BTS' Jin releases remixes from his latest mini album

SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Jin, the eldest member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, released a new compilation album on Tuesday. According to his agency BitHit Music, the album contains eight tracks including six remixed versions of "Don't Say You Love Me," the title song from his second mini album "Echo," released last week, about six months after his debut solo album "Happy" late last year. Along with the instrumental version of the song, the remixes vary

May 20, 2025

K-pop boy band BoyNextDoor's new album hits 1mln sales in five days

SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy band BoyNextDoor’s latest mini album "No Genre" has surpassed one million in sales just five days after its release, setting a new record for the group. According to Hanteo Chart on May 18, the album, which dropped on May 13, recorded a total of 1,074,316 copies sold as of the previous day. The figure marks a sharp rise from their previous release "19.99," which sold 759,156 copies in its first week and became a million-sel

May 18, 2025

BTS' Jin thanks fans, debuts new solo track at album showcase

SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - BTS member Jin expressed heartfelt thanks to fans and premiered songs from his new solo album during an offline event held Saturday in Seoul, his agency Big Hit Music said Sunday. The 32-year-old hosted the event in Seongsu, a trendy neighborhood in eastern Seoul, to celebrate the release of his second solo mini album “Echo.” He performed three tracks, including the title song "Don’t Say You Love Me." "The support from fans

May 18, 2025

Kang Ha-neul's crime thriller draws over 3 million viewers

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Filmmaker Hwang Byeong-guk's latest crime thriller has attracted over 3 million moviegoers in about a month since its release in mid-April, according to its distributor, Plus M Entertainment. "YADANG: The Snitch," starring Kang Ha-neul and Yoo Hae-jin, became the first R-rated South Korean film to reach the milestone in about six years, following the 2019 action thriller "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil," which was released shortly befo

May 13, 2025

Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film set for release later this month

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - The late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film is set for release later this month. Directed by Lee Seong-jong, "Guitar Man" deals with the story of a once-promising but now aimless guitarist struggling to navigate a rapidly changing world. Isolated and cynical, he begins to rediscover hope after joining a live-club band where he meets a female keyboardist. Currently serving as the CEO of dental-care provider Sungwon Pharmaceutical, the versati

May 13, 2025

Hybe chairman Bang summoned to testify in Kakao founder's stock manipulation trial

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - A South Korean court has summoned Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of Hybe and the creator behind K-pop wonder BTS, to testify as a witness in the ongoing trial of Kakao founder Kim Beom-su over alleged stock manipulation tied to Kakao’s 2023 acquisition of SM Entertainment. According to legal sources on Tuesday, the Seoul Southern District Court issued a subpoena to Bang on May 8. Unless he provides a valid reason for absence, Bang is required to appear in c

May 13, 2025

Renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun named music director of Italy's La Scala

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Renowned South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun has been appointed as the next music director of Italy’s prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Milan, marking the first time an Asian musician will hold the position in the opera house’s 247-year history. La Scala announced the appointment on its official website on May 12 (local time), stating that Chung will succeed current music director Riccardo Chailly and begin his term in 2027, serving until Febru

May 13, 2025

Teaser for 'Squid Game' finale unveiled ahead of release next month

SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Netflix teased a trailer for the third and final season of its hit South Korean series "Squid Game" on Tuesday, ahead of its release next month. The 90-second clip immediately garnered over 208,000 views, just three hours after being unveiled on YouTube, reflecting fans' high expectations for the upcoming series. The teaser suggests that the deadly, high-stakes game continues with deeper and more intricate storylines, as contestants vie for an e

May 7, 2025

Filmmaker Hong Song-soo invited to Cannes's jury

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Director Hong Sang-soo has been invited to serve as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival, slated to be held in the Mediterranean resort city next month. Hong, famous for his mostly improvised micro-budget films, will join eight other filmmakers including Italy's most sought-after actress Alba Rohrwacher, American actress Halle Berry and Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia. Together, the jury, led by French actress Juliette Binoche, will

April 29, 2025

Soo-young of Girls' Generation to make Hollywood debut in action thriller

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Singer-turned actress Soo-young is set to make her Hollywood debut in the American action thriller "Ballerina," which is slated for release in June. "Ballerina," a spinoff of the John Wick series, revolves around a young assassin who seeks revenge for the murder of her father. The member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation has been cast in a supporting role, helping the assassin, played by Ana de Armas, known for her roles in &quo

April 28, 2025