Journalist
Choi Song-hui
alfie312@ajunews.com
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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 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' 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 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 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 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 -
KATSEYE Brings Surprise HUNTRIX Collaboration to Coachella, Crowd Sings Along KATSEYE delivered a surprise collaboration at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, sharing the stage with vocalists from HUNTRIX, the fictional girl group from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” The group performed on the Sahara stage in Indio, California, on April 11 (Korea time). Opening with its newly released single “PINKY UP,” KATSEYE ran through 11 songs and dance breaks in a roughly 45-minute set. “We can’t believe we finally made it to Coachella. So many emotions are swirling,” the members said. “You’re making our dream a reality.” The set drew loud sing-alongs from the crowd on songs spanning multiple styles, including “Debut,” “Gameboy,” “Internet Girl,” “Gabriela” and “Gnarly,” as fans followed the lyrics and moved to the beat. Introducing “My Way,” the members offered a message of support: “We’re cheering for all of you who have the courage to do things your own way, not just what others tell you to do.” The night’s centerpiece was a surprise joint stage with HUNTRIX vocalists Rei Ami, Audrey Nuna and Leejae, who joined KATSEYE for “GOLDEN.” The song was rearranged at a slightly slower tempo to highlight the melody, with the performers trading eye contact and building harmonies. KATSEYE’s “PINKY UP,” released April 11, ranked No. 10 on Spotify’s “Daily Top Songs USA” chart dated April 10 and No. 18 on the “Daily Top Songs Global” chart. The track pairs hard-hitting percussion and bass with glossy synth textures, delivering an energetic sound and a message about living fully in the moment.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 10:55:13 -
BTS Launches 'Arirang' World Tour in Goyang, Drawing 132,000 Fans Over Three Shows BTS returned to solo touring with a stadium-scale production that paired mass choreography and fireworks with distinctly Korean imagery, using its new album, "Arirang," to signal what the group called a new chapter, "BTS 2.0." The group held "BTS World Tour Arirang in Goyang" on April 9 and April 11-12 at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, south of Seoul. It marked BTS’ first standalone tour in about four years since "BTS Permission to Dance on Stage" ended in April 2022. About 132,000 people attended across the three shows. BTS opened with "Hooligan," "Aliens" and "Run BTS," driving the pace from the start. A mega crew of dozens joined the group for synchronized choreography that filled the stadium and quickly lifted the crowd’s energy. After the opening, Jung Kook told fans the weather was better than the day before and promised to "heat up" the venue even if it felt chilly. V said it had been a long time since BTS performed on a 360-degree stage and that being surrounded by ARMY, the group’s fan base, felt good. Jimin said the audience response seemed even hotter and that ARMY’s voices were especially clear. He added that BTS released "Arirang" after four years and resumed a concert tour after six and a half years, saying the group tried many new approaches in both the album and the stage production. Suga said BTS also made new attempts in songs and staging and asked fans to stay with the show even if some elements felt unfamiliar. The concert framed "BTS 2.0" as a step forward while revisiting the group’s roots. Fans saw new songs from the fifth full-length album, "Arirang," alongside established hits, arranged to trace BTS’ musical path and point to its next direction. The setlist was organized into three themes. In the "BTS" section, the group performed "they don’t know ‘bout us" with large screens showing modernized images of traditional Korean masks, followed by "Like Animals," "FAKE LOVE," "Swim" and "Merry Go Round." In the "2.0" section, BTS centered on "Normal," inspired by ink-wash painting, and ran through performance-heavy tracks including "Not Today," "MIC Drop," "FYA" and "FIRE." "Body To Body" featured choreography evoking the traditional circle dance ganggangsullae and was paired with fireworks. "IDOL" included a march along the stadium track. The final "Arirang" section pushed the crowd into a festival mood with "Come Over," "Butter," "Dynamite," "Fleet" and "Into the Sun." Korean aesthetics ran through the production, reflecting themes BTS said it explored on "Arirang" about origins, roots and identity. Traditional symbols were presented with a modern sensibility and tied closely to the music. The stage design placed a pavilion-like structure inspired by Gyeonghoeru at the center of an open 360-degree stage, reimagining a shared banquet space. The floor was designed after the South Korean flag: the taegeuk circle anchored the center, while four protruding stages extended outward, drawing on the trigrams. The layout also brought the group closer to fans around the venue. With the world tour resuming after six and a half years, the show emphasized the full seven-member lineup rather than individual stages, leaning on large-scale group choreography and a setlist packed with fan-favorite hits while presenting the message of cohesion and evolution tied to "BTS 2.0." RM thanked fans for coming after what he called a long wait, saying, "You’re the best." He said many things were changing, but the most important points had not: that the seven members chose to do this work together and that they genuinely think of their fans. He added that BTS would not take filling the venue lightly and asked fans to trust the group and watch its changes with patience, noting he first met Jung Kook when he was 15 and that they are now all over 30. Suga said the good weather seemed to match the crowd’s energy and asked fans to tell those attending the next day to come ready to shout and blow off stress. "Thanks to you, I’m taking home good memories. Thank you, and I love you," he said. Jimin said it had been six and a half years since the group toured and four years since the album release, adding he missed fans and wanted to thank them for waiting. He said BTS would keep working to deliver strong stages and music and asked fans to stay by the group’s side. V said he used his voice so much during the first show that the back of his neck hurt afterward, but that seeing ARMY made the pain "disappear like magic." Jung Kook said he was relieved the show ended safely and said the weather and cheers made him feel good. He told fans he hoped they understood that his actions and feelings toward them were sincere in any situation, adding he would keep giving everything for them and would repay their waiting with strong performances. J-Hope said he is always curious about fans’ thoughts and reactions and that the members talked extensively while preparing the concert, considering in detail how to deliver good feelings and create memories. He said the seven members’ commitment to the stage is genuine and that they want to keep showing their best performances. BTS is set to continue the tour with shows April 17-18 at Tokyo Dome, followed by dates across North America, Europe, South America and Asia. The plan calls for 85 concerts in 34 cities, described as the highest number of shows for a single tour by a Korean artist, with additional dates in Japan and the Middle East also announced.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-11 21:39:17 -
Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Colony’ Invited to Cannes Film Festival Midnight Screenings Director Yeon Sang-ho’s film ‘Colony’ has been officially invited to the Midnight Screenings section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 12 to May 23 in Cannes, France. The festival’s executive committee announced the selection at an official news conference on Wednesday afternoon (Korea time). Festival director Thierry Fremaux, introducing the invitation, described ‘Colony’ as a horror zombie film set inside a sealed-off building, directed by Yeon, known worldwide for ‘Train to Busan.’ He said the premise would lead audiences to imagine “a range of narrative devices and storytelling possibilities.” The invitation marks Yeon’s fourth appearance at Cannes, following his feature-length animated debut ‘The King of Pigs’ (2012, Directors’ Fortnight), ‘Train to Busan’ (2016, Midnight Screenings) and ‘Peninsula’ (2020, Official Selection). ‘The King of Pigs’ drew attention as the first Korean feature-length animated film invited to the Directors’ Fortnight. After that, Yeon’s first live-action film, ‘Train to Busan,’ was invited to Midnight Screenings and was praised by Fremaux as “the best Midnight Screening ever, an action blockbuster that captures both entertainment and social realities.” When ‘Peninsula’ was selected, Yeon was also lauded as “a leading Korean director following Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho,” the article said. The Midnight Screenings section showcases a small number of genre films — including action, thriller, noir, horror and fantasy — chosen for both artistic merit and popular appeal. With Park Chan-wook serving as jury president in the competition section and ‘Colony’ now confirmed for Midnight Screenings, the festival is expected to be especially notable for Korean film fans, the article said. Yeon said he was “very happy” to present ‘Colony’ at Cannes and added that he was excited for it to screen in Midnight Screenings, which he called a gathering place for genre-film fans worldwide. “I will proudly introduce the actors who worked with me and Korea’s genre cinema. Thank you,” he said. ‘Colony’ is set inside a building sealed off after an unidentified outbreak, where isolated survivors confront infected people who evolve in unpredictable ways. The film is scheduled for release in South Korea in May. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-09 20:18:27 -
Na Hong-jin’s ‘Hope’ Invited to Compete at the 79th Cannes Film Festival Na Hong-jin’s new film “Hope” (HOPE) has been officially invited to the Competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, which opens May 12. The festival’s organizing committee announced the selection on April 9 local time. Na has maintained a long relationship with Cannes: his debut feature “The Chaser” was invited to the Midnight Screenings section in 2008; “The Yellow Sea” was selected for Un Certain Regard in 2011, unusually a year after its release; and “The Wailing” screened Out of Competition in 2016. With “Hope” entering Competition, Na becomes the first Korean director to have all of his feature films invited to Cannes. Competition is the festival’s main section, typically selecting about 20 films from around the world, and this marks Na’s first time in the lineup. The invitation also puts a Korean film back in Competition for the first time in four years, since 2022’s “Decision to Leave” and “Broker.” Na, whose films have now been invited to Cannes four times in a row, said, “It’s an honor. I’ll work harder in the time remaining.” “Hope” begins at a police outpost in Hopohang, near the Demilitarized Zone, where chief Beomseok hears reports from local young men that a tiger has appeared, throwing the village into alarm as he confronts an unbelievable reality. It is Na’s first new film in 10 years since “The Wailing.” “Hope” will premiere at Cannes in May and is set for a theatrical release this summer. 2026-04-09 19:09:18