City Seoul Showbiz Latest News and Updates

FIFTY FIFTY have been denied an injunction to suspend their contracts with agency Attrakt.Yesterday (August 28), the Seoul Central District Court rejected the injunction request the girl group had filed back in June, per Yonhap News Agency. At the time, the quartet claimed that their agency had “violated contract terms and took actions that resulted in the destruction of a relationship based on trust”.Attrakt CEO Jeon Hong-joon briefly spoke to Yonhap News Agency following the decision, saying that he now plans to “focus on the criminal lawsuit against Ahn Sung-il and Director Baek”, as translated by Koreaboo.

Y. Michele Kang has formed an incredible working relationship with emerging forward Trinity Rodman and the rest of the squad.

Stray Kids is Louis Vuitton’s newest house ambassador.The French luxury fashion house announced the Stray Kids’ member as the brand’s new house ambassador today (August 22) on its official Twitter account.“I am thrilled that Felix is joining Louis Vuitton – I love his audacious sense of style,” said Nicolas Ghesquière, the artistic director of women’s collections at Louis Vuitton. The post was accompanied by images from ELLE Korea of Felix wearing pieces by the brand.Captivating global audiences with his versatile talent, Felix brings a distinctive artistry to the 2023 MTV VMA nominated band, in the running for best K-Pop group.#Felix #StrayKids #LouisVuittonPhoto Credits: @ELLE_KOREA pic.twitter.com/08DRuDTFFJ— Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) August 22, 2023“I discovered Felix when I presented my pre-fall collection in Seoul [in April],” Ghesquière told Women’s Wear Daily seperately about the ambassadorship.

Loossemble will make their official debut this September.Loossemble, a portmanteau of “LOONA” and “assemble”, is a quintet that recently formed under CTDENM and features five LOONA members: Hyunjin, Yeojin, Vivi, Gowon and Hyeju. The group were formed in late-July, following the five members’ departure from Blockberry Creative.Yesterday (August 20), Loossemble released a trailer called ‘..searching for their friends’, which teased that the girl group would be releasing new music on September 15.

Korea has selected the disaster thriller Concrete Utopia starring Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2024 Oscars.

LOONA member Chuu in her contract lawsuit against Blockberry Creative.Today (August 17), several South Korean news outlets reported that the 23-year-old idol has won her lawsuit against the K-pop agency over her exclusive contract. Chuu had initially filed for a provisional injunction to suspend her contract with Blockberry in January 2022, which was accepted by the court.The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Northern District Court has now officially nullified her contract with the agency.

K-pop girl group tripleS’ latest sub-unit LOVElution have released a music video for ‘Girls’ Capitalism’.Today (August 17) at midnight KST, the eight-member sub-unit – of Seoyeon, Hyerin, Yubin, Kaede, Dahyun, Nien, Sohyun and Xinyu – released the visual for their first single ‘Girls’ Capitalism’. The song leads their mini-album ‘ↀ’ (‘Muhan’), which will be released later today at 6pm KST.The new music video opens with different school clubs posing for yearbook pictures, with LOVElution revealing themselves as part of the “Mad Money Club”.

SEVENTEEN singer Seungkwan is set to rejoin the group for their upcoming release following a health-related hiatus.On August 16, Pledis Entertainment shared that Seungkwan will be returning from a hiatus by September. The K-pop singer had announced a break due to unspecified health issues last month.“Seungkwan is currently concentrating on his recovery.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief South Korean police said on Wednesday that they had found evidence that the box office performance of 323 films over the past five years had been inflated. Seoul Metropolitan Police said that, as a result, they had referred 69 people from major exhibition chains and 24 film distribution companies to prosecutors.

BLACKPINK‘s ‘Born Pink’ tour will reach its finale with two concerts in Seoul come September, one of which will be streamed.On August 16, the girl group unveiled a poster announcing that they will end their ongoing ‘Born Pink’ world tour with a two-night concert in Seoul on September 16 and 17. The second show will also be streamed online via Weverse concerts.At the time of publishing, YG Entertainment has not shared ticketing or venue details.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Lee Byung-hun-starring disaster movie “Concrete Utopia” topped the South Korean box office over the latest weekend, replacing female led crime caper “Smugglers.” Directed by Um Tae-hwa, “Concrete Utopia” is set in a Seoul that has been largely destroyed by a massive earthquake. One building stands tall among the wreckage and becomes a refuge for those already inside, but the inhabitants must fend of the unwanted attentions of outsiders. It opened on Wednesday, earning $8.40 million between Friday and Sunday and fully $11.3 million over its full opening five days, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).

Disney+ has announced that its upcoming crime K-drama The Worst of Evil will premiere in September.On August 14, the streaming platform shared that its upcoming crime series starring Ji Chang-wook (Suspicious Partner) and Squid Game’s Wi Ha-jun will premiere its first three episodes on September 27.Set in 1990s Seoul, The Worst of Evil follows police officer Park Jun-mo (played by Ji), who goes undercover to infiltrate a notorious crime organisation pushing a new drug in nightclubs. However, he discovers that his wife, Yoo Eui-jeong (The Empire’s Im Se-mi), has volunteered for the same undercover assignment, and shares history with the gang’s leader Jung Gi-cheol (played by Wi).The upcoming series also stars Woo Kang-min (Big Bet), Han Yi-jin (Blind) and Im Sung-jae (D.P.

LE SSERAFIM vocalist Huh Yunjin has released a new solo song titled ‘blessing in disguise’.On August 14, the K-pop singer unveiled a music video for her song ‘blessing in disguise’, now available on streaming platforms. The new track details Huh’s journey moving to South Korea and becoming an idol.

K-pop girl group IVE are set to embark on their first world tour this October.On August 11, Starship Entertainment announced that the six-member act will kickstart their world tour, titled ‘Show What I Have’, with a two-night concert in Seoul this October.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Netflix is further expanding its slate of unscripted TV content from Japan, its most lucrative market in East Asia. The new shows cover the reality, variety and dating genres. “We’re excited to move into a new phase of our content strategy, ramping up our investments in unscripted and bringing new concepts to the screen.

EXCLUSIVE: In the opening scene of Netflix survival show Zombieverse, a dating couple in a bar in Seoul’s trendy Hongdae district lean in for a kiss. 

Netflix has announced a slate of Japanese dating, comedy and reality shows, part of a wider push into Asian unscripted content, which also takes in South Korea and India. 

BTS‘s Suga were the cause of a recent commotion on a Seoul subway train.Yesterday evening (August 6), South Korean police received several reports from passengers on the Seoul Subway Line 9 express train to Gimpo airport. This included over 20 reports of people allegedly getting hurt, a riot, as well as a strange smell on the train, leading to an investigation by police and firefighters, per Yonhap News.According to SBS News, panicked passengers rushed out of the train upon its arrival at Sinnonhyeon station, causing at least seven passengers to suffer “cuts and bruises” in the evacuation.

BTS rapper Suga has begun preparations for his military enlistment.Today (August 7), Big Hit Music released a statement announcing that the rapper had terminated his enlistment postponement and is currently beginning the enlistment process.Under South Korean law, all able-bodied male citizens are to serve for 18-21 months by the age of 28. The BTS members had previously been granted exemptions to defer their enlistments until they turned 30 after receiving an Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 by then-president Moon Jae-in.“We would like to inform our fans that Suga has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement,” Big Hit Entertainment said in its statement.

BTS’ RM recently performed an upcoming solo song at his bandmate Suga’s solo concert in Seoul.Between August 4 to August 6, Suga held three encore shows for his ‘Agust D’ tour at the KSPO Dome in Seoul. During his final show on Sunday (August 6), fellow BTS member RM joined him to perform their song ‘Strange’, as well as an unreleased solo track.‘Strange’ was originally released in 2020 as part of Suga’s mixtape ‘D-2’, and the recent concert marked the first time the pair performed it live.

EXCLUSIVE: Cineverse has acquired all North American rights to body-swap psychological thriller Devils, which is receiving its international premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal.

H1-KEY have announced plans to make their comeback with sophomore mini-album, ‘Seoul Dreaming’.Today (August 1), the K-pop girl group released a teaser image for their upcoming sophomore mini-album ‘Seoul Dreaming’. The project is set to be released on August 30 at 6pm KST.‘Seoul Dreaming’ will be H1-KEY’s first comeback since their breakthrough January 2023 single ‘Rose Blossom’, which peaked at Number 14 on South Korean’s Circles Chart.More information about ‘Seoul Dreaming’, including its title track, tracklist, pre-order details and more, are expected out soon.

Your Manchester City headlines for the evening of Sunday, July 30, 2023.

When Manchester City arrived at the Seoul World Cup Stadium to face Atletico Madrid, the pitch was effectively underwater.

Manchester City take on Spanish side Atletico Madrid as they bring down the curtain on their pre-season tour of the Far East.

Nathan Ake has eased concerns over his injury situation, with the defender poised to sign a new contract at Man City.

Perthshire scout groups waved off a dozen of their members on a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to South Korea on Monday, July 24.

Hyunjin, a member of the K-pop boyband Stray Kids, has been named Versace’s newest global brand ambassador.Hyunjin’s new appointment as the Italian luxury fashion house’s new global ambassador was first announced today (July 20) by Women’s Wear Daily. According to the news outlet, the K-pop idol is set to front the brand’s upcoming Versace Holiday 2023 campaign, which will be launched this November.“I’m so excited to be starting my Versace journey as a global ambassador and to make beautiful moments together,” said Hyunjin, per WWD.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief A+E Networks has promoted Youngsun Soh to senior VP and MD of A+E Korea, and John Flanagan to senior VP and MD of A+E Japan & Southeast Asia. Saugato “Shoggy” Banerjee, who currently serves as MD of A+E Asia, is leaving the company from Sept. 30. The moves, intended to bolster operations in Asia, were announced Monday by Patrick Vien, group MD, A+E International and Steve MacDonald, president, global licensing & international. Based in Seoul, and reporting to Vien, Soh will continue to lead the growth of A+E’s business in Korea. She has led the unit since joining the company in 2017 as GM and oversaw the launch of History and Lifetime linear channels.

A+E Networks has rejigged its structure in Asia, with its regional chief leaving as a result.

EXCLUSIVE: Hayley Atwell predicted that she’d be on strike now.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Specialty distributor, Trinity CineAsia is releasing China’s summer blockbuster “Lost in the Stars” in the U.K and Ireland on some 30 screens from Friday. “I was fortunate to watch the film when it opened in China and once I saw it I just knew we had to have it,” said Cedric Behrel “‘Lost In The Stars’ is a very clever, uncanny thrill of a ride that harks back to classic Hitchcock and any noteworthy thriller since – the master himself had in fact once optioned the rights to the same story. We organized the fastest turnaround premiere known to man and we’ve been delighted by the reactions to the early previews. It epitomizes the best of what new Chinese cinema can bring to audiences.”

William Earl “Hotels on Screen” is a new five-episode video series in partnership with Variety and Hotels.com, spotlighting fictional worlds in fan-favorite TV shows and movies where real-life hotels were used as locations and sets. The series, featuring interviews with actors and artisans, aims to inspire fans and audiences to travel and explore hotels around the world. The new sponsored editorial series launches July 13, featuring the newly released film “Joy Ride” with interviews from stars Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu and director Adele Lim. “It’s exciting for us to partner with a marquee brand like Hotels.com to support artisans and actors who create content that stimulates imagination and fosters a desire in their audiences to experience these locations for themselves,” said Dea Lawrence, Variety’s chief operating and marketing officer.

Vanessa Kirby handled a wardrobe malfunction like a pro at the Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One premiere in New York City on Monday, July 10. 

Zombieverse.Zombieverse will star K-pop idol Tsuki of Billlie, Sweet Home actress Lee Si-young, TV personality Noh Hong-chul, comedian Park Na-rae, 2 Days And 1 Night star DinDin and more.The series will feature the aforementioned celebrities as “survivors” of a zombie apocalypse in Seoul who will have to band together in order to find food, transport, shelter and more. They will also have to complete daily tasks while avoid being “bitten” to stay in the game.The new teaser for the series shows the cast of Zombieverse trying to escape from the zombies in different places across Seoul, including a theme park, a supermarket and the popular nightlife district of Hongdae.“There will be new zombies, survivors and unique scenes, which have not been seen in the existing zombie-themed projects.

Hwasa of MAMAMOO has been reported to the police over an alleged “indecent performance”.Today (July 10), South Korean news outlet The Korea Herald reported that the Student Parent’s Rights Protection Union had filed a complaint against Hwasa over an “indecent performance”.“Hwasa’s gesture suggested a perverted sexual act and was enough to bring embarrassment and shame to the public who witnessed it,” alleges the Student Parent’s Rights Protection Union, per Chosun Ilbo as translated by Koreaboo. “As the gesture doesn’t fit the context of the choreography, it can not be interpreted as performance art.”MBN added in its report that the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul confirmed that they had received a complaint against Hwasa, and are currently investigating the claims.In a statement to MBN, Hwasa’s agency P Nation said: “We understand that the police are reviewing the case,” as translated by Soompi.Hwasa’s appearance at the Sungkyunkwan University Festival was part of the filming for the tvN series Dancing Queens on the Road, which the K-pop idol is a cast member of.Earlier this month, Hwasa officially joined P Nation, the K-pop agency founded by ‘Gangnam Style’ singer Psy.