Journalist

Choi Songhee
  • Korean Film The Owner of the World Invited to Beijing International Film Festival
    Korean Film 'The Owner of the World' Invited to Beijing International Film Festival The film 'The Owner of the World' has been officially invited to the Panorama section of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival. According to the film’s representatives, it was selected for the Panorama lineup of the festival, which runs from April 16 to 25. Launched in 2011, the Beijing International Film Festival is one of China’s leading international film events, along with the Shanghai International Film Festival. The festival praised the film, saying it “densely portrays girls’ inner lives through director Yoon Ga-eun’s delicate, feminine perspective,” and that it “gently yet powerfully captures their choice to become the owners of their own lives when the world tries to define them.” The invitation follows confirmation of a Chinese distributor, a notable step as Korean films have faced headwinds entering China since the so-called Korean cultural ban. With interest from local audiences and the industry continuing, expectations for a China release are rising. The film won two awards at last year’s 9th Pingyao International Film Festival — the Roberto Rossellini Award jury prize and the audience award — and posted a 9.0 rating on China’s Douban platform, drawing strong local response. It also opened in Hong Kong in January and received a 4.6 out of 5 rating on major local review sites. Audience comments included: “A film that offers small comfort and courage to everyone living with wounds,” and “Seo Su-bin’s acting is truly outstanding. She perfectly expressed complex emotions.” 'The Owner of the World' centers on an 18-year-old high school girl, Ju-in, whose motives are hard to read. After she alone refuses to join a schoolwide signature campaign, she begins receiving mysterious notes. The film has continued a long run at the box office, surpassing 200,000 admissions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 17:03:27
  • TWS Wraps Sold-Out Stage Greeting for VR Concert Rush Road
    TWS Wraps Sold-Out Stage Greeting for VR Concert 'Rush Road' TWS met fans at a stage greeting for its first VR concert, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD,” offering a closer-than-usual experience for audiences. The stage greeting, held March 6, sold out quickly as soon as ticket sales opened, underscoring strong interest. Fans packed the theater and cheered as the members appeared, while the group actively engaged with the audience. Members highlighted the VR format’s immersion. Jihoon said he watched the VR concert himself and was surprised by how close it felt, adding jokingly, “We can’t be awkward.” Kyungmin said it felt “like they were sitting on my knees,” drawing a strong response. Some attendees said it was even better than seeing a live concert and that they had watched it multiple times. Asked which stage was most memorable, one response was, “All of them were good.” The group also shared behind-the-scenes details from filming. Youngjae said there were many scenes shot at very close range, so he paid extra attention to skin care “so I wouldn’t be surprised even when seen up close.” Shinyu said there was a moment in filming “Overdrive” where they “patted” 42 — the group’s official fandom name — and that he aimed for that part. Dohun added that there were close-up shots during the “OVERDRIVE” stage, so he prepared his visuals, prompting laughter. Hanjin said he tried to make eye contact by thinking of the camera as 42. The event also featured light exchanges with the audience. When Youngjae asked whether it made them think of popcorn, fans replied, “TWS is sweeter.” When Jihoon asked whether they needed a refreshing drink, fans answered, “Your faces are refreshing,” filling the theater with laughter. Jihoon also asked fans to join the chant during “First Meeting Doesn’t Go as Planned,” saying they should do it even if the person next to them does not. TWS closed by thanking attendees. Youngjae said he was grateful to hear the event sold out and that seeing people enjoy it made the hard work of filming worthwhile. “I’m really happy you enjoyed it,” he said. “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD” sold out its first-week tickets shortly after sales opened and also reached No. 2 on Megabox’s overall movie chart, continuing to draw attention. The special stage greeting added to the on-site excitement through direct interaction with fans. The VR concert opened exclusively March 4 at Megabox COEX, with a second round of ticket sales set to open March 11. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 13:15:18
  • RIIZE Wraps First World Tour RIIZING LOUD With 420,000 Fans
    RIIZE Wraps First World Tour 'RIIZING LOUD' With 420,000 Fans 그룹 라이즈가 첫 월드 투어의 피날레를 성공적으로 마무리했다. RIIZE has successfully closed out its first world tour, drawing a total of 420,000 fans, the group’s agency said. The group launched its first world tour, “RIIZING LOUD,” in July 2025 and performed in 21 cities worldwide, from Asia to North America. The finale ran March 6-8 at KSPO DOME in Seoul’s Olympic Park, drawing 32,000 fans over three days after organizers opened even limited-view seats amid strong demand. Online livestreams on Beyond LIVE and Weverse were offered on March 6 and 8, with viewers tuning in from countries including the United States, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Japan, China and Thailand. A live viewing was also held March 7 in 143 movie theaters across 10 locations worldwide. RIIZE performed a new 27-song set over about 2 hours and 40 minutes, backed by a live band. The show featured band-arranged tracks, performances shifting between hard-hitting and bright moods, and concept-driven staging tailored to each song. Highlights included an opening run with “Bag Bad Back,” “Siren” and “잉걸,” along with “Something’s in the Water,” staged with a projection effect evoking an underwater setting. “Fame” used a moving crown-of-thorns set and a turntable lift, while “Combo” featured galaxy-like lasers across the ceiling. The concert also debuted a Korean version of “All of You,” with member Seongchan credited as a lyricist. The group introduced an outro for “9 Days,” made by member Anton, and an intro remix of “Impossible.” Other moments included a mic-stand choreography version of “Get A Guitar,” the musical-like staging of “Fly Up,” and close-to-the-crowd performances of “One Kiss” and “Inside My Love.” Near the end, the members looked back on the tour, telling fans, “What we realized during our first world tour is that wherever we went, BRIIZE (the fan club name) was with us. We felt the place we wanted to be most wasn’t any venue, but by BRIIZE’s side.” They added, “Everything was possible thanks to BRIIZE’s cheers, the moments we relied on each other even when it was hard, and the staff who worked with us behind the scenes,” offering thanks. They also said they sometimes wondered whether the group was “moving in a good direction,” but that seeing fans convinced them they were on the right path. “We should keep looking only at BRIIZE. Now we can’t do without BRIIZE,” they said, adding, “Thank you for loving the world of RIIZE. We’ll keep working so that world can grow in a great way, so let’s keep going together,” with some members in tears. Fans filled the venue holding orange light sticks, the group’s signature color, and staged events including a flash display during “Midnight Mirage,” slogan messages, card sections, sing-alongs and surprise cheers. In response, RIIZE performed the encore song “Happy! Happy! Happy!” from the animated series “씰룩” soundtrack. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 09:48:17
  • Netflix Releases Official Teaser for BTS Comeback Live: Arirang
    Netflix Releases Official Teaser for BTS 'Comeback Live: Arirang' Netflix has released an official teaser for “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang,” kicking off a global countdown to BTS’ return. The teaser, unveiled on the streamer’s official social media accounts and YouTube on the 21st, compresses Korean aesthetics and the group’s artistic narrative into a short clip. Jimin appears briefly in the video, drawing attention and prompting a strong fan response as the teaser highlights his dreamy, elegant style. Netflix said the event is expected to be its first live broadcast of an event held in South Korea, streamed in real time to more than 190 countries. BTS will release its fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” worldwide at 1 p.m. on March 20, a day before the performance. On March 21, the group will debut stages for 14 new songs in Gwanghwamun. On the 27th, Netflix will release the documentary “BTS: The Return,” which follows the album’s production, before the group begins an 82-show world tour starting in April in Goyang.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 08:33:42
  • World AI Film Festival Holds First Asia Edition in Seoul, Honors AI Shorts
    World AI Film Festival Holds First Asia Edition in Seoul, Honors AI Shorts The World AI Film Festival’s Seoul awards ceremony drew about 1,500 guests on March 6 at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, organizers said, as filmmakers and officials highlighted how artificial intelligence is reshaping production and storytelling. WAIFF (World AI Film Festival), co-founded by Institut EuropIA and Marco Landi, is described by organizers as the first and largest international network focused on the convergence of film and AI. With its main event based in France and editions expanding to Brazil, Japan and China, Seoul was selected as the first host city in Asia, the festival said. Aju Media Group participated as a media partner, covering changes in storytelling and the creative ecosystem in the AI era, according to the organizers. Opening the ceremony, Landi said one of the festival’s main goals is “discovering talent, protecting their rights and compensation.” He added that the five finalists from the Seoul edition are scheduled to be screened at a festival in Cannes, France. Ha Jung-woo, senior secretary for AI Future Planning at the presidential office, called it meaningful that the “experimental venue” where AI and creativity meet opened in Seoul as the first Asian edition. He said AI is rapidly expanding beyond industry and society into culture and the arts, and in film and content it is becoming “a completely new driving force” that broadens how creators work and how stories are told. Ha stressed that the value of the technology lies in human imagination and creativity. “AI is not something that replaces creation, and it should not become that,” he said, calling it a collaborator that expands creators’ possibilities and a partner for exploring new forms of expression. He added that it can help people with ideas create new forms of content media and broaden access to diverse content. The festival also drew attention for its international jury. Animator and producer Nelson Shin (Shin Neung-gyun), a juror, presented an excellence award and spoke about the pace of change. “I was very scared while doing this event,” Shin said. He recalled that after about 100 years of making films with cameras and projectors, Steve Jobs made “Toy Story” digitally, and “suddenly the workforce making films was reduced to one-twentieth.” “And now, in less than 20 years, AI has come,” he said, adding he worried there might be a way to stop it. During judging, he said, he could not tell what was shot with a camera and was surprised that “AI did everything.” “Now, in this era when anyone can make a work, everyone here is a writer,” he said. Jury chair Son Seung-hyun, CEO of Westworld, said WAIFF tours globally from Sao Paulo to Seoul, Kyoto and Cannes to explore new relationships among film, AI and human creativity. He said the Seoul participants were not only using new technology but also pioneering a new visual language. Son said the jury sought to avoid entries centered on technical spectacle or fully automated results. “What we focus on is not the amount or flashiness of AI, but the creator’s intent, meaningful energy, and reflection and originality embedded in the technology,” he said. He outlined four criteria: vision over perfect execution; guided intent over automation, including whether at least three AI tools were combined with clear purpose; meaning over short-term trends, seeking messages with long-term cultural impact; and the creator’s agency, judging how clearly the human voice came through. The grand prize went to director Kim Won-kyung’s “Could Know, Could Not Know.” “I came up from Seogwipo in Jeju,” Kim said after the win. “I never expected this, and I’m truly grateful. While working as a marketer, I used AI only as a work tool, but I was able to make the content I had really dreamed of and even receive an award, and my mind went blank. I will accept this with gratitude, thinking of it as the start of the second act of my life.” Other winners included the excellence award for “LOSING, About the Time Remaining” (directed by Lim Da-young and Lee Sang-hoon); an encouragement award for “The Dog, the Octopus and Me” (directed by AI Revolution); the AI advertising award for “Magic Mirror” (directed by Ji Seong-min); the AI shorts series award for “The More You Swallow” (directed by Lee Eun-young and Son Hee-song); the AI screenplay award for “Ticket to Neverland” (directed by Heo Min, Son Min-ho and Kim Han-in); the AI soundtrack award for “Arca” (directed by Lee Su-yeol); the AI Film Youth Award for “Manin” (directed by A-Frame); and the AI jury award for “Gum” (directed by Hwang Ha-min). On March 7, a day after the awards, the “WAIFF Seoul 2026 Creative Intelligence Forum” at Lotte Cinema World Tower addressed issues including production innovation using generative AI, next strategies for K-content, copyright protection and ethical guidelines. Organizers said WAIFF Seoul 2026 concluded successfully, positioning AI-driven creation as a step toward a sustainable industry ecosystem rather than a one-off event.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 00:04:48
  • P1Harmony Wraps Third World Tour With Seoul Encore, Debuts New Songs
    P1Harmony Wraps Third World Tour With Seoul Encore, Debuts New Songs P1Harmony returned to Seoul after a run through 25 cities across Asia, North America and Europe, closing its third world tour with an encore concert that highlighted both its established catalog and what comes next. The group performed its “P1ustage H : MOST WANTED” encore on March 8 at Live Arena in Seoul’s Songpa district, marking the end of a tour that began in Seoul in August and continued through Oceania, Asia, North America, Latin America and Europe. The “MOST WANTED” theme — moving toward what P1Harmony and its fandom, “P1ece,” want most — was set from the opening, which followed a VCR about searching for hope in a ruined world. The group launched into “Black Hole” and “The Boy Who Ate the Sun,” then kept the pace with “DUH!,” “Scared” and “Before The Dawn.” Backed by a live band, the members shifted smoothly between dance, hip-hop and band-driven arrangements while maintaining steady live vocals. They moved freely across the extended stage and responded to fan requests by singing lines on the spot, narrowing the distance between artist and audience. Solo stages added variety between songs spanning the group’s early releases and its current sound. Intak performed “After Party,” and Jongseob paired “STUPID LOVE” with “Praise the Lord.” Keeho delivered a jazz-styled arrangement of “Creep.” Theo appeared with an acoustic guitar, read a letter to fans and said, “Thank you for helping this moment stay somewhere in your hearts for the rest of your lives, so I can sing in your youth.” He then sang “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One.” Jiung chose CNBLUE’s “I’m sorry,” telling fans, “I tried hard to reflect your feedback. I hope this song becomes a day that gives you enough strength to spend all of 2026 happily.” Reuniting as a full group, P1Harmony returned to high-tempo performance tracks including “Work,” “Bop,” “Pretty Boy” and “Jump,” then continued with “BFF,” “Everybody Clap,” “Heartbeat Drum,” “Follow me” and “Flash.” The encore also served as a preview of upcoming releases. The group performed tracks in Korea for the first time from its first English album, “EX,” released during the tour. It also debuted the title track from its ninth mini album, “UNIQUE,” due out March 12, along with the B-side “L.O.Y.L.” Jongseob said the new title track is “a genre P1Harmony is trying for the first time,” and asked fans to listen. Keeho added, “We’re releasing a new album after breaking a 10-month gap. Because ‘DUH!’ got a good response and results, there was both anticipation and pressure for the new album, ‘UNIQUE.’ I hope you give it lots of love.” For the encore, the group ran through “Countdown To Love,” “Play Harmony” and “SAD SONG.” Theo said, “I think we’ll be able to send off this tour feeling really relieved. Thank you for letting us make happy memories.” Jongseob added, “It’s time for ‘MOST WANTED’ to end in Seoul after a tour that lasted half a year. Thank you for being with us on this long journey. I hope this concert is something you need — for who you are now and who you’ll be tomorrow. We’ll be P1Harmony that can repay you.” Intak said, “A lot of thoughts cross my mind because we prepared so hard. Thank you to the fans by our side. Thank you for coming to love us and cheer for us until the end.” Jiung said, “It’s hard for me alone to change the world, but if someone leaves happy after watching our stage, isn’t that changing that person’s world? Someday, if I’m older and there’s even one audience member left, I want to perform — and I will — so I hope you stay with P1Harmony until then.” Soul said the concert could deliver both surprise and emotion, adding, “I hope you feel all of that before you go.” Keeho compared the show’s pace to a movie, saying films can feel short at two or three hours, but concerts can feel different. He thanked fans who had waited from the tour announcement through ticketing and the show itself, and said, “Thank you for giving us good energy for three days. We’ll carry that into promotions for the new album.” The group now turns to its next release. “UNIQUE,” its first mini album in 10 months since “DUH!,” follows a storyline in which the hero P1Harmony returns after declaring a strike. After 25 cities, the group is back in Seoul — and back with fans — as it begins its next chapter. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-08 19:57:17
  • NCT’s Yuta Releases ‘Play Back’ as Theme Song for Japan’s ‘Kamen Rider Zets’
    NCT’s Yuta Releases ‘Play Back’ as Theme Song for Japan’s ‘Kamen Rider Zets’ NCT’s Yuta has joined the Japanese TV drama series ‘Kamen Rider Zets’ as the singer of its theme song, drawing attention from viewers. The track, titled ‘Play Back (PLAY BACK),’ was released at midnight March 8 on major global music platforms and has been met with a strong response. ‘Play Back’ is a rock song driven by aggressive guitar and a beat reminiscent of 2000s punk. The lyrics portray a mind wavering between reality and dreams, along with a firm resolve to defy fate and make one’s own choices. Yuta’s intense vocal delivery amplifies the song’s energy. ‘Kamen Rider Zets’ is a new season in Japan’s long-running ‘Kamen Rider’ franchise, which first aired in 1971 and marks its 55th year this year. Yuta, who watched the series as a child, said participating as the theme singer adds special meaning and underscores his influence in Japan. In January, Yuta headlined Japan’s Budokan arena to close out his first solo concert tour. He has also strengthened his local standing with his first full-length album, ‘PERSONA,’ released in October last year, which topped Oricon’s weekly rock album chart. Meanwhile, the film ‘Specials,’ starring Yuta, is set for release in South Korea on March 13. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-08 14:36:16
  • Jang Hang-jun’s ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ Tops 11 Million Moviegoers
    Jang Hang-jun’s ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ Tops 11 Million Moviegoers 영화 '왕과 사는 남자'가 1100만 관객을 동원했다. 영화 '왕과 사는 남자'는 개봉 33일째인 3월 8일 누적 관객 1100만 명을 넘어섰다. 이는 흥행작 '파묘'(40일), '서울의 봄'(36일), '광해, 왕이 된 남자'(48일)보다 1100만 관객 달성 속도가 빠른 기록이며, '범죄도시4'와 같은 속도다. 5주차에도 관객들의 입소문에 힘입어 흥행을 이어가고 있는 가운데, 6주차에도 기세를 이어갈지 주목된다. 영화 속에서 이홍위(박지훈 분)와 광천골 사람들이 나무 명패에 각자의 이름을 적어 나무에 거는 장면을 바탕으로, 주역들이 나무 명패에 6글자로 적은 흥행 소감도 공개됐다. 장항준 감독은 "왕! 감사합니다!"라고 했고, 유해진은 "당나귀가 왔소!", 박지훈은 "사랑 주신 덕분!", 유지태는 "천만이 현실로", 전미도는 "천번 만번 감사", 김민은 "다 덕분입니다"라고 적으며 관객들에게 감사를 전했다. 이준혁은 "감사한 마음뿐", 안재홍은 "마치 꿈만 같아"라고 밝혔다. 한편 '왕과 사는 남자'는 457년 청령포를 배경으로, 마을의 부흥을 위해 유배지를 자처한 촌장과 왕위에서 쫓겨나 유배된 어린 선왕의 이야기를 그린다. 장항준 감독이 연출했으며 유해진, 박지훈, 유지태, 전미도가 출연했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-08 13:00:20
  • BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ tops 4 million Spotify pre-saves ahead of March 20 release
    BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ tops 4 million Spotify pre-saves ahead of March 20 release Global interest in BTS’ upcoming release is showing up in the numbers. BigHit Music, a HYBE Music Group label, said BTS’ fifth full-length album, ‘ARIRANG,’ surpassed 4 million pre-saves on Spotify on March 7. The album topped 1 million pre-saves within two days of the pre-save launch and continued to climb. With about two weeks left until release, attention is on how high the figure will go. On Spotify’s March 4 ‘Countdown Charts Global,’ ‘ARIRANG’ ranked No. 1 again, holding the top spot for seven straight weeks. The chart tracks pre-save totals for albums and singles ahead of release and is widely used as a gauge of fan anticipation. BTS will release ‘ARIRANG’ at 1 p.m. on March 20 and hold ‘BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG’ at 8 p.m. the next day in the area around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The event will be livestreamed on Netflix for audiences worldwide. A previously released trailer featured cheers from ARMY, the group’s fandom, heard at past concerts and visuals of the seven members set against Gyeongbokgung Palace. The album includes 14 tracks meant to capture ‘today’s BTS.’ The title track, ‘SWIM,’ centers on pressing forward through life’s waves, expressing a resolve to ride incoming currents at one’s own pace as a form of ‘love for life.’ RM handled most of the lyrics, the label said, adding sincerity to the message. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-08 11:48:17
  • ‘A Man Living With the King’ Becomes 2026’s First Film to Top 10 Million Viewers in South Korea
    ‘A Man Living With the King’ Becomes 2026’s First Film to Top 10 Million Viewers in South Korea The film “A Man Living With the King” has drawn 10 million moviegoers, marking a new milestone at the South Korean box office. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network on Thursday, the film, directed by Jang Hang-jun, surpassed 10 million cumulative admissions at about 6:32 p.m. on its 31st day in theaters. The achievement makes it the fourth historical drama in South Korea to reach the 10 million mark, following “The King and the Clown,” “Masquerade” and “The Admiral: Roaring Currents.” It is also the first film in two years to cross 10 million admissions since “The Roundup: Punishment” sparked a box-office boom in 2024, a sign of renewed momentum for theaters after a prolonged slowdown. Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, the story follows a village chief who volunteers to live at an exile site to revive his community and a young deposed king sent into exile. The film has won broad support from both critics and audiences, the distributor said. The 10 million milestone is also a career marker for its cast. Yoo Hae-jin, who anchors the film as village chief Eom Heung-do, now has five films that have reached 10 million admissions. Yoo Ji-tae, who plays power broker Han Myeong-hoe, earned his first 10 million-viewer film. Actor Park Ji-hoon, who plays the exiled young king Lee Hong-wi, achieved a rare feat by joining the “10 million actor” ranks with his first commercial film, the distributor said. Showbox told this outlet, “We sincerely thank all audiences who supported ‘A Man Living With the King’ and joined us in theaters.” A company official added that with family and friends gathering at theaters during the holiday period becoming less common, “every step taken by audiences to come to the cinema feels even more meaningful.” The official said the company would “work to present good films” and asked for continued interest and support. With its ensemble performances and weighty message, “A Man Living With the King” is expected to maintain its box-office run even after passing 10 million admissions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-06 21:30:12