BTS’ Jimin to collaborate with Ha Sung-woon for ‘Our Blues’ soundtrack

James Acaster made quite the comparison between Squid Game and Celebrity Mastermind after appearing in front of host Clive Myrie. The comedian, whose topic of choice was ‘the history of ice cream’, managed to gain three points on his unique subject in the first round, with answers like ‘Creamy Boys’ and ‘Monsieur Ice Cream,’ before comparing his situation to being in Squid Game. The South Korean survival drama sees hundreds of cash-strapped players accept an invitation to compete in children’s games with a deadly twist – not quite the same as answering on Haagen-Dazs or Ben & Jerry’s.

EXCLUSIVE: Fernanda Andrade (Let the Right One In) has signed on for a role in Paramount+’s crime thriller, Finestkind. She joins an ensemble that also includes Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich, Clayne Crawford, Meghan Leathers and Ismael Cruz Cordova, as previously announced.

As he prepares to leave office next week, South Korea’s outgoing Culture, Sports And Tourism Minister Hwang Hee has called on the country’s incoming new government to amend the law so to exempt BTS members – and other successful pop stars – from military service.“It’s time to create a system for [treating] popular culture-art figures as art personnel”, he said at a press conference in Seoul yesterday, according to Yonhap.The issue of BTS’s national service has been a hotly debated topic in South Korea for a number of years now. Under the country’s laws, all able-bodied men must begin serving around two years in the military at some point between the ages of eighteen and 28.

BTS‘ exemption from the nation’s mandatory military service.The Culture Minister proposed in a press briefing on May 4 that globally recognised male pop-culture artists should be allowed to substitute their compulsory two-year conscription for alternative programmes.“It’s time to create a system for incorporating popular culture-art figures as art personnel,” Hwang said, per Yonhap News Agency, in recognition of figures such as award-winning athletes and classical musicians and their roles in enhancing South Korea’s image overseas.“The [exemption] system has been operated meaningfully to give those who have enhanced the national status based on their excellent skills more chances to contribute to the country, and there is no reason the popular art-culture field should be excluded from this,” he continued.Under South Korea’s current Military Service act, all able-bodied Korean men are required to enlist for approximately two years of military service before the age of 30. This was after an amendment to the act was made in late-2020 where the age limit was raised from the initial 28.“I thought somebody should be a responsible voice at a time when there are conflicting pros and cons ahead of the enlistment of some of the BTS members,” Hwang added.

Thania Garcia South Korean entertainment giant HYBE has reported a generated revenue of approximately $226 million — an increase of 59.8% — for the first quarter of the year.In 2021, the music company announced a billion-dollar annual revenue for the first time, thanks largely in part to Scooter Braun‘s megamerger agreement (between Ithaca Holdings and HYBE). Since then, the return of live music and large-scale events has unequivocally propelled revenue.Two of the top contributors were HYBE America artist Justin Bieber, whose “Justice” world tour launched in February, and of course BTS, whose “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage: Seoul” screening made it big at the global box office; the limited release raked in $32.6 million from 3,711 cinemas in 75 worldwide theatrical markets.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefK-pop superstars BTS could be given exemption from compulsory military service in South Korea.“It’s time to create a system for incorporating popular culture-art figures as art personnel,” said Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee, at a press briefing on Wednesday, according to reports by the Yonhap news agency. Hwang said he aims to push a new law through parliament that would allow the stars of popular culture to serve their country outside the military.Under the present Military Service Act all able-bodied Korean men must enlist for roughly two years of military service before they reach age 30.

Lizzo has opened up about her friendship with member of K-pop titans BTS.On the latest episode of the Audacy podcast series, American singer-rapper Lizzo spoke about her relationship with the South Korean boyband, touching on her budding friendship with J-Hope in particular.“I got J-Hope’s number, so we be texting,” Lizzo shared, before adding that she enjoys her text conversations with the rapper. “He’s a great texter, expressive.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe South Korean streaming market is consolidating around five major players as it also emerges as a hub for premium local content.New research by consultancy firm Media Partners Asia and its AMPD Research platform show that the country boasted 14.1 million premium video streaming subscriptions at the end of 2021 and that usage of premium platforms accounted for a growing share of total viewing time.SVOD leaders Netflix, Wavve, TVing, Coupang Play and Disney+ captured an aggregate 85% share of SVOD subscriptions in Korea and 83% of SVOD streaming minutes.“Within Korea, nearly 70% of premium video consumption is driven by Korean dramas, movies and variety shows, while U.S. series and movies capture 14%,” said Vivek Couto, MPA’s executive director.

EXCLUSIVE: Ismael Cruz Cordova (The Undoing) is the latest addition to the cast of Paramount+’s crime thriller, Finestkind. He’s set to star alongside previously announced cast members including Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich, Clayne Crawford and Meghan Leathers.

MLD Entertainment, the company behind K-pop girl group MOMOLAND, is gearing up to launch a brand-new group soon.Today (April 26), CEO Lee Hyung-jin spoke to South Korean news outlet Star News in new interview, where he revealed that the agency is preparing to debut a new girl group sometime in June. The upcoming act, named LAPILLUS, will include members who speak Spanish, English, Tagalog, Chinese and Japanese.Two members of the forthcoming group have since been revealed, and they are Japanese trainee Nonaka Shana, who recently appeared on Mnet’s reality TV competition show Girls Planet 999, along with Chantal Videla (known as Chanty), a Filipino-Argentinian model and actress.The duo have been active on MLD Entertainment’s YouTube ‘NADOL’ series, where they had introduced themselves as foreign trainees hoping to becoming K-pop idols in Korea.

EXCLUSIVE: Meghan Leathers (Don’t Look Up) has signed on for a role in Paramount+’s crime thriller Finestkind, from Academy Award-winning writer-director Brian Helgeland. She joins an ensemble that also includes Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich and Clayne Crawford, as previously announced.

Big Hit has responded to reports concerning the reported seizure of Jimin’s home. On Sunday, Korean news outlet Biz Hankook claimed that South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service took over the BTS member’s Seoul apartment on January 25.

Big Hit Music is clearing up reports.

Aaron Stanford (Perry Mason), Scotty Tovar (The Mosquito Coast), Tim Daly (Life & Beth), Lolita Davidovich (The Longest Ride) and Clayne Crawford (The Killing of Two Lovers) have signed on for roles in Paramount+’s crime thriller Finestkind, from Academy Award-winning writer-director Brian Helgeland. They join an ensemble that also includes Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace and Jenna Ortega, as previously announced.

Psy has dropped a teaser for the music video of an upcoming track titled ‘Celeb’, starring former Miss A member Bae Suzy.The South Korean unveiled the eccentric visual at midnight KST today (April 21), where both Bae and Psy are seen performing snippets of the song’s choreography in the middle of a Psy-themed amusement park.“You so popular / Be my formula / May I call you a celeb?” Psy sings in English in the 20-second teaser. ‘Celeb’ is a cut from Psy’s upcoming ninth full-length album ‘Psy 9th’, which will be his first release after a five-year absence from music.

Broker, starring South Korean singer IU and Parasite star Song Kang-ho, has finally arrived.The clip opens with a woman (played by IU) humming to herself as she tends to a crying baby, before cutting to a man in the driver’s seat of a car, glancing at a baby in a casket in the seat next to him.We see him transporting the baby to an undisclosed location with the help of a team, saying: “In a way, I guess you could say it’s an act of good faith?” It’s then revealed that the man has plans to sell the baby, and is part of an illegal operation that does so, with two detectives hot on their heels.Broker marks acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda’s first-ever Korean-language film, which will premiere in competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival next month. Kore-eda previously bagged the Palme d’Or prize at the festival for Shoplifters in 2018.Featuring a star-studded cast, including Parasite’s Song Kang-ho, singer-actress IU, Bae Doo-na (The Silent Sea, Sense8), Gang Dong-won (Peninsula) and Lee Joo-young (Itaewon Class, Times), Broker follows Sang-hyun (played by Song) who sets up a baby box where parents are able to anonymously leave their babies for him find new parents for.Self-described as a “broker” of goodwill, Sang-hyun works with Dong-soo (Gang) in this line of work, during which they cross paths with So-young (IU), who leaves her own baby in the baby box.

BIBI has dropped a music video for new single ‘Best Lover’, which is part of Asian-American label 88rising’s new ‘Head In The Clouds Forever’ EP.In the futuristic new visual, the singer sits in front of a wall of screens, attempting to programme herself a lover. She dons a pair of VR glasses and interacts with the humanoid figure in a virtual world.

Dreamcatcher have delivered a stirring cover of the 2014 Girl’s Day hit single ‘Something’.The six-piece, with the exception of vocalist Yoohyeon, performed both a dance and vocal cover of ‘Something’, and stayed largely true to the original, which was first released in 2014 and went viral that same year. Dreamcatcher also wore outfits that paid tribute to the ones Girl’s Day wore during that era.“Something that only I didn’t know / I can feel it must be something / Your obvious lies / Stop here,” they belt in the chorus.

SHINee leader and vocalist Onew has made his solo comeback with a playful video for ‘Dice’, the title track of his new mini-album of the same name.In the vibrant new visual, Onew exchanges longing looks with a woman in the window of an upscale hotel, before she is taken away by a masked man. He attempts to infiltrate the hotel, first as a prince and later as a bellboy to rescue her.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe release of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Ambulance” gave Hollywood a rare one-two-three at the South Korean box office over the weekend. But neither newcomer managed to earn $1 million in another deeply depressed session.“Sonic 2” earned $843,000 over the weekend and $979,000 over its opening five days, according to data from Kobis, the theatrical tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).“Ambulance” earned $450,000 between Friday and Sunday and a total of $674,000 over its five days since release on Wednesday.