Despite success, BTS members say they are no different from ordinary youths

K-pop giants BTS is unquestionably one of the biggest stars in today's global entertainment, with international sell-out concerts and multiple chart-smashing records under its belt. But at heart, the seven members, all in their 20s, say they share more commonalities with an ordinary 20-something trying to get a grasp on life than meets the eye. "To be really, really frank, we still feel very unsure and unsettled as we speak. Just like that day we left the school gates for the last time on

June 8, 2020

Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jung-jae promise great chemistry in ‘Deliver Us From Evil’

Top actors Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae, who showed great chemistry in the noir film “New World” seven years ago, are teaming up again for a new action flick. Their synergy in “Deliver Us From Evil” is unlike anything viewers have seen before, they say. The two actors and the director, Hong Won-chan, held a promotional press conference Friday ahead of the film’s release in July. While the 2013 film was notable for the bromance between the two actors, this time

June 8, 2020

BTS Suga’s new song sparks global fans’ interest in traditional music

The lead track of “D-2,” released in May by Suga of K-pop sensation BTS, has sparked global fans’ interest in traditional Korean music. The title of the piece, “Daechwita,” refers to a genre of traditional Korean music that was performed at a king’s parade and other military ceremonies. The music consists mainly of wind instruments and percussion instruments. The new hip-pop track, which was created based on the traditional sound source provided by the Na

June 7, 2020

BTS, Big Hit donate $1m to Black Lives Matter movement

K-pop superstars BTS and their label-management agency Big Hit Entertainment have donated $1 million to the cause of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States, according to a company representative Sunday. "It is true that a donation of $1 million was made in the name of BTS and Big Hit towards the Black Lives Matter cause," a representative at Big Hit told Yonhap News Agency. American entertainment publication Variety first reported Saturday (local time) that the K

June 7, 2020

‘Heart Signal’ under fire for participant with assault record

Channel A reality TV show “Heart Signal” is again under fire for one of its participant’s past actions. A woman in her 20s told the media on Friday that she was awarded 2 million won ($1,660) in damages after suing one of the participants on the third season of “Heart Signal” for kicking her in the stomach at a club in January 2017. Following the report, Kim Kang-yeul posted an apology on Instagram on Friday, admitting to the attack. “It’s been

June 7, 2020

‘Parasite’ bags 5 trophies at Daejong Film Awards, including best picture

Once considered the nation’s most prestigious awards in cinema as the equivalent to the Oscars, the Daejong Film Awards went ahead Wednesday evening in a less than glamorous atmosphere, with empty seats and absent winners, including director Bong Joon-ho of the best picture-winning “Parasite.” The 56th edition of the event, also known as the Grand Bell Awards, took place with no audience for the first time since its establishment in 1962 due to the ongoing novel coronavirus s

June 6, 2020

Shin Hye-sun, Bae Jong-ok to star in ‘Innocence’

Crime-drama “Innocence,” featuring actresses Shin Hye-sun and Bae Jong-ok, is ready to hit local theaters on Wednesday. Originally slated to open in February, the film has been postponed twice due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. In the upcoming film, Shin plays a hotshot attorney from a big law firm, Jeong-in, who defends her long-estranged mother Hwa-ja, played by Bae, in a murder trial. Hwa-ja, suffering from dementia, is accused of tampering with makgeolli served to g

June 5, 2020

BTS' Jungkook releases new solo track 'Still with You'

Jungkook, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, released a new solo song titled "Still with You" on Friday. The song was uploaded on the music sharing service Soundcloud and BTS' official blog and Twitter for free download. The BTS singer produced the song along with Big Hit Entertainment's producer Pdogg, according to BTS' Twitter. Starting with the sound of rain, "Sill with You" is a ballad about never-ending love, smoothed by a jazzy melody and Jungkook's silvery voice. Th

June 5, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Intruder (Korea) Opened June 4 Mystery, Thriller Directed by Sohn Won-pyung Having lost his wife in a mysterious car accident, Seo-jin (Kim Mu-yeol) finds it difficult to overcome her death and suffers from psychological problems. One day, he receives a call that reconnects the family to his long-lost sister Yu-jin (Song Ji-hyo), who had gone missing 25 years ago. Seo-jin experiences strange changes in his family after Yu-jin comes to live with them. Oddly faithful to her parents and niece, Y

June 5, 2020

BTS expresses support for Black Lives Matter movement

K-pop superstars BTS on Thursday expressed support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States, joining the worldwide initiative in the music industry to protest against racism and violence. "We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together," the boy band wrote on its official Twitter account, with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The group's agency, Bit Hit Entertainment, said the

June 4, 2020

'Parasite’ bags 5 trophies at Daejong Film Awards, including best picture

Once considered the nation’s most prestigious awards in cinema -- equivalent to the Oscars -- the Daejong Film Awards went ahead Wednesday evening in a less than glamorous atmosphere, with empty seats and absent winners, including director Bong Joon-ho of the best picture-winning “Parasite.” The 56th edition of the event, also known as the Grand Bell Awards, took place with no audience for the first time since its establishment in 1962 due to the ongoing novel coronavirus spr

June 4, 2020

KBS vacillates on spycam suspect

KBS released an official statement on Wednesday saying it felt great responsibility for a spycam incident involving a comedian who appears on TV show “Gag Concert.” He is suspected of having installed hidden cameras in the women’s restroom inside one of its buildings. The state-run broadcaster, however, did not apologize for the incident, emphasizing that the comedian was not officially a KBS employee. “Although the suspect in the case is not a KBS employee, we feel gre

June 4, 2020

[Herald Interview] Shin Hyun-bin, the Korean actress chameleon

While it may be disappointing for some actors that their face comes across as new to viewers each time they appear on the screen, Shin Hyun-bin, who has received such comments from viewers watching tvN drama “Hospital Playlist,” takes it as a compliment. Shin, an actress who debuted 10 years ago, made herself known to the public with her role as third-year resident Jang Gyeo-wool in the recently concluded “Hospital Playlist.” “Hospital Playlist” is a 12-epis

June 4, 2020

Culture Minister shares Korea’s experience in keeping theaters open amid pandemic

Culture Minister Park Yang-woo on Wednesday evening held a videoconference with British counterpart Oliver Dowden and shared Korea’s experience with COVID-19 safety guideline compliance in performing venues. According to the ministry, the videoconference took place at the request of Britain, which sought advice and guidance related to preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially in the cultural sector. During the videoconference, Dowden asked about Korea’s experienc

June 4, 2020

'Boy With Luv' by BTS gets over 800m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop band BTS' "Boy With Luv" racked in over 800 million on YouTube, according to the band's agency Thursday. The video for the main track on the album "Map of the Soul: Persona," released in April 2019, achieved the feat earlier Thursday, Big Hit Entertainment said. Featuring US pop singer Halsey, the colorful music video pays homage to the iconic 1952 American musical film "Singin' in the Rain," highlighted by a mass cadence dance near the e

June 4, 2020

S. Korea's 'Peninsula,' 'Heaven' among Cannes' 2020 official selection

"Peninsula" by South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho and "Heaven: To The Land of Happiness" by fellow Korean director Im Sang-soo were selected among the 73rd Cannes Film Festival lineup Wednesday (local time). The two Korean films made the list of the 2020 Official Selection, consisting of 56 movies, which would have been screened had the festival not been canceled due to the new coronavirus pandemic. The organizers did not distinguish which films were picked as either for

June 4, 2020

'Parasite’ wins Best Film, Best Director at Daejong Film Awards

The Best Film prize at the 56th Grand Bell Awards -- South Korea’s major film festival, also known as Daejong Film Awards -- held at Grand Walker Hill Seoul on Wednesday went to Oscar-star “Parasite.” “It is a great honor to receive the Best Film award at the Daejong Film Awards at these difficult times,” said Kwak Sin-ae who heads the film’s production company, Barunson E&A, reading the acceptance speech on behalf of director Bong who is on long leave

June 3, 2020

Ballet Festival Korea gathers overseas-based Korean dancers for gala shows

The 10th Ballet Festival Korea is to take place June 18-28 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, introducing a wide repertoire of ballet works from classical to modern. The festival was originally scheduled to open June 10 with the Korea National Ballet’s performance of romantic ballet “Giselle.” However, the show was canceled due to the government’s decision to apply stricter quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area starting May 29, leading to the fest

June 3, 2020

'A French Woman’: about a woman who belongs nowhere

Following a sequence of surreal scenes in the film “A French Woman” by director Kim Hee-jung, the viewers will be hit by an unexpectedly realistic message especially apt in this period of the pandemic. “A French Woman” follows Mi-ra, a Korean with French citizenship, who visits her home country for the first time in a long time. Reunited with her old friends Young-eun and Sung-woo, Mi-ra travels back and forth in time, visiting moments in her past, especially those rela

June 3, 2020

SPO experiments with ‘new normal’ for COVID-19 times

The prolonged COVID-19 crisis has been pushing the performing arts scene to search for new ways to share their art, and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has found a way to perform together onstage while complying with the social distancing measures. The SPO, a Seoul City-funded orchestra, had originally planned to perform onstage with an in-person audience at the Seoul Arts Center on Friday. The plan, however was canceled due to renewed concerns about COVID-19 community spread. The orchestr

June 2, 2020