BTS attracts 380,000 spectators on Japanese leg of world tour

BTS drew some 380,000 spectators on the Japanese leg of the world concert tour "Love Yourself," which hit four major Japanese cities, the band's management agency said Monday.BTS wrapped up the "Love Yourself ~Japan Edition~" with the final stop at Fukuoka's Yahuoku! Dome held from Feb. 16-17, according to Big Hit Entertainment. (BTS Official Twitter)It was the final stop of BTS' tour of four Japanese cities, which kicked off at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 13 for a two-day run.Following Tokyo, the septet

Feb. 18, 2019

2PM's Nichkhun set to release first solo album

Nichkhun, a Thai-American member of boy band 2PM, will release Monday his first solo album since his debut in the band 11 years ago, his management agency said.The album "ME" has nine tracks, all composed and written in English by Nichkhun himself, according to JYP Entertainment. (JYP Entertainment)It is fronted by "Lucky Charm," a song that combines mellow melodies with Nichkhun's sweet voice. The song "carries a story about fantasy and reality. It may come more soothing if you listen on a lazy

Feb. 18, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Resistance’ an uninspiring story of inspiring heroes

It’s one thing for Jo Min-ho to direct a steaming pile of you-know-what like “A Million” and call it a “thriller.” But when you take a tale of Yu Gwan-sun -- one of the most-recognized independence fighters in Korea, yet whose story has not appeared in many films -- and butcher it like this, it is just unforgiveable.“A Resistance,” the movie about the heroic 16-year-old who died while fighting against Japan’s colonization of Korea, was one that had so much potential and one that I prayed would b

Feb. 17, 2019

BIGBANG's Seungri apologizes over club scandal

K-pop boy band BIGBANG's Seungri went ahead with a planned concert in Seoul on Saturday despite a snowballing scandal centering on a nightclub he was formerly involved in, although he apologized for his controversial stance on the club. Ahead of his solo concert at Olympic Park in southern Seoul, Seungri said he was sorry for causing "disappointment and concerns" to his fans over controversies surrounding Burning Sun, a famous club located in the bustling Gangnam Station area.  (YG Entertainment

Feb. 17, 2019

Park Bom returns to K-pop stage in March

Park Bom, formerly of the now-disbanded 2NE1, is reportedly set to return to the K-pop scene in March. According to a report from the Star News on Friday, Park will release her new song in March, and is working on a new album. (Park Bom`s Instagram)Park’s upcoming release would be her first in eight years, following her digital single “Don’t Cry” released in April 2011. She debuted as a solo artist with the hit solo album “You and I” in 2009.Park Bom left YG Entertainment after 2NE1 disbanded in

Feb. 15, 2019

Momoland's Daisy admits to romantic relationship with iKon's Yun-hyeong

Daisy, a member of K-pop girl band Momoland, admitted Thursday that she is dating Song Yun-hyeong, a member of boy group iKon.An official from Momoland's management agency, MLD Entertainment, told Yonhap News Agency "the two have been in a dating relationship with mutual affection for three months," confirming a media report that the two started dating three or four months earlier. (YG Entertainment / MLD Entertainment)YG Entertainment, the music label for iKon, however, played down the report,

Feb. 14, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Extreme Job (Korea)Opened Jan. 23ComedyDirected by Lee Byeong-heonA team of narcotics detectives goes undercover at a fried chicken joint to stake out an organized crime gang. When they learn the restaurant is going out of business, they decide to acquire the place and run it themselves. Things take an unexpected turn when their chicken recipe suddenly transforms the rundown joint into the hottest eatery in town. Innocent Witness(Korea) Opened Feb.13DramaDirected by Lee HanSun-ho (Jung Woo-sung)

Feb. 14, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Savaha’ has clever buildup, relevant message, insufficient payoff

In only his second feature-length film, director Jang Jae-hyun cleverly builds up suspense while mixing it up with mystery and a message about religion in “Savaha: The Sixth Finger.” But it takes a U-turn toward the end, which I thought was a strange move.While it is not a bad film, I did not think the payoff was satisfying at the end of such a heart-pumping journey.The film starts with the backstory of Geum-hwa (Lee Jae-in) who was born with a twin sister she, and every member of the family, th

Feb. 14, 2019

Re-creating Haydn’s ‘Creation’ with stunning visual effects

A stage production of Haydn’s 1798 oratorio “The Creation” by La Fura dels Baus, an experimental theater group from Spain, will have its Korean premiere at the Art Center Incheon on March 1 and 2 at 5 p.m. The production will kick off the center’s 2019 season. The Barcelona-based theater troupe is known for its innovative performances that mix modern technology with classical music.  Haydn’s “The Creation” by La Fura dels Baus (Art Center Incheon) Art Center Incheon (Art Center Incheon)For Haydn

Feb. 14, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Creed 2,’ recipe for a classic

What sets a classic apart from a cliche? Both involve a deep sense of deja vu, a time-tested formula, yet the former is like wine that ripens with age while the latter feels repetitive and irrelevant.This is the case with Steven Caple Jr.’s “Creed 2,” which has no real surprises around the corner but manages to create a drama that tugs at the heartstrings with the classic narrative of the “Rocky” franchise.The film begins a few years after the action in “Creed,” with Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jor

Feb. 13, 2019

BTS album charts on Billboard 200 for 24th week in row

K-pop sensation BTS' latest album has remained on the Billboard main album chart for the sixth month in a row, chart results showed Wednesday."Love Yourself: Answer," the finale of BTS' "Love Yourself" trilogy, came to 91st for the week of Feb. 16, the album's 24th week on the chart since it landed atop it in early September.  (Yonhap)It ranked 77th a week earlier.The trilogy monopolized the Billboard World Albums chart, with "Answer" topping the list, while two others -- "Love Yourself: Her" an

Feb. 13, 2019

When Polish pianist meets Korean violinist

Polish pianist Rafal Blechacz and Korean violinist Kim Bomsori are to set off on a worldwide tour with a recently released album. 　The album, released under the Deutsche Grammophon label in January, has a French and Polish flair. The track list includes Faure’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Debussy’s Violin Sonata in G Minor, Szymanowski’s Violin Sonata in D Minor and Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C Sharp Minor, arranged by Nathan Milstein. 　 Violinist Kim Bomsori (left) and pianist Rafal Blecha

Feb. 12, 2019

BLACKPINK debuts on American TV with CBS talk show appearance

Sensational K-pop girl band BLACKPINK has debuted on US television, performing live on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," the band's management agency said Tuesday.The four-piece girl band staged live their latest, wildly successful song, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" on the late night CBS show on Monday (US time) at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.(YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk Instagram @fromyg)The show host introduced the girl band as "a wildly popular K-pop group who announced their first

Feb. 12, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘I have fans in their 20s now’: ‘SKY Castle’ star Yum Jung-ah

JTBC hit show “SKY Castle” came to an end earlier this month, but the buzz around the show lingers on, as impressed viewers and late-comers continue to discuss the series online, amid a torrent of tweets, TV commercials and comedy skits. At the center of the discussion is Yum Jung-ah, who plays the disciplinarian mother Han Seo-jin. She takes strict parenting and education craze to a level not seen on Korean TV before, but as extreme as she may be, her character proved to be a ratings success.“I

Feb. 11, 2019

From Sibelius to Brahms, upcoming violin performances in Seoul

Two different concerts highlighting the violin will take place in the next two weeks -- a chamber orchestra concert and a recital by a seasoned duo. Violinist Yang In-mo will take the stage Thursday and Friday with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center. He will perform Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor, the only violin concerto piece written by the musician, one of the greatest composers from northern Europe.  Violinist Yang In-mo (Yonhap)In 2015, Yang, 24, became the

Feb. 11, 2019

Crime drama to delve into Janus-faced ‘Money’

Finance is one of the most crucial elements of today’s capitalist society -- it can mean salvation for some and suffering for others. The upcoming film “Money” will look into this paradox.“Money is a very simple and basic word that has a different meaning for everyone. ... Each person has a different philosophy about it, and their way of life is affected by how they perceive it,” said Park Noo-ri on her directorial debut. “(Money) is the main subject matter of the film, while simultaneously the

Feb. 11, 2019

BTS makes historic Grammys debut

BTS appeared at the Grammy Awards for the first time as award presenters and a nominee band on Sunday (Los Angeles time), a distinction no other K-pop band had achieved. The seven bandmates of BTS -- Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook -- marched to the stage of music’s biggest night as their song “Fake Love” played. They delivered the best R&B Album of the Year to H.E.R., whom BTS named as one of the artists they were excited to meet at the Grammys. (AFP-Yonhap)“Growing up in South Kor

Feb. 11, 2019

BTS' 'Fire' tops 500 mln YouTube views

The video for BTS' 2016 song "Fire" topped the YouTube milestone of 500 million views, the septet's second music video to pass that mark, its management agency said Monday.The music video of the main song off BTS' 2016 album, "The Most Beautiful Moment In Life: Young Forever," surpassed the 500 million-threshold in the early hours of Monday, according to Big Hit Entertainment. (Big Hit Entertainment)It is the boy band's second music video to surpass the YouTube mark, along with "DNA," a 2018 son

Feb. 11, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ultimate beginner’s guide to BTS

Have you recently developed a liking for the K-pop sensation BTS? Catching up with the breakneck speed of the band’s career can feel overwhelming, but you have to start somewhere. Here is a complete guide to the seven bandmates. From its advent to its meteoric rise, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about BTS. Or if you are simply wondering about the hype around the band, allow us to enlighten you about BTS’ catchy songs, heart-pumping dance moves and colorful personalities th

Feb. 11, 2019

'Music in PyeongChang’ begins with bow-breaking performance

“Music in PyeongChang - Winter Festival” has begun its 10-day run, introducing classical music to local audiences in celebration of the first anniversary of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.On Friday, the first part of the main concert series, “NOwhere: NOWhere” took place at the Seoul Arts Center to a fully packed house. One highlight from Friday’s performance was “Suite in Jazz Style” by Maxim Rysanov (viola) and Park Jong-hai (piano). Composed by Bulgaria’s Dobrinka Tabakova, the piece consist

Feb. 10, 2019