Gyllenhal, Swinton to star in Bong Joon-ho’s new film: report

“Snowpiercer” director Bong Joon-ho is signing up top Hollywood stars for his upcoming monster flick. 　American entertainment outlet TheWrap reported Tuesday that Jake Gyllenhal, Paul Dano, Kelly Macdonald and Bill Nighy, in addition to the recently cast Tilda Swinton, are set to join Bong’s new feature “Okja.” Clockwise from top left: Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhal, Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald (OSEN)Earlier last week, Swinton revealed during the Busan International Film Festival that she woul

Oct. 6, 2015

Yoo Ah-in wants to act ‘erotic’

Rising actor Yoo Ah-in wants to act in an erotic film next, he said at the Busan International Film festival Saturday. "I know the fame I’m enjoying right now won’t last forever,” he said, referring to movies “Veteran” and “The Throne,” his recent consecutive box office hits that garnered millions of viewers.  Yoo Ah-in (Instagram)“Veteran,” a crime-action flick released in August, toppled the cumulative sales record of Hollywood movie “Avatar” and took the place of third best-selling film in Ko

Oct. 5, 2015

iKON’s new album dominates charts

 Rookie group iKON’s latest EP, “Welcome Back,” topped major Korean and international charts immediately after its release Thursday. 　The six-track EP nabbed the top spot on iTunes’ albums charts in 11 regions, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. 　The EP’s lead track “Rhythm Ta” ranked No. 1 on eight local charts, including Genie, Olleh, Naver and Soribada. Other songs from the album, “Airplane,” “Welcome Back,” “My Type” and “Today,” also ranked high

Oct. 1, 2015

October TV dramas feature trending actors

Yoo Ah-in to return to small screen in ‘Six Flying Dragons’ alongside Shin Se-kyung Actor Yoo Ah-in, the lead star of latest Korean box-office hits “Veteran” and “The Throne” will return to the small screen this month. In addition, other upcoming TV dramas feature rising actors Nam Joo-hyuk, Yook Sung-jae and more. Following is a roundup of the upcoming dramas that you can look out for.◆ Yoo Ah-in in “Six Flying Dragons” Monday-Tuesday 10 p.m. on SBS Premiering on Oct. 5 Yoo Ah-in (left) and Shi

Oct. 1, 2015

K-pop Herald notches up 300,000 likes on Facebook

 Within a year since its launch, K-pop Herald (www.kpopherald.com) has hit 300,000 likes on its Facebook page, establishing itself as the go-to website for the most credible, up-to-date news and information in English on Korea’s pop culture trends and entertainment scene. 　The K-pop Herald crossed the milestone on its first anniversary on Sept. 24, and, as of Wednesday, the website has 304,168 followers on its Facebook page. K-pop Herald websiteRun by the nation’s No. 1 English news outlet, The

Sept. 30, 2015

'Gunhamdo,’ director Ryoo’s next film, to begin shooting next summer

Director Ryoo Seung-wan of hit-film “Veteran” said his next film on Hashima Island (“Battleship Island”) will begin shooting from next summer. Hashima is an outlying island abandoned by Japan off the coast of Nagasaki, where countless Koreans were drafted into forced labor during World War II to work in dangerous conditions. Director Ryoo Seung-wan (left) with actor Hwang Jung-min (CJ Entertainment)“This film will show the draftees escaping from the island,” Ryoo said. Early reports have noted t

Sept. 30, 2015

Kangta to release new album

Singer Kangta, a former member of ’90s K-pop group H.O.T., will release a new album in January, local news reported Thursday. 　The 35-year-old singer, who has been busy with acting projects in China, will return to the local music scene with the upcoming album. Kangta (OSEN)“He started recording the new album with a January release date in mind,” an industry insider was quoted as saying in the report. 　The upcoming album arrives eight years after his “Eternity” EP from 2008, which was released r

Sept. 24, 2015

Lee Min-ho, Suzy deny breakup

Hallyu power couple Lee Min-ho and Suzy on Tuesday denied reports that they were no longer together. 　“They are still dating,” their respective management agencies said.  Lee Min-ho (left) and Suzy (OSEN)Earlier on Tuesday, a local news outlet broke the news that the two recently parted ways, ending their six-month relationship. The reason given for the split was their busy schedule, said the daily, citing the acquaintances of the two.Lee, 27, and Suzy, 20, confirmed their romantic relationship

Sept. 22, 2015

Ailee to drop new album

YMC Entertainment said Monday that singer Ailee will drop her first full-length album on Sept. 30. (YMC Entertainment)The album contains 10 tracks, which will clearly show her music style, it said.Before her official debut, Ailee entered the entertainment industry by taking part in KBS TV drama “Dream High 2” in 2012. She began her music career by dropping single “Heaven” in the same year and has put out an array of hits, such as “I’ll Show You,” “Don‘t Touch Me” and “U&I.”The singer recently in

Sept. 21, 2015

Kim Hye-soo joins star-studded ‘Signal’

Veteran actors Kim Hye-soo, Jo Jin-woong and Lee Je-hoon have confirmed their roles in the upcoming cable TV drama “Signal.” 　　With the first installment slated for January next year, “Signal” has grabbed public attention from its infancy as a collaboration between “Ghost” screenwriter Kim Eun-hee and “Misaeng” director Kim Won-seok. 　 (OSEN)　The star cast of seasoned actress Kim Hye-soo, actor Jo Jin-woong from 10-million-plus-viewer movies “Roaring Currents” and “Assassination” and rising rook

Sept. 21, 2015

So Yoo-jin, Baek Jong-won welcome baby girl

Actress So Yoo-jin gave birth to a baby girl, her management agency said Monday. 　  (So Yoo-jin's Instagram)　Star-J Entertainment said both the mother and her second baby were in good health, adding that So would return to work late this year or early next year. 　　So, 34, married celebrity chef Baek Jong-won, 15 years her senior, in January 2013. The two had their first child, a boy, in April last year. 　By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

Sept. 21, 2015

Kim Hyun-joong to ‘take responsibilty’ for baby from ex-girlfriend

Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong on Thursday said he will take full responsibility for the newborn baby born to his ex-girlfriend if the paternity test shows he is the father, putting a fresh spin on the dragged-out legal dispute between the former couple.  Lawyer Lee Jae-man represents Kim Hyun-joong at press conference held Thursday. (The Korea Herald/ Lim Jeong-yeo)　Kim, who began his mandatory military service in mid-May, expressed his intention to uphold his personal responsibility through h

Sept. 17, 2015

Cho Yong-pil to hold national concert tour

Veteran singer Cho Yong-pil is set to hold a concert tour from November through December, ending a two-year hiatus. Cho, 65, will kick off his tour in Daegu on Nov. 14, followed by performances in Ilsan on Nov. 21, Gwangju on Nov. 28, Busan on Dec. 5 and Seoul on Dec. 12. (Cho Yong-pil's official website)Cho, who debuted in the ’70s, has a slew of hit songs over his four decades of celebrated career in music, including “The Woman Outside the Window,” “A Friend,” “Mona Lisa,” “Bounce” and “Hello.

Sept. 17, 2015

Mamamoo drops new single

Rookie girl group Mamamoo, who topped local charts with their latest song “Um Oh Ah Yeah,” released the new single “Girl Crush” on Wednesday. 　The new song was created for the soundtrack of the new online game “Innisia Nest,” developed by local game company Entermate. The women of the group have also been cast as models for the upcoming game.  Mamamoo (Loen Entertainment)　The retro-pop “Girl Crush” was written and composed by Park Woo-sang, who worked on the group’s previous soundtrack work “Lov

Sept. 16, 2015

Lee Seung-hwan to release new album

Veteran singer Lee Seung-hwan will release new EP “3+3,“ Dream Factory, his agency, said Wednesday. Having released the album “Fall to Fly” in March last year, he will return to the music scene, ending a 18-month hiatus. The upcoming album contains three new tracks along with three previously released tracks.  (Dream Factory)Before dropping his album, Lee will prerelease Monday one of the tracks, “That One Person,” which was featured on the soundtrack of KBS TV drama “Discovery of Love” in 2014.

Sept. 16, 2015

iKON makes chart-topping debut

K-pop boy group iKON made its much-awaited debut Tuesday with the single “My Type,” which was topping all major charts immediately after its midnight release. 　Medium tempo hip-hop track “My Type” ranked No.1 on eight local charts, including Melon, Genie and Olleh. 　The song also nabbed the top spot on iTunes’ singles chart in seven regions, including Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. 　iKON is the newest act from YG Entertainment, home to K-pop heavyweights from Big Bang and Psy

Sept. 15, 2015

Jonghyun to drop self-composed album

Jonghyun of SHINee will release a self-composed, self-written EP on Thursday. 　The nine-track album, titled “Story Op. 1,” includes the lead track “End of the Day,” a ballad highlighting Jonghyun’s warm and soft vocals and piano melody.  Jonghyun (SM Entertainment)Jonghyun, who is a disc jockey for MBC music radio show “Blue Night,” revealed his self-written songs on a special program on the radio station titled “Blue Night Lyrics, That Man’s Composition.” The songs that were introduced in the p

Sept. 14, 2015

JYJ Junsu to release solo album

  (C-Jes Entertainment)　 Junsu, a member of K-pop group JYJ, is set to release a solo album in October and to hold an Asian tour, C-Jes Entertainment said. “Junsu has gained a lot of popularity both in and outside the country by releasing three regular albums, successfully pulling off his solo career,” said a representative from C-Jes Entertainment. Junsu sold a record 120,000 copies of his album “Tarantallegra” after making his solo debut and successfully completing a world tour. His third albu

Sept. 14, 2015

Director Ryoo Seung-wan mulls sequel to ‘Veteran’

Director Ryoo Seung-wan on Wednesday said he is considering making a sequel to his hit film “Veteran,” which sold more than 12 million tickets. "We’re currently researching what social issues the public is interested in and what kind of individual they are curious to know more about,” Ryoo told reporters. (CJ Entertainment)The high-flying “Veteran” portrayed a seasoned investigator’s struggle and cathartic victory in uncovering criminal acts of a corrupt corporate heir. Kang Hye-jeong, CEO of Fi

Sept. 10, 2015

Rain parts ways with agency

South Korean singer and actor Rain has decided to part ways with his agency Cube Entertainment. (OSEN)“After a long discussion with Hong Seung-sung, head of the agency, I decided to leave Cube Entertainment. I want to thank him for all the support he has given, and I will announce my future plans as soon as I can,” said Rain on his Instagram on Monday.After finishing his mandatory military service, the 34-year-old joined Cube Entertainment in 2013.He is currently starring in the Chinese TV drama

Sept. 7, 2015