With a spate of #MeToo accusations spreading through the Korean entertainment scene, local broadcasters and production companies are grappling with the repercussions of the global movement as they witness a cascade of sexual harassment accusations made against big-name actors. On Friday, actors Cho Jae-hyun and Oh Dal-soo were accused of sexual harassment after online posts by victims and witnesses about their misconduct surfaced online. Accusations against Cho, 52, came after actress Choi Yul w

Korean traditional bronzeware, called bangjja, is the ultimate in sophistication. Artisan Kim Ki-chan, who is a sixth-generation bangjja maker at his family-run business, makes just one pair of a bangjja chopsticks and spoon a day at his workshop in Yanggu, Gangwon Province. To make one bronze spoon, Kim pounds the metal more than 365 times with a hammer, then tempers and files it.  Photo: Park Hyun-koo/The Korea HeraldTo Kim, making bangjja was more than just continuing his family business. It

“Gatsby and I, it was such a perfect coincidence. I just immediately related to him.” When PH-1, a 25-year-old rapper from the US, finished recording two tracks for his latest EP -- both of which take critical aim at society -- he couldn’t find an overarching theme for the album. And while flipping through Netflix, he stumbled upon “The Great Gatsby” film based on F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s 1925 novel. And a light bulb switched on. “I thought of Gatsby as a person who has everything but at the same t

Rock singer Yoon Do-hyun has returned with two new digital singles “Song Calling for You” and “Cold” Thursday. According to his agency Dee Company, the two songs have been produced by Yoon himself, and the entire recording process, as well as the shooting for the music video, was completed in London. An image for Yoon Do-hyun‘s new single “Song Calling for You” (Dee Company)　Yoon recorded “Song Calling for You” with the London Symphony Orchestra at Air studios in London, which was founded in 196

YG Entertainment’s upcoming variety program “YG Strategy Center” (working title) will be broadcast via online streaming platform Netflix. The K-pop agency announced Thursday that its new sitcom-variety program will premiere on Netflix, while the exact release date is yet to be set.  A promotion image for “YG Strategy Center” (YG Entertainment)Featuring a group of YG families including Seungri of Big Bang, Lee Jae-jin of Sechskies and comedian Yoo Byung-jae, the eight-episode Netflix series will

BoA“One Shot, Two Shot”(Iriver)Successfully blending futuristic sounds with hip-hop dance beats, the veteran singer’s first ever EP “One Shot, Two Shot,” features two of BoA’s greatest strengths: conforming to a trend but keeping her excellence. The seven-track collection, which includes the previously released “Nega Dola” and “Camo,” is also a testament to how BoA was able to stand tall on her own throughout her 19-year career.The opener and title track “One Shot, Two Shot” is a deep-house danc

Throughout her 20-year career, Wax has been typecast as a nationally acclaimed but secretive balladeer. Her biggest hit, “Fixing My Makeup,” a tear-jerker of a post-breakup song, has been on the list of people’s favorite karaoke sing-alongs for more than a decade, while her personal life has been veiled from the public. “Due to my balladeer image and vocal, people think me as a serious person. But I want to dismantle that image,” Wax, 45, whose real name is Cho Hye-ri, told The Korea Herald in S

Acclaimed stage director Lee Youn-taek on Monday apologized for his acts of sexual harassment which he admitted went on for 18 years but denied allegations of rape.During a press conference held at the 30 Studio in Jongro-gu, Seoul, on Monday, Kim So-hee, head of the Yeonhee Street Theatre Troupe, said that the troupe had been aware of the various sexual misconduct allegations involving Lee and that she has decided to disband the group in order to take responsibility. Lee Youn-taek speaks at a p

Having recently returned from a tour in Brazil, K-pop boy band VAV isore motivated than ever, with a goal in mind to expand its reach all around the globe. "It’s really interesting that more than half of our social media followers were from Brazil, even before we visited the country. We didn’t realize our popularity in Brazil until we got there,” said Ayno from the seven-piece group in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul on Tuesday. VAV, from “Very Awesome Voice,” may sound unfamiliar to

The second season of “Begin Again,” a music variety show that features Korean musicians promoting their music overseas, will air its first episode on March 23, according to broadcaster JTBC on Tuesday.The music show follows Korean musicians traveling overseas, where their names are unknown, and busking and promoting their music to foreigners. 　A poster for second season of “Begin Again” (JTBC)The upcoming season will star musicians Kim Yoon-ah and Lee Sun-kyu of band Jaurim, Lena Park, Hareem, Y

Soloist Roy Kim’s new single “Only Then” dominated major local music charts shortly after its release on Monday. As of Tuesday afternoon, the singer’s poignant pop ballad remained atop six major real time charts including Melon, Bugs, Naver and Mnet. Roy Kim (CJ E&M)Penned and composed by Kim, “Only Then” centers on a couple‘s long-distance relationship and describes a man’s heartbreak he decides to break up. His agency CJ E&M explained that the song also includes the singer‘s own experiences of

Seohyun of K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation joined a North Korean art troupe in singing about unification and peace in Seoul on Sunday.The 140-member Samjiyon Orchestra, led by Hyon Song-wol, head of the all-female Moranbong Band, held a special concert at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul to celebrate the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games.  (Yonhap)According to local media reports, Seohyun, dressed in a white dress and matching heels, made a surprise appearance at the grand finale of the con

K-pop boy group EXO and rapper CL of now-defunct K-pop girl group 2NE1 will grace the closing ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.The two global K-pop acts confirmed Wednesday that they will perform at the closing ceremony that will take place at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. local time. (YG Entertainment, S.M. Entertainment)Dubbed “the biggest boyband in the world,” eight-piece boy band EXO has been on a winning streak since its debut in 2011. The group’s “Th

Singer Baek Ji-young apologized for the recent drug scandal involving her husband, actor Jung Suk-won, during a concert in Seoul on Saturday.On Friday, local media reported that Jung was nabbed by police at Incheon Airport late Thursday for allegedly using methamphetamine while overseas.  Baek Ji-young (Yonhap)“I recognize my husband’s misdeed, and as his wife, spouse and lifelong companion, I’ve been deeply regretting it along with him,” said Baek tearfully, during the concert that took place a

Singer Hong Jin-young, one of the most recognized trot singers in Korea, returned with new single “Good Bye” on Wednesday. “Each time I release a new single, I‘ve always thought that its popularity should outdo my previous hit ‘Love Battery.’ I just couldn’t help but put a lot of thought into each single,” Hong said during a media showcase for “Good Bye” in Seoul on Wednesday. Hong Jin-young performs during a media showcase for “Good Bye” in Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap)　Hong, who made her breakt

Big Bang member Seungri will star in upcoming Chinese film “Love Only,” the singer’s agency YG Entertainment said Thursday. Seungri, who is making his Chinese acting debut in “Love Only,” will begin promotions for the movie by attending a press conference in Hong Kong on Thursday, according to the agency.  “Love Only” (YG Entertainment)In the romance flick, the singer will play the lead role of Yun Sheng, the marketing director of a conglomerate who grew up in Europe and puts love on top of ever

Seventeen“Director’s Cut”(Loen Entertainment) Whether they are crafted for special occasions or are part of the group’s regular album, Seventeen’s music has been improving with each new release. The group’s “Director’s Cut,” an extended, reissued version of the K-pop act’s “Teen, Age” album from last year, features four new songs. The new songs are off-cuts that were not released at the time, but each of them sparkles with Seventeen’s signature bubbly energy, flagging themselves as perfect singl

An ambitious professor who has been living an affluent but miserable married life murders his wife, thinking he has committed the perfect crime. Then the woman’s body goes missing from the National Institute of Scientific Investigation. A tenacious detective starts chasing the truth of the mystery. Upcoming thriller “The Body,” starring Kim Hee-ae, Kim Gang-woo and Kim Sang-kyung, unfolds with the creepy tagline “A corpse of my wife I killed has disappeared,” zooming into the three characters’ t

K-pop act WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, will return with its fourth EP “Dream Your Dream” on Feb. 27, the group’s agency Starship Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album marks the group’s first release since its first full-length album “Happy Moment” in June last year.  WJSN (Starship Entertainment)The release schedule for the new album shared via WJSN’s official website featured dates for the release of track-list and a music video, slated for Feb. 21 and 22, respectively. The wizardl

Raehwan of Big Star will begin his mandatory military service Monday, his agency Brave Entertainment said Friday.The agency said in an official statement that the singer will undergo basic military training at a recruitment training center at Goseong, Gangwon Province, after which he will serve as a full-time reserve solider for 21 months.  Raehwan of Big Star (Brave Entertainment)Raehwan, who had been competing in KBS2’s idol competition program “The Unit” since October last year, also shared a