Journalist
Choi Song-hee
alfie312@ajunews.com
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Park Ji-hoon to Star in TVING’s ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier,’ Premiering May 11 Actor Park Ji-hoon, who joined the ranks of so-called “10 million actors” after drawing 16.8 million moviegoers with the film ‘The Man Who Lives With the King,’ is taking on a new role — this time with a wok in hand. A production presentation for TVING’s original series ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier’ (written by Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Nam-hyung) was held Tuesday afternoon at the Pullman Ambassador Seoul East Pole in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Jo and cast members Park, Yoon Kyung-ho, Lee Hong-nae and Lee Sang-yi attended. Based on a popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, the drama follows private Kang Sung-jae (Park), who wears an apron instead of ammunition belts and pushes through the hardships of military life through cooking, eventually becoming a “legendary cook soldier.” Jo said the key difference from the original is how food will be portrayed on screen. “If there’s a big difference from the webtoon, it’s the vivid expression of taste,” he said, adding that the dishes will look “far more appetizing than in drawings” and stimulate viewers’ senses. The series has drawn attention as Park’s next project after ‘The Man Who Lives With the King.’ Park said he tries not to dwell on expectations. “I always think I can’t be loved all the time,” Park said. “My motto is to do my best in each moment. I think it’s my duty to do my best at what I’m given.” Asked about pressure from the “10 million actor” label, he said, “I’m not the type to feel burdened. I thought more about what I could express in the work and what kind of energy I could share with senior actors. I think I was nervous, but I didn’t feel pressure.” Jo said he saw Kang’s potential in Park while watching the actor’s previous work ‘Weak Hero,’ pointing to the strength in Park’s eyes. “Like many people, I got to know Ji-hoon after watching ‘Weak Hero,’” Jo said. “His eyes were really good. Sung-jae starts off unfamiliar and awkward, but inside he’s resolute and moves clearly toward his goals. I cast him because I thought he could express that well.” Park said the new series lets him step away from the heavier tone of his earlier work and try comedy. “I think my strength is an ambiguity that moves back and forth between Kang Sung-jae and Park Ji-hoon even within comedy,” he said. “It’s not just about being funny — I think the point is being cute while still making people laugh.” Co-star Yoon praised Park’s transformation, focusing again on his eyes. “When I first saw him at a meeting, I fell into his eyes,” Yoon said. “They’re incredible — to the point I thought there wasn’t another male actor with eyes like that. Watching ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ and other works, I felt everything is contained in his eyes. In this series, the appealing part is the helpless, unsure look that’s unique to a new recruit. You can look forward to a mischievous charm that’s different from his previous work.” Another point of interest is that Park, who has not served in the military, plays a private. The production team said it wanted the fresh awkwardness of an actor without firsthand experience. “I think the director wanted new reactions that come through when someone who hasn’t served acts it,” Park said. “They seemed to like how everything feels awkward and how he wonders what to do and whether he should just stand still. I’m actually a military fan, so I knew some things, but while filming I newly felt, ‘So this is the atmosphere — this is how life would be.’” By contrast, Lee Hong-nae and Lee Sang-yi, both of whom have served, joked about how closely they match their roles. Lee Hong-nae, who said he likes the military enough to have taken the Air Force Academy exam, put his “sync rate” at 80% and said he tried to show a character closely tied to him “just because it’s a military drama.” Lee Sang-yi, who said he served in a police unit’s promotional team, said, “I didn’t serve as an Army soldier — I served as auxiliary police and spent two years dancing, singing and doing magic. My sync rate is 0%.” Lee Sang-yi said he began as a special appearance but ended up joining promotional events as his filming days increased. “I started because they said it would end quickly, but the number of shoots kept increasing,” he said. “I grew more attached to the character and ended up staying until the end. I came to today’s production presentation because I want to go on ‘Pinggyego’ and chat.” In closing remarks, Yoon said viewers will get to see “the ‘Dan-jong oppa’ from ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ become a private,” and urged audiences to look forward to the series. Park said filming began in sweaty heat and wrapped as the weather turned cold. “We practiced closely and filmed happily during that time,” he said. “I hope our good energy is delivered well to viewers.” TVING’s original series ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier’ premieres at 8:40 p.m. on May 11 on TVING and tvN. It will air every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. thereafter.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:16:21 -
Foreign Films Lead Korea Box Office Over May Holiday as 'Super Mario Galaxy' Tops Charts Foreign films clearly dominated South Korea’s theaters over the May holiday. From May 3 to 5, “Super Mario Galaxy” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2” ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at the box office, while the long-running Korean film “Salmokji” followed at No. 3. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, “Super Mario Galaxy” led the box office for May 3-5, drawing 283,287 moviegoers. Its cumulative audience reached 1,110,698. After passing 1 million admissions on its seventh day in theaters, it continued to gain momentum through the Children’s Day holiday period, attracting family audiences. “Super Mario Galaxy” follows brothers Mario and Luigi, who grow from Brooklyn plumbers into heroes who save the world. In this installment, they rescue Yoshi, who gets lost while on a mission in the Sand Kingdom, and set off on a new adventure. Analysts said its appeal as a family-friendly animated film fit well with May’s focus on family outings. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” placed second, with 124,693 admissions over the same period and a cumulative total of 959,139. The film centers on Miranda, editor-in-chief of the legendary fashion magazine Runway, Andy, who returns as a planning editor after 20 years, and Emily, now a luxury brand executive, as they reunite and compete for influence in the fashion world amid a changed media landscape. The reunion of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway after 20 years helped drive audience interest. In third place, Korean horror film “Salmokji” drew 108,222 moviegoers from May 3 to 5, bringing its cumulative audience to 2,836,231. Released April 8, it has sustained a long run, holding its ground even as foreign titles led the holiday box office. “Salmokji” depicts what happens after a mysterious figure appears on a road-view image and a film crew heads to a reservoir for reshoots, only to encounter something in the dark, deep water. Directed by Lee Sang-min, it stars Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jong-won, Kim Jun-han, Kim Young-sung, Oh Dong-min, Yoon Jae-chan and Jang Da-a. The film has exceeded its break-even point on the strength of immersive scares and word of mouth, and continued to draw audiences through the holiday. “Project Hail Mary” ranked fourth, with 30,811 admissions over May 3-5 and a cumulative total of 2,706,646. Since opening March 18, it has remained near the top on word of mouth. Demand for premium-format screenings and repeat viewings helped it surpass 2.7 million admissions during the holiday period. The holiday box office showed distinct audience splits, from families to women in their 20s and 30s. “Super Mario Galaxy” benefited from broad family appeal, while “The Devil Wears Prada 2” rode the strength of a familiar franchise. “Salmokji” continued to draw steady crowds through its long run and word of mouth. Observers are watching whether the trend through the end of the holiday will shape the broader box-office landscape for May.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 13:36:15 -
BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Holds Top 3 on Billboard Global Charts for Sixth Week BTS extended its run near the top of Billboard’s global charts, keeping a top-three position for a sixth straight week. According to Billboard’s latest rankings released May 5 for the May 9 charts, “SWIM,” the title track from the group’s fifth full-length album “ARIRANG,” ranked No. 2 on both the Global (Excl. U.S.) and Global 200 charts. On the Global 200, it rose one spot from the previous week. The momentum has not been limited to the title track. Thirteen vocal tracks from the album — excluding the track featuring the bell sound of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok — have remained on both global charts for six weeks, indicating continued listening across the full release. On Billboard’s main charts, “ARIRANG” placed No. 5 on the Billboard 200, staying in the top tier for six consecutive weeks. The album previously became the first by a Korean artist to rank No. 1 for three straight weeks. “SWIM” also held at No. 32 on the Hot 100 for a sixth week. The album and single posted steady results across other rankings. “ARIRANG” ranked No. 4 on Top Album Sales, No. 11 on Top Streaming Albums and No. 5 on Vinyl Albums. “SWIM” placed No. 16 on Digital Song Sales and No. 19 on Adult Contemporary, and also ranked No. 12 on Pop Airplay, No. 14 on Adult Pop Airplay and No. 24 on Radio Songs. The group’s current tour has also boosted interest in older material. “Pied Piper,” a 2017 track performed on the North American tour, re-entered the World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 9. BTS began its “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN NORTH AMERICA” on April 25 in Tampa and is playing 31 shows across 12 cities. The group met about 100,000 concertgoers on May 2-3 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso and is set to continue the tour from May 7 at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. Catalog interest has remained strong as well. The choreography version of the 2020 “Dynamite” music video recently surpassed 300 million views on YouTube, with the main video and related clips continuing to draw views. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 09:06:17 -
Cravity’s Seongmin Makes Strawberry Mousse Bungeoppang as Fan Gift, Inspired by Anime Cravity member Seongmin put his affection for fans into dessert, preparing a handmade “fan gift in return” that included strawberry mousse bungeoppang and sweets cards modeled on an anime. A roundtable interview marking the release of Cravity’s eighth mini album, “ReDeFINE,” was held on the 23rd at Starship Entertainment’s headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. Seongmin drew attention by handing reporters strawberry mousse bungeoppang he made himself. He said it was also an item he prepared for fans during the group’s current promotions. “Since the last promotions, I’ve been giving fans things I made myself, like cookies,” Seongmin said. “I’ve been choosing items I can make by hand. For this time, I was thinking about what would be good, and I wanted to try making a special dessert inspired by an anime I like. A friend connected me with the owner of a bakery.” He said he often bakes bread and cookies, and that the concept came from the anime “Yumeiro Patissiere.” “I wanted to recreate the strawberry mousse cake that appears in the show,” he said. “The owner and I worked together from planning to production, and after several steps we ended up making it in the shape of bungeoppang.” The gift also included a detail meant for fans to enjoy together: Seongmin produced sweets cards that appear in “Yumeiro Patissiere.” In the series, the cards serve as a kind of report compiling recipes made by humans and fairies and presented to a queen. Seongmin said he wanted to bring those settings into his fan gift to add a different kind of fun. “Fans often come to the site at dawn, especially for pre-recordings, and sometimes they arrive without having eaten,” he said. “So I wanted to give them something they could snack on. It’s fine to prepare things through a company, but I wanted to give something that went through my hands, so I’ve kept doing it. I enjoy it a lot, too.” Seongmin said this was not his first time preparing handmade gifts. “During ‘Lemonade Fever’ promotions, I prepared lemon cookies,” he said. “At first I planned to bake about 200, but more fans came, so I hurriedly made 400. Since the pop-up keyword was the five senses, I tried to prepare it so fans could feel all five. I remember it because they liked it so much,” he said, laughing. Cravity has held various events, including free pop-ups, to build memories with fans. Seongmin has also expanded his own way of connecting with fans through handmade gifts. Cravity released its eighth mini album, “ReDeFINE,” on the 29th and is promoting it. The album portrays the group’s process of redefining itself after moving through fear, longing and growth. The title track, “AWAKE,” says what feels like an ending can become another beginning.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 00:03:22 -
Korean Films Win Top Honors at Italy’s Udine Far East Film Festival Korean films “Seoul at Night” and “My Name Is” won awards at Italy’s Udine Far East Film Festival (FEFF), Europe’s largest Asian film festival. Both works drew attention for confronting painful chapters of modern Korean history and earning support from audiences and critics. At the 28th FEFF, which ended on May 2 (local time), the MBC-produced documentary film “Seoul at Night,” directed by Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan and Jo Cheol-young, received the Black Dragon Audience Award, selected by critics and the media. The award is given by festival officials to only one film; this year it was shared with the Japanese film “Fujiko.” “Seoul at Night” also won the Silver Mulberry Audience Award, which corresponds to second place in the general audience vote, and received a jury special mention for the White Mulberry Award for new directors, making it a triple winner. The film covers the tense situation at the National Assembly immediately after the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. It was the first documentary to enter the festival’s competition section and went on to take major honors. It previously won the Bill Nemtin Award at Hot Docs in Toronto, North America’s largest documentary film festival, which recognizes works credited with spurring social change. Director Jeong Ji-young’s new film “My Name Is” won an Audience Mulberry Award, drawing a strong response from local viewers. The film directly addresses the Jeju April 3 incident, a tragedy in modern Korean history, and was praised for building emotional resonance across language and cultural barriers. Executive Director Sabrina Baracetti said the film “kept a balanced tone based on real events and drew empathy from audiences worldwide,” and also praised the performances of actors Yeom Hye-ran and Shin Woo-bin. In the competition section, six Korean films were invited, including “Seoul at Night” and “My Name Is,” as well as Jang Hang-jun’s “The Man Who Lives With the King,” Kim Tae-yong’s “Number One,” Kim Do-young’s “If We,” and Yoon Ga-eun’s “Owner of the World.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 16:09:21 -
Aju News Corp. Chairman Kwak Young-gil Wins Korea University Alumni Award Kwak Young-gil, chairman of Aju News Corp., received Korea University’s “Proud Korea University Alumni Award” in recognition of raising the honor of his alma mater and contributing to social development. Korea University, led by President Kim Dong-won, presented the award to Kwak (English Language and Literature, class of ’74) during its 121st anniversary ceremony and anniversary events held May 5 morning at the Inchon Memorial Hall in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Also honored were Samyang International Chairman Heo Kwang-soo (Business, ’65) and Ace Bed CEO Ahn Sung-ho (Geology, ’87). The university said Kwak has “always looked at the world with a clear and upright eye” and devoted himself to delivering the truth, calling his work “a true guide” for society. It also cited his pioneering spirit, strong support for his alma mater and commitment to nurturing younger generations. In his remarks, Kwak said he learned not just language but a “humanities mindset” after entering the English department “without even knowing the difference between ‘camp’ and ‘English.’” He added, “For me, English literature was a ‘door to spirituality’ beyond language.” Kwak said that over the past five years he studied humanity’s classics and artificial intelligence and concluded that the essence of spirituality connects to the university’s motto of “freedom, justice and truth.” He said he reached the view that altruism — “public good first, private interest later” — is the door to spirituality. Calling spirituality a key driver in the AI era, Kwak said, “Ten years ago I thought about ‘human-centered AI,’ but now we must pursue ‘spirit-centered AI.’” He added, “If spirituality cannot govern AI, humans will inevitably be ruled by technology.” As a manager leading a global news media organization, Kwak said his company is using a multilingual news system to promote the global rise of “K-series,” including K-defense. He added, “If South Korea was once the ‘light of the East,’ now Korea University must become the ‘light of humanity’ in the AI era,” and said he hopes his efforts will help advance his alma mater. The event also honored K-Net Investment Partners CEO Kim Dae-young (Public Administration, ’81) and Eugene Investment & Securities CEO Yoo Chang-soo (Sociology, ’81) with the “Community Service and Development Merit Award.” 2026-05-05 13:39:14 -
CRAVITY Returns With 'ReDeFINE,' Aiming to 'Redefine' the Group 그룹 크래비티(CRAVITY)는 데뷔 6주년을 앞두고 미니 8집 '리디파인(ReDeFINE)'을 내놓으며 팀의 방향을 다시 세웠다. 두려움과 갈망을 지나 흔들리더라도 앞으로 나아가겠다는 메시지를 전면에 내세웠다. "'리디파인'은 크래비티를 재정의하겠다는 의미기도 합니다. 그동안 사회에 대한 두려움이나 무언가를 향한 갈망과 쟁취를 노래 했다면 '데어 투 크레이브'를 통해 새로 태어나기도 했으니 '리디파인'으로 재정의를 해보면 좋겠다고 생각했어요. 그 사이에서 오는 두려움이 있지만 그 또한 '나'라는 걸 인정하며 흔들리더라도 나아가겠다는 의지를 담았습니다."(형준) 앨범의 핵심 키워드는 그리스 신화의 우로보로스다. 자신의 꼬리를 무는 뱀의 형상으로, 끝과 시작이 맞물린 순환과 재생을 상징한다. "우로보로스가 꼬리를 물며 계속 반복되잖아요. 이 모습을 '끝'이 아닌 '새시작'이라고 표현하고 싶었습니다. 남이 보았을 때는 반복하는 것처럼 보이지만, '완벽한 원'을 그리며 무한하게 성장하고 있다는 뜻이에요. 굳은 의지와 나아가겠다는 의미를 담은 앨범이라고 생각이 되었오 우리의 상황과도 맞물리면서 쉽게 공감할 수 있었어요."(형준) 멤버들은 불안과 두려움까지도 인정하고, 그것을 앞으로 나아가는 힘으로 삼겠다고 말했다. "그동안 활동하며 만족이나 행복도 느껴왔지만 그 사이 불안과 아쉬움의 순간도 있었던 게 사실이에요. 우리가 느끼는 어두운 면들이요. 그런 어두움을 직접적으로 드러내는 게 쉽지는 않았으니까요. 이번 앨범을 준비하며 '재정의'라는 키워드를 통해 완벽하지 않은 나여도 사랑할 수 있겠다는 생각을 했어요. 아쉬움이 생겼을 때 그 감정에 깊이 빠지기보다 아쉬워하는 나 자체도 받아들인다면 좋은 방향으로 나아갈 수 있지 않을까 싶었습니다. 그런 마음으로 몰입해서 작업했습니다."(원진) 올해 데뷔 6주년을 맞은 크래비티는 타이틀곡 '어웨이크(AWAKE)'를 포함해 '헬로-굿바이(Hello-Goodbye)' '피버(FEVER)' '어도어(Adore)' '럽 미 라이크 유 두(Love Me Like You Do)' '봄날의 우리(Spring, with You)'까지 총 6개 트랙을 앨범에 담았다. 멤버들은 작사와 작곡에도 참여했다. "'어웨이크'는 우로보로스를 키워드로 작사하려고 했어요. '끝을 삼킨다'는 가사를 통해 끝을 생각해 본 적 없다, 끝은 곧 시작이다 라는 생각을 가지고 가사를 써내려갔습니다."(세림) "제가 작사·작곡한 '럽 미 라이크 유 두'가 앨범에 담겼어요. 예전부터 크래비티의 곡을 쓰고 싶다고 말해왔는데 1년 만에 팬들에게 보여줄 수 있게 되어서 기뻤습니다. 멤버들의 목소리로 '럽 미 라이크 유 두'를 들을 수 있게 되어서 의미 있는 순간이었던 거 같아요."(태영) 원진과 앨런은 팬송 '봄날의 우리'의 가사를 직접 썼다고 밝혔다. 팬들을 향한 마음을 담는 과정에서 두 사람이 도움 없이 완성할 수 있었다고 설명했다. "우리가 봄에 컴백한다는 이야기를 듣고 '나에게 봄이라는 계절은 뭘까?' 생각해봤어요. 봄은 겨울을 보내고 새로운 시작을 맞이하는 순간이잖아요. 앨범으로 '새로운 시작'을 전해드리고 싶기도 해서요. 저희에게 겨울은 팬분들과 자주 만나지 못하는 비활동기 같은 시간과도 닮아 있는 것 같아요. 떨어져 있는 시간이 길어질수록 더 차갑고 춥게 느껴지기도 하니까요. 그런데 그런 시간이 끝이 아니라 새로운 시작이 될 수 있다는 걸 알려준 존재가 바로 러비티(팬덤명)였어요. 그래서 혹시 누군가 지금 겨울 같은 시간을 보내고 있다면 그 끝에는 늘 봄이 있다는 걸 전하고 싶었고요. 제가 사랑했던 그 모습 그대로 따뜻하게 웃고 있었으면 하는 마음으로 작업했습니다."(원진) "원진이와 함께 작사할 때도 느꼈지만 어려운 지점이 분명 있었어요. 저도 그렇고 원진이도 그렇고 가사를 쓰기 전에 정한 큰 테마에서 자주 벗어나는 편이거든요. 조금 더 깊게 가려고 하고 의미를 더 부여하려다 보면 점점 주제에서 멀어질 때가 있어요. 그런데 결국은 러비티를 위한 노래니까 너무 딥하게만 가지 말자고 생각했어요. 그래서 봄이라는 계절에서 바로 떠올릴 수 있는 이미지들, 조금 더 직접적이고 따뜻한 위로가 될 수 있는 가사들을 많이 담으려고 했습니다."(앨런) 퍼포먼스에 대해서도 강조했다. 한동안 밝은 이미지의 무대를 보여줬다면, 이번에는 데뷔 초의 강한 퍼포먼스를 다시 선명하게 꺼내 들고 싶었다고 했다. 이른바 '퍼포비티'로 불리던 팀의 강점을 되살리겠다는 취지다. "데뷔 초에는 신인다운 마음으로 퍼포먼스에 정말 많이 집중했고, 그래서 '퍼포비티'라고 불러주시기도 했잖아요. 이후에는 청량한 노래와 비주얼이 돋보이는 무대들을 보여드렸다면, 이번에는 재정의와 리브랜딩을 거치면서 다시 그 '퍼포비티'의 색을 살리고 싶다는 마음이 컸어요. 그래서 퍼포먼스에도 더 많이 신경 썼고요. 후렴구에는 중독적인 포인트 안무도 들어가 있습니다. 또 단순한 손동작 하나로 끝나는 게 아니라 안무 선생님이 의견을 주시면 저도 제 생각을 내고, 주신 선택지 안에서 같이 조율하는 식으로 많이 참여했어요. 벌스 부분은 다인원 팀의 장점을 살릴 수 있도록 구성이 들어갔는데, 장면 하나하나가 예쁜 그림처럼 보일 수 있겠다는 생각을 했고요. 그런 과정에서 '이 부분은 팔 동작을 이렇게 수정하면 어떨까' 같은 의견도 내면서 디테일을 함께 만들어갔습니다."(원진) 공개된 뮤직비디오도 팬들의 반응을 얻고 있다고 멤버들은 전했다. 크래비티는 사제가 되기 위한 신학생 역할을 통해 흔들리는 청춘과 성장의 메시지를 담았고, 멤버들이 직접 연기에 참여했다고 했다. "사제가 되기 위한 신학생 역할을 연기했어요. 사제를 완전한 존재로 보았고 신학생은 준비 단계 즉 불완전한 존재로 정의하고 촬영했습니다. '완전하지 않지만 나아간다'는 메시지를 담아보려고 했습니다."(성민) "(뮤직비디오에) 앨범에 담긴 의미가 컨셉추얼하게 딥하게 담겨있었거든요. 앨범에 담긴 뜻깊은 의미가 은유적, 비유적으로 뮤직비디오에 담겨있고 그런 의미를 풀어나가는 과정도 팬들과 소통할 수 있는 앨범 아닐까 생각합니다."(민희) 형준은 과거 인터뷰에서 크래비티를 둘러싼 '낯선 이미지'를 깨고 싶다고 말한 바 있다. 데뷔 6년차에도 여전히 신인처럼 보일 수 있다는 우려였다. 그는 이번에는 다른 기대가 생겼다고 말했다. "그때는 연차가 어느 정도 쌓였는데도 많은 분들이 저희를 여전히 신인처럼 봐주시는 느낌이 있어서, 그런 이미지를 조금은 깨고 싶다는 생각을 했었어요. 그런데 지금은 다크한 콘셉트로 다시 돌아오기도 했고 이 연차에 보여줄 수 있는 멋진 모습이 분명히 있겠다는 기대가 생겼어요."(형준) 데뷔 6년을 지나며 팀은 '선배'라는 호칭도 자연스럽게 받아들이는 시점에 들어섰다고 했다. 7년 차를 앞두고 멤버들은 현장에서 체감한 변화도 전했다. "7년 차가 됐다는 걸 실감한 순간도 있었어요. 최근 ‘아육대’를 했는데, 저희가 출연한 팀들 중 선배 순서로 두세 번째 정도 되더라고요. 그걸 보면서 ‘우리도 이제 연차가 꽤 쌓였구나’ 다시 느꼈어요. 게다가 회사에 후배 아티스트 키키도 생겼잖아요. 그래서 더 자랑스러운 선배가 되고 싶다는 마음으로 열심히 하고 있습니다."(형준) "솔직히 아직까지도 저희가 '선배'라는 게 낯설어요. 동생들이 찾아와서 '선배님'이라고 부르면 '내가 선배…?' 싶기도 하고요. 하하. 아직 어색함이 있는 거 같아요."(정모) "저희가 코로나 팬데믹 시기에 데뷔해서 그런지 우리조차 '벌써 7년차인가?'하고 놀랄 때가 있는 것 같아요. 그만큼 신인의 자체로 초심을 잃지 않고 열심히 준비 할 수 있는 것 같습니다."(원진) 멤버들은 오랜 시간 함께해 온 관계가 팀의 원동력이라고 말했다. 가까운 사이일수록 서로를 객관적으로 바라보고 붙잡아주는 태도가 중요하다고도 했다. "멤버들은 저한테 동료이기도 하지만, 가장 가깝고 자주 보는 가족 같은 존재라고 생각해요. 그렇게 늘 붙어 있으면서도 좋은 관계를 유지하고 일을 하면서 서로 피드백을 주고받으려는 게 중요하다고 느껴요. 가끔은 객관성을 잃게 되는 시기도 있잖아요. 그럴 때 서로를 생각하면서도 결국은 서로를 위한 초심을 잃지 않게 해주는 동료 관계라고 생각합니다." 이번 활동을 앞두고 멤버들은 목표도 밝혔다. "팀에 대한 기준치도 높고 저 자신에 대한 기준치도 높아서 아직은 만족을 못하는 시기인 것 같아요. 그래서 이번에는 빌보드에 올라가고 싶습니다."(태용)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 06:03:18 -
Korean Horror Film 'Salmokji' Tops 2.6 Million Admissions, Ranks No. 3 All Time The horror film 'Salmokji' has surpassed 2.6 million admissions, ranking third among the top-grossing horror films in South Korea’s box office history. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, the film’s cumulative audience topped 2.6 million on Saturday. That moved it past the 2002 release 'Phone' (estimated 2.6 million) into third place on the all-time domestic horror list. 'Salmokji' reached 2.4 million admissions — three times its break-even point — and crossed 2.6 million just a day later, maintaining strong momentum. Observers credited word-of-mouth driven by what has been described as “experiential horror,” bucking the usual notion that the genre performs best in summer. Attention is now on whether it can overtake the No. 2 record held by 'Gonjiam' (2.68 million). The film has also held up against new competition, including 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' and 'Super Mario Galaxy,' staying near the top in seat sales. It posted seat-occupancy rates of 42.8% on May 1 and 31.5% on May 2, signaling sustained demand during the holiday period. Earlier, 'Salmokji' led the overall box office for 21 consecutive days from its release through April 28, the longest opening-to-No.-1 run among films released in 2026. It later slipped to third once, but reclaimed the top spot the next day by drawing 102,166 viewers on April 30. Its fourth-week Thursday tally also exceeded its opening-day figure of 90,000, an unusual result. The film has drawn audiences despite having fewer screens and seats than rivals. On May 1, it accounted for about 12% of total seats but recorded a 37% seat-occupancy rate. Analysts said repeat business has been supported by moviegoers in their teens and 20s, often attending with friends. 'Salmokji' follows a film crew that heads to a reservoir for reshoots after an unidentified figure appears on a road-view image, only to encounter something in the dark, deep water. The film is directed by newcomer Lee Sang-min and stars Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jong-won, Kim Jun-han, Kim Young-sung, Oh Dong-min, Yoon Jae-chan and Jang Da-a.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 17:48:15 -
‘Super Mario Galaxy’ Holds No. 1 at Korea Box Office for Second Straight Day The film 'Super Mario Galaxy' continued its holiday run at the top of the Korean box office, holding the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive day. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing network, the movie drew 157,843 admissions the previous day to remain No. 1. Total attendance reached 499,472. The film opened April 29 and has been gaining momentum over the May holiday period, attracting family audiences. 'Super Mario Galaxy' follows brothers Mario and Luigi, who rise from Brooklyn plumbers to heroes who save the world. In the new installment, they launch another adventure after rescuing Yoshi, who gets lost while on a mission in the Sand Kingdom. With the previous film, 'Super Mario Bros.,' having set a record for the highest single-day admissions for an animated film on Children's Day, attention is on how the new release will perform through the May holiday stretch. 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' ranked No. 2, selling 153,933 tickets the same day for a cumulative 590,985. The story centers on Miranda, editor-in-chief of the legendary fashion magazine 'Runway,' Andy, who returns as a planning editor after 20 years, and Emily, now a luxury brand executive, as they reunite and compete for influence in fashion amid a changed media landscape. Viewers have been drawn by the reunion of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway after two decades. The Korean film 'Salmokji' placed third, drawing 128,030 admissions the previous day for a total of 2,512,387. Released April 8, it has sustained a long run, boosted by word of mouth for its fresh premise and immersive horror. It has far surpassed its break-even point of 800,000 admissions. 'Salmokji' is a horror film about a production crew that heads to a reservoir for a reshoot after an unidentified figure appears on a road-view image, only to confront something in the dark, deep water. It was directed by Lee Sang-min and stars Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jong-won, Kim Jun-han, Kim Young-sung, Oh Dong-min, Yoon Jae-chan and Jang Da-a.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 11:34:53 -
Xdinary Heroes on chasing mainstream appeal: 'We have to make people listen to our music' "We’ve thought a lot about mainstream appeal. But we concluded that something is called mainstream because many people like it," Jooyeon said. "If more people come to like the music we make, that becomes the mainstream appeal of our music — and at the same time, it becomes our own color." As others talk about reaching a broader audience, the band Xdinary Heroes has kept writing its own songs and building its stage experience. Over time, that push for the sound the group wants has become a distinct discography — and, the members say, it is increasingly connecting with fans. "It’s hard to say only bright, upbeat, easy-listening songs count as mainstream," Jun Han said. "If you look back at the ’80s and ’90s, there were times when the sound itself was the center. For us, mainstream appeal means making it so people can naturally listen to the music we do." The group’s new mini-album, "DEAD AND," centers on the keyword "farewell" and asks, in its own way, what an ending means. The band said it aimed to cross genre lines while sharpening its identity. "This album includes a lot of interesting musical experiments," Gaon said. "Because the key word is ‘farewell,’ we thought hard about how to express a heavier theme in different ways than the last album. There are seven tracks, and we tried to capture different meanings of farewell in each one." Gaon said the sound also shifts, with synthesizers more prominent than before. "In the past, we expressed a heavy, rock sound mainly through guitar and drums," he said. "This time, there was a clear sensation we got through synths. That’s a difference from the previous work and a strength unique to this album." The title track, "Voyager," compares the will to continue an endless journey to the space probe Voyager 1. The band took part in writing the lyrics and composing the song. "While working on ‘Voyager,’ I had this image of a star dying while holding another star, bursting with light and giving birth to another star," Jungsu said. "Thinking about that brought back my own experience of farewell. I once went through a farewell with a friend — I can never see them again — but I wrote the lyrics thinking maybe they became another star and remain somewhere." The track pairs a sharp synth riff with powerful drums and driving guitar. Asked about his role with the synth-forward arrangement, O.de laughed and said he has been "having a hard time." "It’s a song where the synth comes out in a flashy way, and my part was just as challenging," he said. "I even gave up the holiday break to practice. Thankfully, my hands and wrists are moving well now, and if I don’t lose focus, I think I’ll be fine." The members described "DEAD AND" as a turning point, saying they expanded their musical range by participating in work across the mini-album’s eighth release. They are also set to hold a special live run in Europe and the U.K. in May and June titled "The New X Scene Special Live in Europe and UK." "If the last album talked about the beginning of love, we wondered what story could come next," Gunil said. "If there’s a beginning, there’s an end, so we thought we should tell a story around ‘farewell.’" He said the group did not choose the theme to force a "turning point" narrative. "To be honest, I never imagined we’d receive this much more attention this year," Gunil said. "It’s not something that happens just because you want it badly. I think it’s a flow we’re grateful for. So we prepared this album the way we always have. We didn’t set out from the start to make it a turning point — but looking back after finishing it, we thought ‘farewell’ could resonate with many people, and that it fit this moment." The band also emphasized how each instrument’s role is defined while still locking into a cohesive group sound. "As the bassist, I often share a wide range in the low and mid frequencies with Gaon," Jooyeon said. "This time, to organize that, I tried to implement a lower-range sound, while Seungmin took on the more piercing tones. It felt like our division of roles became more solid than before." "When O.de plays something flashy, we arranged our parts in a way that actually strips back that flashiness as much as possible," Gaon said. "We supported it from a lower range and tried to match the overall tone together." Members said the band’s sound is built on trust — believing in one another’s parts and supporting them. "While preparing the album, I looked up a lot of old performance videos — from when we were trainees rehearsing together to clips of us appearing on broadcasts," Gunil said. "Watching them, I could see each member gradually growing. If you look at performances from a few years ago, there are parts that feel lacking now, but all that time piled up into what we are today." "For me, the members are something I’m truly proud of," he said. "If even one person wasn’t in this team, I don’t think today’s Xdinary Heroes would exist." Gaon said the group’s biggest strength is its distinct musical identity and the way six different ideas come together. "The biggest appeal is that music can move people," he said. "What I’m most proud of these days is our own musical color. When I’m with these guys, I feel that all six of us have different thoughts and ideas. Six different heads come together to make one album and a comeback, and we can keep showing growth through that process." Now in their fourth year since debut, the members also pointed to each other’s progress. "Jun Han’s guitar parts keep getting harder, but he keeps pulling them off," Gunil said. "This album has a lot of difficult songs, too. Every time we rehearse together, I feel like he’s improving with every album." O.de singled out Gunil’s drumming. "When you talk about ‘growth,’ the other five of us have a process you can clearly see, but Gunil is already at such a high level that it might be harder to notice," O.de said. "But if you think about how important drums are in a band live set, his presence is huge. At the Muse opening show or at festival stages, when he starts playing, you can feel the atmosphere change." Despite different ways of putting it, the members agreed the band’s core comes down to "fun" and "sincerity." "Our goal is to perform fun music," Gaon said. "So I think ‘fun’ is the key word that runs through us." "Personally, what we’ve kept from debut until now is sincerity," Gunil said. "If you ask what we’re sincere about, it’s music. Just as we were healed, grew and found comfort through the music we listened to when we were young, our 마음 hasn’t changed: We hope our music can have that kind of positive impact on the people who listen to it." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 00:03:23