Overnight sensation or cheater? K-pop charts disputed

Shaun claims innocence amid chart-rigging allegationsAs of Sunday, Twice, Black Pink, Apink, Mamamoo, BTS and other K-pop giants had claimed leading spots on charts of most music streaming websites in Korea. But snubbing them all for the top spot at Melon, Genie and other major charts was “Way Back Home,” by far lesser-known musician Shaun.Shaun is a singer who also plays synthesizer for rock band the Koxx. He has made a name for himself since his band’s 2009 debut, but has never been considered

July 22, 2018

Seventeen showcases new album 'You Make My Day'

K-pop boy band Seventeen held a media showcase of their new album "You Make My Day" in Blue Square in central Seoul on July 16."Oh May!" fronts the new album, which has five other tracks of self-produced music.(Yonhap)The songs are an easy listen that can fuse comfortably into the summer background, according to the group. (Yonhap)

July 20, 2018

[Herald Interview] Singing and dancing in zombie apocalypse

As Korea’s biggest genre cinema display, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival has earned a reputation for the grotesque and zany alike. For zombie fans in particular, the July festival just west of Seoul is a holiday season on par with that other in October, and its 22nd iteration running through Sunday doesn’t disappoint. Catching attention among the pack is teen zombie Christmas musical comedy “Anna and the Apocalypse.” Ella Hunt stars in “Anna and the Apocalypse” (BIFAN)Despite its R

July 19, 2018

Monsta X’s Hyungwon releases single with DJ Jimmy Clash

Monsta X’s Hyungwon, who has been active as a DJ recently, released a single with DJ Jimmy Clash on Thursday. According to his agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday, the single “My Name” is an energetic electronic dance music track featuring a female vocalist.  Hyungwon of Monsta X and Jimmy Clash (Starship Entertainment)The two artists met in June as they performed together at Ultra Korea 2018, Seoul’s biggest musical festival, the agency said. Hailing from the Netherlands, Clash is an awar

July 19, 2018

BTS' upcoming album becomes Amazon best-seller on first day of preorders

K-pop superstars BTS' upcoming album, "Love Yourself: Answer," claimed the No. 1 spot in the CD category of the biggest American online retailer Amazon.com in the first day of preorders, its management agency said Thursday.Preorders for the new BTS album, set for release on Aug. 24, began Wednesday, and the album has since become the best-seller in the CD & vinyl category, according to Big Hit Entertainment and the Amazon website. (Yonhap)This marks the third time a BTS album has topped the Amaz

July 19, 2018

Coffeesmith CEO sentenced for threatening celebrity ex

The CEO of a popular coffee chain has been given a suspended jail sentence for threatening his ex-girlfriend. Seoul Central District Court said Wednesday it had sentenced Coffeesmith chief Son Tae-young, 49, to a year in prison, suspended for two years, and 120 hours of community service for threatening Kim Jung-min, 29. On July 11, 2017, Son was prosecuted without detention after the actress filed a report to the police in April 2017. Kim claimed she had been blackmailed by Son several times fo

July 18, 2018

Wiz Khalifa not sorry for controversial Korean eyes lyric

US rapper Wiz Khalifa has refused to apologize for the controversial “eyes looking Korean” lyric in his song “Hot Now” and defended himself by saying he has Korean friends.The rapper was asked about the controversy over the lyric while on the New York-based radio show “The Breakfast Club” and said, “I have Korean friends that are not offended so I don’t know these people who are saying that.”He told the critics to “chill out” and added he is “not racist” and loves Koreans. (Twitter)Khalifa’s new

July 18, 2018

Apink’s Yoon Bo-mi to be featured in hip-hop duo Mighty Mouth’s new single

K-pop act Apink’s vocalist Yoon Bo-mi will be featured in hip-hop duo Mighty Mouth’s new single. Shorry of the duo broke the news on his social media account, saying that the collaborative song with Yoon titled “Pretty Woman” will be released Friday.  Mighty Mighty Mouth and Yoon Bo-mi (Allmighty Records)Mouth and Yoon Bo-mi (Allmighty Records)“After seeking a female vocalist that fits best with our new song, we thought of her. Thanks to her, the song got much brighter,” he said.According to Mig

July 18, 2018

[Album review] Mamamoo’s new album is everything you can expect for summer

Mamamoo“Red Moon”Loen EntertainmentWhile tropical bubblegum sounds with sun-bleached lyrics have long defined “summer tunes” in K-pop, Mamamoo’s new album is nothing to be expected from such a standard: It adds more heat to the fire. But hey, it works. Like the group’s distinct vibe and character, Mamamoo’s new EP “Red Moon” is successful in that there is no single track to lose. Never forgetting the soulful vocal group’s own identity, the six tracks on the EP show what “variety” means, embracin

July 18, 2018

'On Your Wedding day' confirms Aug. 22 opening

A classic boy-meets-girl drama starring Park Bo-young and Kim Young-kwang will hit theaters next month, as producers of “On Your Wedding day” confirmed Aug. 22 as the opening date.A poster and a trailer for the romantic drama, directed by Lee Seok-geun, were released earlier in the day.The poster of “On Your Wedding Day” (Megabox)The film centers on Seung-hee -- played by Park -- who believes in true love at first sight, and Kim’s character Woo-yeon, who believes Seung-hee is “the one.” It will

July 18, 2018

S.M. Entertainment composer Yoo Young-jin booked for false license plate

S.M. Entertainment composer Yoo Young-jin, 47, was booked without detention for swapping the license plate on his motorcycle according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Wednesday.Yoo used another license plate on his imported vehicle because it had not passed environmental testing requirements in Korea. He bought the motorcycle in March and swapped the license plate with that of his other motorcycle.This finally came to light in May after a motorcycle accident in Seoul. As Yoo filed for

July 18, 2018

BTS charts on Billboard list of 200 albums for 8th week

K-pop boy band BTS' latest album "Love Yourself: Tear" charted on the key Billboard ranking of 200 popular albums for the eighth week in a row, the American music chart showed Wednesday.The 11-track album ranked 48th on the Billboard 200 chart, retaining its presence since it landed atop the competitive chart less than two weeks after its release on May 18.This week's result marks one step below the 47th place recorded last week. (Big Hit Entertainment)It was a further extension of BTS' record a

July 18, 2018

f(x)’s Amber ‘keeps in touch with’ Krystal

Amber has confirmed via social media that she has been keeping in touch with bandmate Krystal.The singer was asked by a fan via Twitter on Saturday whether she has missed Krystal, as four-piece girl group f(x) has been on hiatus for about two years.In response Amber said she talks to “that little one” every other day. (Yonhap)The Taiwanese-American singer also responded to a YouTube video the fan linked chronicling moments in their friendship.“Good song and lyrics. The story had a nice build but

July 17, 2018

BTS to return with new album on Aug. 24

After breaking records with its “Love Yourself: Tear” album in May, BTS will return with a new album on Aug. 24, according to its agency.Big Hit Entertainment said Tuesday that the upcoming album dubbed “Love Yourself: Answer” will be the last part of the act’s record-setting “Love Yourself” series, following last year’s “Love Yourself: Her” and May’s “Love Yourself: Tear” albums.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)Featuring seven new songs and the group’s previous songs, the upcoming album will depict

July 17, 2018

Tom Cruise’s ‘Top Gun’ to return to big screen in Korea

“Top Gun” fans are in for a treat, as the 1986 film starring Tom Cruise will return to the big screens in Korea.The much beloved action film will hit cinema screens again on Aug. 23, 31 years since the film premiered in South Korea, the film’s distributor Little Big Pictures said Tuesday.The surprise return of the megahit comes only a month after the release of Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” which is scheduled to be released July 25. (Little Big Pictures)Cruise’s fans will be able to

July 17, 2018

Seventeen’s new EP dominates online charts

K-pop boy band Seventeen’s new EP “You Make My Day” is dominating online music charts.The group released the EP on Monday night, and within hours, saw multiple tracks from the record chart in the top 100 on a number of charts including Bugs, Melon, Mnet and Genie Music.As of Tuesday morning, the lead single from the EP “Oh My!” was at number seven on the online streaming service Bugs, while other tracks from the EP “Holiday” and “Come to me” charted at number 39 and number 44, respectively. (Ple

July 17, 2018

[Photo News] International pop group Now United poses for the camera

International pop group Now United posed for the camera in a studio in Yongsan, Seoul, as part of the promotion for their debut album “Summer in the City” in South Korea. Now United poses in a studio in Seoul. (Yonhap)Formed by English producer Simon Fuller, the group consists of five boys and nine girls from across the world including the US, Germany, Russia, China, Finland, India, Japan, Brazil and South Korea.The 14 members were put together after taking part in the final audition in Los Ange

July 17, 2018

[Video] Despite eye-popping action, ‘Mission: Impossible’ is about the story

With the worldwide release of “Mission: Impossible -- Fallout” just around the corner, the latest installment in the spy action franchise is being hailed as the best in the series. Tom Cruise, known for doing his own stunts, keeps upping the ante as he actually flies a helicopter in a borderline-insane maneuver.Why would a Hollywood superstar constantly risk his life?“For you (the audience). To entertain you,” Cruise said, during a press conference for the film in Seoul on Monday. Tom Cruise (le

July 16, 2018

BTS on Coca-Cola cans

Coca-Cola will be releasing special packaging with the bandmates of BTS, who recently became global ambassadors of the brand.The Korean branch of the brand stated Monday that “with the hope for consumers to have a special summer with Coca-Cola, we are to release packaging of BTS members on cans.” (Yonhap)Each of the bandmates of the popular boy band can be seen posing with the beverage in one hand in a different color scheme. The special edition is planned for the summer and will be available in

July 16, 2018

Ballerina Kang Ho-hyun latest Korean addition to Paris Opera Ballet

There are now three Korean ballerinas at the Paris Opera Ballet as Kang Ho-hyun recently joined the company after a year-long training period. Founded in 1669, the Paris Opera Ballet is one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world, together with The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and the Mariinsky Ballet. Attracting numerous talented dancers from around the world, the renowned national ballet company selects only a few outstanding dancers to join its ranks. Here are three ballerinas f

July 16, 2018