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#theroundup #donlee #koreanmovie SEOUL -- There aren't too many Korean movies that can attract moviegoers to theaters, especially during the pandemic. According to Yonghap News, it is the "first time in over two years a Korean film has attracted more than 2 million people on a weekend since the political drama "The Man Standing Next" (2019) with 2.01 million on the last weekend of 2020. 'The Roundup' is the sequel to the 2017 hit comedy "The Outlaws" starring Don Lee ( Eternals 2021 ) and Son Seok Koo ( My Liberation Notes 2022 ). It is a story about Detective Ma Seok Do (Don Lee) traveling to Vietnam to extradite a Korean suspect but only to learn that there is a killer committing crimes against tourists for many years. Marvel's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" came in second with 328,000 people over the weekend with total movie attendance of 5.47 million and the American animated film "The Bad Guys" placed third with 35,000 moviegoers. Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted in many countries, which movies are you excited to go to next? Let us know!

#moneyheistkorea #netflix #dramareviews Riding on the success of the original hit series La Casa De Papel (Money Heist), Netflix has given Korea a shot at telling its own version of the criminal mastermind crew led by the Professor ( Yoon Ji Tae Oldboy 2003 ). The first look of the action-packed thriller has been released and is scheduled to premiere on June 24. Many Money Heist fans are criticizing this series claiming that it is "just a remake of the original version", but Netflix has stated that this time will be a little different. In a plot twist, Korea is on the verge of reunification, and the Joint Security Area - the current Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - is the basis of the location of the mint which is the focus of the story. The new mint represents a new unified currency and is the groundwork for a stable joint economy. The new Money Heist crew will need to overcome a joint task force led by a South Korean negotiation specialist and a North Korean agent. The 12-episode crime series is directed by Kim Hong Sun ( L.U.C.A.: The Beginning 2021 ) and brings together a star-studded cast including Kim Yun Jin ( Lost 2010 ) and Park Hae Soo ( Squid Game 2021 ). "I was intrigued by the premise of the remake because not only is it about the conflict between robbers and police, but also it adds new layers such as the tension, mistrust, and harmony between North and South Korea. [It is] a situation where thieves from North and South Korea join forces, and police from North and South join hands to stop their way, [adding] a Korean lens to the original IP." - Ryu Yong Jae (Writer for Money Heist Korea) The teaser highlights the iconic red jumpsuits and will switch to traditional Korean Hahoe (하회탈) masks were worn by Korean actors in the 12th century in rituals, ceremonies, and performances. Park Hae Soo, who plays Berlin in the upcoming drama, was sent an 'iconic' Dali mask from the original series by Spanish star, Pedro Alonso (the original Berlin). Here is a video of Park Hae Soo thanking Pedro Alonso. Korean fans are excited to see their rendition of the action-packed series. The original Money Heist was known for its superb storytelling and intricate details of each character. Korean drama has also rivaled the very best in storytelling and character development in the past several years. We can't wait to see what this series has to offer! Let us know your expectations and insights into this thrilling new series!

#EXO #Suho #Hallyu #StanfordUniversity #TaylorSwift #NYU For many of us who are fans of celebrities, it is an unforgettable experience to see our idols visit our schools or universities and give speeches on special occasions. Recently, singer-song writer Taylor Swift rendered a speech at graduation at New York University and received her honorary doctoral degree. How awesome is that! Just this 20th of May, Suho of the sensational South Korean-Chinese boy band, EXO was present at a Korean Studies conference at Stanford University, where he discussed the influence of "Hallyu" or Korean wave. Suho. Photo by nomnomkiyow. EXO. Photo by KpopStarz. Suho was one of the panelists at the 20th-anniversary program of Shorenstein APARC’s Korea program. With the experience of performing in 133 shows in 76 cities around the world, he spoke about the magnitude of influence of Hallyu. He finds it astonishing every time they see their fans sing along throughout the entire concert in Korean language in countries that are difficult to visit and far away from Korea such as Chile and Mexico. In his presentation, he also mentioned that he watches dance covers of their songs every day on YouTube and Tiktok. Fans not only copy the dance moves on point but as well as the styling and facial expression according to him. “On stage or even off stage, things I do or even words I say has an impact,” he said. A lot of their fans learn the Korean language and visit South Korea because they follow EXO, he then expounded. He described the K-culture as a global phenomenon that will continue to grow and evolve. The said conference was also attended by former United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, and SM entertainment’s founder Lee Soo-man, Which celebrity do you dream to see in person?

#lesserafim #kimgaramscandal #koreaschoolbullying Source Music , the management company for up-and-coming girl group LE SSERAFIM , has made an official statement to fans via the group's official website on Weverse.com about the recent bullying scandal involving one of their members, Kim Garam . "Hello, this is Source Music. We would like to notify that LE SSERAFIM's scheduled appearance on KBS2 's ' Music Bank ' (on May 18 at 3 PM KST) and the group's scheduled video fan sign event (on May 18 at 8 PM KST) have been cancelled. We apologize to fans who waited for the events, and also ask those who were selected to attend the pre-recording for 'Music Bank' for their understanding. Additionally, the cancelled video fan sign event will be re-scheduled at a later date, and we will do our best to notify the fans who were selected for the event as soon as possible. Lastly, we assure you that the agency will release a formal position on the recent accusations against a member of LE SSERAFIM once all details are confirmed." Source Music also tweeted the update the group will not be participating in KBS2's 'Music Bank' and signing event on May 18, 2022, at the assigned times. On May 19, a legal representative of the alleged bullied victim released a lengthy statement claiming LE SSERAFIM member, Kim Garam, received formal penalization for the bullying of a classmate in 2018. According to a KoreanUpdates! tweet, Hybe, and Source Music are preparing a statement while compiling evidence. Many Koreans and overseas fans are debating how the management company is handling this scandal. Let us know how you feel and what you think should be done. Please also check out our other article about bullying in Korea here !

#psy #pnation #tnx PSY 's company, PNation , is continuing its onslaught of hitmakers this year with the debut of its first boy band TNX . The six-member boy group performed its first single "Move" (비켜 ) from their mini-album "Way Up" during their debut showcase on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The six members consisted of winners from the survival SBS show "Loud" (2021) and were selected by PSY personally. The band's leader, Choi Tae Hun stated, " It feels unreal to be standing here on this stage … as much as we’ve dreamt about this moment, we’ve worked hard for it. We’ll be doing our best every moment, so look out for us" during an interview during their debut night. TNX stands for "The New Six". The new single "Move" consists of major orchestra instrumentation with powerful beats. Along with some sexy and powerful dance moves, these boys are a force to be reckoned with. The band's Tuesday debut gave us a small glimpse of what PNation is expecting this group to bring. More power and energy with a diverse range of dancing and songs written by industry veterans. "The song (Move) was composed by singer-songwriter Penomeco and Yoo Gun Hyung, who is credited on a string of hits such as PSY's 'Gangnam Style,' and HyunA's 'I'm Not Cool' (2021)," Cheon Jun Hyeok, a member, explained. "It can be characterized by an addictive chorus and outspoken lyrics." PNation is also home to phenomenal singer/rapper Jessi and K-pop star HyunA . What do you think about TNX's debut? Do they have the potential to be the next BTS? Let us know your thoughts!

#girlsgeneration #snsd #snsd2022 K-pop sensation group, Girl's Generation, is back this August with all its members, according to SM Entertainment on Tuesday. The eight-member group will create a fully recorded album that will be the band's first release in five years. The new album will mark the group's 15th anniversary. Girl's Generation is scheduled to make reality show appearances after the album drop although the exact date has yet to be specified. The last album from the group, "Holiday Night" released in August 2017, was their sixth full-length album. Afterward, three of the eight members left the agency but the group did not disband. Girls' Generation debuted in 2007 with the track "Into the New World." An iconic girl group in the early 2010s, it produced hits such as "Gee" (2010), "Genie" (2010) and "The Boys" (2011). Its members are Taeyeon, Sunny, Yoona, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung and Seohyun. Let us know if you're excited about this new album! What are you expecting? Are we in for a SNSD reunion?

#koreanage #internationalage #koreanagesystem What separates Koreans from the rest of the world is that Koreans are automatically one year old the moment they are born. Once January 1st rolls around, Koreans become a year older regardless of their birthdays. Koreans count age based on years not days. For example, a child born in December is already age two by January. This century-old tradition, which reportedly started in China, is only practiced in South Korea today. For foreigners living in Korea or Koreans going abroad, giving their ages is quite a confusing experience. Korea's new president, Yoon Seok-Youl, stated as one of his first agendas is to abolish the Korean age system and stick to the international age system that most of the world is familiar with. This is to prevent confusion and "to bring South Korea in line with the rest of the world." (Forbes) Koreans interviewed by the popular YouTube channel, Asian Boss , have differing opinions on this topic based on their personal situations. There are many legal issues surrounding this since all Koreans will have to change their birthdays on official documents. Representative Lee Yong Ho from the People's Power Party explains why President Yoon wants Koreans to switch to the international system. "If we stick to the international age system, we will no longer see the social and economic costs associated with all the confusion and inconvenience arising from the age gap." - Representative Lee Yong Ho If the international age policy is mandated, male K-pop idols will be considered two years younger and their mandatory military service will be delayed by two years. Korean males are able to delay their service at age of 28 (Korean age), but with the international age policy in place, they are considered to be 26. Representative Lee Yong Ho stated that the committee will take careful steps to make the transition seamless and easier for Koreans. "There is a reason for the kind of compromise in such laws and we will consult with experts before we think about changing them too. There would be much less confusion if we could have the same idea of what it means to be how old we actually are." - Representative Lee Yong Ho The switch to the international age will happen sometime in 2023. We're looking forward to seeing if this really makes a big difference in Korean life. Let us know your thoughts about this situation! Are you excited that your favorite K-pop idol might be two years younger?

#productplacement #kdrama #kdramaproducts *Contains spoilers. The hit TvN show, Our Blues , is currently the number one watched drama in South Korea right now! With an Avengers-like cast, this drama is expected to draw many eyes and money from many sponsors. Here's the list of the number of product placements, so far, that we've seen! Phones: Samsung Galaxy S22 Samsung really seems to be pushing their new flagship phone, the Galaxy S22, in this drama. It seems that every character is using it! Bae Hyun Sung using the Samsung Galaxy S22. Via Netflix. The most blatant use of the Galaxy is during the scene where Min Seon-A ( Shin Min-A ) is taken to a horse farm by her childhood friend, Lee Dong-Seok ( Lee Byung-Hun ), and forced to record him riding a horse for her son. The scene then goes on showcasing the phone's new video recording technology and is also filmed from a first-person POV! Although it is pretty cool to see the new phone's video capturing capabilities, we feel that it was a little too much! In the next scene, Min Seon-A is reunited with her son and takes him to the aquarium where we witness more of the same! Cars: Chevrolet Product placement of cars in Korean dramas is pretty common. Usually, there will be only one brand that is featured in each drama, in this case, it is Chevrolet. Keeping with the theme of rugged outdoors Jeju style, Chevy showcased its new line of trucks and SUVs. Park Jung-Jun ( Kim Woo-Bin ) is the local ship captain who is also the town's all-around good guy. He helps those in need and tries to break up fights between the town's trouble makers, Jung In-Gwon ( Park Ji-Hwan ) and Bang Ho-Sik ( Choi Young-Joon ). Every macho guy needs a macho truck and Chevy delivered with its new 2022 Colorado. 2022 Chevrolet Colorado. Park Jung-Jun's love interest, Lee Yeong-Ok ( Han Ji-Min ), a haeneyo 해녀 or female diver, also drives a Chevy Traverse. She picks up the older female drivers every morning so that they can board the boat to catch mollusks, seaweed, and other sea life from the ocean to sell to local fish markets. 2022 Chevy Traverse. Choi Han-Su ( Cha Seung-Won ), a recently transferred bank manager from Seoul, goes back to his childhood roots and is reunited with long-lost friends. He is seen driving the new Chevy Malibu and even the car in front of him is a Chevy! 2022 Chevy Malibu. The Chevy theme throughout this drama is sometimes ridiculous at times since the characters are always on the road. There is even a scene where Lee Dong-Seok ( Lee Byung-Hun ) curses out the obvious Mercedes Benz he borrowed from his friend when he finds out that his childhood crush, Min Seon-A ( Shin Min-A ), doesn't share the same feelings as him! Food & Drink: Bibigo & Starbucks What is a Korean drama without food and drink? We're surprised that there aren't more food and drink products in this series, but there are a couple that we would like to point out, like a sore thumb! We noticed that while the characters were at each other's homes, the products were displayed quite nicely and the characters had a positive reaction when eating/drinking. Starbucks capsules. Bibigo Dumplings. If you haven't noticed, when the series first showed Shin Min-A, there were instant product placements everywhere. She's the PPL (Korean slang for product placement) queen! Makeup: Givenchy As soon as we're introduced to Shin Min-A's character, we're immediately taken to her sitting in front of the vanity mirror applying makeup by Givenchy! Accessories: Didier Dubot Surprisingly, Our Blues doesn't have many accessories displayed throughout the series. One noticeable brand that was consistent in several episodes was the Korean jewelry brand, Didier Dubot in which, of course, Shin Min-A is the spokesmodel! Overall, since this is currently the number drama in South Korea, we've come to expect there would be many products included. Let us know if this surprised you at all! What's your favorite product from this drama! Did we leave any out?

#ourblues #우리들의블루스 #leebyunghun The stars have been aligned, and they have created a masterpiece! Cultural and social issues are addressed in an emotionally heart-wrenching fashion! Our Blues starring (from top to bottom, left to right) Shin Min-A, Kim Woo-Bin, Lee Byung-Hun, Han Ji-Min, Cha Seung-Won, & Lee Jung-Eun. Photo by Kdrama World. *Contains spoilers. 4.3/5 Stars Welcome to Jeju Island! This small island, known as the 'Hawaii of South Korea', is home to approximately 690,000 people. And on this island sets the backdrop for 'Our Blues', a star-studded cast of A-list actors and actresses that we've all seen on the big screen. Our Blues follows a group of ordinary hard-working individuals that come across everyday problems; including money, teenage pregnancy, divorce, and friendship. Through the ups and downs of friendship battle over money, relationships are tested and loyalties are revealed. Shin Min-A & Lee Byung-Hun Our Blues poster. Photo via Soompi. This drama series format is quite interesting as each episode is focused on different characters and their issues. Written by Noh Hee-Kyung, who won KBS Drama Awards: Best Writer ( More Beautiful Than A Flower 2004), this 20-episode drama was first aired on April 9, 2022. Our Blues continues to be the most-watched drama currently in South Korea and is scheduled to finish on June 12, 2022. Although this drama is still ongoing, there are many social and cultural issues at play. For example, single parents, especially fathers, are faced with raising their pregnant teenagers. This has become a big issue in South Korea since many Koreans still uphold traditional family values. Additionally, a divorced mother fighting the custody of her son while rekindling feelings with a long-lost friend from school is another topic worth discussing. We feel that these are strong and important issues that many Koreans face today and are being overlooked. Our Blues brings to light these issues and we want to lead the discussion! Check out this cute interview between Bae Hyun Sung and Roh Yoon Seo with Cosmopolitan Korea ! What do you think about these issues in today's society? How are the characters in this drama handling them? Let us know in the comments!

#runningman #yoonjaesuk #kimjongkook Running Man 런닝맨 star Yoo Jae Suk continues to take his stardom responsibilities very seriously. The 49-year-old Korean gagman (comedian) donated 50 million won (approximately $38,760 USD) to help women and children in need. The GFoundation, part of the International Development Cooperation NGO (non-governmental Organization), is an organization that helps young children and low-income families to develop their dreams and ambitions in a safe environment. Yoo Jae Suk. Photo by images.wikia.com . The president of the GFoundation praised the tv star by saying, "We express our gratitude to Yoo Jae Suk once again for continuously delivering warmth to our marginalized neighbors. We will transparently use the precious contribution that has been donated to help vulnerable social groups.” Yoo Jae Suk has been making periodic contributions to GFoundation since 2020 totaling 200 million won (approximately $155,000 USD). Yoo Jae Suk starring in 'Six Sense 3' alongside Jessi , Lee Mi Joo, Oh Na Ra, & Lee Sang Yup. Photo by tvN. Rarely do we hear Korean celebrities or businessmen make charitable donations to help the less fortunate in Korea. We question whether this is to Korean culture or whether donating is not a priority for most Koreans. We asked this question to some young Koreans and the overall response was that most young Koreans favor donating. Since many Koreans are struggling to make ends meet, they feel that the need for a certain amount must be needed in order for them to donate. What do you think about this? Should the Korean news report more of these celebrity donations? Let us know!

#alexa #americansongcontest #alexakpop Tears of joy ran down the 25-year-old singer/dancer Alexa as she fell into her mother's arms when the American Song Contest final results were announced on May 9. Alexa is the first winner of the contest singing 'Wonderland' with 710 points. She beat nine other artists including four-time Grammy award winner, Michael Bolton. Once 'Wonderland' started, it definitely gave a K-pop vibe as the elaborate set and costumes entered the stage. Alexa wowed the crowd with her amazing dance skills and awesome singing. The first people she thanked when she received the award were her backup dancers. She is truly a class act! Alexa will also perform 'Wonderland' at the Billboard Music Awards, Sunday, May 15! The Tulsa, Oklahoma native was signed with the South Korea Zanybros 'ZB' entertainment label in 2018 and trained there for roughly two and a half years. During her time there, she competed on Produce 48 and was eliminated in the first round at #82. Alexa released her third single album Tattoo earlier this year on January 6. Alexa. Photo via The Bias List. This is wonderful news for K-pop since Alexa is American and speaking Korean is difficult for her. Many Koreans were questioning why they should be paying attention to her when she's an American artist who won an American show. But I think we've all come to realize that K-pop is much bigger than South Korea. The fact that there are competitions and awards for the K-pop genre is a testament to the soft power that Korea has. Shouldn't we all be proud of that? Let us know your thoughts about Alexa and the soft power of K-pop!

#ABO #BoyBand #ISTEntertainment #kpop ABO boy group line-up. Photo by Allkpop. Fresh faces to look out for as IST Entertainment announced the debut of the new boy group, ABO, in the second half of this year. The final lineup consists of 7 talented and fresh faces, who were selected through the agency's survival audition, which aired from March 19 to May 7 in collaboration with Kakao TV and MBN. Jeong Seung-hwan, Oh Jun-seok, Seok Rak-won, Ryu Jun-min, Bae Hyun-jun, Yang Dong-hwa, and Kim Yeon-kyu will surprise and entertain us in no time soon. Apink. Photo by The Bias List. The Boyz. Photo by Channel-Korea. Intending to be original in the K-pop scene, the soon to debut boy group's name stands for "At the Beginning of Originality". With the guidance of their management, the soon to debut boy group will have a high chance of success, a lot like the girl group, Apink, and the boy group, The Boyz, who are also managed by IST Entertainment. Let us know who is your favorite member from the soon to debut boy group at first glance!