Singer Kim Ho-joong gets prison term in hit-and-run case

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Singer Kim Ho-joong was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Wednesday for a hit-and-run accident early this year. He rammed into a taxi while driving under the influence and fled the scene in Gangnam, southern Seoul in May. Kim initially denied driving under the influence, but after CCTV footage and other evidence emerged, he was forced to admit it about 10 days later. The Seoul Central District Court reprimanded Kim for his reckless drivi

November 13, 2024

Test-takers advised to avoid 'distracting' songs ahead of exam

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Over half a million South Korean students will sit for a crucial university entrance exam on Thursday, prompting authorities to implement extraordinary measures to ensure optimal testing conditions. To minimize distractions during the English listening section, flights nationwide will be grounded for approximately 30 minutes in the afternoon. Additionally, drivers have been urged to refrain from honking their horns. In a unique cultural phenom

November 13, 2024

K-pop band with hearing impairment to showcase AI-powered music at int'l event

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - Big Ocean, a Korean boy band whose members have hearing impairments, has been invited to showcase how artificial intelligence can transform lives through music at a major international AI event in Geneva next year. The three-member group, which uses AI-powered voice conversion technology to produce its songs, will perform at the AI for Good Global Summit in July 2025. The meeting, organized by the International Telecommunication Union, brings together AI

November 8, 2024

'APT.' by Rosé and Bruno Mars hits No. 2 on UK chart

SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - BLACKPINK's Rosé has achieved the highest-charting single by a female K-pop singer on the U.K. Official Singles Chart, with her collaboration with Bruno Mars, "APT.," reaching No. 2 Friday. The song, which debuted at No. 4 on Oct. 25, climbed two spots, trailing only Gigi Perez's "Sailor Song." PSY's 2012 hit "Gangnam Style" remains the only K-pop song to have topped the U.K. chart. "APT.," dropp

November 3, 2024

Gang Dong-won embraces maturity after action-packed Netflix film

SEOUL, November 1 (AJP) - Actor Gang Dong-won's first Netflix film, "Uprising," has captured global attention since its release on Netflix early last month. Available on the U.S. streaming platform starting from Oct. 11, the film ranked among the top 10 in over 70 countries, amassing an impressive 17.6 million viewing hours in its first three weeks. Expressing his excitement over the film's simultaneous reach to viewers across the world, Gang said in a recent in

November 1, 2024

K-pop behemoth HYBE apologizes for controversial internal documents

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Talent agency HYBE apologized on Tuesday amid a scandal involving its internal documents containing inappropriate comments about K-pop singers and aspiring stars, particularly regarding their appearances. "We sincerely apologize to all artists, staff and fans suffered by the revelation of these documents," HYBE's CEO Lee Jae-sang said in a statement on Tuesday. The formal apology came about a week after the behemoth faced criticism at a Nat

October 30, 2024

Rosé of BLACKPINK makes top 10 entry on Billboard singles chart

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Rosé, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, made her entry into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her latest single "APT.," Billboard said via social media platform X on Tuesday. Released last week, the collaborative song with American pop star Bruno Mars landed at No. 8 on the chart for the week ending this week, making it the highest-ranking song by a K-pop female artist. The previous record was held by the quartet'

October 29, 2024

Old movies make comeback to theaters with nostalgic appeal

SEOUL, October 25 (AJP) - Classic movies are making a comeback in theaters at a time when nearly every film is readily available at home through streaming services. Possibly drawn by the immersive allure of big screens along with the sheer magic of shared cinematic experiences, an increasing number of moviegoers are returning to theaters to rediscover classic films. Ha Min-ji, 24, recently watched the 2004 American romantic drama "The Notebook." She was among around 66,000

October 25, 2024

Rosé of BLACKPINK racks up 100 million views on YouTube with latest single

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Rosé, a member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK has accumulated over 100 million views on YouTube as of Wednesday with her latest single, "APT." The catch, upbeat song in collaboration with American pop star Bruno Mars achieved the milestone in less than a week after its release last week. Inspired by a popular pastime she enjoys at drinking parties, the song's music video also garnered instant attention as the Filipino-American multiple

October 24, 2024

BLACKPINK's Jennie makes Billboard Hot 100 debut with latest single

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Jennie's latest solo track, "Mantra," has debuted on this week's Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, which was released on Monday. Unveiled on Oct. 11, the single by the member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK ranked at 98th on the chart. "Mantra," with its upbeat rhythms and energetic vibes, delivers an empowering message, encouraging people to shine in their own unique way. The song also debuted at No. 5 on Spotify'

October 22, 2024