Number of weekend moviegoers plunges to record low
FilmApr 6, 2020
The number of moviegoers dropped to a record low over the weekend as lingering fears of the novel coronavirus keep people staying at home, data showed Monday. A total of 80,180 people went to cinemas on Saturday and Sunday, down sharply from a combined 86,274 tallied a week earlier, according to the data by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It is the lowest weekend number since KOFIC started to compile local box office data in 2004. The record-breaking downbeat trend in the number of moviegoer
-
‘Snowpiercer’ to come to small screen soonerTelevisionApr 5, 2020The serial adaptation of Korean film “Snowpiercer” is moving up its premiere date to mid-May, two weeks ahead of the original schedule. According to news reports from several US entertainment media outlets Thursday, US cable network TNT has decided to advance the release date of “Snowpiercer” to May 17. The move comes in response to a growing thirst for more content on the small screen by viewers as the COVID-19 outbreak pushes back new releases elsewhere. “Snow -
Jeongdong Theater to stream ‘Red Cliff’ onlineTheaterApr 5, 2020Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul is to stream its signature show “Red Cliff” through YouTube on Wednesday. The show, originally slated to run from Feb. 14 to Sunday, has been on hold to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 since Feb. 24 after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered all national theaters and art troupes to cancel their performances. Instead, for patrons who had been eagerly awaiting the show, Jeongdong Theater will stream the show live Wednes
-
SUPERNOVA leader tests positive for COVID-19 as 1st infected entertainerEntertainmentApr 3, 2020Jung Yun-hak, the leader of K-pop boy band SUPERNOVA, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment in Seoul, the band has said. The band broke the news on its official Japanese website Friday, saying, "Having been in a bad condition, Yun-hak got tested on Tuesday, and the test result found the next day that he had been infected with the new coronavirus." He has been admitted to a hospital in Seoul and is focusing on treatment, the website said, apologizing for " -
Seoul to monitor all 8,578 audiences of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’TheaterApr 3, 2020The Seoul City government on Friday announced that it will monitor all the 8,578 people who watched “The Phantom of the Opera” at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. On Tuesday, a Canadian female ballet dancer of the show was confirmed with novel coronavirus infection and another American actor in the ensemble was tested positive on Thursday. “We have the list of all the audiences and will send out text messages,” Na Baek-joo, director of Seoul City’s public healt -
K-pop star Kim Jae-joong cancels schedule amid public uproar over making April Fools‘ Day joke about coronavirusMusicApr 3, 2020K-pop group JYJ’s Kim Jae-joong canceled his schedule in Japan after criticism for announcing he had the new coronavirus as an April Fools‘ Day joke. Kim released his third Japanese single “Brava Brava Brava” in March and was scheduled to promote the album by appearing on several music shows in Japan. Kim’s agency CJes Entertainment on Friday announced that due to the current situation Kim would not appear as scheduled on TV Asahi’s music show “Musi -
7 boy bands to compete in ‘Road to Kingdom’K-popApr 3, 2020Mnet’s new idol competition show “Road to Kingdom” has been unveiled, before its official premiere on April 30. Seven boy bands will go against each other and showcase their charm through various performances. The viewers will vote on their favorite team and stages, and the final winner will have a priority to join the subsequent show “Kingdom.” Teaser clips of the bands’ first performances were released Monday online along with a preshow preference poll -
Smaller K-pop labels hit hard by coronavirusK-popApr 2, 2020Over the last few weeks, the novel coronavirus pandemic has brought the K-pop scene to an unprecedented standstill. Most concerts and meetup events, both at home and abroad, have been cancelled or postponed, while weekly TV shows are being held without audiences. The prolonged COVID-19 crisis may be taking a heavy toll on the whole K-pop industry, but small and midsized music labels in particular are feeling the pinch, as their business model relies heavily on tickets, physical albums and forei -
Movie series to binge-watch in time of social distancingFilmApr 2, 2020As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many people stuck indoors are coming up with ways to spend time at home, and for movie lovers it is an almost welcome chance to watch famous series one never had a chance to start or rewatch a favorite movie series. Two of the best-known series in cinema of the 21st century are “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001), “The Lord of the Rings: T -
Film and drama crossover for sci-fi anthology seriesTelevisionApr 2, 2020A project aimed at creating and original science-fiction series has set off in South Korea, jointly led by filmmakers, television networks and an OTT service provider. Soo Film on Wednesday announced that it has started production of “SF8” an eight-episode sci-fi anthology, in conjunction with the Directors Guild of Korea. The series will be released on OTT platform Wavve and network broadcaster MBC in the summer. With each of the eight episodes helmed by a popular director, the s -
New hobbies #TogetherAtHome with YouTubeTelevisionApr 2, 2020Jin Ho-young and Yoon Jung-lin, the creators of YouTube channel “Sewing TV” said the number of subscribers to their channel has surged after they posted a video on making fabric masks with reusable filters at home in February. “Our channel is fairly new and small. After the mask-making video became popular among both Korean and foreign viewers, we saw the daily number of new subscribers jump almost a hundredfold,” Jin, the channel’s editor said during an online pr -
‘Phantom of Opera’ tour production confirms one more case of COVID-19TheaterApr 2, 2020A second cast member of international tour production of “The Phantom of the Opera” has tested positive for COVID-19, organizers said Thursday. After the first cast member was confirmed to have tested positive for the coronavirus, all 128 members of the production team were tested. On Thursday, another ensemble cast member was confirmed with the infection. Another 80 members of the team tested negative, while 46 were still waiting for results as of Thursday afternoon. The organi -
‘Phantom of the Opera’ tour in Korea suspended after cast member infected with coronavirusTheaterApr 1, 2020The international tour production of “The Phantom of the Opera” has decided to temporarily halt its Seoul run after one of its ensemble cast members tested positive for the new coronavirus. The cast member was confirmed with COVID-19 infection Tuesday and the show decided to cancel shows from Wednesday. According to the organizers, the cast member was in self-quarantine with some symptoms of COVID-19 infection despite a normal body temperature. The production team, includin -
Filming suspended indefinitely as COVID-19 spreadsFilmApr 1, 2020The impact of the novel coronavirus on the film industry may continue into early next year, as films not only postpone imminent releases, but suspend shootings and push back entire production schedules. Filming of blockbuster aviation disaster flick “Emergency Declaration,” originally scheduled to start last month, has been postponed, according to the film’s distributor and investor Showbox. “As the film is set inside a plane, it’s a big project in itself and req -
Cinemas get movie development fund reprieve as coronavirus decimates industryFilmApr 1, 2020Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki on Wednesday announced that the government would exempt cinemas from paying into the movie development fund to help theaters weather the impact of COVID-19. The exemption will apply retroactively from February. The government expects the total amount that will be exempted to reach 54 billion won ($44.28 million), the average amount collected annually as movie development fund since 2016. Under the law, movie theaters are required to cont
MOST POPULAR
-
01Foreign residents shut out of virus relief funds
-
More patients being diagnosed with COVID-19 twice02
-
03Korea’s virus fight ‘may drag on for months, years’
-
[Newsmaker] US military asks Seoul lab to test troops outside Korea04
-
05Gyeonggi governor warns possible coronavirus explosion
-
[Photo News] Job applicants sit for outdoor test amid COVID-19 fears06
-
07New infections again on decline; nearly half of new cases coming from overseas
-
1st, 2nd graders to begin new school year with TV lessons, rather than online classes08
-
09Some Koreans online criticize Vietnam‘s request for cooperation in virus fight
-
New virus infections fall below 50 for 1st time since late February10