Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” gave the South Korean box office its biggest weekend of the year, with a $10.3 million start. The film played on more than 1,800 screens and enjoyed a 46% share of the overall market between Friday and Sunday, according to data supplied by Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. After a year of struggle for the theatrical business in Korea, the opening by “Guardians” was twice that of “The Super Mario Bros Movie” and nearly four times bigger than the next biggest individual title debut of 2023 (“The First Slam Dunk” in the first week of January scored $2.61 million). Over its opening five days, “Guardians” managed $13.2 million, making it the seventh highest grossing film of the year at the end of its first weekend.
Tongue Fighters, ‘Gganbu’ Players and Demons Unite as South Korea Introduces Potential Next Big Hits at MipTV
18.04.2023 - 06:03 / variety.com
Marta Balaga As the search for the next “Squid Game” continues, South Korea brought out the big guns at MipTV, introducing several scripted and unscripted offerings. These includes FormatEast’s intergenerational game show “Gganbu Race,” inspired by the Netflix smash hit. “It’s a slang term meaning close friends and companions. Kids would say that when forming teams to play games,” said producer Fay Zhang during the K Formats: The Next Big Hits from Korea session, mentioning “Squid Game’s” episode where the main character joined forces with female and older contestants. “Everyone thought they would lose. They won, because of an unexpected synergy effect. Our main concept is to overcome prejudice and win through cooperation beyond age.”
The show will see juniors and seniors battling for prize money. They have to choose partners not knowing which games they will play, but there is a twist: the bigger the age difference, the bigger the prize. Cooperation will also drive CJ ENM’s “The Time Hotel,” which launched in Korea only last week. In the show, contestants enter a hotel where the only currency is time. Once they run out of it, playing multiple games, they will have to check out. “We saw many alliances and betrayals, and a lot of psychological warfare going on due to the VIP system created to reward [successful] players,” explained sales executive Jully Kim. “Time is equal and fair to everyone, but its value is different for every player. If I don’t perform well, I am rewarded little time, which limits my access to food, beverages or clues. In ‘The Time Hotel,’ time is power.” Fortune – and fame – also awaits for the participants of “No Money, No Art” from KBS Media, the country’s first ever art-themed
Kate Middleton Paid Tribute to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana With Her Coronation Jewelry
and Queen Camilla, a hugely historic event. So it's no wonder the royal chose to touchingly honor both the late and with her choice of jewelry.To pay tribute to the two royal women who came before her, the Princess of Wales wore the late Queen's George VI Festoon necklace, three tiers of stunning diamonds which was originally created in 1950 as a gift from King George VI to his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth before being crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.Kate also honored Princess Diana by , which she's worn many times before.Kate Middleton attending the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.Princess Diana wearing the pearl earrings during a visit to South Korea in 1992, her last official trip.Queen Elizabeth II wearing the George VI Festoon necklace at Buckingham Palace 2018.The Princess of Wales wore formal regal robes and a deep blue Royal Victorian Order mantle edged in scarlet—at the request of the King and Queen—over .
From 'Fergie's pet' to non-league players - seven Manchester United youngsters Sir Alex Ferguson tipped to become stars
To be a success at Manchester United you need several ingredients: talent, hunger, belief and luck.
B.I’s new album ‘To Die For’ to feature Jessi and BIG Naughty
B.I has unveiled the tracklist for his upcoming studio album ‘To Die For’, featuring collaborations with BIG Naughty, Jessi and more.On May 5, the ex-iKON member took to Twitter to share the tracklist for ‘To Die For’, which arrives June 1 at 6pm KST. The record will be led by two title tracks: ‘Dare To Love’ featuring rapper BIG Naughty, and ‘Die for love’ with Korean-American singer-rapper Jessi.The album also includes several other features, including one with rappers Kid Milli and Lil Cherry on ‘Wave’ and ‘Beautiful Life’ with South Korean punk band Crying Nut.
EXO’s Kai to enlist in the military next week
Kai of K-pop boyband EXO is set to enlist in the military next week.The news was shared by Kai’s label SM Entertainment on May 3, announcing that the K-pop idol will enlist in the South Korean military on May 11. In accordance with South Korean law, all able-bodied men over the age of 18 are required to serve in the military for up to two years.SM Entertainment said that Kai had been preparing new music with boyband EXO, but is set to enlist early “due to a recent change in regulations of the Military Manpower Administration”, per Soompi.
EXO Member Kai Is Enlisting in the Korean Military, Will Miss the Group's Comeback This Year
Kai is preparing for mandatory military enrollment.
Louis Vuitton transforms South Korean bridge into massive runway
Louis Vuitton transformed a bridge spanning the Han River into a massive runway for its latest collection Saturday. Models strutted down the Jamsugyo Bridge to music to showcase the luxury fashion house's pre-fall collection that included sunglasses, chunky black-and-white loafers and sandals as well as an assortment of large, colorful bags and smaller ones adorned with the label's logo.
GKIDS Acquires Hit Anime Basketball Film ‘The First Slam Dunk’
The First Slam Dunk,” an anime sports film that took the Japanese and Korean box office by storm this past winter, the indie animation distributor announced Monday. The film follows Ryota Miyagi, a small but agile point guard for Shohoku High School’s basketball team struggling to live up to the legacy of his older brother, Sota.
Korea Box Office: ‘The Super Mario Bros Movie’ Springs to Opening Weekend Win
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “The Super Mario Bros Movie” and a local sports movie “Dream” gave the South Korean box office some bounce on their first weekend on release. Opening in Korea on Wednesday, some three weeks after the beginning of its international and North American campaigns, “Super Mario” earned $4.67 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). The film has a cumulative of $5.76 million over its opening five days, plus previews. The film’s weekend numbers are the second highest opening tally recorded by any film this year in Korea. And its weekend score represented a comfortable 40% market share.
Angelina Jolie and Maddox attend dinner with the President of South Korea
Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox attended a special dinner this week. The pair made their way to Washington D.C. to join a dinner hosted by President Biden and the First Lady, where Yoon Suk Yeoul, the president of South Korea, was also in attendance.
Angelina Jolie and Son Maddox Make Rare Joint Appearance at White House State Dinner: See Photos
A mother-son date night! Angelina Jolie stepped out for the White House State Dinner with eldest son Maddox Jolie-Pitt on her arm.
Angelina Jolie and Son Maddox Attend State Dinner With President Joe Biden and South Korean President
Angelina Jolie and Maddox Jolie-Pitt enjoyed a high-profile night out on Wednesday.The mother-son duo looked chic as they attended the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, honoring South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.Maddox, 21, wore a black suit for the occasion with Jolie, 47, opting for a flowy cream-colored dress and jacket. The actress styled her tresses down in loose waves and completed the look with a red lip and classic pearl jewelry. According to a White House press release issued last month, the dinner marked the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, «which is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world.» Among the other celebrity guests at Wednesday's dinner were Chip and Joanna Gaines.
ENHYPEN, IVE and more join line-up of KPOP LUX SBS Super Concert in Madrid
ENHYPEN and ATEEZ, and girl group IVE will be performing at the upcoming concert. The KPOP LUX SBS Super Concert, will take place on July 22 at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano in Madrid.A post shared by KPOPLUX (@kpoplux_)According to the event’s official Ticketmaster page, KPOP LUX SBS Super Concert will have a capacity of 45,000 people and will feature “more than three hours of live music and shows”.
Manchester United 'in four-way battle for £40million-rated Kim Min-jae' and more transfer rumours
Manchester United will battle Premier League rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham for Kim Min-jae this summer, according to reports.
Netflix Confirms Plans To Spend $2.5BN On Korean Content Over Four Years
Netflix has said it will invest $2.5BN in South Korean series, films and unscripted shows over the next four years.
Netflix Commits to $2.5 Billion Production Spend on Korean Content
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Global streaming giant Netflix has publicly committed to spending $2.5 billion (approx. KRW3.34 trillion) on South Korean film and TV production over the next four years. The total is double the amount it has spent in Korea since 2016, the company said. The promise was made by Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, at a meeting in Washington DC with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. “We were able to make this decision because we have great confidence that the Korean creative industry will continue to tell great stories. We were also inspired by the President’s love and strong support for the Korean entertainment industry and fueling the Korean wave. I’d like to personally thank the President for his kind response letter,” Sarandos said in a statement.
Man City 'lining up move for Ben Chilwell alternative' and other transfer rumours
Manchester City are reportedly weighing up a move for Brentford left-back Aaron Hickey after receiving a setback in their pursuit of Chelsea's Ben Chilwell.
Paramount+, TVing Launch Korean Series ‘A Bloody Lucky Day’, ‘Queen Woo’
Paramount+ is expanding its global Korean originals slate with two new series, A Bloody Lucky Day and Queen Woo, which the streamer will launch exclusively on its global platform. In South Korea, the series will be available on TVing, the streaming service launched by Korean powerhouse CJ ENM.
Norwegian Political Satire ‘Power Play’ Wins at Canneseries, as ‘Bargain,’ ‘Carthago’ and ‘Corduroy’ Also Scoop Awards
Marta Balaga Norwegian political satire “Power Play” proved unbeatable at Canneseries, just like its headstrong protagonist, picking up awards for best series and music. The show, focusing on Norway’s first female Prime Minister, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and starting out in the 1970s, turned out to be a timely proposition, as noted by showrunner Johan Fasting, who co-wrote with Silje Storstein and Kristin Grue. “It’s hard to persevere in politics, especially for women. We wanted to go behind the scenes of social democracy as well, see how it has dissolved and turned into what we have today. It felt like the right time to look at the mechanisms of power,” he told Variety earlier this week.
Moonbin Dies: Singer With South Korean Boy Band Astro Was 25
Moonbin, a member of the South Korean boy band Astro, died by suicide today at his residence in the Gangnam district of Seoul. He was 25.