[Today’s K-pop] BTS hits 1.8b views with ‘Dynamite’ music video

BTS has notched 1.8 billion views on YouTube for the first time with the music video for “Dynamite,” according to Big Hit Music on Friday. The disco pop tune was released in August 2020 as a digital single. It is the septet’s first English-language song and debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100, a first for a K-pop act. The single topped the main songs chart three weeks and stayed on the chart for 32 weeks in total. It also earned the band a Grammy nomination, another first

Feb. 23, 2024

Pansori, shadow puppetry combined in 'Tale of Seocheon Flower Garden'

A Jeju myth comes to life through a combination of pansori, or Korean traditional narrative singing, and shadow puppetry in a children's production running at the National Jeongdong Theater in Korea, Cecil through Wednesday. "Tale of Seocheon Flower Garden" is a reinterpretation of the myth of Hallakgungi, found in the shamanistic songs of Jeju Island known as "Igongbonpuri." The protagonist, Hallakgungi, embarks on a journey to the Seocheon Flower Garden at the afterlif

Feb. 23, 2024

[Herald Review] ‘Dune: Part Two’ an Imax-ready masterpiece of messiah and sandworms

Following the box office success of director Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” (2021) at a time when global cinema was humbled by the pandemic, the second half of the director's adaptation of the 1965 epic science fiction novel of the same title by Frank Herbert has finally been revealed. “Dune: Part Two,” which hits local theaters Wednesday, is an Imax-ready blockbuster with a dense, nigh impenetrable storyline that follows the recently outcast heir to the throne of H

Feb. 23, 2024

‘Youth,’ ‘Love’ and ‘Friendship,’ keywords of Twice’s new EP

Twice conveyed their beautiful memories as a K-pop group and the future they hope to make with fans on their new EP, “With YOU-th,” released Friday. The group’s full-unit comeback with a new album release in Korea comes for the first time in a year. “We worked hard on this album as we know many Once (fans) have waited for our new release for a very long time. We hope to have a great time with them to leave no regrets,” Chaeyoung said in a press release issued on the

Feb. 23, 2024

Vanner to hold 1st standalone concert in April

K-pop boy band Vanner is gearing up to hold its first standalone concert, “The Flag: A To V,” in Seoul in April. On Friday the group revealed a poster for the upcoming concert show a racing track with a helmet and checkered flag on it. Two concerts are being held at Yes24 Live Hall, on April 27 and 28. Vanner plans to perform a medley of hit singles, according to Klap Entertainment. The group also plans many interactive sessions with fans during the concerts. Vanner debuted in 2019 a

Feb. 23, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“The Birth of Korea” (South Korea) Opened Feb. 1 Documentary Directed by Kim Deok-young The film covers the first generation of South Korean politicians and Rhee Syng-man, the country's first president, delving into their efforts to protect the nation. The film looks back on the last 70 years of Korea's history, with a focus on some of Rhee's major achievements like farmland reform. “Wonka” (US) Opened Jan. 31 Fantasy Directed by Paul King "Wonka&quo

Feb. 23, 2024

ARKO Selection inspired by the familiar

ARKO Selection's fifth and final set of productions -- one traditional concert, two dance performances and one opera -- are drawing inspiration from elements that will be familiar to Korean audiences. Kicking off the weekend on Friday and Saturday, the traditional performance "Multiverse of Infinite Convergence" brings gugak to the center. Gayageum player Heo Yoon-jeong, also a member of the jazz and gugak crossover ensemble Black String since 2011, will collaborate with 13 musici

Feb. 22, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook adds streaming record with ‘Standing Next to You’

Jungkook of BTS has amassed 400 million streams on Spotify with his solo single “Standing Next to You,” Big Hit Music said Thursday. The single reached the milestone in the shortest time for a K-pop solo song. “Standing Next to You” is the focus track from his solo album “Golden” that was rolled out in November last year and is his fifth solo song to achieve the feat -- following “Seven (feat. Latto),” “3D (feat. Jack Harlow),” Charlie

Feb. 22, 2024

Stray Kids to meet fans in Korea, Japan

K-pop group Stray Kids will meet Korean and Japanese fans in spring. The group’s agency, JYP Entertainment, released the poster of Stray Kids' fourth official fan meeting dubbed "SKZ's Magic School" on its official social media. The upcoming performance is the first fan meeting in about nine months after a performance held in July last year. "SKZ's Magic School" will be held from March 29 to 31 at KSPO Dome in Seoul. The last performance on March 31 will

Feb. 22, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Exhuma' brings horror with shamanism, but fails to connect stories

Director Jang Jae-hyun, also known here as a "K-occult master" thanks to his hit films "The Priest" and "Svaha: The Sixth Finger," returned with a horror flick that portrays terrifying practices of Korean shamanism, imbued with fine acting of veteran actors such as Choi Min-sik and Kim Go-eun. "Exhuma" follows the events that unfold for a group of exorcists, an undertaker and a feng shui specialist, who take on the job of relocating a tomb of a wealthy fam

Feb. 22, 2024

Veteran balladeer, drinker Sung Si-kyung launches Korean rice wine

South Korean balladeer Sung Si-kyung has launched a Korean rice wine under his new liquor brand Kyung on Thursday. According to his agency SKJaewon the makgeolli rice wine is the first product the singer developed in collaboration with the startup brewery J1. Renowned for his appreciation of refined spirits, Sung engaged in every stage of crafting and perfecting the rice wine, an official from the agency said. Named "Kyungtakju," this traditional fermented drink is crafted from ingre

Feb. 22, 2024

Seventeen, Stray Kids, TXT and NewJeans claim top 10 of IFPI's Global Artist Chart

K-pop acts conquered the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s 2023 Global Artist Chart released Wednesday. According to IFPI, Seventeen placed second on the chart, the highest among K-pop acts this year. This marks the group’s third consecutive year among the top ten artists on the chart. IFPI’s Global Artist Chart captures the popularity of artists by combining global streaming, downloads, and physical album and singles sales. IFPI is a nonprofit organizatio

Feb. 22, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kim Bum-soo marks 25 years in music with new album 'Journey'

Singer Kim Bum-soo has returned with his 9th full-length studio album, "Journey," celebrating his 25th year as a singer. Although the recent landscape of the entertainment industry calls for versatility and multifaceted identities, the singer believes in dedicating himself to the role of vocalist and preserving his values as a singer. Unlike in previous albums in which Kim prioritized the singing ability, high notes and technique, Kim said that his new album is "minimal and poetic

Feb. 22, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to open pop-up store in Seoul

A pop-up store and cafe for Stray Kids will open in Seoul from March 14 to March 31, according to an announcement by label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. The store, dubbed SKZoo’s Magic School, is themed after the animal-inspired version of the bandmates and is in line with the eight-member team’s fan meet event slated to be held in Seoul on March 29-31, for which the members will turn into magicians. In April, they will fly over to Japan and greet their fans in Osaka and Saitama,

Feb. 21, 2024

Timothee Chalamet thankful for Korean fans, promotes ‘Dune: Part Two’ in Seoul

Actor Timothee Chalamet said he is thankful for Korean fans of the "Dune" series during a press conference held to promote his new film, “Dune: Part Two,” in Seoul on Wednesday. Chalamet, director Denis Villeneuve and other cast members including Zendaya, Austin Butler and Stellan Skarsgard were present at the event. Pronouncing the term in Korean carefully, “Dune-chin-ja" -- short for "Dune-e-michin-ja" or one who‘s crazy for ”Dune" in

Feb. 21, 2024

Jeon Do-yeon, Park Hae-soo to star in Simon Stone's play 'Cherry Orchard'

Renowned South Korean actor Jeon Do-yeon, who is a familiar face from both TV and film, is returning to the theatrical stage after 27 years, taking on a leading role in the play "The Cherry Orchard.” World-renowned Australian director Simon Stone will helm the production, which is slated to run from June 4 to July 7 at the LG Art Center in Seoul. Stone has collaborated with prestigious theaters such as the National Theatre in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Jeon will be

Feb. 21, 2024

NCT Wish makes grand debut at Tokyo Dome

NCT Wish took its first steps as a K-pop act by performing at SM Entertainment’s all-star concert at the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday. The group comprises six members -- Yushi, Riku, Sakuya, Jaehee, Ryo and Sion. NCT Wish is the latest and final subunit of NCT. Other subunits include NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV. SM collaborated with the Japanese entertainment agency Avex Trax to introduce the six members through an “NCT Universe: Lastart” competition show which aired last

Feb. 21, 2024

Hybe’s new girl group I’ll-It to debut next month

K-pop powerhouse Hybe is launching a new girl group I’ll-It under its subsidiary Belift Lab on March 25. According to Belift Lab, the group consisting of five members -- Minju, Wonhee, Yunah, Moka and Iroha -- is releasing its debut mini album on March 25. Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk took part in putting together the group. “We are happy and excited to finally get to debut. We are thankful for our fans who have been waiting for us. We enhanced our skills when recording and shooting th

Feb. 21, 2024

'Exhuma' digs up traumas of Korean land

Director Jang Jae-hyun said he wanted to dig up the traumatic past of Korea through the symbolic act of exhumation in his latest occult mystery film "Exhuma." Starring veteran actors such as Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Do-hyun, "Exhuma" follows the series of mysterious events that occur as a group of exorcists, an undertaker and a feng-shui specialist take on the task of relocating the tomb of a wealthy family. The movie is largely separated into two parts.

Feb. 21, 2024

'The Birth of Korea' sweeps local box office, rarity as documentary

“The Birth of Korea” by Kim Deok-young, a documentary film covering South Korea's first president Syngman Rhee and the country’s first-generation politicians and their efforts to protect the country, is sweeping the local box office, a rarity for a documentary screened in theaters. Looking back on a 70-year history, “The Birth of Korea” reinterprets some of Rhee's major achievements like farmland reform. According to the film distributor Docu Story, the fi

Feb. 21, 2024