BTS to dazzle fans with series of US shows next week

K-pop super band BTS will dazzle the world music scene with a series of high-profile performances in the United Sates next week ahead of its official release of a new album. American broadcaster iHeartRadio recently announced an upcoming live show featuring the septet, heralding the band‘s full-swing return to the public eye in the run-up to the official release of a new album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” on Feb. 21.“Although fans have a lot of upcoming dates to look forwa

Jan. 25, 2020

IZ*ONE to resume music career next month

K-pop girl band IZ*ONE will return to the music scene next month, resuming its high-profile music career that was put on hold amid a vote-rigging scandal involving the band's native audition show last year. "Mnet and the management agencies of IZ*ONE members decided to resume their activities in respect of the members and their fans who wish for a career resumption," Mnet said in a statement. The music channel said the girl band will return to the music scene next month, saying the exa

Jan. 23, 2020

[Herald Interview] After first meeting as fans, this couple got married to BTS music

Tweets about BTS are easy to come by, but now a story about a same-sex ARMY couple who got married this month has gone viral.“From meeting on Twitter because of @BTS_twt to meeting in real life at the BTS concert to getting married yesterday to BTS’ instrumentals, it has been one hell of a journey,” the couple tweeted on Jan 6, which has received over 25,000 likes since.“Thank u BTS for bringing us together,” they wrote.Amber Rodriguez, 25, originally from Charlesto

Jan. 23, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Man Standing Next(Korea)Opened Jan. 22Drama, HistoryDirected by Woo Min-hoIn the 1970s, South Korea is under the authoritarian rule of President Park Chung-hee (Lee Sung-min) who relies on the Korean Central Intelligence Agency to tighten his grip on the country. The director of KCIA, Kim Gyu-pyeong (Lee Byung-hun), is seemingly the most likely second-in-command. As anti-government demonstrations threaten to shake the regime, tensions escalate in the inner sanctum of power.Spies in Disguise(

Jan. 23, 2020

YG denies rumors of G-Dragon’s concert in China

K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment on Wednesday warned fans about fake tickets for K-pop band Big Bang’s leader G-Dragon’s rumored concert in China.In an official statement, YG said it has spotted fake news about G-Dragon’s supposed concert in China on several online websites, including WeChat, a widely used social media platform in China. While G-Dragon will not perform in a concert in China, the company said that some people have received preorders for the tickets.“All i

Jan. 23, 2020

TWICE music video 'TT' hits 500m YouTube views

"TT," a 2016 music video by K-pop girl band TWICE, hit the milestone of 500 million YouTube views Thursday, the band's management agency said.The video achieved the feat Thursday morning, becoming the band's first to hit the 500 million mark, according to JYP Entertainment. It was released in October 2016 on TWICE's third EP, "TWICEcoaster: LANE1."The video initially surpassed the threshold of 300 million YouTube views in December 2017, the first K-pop song by female artists

Jan. 23, 2020

1980 Gwangju massacre focus of attention at Namsan Arts Center

The Namsan Arts Center, managed by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, released its 2020 season program Tuesday, stressing that this season’s program is about remembering the atrocities linked to the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising.The Gwangju massacre saw mass killings of civilians by the military junta led by Gen. Chun Doo-hwan in response to the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980, as the people of Gwangju called for democracy, protesting against the authoritarian regime.

Jan. 22, 2020

Starbucks’ BTS items selling out fast in Korea

Starbucks Korea’s recent collaboration with K-pop sensation BTS has made a brilliant start, with BTS-themed items flying off the shelves. The coffee chain recently teamed up with the K-pop juggernaut to roll out a limited edition of BTS food, drinks and merchandise under a new initiative to support youth in South Korea dubbed “Be the Brightest Stars.” The campaign kicked off Tuesday, and many stores had already sold out of the BTS items within a day. “This morning, w

Jan. 22, 2020

How airports become battleground for K-pop idols, photographers, fans

About 50 kilometers from central Seoul, Incheon Airport is one of the busiest air gateways anywhere in the world. While most people go to travel abroad, some have a different purpose: to see their favorite idols up close.Celebrities in Korea, especially K-pop idols, often arrive fully styled from head to toe, emerging from a van when embarking on a tour or doing promotions in another country. And as soon as they get out, the airport shoot begins as photographers hurriedly take out the cameras.So

Jan. 22, 2020

X1 fans take to street to call for another shot

Hundreds of X1 fans staged a protest outside CJ ENM’s headquarters in western Seoul on Wednesday demanding the entertainment giant bring back the disbanded pop group.“CJ ENM stop evading responsibility,” one placard read, while another said, “Create a new X1 group and fulfill your responsibility of compensation.”On Twitter, hashtags like “#BringBackNewX1” and “#CJTakeTheResponsibility” trended worldwide as part of an organized effort to creat

Jan. 22, 2020

K-pop in battle with sasaeng

K-pop stars have always been subject to stalking, and it’s not confined to making non-stop calls or following their every move. More recently, their frequent flights overseas have been targeted by stalker fans who are willing to pay for pricey first-class seats to get closer to favorite stars. V of K-pop juggernaut BTS recently shared that the group flies on a private jet to avoid obsessive fans who follow them on board. “We actually want to fly on a regular plane. But when we travel

Jan. 22, 2020

‘Time to Hunt’ starring SAG-winner Choi Woo-sik to screen at Berlin fest

Korean thriller “Time to Hunt” has been included in the Berlin International Film Festival’s screening lineup for this year, according to an announcement Tuesday. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, the event is considered one of the top three film festivals in the world, along with the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. The movie is the first Korean work to be shown in the Berlinale’s special gala section, which spotlights films of current topics and

Jan. 22, 2020

Billie Eilish to perform in Seoul in August

Chart-topping teenage pop icon Billie Eilish has announced the dates for her “Where Do We Go?” world tour in Asia.The Asian leg of her world tour will kick off in Seoul on Aug. 23, according to a poster posted on the singer’s social media account Monday. The singer will perform in six other cities -- Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, and Jakarta -- between August and September.The American singer will embark on her tour in early March, starting with shows in North Ame

Jan. 22, 2020

BTS announces beginning of new world tour in April

K-pop super band BTS announced Wednesday that a new globe-trotting concert tour, "Map of the Soul," will kick off in April in Seoul.The tour is scheduled to open with four concerts on the first leg in Seoul from April 11-12 and 18-19 at Seoul Olympic Stadium and present a total of 37 performances in 17 cities across the globe in its first phase, according to Big Hit Entertainment, the management agency of BTS.The lineup of destinations includes the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain

Jan. 22, 2020

Why Chen’s engagement is dividing EXO fans

A score of protesters took to the street in Gangnam on Sunday afternoon demanding that K-pop singer Chen leave EXO, the band he’s been part of for over eight years.One female protester said she feels betrayed by the 27-year-old singer for announcing his engagement and his fiancee’s pregnancy without even a “sorry” in a letter last week.“He’s pursuing his happiness at the expense of other people’s dreams, youth and passion,” she said while protestin

Jan. 21, 2020

Korean stage actors make way to Broadway, West End

Like the rest of the global entertainment industry, the musical theater scene has been paying attention to the issue of racial diversity. Backed by the movement, more Korean stage actors are making their way to overseas productions, including on Broadway and West End.While the 2020 Korea Musical Awards took place Monday, stage actors who starred in overseas musical productions -- Kim So-hyang, Kim Soo-ha, Park Young-ju and Choi Eun-sil -- shared their experiences at the Musical Global Network Co

Jan. 21, 2020

[Herald Interview] Halsey says working with BTS one of best experiences in life

Halsey, the US artist who made herself known to Korean fans after featuring on K-pop sensation BTS’ hit song “Boy With Luv” last year, remembers the collaboration as one of the best experiences in her life.In an email interview conducted ahead of her Seoul concert in May, Halsey said, “I flew to Korea to film the music video for ‘Boy With Luv’ and got to spend some time there, and see how they work, how they make music video, and how dedicated they are to danc

Jan. 21, 2020

BTS tweaks K-pop marketing playbook with 'Map of the Soul: 7'

Following the smartly organized, decadelong K-pop marketing formula, boy band BTS has unexceptionally heralded its new album releases with advance teaser videos and music samples during its past seven-year career.But instead of getting advance SNS hints and teasers about the band's newest song, fans of BTS were completely left in the dark until the very moment of the official release of "Black Swan" last Friday. "Black Swan" is the first BTS single pre-released from its upcom

Jan. 21, 2020

Upset fans demand that Chen leave EXO

After Chen of K-pop boy band EXO announced his upcoming marriage, some fans took to streets in protest, labeling him a “betrayer” and calling on him to leave the group. Chen, whose real name is Kim Jong-dae, announced his marriage on Jan. 13, hinting that his wife-to-be is pregnant with his child. He posted a picture of a handwritten letter on a fan website, saying he has “a person whom he wants to spend the rest of his life with.”Chen also hinted at his girlfriend’

Jan. 20, 2020

'Parasite' invades Oscars race with stunning SAG award win

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- "Parasite" shocked the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday by landing the night's top prize, a historic win which thrusts the South Korean black comedy into Oscars contention.The critical smash hit film overcame the language barrier to win outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, the SAG equivalent of a best film Academy Award."I'm a little embarrassed feeling like we're the parasites of Hollywood now," joked actor Lee Sun-Kyun.Director Bon

Jan. 20, 2020