Ex-(G)I-DLE member Soojin teases solo debut with cryptic ‘Black Forest’ video

DEAN has been confirmed to release his first music after four years and six months this November.The singer’s label, Universal Music, announced the upcoming release of DEAN’s first single in more than four years through a statement to South Korean outlet TV Daily earlier today (November 14). In the company’s brief statement to press, it wrote: “DEAN will return after 4 years and 6 months.

Soojin has made her solo debut with ‘AGASSY’, from her new mini-album of the same title.For the music video of ‘AGASSY’, Soojin employs traditional Korean motifs, wearing a modernised version of the hanbok and more. The song itself also draws on traditional Korean music.“Among the red flowers / Like a butterfly landing, la-la-la, eh / On my collar fluttering, eh / Flapping like wings flying, la-la-la,” she sings on her new single.‘AGASSY’ is also the title of her new solo mini-album, which features six tracks.

Pledis Entertainment, home to K-pop group SEVENTEEN, has announced the upcoming debut of a brand-new boyband in early-January 2024.South Korean media outlet JTBC reported on November 7 that Pledis Entertainment is planning to debut their first boyband in nine years in early January 2024. The report claimed that the group will consist of five to six members, including some who are not native Korean.Shortly after speculations surfaced, the company confirmed the news in an official statement to SPOTV News.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief CJ ENM Hong Kong, a unit of South Korea’s CJ ENM, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) and local TV network – TVBS to launch a multi-year content fund that would support the co-production and joint distribution of audiovisual content. The “strategic alliance” combines assets including production, distribution and marketing, media networks and technology.

BLACKPINK‘s Jisoo was reportedly paid up to US$80,000 per episode for her 2021 K-drama series, Snowdrop.From December 2021 to January 2022, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo starred in the JTBC K-drama series, Snowdrop, alongside Jung Hae-in. The series was the singer-actress’ first starring role in a TV show, following a number of guest appearances over the years.It’s been reported that the BLACKPINK member and co-star Jung were reportedly paid up to ₩110million (roughly US$81,000) per episode of the K-drama series, according to data obtained by SBS.The figure was part of an October 24 report that was presented by Lee Sang-heon, a member of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party, who is also the chairman of the Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Committee.The report, submitted by the Korean Broadcasting Actors Union and the Performing Arts Rights Association of South Korea, was part of efforts to highlight the pay gap between lead and supporting actors in the entertainment industry.According to the report, Lee Sun-kyun was paid ₩200million (US$148,000) for an episode of the 2023 SBS series, Payback.

South Korean studio CJ ENM has entered into a MOU with Saudi Arabian content company Manga Productions to jointly co-produce and distribute content.

ARTMS‘ HeeJin has opened up about the difficulties she has faced in socialising as a public figure.HeeJin recently sat for an interview for the latest digital cover of Vanity Teen, where she spoke candidly about the challenges she and other Korean celebrities face when it comes to forming social circles.“There’s a common misconception that becoming an idol will lead to having many celebrity friends, but it’s actually quite challenging,” the ARTMS singer told the outlet.She later revealed that she has few celebrities friends even now, despite having made her debut in 2016. “Maybe it’s because of my personality, but I don’t think I’ve made celebrity friends since my debut as an idol,” she added.Elsewhere during the interview, HeeJin also spoke about upcoming music from ARTMS.

North Korea. Your house is on fire. What do you try to rescue first? Your kids? Your pet? No, the first thing you reach for is the portrait of the Dear Leader, Kim Jong-un and his father and grandfather that is hanging on your wall, as mandated by the authoritarian government. Everything else can wait. 

ARTMS and LOONA member HeeJin member has released her new music video for ‘Algorithm’.The music video for ‘Algorithm’ stars HeeJin as a Korean princess who lives a glamorous life online, but wishing for more freedom in life. She soon makes a break for it, running away from the place to reunite with her ARTMS bandmates.Later, the LOONA singer explores the streets of Seoul, takes pictures at photobooths and joins a dance class.

The crippling pain of rheumatoid arthritis could be eased for more than half a million Brits suffering with the condition following a scientific breakthrough. A team of Korean scientists are developing a new treatment solution.

BTS, (G)I-DLE and LE SSERAFIM, have denied any rumours of links to a recent spate of drug-related investigations in the Korean entertainment industry.In the past week, popular South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun and Big Bang member G-Dragon were booked on suspicion of drug use. The two cases are said to be unrelated to one another.Soon after the news broke, rumours that other high-profile K-pop stars were also being investigated for drug use started circulating online, according to SBS Star.Among them were LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chaewon, (G)I-DLE’s Jeon Soyeon and K-pop boyband BTS.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Along with the expansion of streaming, among the unintended consequences of COVID and the SAG-AFTRA actors strike has been global consumers’ growing consumption of non-English-language films and TV shows. That in turn has elevated familiarity with and acceptance of Asian local shows and Asian performers – not just those riding the Korean wave.

“Incredibly weird — but delightful” was one audience member’s indelible comment after the UK premiere of Lee Won-suk’s insane comedy Killing Romance on Friday. Starring Lee Hanee, a former Miss Universe recently seen in the sci-fi romp Alienoid, it tells the story of Hwa Yeo-rae, a viral internet star who becomes trapped in a controlling marriage to the evil Jonathan Na (Lee Sun-kyun, who played the head of Parasite’s rich Park family). To escape from Na, Yeo-rae teams up with her new neighbor Beom-woo (Gong Myung), a young superfan who dreams up a series of increasingly bizarre murder plots.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Lee Sun-kyun, star of Oscar-winning Korean film “Parasite,” is being investigated by police over his alleged drug use, Korean news media report. “Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency had begun an investigation into eight people, including the actor and the offspring of a chaebol [major family-controlled conglomerate], over allegations they took illegal drugs multiple times this year,” the publicly-owned Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday afternoon. The news outlet also reported that “while the police have not officially named Lee as a suspect, they are said to have discovered a lead in connection with the actor’s illegal activities.” There has been no explanation of what substances Lee is alleged to have used.

Concert film BTS: Yet to Come has been set to stream on Amazon’s Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories starting November 9. The K-pop superstars’ concert originally took place in October last year at the Asiad Main Stadium in Busan, South Korea as part of the city’s World Expo 2030 bid. 

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief K-pop concert movie “BTS: Yet to Come” will play exclusively on the Amazon-owned Prime Video platform, launching on Nov. 9.

Kim Jong-un is alleged to have executed a general by 'throwing him into fish tank full of deadly piranhas' - in an act reminiscent of a James Bond film. The unnamed general was accused of planning a coup against Mr Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, but ended up as the latest victim of the newly-developed execution method.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Neom, the Saudi Arabian region on the Red Sea that is aiming to become a major film and TV production hub, has forged a strategic partnership with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) to set up training programs for young Saudi content creators. The full-service Saudi production hub, which is becoming a major driver of the kingdom’s effort to build a film and TV industry almost from scratch, will be hosting courses held by The Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), South Korea‘s top national film school.

Fifth Season and Roku have struck an unscripted international distribution deal.

NMIXX member Jini has returned to music to make her solo debut with the single ‘C’mon’, taken from her first solo mini-album, ‘An Iron Hand In A Velvet Glove’.The singer and rapper left the JYP Entertainment girl group in December 2022 due to “personal circumstances”.Jini has collaborated with American rapper Aminé on ‘C’mon’, with the track – and the rest of the EP – composed and produced by NCT 127 and EXO collaborator MZMC. The record features both a Korean and English version of the track.In the accompanying music video, Jini plays a school girl distracted in class as she sees visions of animated characters.