BTS' Suga begins boot camp training as social service agent

Suga of the K-pop sensation BTS began receiving basic military training at a boot camp in a central region Thursday as part of his ongoing alternative service, according to the group's agency. The rapper, whose original Korean name is Min Yoon-gi, has been serving as a social service agent since September, an alternative form of military service in South Korea. Suga entered the Army training camp in Nonsan, located 152 kilometers south of Seoul, BigHit Music said, adding that the move is in

March 28, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim to meet fans in May

Le Sserafim invited fans to the group's second fan meetup, to be held in Seoul on May 11 and -12, via Source Music on Thursday. The two-day event, “Fearnada 2024 S/S,” will stream online as well for fans across the world. The poster for the fan meeting was inspired by a scene from the trailer video for third EP “Easy,” and showed the five bandmates shooting laser beams with their eyes. The mini album is now spending a fourth week on the Billboard 200 at No. 112, af

March 28, 2024

J-Hope shares his dance journey through documentary series ‘Hope on the Street’

J-Hope of BTS unveiled the first episode of his documentary series “Hope on the Street” on Thursday via online streaming platforms Tving in South Korea and Amazon's Prime Video for overseas viewers. “With the mandatory military service enlistment ahead of me, I kept asking myself what helped me become the person I am now and the answer was 'dance,'" J-Hope said, explaining his decision to create the documentary series. The first episode of the series begins

March 28, 2024

Will scrapping 3 percent tax on movie tickets invigorate local cinema?

Following the government’s decision to scrap its 3 percent charge on movie tickets starting next year, concerns have been raised about whether such a discount would actually lead to more people going to the cinema. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, about 420 to 450 won ($0.30) will be reduced from movie tickets priced at around 15,000 won, in an effort to “lessen the burden on people who visit movie theaters.” The ministry plans to push for such detail

March 28, 2024

Veteran folk singer Seo Yoo-seok returns to stage

Korea's first-generation folk singer Seo Yoo-seok has released new songs, expressing a strong will to continue making music. Seo, 79, performed three new songs during a press conference held in Seoul Citizen Hall's Baseurak Concert Hall, Jung-gu, Seoul on Wednesday, with power and emotion that belied his years. The first new song, "Why," calls for hope and solidarity. Seo said the lyrics reminded him of the several ongoing political and armed conflicts worldwide, including th

March 28, 2024

[Herald Interview] Dynamic Duo revisits its 20 year history with '2 Kids on the Block'

Gaeko and Choiza, the two members of Korea's legendary hip-hop duo, Dynamic Duo, are not only irreplaceable musical partners but also old friends who have spent more than 30 years together, having known each other since elementary school. Celebrating the 20th year of the group’s debut, the two looked back on their long history together with their 10th studio album, “2 Kids On The Block.” "We first met when we were 12, and it's safe to say that there was no hip-ho

March 28, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ V hits Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 65

V of BTS ranked No. 65 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with his single “Fri(end)s,” according to the latest chart published in the US on Tuesday. The new single is the artist’s fourth entry on the main songs chart. His previous entries were “Christmas Tree” from a drama original soundtrack, as well as “Love Me Again” and “Slow Dancing,” the pre-release and main tracks from his first solo album “Layover.” The digital single was rele

March 27, 2024

Unis, filled with self-esteem and confidence, debuts as ‘Superwoman’

Unis, a K-pop girl group consisting of eight finalists from the SBS audition program “Universe Ticket,” made its debut Wednesday with its first mini album, “We Unis.” The group is made up of four Korean members, Hyeonju, Yunha, Yoona and Seowon; two members from the Philippines, Elisia and Gehlee Dangka; and two Japanese members, Nana and Kotoko. “We finally get to debut as Unis. My life from the day I began dreaming about becoming a K-pop artist to the day that I w

March 27, 2024

[Herald Interview] Son Suk-ku chooses to be swayed by others in navigating life

Just weeks after appearing as a relentless detective in the Netflix original “A Killer Paradox,” actor Son Suk-ku met with reporters for the promotion of his new film “Troll Factory.” “I haven’t rested a single day since the start of the year except for the public holiday in January,” Son told reporters in an interview in Seoul on Friday. “I’m constantly tired. I wake up, go to work, back home and sleep. I have also opened my own agency and i

March 27, 2024

Asian musicians to perform at Paradise City in June

Paradise City in Incheon is set to mesmerize music fans with an Asian music festival in June. The Asian Pop Festival, hosted by Paradise Culture Foundation and APF Co., will take place June 22-23 at Paradise City, Yeongjongdo, Incheon, and will feature well-known artists from different countries in Asia. The first lineup announced Wednesday includes Korean musicians such as Kim Chang-wan Band, Nell, Playbook, Yeoyu and Seolbin, Lang Lee, Glen Check and CHS. Taiwan's No Party For Cao Dong,

March 27, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Parasyte: The Grey,' run-of-the-mill monster horror series that lacks charm of original manga

"Parasyte: The Grey," the ambitiously re-imagined series by star director Yeon Sang-ho, is a run-of-the-mill monster horror show that fails to capture the charm and essence of the original manga. The 6-part Netflix original series follows the story of Jung Soo-in (Jung So-nee) as she is partially turned into a monster after an alien species called the Parasytes invade Earth. The series is set in the universe of the popular Japanese manga series "Parasyte," but completely de

March 27, 2024

NewJeans to debut in Japan in June

NewJeans is set to release a single in Korea on May 24 and make its debut in Japan with another single on June 21, according to Ador, the group's agency. The single to be released in Korea on May 24, “How Sweet,” will come with three B-sides including “Bubble Gum,” and instrumental versions of both songs. “Bubble Gum” will be unveiled next month as part of a Japanese commercial and a theme song for a TV program before the official album release. The group

March 27, 2024

[Herald Interview] Making the jump from corps de ballet to swan

A new swan is scheduled to grace the stage, as the Korean National Ballet presents “Swan Lake” at the LG Arts Center in Seoul from Wednesday to Sunday. On Friday, ballerina An Su-yeon, a member of the corps de ballet, will take center stage, making her debut as the iconic Odette and Odile. It's a highly unusual and bold move to cast a dancer in the corps de ballet, the lowest in the ballet company's ranking system, to take the lead role in “Swan Lake.” Such cast

March 26, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim surpasses 200m Spotify streams with ‘Unforgiven’

Le Sserafim reached the 200 million streams milestone on Spotify with “Unforgiven (feat. Nile Rodgers),” according to agency Source Music on Tuesday. It is the group’s fourth song to hit the mark, after “Fearless,” “Antifragile” and “Perfect Night.” “Unforgiven” is the lead track from the five-member group's first full album of the same title that came out in May last year and debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 6. The album stay

March 26, 2024

EXO D.O., Suho to hold stand-alone concerts

Two EXO bandmates will meet with fans through solo performances to strengthen their respective standing as solo artists. D.O. will meet with global fans at his first solo Asian fan concert tour, "Bloom." He is to perform in 11 cities, starting with his two days of concerts in Seoul on June 8 and 9. He will then perform in Taipei, Taiwan on June 22, Hong Kong on June 29, Jakarta, Indonesia on July 12, Tokyo on July 18, Nagoya, Japan on July 19, Osaka, Japan on July 21, Bangkok on Aug. 1

March 26, 2024

Boynextdoor to hold first fanmeeting at Olympic Hall

Up-and-coming K-pop boy group Boynextdoor will hold its first fan meeting in June. Boynextdoor uploaded a poster on the group's official social media channel and global fandom platform Weverse Community announcing that the "2024 Boynextdoor Fanmeeting ONEDOORFUL Day" will be held both in-person and online at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, June 1-2. The fan meeting will commemorate the first anniversary of Boynextdoor, which debuted on May 30 last year. Meanwhile, Boynext

March 26, 2024

'Parasyte: The Grey' explores coexistence, nature of ties between individuals and organizations

Director Yeon Sang-ho, known for hit thriller series "Hellbound" and groundbreaking zombie flick "Train to Busan," said he aimed to explore the true meaning of coexistence and dynamics between individuals and organizations in "Parasyte: The Grey," his latest Netflix original series. "Parasyte: The Grey" narrates the story of Jung Soo-in (Jeon So-nee), who is partially turned into a monster by an alien species that falls to Earth from outer space. Seol Gang

March 26, 2024

Zerobaseone writes K-pop history with 1st Japanese single album

K-pop boy group Zerobaseone has topped Oricon’s Weekly Singles Chart with its debut Japanese single album, “Yurayura-unmei no hana.” Zerobaseone made its Japanese debut with the album's release on March 20 under Sony Music. Selling around 302,000 copies of the Japanese single album within five days of its release, the group took the throne on the Weekly Singles Chart dated April 1, which is based on physical album sales. This is a record-breaking number for a foreign album

March 26, 2024

[New on the scene] Director Kim Hee-jin compelled by stories of marginalized

In her 2010 short indie film “A Brand New Journey,” Kim depicts the agony of a middle school student whose parents can’t afford the money for a school trip. Although the boy finds a way to save up money for the trip by taking on a part-time job, he is harassed by the tyrannical shop owner who doesn't pay him. “I was attracted to the stories of marginalized people, whether I met them in my personal life or in books. So it was natural for me to shed light on the lives

March 26, 2024

Illit says goofiness and honesty are what make them ‘Magnetic’

Hybe’s new girl group Illit made its debut Monday with its first EP, “Super Real Me.” Illit consists of three Korean members Yunah, Minju and Wonhee, and two Japanese members, Moka and Iroha, who were the finalists of the JTBC global girl group survival program “R U Next?” which aired for three months starting June 2023. “The name of our group is a combination of the words ‘will,’ which depicts our independent and adventurous will, and ‘it,&r

March 26, 2024