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

'Parasite' star Lee Sun-kyun's posthumous film conjures Korea's political upheaval

SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) -Director Choo Chang-min's latest film takes a fresh approach to the watershed moments of political upheaval in Korea's modern history. "Land of Happiness," released last week, is set against the backdrop of the assassination of former strongman Park Chung-hee in the late 1970s. The courtroom drama intertwines fiction and history to explore how hegemonic power can distort truth. By examining the assassination through a legal lens, th

August 22, 2024

BTS member Suga to face music for alleged drunk driving

SEOUL, August 20 (AJU PRESS) - Suga, a member of K-pop boy band BTS, is set to be summoned for questioning over allegations of drunk driving, police said Monday. The 31-year-old star was caught driving an electric scooter last week, sparking global debate about his future with the seven-member group. Suga, currently serving his mandatory military service in a public-sector desk job, issued an apology on Aug. 13, admitting that he drove the scooter after having dinner and drinks. T

August 20, 2024

Kim Min-hee wins best performance award at Locarno Film Festival

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - Actress Kim Min-hee won the best performance award at the Locarno International Film Festival which wrapped up over the weekend in Switzerland. She received the award for her role in "By the Stream," also known as "Suyoocheon" in Korean. Directed by Hong Sang-soo, the film deals with the story of a university lecturer asking her unemployed uncle to direct a skit. In her acceptance speech last Saturday, Kim expressed her gratit

August 19, 2024

Culture Ministry teams up with Interpol to combat illegal distribution of Korean content

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it will crack down on websites and platforms illegally distributing Korean content such as K-pop, Korean dramas and webtoons. To enforce this crackdown, it has collaborated with the National Police Agency and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). A Statista report revealed that the K-pop industry generated approximately 11 trillion won ($8.1 billion) in sales in 2022, while

August 19, 2024

BTS' 'Spring Day' garners 1 billion streams on Melon

SEOUL, August 14 (AJU PRESS) - BTS' hit song "Spring Day" has garnered 1 billion views on Melon, Korea's largest online music streaming site, the seven-member boy band's agency Big Hit Music said on Tuesday. Released in February 2017, the song carries a message of hope while waiting to reunite with a distant friend. The lyrics are known to be based on the autobiographical stories of members RM and Suga. The song was an instant hit at the time of its

August 14, 2024

Cannes-acclaimed director Park Chan-wook to reunite with Lee Byung-hun for new film

SEOUL, August 13 (AJU PRESS) - Director Park Chan-wook is set to begin shooting his new film later this week, the film's distributor CJ ENM said on Tuesday. The film, tentatively called "No Other Choice," is based on American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "The Ax." Its story revolves around an office worker, played by actor Lee Byung-hun, who struggles to support his family as a breadwinner after suddenly losing his job. The film marks Park's r

August 13, 2024

Song by K-pop band with hearing impairment released to cheer for athletes at Paris Paralympics

SEOUL, August 12 (AJU PRESS) - Three-member boy band Big Ocean released their new song on Sunday, to coincide with the Summer Paralympics in Paris later this month. Released on Aug. 11, "Slow," an upbeat track with acoustic guitar and drums featuring sign language, aims to "convey hopeful messages to youngsters including athletes participating in the upcoming Paralympics," according to their agency. The first K-pop band with all three members having hearing im

August 12, 2024