Journalist

최송희
  • INTERVIEW: Park Seo-joon: confident Waiting for Gyeongo will linger despite low ratings
    INTERVIEW: Park Seo-joon: confident "Waiting for Gyeongo" will linger despite low ratings SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - For Park Seo-joon, returning to the romance genre after seven years with, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" was a project that demanded full embracement of character’s life. Following the timeline of protagonist "Lee Gyeong-do," who continues to live with the same feelings even after two relationships at the ages of twenty and twenty-eight, the narrative goes beyond a simple reunion melodrama. Instead, it asks how the emotion of love is endured, accumulated, and carried over time. “Being able to portray Gyeong-do was, a very rewarding experience. I believed that 'Waiting for Gyeong-do' relies heavily on the shared narrative between two protagonists, and the real question was how deeply we could convey the narrative. More over, It was a project that encourages you to think a bit more deeply about the idea of love.” For Park Seo-joon, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" was a project where the process mattered more than the result. Instead of dramatic moments, the focus was on emotional nuance, building meaning through small, gradual changes — a process that demanded great nuance from an actor's standpoint. “I feel like it ended well. This was a project where emotional expression was incredibly important, therefore, I tried to approach it as delicately as possible, and in that process, I think I was able to give it my all. I have no regrets. I feel like this is a work I poured everything I could into.” Waiting for Gyeong-do also marked Park Seo-joon’s return to the romance genre after seven years. Actor addressed, what drew him to the project was not the milestone itself, but the story. The narrative, which spans a long passage of time, offered a fresh creative stimulus for him as an actor. “To be honest, I didn’t really think about how many years it had been since I last participated in a romance project. There are so many different kinds of romance. What grasped my attention the most, was that the story depicts a long period of time. I felt there was something meaningful about the way the narrative lays out the protagonist's life over those years.” After completing the shoot, Park Seo-joon realized the emotional density woven into the project while looking aback at the project. “After watching all 12 episodes, I realized there was far more in it than I had expected,” adding "scenes that you might simply pass over if you look only at the events all had meaning when viewed through the characters’ emotions. In that sense, it was a project that made me think a lot as an actor.” Although Park Seo-joon mentioned, he did not want to speak in terms of numbers, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" opened with a 2.7 percent viewership rating and ended at 4.7 percent. For Park Seo-joon, who sparked a phenomenon with "Itaewon Class," the ratings were admittedly disappointing. Given the high expectations surrounding his first romance drama in seven years, a sense of bitterness was unavoidable. “From the standpoint of those who worked on it, you want more people to watch it. It’s certainly a story that deserves higher viewing. Since there haven’t been many projects recently that deal with such a lengthy narrative, I think it ultimately comes down to viewers taste. If I may carefully wish for something, i personally believe 'Waiting for Gyeong-do' has a lot of potential to be brought up often by people. I don’t think the plot of 'Waiting for Gyeong-do' would be forgotten that easily.” By portraying Lee Gyeong-do, Park Seo-joon took on the challenge of embodying a single character across his twenties and thirties. In a story that moves back and forth in time, the decision for one actor to play different stages of protagonist's life risked appearing contrived. Actor addressed that he decided early on that he would portray both young and old version of the characters himself. “I felt it was important that I portray those differences myself,” adding “Because the timeline moves back and forth, I suggested that I should be the one acting in two different era and the director shared the same view. I was grateful for the opportunity, and I felt confident because those were years I’ve actually lived. While I did wonder whether I could convincingly convey my twenties externally, the difference between who I was then and who I am now is clear. I wanted to express that difference to show the passage of time, while preserving one consistent core in Gyeong-do.” Moving between the character’s twenties and thirties, Park Seo-joon focused consistency instead of changes. Actor explained that he wanted to convey the passage of time through emotion and attitude, rather than through physical transformation. “I felt it was important not to make drastic changes to my appearance, even down to details like hairstyles,” adding “Consistency also comes through externally. At his core, Gyeong-do is a character whose love for Ji-woo never changes, and that emotional stance was what mattered most. For the role I prepared physically and mentally, however the most important factor was to keep the emotion steady. .” Having spent years watching reporters up close, Park Seo-joon said the role of the deputy editor of entertainment division felt unfamiliar, however not entirely foreign. He added that the sense conveyed by the office environment itself played an important role in the project. “Even down to details like the computer, I thought about what felt appropriate for the role,” adding “It was my first time acting in an office setting, although I haven’t spent much time in offices myself, I felt the atmosphere of the space was important. The moment I sat down, I had a clear sense of being a reporter. There’s a brief scene where I watch a drama on a monitor, and I imagined that reporters might do something like that while working on articles. Through the interview process, the role didn’t feel far removed from my own experience. I’ve attended many production presentations, and early in my career I even visited newspaper companies directly for interviews, so approaching the role didn’t feel particularly difficult.” When asked about whether his perspective on reporters had changed, Park Seo-joon responded with a smile, candidly reflecting that what had once been curiosity had now turned into understanding. “I used to be very curious, I wondered how the same words could be presented so differently. But now, I understand it. I think it’s something that can happen, and I don’t have any bad feelings about it at all anymore." When asked about how he chooses his projects and his future direction, Park Seo-joon responded with “Instead of expanding the field I tend to focus on stories that I can portray now.” Rather than aiming to broaden his spectrum, he appeared more focused on prioritizing stories that align with his current age and emotional state. “Saying ‘expanding my spectrum’ sounds a bit grand to me. What mattered most was what I could do at this point in my life. After finishing this project, I found myself wanting to tell another story. Instead of planning things too far ahead, I want to go with whatever genuinely interests me at the moment. Spending about two years on 'Gyeongseong Creature' also made me naturally gravitate toward stories that feel more grounded in reality than that kind of genre.” When asked whether there was a role or moment he is waiting for, Park Seo-joon offered a candid reflection on age, revealing a clear sense of expectation about his forties. “My forties,” adding “People often say men truly begin at 40, but for now, it still feels like I’m preparing. Personally, I think that feeling will come somewhere between 40 and 43. One reason I haven’t gravitated toward noir is that I felt I looked too young for it — that it wouldn’t suit me. But at that age, I think it might. The range of choices could change: the projects I can challenge and the stories I can appear in may be different from now. And romance at that stage will likely be completely different as well.” 2026-01-19 17:01:32
  • Japanese teenage actor to visit Seoul next month as film becomes sleeper hit
    Japanese teenage actor to visit Seoul next month as film becomes sleeper hit SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Japanese actor Soya Kurokawa will visit Seoul next month as his latest film "National Treasure," also known as "Kokuho became a sleeper hit in South Korea, the film’s distributer said on Monday. Directed by Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter of Zainichi Korean descent Lee Sang-il, the film has attracted over 200,000 moviegoers in about eight weeks since its release in mid-November last year, an impressive feat for an indie film here. Kurokawa is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Feb. 1 and meet fans at a theater in Yongsan and other venues. This is not his first visit, as the teenager previously came to Seoul in 2023 to promote his hit film "Monster" and also attended the Busan International Film Festival last fall. The lengthy film running 175 minutes, an adaptation of a novel by Shuichi Yoshida that chronicles the passionate lives of men devoted to art over half a century, was an instant hit in Japan, remaining at the top of the box office for 31 consecutive weeks since its release in June last year. 2026-01-19 15:20:41
  • EXO set to drop first full-length album in over two years
    EXO set to drop first full-length album in over two years SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - K-pop boy band EXO are returning with their eighth full-length album on Monday. "REVERXE," set for release at 6 p.m. on major music-streaming sites, is the group's first full-length album in about two years and six months. The album contains nine songs including its title track "Crown," a hard-dance track about protecting a loved one, symbolized as a crown. To promote the album, a showcase is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Kyunghee University in Seoul later in the day and also livestreamed on YouTube and TikTok. 2026-01-19 10:27:09
  • Actor Lee Byung-hun appears on US late-night talk show
    Actor Lee Byung-hun appears on US late-night talk show SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Actor Lee Byung-hun appeared on NBC's late-night talk show "Late Night with Seth Meyers" earlier this week, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his latest films. After walking on stage to loud cheers at a studio in New York on Tuesday, Lee recounted a few episodes from the set of award-winning director Park Chan-wook's film "No Other Choice," drawing laughter with witty answers that garnered repeated applause from the audience. "I'm the type of person who asks a lot of questions. To portray my characters well, I often end up bugging directors about every tiny detail," Lee said. Recalling that most directors usually accepted only a few of his ideas, he said, "While working on No Other Choice, used almost nine out of ten," which made him "feel good but also more responsible." Lee's appearance on the primetime show comes amid his rising global recognition, having recently been named to The New York Times Magazine's list of "Great Performers," which honors outstanding actors. 2026-01-15 10:43:26
  • BLACKPINK to release new album next month
    BLACKPINK to release new album next month SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will release a new album next month. "Deadline," the quartet's third mini album, was teased by their management agency YG Entertainment on Thursday, ahead of its release slated for Feb. 27. "We'd like to thank fans who have waited for quite a long time," the agency said in a press release. The much-anticipated album is expected to reflect the memories and moments of their ongoing world tour, also called "Deadline." The tour kicked off in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province last July and has included more than 30 performances in about 16 cities around the world. BLACKPINK will hold a three-day concert in Tokyo from Friday, followed by the tour's final stop in Hong Kong a week later. 2026-01-15 09:13:23
  • BTS to tour 34 cities across world with over 70 gigs
    BTS to tour 34 cities across world with over 70 gigs SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - K-pop boy band BTS will embark on a world tour in April, marking their first large-scale tour in about four years since their last one in Las Vegas in 2022. The group teased the tour on Wednesday at midnight with a poster on the global fan platform Weverse. The tour will begin in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, before heading to stops across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. With some 79 shows planned across 34 major cities across the world, the tour is expected to set a record for the most dates performed on a single tour by a K-pop act. Additional stops in Japan and the Middle East are also planned, likely extending the tour further. The tour is scheduled to kick off with three-day concerts on April 9, 11, and 12 on the outskirts of Seoul. BTS will then move to the southern port city of Busan to perform on June 12 and 13, with the June 13 show expected to coincide with their debut anniversary, allowing them to celebrate with fans. Starting with concerts on April 25 and 26 in Tampa, Florida, the septet's North American leg will include 28 shows across 12 cities. They will perform at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, becoming the first K-pop act to hold concerts of this scale in those cities. BTS will also take the stage at Stanford Stadium in California, following British band Coldplay as just the second artist to headline the venue. Additional U.S. dates include AT&T Stadium in Arlington and M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, marking the first-ever performances by a South Korean artist at those venues. BTS will then tour Europe in June and July with 10 shows in five cities including London, Paris, Madrid, and Brussels. They will also visit five South American cities including São Paulo and Buenos Aires, and plan to hold concerts in the Middle East. According to their management agency, they will perform on 360-degree stages during the tour. Just ahead of the tour, BTS will release their fifth full-length album on March 20, featuring 14 tracks. The album marks their full-group reunion, nearly three years and nine months after they completed their respective mandatory military service. BTS said the album conveys their honest feelings and reflections on past moments, with the goal of presenting themselves "as they are now." 2026-01-14 09:58:33
  • Kim Seon Ho, Go Youn Jung introduce Netflix rom-com Can This Love Be Translated?
    Kim Seon Ho, Go Youn Jung introduce Netflix rom-com 'Can This Love Be Translated?' SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The Hong sisters - Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran -, the popular writing duo behind fantasy hit series such as "Hotel Del Luna" are returning with a straight romantic comedy, teaming up with actors Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung for Netflix’s upcoming series “Can This Love Be Translated?” Anticipation is building over whether the series, which explores romance through the gap between language and emotion, will resonate with global audiences and revive the lackluster performance of K-drama on Netflix. A production presentation for the series was held Tuesday morning at Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam in Seoul. Director Yoo Young-eun attended the event alongside Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, sharing insights into the project. "Can This Love Be Translated?” follows Ju Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter who is assigned to work for Cha Mu-hee, a global top star with an unpredictable charm. The Hong sisters, known for blending fantasy with emotional depth in “Alchemy of Souls” and “Hotel Del Luna,” return to the romantic comedy genre with Yoo, the director of “The Red Sleeve,” at the helm. “The biggest appeal was doing a pure romantic comedy with the Hong sisters’ writing,” Director Yoo Young-eun said. “I was fascinated by the emotional dilemmas that arise from the profession of interpretation — words you have to convey even when you don’t want to, and moments when you wish someone else’s words could become your own.” Yoo added that the story begins with the premise that people use different “languages” and styles of expression when it comes to love. Ho-jin speaks in a direct, straight-line manner, while Mu-hee tends to express her emotions in a roundabout way. Their repeated misunderstandings, she said, will form a key point of empathy and humor for viewers. Kim Seon-ho plays Ho-jin, an interpreter fluent in Italian, English, Japanese, Chinese and French. “He works with multiple languages, but he’s clumsy when it comes to expressing his own feelings,” Kim said. “Because I had to deliver the dialogue accurately while carrying the character’s emotions, I spent about four months before filming practicing both language and emotional expression.” The director described Ho-jin as a “neat and understated” character, noting that delicate emotional acting was essential. “It’s a role that carries the added burden of language, but I knew I could trust Kim Seon-ho,” she said, calling him an irreplaceable choice capable of handling both romance and comedy. Go Youn-jung portrays Cha Mu-hee, an actor who becomes a global top star overnight. “Mu-hee doesn’t hide her emotions — she expresses them transparently,” Go said. “I felt that making the lines ambiguous would weaken the character’s appeal, so I tried to stay faithful to the script. That alone was enough to make Mu-hee a fun and layered character.” The director also praised Go Youn-jung’s casting, saying her sense of purity and toughness aligned well with the role. She described Mu-hee as a character requiring significant movement and action, adding that viewers would discover a new side of Go by the end of the series. The production filmed on location in several countries, including South Korea, Japan, Canada and Italy. The director explained that each setting was designed to function as a character reflecting emotional shifts within the story. “Japan represents the freshness of their first meeting, Canada captures the more dramatic moments as emotions deepen, and Italy was placed with the balance of the latter half of the story in mind,” Yoo said. Kim spoke highly of his on-screen chemistry with Go, noting that her dynamic portrayal naturally drew out his reactions. “She’s very quick to absorb her scene partner’s lines, and I learned a lot from her on set,” he said. The director echoed the sentiment, saying she was confident the two shared “the best” chemistry. Moreover, the director revealed that each episode will feature different cameo appearances. To make Mu-hee’s status as a global star feel more realistic, familiar faces will appear throughout the series, adding fresh moments to each episode. “Love is a universal emotion, and we placed it against landscapes from different countries,” Yoo said. “I hope it becomes a story people can relate to, even if the language is different.” She added that she hoped the series would deliver positive energy for the new year, likening it to the aurora she witnessed while filming. Go asked viewers to watch the series with a warm, fairy-tale-like perspective. Kim described the production as feeling like a gift, adding that he was happy to pass that gift on to audiences. “Can This Love Be Translated?” will be released worldwide on Netflix at 5 p.m. on Jan. 16. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily and edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 13:23:37
  • Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon sweep top honors at 40th Golden Disc Awards
    Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon sweep top honors at 40th Golden Disc Awards SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) - Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon took home the top honors at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, held Friday at Taipei Dome in Taiwan, as the ceremony marked its four-decade milestone with an expanded grand prize lineup. Stray Kids won the Album of the Year (Daesang), G-Dragon claimed Digital Song of the Year, and Jennie became the first recipient of the newly introduced Artist of the Year Daesang. Stray Kids earned their first grand prize seven years after winning Rookie of the Year at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards. Their fourth full-length album, KARMA, recorded triple-million first-week sales, securing both the album Daesang and an Album Bonsang. “We’ve been running toward the main prize, and we’re grateful to receive such a big award,” the group said. “Every moment with Stay has been precious, and we want to keep setting more records together.” G-Dragon marked a major comeback with his third full-length album Übermensch, released after an 11-year, five-month hiatus. His track HOME SWEET HOME won the Digital Song Daesang, while he also collected Digital and Album Bonsangs, taking home three awards. In a video message, G-Dragon said it was “especially meaningful” to receive his first award of the year at the Golden Disc Awards’ 40th anniversary, adding that he plans to return this year with fellow BigBang members. “Receiving this award in my 10th year since debut means a lot,” Jennie said. “I’ll repay you with good music.” Other Album and Digital Bonsang winners included Riize, Seventeen, Ive, Ateez and Enhypen. All Day Project and Cortis won Rookie of the Year, while Monsta X was named Best Group. The Upbit Popularity Award, decided entirely by fan voting, went to BTS’ Jin and Hearts2Hearts. This year marked the first time the Golden Disc Awards presented three Daesang categories — Album, Digital Song and Artist — in the ceremony’s history. According to organizer HLL JoongAng, the Artist Daesang was determined by a weighted system of 60% quantitative data, including global chart performance and sales, and 40% evaluation by a panel of judges. The 40th Golden Disc Awards recognized music released between early November 2024 and early November 2025, with nominees announced in late November across album, digital and rookie categories. 2026-01-11 11:12:53
  • Stray Kids to perform at star-studded charity concert in France later this month
    Stray Kids to perform at star-studded charity concert in France later this month SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Stray Kids will attend at a charity concert in France later this month. The eight-member band will perform along with global stars such as American singer-songwriter and actress Christina Aguilera, American rapper A$AP Rocky, and South Korean rapper G-Dragon at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes, also known as the Yellow Coins Gala, slated to be held at a multipurpose indoor arena in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris on Jan. 22. Organized by a charity foundation run by France's first lady Brigitte Macron, the concert has been held almost annually since 1989 to raise funds for children with illnesses and young people in need. It will be Stray Kids' second consecutive appearance at the event, after stopping in Paris as part of their world tour in July last year, which drew 120,000 fans. 2026-01-08 16:37:13
  • South Korea among top markets for highest-grossing Avatar franchise
    South Korea among top markets for highest-grossing 'Avatar' franchise SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - "Fire and Ash," the third installment in director James Cameron's epic "Avatar" franchise, dominated the South Korean box office during the holiday season, making the country one of the film's top five global markets. According to Box Office Mojo, an American-operated website that tracks box-office revenues, South Korea ranked among the global top five markets for the CGI-heavy spectacular, earning US$44.12 million, just behind North America ($311.33 million), China ($137.92 million), France ($82.16 million), and Germany ($64.09 million). The second installment, "Avatar: The Way of Water," was also a box-office hit when it was released here in 2022, drawing a record 10.8 million viewers. The latest installment of the highest-grossing series departs from its previous serene setting of fictional planet Pandora to explore a fiery, ash-covered world, encountering new tribes along the way. 2026-01-08 10:40:49