'Namib' marks return of Ko Hyun-jung to small screen

Ko Hyun-jung, renowned for her performances in iconic series such as "The Great Queen Seondeok" and "Sandglass," is returning to TV with the Genie TV original drama "Namib." In "Namib," Ko takes on the role of Su-hyun, a celebrity recruiter with a disabled son. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she is abruptly fired from her job and crosses paths with long-time trainee Jin-woo, played by Ryeoun. When asked what inspired him to cast Ko, director Kang Min-

Dec. 16, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Rose hits Billboard 200 at record No. 3

Rose of Blackpink entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 with her first solo full album, according to the chart preview published Sunday in the US. It is the highest spot for a K-pop solo female singer on the main albums chart. She rolled out her LP “Rosie” on Dec. 6, and the album debuted on the UK’s Official Albums Chart Top 100 at No. 4. The main track “Toxic Till the End” ranked No. 72 on its Singles Chart Top 100 with the prerelease “APT.” still sitting

Dec. 16, 2024

In 'Dark Nuns,' Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been face down demonic shadows

The shadow of "The Exorcist" (1973) haunts every occult film daring to tread the path of demonic possession. "The Priests 2: Dark Nuns," coming to theaters Jan. 24, takes on that specter by shifting the lens to territory rarely explored -- the world of nuns wrestling with dark forces beyond the church's sanctions. This spin-off of the 2015 Korean hit "The Priests" pivots from its predecessor by bringing two women to the fore. Where the original played like a su

Dec. 16, 2024

K-pop stars shine on stage but miss major awards at 2024 Billboard Music Awards

At the 2024 Billboard Music Awards held Thursday in Las Vegas, artists like Stray Kids, Jungkook and Seventeen highlighted K-pop’s global popularity through performances but fell short of winning outside of K-pop categories. This year marked the second edition of K-pop-specific awards introduced by the BMAs, including Top Global K-pop Artist, Top K-pop Album and Top Global K-pop Song. Stray Kids, a boy group under JYP Entertainment, won the Top Global K-pop Artist award, adding to their tr

Dec. 16, 2024

[Beyond the Screen] Indie films losing ground amid shifting cinema trends

Actor Lee Dong-hwi, known for his indispensable supporting roles in the mega-hit blockbusters “Extreme Job” (2019) and “The Roundup: Punishment” (2024), recently starred in the independent film “Will We Get Married?,” which opened on Oct. 23. Despite a production budget of approximately 1 billion won, Lee accepted little to no payment for his work. The film’s break-even point (BEP) of 100,000 admissions was high for an indie movie. “I’ve be

Dec. 16, 2024

[Herald Review] BoyNextDoor launches first tour with refreshing energy

BoyNextDoor held the group's first stand-alone concert “Knock On Vol.1” and announced a January comeback. The two shows at Inspire Arena in Incheon on Dec. 14-15 mark the group’s first solo concert since debuting in May 2023. The six members, dressed in blue jeans and black jackets, made a dramatic entrance by leaping up from the stage floor amid fireworks. They kicked off the show with “Earth, Wind and Fire,” followed by “Dangerous,” where the stag

Dec. 16, 2024

K-pop artists stand strong in Billboard Year-End Charts

Several K-pop artists, including Jungkook of BTS and boy group Stray Kids, showcased their global popularity by securing spots on Billboard’s Year-End charts. According to Billboard’s Year-End Chart, Jungkook ranked 60th on the Top Artists Chart, while Stray Kids secured No. 73. Billboard’s annual Year-End Charts highlight the trends and artists that defined the year in music, offering a retrospective look at the industry's biggest hits. The rankings of the Year-End Top Ar

Dec. 15, 2024

News viewership surges amid political turmoil, MBC ranks first as go-to news broadcaster

With all eyes on the National Assembly’s second vote to impeach President Yoon Suk following his unexpected declaration of martial law, South Korea witnessed a significant surge in news viewership ratings on Saturday. According to Nielsen Korea, "MBC News Desk," the flagship program of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, recorded the second-highest household viewership on Saturday at 11.7 percent. This figure nearly doubled the 5.9 percent it logged on Nov. 30, the Saturday before t

Dec. 15, 2024

K-pop star IU supplies hot food for fans attending anti-Yoon rallies

K-pop superstar IU has arranged for hot food and drinks, as well as hot packs, to be provided to people attending a rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, her agency said Friday. Edam Entertainment, in an official fan cafe post, said the singer wanted to provide warmth to "Uena," or IU fans, who would be attending the protests in the cold weather. "We hope that the hands of Uaena, who brighten the surroundings, will be a little warmer,” the post re

Dec. 14, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans logs 700m streams with ‘Ditto’

NewJeans has accumulated 700 million plays on Spotify with “Ditto,” according to agency Ador, citing the platform on Friday. The group repeated the feat it previously achieved with “OMG,” which reached the milestone in August. “Ditto” came out in December 2022 as a prerelease from single album “OMG,” and earned the rookie girl group that had debuted about half a year earlier spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 and UK’s Official Singles Chart T

Dec. 13, 2024

Petition demanding Assembly hearing on Hybe’s ‘misconduct’ gains momentum

A public petition calling for a National Assembly hearing to investigate alleged social misconduct by Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, has surpassed 50,000 signatures, qualifying it for a committee review. The petition, submitted on Nov. 15, argues for urgent action to address issues related to Hybe’s operations. The petitioner emphasized the need to address loopholes in existing laws revealed by Hybe’s actions, proposing both revisions to current regulations and the establishm

Dec. 13, 2024

Documentary film ‘First Lady’ on Kim Keon Hee draws sold-out crowds

The documentary film "First Lady," which delves into the controversies surrounding Kim Keon Hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol, is drawing sold-out crowds nationwide following its release on Thursday. According to the Korean Film Council, the film attracted 4,822 moviegoers on Thursday, ranking eighth at the box office. The film's cumulative audience count stands at 7,048, as of Friday. "First Lady," by director Ae-mong, is currently running at major theater chains

Dec. 13, 2024

'When the Phone Rings' sparks renewed interest in original web novel

The growing popularity of the drama series "When the Phone Rings" has led to a surge of interest in the original web novel that inspired it and the simultaneously produced webtoon. The eponymous web novel on Kakao Page saw its sales increase 14.6-fold and its views grow five-fold following the drama's premiere, according to Kakao Entertainment. The data compares the figures 14 days before the drama's premiere (Nov. 8-21) and the 14 days that followed (Nov. 22-Dec. 5). The web

Dec. 13, 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. “Moana 2” (US) Opened Nov. 27 Fantasy/Adventure Directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason

Dec. 13, 2024

K-pop’s global chart success: True milestone or outdated obsession?

As K-pop’s global influence expands, agencies have increasingly emphasized their artists' accomplishments on prestigious charts like the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. However, industry insiders argue that benchmarking traditional chart rankings reflects outdated thinking, as these once-iconic indicators have lost much of their relevance over the past decade due to a major shift in music consumption toward online streaming. Big Hit Music announced Tuesday that BTS member

Dec. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Babymonster to tour US next year

Babymonster uploaded a poster Thursday announcing the US stops for its first international tour Hello Monsters. The two concerts, in Newark, New Jersey, on Feb. 28 and in Los Angeles on March 2, will both be held in arenas -- a major feat for a rookie girl group. The group has already proved its potential, entering Billboard 200 at No. 149 with its first full album “Drip.” The album topped iTunes' Top Albums chart in 14 regions, while the music videos for focus tracks “Dri

Dec. 12, 2024

[Herald Interview] Indie band Daybreak marks 17th anniversary, continues evolution

The 17-year veteran band Daybreak has returned with a new album that captures the past, present, and future of the band, infused with their enduring passion. The band's 3rd mini album, “Semicolon,” is its first album since their 2016 full-length 4th album, “With.” In the interim, the band had been active through collaborations with other artists and the release of singles. The title “Semicolon” reflects the punctuation mark’s role in adding to a sen

Dec. 12, 2024

Deaf trio Big Ocean to hold first solo concert next year

Big Ocean, the world's first idol group composed of members with hearing impairments, is set to hold its first solo concert. The trio -- Chanyeon, Hyunjin and Jiseok -- announced via the group's official social media channels that they will hold the first solo concert under the banner of “Follow” on March 9, 2025, at the Toyota City Cultural Hall in Nagoya, Japan. “Follow” is also the name of Big Ocean’s first mini album. The group is preparing not only to

Dec. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS' Jimin extends record streak on Billboard Hot 100

Jimin of BTS extended his stay on Billboard’s Hot 100 to 20 weeks in a row with his solo song “Who,” according to the chart published Tuesday in the US. This is the longest streak on the main songs chart for a K-pop solo singer in the last decade, and he achieved the feat while climbing back up nine rungs to No. 47. The single hit the chart at No. 12 while his second solo album “Muse” which it fronted debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 2. The album leaped back up 4

Dec. 11, 2024

NewJeans manager files workplace harassment complaint against Ador CEO Kim Ju-young

A manager for K-pop group NewJeans has filed a workplace harassment complaint against Ador CEO Kim Ju-young with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, intensifying the conflict that started between the K-pop agency and its former CEO Min Hee-jin and spread to NewJeans and now their manager. According to a local media outlet on Tuesday, the manager alleges being lured to a work meeting where a suspension notice was issued, followed by demands for the immediate return of a company laptop. The indi

Dec. 11, 2024