Korean pop group TVXQ's latest Japanese single ``Jumun-Mirotic'' became a 2008 `Gold' seller, the Recording Industry Association of Japan announced Thursday.
The association analyzes annual album sales and certifies titles: a `Million' if a record sells over 1 million copies; `Platinum' if over 250,000; and `Gold' if over 100,000.
This is TVXQ's fifth Gold album in Japan following ``T,'' ``Summer,'' ``Beautiful You'' and ``Why Did I Fall in Love With You.'' It is the five-member boy band's 25th single released in the country, where they have held top spots in the music charts since making headway in the market two years ago. 'Million' sellers for 2008 went to seven albums by Japanese artists such as Hikaru Utada and Namie Amuro.
``Jumun-Mirotic'' was released in Korea in September 2008 as part of TVXQ's fourth album. It sold over 500,000 copies in 103 days, breaking the local sales record set five years ago by Kim Kun-mo's eighth album.
Hollywood adaptations of such South Korean movies as ``The Tale of Two Sisters'' make nationwide releases in the United States at the end of the month.
``The Uninvited,'' the Dreamworks version of the Kim Jee-woon thriller inspired by a famous Korean folktale ``The Tale of Two Sisters,'' will appear in theaters Jan. 30.
Brothers Charles and Thomas Guards direct the franchise and actresses Arielle Kebbel (``The Grudge 2'') and Emily Browning (``Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events'') have replaced Korean stars Lim Soo-jung and Moon Geun-young, respectively.
Meanwhile, ``Possession,'' based on ``Addiction'' starring Lee Byung-hun and Lee Mi-yeon, will be released Jan. 23. Directed by Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist, the Hollywood rendition stars Lee Pace as a man claiming to be his brother opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Of the Korean movies that have sold adaptation rights to American producers, three have been released: ``The Lake House'' based on Lee Hyun-seung's ``Il Mare'' in 2006 and ``Mirror'' inspired by Kim Seong-ho's ``Into the Mirror'' and ``My Sassy Girl'' adapted from the Kwak Jae-yong film of the same title in 2008.
Expect various offerings of traditional activities and even movie showings during the lunar New Year.
The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea is planning diverse events during the Jan. 25-27 break. At Changgyeong Palace in Seoul, traditional games of arrow throwing, yut, top spinning and shuttlecock kicking will be offered for three days. See cgg.cha.go.kr. Deoksu Palace will be host to performances of Namsadang (traveling male entertainers) and farmer's music of Pyeongtaek Jan. 26. Visit www.deoksugung.go.kr for more information.
The National Museum of Korea in Yonsan, Seoul has also planned series of Seollal (New Year's) events. On Jan. 24, the museum will host kite-flying for both Korean and foreign museum visitors. From Jan. 25 to Jan. 26, the museum invites visitors to take part in traditional jumping on seesaws, arrow-throwing and others.
The museum will also screen five movies including the Korean movies ``Le Grand Chef'' and ``Herb,'' and give free admission to the special exhibition ''Echoes of Life, The Enduring Tradition of Unified Silla Sculpture during the lunar New Year's holidays. For more information, visit www. useum.go.kr