Netflix's megahit series 'Squid Game' tops non-English show chart for second consecutive week

SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" has remained at the top of its chart for the non-English shows for the second consecutive week after its release late last month, the U.S. streaming giant said on Wednesday. Despite mixed reactions to the dystopian thriller's second season since its release on Dec. 26, it garnered 58.2 million views during the week ending last Sunday, securing the top spot in over 90 countries. It has ac

January 8, 2025

Seven Korean words newly added to latest Oxford English Dictionary

SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added seven new Korean words and coinages to its latest edition, including dalgona, a traditional street snack made by melting sugar, as the country's rich cultural heritage is getting more recognized overseas. Other words that made it onto the OED also include noraebang (karaoke), hyung (a boy or man's elder brother) maknae (the youngest member of a group), jjigae (stew), tteokbokki (finger-sized rice cakes si

January 7, 2025

BTS' J-Hope shares resolutions for 2025

SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, shared his New Year's greetings with fans, promising to reveal much this year. "I hope 2025 will be a year where everyone blooms beautifully," the 30-year-old artist shared on Sunday on the social media platform Weverse. J-Hope also expressed a deep sense that this year would hold incredible significance for him. He also noted his intention to approach the year with a more mature mindset and a plan th

January 6, 2025

Rookie girl band ILLIT's debut single sets record with over 500 million Spotify streams

SEOUL, December 27 (AJP) - Rookie girl band ILLIT set a new record on Spotify with their debut single, reaching 500 million views on the global streaming site. The quintet's single "Magnetic" has amassed over 503.58 million streams, achieving the feat in the shortest time among debut tracks of K-pop acts, their agency said on Friday. Released in March 2024, the song captures the moments of magnetic attraction to a crush, portraying the journey of realizing and expre

December 27, 2024

Historical spectacle 'Harbin' dominates Christmas box office

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - "Harbin" has attracted over 1 million moviegoers, just two days after its release on Christmas Eve. According to the Korean Film Council on Thursday, the historical espionage film drew about 847,819 viewers on Wednesday alone to reach the milestone, after attracting around 381,000 on the first day of its release. Set in Harbin, China, the film portrays the patriotic journey of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Hirobumi Ito,

December 26, 2024

Excitement builds as Netflix's megahit series 'Squid Game' returns for second season

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" is returning with its second season on Thursday. The much-anticipated dystopian show centers on the last survivor of a deadly game from the first season, who returns to seek vengeance and faces off against the enigmatic "Front Man." The seven-episode series explores their intense rivalry and the restart of the game. Even before its release, the second season has already earned a Gol

December 26, 2024

NewJeans defend support for impeachment protesters

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Members of K-pop group NewJeans on on Tuesday revealed the reasoning behind their recent support for fans attending protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol during a radio talk show. The group had previously paid in advance for food and beverages for 560 people at the protests demanding the impeachment of Yoon for his Dec. 3. declaration of martial law. "We wanted people to have warm food in the cold weather and share meaningful conversations with

December 26, 2024

Stray Kids' latest album claims top spot on Billboard chart

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Stray Kids' latest album "Hop" made history for a South Korean act by reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for the sixth time. Billboard said last Sunday that the album ranked first after earning 187,000 equivalent album units for the week ending Dec. 19 in the U.S. It praised the eight-member band achieved a historic milestone by securing the top spot on the chart with six consecutive albums, a feat unprecedente

December 24, 2024

Historical espionage film 'Harbin' set for release in North America

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - "Harbin," starring South Korean heartthrob Hyun Bin, is set to hit theaters across North America early next month, film distributor Well Go USA Entertainment said. Slated for release in various cities including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle and Toronto on Jan. 3, the historical espionage film, revolves around the sacrifices and struggles of Korean independence fighters including Ahn Jung-geun, who fought for his country during Japan's imperial expa

December 24, 2024

Netflix, SBS join hands on expanding K-content

SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - Starting next year, TV series, variety shows, and educational programs from major Korean broadcaster SBS will be available on Netflix. SBS signed a memorandum of understanding with the global streaming giant on Friday to provide content over six years, with the agreement commencing in January. Popular SBS variety and educational programs such as Running Man, Unanswered Questions, and Kick a Goal, along with hit dramas like The Penthouse: Wa

December 20, 2024