The Korea Herald

[Photo News] K-pop flashmob dance in Brazil

K-POP IN BRAZIL -- About 200 people, including members of “Viva Coreia,” a group of hallyu fans, perform a K-pop flash mob dance in Sao Paulo on April 27, 100 days before the opening of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. (Yonhap)

April 28, 2016

[Photo News] K-pop flashmob dance in Brazil

Top stars make cameo appearances in TV dramas

Top Korean stars including Yoo Ah-in, Lee Kwang-soo, Zo In-sung and Park Shin-hye, are playing cameo roles in TV dramas, stealing the show despite their brief appearances. 　In the hit TV drama “Descendants of the Sun,” which ended on April 14, three actors made cameo appearances, thanks to their friendship with the cast and staff members. Song Joong-ki (left) and Lee Kwang-soo in “Descendants of the Sun” (NEW)　Actor Lee Kwang-soo, who is a close friend to the drama’s lead, Song Joong-ki, appear

April 28, 2016

Top stars make cameo appearances in TV dramas

Park Hae-jin depicted on Chinese stamps

Actor Park Hae-jin will be featured on Chinese postage stamps, Chinese media reported Monday.　The stamps are part of the Dream China project jointly organized by China’s Ministry of Communications and China Post to recognize the 100 most influential cultural figures in China.Chinese postage stamps featuring Korean actor Park Hae-jin (Mountain Movement)　Though other Korean stars have had their faces on limited editions of Chinese stamps, Park is the first Korean to be on Chinese stamps that are r

April 18, 2016

Park Hae-jin wins best male actor award in China

South Korean actor Park Hae-jin won “Male Actor of the Year” at a Chinese award ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday, his management company said Friday. 　Park achieved the feat for his lead role in the Chinese TV series “Far Away Love.” It is his second win at the awards, organized by Chinese technology and online video company Leshi Internet Information & Technology, known as LeEco, or Letv. He last won the “Asia’s Star” award in 2012 for his role in the Chinese show roughly translated as “Chen Du

April 15, 2016

Park Hae-jin wins best male actor award in China

‘Descendants of the Sun’ ends with record rating

The final episode of “Descendants of the Sun” had a record viewership of 38.8 percent, an all-time high for the KBS hit drama, according to Nielsen Korea. In Seoul alone, it scored higher rating of 44.2 percent, according to the data agency. The drama had a happy ending, living up to expectations of many viewers. Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) reunites with Army Capt. Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), who went missing for a year during a mission overseas. Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo), who

April 15, 2016

‘Descendants of the Sun’ ends with record rating

Actress, boy band to promote hallyu in China

South Korean actress Ha Ji-won and five-member boy band WINNER will help promote the spread of hallyu, or the Korean Wave, in China as ambassadors of Korean products and contents this year, the trade ministry said Thursday.According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Ha and the K-pop idol group have been named ambassadors of the Shenyang-Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo 2016 (KBEE 2016) to be held in Shenyang from May 12-14.Some 100 Kor

April 14, 2016

Park Hae-jin appears on cover of Chinese fashion magazine

South Korean actor Park Hae-jin was made a cover model for a Chinese fashion magazine, his talent agency said on Tuesday. Park, 33, appeared on the cover of the May edition of "Yizhou," followed by a photo spread and interview, Mountain Movement said. The heartthrob played the lead character Shen An in "Far Away Love," a Chinese television series that recently aired. Thanks to his prolific acting career at home and in China, Park was nominated for best actor at the upcoming 2016 LETV Movie and D

April 12, 2016

TWICE's Tsuyu may enter South Korean high school: JYP

A Taiwanese member of South Korean girl group TWICE may enroll in a South Korean high school in May, the K-pop band's agency said on Tuesday. Tsuyu, 17, took the entrance exam and had an interview on Monday for the late admissions of an arts high school located in Seoul, JYP Entertainment said. The teen singer is eligible for the May admissions, as she obtained a completion certificate of junior high curriculum from home last month.Under the current South Korean regulations, high schools are ope

April 12, 2016

Choi Soo-young of Girls' Generation to appear on 'Perfect Sense'

Choi Soo-young, a member of the popular K-pop girl group "Girls' Generation," has been cast in a KBS TV soap opera aimed at improving the perception of physical disabilities, the network said on Monday.The terrestrial network said the 26-year-old singer will appear in "Perfect Sense," a one-off special show produced to enhance the general public's understanding of the challenges and social prejudice faced by handicapped people."Perfect Sense" is the 8th in an annual series of co-produced TV dram

April 11, 2016

Actress Go Ara tapped as face of Korea's Air Force

Go Ara, the leading actress in the sensational nostalgic drama "Reply 1994," will represent South Korea's Air Force as its latest honorary ambassador, the Air Force said Monday.The 26-year-old actress will serve as the face of the Air Force over the next year, appearing on promotional Air Force publications and attending key public events.Go is the daughter of a career service member, who served for nearly 30 years with the Air Force, and her appointment reflected this background, the Air Force

April 11, 2016

Visitors flock to Korean booth at LA book festival

Visitors continued to drop by the Korean booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Sunday, many of them younger people attracted to Korean culture amid "hallyu," or the worldwide popularity of Korean pop music and TV dramas.The annual book fair, which is in its 21st year, opened Saturday for a two-day run on the University of Southern California campus. About 300 publishing firms are participating in the event, with some 150,000 people expected to visit.On display at the Korean booth s

April 11, 2016

Psy to appear at China Music Awards

South Korean pop star Psy has been invited to China's major music awards show that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, an entertainment source said Friday. Psy, 39, is on the 2016 China Music Awards roster, along with K-pop idol bands that include VIXX, iKON and KNK, and Chinese pop stars Wang Lihong and Lin Junjie, the source said on the condition of anonymity.Launched in 1994, the awards program recognizes talented singers throughout Asia.2015 was a fruitful year for Psy, who actively e

April 8, 2016

Super Junior Choi Si-won's fans donate wells to Myanmar and Cambodia

Fans of Choi Si-won from K-pop boy band Super Junior have made donations to build wells in Myanmar and Cambodia, a nonprofit organization said Friday.The Seoul-based Worldshare said, with the donations, a well will be dug in Myanmar and another one in Cambodia to commemorate the singer's 31st birthday.The fan clubs from 11 countries, including China, Japan, Mexico and Egypt, donated the money in the name of "A Well of Love."The association of the fan clubs said they wanted to do something meanin

April 8, 2016

AOA, TWICE, 2PM to headline KCON 2016 Japan

South Korean bands AOA, TWICE and 2PM will headline KCON Japan, that country's edition of the world's largest convention on all things "hallyu," or the worldwide popularity of Korean culture, organizers said Friday.This year's KCON Japan will consist of a convention displaying merchandise related to Korean culture, a meet-and-greet with select stars, a red carpet event and a concert that night, CJ E&M said.The lineup for Saturday's "KCON 2016 Japan X M Countdown" concert includes AOA, INFINITE's

April 8, 2016

GOT7 returns with eight-track album 'Flight Log: Departure'

Multinational boy band GOT7 released a new mini album, “Flight Log: Departure,” including one of its title tracks “Fly,” at midnight Sunday. 　Another title for the eight-track album, “Home Run,” has not been made public yet. 　The comeback was announced Feb. 26 by Korean music industry giant JYP Entertainment, home to the budding seven-member band.　Its members contributed to writing lyrics and composing songs, according to JYP Entertainment.Multinational septet boy band GOT7 (JYP Entertainment)　

March 21, 2016

GOT7 returns with eight-track album 'Flight Log: Departure'

Viewers to choose ending in new Web drama ‘Click Your Heart’

In the new Web drama series “Click Your Heart,” released Thursday, viewers will be given a chance to choose the ending they want. The Web drama, featuring Kwon Mina of AOA and nine rookies of FNC Entertainment, will allow viewers to select from two stories of different casts and endings, a novel approach in the Web drama format. "It’s my first time acting in a Web drama with two different endings. I had a great time shooting with the actors and director Min Doo-sik,” said Kwon at a press confere

March 17, 2016

Viewers to choose ending in new Web drama ‘Click Your Heart’

Jung Woo-sung duped into financial scam

Actor Jung Woo-sung was talked into an investment fraud by a television scriptwriter, local media reported on Wednesday. 　The 46-year-old scriptwriter, surnamed Park, was arrested Wednesday on charges of fraud, after a group of investors filed a lawsuit against the writer, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.　The writer is accused of having defrauded 2.3 billion won ($1.96 million) from acquaintances, claiming the money would be invested in a private equity fund used by m

March 17, 2016

‘K-pop Academy’ to open at Korean cultural centers abroad

Korean cultural centers overseas will soon offer K-pop courses for foreigners, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said. 　These courses will take place under the “K-pop Academy,” which aims to promote hallyu. The academies are scheduled to open at 20 Korean cultural centers in 18 countries, including China and the U.S. 　The first academy opened at the Korean Cultural Center in Shanghai on Tuesday.　Professors from Sejong University and Howon University will give vocal and dance lessons a

March 15, 2016

[Hallyu Power] Digipedi, the duo behind some of K-pop’s oddest videos

This is the seventh article in a series that explores the driving forces behind hallyu and the global rise of Korean pop culture. --Ed.　Seong Won-mo and Park Sang-woo of Digipedi (Digital Pedicure) have risen to become one of the most sought-after K-pop music video production teams, ever since they produced and directed their first music video for Dynamic Duo’s single “Complex” in 2007. 　The two, who have been best friends since elementary school, have taken their airtight bromance and love of

March 8, 2016

[Hallyu Power] Digipedi, the duo behind some of K-pop’s oddest videos

K-pop festival headed to Abu Dhabi

The KCON hallyu fest making its way to Abu Dhabi will feature performances by headlining acts BTS, Girls’ Generation’s Tae Yeon and Kyu Hyun of Super Junior, according to an announcement by CJ E&M on Tuesday. 　The annual K-pop convention, first launched in 2012 in California as the world’s largest K-pop festival, has been held mainly in the U.S. and Japan. However, this year the festivities will be held for the first time in the Middle East from March 25 at the massive Du Arena in Abu Dhabi.BTS

Feb. 23, 2016