Animal rights activists call for cancellation of ‘Food Diary’

Local animal rights groups issued Friday a joint statement that called for the cancellation of the new variety show “Food Dairy,” saying that the tvN show’s take on chicken breeding distorts the reality of factory farming. In the first episode that aired Wednesday, cast members were given the task of hatching eggs. The bred chickens would later be used to make dakbokkeumtang, a spicy braised chicken dish.  Stillcut from "Food Diary" (tvN)According to the production staff, the program aims to sho

June 1, 2018

Growing up with BTS

What else is there to say about BTS’ global fame? International media have been rushing to cover the K-pop act’s coming-of-age saga and President Moon Jae-in sent a personal congratulatory message to the band on the septet becoming the first K-pop act ever to top the Billboard 200 chart with its “Love Yourself: Tear” album. Only a few days later, the group’s single “Fake Love” hit the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10. BTS debuted in 2013 as a hip-hop heavy-act with “2 Cool 4 Skool” EP under Big Hit En

June 1, 2018

Black Pink to ‘Square Up’ with new EP

Black Pink is set to release a new EP titled “Square Up” on June 15, ending the band’s yearlong hiatus.According to YG Entertainment, “Square Up” will be the third part of Black Pink’s “Square” series, following the singles “Square One” and “Square Two.” While the previous works were a single or a double-single, “Square Up” will be the band’s first EP, consisting of multiple tracks.  Black Pink (YG Entertainment)The release has been highly awaited, as agency’s head Yang Hyun-suk previously revel

June 1, 2018

NU’EST W confirms June return

NU’EST W is preparing a new album for release this month, its agency said Friday.According to Pledis Entertainment, the K-pop act is currently putting the finishing touches on the album and has decided on its lead track. It marks the first record for the boy band -- a subunit of NU’EST -- since its first EP “W,Here” in October last year.The group had a tumultuous 2017, with dramatic ups and downs. After years of obscurity since its 2012 debut, it sent one of its members, Minhyun, to the audition

June 1, 2018

Ultra Korea finalizes lineup for this year

Ultra Korea has announced the final lineup for this year’s festival, slated to take place on June 8-10 at southern Seoul.A total of 103 acts will be performing at this year’s festival to be held at Jamsil Olympic Complex in Seoul, as 81 teams of various genres from EDM to hip-hop, K-pop were added to the list earlier in the week.  A photo from Ultra Korea 2017 (Ultra Korea)Among the new names are some of the most well-known Korean musicians, including CL, Dok2, Drunken Tiger, Yoon Mi-rae and Biz

June 1, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Believer (Korea)Opened May 22Crime, ActionDirected by Lee Hae-youngInvestigator Won-ho (Cho Jin-woong) seeks to take down a massive Seoul-based drug cartel, run by the mysterious Mr. Lee, whose real name, gender and age remain hidden. In the process, he gets help from a low-level cartel member Young-rak (Ryu Jun-yeol), whose loyalty seems to waver.Deadpool 2(US)Opened May 16Action, Adventure, ComedyDirected by David Leitch After suffering the loss of his girlfriend, foul-mouthed mutant mercenary

June 1, 2018

Nine Inch Nails, Shinoda to headline Incheon Pentaport Rock Fest

American rock band Nine Inch Nails, singer Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park and several other renowned musicians will headline the 2018 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, one of South Korea's longest-running summer music festivals, organizers said Friday.The three-day rock-electronic music blowout will be held from Aug. 10 to 12 at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, also known as Pentaport Park, in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, according to the festival authority. (Official Facebook page of Incheo

June 1, 2018

Seo Kang-joon, Gong Seung-yeon to ask ‘Are You Human?’

A good-looking artificial intelligence robot is to debut on the small screen in Korea, asking what it really means to be a human. KBS2’s new drama series “Are You Human?” takes a step into the future, featuring an AI robot as a main character. The robot -- who looks like a human -- thinks and feels emotions like a human. Actor Seo Kang-joon will play two characters in the series: a young and rich troublemaker and an identical-looking AI robot. The robot is a stand-in for a comatose man and falls

May 31, 2018

Richard Yongjae O’Neill returns to Ansan with Ditto Fest

When violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill on Wednesday announced the program for the upcoming 11th Ditto Festival in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, a city some 30 kilometers from Seoul, he did so in front of an unusually sparse audience -- less than a handful of reporters.Ansan, while not the best place in terms of accessibility, holds a special place in O'Neill’s heart.”Ansan is the most familiar to me as I spent so much time here when we were filming ‘Hello?! Orchestra.’ In 2012, I was here constantly,

May 31, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Accidental Detective 2,’ pleasant mediocrity

The plot is run-of-the-mill, the jokes are standard and you could probably see the twist coming from a mile away. “The Accidental Detective 2: In Action” is by no means a stand-out masterpiece, but it is a funny little film that viewers can simply enjoy.The film is a follow-up to the 2015 comedy film “The Accidental Detective.” It follows the story of Dae-man and Tae-soo -- played by Kwon Sang-woo and Sung Dong-il -- who become full-time private detectives after the events of the last film.Takin

May 31, 2018

‘K-pop Star’ winner Katie to release debut single

Katie, the winner of the audition program “K-pop Star,” heralded the release of her first single Wednesday with teaser images on her social media accounts. Some of the images showed the singer dressed in white, while another had information on subsequent releases. Her second single will be released on Aug. 8 and her first studio album will be revealed on Oct.10. Katie (Axis)The single that will be released Wednesday at 6 p.m. is a song off the singer’s upcoming debut album “Log.” An official fro

May 31, 2018

BTS 'deeply touched' by President Moon's tweet celebrating Billboard feat

K-pop superstars BTS thanked President Moon Jae-in on Thursday for celebrating their Billboard Hot 100 performance in his Twitter message, tweeting back, "We are deeply touched.""Wow! We can now fully believe after seeing it with our own eyes. President Moon Jae-in, we thank you for congratulating BTS on its No. 1 victory on Billboard," BTS' Twitter account (@BTS_twt) replied. President Moon sent two congratulatory tweets Monday on BTS' conquering of the Billboard chart of the 200 most popular a

May 31, 2018

Park Seo-joon, Park Min-young to find out ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’

TvN’s new drama series “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” turns the relationship between a boss and a secretary upside down, depicting a sweet romance tale that stars Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young. The two actors play the lead couple in the upcoming romantic-comedy production. Park Seo-joon plays the role of a narcissistic boss, while Park Min-young takes on the secretary character.  Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young pose for photos at a press event Wednesday at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungp

May 30, 2018

Girl’s Day Minah to find ‘Absolute Boyfriend’

Minah of Girl’s Day is to star in new drama series “Absolute Boyfriend” (working title).She is to play makeup artist. Unable to find romance in real life, she falls in love with a cybernetic doll, who is programmed to be a “perfect” boyfriend. Actor Yeo Jin-goo will play the role of the doll.  Minah (Herald DB)Minah, a member of K-pop act Girl’s Day, has been pursuing a succesful acting career, starring in hit SBS series “Beautiful Gong Shim” in 2016. The series is an adaptation of a Japanese co

May 30, 2018

Saying rhymes, doing time

Crimes by stars of a popular rap competition program risk tarnishing the genre’s reputation in the countryRapper Jung Sang-soo, who made his name via popular Mnet program “Show Me the Money,” was recently charged with sexual assault, police said Wednesday.According to Ilsan Dongbu Police Station, Jung is accused of sexually assaulting a woman, who was intoxicated, at his home, although he claimed it had been consensual. Investigators have sent the case to the prosecutors, recommending that he be

May 30, 2018

Creature film ‘Monstrum’ to premiere in September

Upcoming creature film “Monstrum,” featuring actor Kim Myung-min and Hyeri of K-pop act Girls’ Day, will hit local theaters on Sept. 19.Inspired by medieval records dating back to Korea’s Joseon era, the film is set during an epidemic outbreak when rumors spread about a dreadful man-eating creature. Kim will play military official Yun Kyum who forms a team to fight off the beast. Hyeri will play Yun’s daughter, who uses her special talent in archery and ancient medicine to assist her father.  “M

May 30, 2018

Non-survival music show ‘The Call’ aims for variety

For the past few years, a huge influx of audition shows like “Superstar K,” “Produce 101” and “The Unit” have led the trend of Korean music programs, with their focus set on competition. A few weeks ago, Mnet’s music show “The Call” threw its hat in the ring. Created by the production team of “I Can See Your Voice,” another popular Mnet music show, “The Call” originated from the question, “What would happen if two of my favorite artists collaborate?” Trying to answer to it, the experimental show

May 30, 2018

[Album Review] Bolbbalgan4’s toned-down new album is relaxing

Bolbbalgan4“Red Diary Page.2”Loen Entertainment 　Bolbbalgan4 has done it again. As if to nix criticisms about its allegedly self-repeating sonic pattern, the singer-songwriting duo have put out a completely different style of music in their new album “Red Diary Page.2.”And their efforts came to fruition, as the self-made collection is powerfully relaxing. The duo’s biggest hits “Galaxy” and “Tell Me You Love Me” mesmerized listeners with shockingly bubbly melodies that transformed the most conve

May 30, 2018

Top idol groups to perform at ‘2018 Korea Music Festival’

K-pop fans will be able to watch performances by a host of popular girl groups and boy bands including Twice, SHINee and Wanna One at one venue this August.According to the Korea Management Federation on Wednesday, the second Korea Music Festival will be held from Aug. 1-2 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.  (Korea Management Federation)K-pop groups SHINee, Twice, Wanna One, iKON, BTOB, Apink, EXID, Mamamoo, NCT, Momoland, WJSN, Pentagon, Gugudan and SF9 are currently part of the lineup. The KMF also

May 30, 2018

BTS' 'Fake Love' clinches top 10 spot on Billboard Hot 100 chart

BTS ranked among the top 10 on Billboard’s hottest songs chart. Billboard announced Tuesday that BTS’ new track “Fake Love” took the No. 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The chart lists the most popular songs across the US, based on radio airplay, audience impressions, sales data and streaming activity.  BTS (Billboard)BTS is the first K-pop group to make it to the chart’s top 10. It was also the song’s debut on the chart. “Gangnam Style” star Psy took the No. 2 spot in 2012, staying ther

May 30, 2018