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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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Films

REVIEW 'Mismatch' finds light humor in role reversals

In the comedy drama "Mismatch," Bong-su (Oh Dae-hwan) has long felt like a burden to his family following a failed business venture. With him on the sidelines, his wife, Sung-hye (Oh Yoon-ah), stepped up as the breadwinner and eventually built a small wallpaper company from the ground up. Now, working under his wife's roof, Bong-su remains seen as incompetent by those around him, including Sung-hye herself, all while secretly clinging to his old dream of making it as a stage actor, one he never got the chance to follow. One day, an unfortunate accident leaves him with a severe head injury, one that muddles his sense of who the people around him really are. He begins mixing everyone up, mistaking his wife for his daughter, his daughter for a friend, his father for his brother and his brother for his boss. Treating everyone around him as whoever he thinks they are, the film finds humors in the chaos: Bong-su scolds his father as if he were a disobedient son and hangs out with his daughter's friends as though they were his own. With his wife, whom he now believes to be his daughter, he beco

Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
[REVIEW] 'Mismatch' finds light humor in role reversals
K-pop

'Where is Minji?' Fans ask as NewJeans prepares for return, Danielle faces suit

As eyewitness accounts of NewJeans members being spotted abroad spread on social media, and former member Danielle signaling a solo career through a new demo release, attention is now shifting to Minji, who has remained largely out of the public eye. The group's label, ADOR, said the two sides are still in talks. Eyewitness accounts began circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo after Haerin, Hyein and Hanni were reportedly spotted in Copenhagen, Denmark, prompting their agency to confirm to Xportnews on Tuesday that “the members were in Denmark with the staff.” The NewJeans members had lost a lawsuit filed by ADOR challenging the validity of their termination of their exclusive contracts last October. Some of the members — Haerin and Hyein first, followed by Hanni — later announced their return to the label. The sighting of the three members on what appeared to be an overseas schedule stirred excitement and anticipation among NewJeans fans, who have long awaited the group’s comeback after a protracted legal dispute. Yet one member was notably absent from the develop

Apr 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Where is Minji?' Fans ask as NewJeans prepares for return, Danielle faces suit
K-pop

BLACKPINK's Jennie named among Time's 100 most influential people

Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has been listed among U.S. Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the Year," becoming the only Korean included. The singer was named in the Artists category of the Time 100 announced Wednesday (U.S. time), joining global figures across politics, culture and sports. Jennie made history last year when her solo album, "Ruby," saw three tracks enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously, a first for a K-pop female solo artist. Grammy-nominated American musician Gracie Abrams introduced Jennie in Time, calling her "a star" and praising "the magic at her core" that draws audiences whether on stage, on screen or behind the scenes. "What makes Jennie a true star is that even in her quiet moments, she possesses the same kind of undeniable presence that cuts through all the noise, and she carries that with kindness and warmth," Abrams wrote. Among the Korean Americans on the 2026 list are musician Anderson .Paak and snowboarder Chloe Kim, who drew praise for competing through an injury at this year's Winter Olympics despite falling short of her thi

Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK's Jennie named among Time's 100 most influential people
Shows & Dramas

'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com

Ahn Hyo-seop, who shot to global fame as the voice of Jinu in the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," is returning to the small screen as a perfectionist farmer. In SBS’s new romantic comedy "Sold Out on You," Ahn plays Matthew Lee, a genius cosmetic researcher and passionate mushroom farmer who becomes entangled day and night with Ye-jin (Chae Won-bin), a “sell-out queen” home-shopping host. Ahn, who attended the 98th Academy Awards last month after "KPop Demon Hunters" took home two trophies, said, “I actually finished all my dubbing work before shooting this drama, so I had some breathing room," during a press conference for the drama at SBS headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. “After working on emotionally heavy projects that made me think deeply about life, reading this script felt very healing. There’s no villain here — just an honest story about everyday life,” he said. He said he threw himself into learning to drive a tractor. “I wanted to soak in the countryside and really live the life of a farmer.” Director Ahn Jong-yeon described the series

Apr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com
Films

July Jung's 'Dora' to premiere at Cannes Directors' Fortnight

July Jung's "Dora" will have a world premiere at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight next month. The film, the screenwriter-director's third feature, has been officially invited to the 58th edition of the event, which runs alongside the Cannes Film Festival from May 13 to 23. Unveiling the lineup for the Directors' Fortnight, Artistic Director Julien Rejl described the film as a "very free and contemporary adaption of Dora's case study by Freud in 1900," according to the film's promoter Solaire Partners. The film is a coming-of-age drama following a teenage girl named Dora over the course of a summer holiday. It features K-pop-idol-turned-actress Kim Do-yeon and Japanese actress Sakura Ando, known for her role in "Shoplifters." Jung has been a fixture at Cannes, with her debut "A Girl at My Door" screened in the Un Certain Regard section in 2014, followed by "Next Sohee" closing Critics' Week in 2022. The Cannes Directors' Fortnight was founded in 1969 by the French Directors Guild. It is a non-competition section. Former Korean works invited include Lee Chang-dong's "Peppermint Candy," Bong

Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
July Jung's 'Dora' to premiere at Cannes Directors' Fortnight
K-pop

BTS’ Jin underscores group bond in global ‘Rolling Stone’ project

BTS member Jin has reaffirmed his deep commitment to the group, saying he sees little point in continuing his career without his bandmates — a message that has resonated strongly with fans worldwide. On Tuesday, Rolling Stone unveiled a large-scale global project featuring BTS, including a group cover and individual covers for all seven members. The feature is being published simultaneously across 16 countries and regions — including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany — marking one of the magazine’s most ambitious international collaborations and a first of its kind for a K-pop act. The project includes one group cover and seven solo covers, highlighting each member’s identity while emphasizing the group’s collective presence. In the accompanying photos, BTS exudes a more mature and intense charisma, styled in black-and-white tones and denim outfits that create a free-spirited yet rebellious mood. The interviews offer a glimpse into the group’s journey through their recent hiatus and their return as a full unit, a moment long anticipated by fans know

Apr 15, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS’ Jin underscores group bond in global ‘Rolling Stone’ project
Entertainment

Parents reveal hidden costs behind K-pop idol dreams

Becoming a K-pop idol can cost families up to 5 million won (about $3,700) a month — a price many parents say is both a sacrifice and a gamble, as competition intensifies in Korea’s highly structured trainee system. Comedian Park Se-mi recently explored the reality behind idol training in a YouTube video released April 14 on the channel "Rollingthunder_2025," where she visited a dance academy and met students preparing for auditions at major entertainment agencies. In the video, Park experienced vocal and dance lessons and observed a mock audition, but it was her conversations with parents that drew the most attention. “When my child first said they wanted to become an idol, I thought it was admirable to have a dream,” one mother said. “It’s not easy to find something you truly want to do. If they have that, they should at least try so they won’t regret it later.” But the financial burden quickly becomes significant. A parent of three children — two of whom are pursuing performing arts — said, “With dance academies, vocal lessons and even regular subjects like Englis

Apr 15, 2026By Xportsnews
Parents reveal hidden costs behind K-pop idol dreams
K-pop

Aespa’s Giselle sparks concern over ‘bone-thin’ look, fans question K-pop pressures

Fresh photos of aespa member Giselle have triggered a wave of concern online, with fans questioning whether the K-pop industry’s beauty standards are going too far. On April 14, images of Giselle circulated across online communities under the title “aespa Giselle recent." In the photos, the singer appears noticeably thinner than before, with slimmer limbs, a sharper jawline and an overall more gaunt physique. Many users described her look as approaching “bone-thin” — a term widely used in Korea to describe the extremely slim body types often associated with idol aesthetics. The stark contrast compared to her earlier appearances has fueled growing concern among fans. Some pointed out that even during past promotions, Giselle did not appear this thin, making the recent change more striking. The discussion has also expanded beyond Giselle. Fellow aespa member Ningning previously drew attention for significant weight loss, while Winter and Karina have long been known for their slim figures. As a result, fans are increasingly scrutinizing what they see as a broader pattern within th

Apr 15, 2026By Xportsnews
Aespa’s Giselle sparks concern over ‘bone-thin’ look, fans question K-pop pressures
K-pop

BTS receives three AMA nods, including Artist of the Year

K-pop sensation BTS has earned three nominations at the 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs), including the prestigious Artist of the Year. The Korean boy group was listed among ten nominees for Artist of the Year, alongside top international acts, such as Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, organizers announced Tuesday (U.S. time). BTS previously made history in 2021 as the first Korean act to win the top honor. Its latest nomination has fueled anticipation for the group clinching the award again. The septet also secured nods in two other categories — Best Male K-pop Artist and Song of the Summer for "Swim" this year. Hybe's U.S.-based girl group Katseye also earned three nominations, and the soundtrack for the Netflix global animation sensation "Kpop Demon Hunters" received two. Katseye was nominated for New Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Pop Artist and Best Music Video for "Gnarly." The film soundtrack will compete for Best Sound Track and Best Song for "Golden." Besides BTS, three other K-pop groups were nominated for Best Male K-pop Artist: Ateez, Enhypen and Stray Kid

Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
BTS receives three AMA nods, including Artist of the Year
Shows & Dramas

Action-crime 'Bloodhounds' Season 2 tops Netflix's chart

"Bloodhounds" Season 2 topped Netflix's weekly non-English shows chart, the streaming platform said Wednesday. The Korean action-crime series garnered 7.4 million views for the week ending Sunday, going up by one spot from a week ago. The show's popularity also sparked renewed interest in its first season, which landed at third on the chart with 3 million views. The boxing saga centers around two young boxers, Kun-woo and Woo-jin, portrayed by Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi, respectively, who band together to fight against an underground syndicate operating an illegal boxing league, run by the villainous Baek-jung (Jung Ji-hoon), whose hunger for violence and money fuels the conflict. The seven-episode series premiered April 3. One more Korean series cracked the top 10, with the legal fantasy drama "Phantom Lawyer," starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Esom, coming in at No. 10 with 1.5 million views.

Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
Action-crime 'Bloodhounds' Season 2 tops Netflix's chart
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