K-pop artists' stage outfits recreated as artworks at Seoul festival

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Stage outfits of SM Entertainment artists are being showcased as recreated artworks at "C.at Work Festa," a cultural event that started on Thursday and will run for four days. The festival, held at the Shinsegae Department Store's Gangnam branch, features artworks that capture the history of SM's K-pop idols aespa and NCT, recreated by designers. The annual event blends fashion, beauty, and performance, focusing on the theme of cre

October 17, 2024

BTS member J-Hope completes military service

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, was discharged from his mandatory military service on Thursday. J-Hope, who enlisted in April last year, completed his 18-month service in Wonju, Gangwon Province. He is the second BTS member to fulfill the duty, following Jin, who was discharged in June this year. The remaining members — Jimin, Jung Kook, RM, Suga, and V — are scheduled to complete their service in June 2025, so all BTS members ar

October 17, 2024

Rumors swirl around Cambodian princess' K-pop idol debut

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Rumor has it that a Cambodian princess is eager to make her debut as a K-pop idol in South Korea. According to the Taiwanese news outlet Sanli News Network, Jenna Norodom is considering moving to Seoul to pursue her career as a K-pop idol while undergoing rigorous training at a talent mill here. The versatile teenage girl, the great-granddaughter of former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, is already a popular star as an actress, singer, and dancer, havin

October 16, 2024

Intriguing drama to lure moviegoers with complex moral themes this fall

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Filmmaker Heo Jin-ho's latest film "A Normal Family" is set to attract many moviegoers this fall with its enthralling story about ethical quandaries. The family-centric drama, released on Wednesday, revolves around two wealthy parents struggling to cope with a crime committed by their teenage kids. Based on the Dutch novel "The Dinner" by Herman Koch, the Korean adaption was first unveiled at the Toronto International Film Festiva

October 16, 2024

NewJeans' Hanni speaks out about alleged workplace bullying at National Assembly

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Hanni, a member of K-pop girl band NewJeans made a baffling appearance at the National Assembly on Tuesday. In a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Environment and Labor, Hanni was scrutinized regarding workplace bullying and other forms of harassment she had endured. "What I experienced, which was not a one-time issue, is something anyone could go through," said the 20-year-old Vietnamese-born girl. "I came forward because I felt it s

October 15, 2024

Han Kang's books sell like hotcakes after Nobel Prize win

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Koreans are snapping up Han Kang's books following her Nobel Prize win last week. A throng of people lined up in front of Kyobo Book Centre, the country's largest bookstore chain in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, even before it opened early Monday morning, rushing to get their hands on her books. Best known for her surreal novel "The Vegetarian," which won the International Booker Prize in 2016, Han won this year's Nobel Prize in Liter

October 14, 2024

Period drama 'Uprising' now available on Netflix after debut at Busan film fest

SEOUL, October 11 (AJP) - Netflix' latest South Korean film "Uprising" is generating excitement among movie fans as it became available on the U.S. video-streaming platform on Friday. Set in the Joseon Dynasty, the period drama created initial buzz due to the involvement of acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who contributed to both the production and screenplay. It gained further attention as the curtain-raiser for this year's Busan International Film Festival (B

October 11, 2024

Han Kang: A master of lyrical storytelling

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - Announcing South Korean author Han Kang as the recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy praised her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." Han's work explores the intricate connection between the body and soul, the living and the dead. Through her innovative and poetic style, she has become a leading figure in contemporary literature. Anna-Karin

October 10, 2024

Peruvian singer lights up autumnal night with fusion concert in Seoul

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - Peruvian singer Lenin Tamayo stole the autumnal night with a concert in central Seoul on Thursday. The multi-talented young singer, 21, who created his own music genre, dubbed "Q-pop," captivated audiences with unique and exotic performances that blend elements of K-pop with the indigenous languages widely spoken in the central Andes of South America. "Q-pop is rooted in the heritage and culture of the indigenous Quechua people, one of the

October 4, 2024

Busan film fest to open with Korean historical drama

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - The annual Busan International Film Festival is set to kick off with an outdoor red carpet event in the southern port city on Wednesday, featuring some 224 films from 63 countries. Netflix's Korean historical drama "Uprising" opens this year's festival, which marks its 29th year. The film, starring Gang Dong-won and Park Jeong-min, explores the complex relationship between two close friends from different social classes. The much-anticipate

October 2, 2024