South Korea to build new arena in Seoul just for K-pop

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefCinemas in South Korea received the good news last week that anti-COVID measures, including reduced seating capacity and bans on consumption of food and drink, were to end. But audiences reacted gingerly.“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” led the box office for a second weekend with $1.63 million, a drop of 44% from its opening weekend, and a 12-day cumulative of $6.55 million.

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.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentCritics’ Week, the sidebar dedicated to first and second films running alongside the Cannes Film Festival, will be kicking off with Jesse Eisenberg’s feature debut “When You Finish Saving the World” and showcase four female-directed movies out of seven titles. “When You Finish Saving the World,” which is headlined by Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard, revolves around the relationship between a politically-engaged mother and her fame-obsessed teenage son, who is also a burgeoning musician.

Psy has previewed a snippet of his new song ‘Happier’, featuring K-R&B singer-songwriter Crush.The animated teaser follows the life of a man from birth, who begins to lose sight of happiness as he grows older, panting as he desperately tries to keep up with the rat race as a snippet of the song plays.“I wanna be happier / I wanted to be someone’s love / I wanted to be proud,” the duo sing in the short clip. ‘Happier’ will be the eighth track of Psy’s upcoming comeback record, ‘Psy 9th’.‘Psy 9th’ is due out on April 29, and will mark the end of the singer’s five-year absence from music.

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.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” dominated the South Korean box office on its opening weekend.The “Harry Potter” spinoff franchise film earned $2.94 million between Friday and Sunday, accounting for 72% of theatrical business in Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Over the five days since its Wednesday opening, the film grossed $4.09 million.The film’s debut was strong enough to lift the nationwide weekend aggregate to $4.07 million. That was the first time in eight weeks that the total had exceeded $4 million.There were thin pickings for other titles.

SEOUL, South Korea -- State media anchor Ri Chun Hi is one of North Korea’s most famous voices after announcing the country's major events of past decades — among them nuclear and missile tests and the death of a leader — in a resounding, booming voice filled with emotion.The anchor dubbed abroad as the “pink lady” for her bright, traditional attire was the topic of official North Korean media herself Thursday after leader Kim Jong Un gave Ri a luxurious residence and asked her to continue to vigorously serve as the voice of his ruling Workers’ Party.Experts say Kim is trying to boost his support from elite North Koreas while the country deals with pandemic hardships and a diplomacy stalemate.“(Kim) said it is the sincerity of the party that there is nothing to spare for the treasures of the country like her who has worked as a revolutionary announcer for the party for more than 50 years since her girlhood,” the official Korean Central News Agency said. Kim expressed “expectation that she would as ever vigorously continue her work in good health as befitting a spokeswoman for the party.”Kim met Ri at a newly built riverside terraced residential district that was inaugurated Wednesday in Pyongyang.

KARD are gearing up to make their long-awaited comeback as a group soon.Earlier today (April 12), South Korean news outlet JTBC reported that the four-member act are preparing to release a new album prior to their July concerts in South America. This has since been confirmed by their agency, DSP Media.“KARD are working on their new album after their break during [J.Seph’s] military service,” stated the agency, as translated by Koreaboo, adding that the group would be making their comeback before heading to South America.

Psy, best known for this 2013 crossover hit ‘Gangnam Style’, will be returning with new music after a five-year absence.Earlier today (April 12), the 44-year-old musician took to Instagram to announce his long-awaited return after half a decade of no new releases. Psy shared that his ninth full-length album, titled ‘Psy 9th’, is due out on April 29 at 6pm KST, along with a clip from a previous concert.In the clip, which was filmed in 2013, Psy spoke about his global smash hit single ‘Gangnam Style’, which he says he took 10 years to write after his last hit, 2002’s ‘Champion’, “Perhaps the next time you meet a song like ‘Gangnam Style’ will be in 2022,” he says in the video.A post shared by PSY (@42psy42)Psy’s last release was May 2017’s ‘Psy 8th 4X2=8’, which featured dual lead singles ‘I Luv It’ and ‘New Face’.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAs the Cannes Film Festival will announce its Official Selection on Thursday, Variety is starting to get a slightly clearer picture of what 75th edition will look like, though fewer titles than usual have leaked. Led by Cannes’ artistic director and general delegate Thierry Fremaux, the selection committee has been flooded with late submissions and is now in the thick of deliberations.Most surprisingly, according to two well-informed sources, there will even be a David Lynch feature film which has been completely off the radar and stars Laura Dern — either as a cameo or a supporting role — along with some other Lynch regulars.We already know the sun-dappled celebration will land several high-profile films from U.S.

According to South Korean law, every eligible male  aged 18 to 28 must serve a minimum of 18 months in the military, and have until age 28 to do so.

According to South Korean law, every eligible South Korean male must serve a minimum of 18 months in the military, and have until age 28 to do so.

Tomorrow X Together (TXT) are reportedly getting ready to release new music later this year.Earlier today, South Korean media outlet Star News reported that the quintet are currently working on new music, which is said to be slated for release sometime in May. Big Hit Music, TXT’s management agency, later confirmed the news through a statement published in Newsen.“TXT are preparing to make a comeback in early May,” Big Hit Music said, as translated by Soompi.

Thania Garcia On Monday, The Seoul Metropolitan Government and South Korean internet company Kakao announced the construction of a new arena in the Seoul area dedicated to K-pop.The Seoul Arena — which is scheduled to be established in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu — will hold a ceremony in June after the approval of future implementation plans and is expected to be finished in October 2025.The arena promises to have over 18,000 seats with a capacity of 28,000 people for standing performances. The project also features a medium-sized performance venue with a capacity of 7,000, a movie theater, and other commercial facilities.Pulse News reports that Kakao will be in charge of operating and maintaining the Seoul Arena for 30 years after it opens, while the venue will be owned by the city government.

JYP Entertainment‘s previously announced plans to establish a K-pop NFT platform with tech company Dunamu is no longer moving forward.Yesterday (April 4), South Korean news outlet Money Today reported that JYP Entertainment and Dunamu had mutually agreed to terminate their joint venture to launch a new NFT platform and distribute NFTs based on K-pop content.“Dunamu and JYP Entertainment planned to establish a joint venture for the NFT business, but at this moment, we have decided to terminate our business contract with each other after mutual agreement,” said a representative of Dunamu, as translated by Koreaboo.“We have agreed to continuously seek opportunities for collaboration with each other in various other ways,” the representative added. Neither company has revealed the reason for the termination of their partnership.The news comes nine months after JYP first unveiled its partnership with the cryptocurrency operator.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSix new films were released in South Korea in the past week, including Sony’s Marvel franchise title “Morbius,” but none were able to relieve the current malaise afflicting the Korean theatrical industry. “Morbius” was released on Wednesday and ran off with more than half of the nationwide business, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).

Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art has set Audrey Diwan’s Happening and The African Desperate by Martine Syms will bookend the 51st edition of their collaboration, New Directors/New Films running April 20–May 1 in NYC.