K-pop thrives in Asia and Europe, while Korean cuisine gains traction in North America: Report

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - K-pop remains the most widely covered Korean cultural export across the world, with Korean cuisine also garnering increasing attention, a recent analysis reveals. According to a report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange last week, K-pop attracted the highest media coverage, with 35.4 percent in Asia, 25.1 percent in Europe, and 34.9 percent in Central and South Amer

February 25, 2025

Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez to perform in Seoul next month

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez will visit Seoul next month for a concert celebrating the first anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba. According to the concert's organizers, he will take the stage on March 21 at Seongsu Art Hall in Seoul's trendy district frequented by young people and fashion-savvy individuals. Rodríguez is renowned for his innovative approach to blending traditional Cuban sounds wi

February 25, 2025

Rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts debuts with 'The Chase'

SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts made their debut on Monday with their single "The Chase." The eight-member band became SM Entertainment's first girl group in nearly five years, following the debut of aespa in 2020. Hearts2Hearts is a multinational girl group composed of six South Koreans, one member with dual nationality from South Korea and Canada, and another from Indonesia. The members’ ages range from 14 to 18 years old. During

February 24, 2025

HYBE partners with songwriter Ryan Tedder to debut new boy band in US

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop behemoth HYBE will work with Ryan Tedder, a Grammy-winning producer and frontman of pop rock band OneRepublic, to debut a new boy band in the United States. The agency announced on Friday that anyone aged between 13 and 23 can apply for the audition through its official website. Applicants need to submit a profile picture, a self-introduction, and a video showcasing their vocal and dance abilities. As a producer and songwriter, Tedder has worked

February 21, 2025

Late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film slated for release this fall

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron' s posthumous film will be released this fall. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Adapted from Kakao Page's hit webtoon series, "Everyday We Are" explores the moments of first love and friendship among high-schoolers. Kim portrays

February 21, 2025

Girl group IVE to headline music festivals in Berlin and Paris this summer

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group IVE will meet global fans through performances at Lollapalooza in Berlin and Paris this summer. According to their agency Starship Entertainment, IVE will take the stage as a headliner at Lollapalooza Berlin held at the Olympiastadion in the German capital on July 12-13. Lollapalooza, a large-scale music festival that started in the U.S. in 1991, is now held in various locations around the world including France and Germany. This yea

February 21, 2025

BLACKPINK to embark on world tour in July, including performance at iconic Wembley Stadium

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will kick off their world tour with a concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province in July, according to their management agency YG Entertainment. The quartet will perform at major stadiums in around a dozen cities across the world, with stops including Barcelona, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Tokyo, and Toronto. A leg of their tour includes a performance at London's Wembley Stadium, the largest in the U.K. and th

February 21, 2025

Yoo Ah-in's scenes deleted from the upcoming film's trailer due to drug scandal

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Sports drama film "The Match" starring actors Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in will meet movie fans next month as it finally set a release date. According to the film's distributor BY4M Studio, the much-awaited film directed by Kim Hyung-joo will hit local theaters on March 26, ending its prolonged delay caused by Yoo's drug-related scandal that emerged in 2023. The biopic, based on a real-life story, revolves around board game Go, known as

February 20, 2025

Three K-pop acts included on this year's Global Artist Chart

SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Three K-pop groups have made it onto this year's list of global recording artists, released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) on Tuesday. K-pop boy band Seventeen ranked third, followed by Stray Kids at fifth and ENHYPEN at 14th. The annual IFPI Global Artist Chart is "calculated according to an artist's or group's worldwide sales across streaming, download and physical music formats." Seventeen

February 19, 2025

Actress Kim Sae-ron laid to rest

SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron was buried in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Police said there is no suspicion of foul play, although no suicide note was found. Earlier in the morning, the young actress' private funeral was held

February 19, 2025