Author: Kim-si-young
The upcoming film “My Daughter is a Zombie” has unveiled more stills of Jo Jung Suk in character! Based on a popular webtoon, “My Daughter is a Zombie” is a heartfelt comedy about a devoted father who embarks on a secret training to protect his daughter—now the last surviving zombie on Earth. Jo Jung Suk plays Jung Hwan, a father who embarks on a top-secret mission to save his zombie daughter Soo Ah (Choi Yu Ri). Jo Jung Suk shared, “I felt connected to this character because, like Jung Hwan, I would do anything for my daughter.” Director Pil Gam Seong, who…
tvN is gearing up to launch a new dating reality show with a unique twist! On June 27, STAR NEWS reported that tvN is currently preparing a new dating variety program in which celebrities will introduce their genuinely great friends to potential partners. In response to the report, CJ ENM confirmed, “We are preparing a new dating reality show for tvN. In this program, celebrities will become matchmakers and introduce their truly great friends. It is scheduled to air in the second half of the year.” Stay tuned for more updates on this upcoming show! In the meantime, check out…
There have been a number of think pieces about how Billboard’s Hot 100 chart has become whiter, more male and more Christian this year. It’s a troubling development for anyone who fears baby steps toward theocracy as I do, and the chokehold Alex Warren’s Ordinary has had on the charts is one of this movement’s biggest vanguards. Like everything related to pop music, trends are cyclical and will eventually give way to something new, but I can’t say I was thrilled to see BLACKPINK’s Rosé making even the slightest move toward this woefully dull development. On My Mind isn’t strictly…
While they initially (pre) debuted with a promising pop/rock sound, rookie group POW’s music has become more subdued and forgettable since. They seem to have tons of promise, but the music just isn’t doing it for me. This regrettable trend continues with Being Tender (다정해지는 법) — a plonky mid-tempo that feels almost designed to fade into the backdrop. There are some quirky elements to POW’s sound and I can hear their direct influences, but a track like Being Tender lacks the kind of hook necessary to make this muted sound stand out. Without a memorable melody, the song spins…
Since returning from the military, Wonho’s music seems targeted toward an international market with English-language lyrics and an overall trendy sound. For about two years from 2020 to 2022 he stood as one of the industry’s most reliable artists, releasing a string of bangers. I wish he’d return to that pattern. There’s something deflating about a subpar track built around the lyric “no one does it better than me.” If you’re going to repeat that statement multiple times, you better have the goods to back it up. Better Than Me is a threadbare, 2:24 song that becomes the latest in…
Sometimes summer highlights emerge from the most unexpected places. Over the past few days, we’ve had a flurry of strong seasonal offerings from some of K-pop’s girl groups, but with My Summer Manual (나의 여름 설명서), the variety show spawned co-ed group JAESSBEE confidently throw their hat in the ring. They’ve got some major firepower behind them, with producers like Bumzu and Shannon Bae behind the song’s creation. The swaggy ALLDAY PROJECT may currently hold Korea’s chart glory, but I’ll take this fun little bop any day. JAESSBEE put comedy at the forefront but bolster it with a loving nod…
When it comes to K-idol bands, it takes a lot to capture my attention. I’d consider myself a fan of rock music, but it’s not what I flock to the Korean music scene for because I can get my rock fix pretty much anywhere. With that said, Catch The Young have had my attention since the beginning due to their bright, youthful concept. Plus they feature a keytar, which is the coolest instrument ever invented. But even with these assets, no song has yet connected with me in the way I’d hope. New single Ideal Type (이상형) might come the…
In my corner of the world, the first few days of this summer have been mired in showers and a cool breeze, but in K-pop we’re witnessing the beginning of a battle between girl group summer tracks. From where I stand now, Hearts2Hearts’ Style has only grown in stature while I’m worried I might have slightly overrated fromis_9’s Like You Better. However, it will take time (and a surplus of actual sunny days) to determine the ultimate victor. Today, H1-KEY offers their bid for summer ubiquity with their long-awaited comeback Summer Was You (여름이었다). This might be the most explicitly…
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. It’s summertime OST season, with TWS and ZEROBASEONE releasing similar songs within days of each other. Like ZB1’s effort, Brand New Day is an upbeat pop/rock offering stuffed with good vibes and buoyed by an exciting chorus. One of the reasons I’m so completely affixed to the TWS train is their…
XODIAC are one of those under-the-radar groups who make far more comebacks than their limited notoriety might suggest. I’m always amazed that an agency like JACSO Entertainment has the funds to promote so often, but then again they’re based in China and financial endeavors in that part of the world are a mystery to me. X-UNIT is XODIAC’s first sub-unit, consisting of four of the group’s nine members. Because I Am Stupid (내 머리가 나빠서) is a cover of the 2009 SS501 track from the in the mega-hit drama Boys Over Flowers. Beyond the obvious nostalgia, it’s an odd choice…