[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

[Herald Review] All riddles solved in ‘Alienoid Part 2,’ but movie still a muddle

Putting the disgraceful performance at the box office of “Alienoid Part 1” behind him, renowned moviemaker Choi Dong-hoon returned with the second part to the Korean sci-fi flick that combines Korean folklore, a year and six months after the first part released in theaters. “Alienoid Part 2” continues to tell the story of magician-like gurus, or “dosa” in Korean, from the late Goryeo Kingdom and their connection to aliens, robots and humans living in 2022. Whi

Jan. 9, 2024

Riize named by Apple Music as artist to watch in 2024

The year 2024 will be a big year for K-pop rookie group Riize, according to Apple Music's prediction. Riize was the only K-pop act among the five artists named on Apple Music’s 2024 Artists to Watch list, announced on Monday. Bloody Civilian, Flyana Boss, Kenya Grace and The Last Dinner Party are the other artists named on the list. Riize’s latest single, “Love 119,” was also included among 50 singles chosen for the “Shazam: 2024 Trend Playlist" announced

Jan. 9, 2024

Aespa to remake Seo Tai-ji and Boys’ ‘Regret of the Times’

Aespa is remaking "Regret of the Times," the hit single by K-pop group Seo Tai-ji and Boys. Part of SM Entertainment’s “Remastering Project," aespa's remake of the song will be released via major music platforms on Jan. 15 at 6 p.m., according to the entertainment agency. Aespa’s music video for the remake will be unveiled on SM’s YouTube channel at the same time. An alternative rock song with energetic band sounds and anti-establishment lyrics, &ldq

Jan. 9, 2024

Itzy releases new album, to embark on 2nd world tour

K-pop girl group Itzy proved its members were born to be superstars, showing off their confident and powerful identity in a new mini album, “Born to Be,” released Monday. The group, known for its music that revolves around the message of “respecting and loving oneself,” returned with an album filled with powerful performances that shows Itzy is more confident than ever. “We tried to overcome our limits. That includes trying out diverse music genres and challenging o

Jan. 8, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] (G)I-dle to bring out 2nd LP

(G)I-dle will return with a second studio album on Jan. 29, the group's agency Cube Entertainment said Monday. A logo motion clip for the LP, “2,” was uploaded showing the letter “i” transformed into the No. 2. The album comes about eight months since the group's sixth EP, “I Feel,” and almost two years after the first full album, “I Never Die.” The sixth EP entered the Billboard 200 at No. 41 and sold over 1.16 million copies in its first week, a

Jan. 8, 2024

Webtoon based drama series to dominate in early 2024

Drama series adaptations of renowned South Korean webtoons are set to open the new year, riding high on the continued success of Korean webtoon-based dramas on global streaming services. "Man and Woman," a 10-part drama series adaptation of the hit Naver webtoon series of the same name, began airing on cable TV network Channel A Dec. 26 and continues through to Feb. 27. The webtoon series ranked seventh on Naver Webtoon's Top 10 most-read list despite its R-rating, meaning you hav

Jan. 8, 2024

Korean American director's 'Beef' wins big at 81st Golden Globe Awards

Korean American director Lee Sung-jin’s road-rage drama on Netflix, “Beef,” won big at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, which took place in Beverly Hills on Sunday night local time. Along with best TV series, the two lead actors in “Beef” – Steven Yeun and Ali Wong – won the best actor and actress awards, respectively. The awards marked the first Golden Globes win for both Yeun and Wong. In his speech after being named Best Male Actor in a Limited Series, K

Jan. 8, 2024

Multinational groups look to expand global scope of K-pop

In a bid to more actively target the global market, South Korea's major entertainment agencies are gearing up to debut increasingly diverse groups with multinational members. Katseye, a new girl group under Hybe, will debut in the US this year. The six-member group was created through “The Debut: Dream Academy,” a global audition show jointly conducted by Hybe and Geffen Records. Katseye's members hail from a range of different countries, including Switzerland, the Philippi

Jan. 8, 2024

Matthew Bourne’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ Simon Stone’s Korean production in LG Arts Center’s stellar lineup

Opened in October 2022, LG Arts Center Seoul last year celebrated the first anniversary of its relocation to Magok, Gangseo-gu, from Gangnam, attracting audiences totaling 290,000 over the year. The center recently unveiled the lineup for its contemporary music and performing arts series, "CoMPAS24," featuring 12 shows in dance, classical music and theater, with world-renowned artists from around the globe. Among the standout names headlining the season are renowned choreographer Matth

Jan. 7, 2024

[Herald Interview] Conductor behind 'Maestra' explores new musical territory

ㅡ In the recent TV drama series “Maestra,” South Korea’s prominent actor Lee Young-ae plays a charismatic conductor. Based on a 2018 French thriller “Philharmonia,” "Maestra" centers around world-class conductor, Cha Se-eum, who returns home to lead a local orchestra after conquering New York. Chin Sol, a young South Korean conductor, was responsible for Lee's transformation into a charismatic conductor in a space of a few months. “Actors seem

Jan. 7, 2024

Hybe’s new girl group I’ll-It to debut as 5-piece without Youngseo

I’ll-It, the soon-to-launch girl group from the K-pop powerhouse Hybe’s subsidiary Belift Lab, will debut as a five-piece instead of a sextet as announced earlier. Such change comes as one of the members, Youngseo, has left the agency. “Following in-depth discussions about future activities, Belift Lab and Youngseo have come to a mutual agreement to terminate the exclusive contract,” announced Belift Lab on the fan communication platform Weverse on Friday. “I’

Jan. 7, 2024

Celine Song’s ‘Past Lives’ named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics

Korean Canadian filmmaker and playwright Celine Song’s directorial debut, “Past Lives,” was named Best Picture of 2023 at the National Society of Film Critics Awards. “Past Lives,” a semi-autobiographical romantic drama film about Korean writer Nora (Greta Lee) living in New York who reunites with her childhood sweetheart, Hae-sung (Teo Yoo), after 20 years, won the top prize at the 58th annual awards. Other contenders were “Oppenheimer” and “The Z

Jan. 7, 2024