[Herald Review] In ‘Nature of Forgetting,’ movements speak louder than words

In the vibrant season of youth, Tom dashes eagerly to catch up with his school crush, who rides ahead on her bicycle. Next moment, he finds himself in the lead, with her at his back, their heartbeats echoing the fluttering memories. Through an ordinary moment, the audience gets a glimpse of Tom’s most cherished memories. But the recollections are gradually slipping away as he grapples with dementia. Maybe it’s the fleeting nature of the memories that renders the beauty, or its poigna

Jan. 21, 2024

IU renames new single ‘Love Wins All’ in response to queerbaiting allegations

K-pop artist IU has changed the title of her upcoming single from “Love Wins” to “Love Wins All” after a backlash from sexual minorities and fans alleging queerbaiting. “We recognized that the original title of the single could blur the message of the song. We would like to respect and support everyone who loves and lives in various ways,” said Edam Entertainment, the agency representing IU, in a press release on Friday. The agency revealed on Thursday the IU&

Jan. 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] ‘Citizen of a Kind’ shows power of film based on true story

Director Park Young-ju’s upcoming commercial film debut, “Citizen of a Kind” is based on true events from 2016 in which Kim Seong-ja, a middle-aged laundry shop owner, helped lead to the arrest of a criminal organization boss after a gang member had asked her to rescue him in a phone call. The film revolves around Duk-hee (Ra Mi-ran), who travels to Qingdao, China, to capture the boss of a criminal organization after she falls victim to a voice phishing scam. It was Son Jae-min

Jan. 21, 2024

Final NCT subunit, NCT Wish, to debut in February

NCT Wish, the last NCT subunit, will debut in February, SM Entertainment confirmed Thursday. The new team was created through the audition program “NCT Universe: Lastart,” organized by the entertainment agency to select new NCT members. The show aired from July to September 2023. The six-member group, consisting of Korean members Sion and Jaehee, and Japanese members Riku, Yushi, Ryo and Sakuya, will mainly perform in Korea and Japan. "Wish" in the subunit's name stand

Jan. 20, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Riize to drop Japanese-language version of ‘Love 119’

Riize will sing its recent hit “Love 119” in Japanese, according to label SM Entertainment on Friday. The Japanese-language version will be released online on Jan. 24. The dreamy song comparing one's first love to an emergency was originally dropped on Jan. 5 and topped the real-time Top 100 chart of LINE Music, the largest music chart in Japan. It also topped iTunes' top songs chart in nine regions, ranking among the top 10 in 16 regions. The single earned the rookie boy band its f

Jan. 19, 2024

Kakao Entertainment names new CEOs amid continued controversy

Kakao Entertainment said Friday it has designated the company's Chief Operating Officer Kweon Ki-su and Global Strategy Officer Joseph Chang as the company's co-chief executive officers, in a bid to push for reform amid public criticisms surrounding the company's alleged stock manipulations. According to Kakao Entertainment, before Kweon and Chang are officially appointed, which will take place after Kakao's board meetings and shareholders' meetings, the two co-CEO nomin

Jan. 19, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ra Mi-ran expresses story of self-esteem, personal growth in "Citizen of a Kind"

Ra Mi-ran, best known for her comic relief roles in a slew of hit Korean dramas such as "Reply 1988" (2015) and "Dr. Park's Clinic" (2022), said her new comedy film "Citizen of a Kind" tells story of the personal growth of an individual and what it means to maintain one's self-esteem through hardships. "Citizen of a Kind" is the story of an ordinary individual named Duk-hee, who falls victim to a voice phishing scam and travels to China to captur

Jan. 19, 2024

Super Junior to meet global fans on Asia tour

Legendary boy band Super Junior will hold an Asia tour. The group, celebrating 19 year since its debut, will hold an Asia concert tour titled "2024 Super Junior Super Show Spin-off: Halftime." The tour begins with a concert in Seoul in June, according to the band's agency SM Entertainment. After the Seoul concert, the group will visit Bangkok and Singapore in July, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Taipei, Taiwan in August, Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia in September. Detailed informat

Jan. 19, 2024

ATBO to hold first Japan fan meeting

ATBO will meet with Japanese fans for the first time in February. According to the group's agency IST Entertainment, ATBO will hold the "2024 ATBO First Japan Fanmeeting Home Party" twice, at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo on Feb. 29 and Oval Hall in Osaka on March 2. As this is the group's first event to be held in Japan since debuting, the bandmates are reportedly making every effort to prepare satisfying performances. The seven-member group will present different shows in each city,

Jan. 19, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Alienoid Part 2” (South Korea) Opened Jan. 10 Action Directed by Choi Dong-hoon Lee Ahn (Kim Tae-ri) accidentally falls back in time to the late Goryeo Kingdom, and all she needs to do to come back to 2022 is to find the divine sword, which happens to also be sought by several different stakeholders for various reasons. “Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifi

Jan. 19, 2024

Director Jang Jae-hyun’s ‘Exhuma’ invited to Berlinale

Occult thriller "Exhuma" by Jang Jae-hyun, known as a master of Korean occult films, has been invited to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. The film's distributor, Showbox, said Thursday that the movie will be presented in the Berlinale’s Forum section, dedicated to “avant-garde and experimental” film genres and discovering “fascinating new faces,” according to the festival organizer. Berlinale opens Feb. 15 for a 10-day run. Previously invi

Jan. 18, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ive drops 1st English-language single

Ive will put out its first English-language single, “All Night,” on Friday, according to an announcement by agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday. A teaser trailer for the music video was uploaded on the day set against an office scattered with document papers and confetti. The six members, dressed up for a girls’ night out, can be seen having a blast at the office with American singer and rapper Saweetie. Saweetie was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 as Best New

Jan. 18, 2024

'Argylle' actors say director Matthew Vaughn's new spy action thriller 'feels at home here'

Actors Henry Caville, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell from English filmmaker Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming spy action thriller, “Argylle,” began a promotional tour in Seoul, Thursday. Director Vaughn, well-known here for his “Kingsman” spy franchise, was absent due to health reasons. “Argylle” follows Elly Conway (Howard), a reclusive author who writes best-selling espionage novels in which an agent, Argylle (Caville), unravels a global spy syndicate. B

Jan. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'The Bequeathed' merges concepts of horror and family

Yeon Sang-ho, star director of mega-hits such as the 2016 zombie film "Train to Busan" and the 2021 Netflix original fantasy drama series "Hellbound," is back with "The Bequeathed," a new Netflix original thriller drama series. "The Bequeathed" is a 6-part series that focuses on a series of ominous events which occur after Yoon Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo) receives a family grave site as inheritance following the death of her uncle. Conflict heightens as her half

Jan. 18, 2024

'LTNS' satirizes realities of today's sexless, adulterous couples

The life of a married couple who have lost interest in each other will be examined in "LTNS," Tving's new original series, offering a no-holds-barred depiction of the realities of couples today, promised actors Ahn Jae-hong and Lee So-young, also known as Esom, during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. "LTNS," short for "Long Time No Sex," is a 6-part drama series that uses black comedy to tell the story of Woo-jin (played by Esom) and Samuel (played by Ahn

Jan. 18, 2024

KBS employees fined W30m for abuse and death of horse

A Seoul court on Wednesday fined three KBS employees a total of 30 million won ($22,338), holding them accountable for the death of a horse on the set of a drama production in 2021. The Seoul Southern District Court convicted the three employees -- a 59-year-old drama producer surnamed Kim, a martial arts director and an equestrian -- of animal abuse among other charges for the torture and killing of a horse while shooting a scene for the local broadcaster’s "The King of Tears, Lee

Jan. 17, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez to join Coachella festival, 1st for K-pop boy band

Ateez will make its debut appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival which is slated to be held in California in April, according to KQ Entertainment on Wednesday. It is the first K-pop boy band to join the lineup for the international music festival that began in 1999. This year’s lineup also includes fellow K-pop act Le Sserafim, as well as American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey and rapper Doja Cat. The eight-piece act’s second studio album, “The World E

Jan. 17, 2024

ARKO Selection presents diverse spectrum of works

ARKO Selection's second set of six productions scheduled for mid and late-January includes two family-friendly musicals, two contemporary dance performances and two music concerts. The topics covered in the productions range from borderline personality disorder to the life story of Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time. Other themes include human brutality and humanity in the digital age. The works are among the 28 new repertoires funded by Arts Council Korea, an

Jan. 17, 2024

Le Sserafim, Ateez to perform at Coachella

K-pop groups Le Sserafim and Ateez will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year. Le Sserafim will take the stage on April 13 and April 20, while Ateez will perform on April 12 and April 19. The festival will take place on April 12-21 at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, according to the festival’s promoter Goldenvoice, Tuesday. Le Sserafim is the only K-pop girl group in the lineup for Coachella this year. The group’s performance at Coachella com

Jan. 17, 2024

Hui of Pentagon sets off solo on ‘Whu Is Me: Complex’

Hui of K-pop boy band Pentagon has now begun his solo career, releasing his first official solo album, “Whu Is Me: Complex,” on Tuesday. The artist opted for a self-explanatory title for his first EP. “I asked myself ‘Who am I?’ while working on this album. I concluded that Hui is just who I am, me. I added the word ‘complex’ because it was my complex that led me to work hard on overcoming the things that I do not like about myself,” Hui said durin

Jan. 17, 2024