: The Story of Hong Kong,” an omnibus work by seven renowned Hong Kong directors, at the Busan Cinema Center in the southern coastal city of Busan. It was a hybrid event, going both online and offline due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  “During the festival, 192 films from 68 countries were screened, gathe

Oct. 30, 2020

WINNER's Mino returns with artistic, confessional 2nd solo album

Mino, the witty rapper and lyricist of K-pop boy band WINNER, said Friday his upcoming second solo album is all about showing what kind of musician he is. Mino, whose real name is Song Min-ho, is set to drop the album "Take," in the evening, two years after he released his debut solo album "XX" that featured the chart-topping main track "Fiance" in 2018. "Although I've been active in many areas, singing is my main job. Since I'm really serious about music, I

Oct. 30, 2020

MMCA to share Jung Jae-hyung’s piano performance

Singer-songwriter and pianist Jung Jae-hyung, known for his appearances on various TV shows, will present a piano ensemble performance at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon on Friday. The MMCA’s Gwacheon venue, located south of Seoul, will release a new video titled “MMCA Live x Jung Jae-hyung” on its YouTube channel at 4 p.m. Friday as part of its MMCA Live series. The video will show Jung playing the piano against the backdrop of an outdoor ins

Oct. 30, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Samjin Company English Class (Korea) Opened Oct. 21 Drama Directed by Lee Jong-pil 　 In 1995, three women -- Lee Ja-young (Ko Ah-sung), Jung Yoo-na (E Som) and Sim Bo-ram (Park Hye-soo) -- have been working at their company for eight years. Though they’re all good at their jobs, they lack college diplomas and are constantly passed over for promotions. Then the company announces the start of an English class, promising that employees who attain scores of 600 or higher will be offered promo

Oct. 30, 2020

[Herald Interview] Are you up for 24 hours of nonstop classical music?

Only classical music can enlighten us, according to pianist-turned-producer Park Chang-soo. The veteran pianist heads The House Concert, a production company that plans small salon concerts. This weekend, classical music will run from 5 p.m. on Friday to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the recording studio Yul Haus in southern Seoul, as The House Concert presents the third edition of its “24hours Project.” “I want the audience to enjoy the essence of classical music, which forms th

Oct. 29, 2020

In a year of uncertainties, ‘The Nutcracker’ may leave you nostalgic

Though 2020 has brought unprecedented changes to the performing arts scene, including the world of ballet, “The Nutcracker” will wrap up the year as it does every year. The holiday tradition of enjoying Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece “The Nutcracker” in the Christmas season will continue despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Universal Ballet will go onstage with “The Nutcracker” Dec. 18-30 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul

Oct. 28, 2020

SM chief Lee Soo-man talks about online concerts, robots, avatars in future for K-pop

Lee Soo-man, the chief producer and founder of one of South Korea's biggest music agencies SM Entertainment, mentioned the potential of online concerts, robots and avatars in the future for the K-pop industry during a forum here Wednesday. The company, which manages K-pop megastars EXO, SHINee and NCT, was one of the first in the music industry to hold an online concert this year as the new coronavirus pandemic prompted governments to mandate social distancing and effectively blocked traditiona

Oct. 28, 2020

SBS drama ‘Delayed Justice’ sends message of hope

Actor Kwon Sang-woo returns to the small screen as a public defender in SBS’ new drama “Delayed Justice.” The Korean title for the new drama literally translates to “Fly, Stream Dragon” and is derived from a Korean idiom meaning a dragon born in a stream, similar to the expression “rags to riches.” Kwon takes on the role of Park Tae-yong, a lawyer who comes from humble origins with only a high school diploma. He partners with journalist Park Sam-soo,

Oct. 28, 2020

New car launching event, online concert mixed into virtual showcase

South Korea's largest entertainment and auto companies plan to introduce an unprecedented virtual showcase combining an online concert and a new car launching event next month, according to an announcement Wednesday. SM Entertainment and Hyundai Motor Co. said they will jointly unveil a new concept virtual showcase, titled "Beyond DRIVE," on the automaker's YouTube channel HyundaiWorldwide at 10 p.m. on Sunday (Korean time). Hyundai will announce the launching of its new compact SUV,

Oct. 28, 2020

Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum team up in film about first human clone ‘Seobok’

Actor Gong Yoo is returning to the big screen with Park Bo-gum in “Seobok,” a film about the first human clone, The upcoming film which is set to be released in December will draw the bromance between the two main characters played by Gong Yoo and Park. “The director told us to use Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise’s relationship in ‘Rain Man’ as our reference. In the movie, Seo-bok is constantly curious, seeing the real world for the first time, and Ki-hun bec

Oct. 27, 2020