Led by BTS, ‘Parasite,’ ‘#Alive’ and More, South Korea’s Entertainment Biz Is Taking the World by Storm

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe theatrical cinema market in South Korea is just about strong enough to sustain a trickle of new release titles, but its continuing weakness points to growing problems in store. Ticket prices are set to be raised to help ease operators’ losses.New-release crime drama, “Voice of Silence” topped the Korean box office with a quiet $1.47 million score over the weekend, according to data from the Korean Film Council’s KOBIS system.

South Korea's Big Hit Entertainment, the company that manages global pop sensation BTS, had a dynamite trading debut Thursday in Seoul, helped by the zeal of its loyal fans. Big Hit's shares nearly doubled after their initial public offering netted more than $800 million.

South Korea's CJ Entertainment, best known as the studio behind Bong Joon-ho's Oscar winner Parasite, has signed Deon Taylor (The Intruder, Black and Blue, Traffik) to direct the upcoming gothic thriller Grave Hill, the company’s English-language remake of the hit Vietnamese horror film The Housemaid.

The music company behind BTS floated on the stock market in Seoul earlier today. A rapidly rising share price has given the company an initial valuation of 9.6 trillion South Korean wong (that’s $8.3 billion or £6.4 billion).You could say that that valuation proves K-pop is good business.

BTS is lighting up the Billboard Music Awards like «Dynamite!» The K-pop boy band performed their hit song at the awards show on Wednesday. RM, V, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, Suga and J-Hope danced it out to the catchy song from Seoul, South Korea, in red 70s-inspired ensembles. Fun choreography, colorful graphics and a poppy light display brought their performance to the next level. The band is nominated for Top Duo/Group, and before their performance, took home Top Social Artist (which they've won

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe 24th Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival, which had to pivot into a digital only event at the last minute, has unveiled a lineup (see link here) with more than 220 films, including 59 world and 26 international premieres.The festival, which runs from Oct.

BTS fans are calling for the K-Pop group to be exempt from mandatory military service in South Korea.All able-bodied males aged between 18 and 28 are legally required to serve in the military for around two years as part of the country’s defence policy against North Korea.The eldest BTS member, Jin, turned 27 last December and must therefore sign up for military service by the end of 2021.

BTS are on a seemingly unstoppable rise at the moment, with their popularity at home in South Korea and internationally still on the up. However, fans are increasingly concerned that the group’s booming career may soon be scuppered by South Korea’s mandatory military service.

Tamar Herman As a member of South Korean group Girls’ Generation, Jessica Jung made a name for herself in the highest echelons of pop royalty. Having since gone solo (she left the group in 2014) and launched a fashion line, with plans to open a flagship store in Seoul, Jung is now taking readers on a journey to stardom in her debut YA novel, “Shine.” Released Sept.

Rebecca Davis editorK-pop group BTS has become a global brand. Thanks to the band’s dazzling dance moves, layered music videos, engaging social media posts, and references to everything from Erich Fromm and Nietzsche — not to mention vocal abilities on the level of the best in the current pop arena — members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook have made the music of their South Korean roots universal to those who love pop and appreciate the genre for its sonic optimism.

Kristine Kwak South Korean girl group Blackpink is giving the world a sweet tooth. Their latest single, “Ice Cream,” features sugary vocals by Selena Gomez and melodies by co-writer Ariana Grande, not to mention a cavity-inducing, cuteness-overload music video.

Uncertainty looms over BTS members' compulsory military training. The group's member Jin is due to enlist for his service by the end of next year under the current rules.

After catching international attention for his role in Parasite, Lee Sun Gyun prepares to star his first-ever disaster movie tentatively titled Silence. The actor was previously in talks for the role.

Huge congrats are in order to the seven members of the hit K-pop band BTS – they are all officially multi-millionaires!  This latest development took place after “their label, Big Hit Entertainment, pulled off South Korea’s biggest stock market listing in three years,” according to reports via CNN. CNN also reported that the company is issuing its “shares at 135,000 won (USD 115) each, raising 962.55 million won (USD 822 million) and valuing the company at 4.8 trillion won (USD 4.1 billion)” in

BTS is coming back with a brand new album.