[Today’s K-pop] Itzy to return next month including Lia: report

Itzy will return in October as a full group, local media reported Wednesday. Lia, as label JYP Entertainment told fans in July, will resume activities starting with the new album as her condition has improved significantly. She has been taking a break due to anxiety. The group’s last album in Korea was its eighth EP “Born To Be” which came out in January. Its latest was “Algorhythm,” its third single in Japan, which came out in May. Itzy wrapped up its second inte

Sept. 4, 2024

K-pop agencies hop on the virtual artist bandwagon

The entertainment industry continues to be captivated by the virtual K-pop artist phenomenon, despite initial skepticism that it would fade into obscurity like the once-popular notions of the metaverse and NFTs. As virtual idols are increasingly being recognized beyond the niche market, major K-pop agencies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe are entering the virtual artist market, aiming to replicate the success of virtual groups like Vlast's Plave. Jumping on the bandwagon SM Entertainment

Sept. 4, 2024

Adaptation of Dutch best-seller ‘A Normal Family’ highlights ‘Korean’ elements

Dutch author Herman Koch’s best-seller novel “The Dinner,” which has been adapted into films around the world three times already, becomes “A Normal Family” in the hands of director Hur Jin-ho, who said he has highlighted “Korean elements.” Hur, the director behind the country’s legendary 1998 romance flick “Christmas in August,” marks his return to the silver screen with the adaption. His latest work was the JTBC series “Lost&rdq

Sept. 4, 2024

'The Devil's Plan Season 2' to return bigger with games devised by fans

Jung Jong-yeon, producer of the hit Netflix survival game series "The Devil's Plan," said the series' second season has been upgraded to showcase an intricately designed filming set, alongside games created by some of his most dedicated fans. In its first season, "The Devil's Plan" brought together 12 contestants, including actors, doctors and YouTubers, to compete in a battle of wit and strategy. Upon its release in September 2023, the show quickly gained glob

Sept. 4, 2024

Netflix Korean period film ‘Uprising’ to open 29th BIFF

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will open the 29th Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 2, the first time for a streaming platform movie to open Asia’s largest film festival. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. The period film stars Gang Dong-won, in the role of C

Sept. 3, 2024

Is Ador moving to isolate Min Hee-jin?

Ador may be taking steps to distance NewJeans from the influence of former CEO Min Hee-jin, as her close associate and director behind the music videos for “ETA” and “Ditto,” Shin Woo-seok, announced Monday that he would cease collaboration with the group. In May, Shin had submitted a petition opposing Min's dismissal as Ador's CEO. Shin revealed that the Hybe-owned label recently requested that he remove all NewJeans-related content from his production company

Sept. 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin hits 100m views with ‘Super Tuna’ dance video

The performance video for “Supertuna,” a solo song from Jin of BTS, surpassed the 100 million milestone on YouTube as of Monday, according to label Big Hit Music on Tuesday. The artist uploaded the video in December 2021 to celebrate his birthday with his fans. Donning denim overalls and a T-shirt with a tuna he drew himself, he danced on a beach in Los Angeles. Inspired by his hobby, fishing, Jin’s self-written song “Supertuna” was officially released the following

Sept. 3, 2024

'River and Liver' sets stage for surrealism in Seoul

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to stage the surrealist "River and Liver" from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19 at the Myeongdong Theater in Seoul. Written by Dong I-hyang, the play won the 14th Cha Beom-seok Award in 2020. The script was recognized for its rhythmic, ping-pong-like dialogue, fragmented scenes and surreal situations. The story centers on L, a middle-aged woman living in an old home overlooking the Han River with her husband, O. Her life takes a bizarre turn as strange o

Sept. 3, 2024

Yoo Ah-in sentenced to one year in prison for drug abuse

Actor Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to one year in prison by the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday for repeated drug use. The court ordered Yoo's immediate detention after handing down the sentence, which included a one-year prison term, a 2 million won fine ($1,489) and a surcharge of 1.54 million won. Yoo was ordered to pay a surcharge for the value of items obtained illegally. "Prescription narcotics, like propofol, are tightly controlled because of their potential for dependence an

Sept. 3, 2024

Loossemble unveils dynamic love story, US tour

Loossemble returned with a third mini-album “TTYL,” only four months after the group dropped its second mini-album “One of a Kind.” The new album with the theme “We have endless love for you,” embraces a wide range of emotions and thoughts. “The lyrics contain a lot of push-and-pull dynamics in love, and we wanted to express the keyword ‘diversity’ through the various forms of love and emotions that arise from it. We wanted to include a broad

Sept. 3, 2024

Producer Teddy’s girl group MEOVV to debut Friday

K-pop agency The Black Label’s first girl group, Meovv, is set to debut on Friday. The agency announced the date of the group’s debut on its official social media by dropping Meovv’s debut trailer Monday evening. The trailer shows all five members of Meovv walking in chic black outfits like models on a runway, toward a stage in the middle of nowhere. Meovv has signed a partnership agreement with Capitol Records, a renowned label under Universal Music Group, raising expectations

Sept. 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] An unwanted guest, chaos and solace in 'The Frog'

The director of Netflix's original thriller "The Frog" said he aimed to offer solace to viewers by sharing the stories of those who encounter sudden calamities and suffer deep isolation, their plight ignored by those around them. "The Frog" is an 8-part mystery thriller centered on Young-ha (Kim Yun-seok), who operates a pension in the woods. Seeking a quiet life away from the world, Young-ha's peace is shattered by the arrival of a mysterious guest, Sung-ah (Go Min

Sept. 3, 2024

NewJeans members express distress over label's CEO change

Six days after the dismissal of Min Hee-jin as CEO of their label, ADOR, members of the K-pop girl group NewJeans broke their silence on the issue, expressing concerns and emotional distress. "Since the CEO was dismissed, it's been difficult in many ways and we have a lot of concerns. For a while, I was in a state of mental breakdown and very anxious," member Danielle was quoted as saying on "Phoning," a dedicated mobile app for the group's fans, on Monday by indust

Sept. 3, 2024

[History through films] ‘The Man Standing Next’: President’s assassination revisited

The 2020 suspenseful history flick “The Man Standing Next” revisits one of the most pivotal incidents in Korea’s modern history: the 1979 presidential assassination. The late President Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years, is a highly debated figure in the country’s history. So is his right-hand man Kim Jae-gyu, the then director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency who pulled the trigger against Park. More than 40 years have passed an

Sept. 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Onew of SHINee steps outside comfort zone

For Onew, who debuted as a member of the legendary K-pop boy group SHINee in 2008 at 18, buying tickets for public transportation while on a trip was something he had never done by himself until recently. “I’ve never traveled by myself before visiting Vienna a few months ago. It was the first time that I made reservations for accommodations and bought train tickets by myself. That’s when it hit me that I was just a frog in the well knowing nothing of the ocean. I wanted to expl

Sept. 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM collabs with Megan Thee Stallion

RM of BTS will be featured in Megan Thee Stallion’s upcoming single “Neva Play,” due out Friday. The American rapper announced the news on her Instagram with a poster fashioned after a comic book cover of herself showing off blue hair and counting money with RM in the back looking over his shoulder. “This is one of my favorite RM verses I’ve heard! I’ve never heard him rap in this style before,” she wrote adding a smiling emoji with sunglasses. They firs

Sept. 2, 2024

[Herald Review] Stray Kids open new chapter with world tour ‘dominATE’ heavy on drama

A gigantic pair of silver lips was projected onto the main screen, and as they parted, Stray Kids emerged from within, dressed in silver stage costumes. The audience erupted in an ear-splitting cheer as the eight-member K-pop boy group kicked off the final day of their four-day concert at the Kspo Dome in Seoul on Sunday with “Mountains,” a Side-B track from their latest mini-album, "ATE." Stray Kids took center stage, flanked by a mega dance crew that filled the stage. &ld

Sept. 2, 2024

K-pop groups face dilemmas when confronted with political issues

K-pop idols continue to grapple with navigating geopolitical controversies, as highlighted by a recent incident involving JYP Entertainment's K-pop group Nmixx. The group performed part of “Dokdo is Our Land” in a YouTube video on Aug. 22, sparking a heated dispute between Korean and Japanese fans. The incident raised a critical question: Should K-pop bands refrain from addressing political issues, or should they be candid about their political positions? Japan has claimed sover

Sept. 2, 2024

Young Seoulite’s love, friendships explored in ‘Love in the Big City’

When it was published in 2019, “Love in the Big City” gained popularity for its refreshingly frank portrayal of Seoul’s queer scene, gaining international recognition when it made the International Booker Prize longlist in 2022. Now Park Sang-young’s bestseller has been adapted as a movie following the friendship of two young Seoulites: Jae-hee and Heung-soo, who know and understand each other better than anyone else -- even themselves. Kim Go-eun, who impressed critics a

Sept. 2, 2024

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck to drop new album

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck, known for his warm lyrics and melodies, is releasing a new album after four years. The album "I Hate Alcohol" will be released at the end of September, according to Lee Juck's agency Music Farm Entertainment. His sixth studio album "Trace" was released in 2020. The album release will be followed by a concert entitled "Lee Juck's Songs" taking place Oct. 17 to 20 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Sept. 2, 2024