Journalist

Choi Song-hee
  • TXT Says All Members Renewed Contracts After Advice From BTS RM
    TXT Says All Members Renewed Contracts After Advice From BTS' RM TOMORROW X TOGETHER said all members have renewed their contracts. The group made the announcement Sunday at a showcase for its new album, “Seven Year (7TH YEAR): When the Wind Briefly Stopped in the Thornbush,” held at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul’s Seongbuk district. Taehyun said it took “less than an hour” for the members to agree. “We wanted to keep promoting as a team, and we also wanted to stay with our fans, so it came together naturally,” he said. He added that the group wanted to share the news sooner rather than make fans wait until the seven-year mark. Taehyun said he sought advice from BTS, including RM. “He spoke to me very thoughtfully, checked things one by one, and warmly told me it’s already been seven years and that we’ve worked hard,” Taehyun said. Soobin said others had told him aligning views among members can be harder than negotiating with a company, but TXT reached agreement within an hour. He said talks with the company took some time by the group’s standards, but he later heard it was still relatively quick. “I heard cases like this are rare, and thankfully it seems to have worked out well,” he said. The album’s title track, “One More Day a Day (Stick With You),” portrays the longing to hold on to a love that appears to be nearing its end, singing from the perspective of someone who cannot let go while the other person prepares for a breakup. TXT is set to hold a comeback showcase at 8 p.m. Sunday at the same venue to meet fans.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 15:36:54
  • TXT Releases First Album Since All Members Renewed Contracts
    TXT Releases First Album Since All Members Renewed Contracts TOMORROW X TOGETHER shared their thoughts on releasing a new album after all five members renewed their contracts. A showcase for the group’s new release, “7TH YEAR: When the Wind Stopped for a Moment in the Thornbush,” was held on the afternoon of the 13th at Korea University’s Hwajeong Campus in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The title track, “One More Day a Day (Stick With You),” sings of the longing to hold on to a love that is nearing its end. It portrays a heart that cannot let go, unlike a partner preparing for a breakup. Soobin said the album title is “really long,” adding that the group put a range of emotions into the music and prepared hard for the release. “It feels new because it’s our first album after renewing our contracts. We’ll show you a cool side of us,” he said. Hueningkai echoed him, saying, “The album is ‘7TH YEAR: When the Wind Stopped for a Moment in the Thornbush.’ The title is really long. That’s how many different emotions we put into the music. We prepared hard.” Beomgyu said the group, known for telling a coming-of-age story, has returned with a “heartfelt love story.” “It’s already our eighth year, and time feels like it’s gone by fast. Thank you for being with us as we’ve grown,” he said. Yeonjun said that because it is their first comeback since renewing their contracts, they prepared “with the mindset of debuting.” “I’m really curious how you’ll see it. We’ll work hard,” he said. Taehyun added, “As always over the past seven years, we’ll work hard.” The group will meet fans at a comeback showcase at 8 p.m. today at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 14:48:14
  • Actress Ji Ye-eun Confirms Dating Dancer Bada of Street Man Fighter
    Actress Ji Ye-eun Confirms Dating Dancer Bada of 'Street Man Fighter' Actress Ji Ye-eun and dancer Bada have confirmed they are dating. Ji’s agency, CP Entertainment, told Aju Business on the 13th that the two, who had been colleagues, “are seeing each other with good feelings.” The agency added, “We ask for your warm support.” The two are both born in 1994 and are said to have developed their relationship after working in the entertainment industry. They reportedly grew closer through a shared religion. Ji debuted in the 2017 web drama “How To” and drew attention through variety shows including the “SNL Korea” series and “Running Man.” Bada is the leader of We Dem Boyz, the dance crew that finished runner-up on Mnet’s “Street Man Fighter.” He has created choreography for Zico’s “Saebbing” and Jennie’s “Like Jennie,” among others.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 11:00:14
  • TWS VR Concert Film Rush Road Tops 40,000 Viewers in Korea
    TWS VR Concert Film 'Rush Road' Tops 40,000 Viewers in Korea K-pop group TWS has wrapped up its first VR concert film, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD,” after a successful run in South Korea. The film surpassed 40,000 cumulative viewers and posted an average seat occupancy rate of 81%. The results came despite a limited release in a single theater, outperforming previous VR concert titles and setting a notable mark in the K-pop VR concert market. “Rush Road” sold out repeatedly from its opening week, prompting extended screenings and multiple repeat viewings that sustained demand. After tickets went on sale, individual showings quickly sold out, and the title rose to No. 1 on the Megabox box office. It maintained steady occupancy through the end of its run. The company credited the performance in part to the members’ hands-on involvement. From early production, the group contributed ideas on performance structure and camera direction to improve the final product. They also met audiences in person at stage greetings held shortly after release and continued fan engagement through the Weverse community. Audience feedback was also strong, with favorable reviews posted on Megabox and on social media. The film drew not only the group’s fan base, known as “42,” but also a sizable share of general moviegoers and fans of other artists, suggesting VR concerts can serve as an entry point beyond core fandom. The film opens at a rock festival setting and moves through locations including a rooftop and an aurora-themed space, aiming to heighten immersion. It also features close-range performances designed for VR viewing. After ending its domestic run, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD” is continuing with sequential screenings in major cities overseas. 2026-04-13 09:51:15
  • Horror Film Salmokji Tops Box Office in Opening Weekend, Nears Break-Even
    Horror Film 'Salmokji' Tops Box Office in Opening Weekend, Nears Break-Even Film "Salmokji" led the box office in its opening weekend, extending its strong run.  According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database on April 13, "Salmokji" drew 536,452 moviegoers from April 10-12 to rank No. 1 for the weekend. The result put it ahead of competing releases "Project Hail Mary" and "The Man Who Lives With the King."  Its opening-weekend total was the biggest for a horror film since "Metamorphosis" drew 571,901 in 2019, and it far exceeded the 305,151 posted by "The Medium" in its first weekend in 2021.  The film also gained momentum on its third day in theaters, April 10, when it attracted 111,766 viewers, topping its opening-day figure of 89,913. Weekend attendance continued to climb. The break-even point is about 800,000 admissions, and the film is expected to pass that mark soon.  "Salmokji" is a horror film in which an unidentified figure appears on a road-view image, and a film crew heading to a reservoir for a reshoot encounters something in the dark, deep water. Lee Sang-min directed. The cast includes Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jong-won and Kim Jun-han. 2026-04-13 08:36:20
  • BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ tops Billboard 200 for third straight week, a K-pop first
    BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ tops Billboard 200 for third straight week, a K-pop first 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)의 정규 5집 '아리랑(ARIRANG)'이 K팝 사상 처음으로 미국 빌보드 메인 앨범 차트에서 3주 연속 1위를 기록했다. Billboard said in a chart preview article on April 12 (local time) that BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” remained No. 1 on the main albums chart, the Billboard 200, for a third straight week. The group held off Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” and Kanye West’s “BULLY.” It is the first time a K-pop act has led the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. Among groups, it is the biggest run since Mumford & Sons’ “Babel,” which logged five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2012-2013. It is also the first album since Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” last year to debut at No. 1 and stay there for three straight weeks. For the latest tracking period, “ARIRANG” posted 124,000 equivalent album units, Billboard said. That total included 71,000 in album sales, 50,000 in streaming equivalent albums (SEA) and 3,000 in track equivalent albums (TEA). Driven by strong physical sales, it also ranked No. 1 for a third week on the Top Album Sales chart. “ARIRANG,” described as reflecting the group’s identity, contains 14 tracks, including the title song “SWIM.” “SWIM,” which ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s main singles chart, the Hot 100, last week, is expected to remain near the top this week, according to the report. BTS also held “BTS World Tour ARIRANG in Goyang” from April 9 to 12 at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, south of Seoul. The three-day run drew about 132,000 fans, marking the group’s first solo tour in about four years since 2022’s “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 07:45:16
  • Kim Hye-yoon on horror film Salmokji: I want to be called a horror queen
    Kim Hye-yoon on horror film 'Salmokji': 'I want to be called a horror queen' Known for romantic comedies such as the dramas "Lovely Runner" and "Extraordinary You," actor Kim Hye-yoon is taking a sharp turn with the horror film "Salmokji," trading her bright image for a more worn, drained presence. "It’s a genre I love, and as a horror fan, I was excited to take on a horror project," Kim said. "When I first read the script, it was really fun, and the water ghost concept felt fresh. I also liked that Su-in is restrained and looks kind of worn down, different from characters you usually see in horror films." "Salmokji," directed by Lee Sang-min, follows a filming crew that heads to a reservoir to verify a mysterious figure captured on a road-view image, only to encounter strange events. Kim plays Han Su-in, a producer at Onroad Media who goes to the reservoir to investigate the unusual phenomenon. "As the director and I built Su-in together, we talked a lot about her fear of water and trauma, and that she lives with guilt," she said. "He suggested we start from a baseline where she looks exhausted overall because of the stress from that guilt. So I tried to look worn out, always tired, and like she’s with people but lost in other thoughts." A regular horror viewer, Kim said the film’s fear factor goes beyond jump scares, relying on tension built through images and sound — something she believes plays bigger in theaters. "There are a lot of shocking moments — scary images, and fear created by sound," she said. "Watching it at the press screening, I felt the fear grow not just from my own reaction but from the audience around me. The fear you share in the same room can stay with you like a memory. That’s why I hope people see it in theaters." Kim also spoke about working with castmates her age, saying the chemistry came naturally. "I like people, and I’ve been lucky to work with good people, so I often get close quickly without trying," she said. "This time, because we’re around the same age, we became close even faster. You can see that chemistry during stage greetings. I’m enjoying it now, and I really enjoyed filming, too." In the film, Su-in’s relationship with Gi-tae is not explained solely by the fact they once dated. They clash in everyday moments, but he is also one of the few people she can confide in. Kim said she discussed that delicate distance with the director. "Gi-tae calls Su-in’s name a lot," she said, laughing. "I even joked on set, ‘Stop calling my name.’ The set was upbeat, and I think some of that comes through in the movie. The director also said he wanted them to bicker more — to be more curt in daily life, since they’re exes. But Gi-tae is almost the only person Su-in can open up to, so in that situation, I thought she could speak more comfortably." Kim said she does not regularly rewatch her past work, but she sometimes runs into it through recommendations or when others bring it up. "Those projects feel like a diary to me," she said. "I think, ‘That’s what I looked like then, that’s how I expressed things.’ It was a different energy from what I have now, and it makes me reflect. Through that process, I think I’ve developed my own know-how. I’ve tried acting when I felt great and when I was tense, and now I feel I focus best when it’s a mix of both." She said the support she has received over the years feels more like motivation than pressure, pushing her to show different sides of herself. She added that she recently started raising a cat and finds comfort in holding it. "I’ve received so much love from fans, and it makes me want to show more variety — that becomes my driving force," she said. "I read somewhere that holding a cat helps relieve stress, and I think it’s true. Hearing it purr makes me feel calmer, and it feels like I’m recharging." With the release approaching, Kim said she hopes audiences experience the film together, arguing that horror is often more memorable when shared in the same space. Recalling watching scary movies with friends as a student, she said she hopes "Salmokji" can leave that kind of memory. "I felt it again watching it in a theater at the screening, and when I think back to watching horror movies with friends in school, building those shared memories was really nice," she said. "I hope people come to theaters and make those memories together. You have to see the ghost in person, too," she added with a laugh. "I hope many people come and respond well." While she remains grateful for the "rom-com queen" label, Kim said she wants a different description this time. "I’m truly thankful for ‘rom-com queen,’ but this time — even if it sounds a bit cliché — I want to earn the label ‘horror queen,’" she said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 00:05:53
  • Singer Lee Hyo-ri’s Father Dies; She and Husband Lee Sang-soon Keep Vigil
    Singer Lee Hyo-ri’s Father Dies; She and Husband Lee Sang-soon Keep Vigil Singer Lee Hyo-ri is mourning the death of her father. Her agency, Antenna, said April 12 that her father, Lee Jung-kwang, died that day. A wake has been set up in Room 1 of the funeral hall at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul. The funeral procession is scheduled for 7 a.m. April 14. Lee and her husband, Lee Sang-soon, are listed as chief mourners and have been keeping vigil at the wake. Lee has spoken publicly about her father on several occasions. She included family stories in the song “Barbershop Daughter” on her July 2008 album “It’s Hyorish.” On tvN’s “Canada Check-In,” which aired in January 2023, she said her father was ill.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:57:13
  • MBC’s ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ hits 10% in Seoul area by Episode 2
    MBC’s ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ hits 10% in Seoul area by Episode 2 MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” crossed into double-digit ratings in the Seoul metropolitan area by its second episode. Nielsen Korea said Saturday that Episode 2, aired Friday, drew a nationwide rating of 9.5% and 10.1% among households in the Seoul area, ranking No. 1 in its time slot. Its 20-49 rating was 5.3%, the highest among all Saturday programming. The minute-by-minute peak reached 11.1%. The top moments were a scene in which Seong Hui-ju wins a top entrepreneur award and another in which Prince Ian meets Lee Yun, who arrives alone at an event marking Entrepreneurs’ Day. The episode followed Seong’s efforts to win Ian’s affection. After her proposal, pitched as a show of her strengths, was rejected, she pursued him across locations including a road, a movie theater, a riding arena and an event venue, pressing forward at every turn. As Seong kept approaching him, Ian’s attitude began to shift. He tidied his appearance as if expecting her to appear at any moment and showed a subtle reaction to news of her blind date. Set in a 21st century constitutional monarchy, the drama centers on a romance between a woman who has everything but is a commoner and a king’s son who can have nothing. Episode 3 airs April 17 at 9:50 p.m.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:45:15
  • Xdinary Heroes Unveil Track Sneak Peeks for New EP Dead and Ahead of Release
    Xdinary Heroes Unveil Track Sneak Peeks for New EP 'Dead and' Ahead of Release JYP Entertainment boy band Xdinary Heroes has released all track sneak peeks for its upcoming album, building anticipation for its return. The band is set to release its eighth EP, "Dead and (DEAD AND)," on April 17. Ahead of the release, it has been rolling out short previews of songs on its official social media channels. On April 11, it shared snippets of "No Cool Kids Zone" and the title track, "Voyager." On April 12, it unveiled part of the opening track, "Helium Balloon." In the "No Cool Kids Zone" preview, Jun Han delivers witty lyrics over a hard-driving sound, highlighting the song’s garage-band energy and humor. In "Voyager," vocals from Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han and Jooyeon ride a powerful rhythm and full band sound, with a fast-moving arrangement that heightens the emotional intensity. "Helium Balloon" leans on a lyrical melody and wistful mood, blending dreamy, vintage tones with delicate phrasing. "Dead and" will include seven tracks: "Voyager," the previously released "X room," "Helium Balloon," "No Cool Kids Zone," "Hurt So Good," "Rise High Rise" and "KTM." The group has continued its practice of taking part in songwriting since debut, with all members credited on the new release. After the comeback, Xdinary Heroes will expand its stage to Europe and the U.K. The band will hold its special live series, "Xdinary Heroes The New Xcene Special Live in Europe & UK," starting May 31 in Manchester, followed by June 2 in London, June 4 in Paris, June 7 in Frankfurt and June 9 in Milan. The dates follow the group’s first solo concerts in Japan, held in Osaka and Yokohama in January. The eighth EP "Dead and" and its title track "Voyager" will be released at 1 p.m. on April 17 through major music streaming sites. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 14:57:14