Articles by Song Seung-hyun
Song Seung-hyun
ssh@heraldcorp.com-
Spotify Korea hopes to push personalized music discoveries
With Spotify’s new launch into Korea, the music streaming platform hopes it can spearhead change in how Koreans listen to and discover music with more personalized curations. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Managing Director of Spotify Korea David Park said he hopes users can find joy from discovering new music through the platform’s curating algorithm, instead of relying solely on music chart rankings. “It’s been only a week since we launched the platform and w
Performance Feb. 16, 2021
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'Night in Paradise' skips theaters to release on Netflix in April
“Night in Paradise” by director Park Hoon-jung is set to be released on Netflix on April 9. In announcing the release date Tuesday, Netflix said the film would be available to stream in 190 countries. Starring actors Eom Tae-goo, Cha Seung-won and Jeon Yeo-been, the film depicts a story of a man who becomes a target of an organized crime group and a woman who sees no hope in life. Actor Lee Ki-young and Park Ho-san also star in Park’s new crime film. “Night in Paradis
Film Feb. 16, 2021
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New Culture Minister floats rapid virus test to support industry
Visiting theaters in Daehangno Sunday, new Culture Minister Hwang Hee suggested testing audiences with rapid coronavirus tests, as part of measures to prop up the hard-hit sector. Hwang suggested establishing two temporary centers in the art neighborhood for rapid polymerase chain reaction testing, which is currently under review by authorities. If the audiences can be tested right before using the facilities, the theaters would be able to operate without the one-seat-apart social distancing r
Culture Feb. 15, 2021
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Hong Sang-soo to compete at Berlinale with ‘Introduction’
Award-winning director Hong Sang-soo’s 25th feature film, “Introduction,” will be part of the competition section at the 71st Berlin Film Festival. “We are delighted to welcome one of the most ingenious writers in the film industry again. Director Hong Sang-soo’s work presents great joy and challenge to the audience,” Berlin Film Festival Executive Chairman Carlo Umberto Chatrian said in a statement. “Director Hong’s work deepens the understandi
Film Feb. 15, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Korean celebrities divided on Clubhouse
With the rise of US social media app Clubhouse, Korean celebrities also quickly hopped on the trend to socialize with their celebrity acquaintances as well as fans. Developed by California-based startup Alpha Exploration, the buzzy app is a new type of social network based on voice. The platform allows users to start and join its unique group chat room. Creators of the room and few others that are chosen by the creators can talk freely in this conversation room, while others listen. These li
Culture Feb. 14, 2021
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Movies for your soul during Seollal holiday
Films that aim to refresh moviegoers who are exhausted by the pandemic are dominating the screens during the Lunar New Year holiday, widely known as Seollal. The Disney-Pixar animated film “Soul,” which opened Jan. 20 and became the first movie of 2021to reach more than 1.2 million viewers here, comforts viewers with its colorful images, its music, and its hopeful and relatable message. “Soul” follows schoolteacher Joe, who dreams of becoming a jazz musician. One day,
Film Feb. 11, 2021
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Head of Spotify Korea hopes to grow local music industry pie, rather than split it
Spotify aims to grow the Korean music industry pie, rather than taking rivals’ share, the company’s Korea chief said Monday. Speaking at an online press conference held a week after the launch of its services in Korea, Spotify Korea Managing Director David Park introduced two services -- Spotify for Artists and Spotify Podcast -- that can help local content creators to grow. Spotify for Artists is a service that connects artists with their fans. Once the artist is registered t
Performance Feb. 8, 2021
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‘New Year Blues’ brings back year-end holiday spirit
Hong Ji-young’s romantic comedy “New Year Blues” was originally set to reach viewers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. But like many other movies last year, it had to delay its release schedule due to COVID-19. “To be honest I am rather grateful (and not regretful). This release makes me feel like we have one more holiday. I am thankful that we can release our film amid COVID-19,” Hong said Monday during a press conference at Lotte Cinema in Gwang
Film Feb. 5, 2021
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[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (Japan) Opened Jan. 27 Animation Directed by Haruo Sotozaki Tanjiro joins a secret organization of demon slayers after his family was brutally murdered and his sister turned into a demon. For his new mission, Tanjiro gets on the Mugen Train with his comrades Inosuke and Zenitsu. On the train, they meet legendary demon slayer Rengoku. Soon after boarding, the group is attacked by some demons. Three Sisters (Korea) Opened Jan. 27 Drama Directed by Lee Seung-won
Film Feb. 5, 2021
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‘Minari’ nominated for best foreign-language film at Golden Globes
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on Wednesday nominated “Minari” to compete in the Golden Globes’ best foreign-language film category. “Minari,” directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung, depicts the story of a family of four first-generation immigrants from South Korea. In the movie, Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Han Ye-ri) move to rural Arkansas with their two kids to pursue their own version of the American dream. Chung’s film will compete wit
Film Feb. 4, 2021
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National Museum wants people to visit Korea to see its artifacts
An exhibition hall for two Pensive Bodhisattvas, a science center for artifacts and the expansion of a children’s museum are some of the projects ahead this year for the National Museum of Korea. Director General Min Byoung-chan outlined the plans during a press conference Wednesday. “I hope that foreigners can one day say that they came to the country to visit the National Museum of Korea,” Min said. Other projects for the year include renovation of the exhibition halls show
Culture Feb. 3, 2021
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Spotify begins service in Korea without IU’s songs
The world’s largest music streaming platform Spotify on Tuesday announced the official launch of its service in Korea. “We’re looking forward to working even closer with the entire Korean music industry to uncover more artists and connect them with fans in Korea and the world, while also continuously working on providing an ever-improving, unrivaled listening experience to Korean listeners,” Alex Norstrom, Spotify’s chief freemium business officer, said in a state
Performance Feb. 2, 2021
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Private messages from your favorite K-pop star
Communicating freely with K-pop stars is every fan’s dream. The dream came true for many fans in February last year, when S.M. Entertainment launched a new service called “DearU bubble,” often shortened to just bubble, on community app Lysn. The service provides a private space that looks a lot like a private chat room, connecting fans with the artists they love. When an artist sends text messages, voice messages, photos and videos through this service, all fans who subsc
K-pop Jan. 31, 2021
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Hallyu fans consume more Korean content amid COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: survey
The number of foreigners consuming Korean content have continued to rise last year, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism. The Culture Ministry said on Thursday it surveyed 8,500 people in 18 different countries including China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Turkey, France and the US. The survey was conducted from Sept. 24 to Nov. 3 last year. Korean dramas were the most consumed type of content at 29.7 percent, followed by thos
Culture Jan. 30, 2021
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Packaged kimchi: how did it get its start, where is it going?
Park Kyung-suk, a Korean woman in her 50s, who has been making kimchi for her family for more than 30 years, decided to buy packaged kimchi for the first time last year. “My two sons moved out so we do not need as much kimchi as we used to,” Park said. “Also, I compared the price of the ingredients that I need to buy with the price of packaged kimchi and found that there is not much difference.” “I prefer buying small packaged kimchi in convenience stores once in
Culture Jan. 28, 2021
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