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

A panel of experts including leading sea ice scientist Peter Wadhams gathered in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss the growing threat of climate change on the opening day of Peace BAR Festival 2018 at Kyung Hee University.The 37th Peace BAR Festival began in the run-up to the United Nations’ International Day of Peace on Friday, with peace and climate change set to take center stage during the event. Kicking off the three-day academic event, professor Wadhams, who is visiting Korea for the first time,

Singers Zico, Ailee and Ali left for Pyongyang this morning to attend the third inter-Korean summit.The celebrities were seen arriving at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, as part of a some-200-strong delegation that will accompany South Korean President Moon Jae-in.Zico opted for a clean-cut look in a navy suit befitting the seriousness of the event, while Ailee wore a blue dress as the two got ready to board the presidential plane.(Video taken by Song Su-hyun, edited by Lim Jeong-

The new season of tvN’s variety show “Sound of Grazing Grass” is returning on Monday at 8:10 p.m.The autumn edition of the show is joined by popular comedian Park Na-rae and Hwang Chan-sung from the boy band 2PM, as well as a young farmer Han Tae-woong, who is a 16-year-old but carries himself more like a 61-year-old.(CJ E&M)Han’s mature mannerisms lightened the mood during the showcase Monday, which was held at CJ E&M Center in western Seoul. Han sang a trot song, a genre mostly for older peopl

Politicians and experts clashed over the best way to deal with the growing number of violent juvenile crimes across South Korea during last night’s special debate program on KBS.During the two-hour special “Citizens’ Assembly,” lawmakers Pyo Chang-won and Keum Tae-seop, both from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, went head to head with their differing views on whether toughening punishments for youth crimes would prove effective.Rep. Pyo, who wants to see tougher youth penalties introduced,

Singer Goo Ha-ra, who shot to stardom as a member of the K-pop group KARA, now faces a public image crisis amid a dating violence scandal after her boyfriend alleged she assaulted him for wanting to break up.Her image suffered severe damage over the weekend after her boyfriend spoke with the Chosun Ilbo and shared a picture of his face, which seemed to bear deep scratches around his eyebrows and on his forehead. He said they were the result of a scuffle he had with the singer Wednesday night.The

Singer Goo Ha-ra was reportedly embroiled in a scuffle with her boyfriend at her flat late Wednesday night after her boyfriend tried to end their relationship.Her boyfriend called police to accuse Goo of assault during a row at her flat in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul around midnight Wednesday. (Yonhap)The 27-year-old singer claims that both parties were involved in assault, according to Gangnam Police Station.Police said both parties will be called in for questioning as part of the ongoing investigatio

Audiences were strongly divided over the casting of Jung Yu-mi for the film adaption of the feminist novel “Kim Ji-young, Born in 1982.”A torrent of comments followed Wednesday’s news that Jung, who has appeared in hit films like “Train to Busan,” had been cast for the main role in the film. Many were critical of the actress’ decision to take on the role. Jung Yu-mi pictured above (Management SOOP)Her Instagram soon became a forum for heated debate as critics and supporters of Jung headed to her

Berry Good has decided to continue promotions for its new album as a five-piece act after bandmate Sehyung injured her foot last week. Sehyung injured herself while getting out of a vehicle during the DMC Festival. On Saturday, she took to social media to promise fans she would return soon. The originally six-piece group was quick to reorganize itself as it is in the midst of TV promotions for its album “Free Travel.” An official image of Berry Good. (JTG Entertainment)JTG Entertainment said the

After swapping positions back and forth, Sunmi came out on top at last in the latest weekly charts, fending off competition from Girls’ Generation.Sunmi’s new single “Siren” secured the top spot on last week’s singles chart on multiple streaming services like Bugs, Melon and Mnet during the week ending Sunday.Last week saw one of the hardest fought chart battles in K-pop history, with Sunmi, formerly of girl group Wonder Girls, releasing her new single “Siren” on Tuesday and Girls’ Generation’s

Popular YouTuber Wassup Man offered a rare glimpse of the headquarters of major entertainment agencies JYP Entertainment and S.M. Entertainment in a recent video.The video featuring the Korean-American YouTuber’s visit to JYP and S.M.’s headquarters had been watched over 3 million times as of Monday afternoon. (Wassup Man's YouTube)The rapper and YouTuber, whose name is Park Joon-hyung, first headed to JYP’s new headquarters in Seoul. The agency is behind successful K-pop groups like Twice and G

Roy Kim has unveiled that the title of his new single will be “Let’s Stop,” or “Uri Geuman Haja” in Korean.The singer broke the news through a video dubbed “Message from Roy” late Sunday on his Instagram, which shows a photo album on a phone screen before a video of him talking plays and the title “Let’s Stop” appears in a text message.The date on the phone screen indicates 6 p.m. on Sept. 18, which is the day his new single is slated for release. (Stone Music Entertainment)The singer-songwriter

K-pop boy band Big Bang now has over 10 million subscribers on YouTube, qualifying for the Diamond Play Button.The group had 10.006 million subscribers as of early Monday, joining the likes of BTS and Black Pink, who preceded the quintet in reaching the milestone.The group will be given the Diamond Play Button trophy as the video platform congratulates those reaching 10 million subscribers with a Diamond Creator Award.(YouTube)The Silver Play Button is given to YouTubers with over 100,000 subscr

British singer Ellie Goulding wowed fans at her very first concert in Seoul on Thursday night, promising new music is on the way.The singer-songwriter powered through a hit-packed set of 17 songs, including “On My Mind,” “Lights” and “Burn,” filling Olympic Hall with her strong stage presence.During the 90-minute show, the singer also had some good news for her fans.Ellie Goulding during her first Seoul concert at Olympic Hall on Thursday night. (Live Nation)“I promise I’ll give you guys some ne

Policymakers announced in late August that the government would hire 36,000 new civil servants in 2019, drumming up excitement among South Koreans studying to land a job in the sector.According to the Finance Ministry’s budget blueprint for next year, there will be 21,000 national government job vacancies and 15,000 in regional public service. The news is expected to further buoy the civil service job boom, as the stable nature of such jobs attracts young people and the country is suffering its

BTS will appear on next week’s episode of “America’s Got Talent.”The group, which is currently in the US for concerts in Los Angeles this week, will perform on NBC’s popular talent show on Wednesday.The official Twitter account of “America’s Got Talent” confirmed the news on Wednesday morning.(AGT's Twitter account)“Screaming! BTS is blessing the AGT stage next Wednesday. Retweet if you are freaking out about #BTSonAGT!” read the tweet, which had been liked over 193,000 times as of Wednesday.Mod

Key from boy band SHINee wants to keep it real with guests on his new “cooking talk show,” titled “Cheongdam Key-chin” and set to air on Kakao TV every Thursday night starting this week.(Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)Viewers will get to see the singer welcome guests from various backgrounds to his kitchen in the nice Cheongdam neighborhood in southern Seoul -- celebrities, models and even some of Key’s ex-colleagues.“Cheongdam Key-chin,” as the singer’s very first show, wil

BTS appears to have decided to put TV promotions on the back burner and focus on its concerts while in Los Angeles.Before BTS landed Monday in the City of Angels, where it is scheduled to perform four shows this week, the group received an invite from comedian and host James Corden to come on his popular “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”“I want BTS to come on my show and perform serendipity so bad! Maybe we could even sing it in a #CarpoolKaraoke?” Corden wrote in a tweet on Aug. 29, which

Sunmi has managed to fit another hit single into her discography after dominating online streaming charts with her brand new single, “Siren.”The former member of Wonder Girls topped the singles charts for several online streaming services including Melon, Bugs, Mnet and Soribada, just hours after releasing her song Tuesday night.(MAKEUS Entertainment)“Siren” is the lead track for Sunmi’s new EP, “Warning,” her third record since she parted ways with JYP Entertainment and inked a contract with Ma

Rep. Ahn Min-suk said South Korea’s military conscription law needs to be reformed to recognize the work of artists like BTS and better reflect its value to the country on the world stage.Speaking to the radio station CBS on Tuesday, the member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said, “(Military conscription rules) need to be improved through public discourse so that they are more sensible and better reflect the times.”Rep. Ahn Min-seok. (Yonhap)During the radio interview, Ahn singled out B