Monsta X’s I.M to return with new digital single this month

I.M of boy band Monsta X is releasing a new digital single, his first in seven months. The artist is set to drop a digital single on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m., according to Sony Music Entertainment Korea. I.M announced his comeback on his official Instagram account Friday by dropping two teaser images of his upcoming digital single. The teaser images show I.M dressed in a white knit sweater standing in front of a window. The details of his comeback are yet to be unveiled. I.M made his solo debut with &l

Jan. 12, 2024

Aespa opens pop-up store to promote upcoming movie

K-pop girl group aespa is celebrating its third debut anniversary with its fans by opening a pop-up store and through the release of a special movie on the group's story in February. The pop-up store which opened Friday at the Lotte World Mall in Seoul, is decorated around the group’s key color, “aurora,” which is light pink and sky blue. The store offers diverse and interactive content, including photo booths and a message zone where the visitors can leave messages for th

Jan. 12, 2024

Bong Joon-ho questions legitimacy of drug probe into Lee Sun-kyun

Cultural figures including internationally acclaimed “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho criticized police and media outlets in connection with the death of actor Lee Sun-kyun. They said they would band in unity to submit the so-called “Lee Sun-kyun Act” to protect artists’ human rights. Lee, 48, died last month amid a weekslong police investigation into allegations he had used illegal drugs. The Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists, a newly established organi

Jan. 12, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifico of Rosas on the day of her grandfather Sabino's 100th birthday. The interview goes well until Magnifico declines Asha's requests for Sabino's wish to be granted, seeing the wish as a potential threat to his power. “Noryang: Deadly Sea” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 20 History/Action Directed by Kim Han-min I

Jan. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NCT’s Haechan fined for smoking e-cigarette indoors

Haechan of NCT was issued a fine for smoking an e-cigarette inside a building, acknowledged label SM Entertainment on Thursday. He was seen smoking an e-cigarette device at the studio in the video clip showing the members of NCT127 practicing dance, which was uploaded on the day before, and will pay the penalties, explained the firm, adding an apology for his “negligent behavior.” The scene of him smoking has been edited out. Fines for smoking indoors here are customarily 100,000 wo

Jan. 11, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri say “Alienoid” is about relationships

Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Tae-ri said “Alienoid” wraps up the story on humans’ fate and relationships, which also well-translated the two actors’ close friendship to the screen. “After watching the completed version of part 2, I thought that yes, this is what director Choi wanted to say, a story on relationships and fate,” Ryu said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul on Jan. 3. He said that the close friendship between him and Kim was also transla

Jan. 11, 2024

KCON to kick off in Hong Kong this year

South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM is holding its largest Korean culture and music celebration, KCON, in Hong Kong for the first time this year. KCON will kick off in Hong Kong, the sixth-biggest K-pop album importer, on March 30-31, organizer announced Thursday. KCON Hong Kong 2024 is to be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, one of the two major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong capable of accommodating up to 10,000 visitors. Previously, the MAMA Awards were held at this venue fro

Jan. 11, 2024

Stray Kids land at No. 52 on SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, breaking record

K-pop boy group Stray Kids landed at No. 52 on the French music industry association SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, a record-breaking feat for a K-pop artist. According to SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, Stray Kids landed at No. 52 with its third studio album, “Five-Star,” and at No. 135 with its eighth EP, “Rock-Star.” The group made their career debut on the French annual album chart with these two albums, which were the top two most successful K-pop al

Jan. 11, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Boy band All Ours debuts

A seven-member team named All Ours debuted and held a media conference in Seoul on Wednesday. It brought out a namesake EP that consists of five tracks, including focus track “Gotcha.” The lead single is filled with thumping bass sounds that underline the band’s daring performance. The band's Kunho described the group's “turn” as a signature move from the choreography, and Minje added that they all practiced day and night for three months straight without taking a

Jan. 10, 2024

K-pop idols to hold first solo concerts, fan meetings of their career

Several K-pop idols are gearing up for their first solo concerts and fan meetings in February. Ten of NCT will hold his first fan concert as he tours four Asian cities, including Seoul. The first "2024 Ten First Fan-Con 1001" concert will be held at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 17. Other concert venues for Ten's tour include the Bangkok Impact Arena on March 3, the Asiaworld-Expo Hall in Hong Kong on March 9 and the Kasablanka Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia, on A

Jan. 10, 2024

Hybe takes measures against illegal use of BTS name, images

Hybe, the K-pop agency whose sub-label Big Hit Music, represents BTS, is taking action against the illegal use of its intellectual property, including the use of BTS' name, logo and related pictures. “We will strengthen monitoring and take stern measures for acts that violate the rights of our company and artists to make commercial use of them,” an official from Hybe told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. The agency noted that Busan’s Nam-gu district office is using BTS&rsquo

Jan. 10, 2024

Jeongdong Theater's 2024 vision: Modern culture, traditional acts, second production theater

The 2024 season of the National Jeongdong Theater, a public performance hall in Jung-gu, central Seoul, will center its focus on modern culture, traditional acts and its commitment to revitalizing productions facing challenges, the theater unveiled at a press conference Wednesday. For the upcoming season, 28 productions featuring 448 performances are scheduled for the “Hello Jeongdong” season, including three plays, three musicals, three concerts, one dance and two traditional music

Jan. 10, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Gyeongseong Creature' focuses on human stories of 1945, not monsters

With a whopping total production cost of 70 billion won ($53 million), the first season of "Gyeongseong Creature," touted as one of Netflix Korea's most anticipated original dramas of the second half of 2023, aired its last episode on Friday. "Gyeongseong Creature" tells the story of Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee) and Jang Tae-sung (Park Seo-joon), who set out on a journey for survival in 1945, during the Japanese colonial period in Korea. Since its release, the drama serie

Jan. 10, 2024

Youn Yuh-jung, Yoo Hae-jin unite in cute canine film ‘Dog Days’

Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung is returning to the silver screen with a cute canine film, “Dog Days.” She has received critical acclaim with international projects like “Minari” (2020) and Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” (2022). Youn said she decided to star in the comedy-drama flick “Dog Days” due to a promise she made to director Kim Deok-min. “I decided to star in this film just because of director Kim – not because he is super talent

Jan. 10, 2024

Jennie of Blackpink No. 69 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Jungkook on Billboard 200 for longest among K-pop soloists

Jennie of Blackpink landed at No. 69 on Billboard’s Hot 100, breaking a record for a female K-pop solo artist. The K-pop star made the Jan. 13 chart with “One of the Girls,” from the original soundtrack of HBO series “The Idol,” in which she also stars. Previously, Rose of Blackpink was the female K-pop solo artist with the highest ranking, landing at No. 70 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with her single “On the Ground,” followed by Lisa of Blackpink at No

Jan. 10, 2024

B1A4 returns with 'Connect' after two-year break

It's been more than two years since their last release but B1A4 is going nowhere. With members back from military service, the group released a new album, “Connect,” saying there was still a lot they wanted to do. The new mini album, the trio's eighth, comes about two years and two months since the digital single "Huge Horse" in November 2021. “I feel so nervous right now. I hope everyone will enjoy our new album,” Sandeul who completed his military se

Jan. 9, 2024

Sejong Center unveils new season that will defy growing competition

Facing increasing competition from business, The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will introduce more in-house productions and adopt innovative marketing and sales strategies, its CEO Ahn Ho-sang said during a press conference Tuesday. “Hotels and resorts have emerged as new competitors as they sell experiences rather than mere consumer goods. We are considering how to deliver meaningful experiences to our audience,” Ahn explained. The Sejong Center’s new season, which run

Jan. 9, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Astro’s Cha Eunwoo to drop 1st solo album: report

Cha Eunwoo of Astro will bring out his first solo album in the first half of this year, according to a local media report on Tuesday. Agency Fantagio confirmed the news following the report and added that he will unveil one of the B-side tracks from the album at his first solo fan concert slated to be held in Seoul on Feb. 17. The singer and actor has released a number of solo songs for TV dramas he has starred in, including his first, “Rainbow Falling,” which was part of the origin

Jan. 9, 2024

Bong Joon-ho, other artists call for probe into Lee Sun-kyun’s death

South Korean actors, artists and filmmakers have turned out en masse, calling for a probe into the circumstances behind prolific actor Lee Sun-kyun's death. The world-renowned actor 48, died last month in an apparent suicide amid a weekslong police investigation into allegations he had used illegal drugs. The Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists (direct translation), a newly established organization of 29 culture and arts groups, including the Busan Film Festival and the Korea Ente

Jan. 9, 2024

[Herald Interview] Director Choi Dong-hoon felt like rookie after completing 'Alienoid Part 2'

Choi Dong-hoon is one of the most renowned filmmakers in Korea today, with two films that attracted more than 10 million moviegoers – “The Thieves” (2012) and “Assassination” (2015) – as well as a huge fanbase for his unique works like “Tazza” (2006) and “Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard” (2009). For this veteran director, the upcoming film, “Alienoid Part 2,” made him feel as if he was a rookie all over again. He debuted in

Jan. 9, 2024