Choi Jong-jin, a CG supervisor at Weta FX, the leading visual effects company in the industry, dedicated significant effort to crafting the realistic and stunning water scenes in the 2022 blockbuster "Avatar: The Way of Water." “The scale of CG work for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ surpassed anything I’ve encountered in previous films. Two-thirds of all shots in the movie involve water,” Choi explained. “We typically start by shooting reference clips w

Arts & Design Oct. 9, 2024

“AI is not a Genie of the Lamp -- it’s more like Jarvis, the intelligent assistant from Iron Man,” Ahn Chang-wook said during his keynote speech at the Herald Design Forum in Seoul on Tuesday. Ahn, a professor at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and the creator of South Korea’s first AI composer, EvoM, highlighted the supportive role AI can play in the creative process. EvoM, trained to write music at a level comparable to human composers, is one of the wor

Arts & Design Oct. 9, 2024

“Come Back Home” echoed through the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, on Sunday evening, sparking ecstatic cheers from fans as all four members of the iconic K-pop girl group 2NE1 took to the stage for their first concert in over a decade. The group, comprising Sandara Park, CL, Park Bom and Minzy, dazzled in their signature eclectic outfits that have long defined their unique style. CL sported a striking red jacket with a large red ribbon, while Sandara Park showcased a bold bole

K-pop Oct. 7, 2024

To celebrate the release of "Moon Music," a drone light show featuring 1,000 drones will light up the night sky at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Friday to celebrate the release of British pop band Coldplay's latest LP, "Moon Music," the same day. Music producer Max Martin, who has been working with Coldplay as a co-writer and producer since Coldplay’s 2014 album “Ghost Stories,” also took part in producing the 10-track album. The track listing inclu

K-pop Oct. 4, 2024

Seventeen is set to unveil a revamped “Seventeen Street” event from Oct. 16-25 in Apgujeong, southern Seoul. Pledis Entertainment on Thursday shared a guidebook on the global fan platform Weverse detailing the offline event, which it is calling "Seventeen Street in Apgujeong." This year, the space will embrace themes of "Feel" and "Fill," aligning with the release of Seventeen's upcoming album, "Spill the Feels." Visitors can expect a vari

K-pop Oct. 4, 2024

A wave of major K-pop artists are gearing up to reenter the music scene after completing their mandatory military service. Monsta X’s Minhyuk was the first of the bunch, officially concluding his military service on Thursday. Of the six bandmates of Monsta X, only Shownu and Minhyuk have completed their duties thus far, with the group expected to be fully reunited next year. Ong Seongwu, a singer and actor known for his debut via season two of Mnet’s "Produce 101" as part o

K-pop Oct. 4, 2024

G-Dragon of the legendary K-pop group Big Bang is set to make his talk show debut on tvN’s “You Quiz On The Block” in time for his much-anticipated comeback this month. According to tvN, the episode featuring G-Dragon was recorded Wednesday and is scheduled to air later this month. In this episode, he will share insights about his journey as a member of Big Bang, his experiences as a solo K-pop artist and his long break from music. He is also expected to address the illegal dru

K-pop Oct. 3, 2024

Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), the largest music copyright management organization in the country, plans to prioritize raising copyright awareness through active promotion, rather than taking legal action against gym owners not compliant with the copyright music regulation. KOMCA Chair Chu Ga-yeoul recently visited 11 centers across the country responsible for collecting music copyright fees from gyms, collecting on-site complaints. “Creating an environment where copyright ho

K-pop Oct. 2, 2024

Rose, a member of the iconic K-pop girl group Blackpink, is set to release her first full-length solo album more than eight years after her debut. The Black Label, the singer's agency, announced Wednesday that Rose's first studio album “Rosie” would be released Dec. 6. The title of the album, "Rosie,” is Rose's nickname. The album is expected to reflect the singer's identity, generating expectations that she would share her personal stories and experien

K-pop Oct. 2, 2024

Jennie, a member of the renowned K-pop girl group Blackpink who is also a successful solo artist, is making her highly anticipated return with a new single, “Mantra,” on Oct. 11. This comeback comes for the first time in a year since her last solo digital single, “You & Me,” which was released in October 2023, according to her agency, OA Entertainment. Jennie shared the news on Tuesday on her official website and provided links for fans to presave the upcoming track o

K-pop Oct. 1, 2024

K-pop boy group Vanner returns to the music scene with its third EP, “Burn,” on Monday, in which it sings about the hardships that youth face on their journeys to realize their dreams. Such difficulties are familiar to the group that debuted in 2019, shortly before COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a standstill. "We did not get a chance to perform. But winning on JTBC’s idol survival program ‘Peak Time’ last year, we began to garner a lot of love from the pub

K-pop Sept. 30, 2024

Popular K-pop boy group Ateez is set to continue its world tour, “Towards the Light: Will to Power,” in Europe. According to KQ Entertainment, Ateez will be visiting nine countries in Europe for a total of 12 shows from January to February 2025, kicking off the European leg of its world tour in France. It will be the first time for Ateez to perform standalone concerts in Lyon, Zurich, Manchester, Barcelona and Cologne. Ateez will make history as the first K-pop artist to hold a stand

K-pop Sept. 29, 2024

Listening Room by Ode at The Hyundai Seoul Visitors can easily spend hours exploring major international brands and local shops at The Hyundai Seoul, Seoul's largest department store and pop-up store mecca. Among all the shops, entertainment facilities and restaurants vying for attention, be sure not to miss Listening Room by Ode when visiting the mall. Located on the second basement floor near the main escalator, the shop welcomes music lovers with colorful LPs and record players. Visitors

Culture Sept. 27, 2024

K-pop girl group Kiss of Life is gearing up for a new release next month, following its impressive summer hit “Sticky,” a digital single with an infectious Afrobeat rhythm. S2 Entertainment announced Wednesday that the group will drop “Lose Yourself,” its third EP, on Oct. 15. Leading up to the album's release, a prerelease track is set to launch Oct. 4. The announcement came with a teaser image shared on the group’s official social media channels, featuring th

K-pop Sept. 25, 2024

Super Junior-D&E, a duo consisting of Donghae and Eunhyuk of legendary K-pop boy group Super Junior, made its much-anticipated return with the release of “Inevitable.” The mini-album dropped Wednesday on various online music platforms, marking the beginning of their latest promotional activities. The title track, “Go High,” is a hip hop-based song featuring a powerful blend of drums and bass. With witty lyrics that express the duo's adventurous spirit and reflect

K-pop Sept. 25, 2024