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  • Music

    EJAE, Andrea Bocelli perform at World Cup opening ceremony

    Singer-songwriter EJAE, who performed the hit song “Golden” from the popular animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” joined renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in performing FIFA's official World Cup anthem, “DNA,” at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City, Thursday (local time). Wearing a sleeveless blue gown with crossed halter straps, the Korean American singer drew attention from Korean audiences by singing a brief line in Korean: “Although I fall, I stand up again.” FIFA said “DNA” embodies the spirit of solidarity and unity for the historic tournament, which is being co-hosted for the first time by three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico. The competition will be held across 16 cities and feature 48 teams until July 19.

    1 MIN READBy Kim Se-jeong
    EJAE, Andrea Bocelli perform at World Cup opening ceremony
  • K-pop

    BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour
  • K-pop

    BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'
  • Others

    Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason
  • Shows & Dramas

    Korean guesthouse reality shows find new global audience on Netflix

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Korean guesthouse reality shows find new global audience on Netflix
  • K-pop

    InterviewKATSEYE reflects on AMA wins as group prepares new release

    3 MIN READBy Pyo Kyung-min
    KATSEYE reflects on AMA wins as group prepares new release
  • K-pop

    'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

    2 MIN READBy Park Jin-hai
    'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage
  • Shows & Dramas

    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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Music

Girls' Generation's Seohyun draws mixed reaction with classical music performance

Since her debut as a member of the idol group Girls’ Generation in 2007, Seohyun has been active as a singer, songwriter and actor. Little was known about her hobbies until last week, when an announcement about her latest activity sparked online debate. On Jan. 14, Seohyun’s agency, Kkum Entertainment, announced that the singer would perform on March 13 at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul as a solo violinist with the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble composed of non-professional musicians. “Instead of the perfection of a professional performer, I will show the pure passion of someone who truly enjoys music,” Seohyun was quoted as saying. “I hope that through my challenge, many people will feel closer to classical music and discover its joy.” The announcement also indicated that she has been learning the violin for five months. Critics accused Seohyun of exercising her privilege as a superstar. “Five months of violin lessons … There are areas you shouldn’t touch. Classical music is a natural talent discovered before the age of six, and it takes incredible effort and tuit

Jan 18, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Girls' Generation's Seohyun draws mixed reaction with classical music performance
Shows & Dramas

‘Lovely Runner’ stars return with new partners and fresh romances

Two years after the hit youth romance drama “Lovely Runner” wrapped up, its breakout stars are finally returning to television — this time with new costars and very different love stories. “Lovely Runner,” which aired on tvN in the first half of 2024, became a surprise sensation and firmly established Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon as leading figures of the next-generation K-drama scene. Both actors were widely praised for delivering what fans called their “career-defining roles,” but their next projects were slow to materialize, fueling impatience among viewers. That wait is now over. Kim is returning to the small screen with SBS’ new Friday-Saturday drama “No Tail to Tell.” In the series, she stars opposite Lomon (Park Solomon), exploring a new romance that contrasts sharply with her previous role. At a production presentation, Kim said she was eager to show a different side of herself. “This character has a completely different charm from Sol in ‘Lovely Runner,’ and I thought that contrast could be interesting,” she said. “We filmed continuously for abou

Jan 17, 2026By Xportsnews
‘Lovely Runner’ stars return with new partners and fresh romances
K-pop

Fans dig into Korean history as BTS names new album ‘Arirang’

Global fans of BTS, known as ARMY, are diving into Korean history after the group announced the title of its long-awaited new album: “Arirang.” The album, set for release after a hiatus of three years and nine months, has sparked intense online discussion, with overseas fans actively researching the origins and meaning of “Arirang,” Korea’s most iconic folk song. Social media platforms and fan communities have been filled with explanations, translations and personal reflections, as international listeners try to understand why the name carries such emotional weight. BTS said the album title reflects the group’s identity as artists who began in Korea, as well as emotions of longing and deep love that remain central to their music. By choosing “Arirang,” the group aimed to symbolically express both its roots and the emotional tone of the new release. As news of the comeback spread, many foreign fans turned their attention to the song’s historical background. Fans have highlighted how “Arirang” accompanied Koreans through periods of hardship, including Japanese coloni

Jan 17, 2026By Xportsnews
Fans dig into Korean history as BTS names new album ‘Arirang’
Shows & Dramas

From jungles to temples: How chefs took over entertainment

The standing of chefs in the entertainment industry has shifted. Once limited to appearing as panelists or assistants to celebrities on cooking programs, they have now risen to take center stage. Following the recent success of Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" and JTBC's "Chef & My Fridge," also known as "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator," broadcasters are scrambling to cast celebrity chefs. "Culinary Class Wars" went beyond a simple cooking survival show, building individual narratives and worldviews for each chef. The “Black Spoon” versus “White Spoon” concept turned chefs into stars. "Chef & My Fridge" further proved the winning formula by highlighting chefs’ improvisational skills, competitive dynamics and distinct characters. Broadcasters have since jumped into a fierce bidding war to cast chefs. Channel A’s "The Chef and the Hunter" highlights chefs’ survival skills and creativity as they forage for ingredients in the wild. In contrast, Wavve’s new cooking show sets a different tone by combining spiritual practice with food in a Buddhist temple setting. Even the t

Jan 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
From jungles to temples: How chefs took over entertainment
Shows & Dramas

K-dating reality shows explore diverse facets of relationships

The landscape of Korean reality dating shows is undergoing a massive transformation, shifting from simple romantic encounters into complex psychological experiments involving past lovers, family members and tough romantic competitions. The dating show market this year is no longer about just one style, as it has split into distinct trends to satisfy different tastes. "Single's Inferno" Season 5 attracts global audiences seeking hot entertainment and dream-like romances, while "Match to Marry: With Parents" targets viewers who want real-life family drama. Meanwhile, "EXchange" Season 4 remains the top choice for those who enjoy deep, emotional stories about past loves. As Netflix's flagship series "Single's Inferno” prepares to launch its fifth season next week, eyes are on how this popular dating show will maintain its dominance against increasingly diverse competitors. While other shows focus on the real-life struggles of dating, the fifth season will stay true to its original style by focusing on good-looking participants and their attraction to each other, its producers said, Wedne

Jan 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
K-dating reality shows explore diverse facets of relationships
Shows & Dramas

Netflix to produce 'Culinary Class Wars' Season 3

Netflix has confirmed production of the third season of its hit Korean cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars." Unlike the first two seasons in which the format centered on individual competition, the new season will shift to team-based battles between restaurants, the global streaming service announced in a release. "Culinary Class Wars" pits celebrity "white spoon" chefs — those recognized by institutions such as Michelin — against lesser-known but skilled "black spoon" chefs in a high-stakes culinary showdown. Premiering in 2024, the show's first season topped Netflix's chart for most-popular non-English TV shows for three consecutive weeks. Season 2, released late last year, held the same spot for two weeks. Director Kim Eun-ji and writer Mo Eun-seol of Studio Slam — the creative duo behind the first two seasons — will return for the new installment. "Thanks to the love from viewers around the world, we became able to produce Season 3," Kim said in the release. "We will do our best to deliver an even more refined format and excitement that meets the expectations of our

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Netflix to produce 'Culinary Class Wars' Season 3
K-pop

BLACKPINK's 'Jump' certified gold in US

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for its 2025 digital single "Jump." The RIAA said on its website on Thursday (U.S. time) that "Jump" has surpassed 500,000 units, the threshold required for gold certification, as of Dec. 11. The association awards gold for 500,000 units, platinum for 1 million, multi-platinum for 2 million and diamond for 10 million units. Certified units are counted based on physical and digital album sales, downloads, and audio and video streams. The track has also been certified platinum by the Canadian music industry and single platinum in France. It received gold certifications in Australia, Belgium and New Zealand. Released last July, "Jump" has exceeded 470 million streams on Spotify and stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks. The K-pop quartet is set to release its third EP "Deadline" on Feb. 27, marking its first full-group comeback in three years and five months since its second studio album "Born Pink" in September 2022.

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK's 'Jump' certified gold in US
Films

Chung Ji-young's 'My Name' invited to Berlin film fest

"My Name," the latest film from director Chung Ji-young, has been invited to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival, the film's production studios said Friday, Starring Yeom Hye-ran of the hit Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," the mystery drama is set to receive its world premiere in the Forum section, a strand focusing on socially engaged and adventurous cinema, Let's Films and Aura Pictures said. Jang Jae-hyun's supernatural thriller "Exhuma" was also invited to the same category in 2024. The festival described "My Name" as a work that delicately illuminates the trauma left by a tragic history across generations and underscores the importance of breaking a long silence, according to the studios. Set against the backdrop of the 1948 people's uprising on Jeju Island, the film follows an 18-year-old boy who wants to cast off a name that does not suit him and his mother, who must protect that name at all costs, as they trace a 50-year-old promise hidden behind it. Yeom plays the mother, who has raised her son alone and confronts the truth buried in her lost memorie

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Chung Ji-young's 'My Name' invited to Berlin film fest
K-pop

K-pop album exports top $300 mil. in 2025 for 1st time

Korea's exports of K-pop albums exceeded $300 million for the first time last year, customs data showed Friday, underscoring the genre's continued strength overseas despite weakening domestic sales. According to the Korea Customs Service, overseas shipments of K-pop albums reached a record high of $301.7 million in 2025, up 3.4 percent from a year earlier. Japan remained the biggest market with $80.6 million, followed by China with $69.7 million and the United States with $64 million. While exports to Japan fell 10.2 percent from the previous year, shipments to China jumped 16.6 percent, allowing Beijing to reclaim its position as the No. 2 market for the first time since 2022, ahead of the U.S. Taiwan, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Canada, France and Poland were also among the top 10 importers of K-pop albums. Despite the record export value, data from music sales tracker Circle Chart showed that overall K-pop album sales, including both domestic and overseas markets, fell for a second consecutive year to around 93.5 million copies in 2025, down from about 120 million in 2023. Anal

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
K-pop album exports top $300 mil. in 2025 for 1st time
K-pop

InterviewENHYPEN expands vampire saga with new mini album 'THE SIN : VANISH'

Six years after debuting through "I-LAND," a global audition program that put competitors' fate in the hands of viewers around the world, K-pop boy band ENHYPEN finds itself at a turning point. What began as a survival show experiment has grown into a tightly bonded team with its own mythology, international reach and a string of milestones, including a sweep of major year-end awards in 2025. That growth feeds directly into the group's seventh mini album, "THE SIN : VANISH," set for release Friday. The record continues ENHYPEN's long-running "vampire narrative" through a story of forbidden love between a vampire and a human. "For us, every comeback means trying something new," Jay said during an interview with The Korea Times at a small cafe in Mapo District, Seoul, Wednesday. "This time, from the prerelease promotions to the way the album is structured as a story, we really tried to make everything feel fresh." At the center of "THE SIN : VANISH" is its title track "Knife," a hip-hop-driven song built on trap beats and sharp synths that frame a message of resolve. While familiar to the

Jan 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ENHYPEN expands vampire saga with new mini album 'THE SIN : VANISH'
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