It was one of those beautiful spring mornings where everything on the street sparkled under the warm sunlight. Stepping into a small and cozy coffee shop located in Hapjeong-dong in Seoul, this reporter was greeted by an unusually warm smile and handshake from singer-songwriter Park Ki-young, who celebrates her 20th anniversary in the business this year. “I think my biggest strength is that I ha...

A Korean translator for “Avengers: Infinity War,” a Marvel superhero flick that has been conquering the Korean box office, has come under fire for the movie’s alleged mistranslations. The controversy surrounding Park Ji-hoon, who is well known for having translated other Marvel series such as “Captain America: The Winter Solider,” “Ant-Man” and “Avengers: Age of Wultron,” escalated Wednesday as ...

In her mid-30s, veteran actress Son Ye-jin has never felt so blissful in her career that spans more than a decade as she does now. It’s rare for an actress not to feel wistful about the end of a project, Son confessed. But this time with “Something in the Rain,” an ongoing JTBC hit series in which she takes a lead role, her time on the set has never been so delightful. “I’ve starred in many melo...

K-pop act Super Junior’s recent Latin-inspired single “Lo Siento” debuted at No. 13 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chart this week. According to Billboard on Tuesday, Super Junior became the first K-pop act to enter the chart with the trilingual single, which incorporates Spanish, Korean and English and features Latin pop star Leslie Grace and DJ duo Play N Skillz. The song has also hit...

Lovelyz “Healing” Loen Entertainment Unlike many K-pop competitors that juggle genres and concepts under pressure to keep impressing fans, Lovelyz has rarely stepped out of its pink wonderland, seemingly completely immune to any teardrops or sadness in life. For the first time, the eight-piece K-pop darlings soaked up a small drop of pain in its break-up song “That Day,” a lead track from the ...

Hwang Chi-yeol, one of the best-known tear-jerking balladeers in K-pop history, has returned with an ever-deeper voice to deliver emotion in a new EP. Drenched in heart-melting strings and melodies, Hwang’s second EP, “Be Myself,” is led by “The Only Star,” a poignant ballad displaying the singer’s romantic side. Likening his lover to his only star, he wails, “I only think about you. ... Why do...

Having captured the K-pop world’s attention with its vivacious “Ah Choo” signature tune, K-pop girl group Lovelyz returned as musical “healers” in its new EP. Lovelyz’s fourth EP “Healing,” released Monday, is an extension of the group’s representative twinkling synths which has been seen in the act’s previous hits “Ah-Choo” and “Now, We.” The difference is that Lovelyz sprinkled a bit more of f...

Netflix’s upcoming variety show “Busted!” starring comedian Yoo Jae-suk, is aiming at the global market. According to the popular global video-streaming platform, the show will feature seven celebrity sleuths tackling different mysteries in each episode. The star-studded cast of the show also includes EXO’s Sehun, Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Jong-min, Park Min-young, Ahn Jae-wook and Gugudan’s Kim Se-jeo...

Veteran singer Lee Moon-sae wrapped up the last leg of his world tour in New York on Friday, according to his agency KMOONfnd. During his performance in Lincoln Center in New York on Friday, Lee said, “This is my first visit in New York in four years. Thank you for greeting me as if I were your first love.” “I was happy being a singer, and it has been a tour that received more love than I expec...

Singer and rapper Yoon Mi-rae is set to release her new single “Kawi Bawi Bo” on Friday, according to her agency Feel Ghood Music Thursday. “Kawi Bawi Bo” will be a part of the artist’s upcoming album titled “Gemini2,” a long-anticipated follow-up of her previous album “Gemini” that came out in 2002. The song will talk about the power of strong-willed women, the agency said. A promotion image f...

Part six of “Solar Gamsung (sentiment)” will be released at 6 p.m. on April 24, extending the solo project for the K-pop singer. According to her agency RBW, the vocalist for Mamamoo will release four songs for the latest “Solar Gamsung” project, including music videos for all four songs. A remake of Mamamoo song “Star, Wind, Flower & Sun,” which was written by Solar herself, will be included. ...

Eric Nam “Honestly” CJ E&M Eric Nam may be one of the K-pop scene’s most underrated talents, whose pursuit of musical growth has been overshadowed by his public image as a “boy next door.” Despite his versatility, most of his previous work has been feel-good music, which eventually became somewhat lackluster gradually eliciting the response “Yes, this song is sweet, exactly like him.” But let...

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee, one of Korea’s leading classic film stars, died at the age of 91 Monday. According to local media reports, Choi passed away Monday afternoon when she went to hospital for kidney dialysis. She had been suffering from a kidney condition for years. Choi was widely known for being a doyenne of the Korean cinema in the 60s and 70s, but her life off the screen has been...

Changing one’s name is a big deal, as it means starting from scratch with a new identity. But soloist Cha Eun-sung, whose previous stage name was SuBin, said opening a new chapter of her career as a trot singer was more than delightful. “I’ve been singing since 2001, but it hasn’t been steady. But I will go back to basics with a mindset of a rookie so that I can sing for a long time,” said Cha d...

Comedian and broadcaster Jung Chan-woo has taken an indefinite hiatus from all activities due to a mental disorder. Jung broke the news himself Sunday during SBS Power FM radio show “2 O’clock Escape Cultwo Show,” which he has hosted alongside fellow comedian Kim Tae-gyun since 2006. Jung Chan-woo (Cultwo Entertainment) “I am not well now that I can’t bring joy to you. I think I should take...