KBS World Radio, an international radio broadcast run by the public network of KBS, will launch a 24-hour English broadcast next month, the network said Monday.The radio channel has recently reorganized to create several new English programs that will go on air starting Sept. 4, including "One Fine Day," a music show run by Korean-American singer Park Jung-hyun, "KOREA 24," a news show by Henry Shinn, and "K-Pop Connection" by Angela Park and Oneway Peter.The move is in line with growing demands

Actors Jung Yu-mi and Lee Kwang-soo have been cast for a new TV series on cable channel tvN written by popular screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung, the network said Monday.The two will appear in the new program "Live," a story about policemen, that will be shown some time in the first half of next year.  (Yonhap)Jung of the movie "Train to Busan" and popular reality show "Youn's Kitchen" plays tough policewoman Han Jeong-oh who fights against male-dominated working culture while Lee acts as Han's colleag

"The Battleship Island," a Korean film about the dark history of Japan's Hashima Island off the coast of Nagasaki during World War II, has grossed more than $1 million at the US box office, its distributor said Sunday.The film reached the milestone on Friday, 15 days after its Aug. 3 opening in American theaters, according to CJ Entertainment America."Even in its second week of release, we are getting an enthusiastic response here, with various organizations asking us for information about scree

The music video for “Dope,” a track from K-pop boy band BTS’ “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1,” has reached over 200 million views on YouTube.Released on June 23, 2015, the video reached the milestone on the YouTube channel run by 1theK, the content production division of Loen Entertainment, at 6:34 p.m. Saturday. Loen is the music label behind the group‘s 2015 EP album.  A screen capture of BTS' "Dope" music video (Big Hit Entertainment)Including views on the official channel run by t

Changmin of TVXQ and Siwon of Super Junior will be discharged from the military Friday. The two singers enlisted in the military on Nov. 19, 2015 and served as police officers at the Seoul Police Agency’s department of public relations. Changmin of TVXQ (left), Donghae and Siwon of Super Junior (Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Instagram)Following Changmin’s discharge, TVXQ will embark on the TVXQ! Asia Press Tour in Seoul on Monday. The duo will visit three Asian cities to meet the press and

Hyeri of Girl’s Day and actor Ryu Jun-yeol, the leads in popular tvN drama “Reply 1988,” confirmed Wednesday they are engaged in a romantic relationship. A local media outlet reported earlier in the day the two stars had started dating by the end of last year after starring in the show together. The report also released photos of the two spotted during three secret meetings.  Hyeri (left) and Ryu Jun-yeol star in "Reply 1988." (tvN)Hyeri and Ryu’s agencies were quick to confirm the report.“Hyeri

Prosecutors will investigate Onew of boy band SHINee for allegedly touching a woman inappropriately at a club in Gangnam, Seoul, on Saturday. The singer was arrested at the club after a friend of the woman called the police. Onew denied the charges, saying that he has no memory of the alleged incident, as he was too drunk at that time.Police plan to send the case to the prosecutor’s office.  Onew of SHINee (Herald DB)SHINee’s agency S.M. Entertainment said the incident stemmed from “a misunderst

K-pop mixed gender rookie group K.A.R.D wrapped up its promotional activities in Korea for its latest track “Hola Hola” and will meet its overseas fans again. K.A.R.D will perform at the Summer Sonic 2017 rock festival in Japan on Saturday. It will then head to Los Angeles for KCON 2017, the annual Hallyu convention hosted by entertainment giant CJ E&M. In September, it will embark on another world tour in Europe, during which the group will visit five countries including the United Kingdom and

The 2017 Asia Song Festival, an annual Asian pop music festival, will take place in September, featuring a star-studded lineup of artists, according to its organizer Monday. Under the theme of “Asia is One,” the festival will be held from Sept. 22-24 at venues across Busan. The opening ceremony of the Asia Song Festival in 2016. (Busan-Yonhap)On its first day, music industry officials from 10 countries will gather for a conference at Nurimaru APEC house in Haeundae to discuss issues related to i

The cast of popular MBC variety show “Infinite Challenge” were reunited with American actor Jack Black. On Wednesday, Black dropped a group selfie with the five “Infinite Challenge” members -- Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myeong-su, Jeong Jun-ha, Haha and Yang Se-hyeong -- on his Facebook with the caption “Long time no see, Infinite Challenge! Welcome to LA.” From top-left: Jeong Jun-ha, Yoo Jae-suk, Jack Black, Park Myeong-su, Haha and Yang Se-hyeong pose for a photo. (Jack Black‘s Facebook)Black appeared

BTS was named one of the 50 most watched musicians on YouTube in America. The K-pop group ranked No. 44 on a list of music Americans love the most, released by the New York Times on Monday. It was the only group of Asian artists on the list. The list featured 50 artists on the Billboard Top 100 chart who were the most watched on YouTube in the United States between January 2016 and April 2017.  (Big Hit Entertainment)According to the New York Times, the boy band was especially popular in Hawaii

Korean-American pop artist and television personality Nancy Lang, otherwise known as Park Hye-ryeong, on Thursday reported her friend to police while drunk. Gyeonggi Yangju Police said Park called the police at 8:20 a.m. Thursday to report her friend, with whom she had been drinking with since the previous day, accusing her of filming her with a hidden camera.  Police said that Park’s friend was not charged and Park had mistaken her friend’s behavior or had made the call by mistake. At the polic

Former Girls’ Generation member Jessica heralded the imminent release of her third mini album “My Decade,” slated for Aug. 9. Her agency Coridel Entertainment released Monday a teaser image via social media and its website. The lead track of the album will be “Summer Storm.”  A teaser for Jessica’s upcoming third mini album “My Decade” (Coridel Entertainment)“As she marks her 10th anniversary this year, she is making a lot of effort to show you a high quality album. Please show lots of love and

Mixed-gender K-pop group K.A.R.D ranked No. 3 on Billboard’s World Album Chart with its debut EP “Hola Hola.”The album also came in at No. 46 on the Independent Album chart and No. 25 on the Heatseekers Album chart.“Hola Hola,” the lead track, secured the No. 4 spot on the World Digital Song Sales chart, while other tracks “I Can’t Stop” and “Living Good” ranked No. 10 and No. 12, respectively.  K.A.R.D (DSP Media)Though it has been only a week since the group debuted on July 19, K.A.R.D, consis

Soon-to-be-married couple Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo were asked to hold their wedding ceremony at the “Descendants of the Sun” theme park in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. City officials recently visited Song Joong-ki’s agency and relayed hopes of the city’s residents for the couple to wed at the theme park. The city also outlined the details of the city‘s support for the wedding, including the officiant’s message, outdoor wedding facilities and honeymoon accommodations, to the agency. Song Joon

Kim Bum is set to return to the big screen with the third sequel of comedy-mystery film “Detective K.”　Kim’s agency Kingkong Entertainment said Thursday that the actor is confirmed to star in the upcoming movie, which starts filming next month. It will be the actor’s first Korean film in four years, having last starred in “The Gifted Hands” in 2013. 　 Kim Bum (Yonhap)He appeared on TV screens in tvN’s 2015 drama “Hidden Identity” and SBS’ 2016 drama “Mrs. Cop 2,” but he has starred only in Chine

G-Dragon thrilled some 11,000 fans in Los Angeles on his solo world tour “ACT III, M.O.T.T.E,” the singer’s agency YG Entertainment said Tuesday. On Sunday, the singer began his sold-out concert at The Forum with “Heartbreaker,” the lead track of his first solo album of the same title. He also performed hit songs including “One of a Kind,” “That XX” and “MichiGO” during the two-hour concert. (YG Entertainment)The 28-year-old said to the crowd, “I feel alive when I sing in front of you. If not fo

Featuring gravity-free beds, a virtual reality arcade and an IMAX screen five times larger than the average screen, the newly renovated CGV Yongsan hopes to take the multiplex theater model to another level.CGV, Korea’s largest theater chain run by the entertainment conglomerate CJ Group, is well aware that mobile and online platforms such as Netflix are replacing theaters for some consumers. But CGV is betting on experiences that are difficult to replicate at home, infusing both technology and

K-pop artists managed by leading Korean entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment kicked off their sixth concert tour around the globe in Seoul on Saturday. A total of 61 singers thrilled some 45,000 fans at the SM Town Live World Tour VI concert at Seoul World Cup Stadium. It was the first SM Town Live concert in Seoul in three years since its fourth tour opened in the city in August 2014.  K-pop artists signed by S.M. Entertainment perform at the “SM Town Live World Tour VI” concert held at Seou

K-pop group member-turned-actress Sulli, also known as Choi Jin-ri, and brand director Kim Min-joon have broken up after being together for four months. Kim took to Instagram on Monday to announce the split. “After lots of thought, Choi Jin-ri and I decided to go separate ways,” he wrote. Through the post, he waved aside possible speculations and asked people not to make up stories about the breakup. “It was ordinary dating. There is only the story of the two and no other special stories or curi