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  • BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 as ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200
    BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 as ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200 BTS swept Billboard’s two main charts, with its fifth full-length album, ‘ARIRANG,’ reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and its title track, ‘SWIM,’ debuting atop the Hot 100. Billboard said in a chart preview posted on its website on March 31 that ‘SWIM’ is No. 1 on the April 4-dated Hot 100. It is the group’s seventh Hot 100 leader, following ‘Dynamite,’ ‘Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) (BTS Remix),’ ‘Life Goes On,’ ‘Butter,’ ‘Permission to Dance’ and ‘My Universe.’ Billboard said ‘SWIM’ is the 1,190th No. 1 song in Hot 100 history and the 89th to debut at No. 1. The outlet also said BTS ranks fifth among groups for the most Hot 100 No. 1 hits. The Beatles lead with 20, followed by the Supremes with 12, the Bee Gees with nine and the Rolling Stones with eight. Released on March 20, ‘SWIM’ logged 15.3 million streams, 25.8 million radio audience impressions and 154,000 in combined digital and physical single sales in tracking through March 26. The song entered Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart at No. 2, a new best for the group, and debuted at No. 18 on Radio Songs. It topped Digital Song Sales, becoming BTS’ 13th No. 1 on that chart. Billboard previously reported in a March 30 chart preview that ‘ARIRANG’ is No. 1 on the April 4-dated Billboard 200. The album debuted with 641,000 album units, the best weekly total for a group album since Billboard began tracking units in December 2014. Pure album sales were 532,000, and streaming equivalent album units totaled 95,000. The results give BTS another week leading both the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, after doing so in 2020 with ‘BE’ and ‘Life Goes On.’ With ‘ARIRANG,’ BTS has seven No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, following ‘LOVE YOURSELF 轉 ‘Tear’,’ ‘LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’,’ ‘MAP OF THE SOUL : PERSONA,’ ‘MAP OF THE SOUL : 7,’ ‘BE’ and ‘Proof.’ In a statement released through BigHit Music, BTS said it was “a great honor” to earn a Billboard No. 1 with an album released after “a long wait of three years and nine months.” The group thanked ARMY and “everyone who listened to our music and shared their feelings with us.” BTS said it worked to capture “universal emotions” that many people could relate to while preparing the new release, adding that it hoped ‘SWIM’ would offer “a small measure of courage and comfort” to listeners beyond borders. ‘ARIRANG’ is BTS’ fifth full-length album and was executive produced by HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk. BigHit Music said the album reflects the group’s identity and shared emotions, while ‘SWIM’ sings of pressing forward without stopping amid life’s waves.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 07:54:39
  • Lee Dong-hwi Balances Acting Immersion and Producer Realities in Method Acting
    Lee Dong-hwi Balances Acting Immersion and Producer Realities in 'Method Acting' Every production holds countless perspectives. The same place and time can feel different depending on where a director or actor stands. “Choi Song-hui’s B-Cut” looks beyond the “A-cut” on screen to the vivid record of what happened off camera. By weaving interviews with directors and actors, it reconstructs the “B-cut” moments that were often more intense than the finished frame. <Editor’s note> For actor Lee Dong-hwi, “Method Acting” is more than another credit. It is his first report card as a producer: He helped expand a friend’s short-film idea into a feature and took responsibility on set. Like the character who struggles to break out of a “comedy actor” label, Lee said he wanted to become someone who “creates opportunities” and pushed the project to completion. The film began with trust between two friends, actor Lee Gi-hyeok and Lee Dong-hwi. As the short’s job-specific premise was combined with the universal theme of “family,” the story took on the structure of a mainstream feature. “Director Lee Gi-hyeok was preparing another story at first, then decided to turn the short ‘Method Acting’ into a feature because it could be told in a more popular way,” Lee said. “If the short focused on the mood on set, the feature broadened with the keyword of family, in a direction that could draw more universal empathy. I thought it would be easier to play someone close to who I am, but once we started shooting, every day felt like homework. I had to keep adding layers so it wouldn’t look like a documentary or an observational variety show.” Caught between an actor’s immersion and a producer’s need for distance, Lee said he witnessed a chaotic “B-cut” reality. As the boundary between life and performance blurred, he decided he had to stay firmly inside the role. “When I saw Geum-sun’s back, it looked like my real mother, and the emotions rose too much,” he said. “I thought if it got too close to my life, it would be hard to endure. So for parts that didn’t completely overlap with my family’s story, I made them more fictional and approached them that way. In the end, I thought I had to treat it as a role. I had to act the details — an actor being mocked, an actor enduring that mockery and returning to set, and even the moment he becomes a king — so it was a set that gave me a real headache.” A monologue scene as a king in the historical drama “Gyeonghwasuwol” became the point where producer Lee and actor Lee clashed — and then reconciled. Under pressure from a 4 a.m. sunrise and budget constraints, he said he found “the king’s face” in just two takes. “We were in a rush because we were shooting at 4 a.m.,” he said. “The sun was coming up, and there was no time, so it was an anxious situation. We couldn’t do many takes. Since I was participating as a producer, the longer it took, the more the production cost. In the past, as an actor, I would have wanted to shoot more, but as a producer I strongly felt I had to complete the mission within the exact opportunity. After two takes, I looked up and the sun had risen.” Lee said watching actor Ma Dong-seok made him want a life that “gives someone opportunities.” He said he is now preparing a true transformation by portraying a character in harsher circumstances. “Watching Ma Dong-seok, I saw with my own eyes the new opportunities that appear when one person starts something,” Lee said. “I wanted to become that kind of person someday. If I’ve been thinking about what makes a mainstream film work, the story I want to make next is the opposite. A lonelier, harsher story of one person — for me, that kind of work feels like a real transformation.” On screen, Lee’s character obsesses over “method acting.” Off camera, Lee said he kept checking the clock. He held back an actor’s desire for more takes and wrapped the scene in two, weighing time and production costs. More striking than the king’s face in the “A-cut,” he suggested, was the producer’s posture in the moments before sunrise.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 16:51:14
  • TWS Builds Momentum With Seoul Fan Meeting and Sold-Out VR Concert Ahead of April 27 Comeback
    TWS Builds Momentum With Seoul Fan Meeting and Sold-Out VR Concert Ahead of April 27 Comeback Group TWS has extended its momentum from a fan meeting to a successful VR concert as it heads toward a comeback on April 27. Moving between live venues and movie theaters, the group has expanded its presence in the first quarter of 2026. TWS met fans from March 27-29 at Ticketlink Live Arena at Olympic Park in Seoul’s Songpa district, holding its second fan meeting, “42:CLUB” in Seoul (2026 TWS 2ND FANMEETING “42:CLUB” IN SEOUL). The three-day event ended to strong crowd response, underscoring the group’s drawing power. That interest carried into its first VR concert, produced with AMAZE. “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD” sold out key sessions soon after ticket sales opened. During a second round of ticket sales, heavy traffic briefly brought down the server, organizers said. “RUSH ROAD” has continued to perform strongly. Based on high viewer satisfaction, it posted a perfect audience rating on Megabox and ranked No. 1 on the overall movie chart in its fourth week of release. With an extended run confirmed, it has been cited as an unusual box-office case for a VR concert release. The project is TWS’ first VR concert and has been described as combining the group’s fanbase with AMAZE’s production capabilities. TWS also took part in pre-shoot camera rehearsals, an uncommon step for VR concert artists, to improve the final result. TWS is set to continue fan meetings in April at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan, as it broadens overseas activities. The group previously released “YOU LIKE IT I LOVE IT,” a new song made in collaboration with U.S. artist 24kGoldn, and won two awards at the 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards. With a comeback scheduled for April 27, attention is on whether the momentum from the fan meeting, the VR concert’s performance and overseas activities will carry into the group’s next album. Meanwhile, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD” is being shown exclusively at Megabox COEX and will be available to watch through April 12.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 14:36:15
  • BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for Seventh Career Top Spot
    BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for Seventh Career Top Spot BTS has returned to the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 with its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” setting new weekly marks for a group album on sales and streaming. According to Billboard’s chart preview posted Monday on its website, “ARIRANG” debuted at No. 1 on the April 4-dated Billboard 200 with 641,000 equivalent album units. Billboard said it is the biggest weekly total for a group album since the chart began tracking units in December 2014. Pure album sales totaled 532,000. Billboard said that was the highest weekly sales figure for a group album in the past decade. Streaming-equivalent album units came to 95,000, a weekly streaming high for BTS. Physical sales were also strong. “ARIRANG” sold 516,000 physical copies, including 208,000 vinyl records. It marked BTS’ best vinyl week and the largest weekly vinyl sales for a group since Luminate began tracking in 1991. The album also led Billboard’s Top Album Sales and Top Streaming Albums charts. The No. 1 debut gave BTS its seventh career leader on the Billboard 200. The group previously topped the chart with six albums, starting with 2018’s “Love Yourself: Tear,” including “Proof.” The album also topped major charts overseas, including four categories on Japan’s Oricon, as well as the U.K. Official Charts, Australia’s ARIA and Germany’s official music charts, the report said. The title track, “SWIM,” rose to No. 2 on the U.K. Official Singles Top 100, the group’s best showing on that chart. In South Korea, it won four music show trophies without separate broadcast appearances. 2026-03-30 13:39:07
  • Lee Sun-bin Tries to Deliver Party Invite to Park Bo-young on MBC’s “Manitto Club”
    Lee Sun-bin Tries to Deliver Party Invite to Park Bo-young on MBC’s “Manitto Club” Lee Sun-bin launches a mission to deliver an invitation to Park Bo-young on MBC’s variety show “Manitto Club.” Episode 9, airing today (29), follows third-generation members Cha Tae-hyun, Park, Lee, Hwang Kwang-hee and Kang Hoon as they carry out individual “manitto” missions. Lee, an eight-year friend of Park and her assigned partner, plans an “early birthday party” and prepares a special surprise for her. In a preview clip, Lee disguises herself as a part-time worker to hand Park the invitation. Lee moves in as soon as she spots Park and passes along the invite, but Park quickly senses something is off and asks, “Are you my manitto?” catching Lee off guard. Lee keeps up the act, signaling that she was sent by someone else, and the show says she manages to fool Park. To maintain the cover, she continues doing actual part-time work to stay in character. The preview also shows Park checking the invitation and offers a look at the party venue, building anticipation for Lee’s surprise and Park’s reaction in the full episode. “Manitto Club” Episode 9 airs at 6:05 p.m. today.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 16:36:15
  • Actor Lee Dong-hwi on Method Acting and Moving Beyond a Comedy Image
    Actor Lee Dong-hwi on 'Method Acting' and Moving Beyond a Comedy Image 코미디로 사랑받았지만 더 이상 '웃기는 배우'로만 남고 싶지 않은 인물. 영화 '메소드연기'는 그 욕망과 불안을 메타 코미디의 방식으로 비튼 작품이다. 실제 이름을 그대로 가져온 캐릭터 '이동휘'를 연기한 배우 이동휘는 웃음과 자의식, 과몰입이 뒤섞인 낯선 얼굴을 꺼내 보인다. 영화 '메소드연기'(감독 이기혁)로 돌아온 이동휘를 만났다. "Director Lee Gi-hyeok was preparing a feature based on a different story, but it was halted for various reasons. Then he thought about which of his shorts could be expanded for a wider audience, and 'Method Acting' came to mind. Since the short was introduced mainly on the festival circuit, we brought in the more universal keyword of family and expanded it so audiences could relate," Lee said. '메소드연기'는 이기혁 감독의 동명 단편에서 출발한 작품이다. 장편으로 확장되는 과정에서 영화는 보다 보편적인 정서로 넓어졌고, Lee participated closely in that process as both an actor and a producer. Working with Lee Gi-hyeok, a longtime friend, he said he watched up close as a short film grew into a story meant to meet a broader audience. 무엇보다 흥미로운 건 영화 속 '이동휘'가 실제 배우 Lee Dong-hwi와 떼어놓고 보기 어려운 인물이라는 점이다. In the film, the character is also loved for comedy but does not want to be trapped by that image. Lee said the premise did not feel unfamiliar. "Whether it's a villain role or comedy, the public knows you for what they've seen. Once an image sticks, scripts tend to come in along those lines," he said. "There are seniors who broke out of those images over a long time and proved it through experience. I'm quietly following that path. I think it's arrogant to feel I have to solve it quickly. In an actor's life, I'm grateful for each opportunity. If there's a use for me, if there's value, I'm just thankful." He said he draws inspiration from athletes and musicians who train daily, pushing through boredom and fatigue, and tries to bring that discipline to his work. "I love comedy as a genre, and I have expectations about language and expression," he said. Lee also spoke about the gap between his friendly public image and what he described as a more sensitive private temperament, saying it once weighed on him but has eased with age. "Now that I'm 40, I think I'm becoming more rounded," he said. "The sharp parts and those worries soften, and I accept what I need to accept. I think I'm in the process of becoming an adult. If it were back when I was more hot-blooded, I might have been a bit prickly, but now I have chronic fatigue. Ha ha." On the surface, the project can look like a vehicle built for Lee: He uses his real name and plays a character that overlaps with his public persona. Lee said that made it harder, not easier, because he had to manage the distance between reality and fiction in every scene. "I vaguely thought it would be easier if I played 'me,' but once we started shooting, every day was homework," he said. "It shouldn't look like a documentary, and it's not a reality observation show, so you have to keep building layers." He cited a scene in which the character watches his mother from behind as she crosses a crosswalk. Seeing actress Kim Geum-soon from behind reminded him of his own mother, he said, and the emotion surged. "I thought, 'If the role gets too close to my life, it will be hard,'" he said, adding that he decided family material needed a more fictional approach to avoid taking a mental toll. The film also includes moments that recall a less mature period in the actor's life, including how the character treats juniors and approaches the set. Lee said the project prompted him to reflect on his earlier self, when he was focused on doing well but had not yet learned how to help carry a production as part of a team. "Looking back, I think I was only obsessed with running forward," he said. "My focus was only on 'I have to do well,' and I thought only, 'I have to be intense.'" He said he was struck by an acceptance-speech remark by actor Tony Leung, who wondered whether he could have worked with more smiles, and said he related to it. Lee said he learned by watching veteran actor Choi Min-sik on the set of 'Casino,' describing how Choi embraced the whole set and treated people warmly. "If there's a set I return to someday, I should approach it with more growth and maturity, shouldn't I?" he said. "It's a process of telling myself that." Lee said he was cautious about audiences overlapping the character with him as a person. He said he hoped it would be received as one person's story, but not reduced to only his private hardships. "I've kept challenging myself, but I still don't think I've achieved something," he said. "On set there are cries that don't remain as records, and inside that we're always chasing something. I wanted it to be received not just as results, but as a person's story. But I didn't want it to be limited to Lee Dong-hwi's personal struggle or difficulty, either." He added that some viewers may find parts of the finished film lacking in communication, but said he hoped his effort came through. He said he confronted family issues and other emotional matters during filming and came to see himself in difficult moments, which he believed could shape how the work is received. Still, Lee said he felt he had little choice but to put more of himself forward in this project, believing a purely fictional character would not bring audiences close enough. Even so, he said he ultimately hopes the film is received as fiction. "I hope this film is ultimately accepted as a fictional character," he said. "In this project, I had to find the courage, and I didn't think I could get close to the audience by only playing a made-up person. So I thought I had to put some of myself out front, and I challenged myself with that mindset. How it looks is up to the audience."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 14:57:20
  • BTS Releases SWIM Live Clip Filmed at Seonhyewon
    BTS Releases 'SWIM' Live Clip Filmed at Seonhyewon BTS has released a live clip for “SWIM.” The group posted the video at midnight on the 29th on its official YouTube channel. It was filmed at Seonhyewon, pairing a traditional setting with the modern choreography of “SWIM.” Instead of elaborate stage effects, the clip relies on lighting to highlight the group’s dance lines and the space itself. Lighting designed to evoke flowing water adds to the sense of immersion, and the members’ live vocals — down to audible breathing — are captured clearly. BTS released its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” on the 20th. Using “Arirang,” a song widely associated with Korea, as the title, the group said the album expresses its roots and the emotions felt by the seven members in 2026. The album also reflects a hope that, like the folk song that has endured across generations, the new release will resonate widely and be remembered for a long time. “ARIRANG” has gained traction on major charts worldwide. On Hanteo Chart, it set a new BTS record with first-week sales of 4,169,464 copies. The title track, “SWIM,” held No. 1 for eight straight days (20-27) on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart. On the U.K. Official Charts, “ARIRANG” debuted at No. 1 on the Official Albums Top 100 (March 27-April 3), and “SWIM” reached No. 2 on the Official Singles Top 100, setting another group record. BTS is continuing promotions with appearances on YouTube channels including “Insaeng 84” (Jin), “Hot Issue Ji” (Jimin), “Finding Kani” (j-hope), “Epic Kase” (RM, Suga) and “Ppadeoneoseu” (RM, V). At 5 p.m. on the 29th, an episode of “Fairy Table” featuring V will be released. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 10:48:22
  • CRAVITY’s Hyeongjun to Star in Interactive Short-Form Drama ‘Kill the Romeo’ on KITS
    CRAVITY’s Hyeongjun to Star in Interactive Short-Form Drama ‘Kill the Romeo’ on KITS CRAVITY’s Hyeongjun is set to show a new side as an actor in a first-person interactive short-form drama, built around viewer choices that determine his fate. Global K-pop short-form platform KITS said on the 27th it will exclusively release the interactive series “Kill the Romeo” starring Hyeongjun at 1 p.m. “Kill the Romeo” is an interactive, multi-ending romantic comedy in which the protagonist — “you” — lives a double life: a killer by trade and a devoted fan by persona. The story begins when your next target is named as your favorite idol, Hyeongjun. A newly released main poster heightens the premise with an on-screen prompt from the viewer’s perspective: “Do you want to eliminate the target?” The series uses the FMV (Full Motion Video) format, letting viewers choose options that drive the plot. Depending on whether the viewer carries out the mission to eliminate Hyeongjun or protects him out of fandom, the ending changes. Viewers can also collect Hyeongjun digital photo cards as the story unfolds. After a shared storyline, the drama branches at four decision points, leading to four endings: two versions of a happy ending, a bittersweet ending and a bad ending. Reaching one ending takes about 45 minutes, while seeing all outcomes takes about 90 minutes. The project marks Hyeongjun’s first lead role in a drama. Despite filming in a setup that required direct, one-on-one eye contact with the camera, he handled a wide emotional range spanning comedy, romance and action, earning positive feedback on set, according to the release. It also said he created choreography himself for a dance scene. KITS, which recently released “Wind Up” starring NCT’s Jeno and Jaemin and “Jumpboy LIVE” starring VERIVERY’s Kangmin, said it plans to further strengthen its interactive content lineup with “Kill the Romeo.” All episodes of “Kill the Romeo” will be released exclusively on KITS at 1 p.m. on the 27th. Episodes 1 through 6 will be available for free, with later episodes accessible via membership or paid purchase. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-27 11:09:20
  • Korea Music Copyright Association disputes audit criticism over AI works registration
    Korea Music Copyright Association disputes audit criticism over AI works registration The Korea Music Copyright Association, known as KOMCA, on Tuesday rejected a recent audit finding and related reports on artificial intelligence, calling them an interpretation that overlooks the specific nature of music copyright and the group’s response efforts. The Board of Audit and Inspection said in a March 24 announcement that 11 copyright collective management organizations, including KOMCA, were registering works and collecting and distributing royalties without separately verifying whether AI had been used. KOMCA responded in a statement Tuesday that it has reviewed internal policy while operating an AI task force team since 2023 and has officially implemented a “registration hold policy” for AI-used works since March. Under the policy, members seeking to register songs must check whether AI was used, and any work reported as AI-assisted is put on hold, the association said. KOMCA said the measure is a temporary management step meant to prevent confusion in the creative ecosystem and distortions of rights in the absence of legal standards. It said it is not denying copyright for AI-used works across the board, but taking a preemptive step to reduce disputes. The association also said there is no widely trusted technology worldwide that can perfectly determine whether AI was used. Given those technical limits, it said, the system inevitably relies on creators’ self-reporting, and a small number of false filings should not be treated as overall negligence by the association. As alternatives, KOMCA said its new chairman, Lee Si-ha, had proposed verification steps even before taking office, including requiring submission of DAW (digital audio workstation) files that can help show the actual creation process. It added that the association is accelerating development of a “Korean-style AI detection program.” KOMCA said it is also strengthening after-the-fact monitoring, including screening suspected AI-use cases found on platforms such as YouTube Shorts and withholding royalty payments while conducting additional analysis. The association said it is discussing national-level standards through the “K-Music Rights Organizations Coexistence Committee,” launched in February under Lee’s leadership. Topics include requiring transparency in AI generation processes and establishing clear criteria to distinguish human-created works from AI-generated works. “Even though management systems have not been established globally, the association has responded proactively,” a KOMCA official said. The official added that KOMCA will work closely with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to help establish a fair copyright order.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-25 17:45:57
  • A Man Living With the King Tops 15 Million Tickets, Ranks No. 3 All Time in Korea
    'A Man Living With the King' Tops 15 Million Tickets, Ranks No. 3 All Time in Korea The film ‘A Man Living With the King’ has surpassed 15 million admissions in South Korea, reaching the milestone 50 days after its release. Distributor Showbox said Wednesday that the movie had topped 15 million cumulative viewers as of Wednesday afternoon. It reached 10 million admissions on its 31st day in theaters after opening Feb. 4, then hit 14 million on day 45 before adding another 1 million in just five days. The result makes ‘A Man Living With the King’ the third release in Korean box office history to cross 15 million, following ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (17.61 million) and ‘Extreme Job’ (16.26 million). It also moved past ‘Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds’ (14.41 million) and ‘Ode to My Father’ (14.25 million) to join the top tier of all-time Korean hits. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film is set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457 and follows a village chief who chooses exile to revive his community and a young deposed king sent into exile. Strong word of mouth, driven by the on-screen pairing of Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon, has helped sustain its long run.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-25 16:31:06