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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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K-pop

How much could ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songwriter earn? EJAE reacts to $34 mil. rumor

Singer-songwriter EJAE is fueling curiosity — and a bit of disbelief — over how much money could be coming from the global hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” as talk of 45.6 billion won in royalties continues to circulate online. At a press conference Wednesday at Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul, celebrating the film’s recent awards success, EJAE addressed the speculation with a cautious but optimistic tone. “I don’t really know yet. It takes time,” she said when asked about royalty settlements. From viral hit to awards sweep “KPop Demon Hunters” — an action-fantasy animation about K-pop superstars who secretly protect the world — has become a rare crossover success, winning major honors at global awards including the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes and the Grammys. The film reached a new peak on March 15, when it won both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards. Alongside the soundtrack's breakout hit "Golden," other tracks have also gained traction internationally, with songs like “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol” charting and contribut

Apr 2, 2026By Xportsnews
How much could ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songwriter earn? EJAE reacts to $34 mil. rumor
Shows & Dramas

‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ writer loses case over extra streaming revenue

The latest ruling centering on the scope of TV drama writers' copyrights is triggering mixed responses in the entertainment industry. A court has ruled that production companies are not required to separately share revenue generated from online streaming platforms with writers, in a legal dispute between the screenwriter of ENA's "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and its production company. The writer filed a suit claiming the production company violated the contract by independently selling the drama’s distribution rights to Netflix. While the court sided with the production company, some critics argue that the standard contract for TV writers needs to be revised to better reflect changes in the media landscape. Changes in media landscape and writers' rights According to legal sources on April 1, the Seoul High Court’s Civil Division 4 upheld a lower court ruling against the Korea Television Writers Association, which had filed a damages suit against production company AStory. The association chose not to appeal to the Supreme Court, and the ruling was finalized in February. The case dates

Apr 1, 2026By Hankookilbo
‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ writer loses case over extra streaming revenue
Others

‘Back on stage’ Kim Seon-ho opens up after controversy: ‘On days off, I just lie down all day’

Actor Kim Seon-ho is drawing attention again — this time for his candid, almost ironic update on life after controversy, as he quietly returns to the stage while keeping an extremely low-key routine off camera. On Tuesday, a video titled “#Non-face-to-face interview that’s basically a Kim Seon-ho fan video” was uploaded to the YouTube channel of Harper's BAZAAR Korea, featuring the actor reflecting on his recent work and daily life following a photo shoot. A new experience being openly ‘sexy’ Speaking about his bold pictorial, Kim said it was a rare experience. “I haven’t really done many shoots where I’m this exposed — wearing nothing under a jacket and going for an openly sexy concept,” he said. “Since I tend to like that kind of style, it felt like something new.” From Netflix to theater — and total rest at home Kim said he is now performing in the play "Secret Passage," marking his return to theater after wrapping filming for the Netflix series “Can This Love Be Translated?” But off stage, his lifestyle couldn’t be more different. “On my days off, I li

Apr 1, 2026By Xportsnews
‘Back on stage’ Kim Seon-ho opens up after controversy: ‘On days off, I just lie down all day’
Films

'KPop Demon Hunters 2' will be bigger, more eventful: directors

The highly anticipated sequel to the Netflix animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” will expand in scale and deliver a story packed with major events, the film’s creators said Wednesday. Following the massive global success of the first installment, the production team shared its vision for the next chapter of the franchise, saying it aims to surprise fans with rule-breaking new ideas. “We are currently holding onto some big ideas for the sequel,” co-director Maggie Kang said during a press conference in Seoul. “While we cannot reveal specific details yet, we plan to make a film that is even bigger in scale and more eventful than the first one. Just like the first one, we are making a movie that we personally want to see.” “KPop Demon Hunters” follows the journey of Rumi, Mira and Zoey, members of the K-pop girl group Huntrix, as they secretly protect the world from evil spirits. The feature became a major cultural phenomenon, winning awards at the Oscars, Golden Globes and Grammys. The creative team visited Korea this week to celebrate the historic achievement at the 98th Ac

Apr 1, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'KPop Demon Hunters 2' will be bigger, more eventful: directors
Music

Korea Times Spring Concert to feature maestro Chung Myung-whun

This year’s Korea Times Spring Concert will feature maestro Chung Myung-whun, who will lead the KBS Symphony Orchestra in a concert version of Bizet's opera "Carmen" in Seoul on April 17. The concert will offer a rare opportunity to hear one of Korea’s most renowned conductors, who is currently serving as the orchestra’s music director. He is also an internationally recognized musician. Last year, he was appointed to lead La Scala, the historic opera house in Milan — regarded as the birthplace of opera — starting in 2027. The upcoming performance will mark Chung’s second full opera-in-concert with the KBS Symphony Orchestra in 29 years. In 1997, he conducted Verdi’s “Otello.” The concert will also highlight Chung’s long-standing relationship with the orchestra. He first conducted the ensemble in 1972 at the age of 19, later serving as its fifth chief conductor in 1998 and becoming its first conductor laureate in 2021. Last year, he was reappointed as the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s music director. “Under the baton of Chung, an authority in opera conducting, ‘Carmen

Apr 1, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Korea Times Spring Concert to feature maestro Chung Myung-whun
BTS ARIRANG

BTS revives hit web variety series 'Run BTS' after 3-year hiatus

K-pop powerhouse BTS will return with its hit web variety series, "Run BTS," after a three-year hiatus. The group announced in a teaser video posted on its official YouTube channel Monday that the new season, titled "Run BTS 2.0," will premiere on April 7 at 9 p.m. The variety show, which originally ran from 2015 to 2023, featured the seven members competing in various games and missions. The show has historically drawn massive global viewership, serving as a staple of the group's online presence. The show's initial 155 regular episodes, which aired between 2015 and 2021, drew 140 million views on YouTube. Ten special episodes released from 2022 to 2023 garnered an additional 130 million views. A single 2023 episode featuring the band attempting flying yoga hit 30 million views on its own. During the group's recent hiatus for mandatory military service, member Jin hosted a spinoff series titled "Run Jin" from 2024 to 2025 after completing mandatory military service. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and e

Apr 1, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS revives hit web variety series 'Run BTS' after 3-year hiatus
K-pop

K-pop fans trade ticket wars for VR concert rush

As K-pop's global fandom continues to expand, one reality has become increasingly clear: Getting a concert ticket has become harder than ever. For 18-year-old student Lee Se-min, that challenge feels all too familiar. A longtime fan of K-pop boy band SEVENTEEN, she has also been closely following their label junior group TWS since debut. But even with strong interest, attending a live show is not a simple decision. "Of course I'd want to go in person, if I just had that much money," Lee said. "But I already have a favorite group, and there's no guarantee I'd even manage to get a ticket for TWS." Instead, she opted for a different kind of concert experience, one that is quickly reshaping how fans engage with their favorite idols. Virtual reality (VR) concerts, once seen as experimental, are steadily gaining ground as a viable alternative to traditional live shows. Lee recently attended "TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD," which premiered at Megabox Coex on March 4 and has since extended its run through April due to strong demand. "I went in expecting lower quality," she said with a laugh. "But th

Apr 1, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop fans trade ticket wars for VR concert rush
K-pop

Genderless group XLOV opens a new chapter for K-pop

For years, the K-pop industry operated within the fixed norms of “boy groups” and “girl groups.” Idols experimented with a wide range of concepts, but always within a basic framework that rarely bent: boy groups were expected to be energetic and powerful, while girl groups were expected to be feminine and beautiful. In recent years, however, those gender boundaries have begun to blur. As South Korea has grown more receptive to genderless expression, idol groups have begun moving beyond traditional gender-based presentation and testing the limits of what K-pop performance can look like. One of the most eye-catching examples is the multinational group XLOV, which is building a visible presence in the K-pop scene. By placing a genderless identity at the forefront, the group is not just experimenting with a new concept, but also raising broader questions about where the industry is headed. Not just a concept but an identity XLOV debuted in January last year as a four member group. Declaring itself "genderless," a first for the K-pop industry, the group took the stage in skirts and in

Apr 1, 2026By Hankookilbo
Genderless group XLOV opens a new chapter for K-pop
BTS ARIRANG

Netflix app downloads surge on BTS livestream concert in Seoul

Weekly downloads of the Netflix application in South Korea rose sharply last month, driven by a livestreamed concert by K-pop superstars BTS in Seoul, industry data showed Wednesday. According to the data from IGA Works, Netflix recorded 136,400 downloads in the March 16-22 period, compared with 70,300 downloads during the previous week. Netflix live broadcast BTS' highly anticipated concert held at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 to mark the release of the band's fifth studio album, "ARIRANG." It marked the first time weekly downloads of the Netflix app exceeded the 130,000 level. During the same period, Coupang Play recorded 77,400 new downloads, while Tving posted 56,400. On a daily basis, Netflix app downloads peaked at 66,800 on March 21, up from 14,700 the previous day.

Apr 1, 2026By Yonhap
Netflix app downloads surge on BTS livestream concert in Seoul
Shows & Dramas

Korean creators' global influence on the rise

The global expansion of Korean entertainment is shifting from selling shows abroad to sending creators into global productions. As the film industry grows more globally connected, collaborations merging Korean directors and actors backed by foreign capital and international crews are reshaping Hollywood filmmaking. Director Yoon Je-kyun, known for the Korean box office hits "Ode to My Father" and "Haeundae," is entering Hollywood with the Taekwondo-themed action film "Belladonna." The project is bringing together Korean and American producers. Ahn Chang-beom, CEO of K-Tigers, and Red Packet Media led by "Rush Hour 3" producer Mike Leeder, serve as co-producers. The film features music producers who previously worked on the Netflix animated hit, "KPop Demon Hunters," as well as with K-pop icons BLACKPINK and BTS. "KPop Demon Hunters" demonstrated how merging Korean cultural symbols and K-pop with a global production system captures worldwide attention. This structural shift traces its roots to director Bong Joon-ho, who pushed the boundaries of international co-production with "Snowpierc

Mar 31, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean creators' global influence on the rise
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