GOT7 to return as full group after 3 years

GOT7 is gearing up for a comeback under a new agency. The 7-member K-pop group will make a long-awaited return as a full group with the release of its new mini-album "Winter Heptagon" on Jan. 20, 2025. This marks its first group activity in nearly three years after the release of its 12th mini-album "GOT7" in May 2022. Although GOT7’s exclusive contracts with JYP Entertainment, the group's original agency, ended in 2021, the group retained the trademark rights to t

Dec. 20, 2024

After Disney+ adaptation, 'Light Shop' webtoon sees explosive popularity

“Light Shop,” the webtoon behind Disney+’s original series of the same name, is enjoying a dramatic surge in popularity following the success of its adaptation. After episodes 5 and 6 of Disney+’s "Light Shop" were released on Dec. 11, Kakao Entertainment -- the platform distributing the webtoon -- reported a 187-fold increase in views of the original webtoon on Kakao Webtoon and Kakao Page. Revenue from the webtoon also grew 159 times during the same period,

Dec. 20, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

"Firefighters" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 4 Drama Directed by Kwak Kyung-taek Rookie firefighter Chul-woong (Joo Won) and his veteran teammate Jin Seop (Kwon Do-won) find their relationship pushed to the brink after a rescue operation ends in tragedy. The duo must face their greatest challenge yet that will test not only their courage but also their fractured bond. Based on a true story. "Mufasa: The Lion King" (US) Opened Dec. 18 Drama/Adventure Directed by Barry Jenkins Yo

Dec. 20, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim tops 100m views with ‘Crazy’ music video

Le Sserafim has achieved 100 million views on YouTube on the music video for “Crazy,” agency Source Music said Thursday. It is the eighth music video from the group to reach the milestone. American magazine Teen Vogue picked it as one of 15 Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2024 earlier this month, writing: “From beginning to end, ‘Crazy’ makes you feel like you’re on a Y2K acid trip.” “Crazy” is the titular track from the group's fourth EP and

Dec. 19, 2024

Long-delayed 'Bogota: City of the Lost' not worth finding

Star actor Song Joong-ki's latest overseas venture was, ironically, his first. "Bogota: City of the Lost," which screened for reporters Thursday at Megabox Coex in Seoul, wrapped after an unusually prolonged production -- first halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia in 2020, with completion taking several additional years. Although audiences now know Song from his Italian escapades in "Vincenzo" and Belgian journey in "My Name is Loh Kiwan," "Bogo

Dec. 19, 2024

Wrap up 2024 with annual year-end K-pop festivals

K-pop fans worldwide are gearing up for the grand spectacle of Korea's major year-end music shows — "KBS Song Festival," "SBS Gayo Daejeon" and "MBC Gayo Daejejeon." Each festival has a unique concept and star-studded lineup, offering a glimpse into the past, present and future of K-pop. From legendary reunions to first-time collaborations, these year-end stages promise unforgettable moments to close out 2024 and welcome 2025 in style. Cross-generatio

Dec. 19, 2024

Politics and YouTube in Korea: Intertwined and dangerous

South Korea has descended into political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unexpected declaration of emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3. The move shocked many, particularly after it was revealed that Yoon had ordered troops to the National Election Commission on that chaotic night. Many suspect that Yoon’s actions were influenced by far-right extremist YouTube channels, which have long propagated election fraud conspiracy theories, including claims about irregular

Dec. 19, 2024

[Beyond the Screen] Seasoned producers discuss film industry's unprecedented challenges

As the global entertainment landscape undergoes a seismic shift, South Korea’s film industry stands at a critical juncture. For more than two decades, industry professionals have weathered countless changes -- from the growth of imported films to the debates on screen quotas and the rise of piracy. Yet, nothing compares to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Heads of South Korean production companies say the challenges range from dwindling content and investment to the need for

Dec. 19, 2024

'Harbin' cast and director chart legacy of Korean independence hero

A historical drama about Korea's legendary independence fighters is hitting IMAX screens just in time for the holidays. But first, its creators had to wrestle with the weight of history. "Harbin," starring top actor Hyun Bin as independence activist Ahn Jung-eun, follows the 1909 assassination of Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese Governor-General of Korea and the first Prime Minister of Japan. The film reimagines a scenario in which, during his time in the armed resistance against

Dec. 18, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin logs 1.2b streams on Spotify in record time

Jimin of BTS surpassed 1.2 billion plays on Spotify with solo “Who” on Monday. He achieved the feat in just 151 days -- the shortest time for both a K-pop artist and a male solo artist, beating the record previously set by Harry Styles' with “As It Was.” “Who” fronted Jimin's second solo album “Muse” and has spent 21 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 after entering it at No. 12. The hip-hop R&B tune ranked No. 43 on the chart dated

Dec. 18, 2024

Set in zero-gravity, 'When the Stars Gossip' to broaden K-drama horizons

As the first Korean drama to be set primarily in space, "When the Stars Gossip" will play a significant role in "diversifying" K-dramas, according to the series' lead actor, Kong Hyo-jin, on Wednesday. South Korean cable channel tvN is scheduled to premiere the first episode of "When the Stars Gossip," a 16-episode sci-fi romantic comedy starring Hallyu superstars Kong and Lee Min-ho on Jan. 4, 2025. The series centers on Eve (played by Kong Hyo-jin), a command

Dec. 18, 2024

Tough year ahead for K-dramas: KOCCA report

Korean dramas are projected to face challenges in the overseas market in 2025, with export performance expected to be dim due to surging production costs, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency on Wednesday. The Culture Ministry-affiliated government agency released export outlooks for content sectors such as K-pop and webtoons, based on a survey it conducted. The survey gathered insights from 167 content industry experts and directors of KOCCA's overseas business centers. On 7-poin

Dec. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] For filmmaking duo, each serendipitous meeting sparks a story

In a dimly lit meeting room at the French Embassy in Seoul, filmmakers Cagla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti recall a defining moment at Busan's UN Memorial Cemetery. There, they bumped into a Turkish woman examining tombstones for traces of her grandfather, a soldier who fought in the Korean War. The chance meeting in 2018 would grow into "Ghost and Found," their latest multimedia project, which came out of the 2 1/2-month Villa Busan residency that ended just last week. The in

Dec. 18, 2024

2NE1 to celebrate 15th anniversary with limited-edition LP of hits

Legendary girl group 2NE1 is releasing a limited-edition LP in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of its debut. The 2NE1 "15th Anniversary Best LP" will feature some of the group’s most iconic tracks, starting with the debut song “Fire,” as well as hits like “I Don’t Care,” “Can’t Nobody,” “Go Away,” “Slow,” “I Am The Best,” “Ugly,” “Lonely” and “Missing You.&rdquo

Dec. 18, 2024

'Report IU to the CIA': Bizarre online trolling of celebs who support Yoon impeachment

Users of local websites with politically conservative inclinations are encouraging each other to file online reports to the US Central Intelligence Agency against K-pop star IU and other celebrities who publicly supported protests calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. The anonymous users have posted screenshots of their reports to the US federal agency that collects and analyzes foreign intelligence. "IU can't go to America now," read the title of an anonymous po

Dec. 17, 2024

World-class opera stars including Placido Domingo, unite for 'Turandot'

World-renowned opera singers and artists are coming together to revive the grandeur of large-scale opera productions in Korea, a rarity outside dedicated opera theaters. Park Hyun-joon, artistic director of the “Again 2024 Turandot project,” aims to deliver a production that echoes the success of its predecessor two decades ago. “Bringing together world-renowned singers like this cast was almost impossible,” Park said Tuesday during a press conference held at Coex Hall D,

Dec. 17, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ V enters Billboard’s Hot 100 with Bing Crosby 'collab'

V of BTS made Billboard’s Hot 100 for the third time this year as a solo act. His collaborative remix of Bing Crosby’s winter classic “White Christmas” debuted on the main songs chart at No. 93. He ranked No. 99 on the chart a week earlier with another winter solo single, “Winter Ahead,” featuring Park Hyoshin. In March, the artist placed digital single “Fri(end)s” at No. 65 on the chart and No. 2 on its Digital Song Sales Chart. “White Chris

Dec. 17, 2024

K-pop stars to broaden spectrum with world tours in 2025

As 2025 approaches, K-pop artists are setting their sights on global stages. SHINee’s Taemin will continue the momentum of his first solo world tour, “Ephemeral Gaze,” which began on Dec. 15 with sold-out shows, into early next year. According to his agency Big Planet Made Entertainment tickets for the US leg of the “Ephemeral Gaze” tour — covering New York, Chicago, Houston, Oakland and Los Angeles — sold out immediately. This follows previous sellouts

Dec. 17, 2024

Character actor Ra Mi-ran receives Women in Film honor

Actor Ra Mi-ran was awarded the Film Artist of the Year honor at the Women in Film Korea festival on Monday, in recognition of her achievements as one of the industry’s most versatile and reliable performers. Known for her seamless transition between comedy and drama, Ra has built a reputation for portraying characters with authenticity and depth, often stealing scenes with her nuanced performances. Ra’s rise has been anything but overnight. After years in theater, she spent nearly a

Dec. 17, 2024

Popular Korean entertainment shows return with new series

A wave of Korean entertainment show sequels is set to dominate television screens at the end of this year and early next year. JTBC’s popular entertainment show "Chef & My Fridge," one of the first programs to spotlight chefs in Korea, made a long-anticipated comeback with its first episode on Sunday. Known for its unique premise -- celebrities' actual refrigerators are brought to the studio, where chefs engage in an intense cook-off using only the ingredients inside --

Dec. 17, 2024