Blackpink’s Rebel Yell: ‘Pink Venom’ Collaborators on Making the K-Pop Stars’ Liberating and Defiant New Album

Netflix has shared the first look at its upcoming K-drama, The Fabulous, starring SHINee’s Minho.The much-anticipated first glimpse at the new series was shared by Netflix on October 5, and features snippets pulled from The Fabulous encompassing the fast-paced, glamorous world of South Korea’s illustrious fashion scene. Freelance photo editor Ji Woo-min (played by SHINee’s Minho) is at the heart of its schemes, crossing paths and eventually developing a romance with PR manager Pyo Ji-eun (Rookie Cops’ Chae Soo-bin).It also features cameo appearances from several top South Korean models, most notably including Choi So-ra, best known as the winner of the third cycle of Korea’s Next Top Model. Slated to make its global premiere on the streaming platform on November 4, The Fabulous, set against the backdrop of Seoul’s fashion industry and will depict the stories of young men and women as they navigate their work, personal lives, friendships and romances, along with their struggles to stay afloat in a fast-changing and competitive fashion landscape.Other cast members previously announced to be joining Minho and Chae on The Fabulous include Kim Min-kyu, a past Produce X 101 contestant, as well as Byun Jun-seo (Woori The Virgin), Lee Mi-do (Kiss Sixth Sense, House Of Lies), Kwon Hae-sung (Cafe Minamdang, The Devil Judge) and rookie actress Ye Seon-ho, among others.The first official details of the upcoming romance series first surfaced as early as September 2021.

Meghan Markle’s podcast has made its official return following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8. On Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex dropped The Demystification of Dragon Lady episode, featuring actress-comedian Margret Cho and journalist Lisa Ling.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Next month’s London Korean Film Festival cloaks itself in a panoply of the country’s recent cinema, with a mix of commercial blockbusters, festival titles and documentaries. The long-running event also pays tribute to Kang Soo-youn, the performer who was the first Korean to win a best acting award in Venice and who died in May this year. The event runs from Nov. 3 – 17, 2022 in venues across London and comprises 35 films. It opens with a previously announced screening of “Alienoid.” The Cinema Now section includes: Jeong Ji-yeon’s psychological thriller “The Anchor”; Davy Chou’s “Return To Seoul,” which premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard; Byun Sung-hyun’s “Kingmaker”; “Hot Blooded,” the long-awaited directorial debut by acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Cheon Myeong-kwan; nostalgic road chase movie “Stellar: A Magical Ride”; “Director’s Intention,” by Kim Min-geun.

N.Flying have announced their upcoming eighth mini-album ‘Dearest’, due out in October.The South Korean band took to their social media pages yesterday (September 28) to announce the forthcoming release of ‘Dearest’, their eighth mini-album, next month through a “schedule announcement”.‘Dearest’ is slated to release on October 17 at 6pm KST, with other details including the record’s title track to be drip-released in the following weeks. The forthcoming album will mark N.Flying’s first music in a little over a year – their last release was the album ‘Turbulence’ in October 2021, which was a repackaged version of their June 2021 studio album ‘Man On The Moon’.

Glitch has been shared by Netflix at its TUDUM event today (September 24).The virtual preview event gives fans a look at what is coming up on the streaming platform for the rest of the year and beyond.In the Korean segment of the stream, Netflix revealed a longer preview of Glitch, the new sci-fi mystery series that will star Jeon Yeo-bin (Vincenzo, Alienoid) and Nana (Oh My Ladylord, Swindlers).SHINee’s Minho introduced the clip at the event, describing the series as “a story about Ji-hyo, who can see aliens and Bo-ra, who has been tracking down aliens”. “They search to find Ji-hyo’s boyfriend, who has gone missing without a trace and end up taking a step closer to unsolved mysteries in this bizarre series,” he continued.“This series is by Gin Han-sai, the writer of Extracurricular, which left many viewers in shock.

Money Heist: Joint Economic Area has been shared at Netflix’s TUDUM preview event.Today (September 24), the streaming platform is sharing first looks at some of its upcoming programmes around the world, kicking off with a section dedicated to its Korean slate.TUDUM Korea began with an exclusive new clip from part two of the remake of Money Heist. It was introduced by Lee Hyun-woo, who plays Rio in the series, and shows a fatal face-off between former comrades.“The Joint Task Force tightens its grip as the genius heist team unravels its plan,” reads the official YouTube description.

BLACKPINK have become the first-ever K-pop girl group to achieve a Number One album in the UK.The South Korean band hit the top spot today (September 23) with their second full length record, ‘Born Pink’, which was released last Friday (September 16).BLACKPINK previously peaked at Number Two in the United Kingdom with their debut album, 2020’s ‘The Album’ (via the Official Charts Company).Martin Talbot, Chief Executive at the Official Charts Company, said: “Congratulations to BLACKPINK.“Being any kind of chart first is a record which can never be taken away, so for their new album ‘Born Pink’ to become the first UK Official Number One by a K-pop girl group is a fantastic achievement – and puts them in the record books forever!”Back in 2019, BTS became the first Korean act to hit Number One in the UK albums chart with ‘Map of The Soul: Persona’.

Hallyu! The Korean Wave will feature around 200 objects from outfits worn by K-pop groups ATEEZ and aespa to a recreation of the bathroom from Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning movie Parasite. Digital displays and interactive installations will also take visitors deeper into the scenes the exhibition explores.Curator Rosalie Kim began pitching the exhibition to the Victoria & Albert museum in 2019 after noticing that younger visitors coming to the museum’s Korean Gallery and comparing items to ones they had seen in K-dramas and films.

Thania Garcia South Korean R&B singer Crush, who is in the midst of a comeback after a two-year military service hiatus, has recruited BTS’ J-Hope for his new single, “Rush Hour.” The celebratory song arrived on Thursday with an accompanying music video which also stars J-Hope and sees both artists skating through elaborate dance numbers in an alleyway. After Crush begins the track, he’s joined by the BTS member, who playfully raps, “Wherever I go now it’s a red carpet feel / Cameras snapping wherever I go like flash, flash,” as a crowd of camera flashes appears behind him. Crush told the Korean entertainment publication Soompi that his decision to collaborate with J-Hope was natural, as they are both going in a similar musical direction, and added that he “was so grateful for [J-Hope] when he helped monitor and provided coaching.”

Stray Kids have unveiled snippets of their forthcoming ‘Maxident’ mini-album through a mashup clip.On September 19, the eight-member boyband shared a mashup video comprising tracks from their upcoming seventh mini-album ‘Maxident’. The record, due out on October 7 at 1pm KST, will be accompanied by the release of the music video for its lead single ‘Case 143’.The new clip previews all eight tracks on ‘Maxident’ including its lead single and unit tracks ‘3RACHA’, ‘Taste’ and ‘Can’t Stop’.

BTS’ Order of Cultural Merit awarded by former president Moon Jae-In in 2018 — should be allowed to serve an alternative form of military service.Kim’s proposal suggests that existing provisions in place for athletes, actors, directors and classical musicians who have made a significant international impact should be expanded to include decorated pop celebrities.“Korean pop celebrities active in the international field make unimaginable economic and social contributions,” said Kim, per The Korea Times.He added that BTS’ recent appointment as ambassadors of Busan City is one way the boyband are actively serving South Korea’s national interests.

EXCLUSIVE: Lana Condor (To All the Boys films), Desmin Borges (The Time Traveler’s Wife) and Callan Mulvey (The Gray Man) have signed on to star alongside Chase Stokes in Monarch Media’s thriller Valiant One, which goes into production in Vancouver later this month.

Korean director Park Chan-wook is back with a new thriller “Decision To Leave”, and ET Canada has your exclusive first look at the trailer.

Bad Prosecutor (literal translation), starring D.O of EXO.The new 30-second teaser trailer was shared on September 14 by the South Korean cable network, and introduces the titular prosecutor Jin Jung (D.O) swaggered into a room with a motorcycle helmet on, while holding a baseball bat. “Do you know what I’ve realised while living this life?” he points out, “To catch bad guys like you, you have to be more vicious.”He begins destroying the contents of the room: throwing his helmet towards the camera and spray-paints it and using his bat to destroy the potted plants sitting on the desk.

Disney+ has announced the all-star actors’ line-up to star in its upcoming Korean original series Shadow Detective. The K-drama was announced on September 13 by the streaming giant. Shadow Detective follows detective Taek-rok, who is retiring after an illustrious career in the police force.

Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae made Emmy history tonight as the first first foreign-language actor to win Lead Actor in a Drama Series — he was also the first such actor to ever be nominated.

Jay Park’s newest music label, More Vision, has launched its first-ever auditions for an upcoming boyband.On September 7 at Midnight KST, More Vision shared several posts across its social media accounts in English, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin announcing that it has opened up auditions for its first-ever boy group.According to More Vision, the label is seeking males born 2005 or after to audition with either vocals, dance, rap or producing with no limitations on nationality. It also states that the ability to speak Korean may be preferred, but is not mandatory for potential applicants.

BLACKPINK’s latest single ‘Pink Venom’ has been deemed unfit for broadcast by South Korean broadcasters KBS.KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) has removed BLACKPINK’s recent single ‘Pink Venom’ from rankings on its weekly music programme Music Bank. According to a previously-released evaluation report by the broadcaster, per KoreaJoongAng Daily, KBS had deemed the track unsuitable for broadcast due to its lyrics.The broadcaster ruled that ‘Pink Venom’ had violated article 46 of Broadcasting Regulations set by the Korea Communications Standards Commission.