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    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

Min Hee-jin denies poaching allegations, says NewJeans tampering claim was stock scheme by outsiders

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin’s legal team on Wednesday denied allegations that she was involved in efforts to lure NewJeans away from their agency, arguing that the so-called “tampering” claims stem from actions taken by a family member of one of the members and an outside businessperson. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul’s Jongno District, attorney Kim Sun-woong of law firm Ji-Am addressed the media on Min’s behalf. He said Min was not able to attend due to psychological stress caused by the ongoing dispute. Kim emphasized that the purpose of the event was to clarify what he called the “truth and essence” of the poaching allegations, which are tied to lawsuits filed by Ador against Min. According to Kim, the allegations do not involve Min, but instead center on “a public scheme” carried out by the uncle of one NewJeans member and a businessperson. He claimed the two sought to use NewJeans and Min in an attempt to manipulate stock prices. The tampering allegations first surfaced in April 2024, when HYBE Labels launched an internal audit of Min. HYBE accused Min of

Jan 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Min Hee-jin denies poaching allegations, says NewJeans tampering claim was stock scheme by outsiders
Music

Where to slow down and listen: Classical music lounges in Korea

For classical music fans, listening is a focused, almost ritual experience. In Korea, a growing number of specialized listening rooms and audio cafes cater to that mindset, offering spaces designed for deep, undistracted engagement with music. Outfitted with high-end and vintage speakers, amplifiers and extensive LP collections, many venues aim to recreate the sound of a concert hall. Others are cherished for their history and status as local landmarks, sustained by loyal patrons over the decades. Here are some notable places to visit, from Seoul spots to long-standing regional classics. In Seoul Audeum Audeum opened as an audio museum in 2024. Chung Mong-jin, chairman of KCC Group, personally financed the museum and donated his collection of vintage audio equipment, cameras and 100,000 records. While visitors cannot listen to the collection during regular hours, the museum hosts audio concerts twice a month to allow participants to experience classical music played on high-quality equipment. The building was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and won a Versailles Architect

Jan 28, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Where to slow down and listen: Classical music lounges in Korea
  • At Renaissance, Seoul’s forgotten classical music salon comes back to life
Others

Cha Eun-woo’s fans stand firm amid tax evasion allegations

Cha Eun-woo, one of Korea’s most popular singer-actors, is facing allegations of large-scale tax evasion — yet public attention is now turning to the wave of emotional support filling his social media accounts. The ASTRO member and actor recently became embroiled in allegations involving roughly 20 billion won ($14.6 million) in unpaid taxes, an amount that would mark the largest tax penalty ever imposed on a South Korean celebrity if confirmed. On Monday, Cha posted a lengthy apology on his personal social media account, directly addressing the controversy. In the statement, he said he had taken time to reflect on whether he had fulfilled his duty as a taxpayer with sufficient responsibility and seriousness. He also said that if he were not currently serving as a soldier, he would have personally visited those affected to offer an apology in person. Cha added that he would fully cooperate with all ongoing tax-related procedures and accept the final judgment of authorities with humility, taking responsibility accordingly. The allegations came as a shock to many fans, given Cha’s de

Jan 28, 2026By Xportsnews
Cha Eun-woo’s fans stand firm amid tax evasion allegations
Others

Director, dancers, sponsor key to Korea's first Bessie: creators

The creators of "One Dance," which made history earlier this month as the first Korean team to win the New York Dance and Performance Awards, attributed their success to the concerted efforts of the director, choreographers and sponsor. At a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, choreographer Jeong Hye-jin attributed the success to director Jung Ku-ho's "exceptional use of color and mise-en-scene," a core factor she said helped draw in audiences, and to the "tremendously dedicated work of dancers." She expressed gratitude to the dancers who "endured great difficulty" in synchronizing their movements for a work "where the lines and rows must be perfectly aligned." On Jan. 20, three choreographers — Jeong, Kim Sung-hoon and Kim Jae-duk — received Outstanding Choreographer/Creator from the prestigious award, more widely known as The Bessies, for Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's "One Dance," or ilmu in Korean. The awards organizer described the Korean dance work as "a visually mesmerizing, contemporary reinterpretation of ceremonial Korean traditional dance demonstrating a perfect ba

Jan 28, 2026By Yonhap
Director, dancers, sponsor key to Korea's first Bessie: creators
Music

At Renaissance, Seoul’s forgotten classical music salon comes back to life

The bustling Daehangno area in Seoul is a haven for artists and art lovers. Theater posters layer the walls and audiences drift between small stages, cafes and late-night bars. Tucked inside the Arts Council of Korea’s (ARKO) Artist House is a quieter kind of stage. Behind its doors sits Renaissance, a music salon that feels less like a venue and more like a time capsule. Vintage speakers tower over the room. Record players and old amplifiers sit like relics of another era. Faded fliers and yellowing papers hint at stories that stretch back decades. Opened in May 2025, the space invites visitors to do something increasingly rare: sit still and listen. Renaissance is rooted in the legacy of one man — Pak Yong-chan (1916-94). Born into an affluent family in Imsil, South Jeolla Province, during Japanese colonial rule, Pak developed a love for classical music at an early age. He studied economics at Meiji University in Japan, and when he returned home, his luggage was said to be filled with classical music vinyls — as many as 8,000. When Seoul was taken by North Korean and Chinese forces

Jan 28, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
At Renaissance, Seoul’s forgotten classical music salon comes back to life
  • Where to slow down and listen: Classical music lounges in Korea
Shows & Dramas

'Can This Love Be Translated?' tops Netflix weekly chart

The romantic comedy "Can This Love Be Translated?" topped Netflix's weekly non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. The 12-part series garnered 9 million views for the week ending Jan. 25, climbing from last week's No. 2 spot and outperforming the runner-up, Korean dating reality show "Single's Inferno: Season 5," which recorded 4.5 million views. Starring Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, the series centers on the budding romance between Cha Mu-hee (Go), an actor who catapults to global fame overnight, and Ju Ho-jin (Kim), a multilingual translator fluent in six languages, including Italian, English and Japanese, yet struggling to comprehend the language of emotions. It is written by Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, who use Hong Sisters as their collective pen name and have numerous hit series, including "Master's Sun" (2013), "Hotel del Luna" (2019) and "Alchemy of Souls" (2022-23). Two additional Korean series made the top 10 list, with SBS TV's romantic drama "No Tail to Tell" at No. 5 and tvN's office drama "Undercover Miss Hong" at No. 6, with 2 million and 1.9 milli

Jan 28, 2026By Yonhap
'Can This Love Be Translated?' tops Netflix weekly chart
Films

Miky Lee solidifies legacy as visionary architect of Korean cinema

You may not know her name, but you've likely seen the impact of her work. From introducing multiplex cinemas to Korea to backing filmmakers who would later redefine world cinema, Miky Lee has spent decades building the foundation of an industry that now commands global attention. Long before "Parasite" introduced her to the world stage, she was already transforming how Korean stories were created, distributed and shared with the world. The CJ Group vice chairperson's legacy was recognized once again as she earned a spot as the only Korean on Forbes' 50 Over 50 Global 2026 list — joining influential figures such as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Oscar-winning actor Penelope Cruz. The U.S. business magazine praised Lee for her enduring leadership and transformative role in shaping Korea’s cultural industry and its global rise. While many in the West first became familiar with Lee after the historic Oscar win of "Parasite" in 2020, Forbes noted that her influence stretches back much further. "Though the world first learned her name in 2019, when she served as a producer for

Jan 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Miky Lee solidifies legacy as visionary architect of Korean cinema
Shows & Dramas

Interview‘Made in Korea’ is mirror of human greed, ambition, Hyun Bin says

"Made in Korea" is a tense crime drama that explores the dark collision of power and ambition during the 1970s, while questioning the difficult choice between personal greed and national interest. According to lead actor Hyun Bin, the story depicts universal human desires that could happen in any country, not just in Korea. Hyun Bin takes on the role of Baek Ki-tae, a calculating intelligence director navigating the shifting tides of Korea’s modern history. "I did not approach the character of Baek Ki-tae with the mindset that he is a simple villain," the actor told The Korea Times in an interview in Seoul, Tuesday. "I view the character as a man driven by clear beliefs and a strong will to survive, which gave me a sense of satisfaction playing a person who acts quickly and directly without worrying about what is right or wrong." Directed by Woo Min-ho, the Disney+ series focuses on the fierce rivalry between Baek, an agent of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, and Jang Geon-young, an uncompromising prosecutor played by Jung Woo-sung. The first season recently finished with Baek

Jan 27, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Made in Korea’ is mirror of human greed, ambition, Hyun Bin says
Others

Tax planning or tax evasion? Cha Eun-woo’s case centers on shell company

Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo’s alleged 20 billion won tax dispute (about $15 million) is now being closely examined through a technical lens to see whether a company from which he derived income had real business substance or existed only on paper. The issue was discussed on the CBS Radio program “Park Sung-tae’s News Show” on the 27th, where tax accountant Lim Soo-jung looked at core legal questions surrounding the case. According to Lim, the National Tax Service determined that a corporation registered at a restaurant location in Ganghwa Island received income that should have been paid directly to Cha. “The tax authority’s position is that a corporation was established without real business activity and income belonging to Cha Eun-woo was funneled through this entity,” Lim said, characterizing it as a potential shell company. “There is no issue if a corporation is properly established with personnel and facilities and actually provides services,” she said. “The central question here is whether the company in question had real substance or existed only on paper.”

Jan 27, 2026By Xportsnews
Tax planning or tax evasion? Cha Eun-woo’s case centers on shell company
K-pop

After BoA's exit, SM Entertainment bets on 'Next 3.0' restructuring

After the stunning departure late last year of BoA — the label's flagship artist and a living symbol of its history — SM Entertainment has now lost nearly all of its founding figures. Without the "roots of SM," the company has announced a full-scale restructuring under the banner of "SM Next 3.0." SM confirmed the end of its partnership with BoA last December, saying her exclusive contract expired on Dec. 31, 2025. The announcement drew intense attention, marking the end of a 25-year journey that began with her debut in 2000. "I leave without regrets, having given and received unsparingly," she wrote on social media. "I am grateful for our time together and will support SM Entertainment as it shines. Thank you." During her career, BoA was more than just a star. She was a non-executive director and played a key role in the company's creative direction, most recently guiding the rookie group NCT WISH as its executive producer. Her exit is particularly symbolic given that founder and executive producer Lee Soo-man and hitmaker Yoo Young-jin have already left. With BoA gone, composer Ken

Jan 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
After BoA's exit, SM Entertainment bets on 'Next 3.0' restructuring
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