BTS's 'IDOL' music video hits 1.3 billion YouTube views

Courtesy of Big Hit Music SEOUL, Sept. 05 (AJP) - "IDOL," K-pop wonder BTS' song released six years ago, has garnered more than 1.3 billion views on YouTube as of 8:00 a.m. (2300 GMT) on Wednesday reaching a milestone. IDOL became the fifth BTS music video to break the 1.3 billion mark, the group’s music label, BigHit Entertainment said. The "IDOL" video, which won the Music Video of 2018 at the E! People's Choice Awards, an American award

September 5, 2024

Korea targets Oscar with historic film on 1979 military coup

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) -"12.12: The Day," directed by Kim Sung-su, has been chosen as Korea's entry for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced on Wednesday. The film chronicles the military coup on December 12, 1979, which followed the assassination of President Park Chung-hee. Major General Chun Doo-hwan led the coup, taking control of the government and declaring martial law. This coup marked the start of a pe

September 5, 2024

Ko Ah-sung 'seeks escape' in her latest film

SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) -Actress Ko Ah-sung returned to the silver screen with her new film, "Because I Hate Korea," which hit local theaters last week. As its provocative title might suggest, especially to many Koreans, the film revolves around a woman in her late 20s who decides to move to New Zealand in search of happiness, quitting her job and leaving her family and boyfriend behind. "'I should do this, otherwise, I would forever regret not doing it.'

September 4, 2024

Actor Yoo Ah-in sentenced to 1 year in prison for drug offenses

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (AJP) - Actor Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to one year in prison for illegal drug use on Monday. The Seoul Central District Cour also imposed a fine of two million Korean won (US$1,492). Yoo was immediately taken into custody following the sentencing. The verdict came out after the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office sought a four-year prison term for Yoo in July. The court said, "Despite warnings from medical professionals, Yoo continued to use sedative

September 3, 2024

SM Entertainment to debut AI-powered virtual artist next week

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (AJP) – SM Entertainment, a major Korean talent agency, will debut its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered virtual artist nævis with a digital single, "Done," on Sept. 10. On Thursday, SM Entertainment signed a memorandum of understanding with LG Uplus, a telecom operator, to produce various types of content, including music videos and short-form videos, for the digital human using LG Uplus' generative AI technology, "ixi-GEN."

September 2, 2024

BTS member Suga's drunk driving case referred to prosecutors

SEOUL, August 30 (AJP) - Suga, a member of K-pop boy band BTS has been referred to prosecutors without detention on charges of drunk driving, police in Yongsan, Seoul, said on Friday. The singer's driver's license was revoked early this month due to a blood alcohol concentration level exceeding 0.2 percent. The 31-year-old, who is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service with a public-sector desk job, was found riding an electric scooter under the in

August 30, 2024

Trailers unveiled for dramas featuring virtual artist Suvi

SEOUL, August 30 (AJP) – Korean tech startup Studio Meta-K teased two dramas featuring its virtual artist Suvi at a content industry fair this week. The two trailers were showcased at Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) 2024, Asia's largest content industry show, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Seoul from Tuesday to Thursday. Studio Meta-K said Suvi appears in two generative AI-powered historical dramas, "Competition for the Queen's Throne"

August 30, 2024

Second season of 'Pachinko' off to good start

SEOUL, August 30 (AJP) - The second season of "Pachinko," Apple TV+' Korean series, got off to a good start with its first episode released last week. The drama series, which returned two years after its first season, debuted among the top 10 on this week's chart in over 100 countries, according to FlixPatrol, which tracks streaming rankings worldwide. The positive reception from both viewers and critics sets high expectations for the rest of the season. Based

August 30, 2024

NCT's Taeil leaves group amid sexual crime allegations

SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Taeil, a member of K-pop boy band NCT has left the group, after being accused of a sexual crime, his agency SM Entertainment said on Wednesday. Specific details of the alleged offense remain undisclosed, but the 30-year-old is reportedly under investigation by police in southern Seoul. "Given the seriousness of the matter, we have determined that it is no longer possible for him to be with us," the agency wrote in a post on X. Making his deb

August 29, 2024

NewJeans producer claims she was forced to step down

SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - Min Hee-jin, a producer behind the K-pop sensation NewJeans, claimed on Wednesday that she was forced out of her position as CEO of ADOR without her consent. Min's abrupt removal was decided during a board meeting the previous day, where she was replaced by Kim Joo-young, ADOR's internal director, who is also in charge of human resources at HYBE. ADOR, an affiliate of HYBE, has seen rapid success under Min's leadership. In a statement, law

August 28, 2024