[Today’s K-pop] BTS tops 600m views with ‘On’ film

BTS garnered 600 million YouTube views with the performance music video for “On," according to label Big Hit Music on Tuesday. The kinetic manifesto film for the focus track off the group's fourth studio album “Map of the Soul: 7,” featuring a throng of dancers and a marching band, became the group's 13th music video to reach the view count milestone. The film received 100 million views in a week. The lead single entered Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 4 after i

April 9, 2024

Seoul Metropolitan Theatre presents Ibsen's wintry family drama, 'John'

The Borkman family's fortunes have been drained following the imprisonment of former banker John Gabriel Borkman. After eight years behind bars and another eight years in solitude, Borkman obsessively dreams of making his comeback. Meanwhile, his wife, Gunhild, insists on restoring the family name. When her sister, Ella, arrives unannounced, the three engage in a fierce battle over young Erhart Borkman, driven by their own obsessions. The story comes from Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen&#

April 9, 2024

Eight Korean films compete at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival

Eight Korean films of diverse genres are competing at the 42nd Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival which kicked off Tuesday. Known as the world’s largest fantastic film festival dedicated to experimental genre films from thriller, sci-fi, cult and horror to animation and underground, the BIFFF invited Korean directors Jang Jae-hyun’s supernatural thriller “Exhuma” and director Han Dong-seok’s mystery fantasy “The Sin” to its international co

April 9, 2024

Jazz singer Nah Youn-sun to mark 30th debut anniversary with concert

Korean jazz singer Nah Youn-sun will mark the 30th anniversary of her debut with a concert. Nah's concert, "Elles," will take place on April 17 at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The concert is titled after her 12th album released in January which commemorated her 30th year as a jazz musician. Nah's latest album is dedicated to influential female musicians who have had an impact on her musical career. The album features songs by legendary singers such as Nina Sim

April 9, 2024

Legendary DJ, producers to play at World DJ Festival

South Korea's World DJ Festival has announced a lineup that includes legendary DJs and producers. This year's festival will mark the first visit to Korea by Swedish DJ Eric Prydz, renowned as one of the top progressive house and techno producers. Prydz, whose hits include "Call on Me" and "Pjanoo," will also take to the stage with dazzling lights, visuals, and special effects. Also in the lineup are The Chainsmokers, known for their hits in Korea, Alok, who ranked f

April 9, 2024

TXT to embark on dome tour in Japan

K-pop boy group TXT is embarking on its first-ever dome tour in Japan, according to Big Hit Music. TXT announced the tour, “Act: Promise in Japan,” by posting a video clip on its official X account on Monday. The dome tour will kick off with a concert at the Tokyo Dome on July 10-11 followed by concerts at the Kyocera Dome Osaka on July 27-28, the Vantelin Dome Nagoya on Aug. 4-5 and the Fukuoka PayPay Dome on Sep. 14-15, for a total of eight shows. Previously, TXT had performed at t

April 9, 2024

Korean National Ballet to perform ‘Season; Spring’ in London this week

The Korean National Ballet is set to perform "Season; Spring" in London this week. The performance comes at the invitation of the Royal Ballet for the KNB to participate in the International Draft Works 2024, jointly hosted by the Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet. The KNB is scheduled to perform at the Linbury Theater, on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The International Draft Works serves as a platform where the Royal Ballet, together with various international companies, pres

April 9, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim to host 1st fan meet tour in Japan

Le Sserafim will meet and greet fans in Japan through its first fan meet tour in the country from late June, agency Source Music said Monday. The group of six will visit four cities – Hyogo, Aichi, Kanagawa and Fukuoka – for nine meetups from June 29 to July 31. It will be an expansion of the group's fan meet event, “Fearnada 2024 S/S,” which will be held in Seoul on May 11-12. The group officially debuted in Japan with the single “Fearless” in January

April 8, 2024

National Dance Company's 'Book of the Dead' to journey beyond the veil

Empty-eyed female dancers gracefully whirl around, their movements intertwined with pounding beats. The scene reinterprets the traditional ritual of ground hardening of burial to protect the resting place from outside intrusion. Set to premiere at Haeoreum Grand Theater on April 25 where it will run through April 27, “Book of the Dead” is the latest work by the National Dance Company of Korea, affiliated with the National Theater of Korea. Choreographed by the state dance company

April 8, 2024

[Herald Review] ONF mark new start with concert, new album

ONF returned to the stage after a hiatus brought on by military service, presenting an energetic performance. The six-member group performed a stand-alone concert, dubbed “Spotlight,” at the KBS Arena, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on Saturday and Sunday. Dressed in sparkling white suits, the group kicked off the concert with a series of charismatic songs including "New World," "Ugly Dance," and "Gucci," setting the tone for the concert. "I've been waitin

April 8, 2024

Disney+ thriller 'Blood Free' to explore food production in near-future

Disney+'s original series "Blood Free" will explore the philosophical quandary of how humans should approach food production through its authentic portrayal of the near-future. The 10-part suspense thriller series follows the story of Yoon Ja-yoo (played by Han Hyo-joo), the CEO of a biological engineering company named BF, and her bodyguard Woo Chae-woon (played by Ju Ji-hoon). The series, written by award-winning screenplay writer Lee Soo-yeon, narrates the story that unfolds af

April 8, 2024

J-Hope of BTS lands at No. 5 on Billboard 200

J-Hope of BTS made history on the Billboard chart with his special album, “Hope on the Street Vol.1,” released last month. According to Billboard, J-Hope’s “Hope on the Street Vol.1” landed at No. 5 on Billboard’s main album chart, the Billboard 200, dated April 13. This is the second time J-Hope has made it to the top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 following the success of his first solo LP, “Jack In The Box,” which landed at No. 6 on the same cha

April 8, 2024

Solar of Mamamoo to return with solo album

Solar of the K-pop girl group Mamamoo is returning with a new solo album on April 30, according to her agency RBW. Solar announced her comeback by dropping a teaser clip in which she revealed the title of her upcoming second EP, “Colours.” This solo release is the first since her debut solo EP, “Face,” was released in March 2022. The upcoming album will cover diverse genres, showcasing Solar’s multifaceted musical talents, the agency said. Since making her solo debu

April 8, 2024

AKMU to mark 10th anniversary with concert

K-pop sibling duo AKMU will hold a concert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band's debut. According to YG Entertainment, AKMU will host the "AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert 10VE" on June 15-16 at the KSPO Dome. The venue, located at the Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, can accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators. The concert title, "10VE," combines the word "Love" with the number 10, symbolizing AKMU's 10th anniversary. The agency stated that AKM

April 7, 2024

Hollywood readies long-awaited sequels to blockbuster hits

A series of successive installments to hit Hollywood flicks are poised to grace the silver screens of local theaters soon, starting in May. "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," a prequel to Australian post-apocalyptic action film "Mad Max: Fury Road," opens in local theaters next month. Coming out nine years since the release of "Mad Max: Fury Road," the prequel explores the backstory of one of the Mad Max series' central protagonists, Imperator Furiosa, a fierce combata

April 7, 2024

New girl group ILLIT debuts on British Official Singles chart

Girl group ILLIT has made its debut on the British Official Singles chart with its first single "Magnetic." The song landed at No. 80 on the latest British Official Singles Top 100 unveiled Friday (British time), becoming the first debut song by a K-pop act to hit the prestigious chart. The milestone came just 11 days after the group debuted under Belift Lab, a subsidiary music label of K-pop giant Hybe, on March 25. "Magnetic" is the lead single of the group's first EP,

April 6, 2024

[What to Watch] Three great documentaries to watch this weekend

The proliferation of documentaries often makes it difficult to choose which ones to watch. The three selected here take a fresh look at the life of a father who has lost a daughter, a gripping competition among cyclists and life-humbling moments at a hospital. “Sewol: Years in the Wind” (2024) This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster which claimed more than 300 lives, most of them high school students on the school trip. A father who lost a daughter in the

April 6, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Itzy to drop 3rd single in Japan next month

Itzy will release its third single in Japan on May 15, JYP Entertainment unannounced Friday. The single “Algorhythm” will consist of four tracks -- a title track and “No Biggie” as well as instrumental versions of both -- that will convey the group’s signature positive energy. Its last new release in the country was first studio album “Ringo,” which came out in October. The upcoming single will feature only four members of the quintet as Lia has been t

April 5, 2024

[New on the scene] ‘FAQ’ creatively responds to S. Korea’s private education obsession

Despite having never attended a "hagwon" or private cram school herself, director Kim Da-min's debut film, "FAQ," confronts the topic of South Korea's obsession with private education, centering on the story of Dong-chun, an 11-year-old girl. The film's English title doesn’t fully convey its creative and witty yet powerful spirit as well as its Korean title does: “Makgeolli will let you know” (direct translation). Makgeolli is Korean tradition

April 5, 2024

Korean National Ballet to premiere John Neumeier's 'Little Mermaid' in Korea

The Korean National Ballet is gearing up for the highly anticipated Korean premiere of John Neumeier's adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" at the Seoul Arts Center from May 1 through 5. Neumeier, who has been the director and chief choreographer of Hamburg Ballet based in Germany since 1973, is widely acknowledged as one of today's foremost choreographers. He has crafted more than 170 works so far, bearing his distinctive interpretation of classic narratives. Neumeier will vis

April 5, 2024