Sep 22, 2018   Film

Film ‘Dark Figure of Crime’ made without permission from bereaved family

A member of a bereaved family has applied for an injunction to ban the screening of the upcoming film “Dark Figure of Crime,” arguing that the production crew did not ask for permission before making a story about the murder of her brother.In the movie, a prisoner confesses that he killed seven people, six more than what he was charged for. The story follows a detective who believes the criminal. One of the six cases was based on the murder of her brother.  “Dark Figure of Crime” (Showbox)The mo

Sep 22, 2018   Television

[Video] No live performance from K-pop stars during 3rd inter-Korean summit

High-profile art troupe comes back from Pyongyang without televised performance

Sep 21, 2018   Music

[Video] Nature shares hopes of going global as a multifaceted band

[Herald Interview]It’s been less than two months since the band Nature made its debut on the K-pop scene, but already it’s making a splash. Having launched in August under N.CH Entertainment, this promising rookie band consists of leader Lu, Saebom, Chinese members Aurora and Gaga, Chaebin, Japanese member Haru, Uchae and Sunshine. While Nature has only two songs under its belt -- its debut single “Allegro Cantabile” and pre-debut track “Girls and Flowers” -- it’s already an award winner. In an

Sep 21, 2018   Film

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Great Battle(Korea) Opened Sept. 19Drama, History, ActionDirected by Kim Kwang-sikThe Chinese Tang Empire, led by Taizong (Park Sung-woong), is disgruntled by the military coup of Goguryeo’s Yeon Gaesomun (Yoo Oh-seong), and invades the kingdom. With the Goguryeo army suffering a devastating defeat, it is now up to Ansiseong fortress and its leader Yang Man-chun (Zo In-sung) to defend the country.Feng Shui(Korea)Opened Sept. 19Drama, History, Political thrillerDirected by Park Hee-gonIn the

Sep 21, 2018   Television

K-pop stars in Pyongyang react to 150,000-capacity event

K-pop singers Zico and Aliee watched a gymnastics show held at Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, the largest stadium in the world, on Wednesday night as a massive North Korean crowd of 150,000 cheered on.The huge propaganda “Glorious Country” festival took place on the second day of Moon’s three-day visit to the North, as South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his counterpart Kim Jong-un watched together.Ailee, Choi Hyun-woo, Zico and Ali at Okryu Children's Hospital. (Joint Press Corp.)The

Sep 20, 2018   Music

With 'DNA' music video, BTS becomes first K-pop band to garner 500m YouTube views

The music video of BTS' 2017 song "DNA" topped the 500 million YouTube view mark on Thursday, making the septet the first K-pop band to achieve the feat.The "DNA" music video surpassed the threshold of 500 million YouTube views at 1:22 a.m. on Thursday, according to their management agency, Big Hit Entertainment. The song, a track from BTS' "Love Yourself: Her" extended play, achieved the feat one year after its release on Sept. 18, 2017. (Big Hit Entertainment)The music video garnered 100 milli

Sep 20, 2018   Music

BTS to appear on ABC's 'Good Morning America' next week

Boy band BTS is set to make a live performance on ABC's popular morning show, "Good Morning America," on Wednesday (local time), the US network said.On its official Twitter account, it said, "IT'S. HAPPENING.NEXT WEDNESDAY ON @GMA! @BTS_twt performs LIVE in Times Square!" (AP)It came a day after the news broke out that BTS will perform live on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on NBC on Tuesday (local time). On Monday, they are scheduled to attend "Generation Unlimited" in New York, a new

Sep 20, 2018   Music

[Video] Zico raves about Pyongyang naengmyeon

Pyongyang-style naengmyeon is one of North Korea’s most popular delicacies, and President Moon Jae-in’s special entourage to Pyongyang -- including K-pop icon Zico – were given a chance to sample the real thing during their time in the city.(Footage from Pyeongyang Press Corps, edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)The rapper and producer -- along with other members of the entourage including singers Ailee, Ali, magician Choi Hyun-woo, and soccer legend Cha Bum-keun -- joined the first coup

Sep 20, 2018   Television

Fans show mixed reactions toward Seo In-young’s return to entertainment scene

Some K-pop fans are up in arms over Seo In-young’s attempt to return to the entertainment scene.Despite having apologized for a controversial video in which she was heard swearing and lashing out at staff members on a TV filming set, the singer continues to encounter criticism online.Reports that she was recording music at a studio last week were bombarded with critical comments. (Soribada)“Are you going to explode again if something doesn’t work out the way you want while recording?” one Naver

Sep 20, 2018   Television

BTS to appear on Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’

K-pop sensation BTS will appear on “The Tonight Show,” one of the most popular and longest-running nighttime talk shows in the US.The group, who recently appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” will continue its US TV promotions on NBC’s late-night show hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon, the show’s Twitter account confirmed Tuesday in US time.The tweet has since been liked over 120,000 times, and fans soon shared the hashtag #BTSonFallon soon on the social media. (Big Hit Entertainment)The confirmatio

Sep 19, 2018   Television

Cable channel on North Korea to be launched next year

A new cable channel specializing in North Korea will be launched early next year, its promoter said Wednesday. It will feature North Korean society, culture, tourism and food and will produce programs for the unification of the two Koreas, its preparatory committee, led by Korean-American journalist Jin Cheon-gyu, said in a news conference in Seoul.  (Yonhap)Jin has visited North Korea several times for news coverage.Former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun and former National Intelligence Serv

Sep 20, 2018   Television

Goo Ha-ra wants to end ‘mudslinging’ over assault case

Singer Goo Ha-ra has said she wants to end the “mudslinging” with her boyfriend over a recent assault case.Goo, who was questioned at the Gangnam police station in Seoul on Tuesday, told the local media outlet Edaily that she wanted to end the “commotion,” which has drawn attention throughout the nation. (Yonhap)“It’s impossible for just one of us to be at fault. My boyfriend and I are both in the wrong for the scuffle. But I want to forgive and be forgiven by the person that I once loved,” the

Sep 20, 2018   Music

[Album review] Let’s hear it for GOT7

GOT7“Present: You”Iriver One of the many reasons why GOT7 is such a beloved global act is that each of its seven members is special and unique -- the bandmates all have completely different personalities and musical styles. That’s also why GOT7’s new album deserves a round of applause.Just like a box of chocolates, the 16-track album is packed with different flavors. It features brand new songs and solo tracks by every member of the group. If each song were a color, lead track “Lullaby” -- a rhy

Sep 20, 2018   Television

Naver’s V Live gets a revamp

Naver has updated its V Live platform, introducing a Korean edition of the news section V Today and a new layout allowing users to better categorize their content.Beginning Wednesday afternoon, the video-streaming platform, which features numerous K-pop stars’ channels, will offer V Today in the Korean language so that it is more accessible to Korean users. Until now, V Today was available only in English and Vietnamese because its main target viewers were global fans of K-pop content such as ne