Film on 1979 coup sees surge in viewers amid political unrest

A film related to Korea's contemporary history has seen a remarkable surge in viewership following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3. According to the Korean Film Council, "12.12: The Day" attracted 1,150 views on Dec. 4 across Internet Protocol Television platforms, including SK Btv, LG U+ TV, and Genie TV. IPTV services provide online access to live broadcasts, films and TV shows. The data represents a 1,085 percent increase from the 9

Dec. 11, 2024

Shares linked to Lee Jung-jae soar following 'Squid Game' Golden Globe nomination

Shares linked with South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae are soaring after the announcement that "Squid Game 2" has been nominated for Best Television Series at the Golden Globes, ahead of its release. As of Wednesday, shares of Artist United— Lee's agency in which he is the largest shareholder with a 23.49 percent stake -- closed at 13,320 won ($9) per share, marking a 29.25 percent increase from the previous day. Meanwhile, shares of Artist Studio, the Korean drama production co

Dec. 10, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ V enters Billboard Hot 100 with winter song

V of BTS hit Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 99 with the single “Winter Ahead,” according to the chart preview published Tuesday. It is his fifth solo entry on the main songs chart, following “Christmas Tree” for the 2021 drama “Our Beloved Summer”; “Slow Dancing” and “Love Me Again” from his first solo album “Layover”; and the digital single “Fri(end)s” from March. The artist teamed up with singer Park Hyoshin

Dec. 10, 2024

Speak or not to speak? K-pop stars face dilemma amid national crisis

After the shocking but brief martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3, several celebrities, including K-pop singers, have voiced — or at least hinted at — their stance on the ongoing political crisis. Speaking out on political matters has long been a taboo for idols, whose freedom of expression is often tightly controlled by their agencies. However, with the rise of social media and the globalization of K-pop, the question emerges: Should K-pop singers be restricted

Dec. 10, 2024

'Squid Game' nominated for Golden Globes, even before release

The second season of "Squid Game" has been nominated for best TV series by the prestigious Golden Globes, even before its release. The 2025 Golden Globes, to be held Jan. 5, 2025, required submissions by Nov. 4 for shows that premiered within the 2024 calendar year. With its Dec. 26 premiere, the second season of "Squid Game" narrowly qualified, with Netflix reportedly submitting the series early for consideration. In the best TV drama series category, for which the show was

Dec. 10, 2024

Ahn Eun-jin returns to stage as astronomer in 'Silent Sky'

Trust in director Kim Min-jung, the Myeongdong Theater, the single-cast format and the compelling script were actor Ahn Eun-jin's key reasons for choosing "Silent Sky" for her long-awaited return to the stage. “I was nervous about getting back on stage after so long, unsure how I would even manage rehearsals,” Ahn said during a press conference Monday at the National Theater Company’s Myeongdong Theater. “But I had absolute trust in director Kim Min-jung. P

Dec. 10, 2024

[Herald Interview] Saudi's Red Sea Film Festival chief sees growing presence of Korean cinema in MENA region

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- The 4th Red Sea International Film Festival, taking place through Dec. 14 in the historic Al-Balad district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is out to cement itself as a hub for global cinema. Held under the theme of “The New Home of Film,” this year’s RSIFF highlights a diverse program with 120 films from over 80 countries, including 16 competing in the Red Sea: Competition section. At the center of this celebration of global cinema is a notable focus on Korean

Dec. 9, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS hits 1.9b views with ‘Dynamite’ music video

BTS surpassed the 1.9 billion view mark on YouTube with the music video for “Dynamite,” said label Big Hit Music Monday. It was the first time the band reached the milestone. “Dynamite” was rolled out in August 2020 and made a hotshot debut on Billboard’s Hot 100, a first for a K-pop artist. The upbeat single topped the main songs chart two more times and stayed on it for 32 weeks in total, setting records for a K-pop act. Meanwhile, solo albums from RM and Jin made

Dec. 9, 2024

'Squid Game 2' will leave audience reflecting on social chaos of today

With about two weeks to go until "Squid Game" returns for its second season, the show's director unveiled Monday that the thriller will invite viewers to reflect on the chaos of modern society. "From my perspective, people are drawing lines, becoming hostile toward one another, and such conflicts seem to be deepening globally," Hwang Dong-hyuk, director of the first and second seasons of "Squid Game," said during a press conference held on Monday in Jung-gu,

Dec. 9, 2024

JYP USA vows all necessary action after VCHA member KG’s abrupt departure

JYP USA, the US subsidiary of JYP Entertainment, announced Monday it would take strong action following the departure of VHCA member KG, who filed a lawsuit against the company alleging workplace mistreatment. The North American girl group debuted in January as a collaboration between Universal Music Group’s subsidiary Republic Records and JYP USA. “We deeply regret KG’s decision to file a lawsuit and make unilateral public statements containing false and exaggerated claims,&rd

Dec. 9, 2024

[Herald Review] Infinite celebrates 15th debut anniversary, announces comeback in March

Veteran boy group Infinite, set to mark its 15th debut anniversary next year, kicked off its Asia concert tour, promising fans an even brighter future together. The six-member group held their 15th-anniversary concert “Limited Edition” from Friday to Sunday, at KSPO Dome located in Seoul Olympic Park, drawing over 30,000 spectators over three days. With a powerful live band session filling the venue, the sextet made a grand entrance, descending a massive staircase from the ceiling, a

Dec. 9, 2024

[Exclusive] Bong Joon-ho’s new animated film halfway done: Barunson C&C CEO

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming hand-drawn animation film is about “halfway done,” according to Barunson C&C CEO Seo Woo-sik, who is working on the project. “Director Bong’s new animation film is halfway done,” Seo told The Korea Herald Sunday after an event held on the sidelines of the 4th Red Sea Film Festival taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The festival kicked off on Dec. 5. This is the first time progress on Bong’s first-ever an

Dec. 9, 2024

KG leaves VCHA citing 'abuse and mistreatment'

The American member of JYP Entertainment’s newly debuted global girl group VCHA, KG, has announced her departure from the group citing alleged abuse by a staff member. The 17-year-old singer shared the news Sunday on her Instagram, revealing that she had decided to terminate her contract and exit VCHA after experiencing “incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members.” VCHA, a joint Korean-US girl group, debuted in January this year as part of the global project A

Dec. 8, 2024

Film industry personnel call for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment

South Korean film industry professionals, including actors Gang Dong-won, Kim Go-eun and Jeon Do-yeon have called for the dismissal and arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol. A statement released Saturday morning, endorsed by 2,518 individual film professionals representing 77 industry organizations -- including the Screen Actors Guild of Korea, Directors Guild of Korea, and Producers Guild of Korea -- condemned Yoon’s sudden declaration of martial law and demanded his resignation. The stateme

Dec. 7, 2024

'12.12: The Day' in spotlight amid martial law aftermath

Amid the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's emergency martial law declaration on Tuesday night, the film "12.12: The Day" has surged to the top of Netflix’s movie rankings, drawing renewed attention for its historical themes. As of Friday, "12.12: The Day" claimed the No. 1 spot among Netflix’s popular films, overtaking newer releases like "Pilot" and "Because I Hate Korea." Released over a year ago, on Nov. 22, the movie has newfound

Dec. 6, 2024

Song Joong-ki takes on his most desire-driven role in in 'Bogota: City of the Lost'

Song Joong-ki, the Hallyu sensation known for his roles in Korean hits like "Vincenzo," "Reborn Rich" and "My Name is Loh Kiwan," is ready to portray one of his most passionate and desire-driven characters in the upcoming film, "Bogota: City of the Lost," premiering Dec. 31. The film follows the journey of Guk-hee (played by Song Joong-ki), who escapes with his family to Bogota, Colombia, after South Korea’s IMF bailout in 1997. Struggling to survive

Dec. 6, 2024

The Boyz to keep group name after trademark agreement

The Boyz have officially secured their group name after their former agency, IST Entertainment, reached a final agreement on trademark rights with their new agency, One Hundred Label. One Hundred Label announced Thursday that they had concluded negotiations with IST Entertainment, achieving a resolution. “We have set aside past grievances and had open, honest discussions, prioritizing The Boyz and their fans in reaching a resolution that benefits everyone. We sincerely thank IST Entertainm

Dec. 6, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Twice rolls out EP No. 14

Twice made a comeback Friday with 14th EP “Strategy,” about 10 months after its previous EP “With YOU-th.” As the album title suggests, the nonet sings of their “strategies” finding and expressing love. “It has been a while. We are returning as a full group … and we’d love to see the reaction from our fans,” said Momo via label JYP Entertainment adding that the title track “is the most hip among songs from us.” The lead sin

Dec. 6, 2024

Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association issues statement against NewJeans

The Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association released a statement Friday condemning NewJeans for “unilaterally” terminating their exclusive contract with its agency Ador. It is the second organization from the K-pop industry that publicly defined its position in favor of Ador, after the Korea Management Association urged NewJeans on Monday to retract their decision. “An exclusive contract is not just a document, but the result of shared trust and promises. The notion th

Dec. 6, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Moana 2” (US) Opened Nov. 27 Fantasy/Adventure Directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David Derrick Jr. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) embarks on a journey to the far seas of Oceania into dangerous, long-lost adventures unlike anything she has never faced. “Wicked” (US) Opened Nov. 20 Musical/Fantasy Directed by Jon M. Chu Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a green-skinned outcast with extraordinary magical abi

Dec. 6, 2024