[Herald Interview] Katie releases future R&B track “Echo”

Katie has released her new single “Echo,” 11 months after her first EP “Log.” On the bass-heavy up-tempo track, she sings about “having a crush, sending a signal and hoping for the same response back,” the singer explained. Born out of a songwriting session in LA with the producers behind her hit single “Remember,” the new single is future R&B made out of sad minor chords juxtaposed against rhythmic verse, complete with bouncing distorted gui

April 24, 2020

Former K-pop star Park Yoo-chun in hot water, again

Only a day after being cleared of punishment for unpaid damages by a local court, singer-turned-actor Park Yoo-chun is in hot water again, this time for his untimely meeting with a local governor. Park on Thursday issued an official explanation about his private appointment with Mayor Ahn Byung-yong of Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province, earlier that day, stating the meeting was a courtesy call. “Today’s meeting with the mayor was arranged thanks to the connection between the mayo

April 24, 2020

K-pop queens return to dazzle music scene with glamorous albums

Three high-profile female soloists will dazzle the K-pop scene this spring as it tries to recover from the coronavirus fallout, dropping powerfully charged music albums. Solar from roaring girl band Mamamoo and Ha:tfelt, better known as Park Ye-eun, from Wonder Girls raised the curtain Thursday to unveil new albums. The two-track release, "Spit it Out," is Solar's first solo release in her six-year K-pop career with Mamamoo. Solar is the last of the four Mamamoo members to official

April 24, 2020

Pianist Cho Seong-jin’s recital to be streamed on YouTube

Pianist Cho Seong-jin will share his solo recital with the global audiences online from Berlin. According to label Deutsche Grammophon, Cho’s solo recital will be held at the Meistersaal, a historic concert hall in Berlin. The recital, conducted without the actual presence of audiences, will be streamed via DG’s YouTube channel on Saturday.  The exact program has not been revealed yet, but will include works from his upcoming album, and often presented repertoires. The re

April 24, 2020

[Herald Interview] Cho Seong-jin returns as ‘Wanderer’

Pianist Cho Seong-jin, 26, is due to release a new album titled “The Wanderer” on May 8. As the fourth album to be released under the Deutsche Grammophon label, it includes Schubert’s Fantasy in C major, D, 760, known as the Wanderer Fantasy; Berg’s Piano Sonata, Op. 1; and Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor, S 178.   The central work in the album -- as is hinted in the title -- is the Wanderer Fantasy written by Franz Schubert in 1822. The piano sonata is known

April 23, 2020

Netflix partners with ‘Train to Busan’ director on new series

Global entertainment giant Netflix is teaming up with star film director Yeon Sang-ho for the serial adaptation of the webtoon “Hellbound” (working title). Netflix on Thursday announced that the upcoming series, based on an eponymous South Korean webcomic, will be helmed by Yeon, who directed the megahit zombie flick “Train to Busan” in 2016 and its sequel “Peninsula,” due out this summer. The webcomic, which currently runs on portal site Naver, is the resu

April 23, 2020

[Herald Interview] TOO hopes to spread wings with ‘Road to Kingdom’

In less than a month since it started, TOO may have become one of the busiest, must-watch rookie groups on the scene. After being created on Mnet audition program “To Be World Klass,” the 10-piece rookie group, whose name stands for “Ten Oriented Orchestra,” debuted with the “Reason for Being: Benevolence” EP and single “Magnolia” on April 1. Consisting of leader Jaeyun, Chihoon, Donggeon, Chan, Jisu, Minsu, J.You, Kyungho, Jerome and Woonggi, the

April 23, 2020

Blackpink emerges from the dark for collaboration with Lady Gaga

After weeks of speculation, Lady Gaga finally confirmed her highly anticipated collaboration with Blackpink on Thursday. The US pop star took to social media to unveil the track list for her upcoming sixth studio album, “Chromatica,” including the track “Sour Candy” with the South Korean girl group. “The collaboration came naturally as Blackpink and Lady Gaga listened to each other’s music and became fans of one another,” YG said in a statement. &ldqu

April 23, 2020

EXO’s 50 best album and solo tracks, ranked

EXO debuted in 2012 and in the next eight years they would go on to become one of the biggest boybands in the world. From electropop, EDM to hip-hop, here is a comprehensive look at the group’s backlog spanning six studio albums and six EPs as a whole as well as multiple records as soloists and units. 50. “Stay” From the get go, the song opens with a calm yet dramatic intro consisting of lingering piano riffs before the track catches speed and builds suspense. 49. &ld

April 23, 2020

Musicals, theatrical plays resume on softened social distancing

Some blockbuster musicals and theatrical plays, which have been on hold for weeks due to the novel coronavirus epidemic, have resumed onstage performances as social distancing guidelines were eased in South Korea. The musical "The Phantom of the Opera," which has been suspended since April 1 as two of its cast members were confirmed with COVID-19, will reopen its Seoul run from Thursday at Blue Square Interpark Hall in central Seoul. "We've checked health conditions of our acto

April 23, 2020

[Herald Interview] ‘The Hill of Wind,’ personal yet inclusive story

What is left to a middle-aged married woman in modern Korean society when her various titles -- mother, wife and a daughter-in-law -- are removed? Perhaps this is where the film “The Hill of Wind” starts from, director Park Suk-young told The Korea Herald during an interview held Tuesday in Seoul. “The Hill of Wind” tells the story of two women, a mother and her daughter, but it’s not a family film. The film starts with Yeong-bun, played by actress Jung Eun-kyung

April 22, 2020

Cinemas rent out theaters for events

As the number of moviegoers hit a record low number not seen in decades last month, cinemas are hosting events in which they rent out the theaters for a fraction of regular rental fees. On Monday, Megabox announced an event in which individuals can rent movie theaters for private screenings. Each of the 47 Megabox branches will have a screen set aside for the event, with each theater accommodating a maximum of 15 people at a price of 100,000 won ($81) or 10 people for the boutique suite that b

April 22, 2020

Dr. Lee, pioneer of Korean ‘Techno-trot,’ comes back

Dr. Lee, a pioneer of Korean “Techno-trot,” is making a comeback. Lee Yong-seok, also known as Monkey Magic or Epaksa, was born in 1954 and widely regarded as a leading figure concerning the fusion music genre that was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s.  While some people downplay his trot music with speedy tempo, experts have a different idea. Jeong Jae-hoon, CEO of Big Daddy Entertainment, who has arranged the comeback of Dr. Lee, said the singer added a new page to the h

April 22, 2020

Pengsoo takes No.1 spot on local music charts

Pengsoo, the popular costumed penguin character from educational TV channel EBS, took the top place on local music charts with the recently released song “This is Pengsoo.” The song, released at 9 a.m. Tuesday for local streaming charts such as Melon, Genie and Bugs, is part of Pengsoo’s first digital single album, titled “Billboard Project Vol. 1.” Pengsoo collaborated with rapper Tiger JK for the release. Hip-hop artists Bizzy, Bibi and Tiger JK all participated

April 22, 2020

Remakes of S. Korean TV shows gain popularity in US, Europe

In a reality singing competition television series on Fox, celebrities in extravagant costumes and face masks perform a cover of a famous song, while the audience and panelists who don't know the identity of the singers vote for their favorite. This is the basic format of "The Masked Singer," a US adaptation of the Korean show "King of Mask Singer" by MBC. It has gained huge popularity since its first season made its US debut in January last year. Its third season premiere

April 22, 2020

[News Focus] Conservative cable TV channels get renewed licenses – and a warning

Korea’s communications watchdog renewed the licenses for TV Chosun and Channel A, but attached the condition they maintain fairness and objectivity standards in broadcasting. The Korea Communications Commission on Monday renewed the licenses for the two general-programming cable TV channels just a day ahead of their due expiration. With the renewed licenses, Channel A, run by Dong-A Ilbo, a daily newspaper, can operate for four more years, while TV Chosun, run by Chosun Ilbo, can operat

April 21, 2020

BTS the new face of massage chair brand Bodyfriend

Global sensation boy band BTS has recently been named the new faces of Bodyfriend, the Seoul-based global wellness company that produces luxury massage chairs. Customers who rent or purchase massage chairs until May 20 will receive a poster of the band and seven signed photo cards of the individual members. The promotion is only available for domestic orders. Since the announcement of the partnership last week, the firm saw a twofold increase in sales over the weekend from the weekend before

April 21, 2020

Kim Sun-wook’s concerts canceled, Sunwoo Yekwon on track for May shows

Though the performing arts scene has been gearing up to get back into the groove as the number of COVID-19 cases drops, concerts remain canceled in April. Pianist Kim Sun-wook’s concerts with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in April have been canceled. Kim, a Beethoven specialist, was to perform with the SPO on April 24 at the Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul.   The program was to include Haydn’s Symphony No. 102 in B flat major Hob. I: 102, Beethoven’s Piano Concer

April 21, 2020

Cinemas' movie development fund contributions cut by 90%

The sums that cinemas contribute every month to a fund to support local film will be reduced by 90 percent as part of a plan to assist theaters hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday. The number of moviegoers plunged to 1.83 million in March, the lowest for the month since the Korean Film Council began compiling box office data in 2004. Currently, movie theaters are required to contribute 3 percent of their ticket sales to the Korean Film

April 21, 2020

K-pop stars open new chapter in careers with musicals

K-pop stars often make the most of their fame by venturing into a diverse range of second careers, such as acting or business. In recent years, more and more K-pop stars’ names are appearing on the cast lists of major musical productions as idols establish themselves in the highly popular musical scene. Initially, K-pop stars who landed major roles in musicals were met with hostility, as it was feared that musical actors -- actors trained specifically in the genre -- could lose out to big

April 21, 2020