BTS' latest Japanese album tops Oricon's weekly chart

K-pop group BTS on Tuesday clinched the top spot on the weekly album chart for Oricon, Japan's main music sales tracker, with its latest Japanese release."Face Yourself," BTS' third Japanese studio album released last Wednesday, reached the top of the Oricon's album chart for the week of April 2-8, according to Oricon's website.First week record sales reached 282,000 copies, according to Oricon. "Face Yourself" was also seen at No. 1 on Oricon's daily album chart for the sixth consecutive day. A

April 10, 2018

Twice asks ‘What Is Love?’

After talking about the feeling of love with “Heart Shaker” last winter, Twice is back with a question about love this time: “What is Love?”On Monday, the chart-topping girl group returned with its fifth EP “What is Love?” fronted by a lead track of the same name. In the lead track, which is upbeat and bubbly with the group’s signature pop effusiveness, the members transform into naive young women who have learned about love through books, movies and dramas, but haven’t actually experienced it.

April 9, 2018

‘Secret Mother’ looks at Korea's intense education scene

Upcoming SBS drama series “Secret Mother” will focus on the overheated education system in Korea, starring Kim So-yeon and Song Yoon-ah as the main leads. From left, Kim So-yeon (J,Wide-Company) and Song Yoon-ah (Snowball Entertainment)Kim is to take the role of a Kim Lisa, a mysterious person overseeing student’s academic endeavors. She takes care of students’ schedules, goals and scores, like a mother would. The production team referred to her as an “academic surrogate mother.” Song will play

April 9, 2018

Hong Sang-soo‘s ‘Claire’s Camera’ with Kim Min-hee to open April 25

Director Hong Sang-soo’s latest film starring his muse and lover Kim Min-hee will hit the local theaters on April 25.Distributors for the drama, which has a highly-decorated actress Isabelle Huppert as the titular main character, has released the main trailer and the poster for the film.It features a conversation between the leading ladies, Huppert and Kim -- playing Claire and Man-hee, respectively -- about why Claire takes pictures. The poster for “Claire‘s Camera: (Jeonwonsa Film Co.)“Claire’

April 9, 2018

Noir debuts with black-tinged ‘Twenty’s Noir’

The K-pop newcomers of Noir are all about black -- the color of power and charisma.On Monday, nine-member act Noir debuted with the group’s first EP, “Twenty’s Noir.” Featuring six songs, the album is led by explosive electronic dance music track “Gangsta,” which leans heavily on the band’s rappers. Overflowing with propulsive beats, flamboyant synths and EDM breaks, “Gangsta” captures the blazing hearts of nine wishing to capture a woman’s heart. Noir, represented by Luk Factory, consists of Ye

April 9, 2018

Day6 to hold first Japan concert in June

Day6 will hold its first ever concert in Japan in June, its agency said Friday.According to S.M. Entertainment, the five-piece K-pop boy band will hold its Japan solo concert “‘DAY6 1st LIVE in JAPAN “THE BEST DAY’” at Tsutaya O-East in Tokyo and Umeda Trad in Osaka on June 13 and 14, respectively.  Day6 (JYP Entertainment)The act made its Japanese debut on March 14 with its first Japanese single EP “If ~ I See You Again ~” which became a theme song for Japanese drama “Repeat.” Day6 is also set

April 8, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum(Korea)Opened March 28Horror, MysteryDirected by Jun Bum-shik Ha-jun (Wi Ha-jun) who runs a YouTube channel that deals with the supernatural, leads the team of youngsters to the Gonjiam asylum and the mysterious room No. 402, which is supposed to have never been opened since the hospital closed decades before. Despite the rumors that the place is cursed, Ha-jun and his team strap on cameras and plunge into the darkness surrounding the battered building.Ready Player One(US)

April 6, 2018

Tiger JK to release last album as Drunken Tiger

Korean hip-hop legend Tiger JK announced Friday that in a week he will reveal a prereleased song from his upcoming new album that will be his last under the name “Drunken Tiger.”Drunken Tiger is the name of his hip-hop duo with DJ Shine that debuted in 1999. Even after his bandmate left in 2005, Tiger JK continued releasing new tracks under that name. Tiger JK (Drunken Tiger) (Feel Good Music)The upcoming album is the first full-length album from Drunken Tiger in nine years, since releasing “Fee

April 6, 2018

Taeyeon to hold first individual showcase tour in Japan

Taeyeon of Girls' Generation will hold her first-ever showcase tour in Japan in June as a solo artist, her agency said Friday.The tour will take her to four Japanese cities -- Fukuoka, Nagoya, Tokyo and Osaka, SM Entertainment said, without releasing the exact dates for the events.  (S.M. Entertainment)Debuting as a member of Girls' Generation in 2007, Taeyeon began a solo career in 2015 with her first EP album "I." She has since released many hit songs, such as "Rain," "Why," "11:11" and "Fine.

April 6, 2018

K-pop group BTS teases new release in 9-minute video

K-pop boy band BTS on Friday released a new cinematic video hinting at the themes and sounds of its upcoming new album.Titled "Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself: Wonder," the nine-minute-long teaser video was shared on YouTube at midnight.In similar fashion to BTS' promotional videos in the past, the video was filmed and edited to resemble a mini feature film, with the septet featured in a montage of various dramatic environments and situations. (Big Hit Entertainment)The footage includes several

April 6, 2018

‘Bosch Dreams’ acrobatic performance highlights Dutch painter’s phantasmagoria

The contemporary circus show “Bosch Dreams” comes to the LG Arts Center from Friday to Sunday.“Bosch Dreams” is a 2016 co-production by Montreal-based The 7 Fingers and Copenhagen-based Theatre Republique, led by artistic director Samuel Tetreault and French video artist Ange Potier. First initiated upon a request made by the Hieronymus Bosch 500 Foundation to mark the 500th anniversary of his death, the contemporary circus production sheds new light on the works of the 15th century Dutch painte

April 5, 2018

Yoo Ah-in teams up with Steven Yeun for new film ‘Burning’

“Burning,” the latest movie by director Lee Chang-dong, will open in Korean theaters in May, starring actor Yoo Ah-in and “Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun.It is a drama featuring three youngsters tumbling into a rabbit hole of mystery. A trailer released Wednesday featured Yoo, who will return to the silver screen for the first time in two year since “Like for Likes.” Poster for “Burning” (CGV Arthouse)Yoo starred in hit films such as “Veteran,” period piece “The Throne” and coming-of-age film “P

April 5, 2018

[Herald Interview] Winner says it has never stopped growing

A K-pop idol act’s full-length album means more than just setting out another promotional cycle, especially if it is packed with 12 self-created tracks. Four members of Winner, a prominent K-pop boy band under YG Entertainment, was confident in that the act’s second full-length album “EVERYD4Y” was a result of its continuous efforts to reinvent and hone themselves.“For the last few years since our debut, there was no single time we have stopped to become better Winner. I can confidently say that

April 5, 2018

BTS' new Japanese release tops Oricon album chart

K-pop group BTS on Thursday clinched the top spot on the main album chart for Oricon, Japan's main music sales tracker, with its latest Japanese release."Face Yourself," BTS' third Japanese studio album released Wednesday, was on top of the Oricon Albums Chart as of Thursday morning, according Oricon's website.  (Yonhap)The record also reached No. 1 on Apple iTunes album charts in 49 regions, while "Don't Leave Me," part of the album's tracklist, conquered 35 iTunes song charts."Face Yourself" i

April 5, 2018

[Video] Finding peace with So Ji-sub, Park Shin-hye’s solitude

In this hustling and bustling world where people are connected through social media even when we are physically alone, finding complete solitude can be a luxury. One may think of it, but mostly find it a far-fetched dream. For those who’ve ever dreamed of removing themselves from their overloaded routines, tvN’s new reality show “Solitary Stay” is a decent alternative. Featuring two big-name actors So Ji-sub and Park Shin-hye, the documentary-formatted program follows their off-grid lives in a h

April 5, 2018

Violinist Park Ji-yoon appointed concertmaster of Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra

Korean violinist Park Ji-yoon was selected Tuesday as the new concertmaster of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Mikko Franck.She is the first Korean musician to take the concertmaster post at the acclaimed French orchestra. Her tenure will be decided after four months of probation.Violinist Park Ji-yoon (MOC production)Park was previously a member of the Pays de la Loire National Orchestra, as well as the Trio Jade. She won the first prize at the Tibor Varga International Violin C

April 4, 2018

[K-Talk] Jung Dong-ha announces new release for April 17

Singer Jung Dong-ha will return later in the month with a new single album, his agency said Wednesday.It marks his first release since signing with Music 1 Company last month, and first since releasing the album “Life” in October.The single album will consist of cover songs.“As the release date coincides with Jung‘s birthday, we think it will be particularly special for Jung and his fans. We are putting in special effort preparing it,” officials at his agency said. Jung Dong-ha (Music 1 Company)

April 4, 2018

[Herald Review] Despite potential, weak payoff for ‘Snatch-Up’

In its set-up, “Snatch-Up” looks quite promising: The premise of seven men, each with his own share of troubles, their destinies entangled around a gigantic wad of cash and a cast of actors with resumes ranging from promising to superb seemed to spell comedic gold. But the film -- directed by Heo Jun-hyeong -- soon falls flat due to the obvious plot, weak directing and jokes that sometimes work and other times are just annoying. A scene from “Snatch-Up” (LittleBig Pictures)The film starts with M

April 4, 2018

TVXQ has most #1 among foreign artists on Oricon DVD chart

K-pop juggernaut TVXQ has set another record on Japan’s Oricon Chart, topping the weekly DVD chart for a record ninth time. The duo’s “Tohoshinki Live Tour 2017 ～Begin Again” placed No. 1 on this week’s DVD chart, overall DVD chart and chart of combined sales of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. “Tohoshinki Live Tour 2017 ～Begin Again” (S.M. Entertainment)It marked the ninth DVD by TVXQ to top the weekly overall chart. The DVD and Blu-ray Disc contain a recording of TVXQ’s Jan. 21 concert at the Kyocera D

April 4, 2018

[Album review] Primary and Anda’s weird collaboration

Primary & Anda“Do Worry Be Happy”(Stone Music Entertainment)Primary and Anda blend about as well as oil and water. Anda, Primary’s new muse in recent project album “Do Worry Be Happy,” was better known for rumors surrounding her relationship with a member of the Middle Eastern billionaire Mansour family than as a singer. So when the hit producer tapped this lesser-known musician to be his partner, one might have wondered why it had to be “her.” Unfortunately, Primary’s first collaboration album

April 4, 2018