JYP to seek new boy band through global TV audition show

SEOUL -- South Korea's entertainment powerhouse JYP Entertainment has worked with Sony Music, a global music label based in Tokyo, to form a new global boy band. More than 10,000 applicants auditioned for the audition show titled "Nizi Project Season 2" from 11 cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Nagoya. The process of training and screening would be broadcast on Nippon TV, a Japanese TV channel, and streaming platforms. Through the first season of Nizi Project, t

July 7, 2023

​S. Korean action-comedy film 'The Roundup: No Way Out' attracts fans to watch prequels via IPTV services

SEOUL -- Amid hype caused by South Korean action-comedy film "The Roundup: No Way Out," directed by Lee Sang-yong, fans of the film series are attracted to watch the original film and sequel via internet protocol television services. The film series starring Ma Dong-seok, an action star known by the English name of Don Lee, captivated action film fans in 2017 with the original film "The Outlaws," depicting a team of detectives investigating organized crime cas

July 5, 2023

​BTS' Jungkook tops iTunes song charts in 83 countries with 'Still With You'

SEOUL -- "Still With You," a self-composed by BTS' Jungkook, has topped iTunes song charts in 83 countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, and France. The 25-year-old has expressed his feelings towards his loved one through the new track featuring jazz-style melodies. Big Hit, the agency of BTS, said Still With You was ranked first in 83 countries. The agency added that "My You," another song self-composed by Jungkook, also topped iTunes song chart

July 4, 2023

BLACKPINK's debut song Boombayah surpasses 1.6 bln views on YouTube

SEOUL -- The music video for BLACKPINK's debut song Boombayah has garnered more than 1.6 billion views on YouTube about six years and 11 months after its release. Through the title track of its debut album Square One, the four-member band expressed their feelings toward their crush, saying they want to dance together at night. As of 4:42 p.m. (0742 GMT) on July 4, Boombayah's music video had 1,600,179,648 views. "The biggest feature of blackpink songs is that no

July 4, 2023

S. Korean TV channel operator to broadcast AI-produced variety show

SEOUL -- MBC, a major South Korean TV network that produced reality competition series Physical: 100, will showcase a variety show created by an artificial intelligence producer. After selecting human participants specializing in various fields such as the ones with enormous physical strength and survivor experts, the AI producer called "M-Phago" will host the show and edit videos. "Hi, I am an AI producer. I will be working on a variety show that would be directed, hos

July 4, 2023

Action-comedy film 'The Roundup: No Way Out' attracts almost 10 mln viewers

SEOUL -- In less than a month of the film's debut on the silver screen, "The Roundup: No Way Out," directed by Lee Sang-yong, continues to attract crowds of moviegoers at the South Korean box office by reaching an accumulated number of viewers of about 9.8 million. The action film, stars Ma Dong-seok, an actor known by the English name of Don Lee, who plays a tough detective handling a drug crime involving yakuza, a crime group that originated in Japan. According to

June 29, 2023

Shinsegae's liquor distributor wing picks virtual show host YT to promote Japanese-style cocktail

SEOUL -- Virtual social media influencer Young Twenty was selected by the liquor distribution wing of South Korea's retail giant Shinsegae to promote highball. Through the virtual human with some 454,000 Instagram followers, the South Korean company aims to also sell side dishes for the alcoholic drink created using a popular whisky "Evan Williams Black." Young Twenty, also known by her nickname YT, created by Shinsegae and Pulse9, a domestic AI graphics company, is

June 28, 2023

Girl band Le Sserafim to go on first world tour

SEOUL -- Le Sserafim, a girl band formed by BTS agency Hybe's music label Source Music, will go on a world tour. The five-member band will start its tour with a two-day concert in Seoul on August 12. Le Sserafim will also release a Japanese language-based album while interacting with global fans during the two-month period. Source Music, the band's agency, said Le Sserafim will cover seven cities -- Seoul, Nagoya, Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Bangkok. The group'

June 28, 2023

Pinkfong to release Baby Shark IP-based multi-platform console game in 26 languages

SEOUL -- South Korea's educational entertainment company Pinkfong will roll out a multi-platform console game based on its Baby Shark content for the first time. The game titled "Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party" would be available in single-player and multi-player modes for up to four players. Pinkfong's first game content will be provided in 26 different languages including Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, and German. Pinkfong has garnered worldwide populari

June 27, 2023

BTS' lead rapper Suga completes solo world tour

SEOUL -- BTS' lead rapper Suga has completed his solo world tour that began in April 2023. The 30-year-old artist has attracted some 290,000 fans through 25 concerts in ten cities including Los Angeles, Auckland, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kanagawa, and Seoul. "Thank you so much for letting me know that world tour is so fun," Suga said during his last concert which took place in Seoul on July 20. Some 15,000 people attended his two-day concert at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in

June 26, 2023