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  • K-pop

    BTS celebrates 13th birthday with two-night homecoming stand in Busan

    BUSAN — K-pop juggernaut BTS marked its 13th anniversary with a massive homecoming, bringing the group's ongoing "ARIRANG" World Tour to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a two-night run that felt as much like a celebration as a concert. The timing was no accident. The shows landed squarely on June 13, the group's debut anniversary, sending fans worldwide into a frenzy well before the first note dropped. Busan, too, carries deep meaning for the group — it is the hometown of members Jimin and Jung Kook, and the site of "Yet to Come," the sprawling farewell concert that preceded the members' mandatory military service in 2022. The group's return had been building for weeks. "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," a large-scale urban festival running since early June, had transformed the city's landmarks into extensions of the "ARIRANG" album's themes, stretching from a grand welcome at Busan Station to a drone light show above Gwangalli Beach. By Saturday evening, 55,000 fans packed the stadium, a crowd that had already endured a roughly 75-minute delay the night before and a

    4 MIN READBy Pyo Kyung-min
    BTS celebrates 13th birthday with two-night homecoming stand in Busan
  • Entertainment

    BLACKPINK's Lisa headlines FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in US

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    BLACKPINK's Lisa headlines FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in US
  • Entertainment

    Is Korea ready for era of YouTuber directors?

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Is Korea ready for era of YouTuber directors?
  • Films

    For ‘Colony,’ K-zombie film from ‘Train to Busan’ director, Korean box-office success is no surprise

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    For ‘Colony,’ K-zombie film from ‘Train to Busan’ director, Korean box-office success is no surprise
  • K-pop

    HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in Busan

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in Busan
  • Music

    EJAE, Andrea Bocelli perform at World Cup opening ceremony

    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'
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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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Shows & Dramas

How IU's 'Perfect Crown' breaks royal romance clichés

In a fictional Korea where a constitutional monarchy still reigns, an ambitious heiress to a conglomerate does not wait for a prince to save her — she proposes a marriage of convenience to use him as political cover. This setup drives MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama, “Perfect Crown.” The series surpassed double-digit ratings by its fourth episode after premiering on April 10 and became the most-watched Korean series worldwide on Disney+. The show stands out from earlier royal dramas by twisting the Cinderella story to reflect modern demands for women’s independence. The most striking departure from genre convention is the female protagonist’s strategic view of marriage. Unlike the 2006 hit “Princess Hours,” where an ordinary high school girl becomes a crown princess through an arranged marriage pact, successful second-generation businesswoman Sung Hee-joo (IU) uses the royal family’s symbolism as a tool. She uses marriage to defeat her legitimate half-brother — who secured his corporate position by marrying into a noble family — in a succession battle. Hee-joo boldl

Apr 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
How IU's 'Perfect Crown' breaks royal romance clichés
Entertainment

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo skips glam airport look amid family controversy

Jisoo of BLACKPINK appeared at the airport in an understated look Wednesday, as an ongoing controversy involving a family member continues to swirl online. Jisoo departed for Paris via Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning to attend a scheduled overseas engagement. Known for turning departures into headline-making airport fashion moments, the K-pop star instead opted for a near-incognito appearance, wearing a hat and mask and keeping styling to a minimum. The shift in tone from polished, sponsor-heavy looks to a subdued, almost anonymous outfit has fueled speculation online, with some interpreting it as a response to the ongoing controversy, while others say it reflects a desire to avoid further attention. Despite the situation, Jisoo proceeded with her planned schedule without visible disruption. An official airport photo call with the press was canceled due to what officials described as “internal circumstances.” The controversy surrounding Jisoo’s family has yet to subside. The issue resurfaced after a name matching the family member currently under scrutiny was rec

Apr 22, 2026By Xportsnews
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo skips glam airport look amid family controversy
Films

Will 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' face backlash with Chinese viewers over racism claims?

Ahead of next week’s release of "The Devil Wears Prada 2," calls for a boycott are growing as critics say the film depicts a Chinese character with a racist stereotype. According to Chinese media outlets on Wednesday, the character at the center of the film's racism controversy is Qin Zhou, played by Chinese American actor Helen J. Shen. The character, who appears as an assistant to Andrea Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, drew backlash from Chinese netizens in that the name resembles “ching chong,” a racist slur historically used in the West to mock Chinese people. "'Ching chong' is a symbolic racist slur historically used in the West to ridicule Chinese immigrant workers in the 19th century," wrote Hong Kong's Oriental Daily News. "It implies contempt and discomfort towards Chinese accents and intonation." Qin Zhou’s portrayal in the film also drew criticism. She is depicted in checkered shirts and glasses, openly criticizing her superior in public and behaving in a self-important manner. Criticisms arose that the character reinforces a Western stereotype in that Chinese people e

Apr 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
Will 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' face backlash with Chinese viewers over racism claims?
Films

Documentary about Kim Bomsori, forgotten Polish composition wins top prize at film festival

A film featuring Korean violinist Kim Bomsori and capturing her musical journey to revive a long-forgotten composition won a top prize at a French documentary festival. The film, “Bacewicz x Bomsori,” received the Jury Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film at the ONE Country ONE Film Festival earlier this month, according to Kim’s global agency. The France-based festival focuses on documentary cinema and cultural storytelling, highlighting diverse human stories from around the world. The Jury Grand Prix is the festival’s highest honor. Directed by Polish filmmaker Jakub Piatek, the documentary closely follows Kim as she prepares to perform “Polish Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra” by Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-69), a work that remained unpublished and was largely forgotten for many years. The film reflects Kim’s commitment to reviving this overlooked composition, revealing not only her artistic discipline and musical insight, but also her deep engagement with the composer’s life, historical context and creative voice as she brings Bacewicz’s music into the present day. Conv

Apr 22, 2026By Anna J. Park
Documentary about Kim Bomsori, forgotten Polish composition wins top prize at film festival
Others

In Germany, European authors take on manga with K-pop romance novels

Fresh off an MBA in the United States, Min Seo-hee begins a new chapter in Seoul as a manager at a Korean entertainment agency. It is there that she meets Lim Tae-jun of the K-pop boy group Millions, setting in motion a tumultuous romance that surges and crashes like waves. This story, which some might find a bit corny, lies at the heart of "The Millions," a romance novel series displayed at the K-pop Romance booth of the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany last month. The first impression is that K-pop has carved out a place at one of Germany’s largest book fairs, widely regarded as a counterpart to the Frankfurt Book Fair. The sight stood out even more amid the overwhelming presence of Japanese manga across the exhibition hall. But assuming the author is Korean simply because the story revolves around K-pop would be a mistake. The writer behind the series is 39-year-old German author Sabrina T. Rudolph, a devoted fan of Super Junior who spent a year and a half living in Seoul in 2011. Her experience in Korea later became a driving force for the novel series. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pan

Apr 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
In Germany, European authors take on manga with K-pop romance novels
K-pop

NewJeans breaks 6-month silence with Hyein’s post after Copenhagen sightings

K-pop group NewJeans is fueling speculation over a comeback after resurfacing on social media for the first time in six months — and fans are reading the timing as anything but coincidental. On April 21, the group’s official channel uploaded multiple photos of member Hyein with the caption “HAPPY HYEIN DAY,” marking her birthday. In the images, Hyein appears with long, straight hair and a refined look, drawing attention for her evolving visuals. The post is the account’s first update since late last October, when it celebrated the third anniversary of the group’s fandom. The sudden return has sparked a wave of reactions across fan communities and social media, with many interpreting it as a signal that the group may be resuming activities. Speculation has been further fueled by recent sightings of members in Europe. On April 12, Hyein and Haerin were reportedly spotted in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their agency ADOR later said that Hanni had also traveled there with them. The developments come after months of uncertainty surrounding the group. Several members had been involved in a

Apr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
NewJeans breaks 6-month silence with Hyein’s post after Copenhagen sightings
K-pop

InterviewFrom survival show to world tour: CLOSE YOUR EYES is just getting warmed up

About a year into its career and currently mid-tour, seven-piece K-pop boy band CLOSE YOUR EYES (CYE) is already releasing music that has something to say. The group, formed in 2025 through JTBC's survival program "PROJECT 7," dropped its first digital single, "OVEREXPOSED," Tuesday. It's a two-track release built around the concept of overexposure in photography — the point at which too much light wipes an image out entirely. The idea, as the group describes it, is about still wanting to leave a record of yourself when everything feels uncertain. "It's an appetizer," said Jeon Min-wook, the group's eldest, during an interview at The Korea Times headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. "Before a new side of us is revealed in the upcoming album, 'OVEREXPOSED' is a preview of what's coming." The single follows the group's third mini-album "blackout," and Jeon is clear that the narrative is intentional and ongoing. "We put a lot of meaning into 'Eternity,' our debut project. Then we woke up from 'blackout,' and we've spent a year," he said. "This single is an extension of that. It's a statement of

Apr 21, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
From survival show to world tour: CLOSE YOUR EYES is just getting warmed up
Shows & Dramas

'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience

Netflix series “If Wishes Could Kill” is an eight-part horror series that blends various genres including occult and action to keep viewers engaged, director Park Yoon-seo said Tuesday. “While short films can effectively create fear in a brief moment, I put significant effort into this as a longer series,” the director said during a press conference in Seoul. He added that he focused on building a believable plot to ensure audiences stay immersed. The eight-part series follows high school students who are suddenly warned of their imminent deaths through a curse from a wish-granting app called Girigo. The story depicts their desperate struggles to escape the curse and survive. Park said he integrated elements of occult, action and school dramas into a traditional horror framework. He believes this combination will prevent the audience from feeling bored throughout the eight episodes. “I wanted to go beyond the limits of standard horror,” the director said. “By combining different genres, I made sure there is never a dull moment from the beginning to the last episode.” Regar

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience
K-pop

Seoul to transform Chang-dong into K-pop hub with new arena

Seoul unveiled on Tuesday a 2.7 trillion won ($1.9 billion) plan to transform Chang-dong, a neighborhood in the city's northeastern Dobong District, into a 24/7 K-pop-themed cultural hub, anchored by a new concert venue as well as a cluster of entertainment and commercial facilities intended to draw more visitors north of the Han River. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the “K-entertainment town” project is meant to serve as a new economic engine for the area and beyond as the city aims to draw 30 million foreign tourists a year. “Chang-dong and the surrounding Sanggye area will no longer be the outskirts of Seoul, but will become the cultural and artistic hub of the city and a solid economic core that will shoulder its future as a key area in opening the era of 30 million foreign tourists,” Mayor Oh Se-hoon said during a press conference. The central part of the scheme is the Seoul Arena, a K-pop concert hall slated for a May 2027 opening. The place will be able to accommodate up to 28,000 fans per performance and is expected to host some 100 large-scale shows a y

Apr 21, 2026By Jung Min-ho
Seoul to transform Chang-dong into K-pop hub with new arena
Entertainment

Golf coach reveals Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin’s secret dating story before couple's marriage

A longtime mentor to top Korean celebrities revealed he knew about Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin’s relationship long before it became public — and even lied to his own wife to keep it a secret. The story emerged on the Sunday episode of TV Chosun’s “Huh Young Man’s Food Travel,” where renowned golf instructor Lim Jin-han appeared as a guest. Lim, often dubbed a “golf master” in Korea, said he first built a connection with Son through a recommendation from an agency executive and began giving her lessons that continued for years. “She once came straight from filming in jeans and slippers, and we practiced for about an hour,” he said. “After that, I kept teaching her, and we’ve stayed connected ever since.” Through Son, Hyun Bin also became his student. Lim said the two actors would often take lessons together and even play rounds of golf with him, which is how he realized early on that they were dating. “One day, she said, ‘Please teach Bin as well,’ so they both started learning together, and we went out to the field often,” he said. Despite knowing about their

Apr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Golf coach reveals Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin’s secret dating story before couple's marriage
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