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K-pop

Seventeen's Vernon, The8 to launch new unit this summer

Vernon and The8 of K-pop boy group Seventeen will form a new unit and are preparing to release an album in June, a music industry source said Thursday. "Vernon and The8 are working on a unit album with the goal of releasing it in June," the source told Yonhap News Agency. "Both members are actively participating in production." The new duo marks Seventeen's sixth unit project, following BSS composed of DK, Hoshi and Seungkwan; Jeonghan and Wonwoo; Hoshi and Woozi; S.Coups and Mingyu; and DK and Seungkwan. Vernon, a rapper in Seventeen, has been writing and composing songs since the group's debut. He joined the Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, as a voting member last year. The8, a Chinese member, is known for his strong dance skills and has released several solo records in China, including the EP "Stardust." Vernon collaborated with The8 on the album's lead track "Orbit," contributing to both lyrics and composition. Seventeen is currently on its "New_" world tour and will hold encore concerts of the tour on April 4–5 at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium, about 30 kilome

Mar 12, 2026By Yonhap
Seventeen's Vernon, The8 to launch new unit this summer
Films

'The King's Warden' surpasses 12 mil. admissions

The Korean hitorical drama "The King's Warden" has drawn more than 12 million moviegoers nationwide, the film's distributor Showbox said Wednesday, extending its run as one of the biggest box-office successes in recent years. The number surpasses the 11.91 million admissions recorded by "Exhuma," the most-viewed film of 2024, making "The King's Warden" the 20th title in Korean cinema history to cross the 12-million mark. Released on Feb. 4, the film reached 10 million admissions on March 6, becoming the first title in two years since "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment" (2024) to achieve the feat. In South Korea, 10 million ticket sales is widely regarded as the benchmark for big success for commercial films. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during the latter's exile in the village. The film has drawn praise for its ensemble performances, which allow viewers to

Mar 11, 2026By Yonhap
'The King's Warden' surpasses 12 mil. admissions
Shows & Dramas

InterviewLee Na-young says 'Honour' is not just about sexual violence

ENA’s thriller “Honour,” which wrapped Tuesday, follows a team of lawyers taking on a powerful sex trafficking cartel in a story that inevitably echoes the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Centered on three determined attorneys at the victim advocacy firm L&J — short for Listen & Join — who choose solidarity over silence while investigating scandals linked to the shadowy digital sex trade platform “Connect In,” the drama marks actor Lee Na‑young’s first work on the small screen in three years. Lee plays Yun Ra‑yeong, a celebrity lawyer with millions of followers online, but beneath her polished public image lies a woman shaped by deep personal trauma. Lee's restrained performance has drawn praise from viewers. "I first read the script with the curiosity of a novel reader, just dying to know what would happen next. Then I went back through it, thinking about the role I had to play and that's when I felt like I just had to be part of this story," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in central Seoul, Wednesday. Taking on a role with lengthy legal dialogue

Mar 11, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Lee Na-young says 'Honour' is not just about sexual violence
K-pop

What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fans

The announcement that Heeseung of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will leave the group and pursue a solo career sparked a wave of surprise, with fans expressing grief and confusion while speculating about what the decision means for both the singer and the group. Belift Lab, the HYBE Labels subsidiary that manages ENHYPEN, announced Tuesday that the singer would depart the seven-member act but remain with the company to pursue a solo career. Since debuting in November 2020 through the survival program "I-LAND," ENHYPEN has built a strong global following, driven by its distinctive fantasy vampire concept and polished performance style. Heeseung, widely recognized as the group's main vocalist, has been regarded as one of the musical anchors of the team by fans, known collectively as ENGENE. In a handwritten letter shared with fans on Tuesday, the singer described the decision as the result of "extensive discussions" with the agency about how to present his individual work. "The six years I have spent have been filled with moments too precious to describe," he wrote. "After sharing the results of m

Mar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fans
Films

Yoo Hae-jin’s 170-million-admission legacy shines in 'The King's Warden'

Actor Yoo Hae-jin insists his foundational acting style never changes, yet his ability to create new personas throughout his filmography continues to drive record-breaking box-office numbers that few in the Korean film industry can match. His latest period drama, "The King's Warden," crossed the 10-million viewer mark on Friday, marking his fifth 10-million-admission film. The milestone solidifies Yoo's status as a guaranteed box office draw. While audiences see him as a versatile chameleon, his bankability — built on some 170 million tickets sold over 30 years—stems from his complete immersion in every role. The actor plays Eom Heung-do, the head of Gwangcheongol village in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, who interacts with the exiled King Danjong. Despite his reputation as a man who walked straight out of a history textbook, Yoo downplays the idea that he creates entirely new personas. "My acting is always the same. It's not different. It's just Yoo Hae-jin," Yoo said before the film's release. "Since I am not an actor who shows completely different acting, my biggest goal is to fit i

Mar 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Yoo Hae-jin’s 170-million-admission legacy shines in 'The King's Warden'
Films

Interview‘The King’s Warden’ producer says success of movie ‘beyond our wildest dreams’

The historical drama “The King’s Warden” has emerged as one of the biggest recent box office hits in Korean cinema, a breakout success that even its producers did not foresee. Lim Eun-jung, CEO of production company Onda Works, said she still finds the scale of the film’s success difficult to process. “I am simply thankful to the director, actors and the staff,” Lim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Wednesday. “To be honest, I never imagined we would reach the 10-million-viewer milestone. Given how difficult the market has been lately, our initial goal was just to break even. Before the release, the director and I cautiously whispered to each other that we hoped to double the break-even point since it was a holiday season, but the actual response from the public has been beyond our wildest dreams.” Set during the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the film follows the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon), who is exiled to Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, where he forms a bond with the village chief, Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), and discovers a renewed will to live despite

Mar 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘The King’s Warden’ producer says success of movie ‘beyond our wildest dreams’
K-pop

Why K-pop labels are working with novelists, poets

K-pop's fictional universes are no longer confined to music videos and album teasers. From science fiction writers to bestselling poets, some of Korea's most respected literary voices are turning up inside idol group album packages — commissioned to write short stories, lyrics and narrative passages to accompany their releases, in one of the more unlikely creative collaborations the industry has seen. When boy band EXO released its eighth album, “REVERXE,” on Jan. 19, the group included a short story titled “EX-VISION,” written by novelist Lee Hee-joo, whose fictions such as “Holy Boy” (2021) and “Creamy(nal) Love” (2025) frequently draw on K-pop fan culture. The story places the members in everyday scenes — Sehun and Chanyeol preparing food, D.O. handling the music, Lay and Suho arriving with a custom-made cake — with references to symbols long associated with the group's lore, such as the tree of life, the red force and the full lunar eclipse. For Lee, the creative process was familiar but the audience was not. “When I work on my own novels, my personal style ma

Mar 11, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Why K-pop labels are working with novelists, poets
Shows & Dramas

Song Ji-hyo faces renewed calls to leave 'Running Man' as criticism resurfaces

Actress Song Ji-hyo is once again facing mounting calls from viewers to step down from the long-running variety show “Running Man,” nearly three years after a similar controversy placed her participation in the program under scrutiny. The latest debate erupted after the March 8 episode of SBS’s flagship variety show, which aired under the theme "Run & Fun Company: Spin the Roulette." In the episode, the cast transformed into office workers competing in various games to leave work early, using any strategy possible to win. However, viewers quickly pointed out that Song appeared largely disengaged throughout the broadcast. Unlike the other cast members, she rarely joined the improvised skits or conversations that drive much of the show’s humor, resulting in minimal screen time. At one point during a bus ride to lunch, the other members continued lively banter while Song mostly sat quietly, smiling but not participating in the conversation. The contrast was particularly noticeable alongside the show’s youngest member, Ji Ye-eun, who repeatedly attempted to jump into the conversat

Mar 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Song Ji-hyo faces renewed calls to leave 'Running Man' as criticism resurfaces
Entertainment

Korean YouTuber Freezia sparks backlash after saying she’d dislike if her boyfriend used Galaxy phone

Korean YouTuber Freezia has found herself at the center of online backlash after saying she would dislike a boyfriend who uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, a comment that quickly spread across social media and triggered heated debate among viewers. The controversy stems from a vlog uploaded Sunday to her YouTube channel “The Freezia” titled “Vlog It's been a while~ It's already March! Freezia's daily life clips.zip: Gyeongbok Palace date course recommendation, White Day, nail art, late-night movie." In the video, she chats with an acquaintance while getting her nails done, and the conversation turns to smartphone preferences. After hearing that her acquaintance’s boyfriend uses a Galaxy Fold, Freezia responded candidly, saying, "Honestly, if my boyfriend used a Galaxy phone, I think I’d kind of dislike it." When asked why, she explains, "My mom and dad also use Galaxy. But parents and a boyfriend are different, right?" She adds, "If I imagine him taking pictures of me with that phone, it would annoy me so much." Freezia said she has never really used a Galaxy device herself. "Th

Mar 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Korean YouTuber Freezia sparks backlash after saying she’d dislike if her boyfriend used Galaxy phone
Music

40 years on stage, soprano Sumi Jo says music can 'change people'

Renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo has said she hopes to "share the love" she has received through music as she marks the 40th anniversary of her stage debut. "How did 40 years pass like this? People say life is but a midsummer night's dream," the 63-year-old told Yonhap News Agency in an interview ahead of her anniversary concert "Mad for Love," to be held at London's Cadogan Hall on Thursday. "Reading my diaries from those years, I realize I truly lived with all my heart." The Grammy-winning artist said the concert program reflects her artistic journey, spanning baroque repertoire, opera arias and Korean art songs. She invited young American baritone Edward Nelson as a guest performer, part of her effort to support emerging talent. Since taking the role of Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Italy, in 1986, Jo has performed in leading opera houses around the world. Her ties with Britain date back to her high school days, when her father visited London in the late 1970s and asked officials at the Royal Opera House how his daughter might one day debut there. Decades

Mar 11, 2026By Yonhap
40 years on stage, soprano Sumi Jo says music can 'change people'
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