Staatskapelle Dresden to perform in Seoul, joined by Chung Myung-whun, Kim Sun-wook

Conductor Chung Myung-whun and pianist Kim Sun-wook will join the Staatskapelle Dresden during its visit to Korea in September for two concerts in Seoul. 　The orchestra’s visit to Korea is its first in four years.   The Staatskapelle Dresden will go on stage at the Sejong Center on Sept. 27, followed by another concert at the Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 29. While the Sejong Center performance will include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, the

July 31, 2019

[Trending] Massive donation to female streamer stirs up internet in Korea

A female online broadcast jockey sent the local social media abuzz with chatters about her lucky day. On Monday, she received digital currency worth 120 million won ($101,500) in donation from her fan during a live show.The streamer named Yu Hye-ji is known for her mukbang (eating show) while chatting with viewers on the Korean video-streaming platform Afreeca TV.The massive amount of money she got during a live broadcast instantly became the talk of the town, followed by a number of news media

July 31, 2019

BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' gets 1st K-pop group record of 900 m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's 2018 song "Ddu-du Ddu-du" has hit the milestone of 900 million YouTube views, becoming the first music video by a K-pop group to do so, its management agency said Wednesday.The addictive, stylish music video hit the 900 million record late Tuesday, slightly more than one year after its release in June last year, according to YG Entertainment. It makes BLACKPINK the only K-pop act that has achieved the feat so far and "Ddu-du Ddu-du&q

July 31, 2019

[Herald Review] Good intentions, poor execution make ‘The Battle: Roar to Victory’ painful to watch

Every once in a while we get what I like to call “face-palm movies”: Films with great intentions and worthy causes that are made so poorly that I end up feeling guilty for hating them. “The Battle: Roar to Victory,” a film about one of the most glorious moments in Korea’s history of fighting for independence from Japan, is one that should have sparked nationalistic pride and a sense of victory, but instead is bogged down by a number of questionable directing choices

July 30, 2019

‘Bad Guys’ reunite once again, this time on the big screen

“Unleash the mad dogs again” is the go-to phrase pushed by promoters for “Bad Guys: The movie,” as OCN’s popular picaresque crime drama “Bad Guys” is slated to be remade as a film set for a September release.Directed by Son Yong-ho, the upcoming film features many of the original cast reprising their characters, from the muscle-bound simpleton of a gangster Park Woong-cheol to Oh Gu-tak, a police official with a reputation for being relentless and ruthle

July 30, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Hotel Del Luna’ wins over viewers with spooky romance

TvN’s Saturday-Sunday drama “Hotel Del Luna” recorded its highest viewership rating over the weekend with Sunday’s episode peaking at 9.7 percent with an average viewership rating of 8.7 percent. The numbers are higher than the ratings peak for “Arthdal Chronicles,” that was shown in the same slot, which was at 7.7 percent.Initial expectations had not been too high, as the drama was scheduled to air between the second and the third part of “Arthdal Chron

July 29, 2019

Big Hit takes over music label of K-pop girl band GFriend

Big Hit Entertainment, the management agency of K-pop super band BTS, has taken over a medium-sized talent agency that is home to popular girl band GFriend, Big Hit said Monday. "Having recently completed its contract to take over shares of Source Music, Big Hit will integrate (the company) as its subsidiary," Big Hit said in a press release. "Source Music plans to retain its current management to operate with its own color and independence as a music label," it said.  T

July 29, 2019

Two productions shed light on life of anti-Japanese fighter

In time for the Aug. 15 national holiday Liberation Day, which marks the end of Japan’s occupation of Korea in 1945, two cultural productions are to greet local audiences, shedding new light on the life of an anti-Japanese hero Hong Beom-do. Sejong Center, deploying all of its seven arts troupes and their 300 members, is to re-create the last days of Hong (1868-1945) in a music-infused dramatic play, tentatively titled “Independence Fighter at Theater,” on Sept. 20-21.  &

July 28, 2019

[Newsmaker] Daesung denies association with alleged illegal business in his building

Big Bang’s Daesung on Friday apologized for the ongoing controversy surrounding his building in Gangnam, Seoul, while denying any association with an alleged illegal entertainment business at his property. News outlets reported earlier Friday that an illegal entertainment business had been operating in the Big Bang member’s building in the Nonhyeon-dong neighborhood of Gangnam. An initial report said that an illegal entertainment business -- speculated to involve prostitution --

July 26, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The King’s Letters(Korea)Opened July 24Drama, HistoryDirected by Jo Cheon-hyeonDuring the last eight years of Sejong the Great’s rule, the power to read or write was still monopolized by noblemen, as Korea did not have its own writing system, making it difficult for commoners to become literate. Sejong (Song Kang-ho) meets with Buddhist monk Sinmi (Park Hae-il) to create a writing system for the people. Lion King(US)Opened July 17Animation, Adventure, Drama　Directed by Jon Favre

July 26, 2019

Kang Daniel's 1st solo album finally unveiled to make a splash in summer music scene

Breaking out of a long legal battle with his former management agency, Kang Daniel, a pivotal member of the now-defunct boy band Wanna One, hit the summer music scene Thursday with his first solo album "Color On Me."Kang wrote the lyrics for the four out of the total five tracks in the new EP, including the main track, "What Are You Up To," with which he officially returned to the K-pop scene following a six-month hiatus.His choice of music for the much-anticipated first albu

July 26, 2019

BTS' RM, Lil Nas X team up for Seoul version of latter's Billboard-topping single

RM, the leader of K-pop boy band BTS, and American rapper Lil Nas X on Thursday released their collaboration, a Seoul version of the latter's Billboard chart-topping single. "Seoul Town Road," released through global online music stores and streaming platforms, is a remix of the American musician's song "Old Town Road," which topped Billboard's Hot 100 single chart this week for the 16th week in a row, according to BTS' management agency Big Hit Entertainment.  RM wrote

July 26, 2019

Child abuse concerns raised over money-making kid YouTubers

The parents of a child YouTuber, who had garnered enough money to buy a 9.5 billion won ($8.06 million) building, are receiving criticism from the public related to child abuse concerns raised in the past.South Korea’s most popular YouTuber Boram received huge attention from the public after the Maeil Business Newspaper reported Tuesday that Boram Company -- the family company operating two YouTube channels featuring the 6-year-old girl -- had recently purchased a building in one of Seoul&

July 25, 2019

‘My Name Is Kim Bok-dong’ tells tale of comfort women, champion of human rights

In January, human rights activist Kim Bok-dong passed away just shy of 93.With her death, all but 21 identified Korean women who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese during World War II -- euphemistically called comfort women -- had passed away. At the same time, the prospect of Japan’s Shinzo Abe administration formally apologizing for the country’s past sins grow ever dimmer. Upcoming documentary “My Name Is Kim Bok-dong” focuses on Kim’s life and struggles

July 25, 2019

‘Special Labor Inspector, Mr. Jo,’ ‘To Jenny’ nominated for 2019 Seoul International Drama Awards

Two Korean dramas are among finalists competing for the 14th Seoul International Drama Awards. The organizing committee of the awards announced a list of 28 television dramas from Korea and abroad selected as finalists for this year, at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul on Thursday.Two Korean productions, comedy drama “Special Labor Inspector, Mr. Jo” and music drama “To Jenny,” were chosen as contenders for the best drama award. Korean director Park Chan-wook&

July 25, 2019

Why Don’t We to hold Seoul concert in November

US boy band Why Don’t We will hold its first standalone concert in Korea in November, the show’s local promoters said Wednesday.According to Live Nation Korea, “Why Don’t We – 8 Letters Tour” will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul. It marks the second time the band is performing in Korea.Comprising members Zach Herron, Jack Avery, Daniel Seavey, Corbyn Besson and Jonah Marais, the band was launched in September 2016 and

July 24, 2019

BTS' recent home concerts created economic effect worth nearly 500 b won: report

K-pop boy band BTS' fan meetings and concerts in South Korea last month created an economic effect worth nearly 500 billion won ($424.2 million), an academic report showed Wednesday.According to the report by a research team led by Pyun Ju-hyun, a business professor at Seoul's Korea University, BTS spawned a total of 481.3 billion won in direct and indirect economic effect with its "BTS 5th Muster [Magic Shop]" performances held in Busan on June 15-16 and in Seoul on June 22-23. The tw

July 24, 2019

BTS nominated in 4 categories of MTV 2019 Video Music Awards

K-pop boy band BTS has been nominated for American TV channel MTV's 2019 Video Music Awards in four award categories, the TV channel's website showed Wednesday."Boy With Luv," BTS' latest single featuring Halsey, is competing in the best collaboration category for the fan-voted music awards whose final awards ceremony is set for Aug. 26 at New Jersey's Prudential Center.  The main track of "Map of the Soul: Persona" is also competing in three other categories: Best K-pop

July 24, 2019

[Herald Review] Hopes of cinematic universe may be too ambitious for ‘Divine Fury’

A cinematic universe is not something that has earnestly been tried in the Korean film industry, which makes Jason Kim’s attempt to start one via an occult film border on risky. Occult-themed flicks have rarely been major hits at the box office here.So how does “The Divine Fury” – the supposed “Iron Man” of the crudely named “Holy Universe” -- measure up? While it has some good elements and can be fun from time to time, the unoriginal plot and conc

July 23, 2019

Trouble-ridden Jisan festival canceled 3 days before opening

The 2019 Jisan Rock Festival was officially canceled Tuesday, as the ambitious attempt to revive the festival came to a sudden and screeching halt, much to the anger and confusion of fans.D2 Global Company, the organizer for the festival, said on its homepage earlier in the day that it had called off the event.“2019 Jisan Rock Festival was to be held for three days at Jisan Forest Resort on July 26-28, but we decided to cancel the event as it was not possible to hold the concerts,” t

July 23, 2019