Young South Korean filmmaker's animated short to compete at Cannes Film Festival

SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Director Joung Yu-mi's animated short film has been invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival, which opens in the Mediterranean resort city next month. According to the festival's organizers, "Glasses" will be screened as part of the International Critics' Week section and will compete with about a dozen others for an award recognizing innovative works by emerging filmmakers. No other South Korean films have been invited to comp

April 18, 2025

Tom Cruise to return to Seoul next month to promote final installment of 'Mission: Impossible'

SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - Hollywood star Tom Cruise will visit Seoul next month to promote his latest "Mission: Impossible" series with other cast members accompanying him. "I am so excited to share that I'll be returning to Seoul with the cast of 'Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning' in May," he said in a video message earlier this week. "I look forward to seeing you all very, very soon." His upcoming visit will be his 12th trip to the

April 15, 2025

Kim Soo-hyun denies allegations, files defamation charges against Kim Sae-ron's family

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun denied accusations that he dated late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, holding a press event on Monday to address the claims. This is the actor's first public appearance since the family of the late actress accused him of maintaining a six-year relationship with her, which reportedly began when she was underage. The allegations were made last month via a quasi-news YouTube channel. In a tearful statement, Kim clarified, &ld

March 31, 2025

Online commenter acquitted in defamation case filed by Han Ye-seul

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - A South Korean internet user fined for posting malicious comments about actress Han Ye-seul was acquitted on appeal. The Seoul Central District Court on Sunday overturned the original ruling against the defendant who had been charged with defamation after commenting on an article about Han’s husband in July 2021. The article involved allegations that he had worked at an adult entertainment venue as a high-end escort before tying the knot with the act

March 31, 2025

Kim Soo-hyun to address scandal involving late actress Kim Sae-ron in press event

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun will hold a press event on Monday afternoon in Seoul to address a series of recent accusations. His agency announced Sunday night that Kim’s legal representative will also be present to issue a statement. However, “Aside from the official statement from Kim, there will be no Q&A session.” The bereaved family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron recently claimed through a quasi-news YouTube channel that the actor had been

March 31, 2025

K-pop audition show featuring kids scrapped amid controversy

SEOUL, March 28 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN on Friday eventually decided to cancel its upcoming audition show featuring young K-pop wannabes amid mounting controversy. "Under Fifteen," which was supposed to air next Monday, features some 59 contestants under the age of 15 from over 70 countries, competing for a chance to become K-pop's next big stars. But it has come under fire over concerns about the appropriateness of young kids appearing on the show, shortly after

March 28, 2025

Two South Korean shows top Netflix's non-English charts

SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - Two South Korean shows have topped Netflix's latest charts for non-English series. According to the U.S. streaming giant, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" starring singer and actress IU and heartthrob Park Bo-gum took the top spot for TV shows, while director Yeon Sang-ho's thriller "Revelations" ranked atop the film charts, amassing 5.7 million and 5.5 million viewing hours, respectively for the week ending last Friday. Shortly

March 27, 2025

Aespa set to captivate global fans with English version of their latest hit song

SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - K-pop girl group Aespa unveiled the English version of their hit song "Whiplash" on major music-streaming sites here on Thursday, in an effort to connect with more global fans. The upbeat song, the lead track of their fifth mini album, gained popularity with its addictive melody and energetic dance moves, selling 1.02 million copies in just three weeks after its release in October last year. In particular, the song's shimmy and shoulder-shaki

March 27, 2025

Controversy continues to brew over Actor Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - A sordid saga involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron deepens as fresh evidence surfaces one after another, met with repeated denials and conflicting accounts. The story began to unfold shortly after the 24-year-old actress, who had been in a relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, was found dead in an apparent suicide at her home in eastern Seoul last month, reportedly struggling with financial difficulties. With the rumor mill grinding even more over what l

March 24, 2025

NewJeans members announce hiatus after court ruling

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - K-pop girl group NewJeans, now renamed as NJZ, will halt their activities following last Friday's court ruling, which banned them from engaging in independent activities amid a legal dispute with their agency. "We won't be able to perform for a while, as we have been suspended from our own activities," the quintet said during their concert in Hong Kong last Sunday where they revealed their new song "Pit Stop." Despite the court&

March 24, 2025