Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
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Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
‘Little Mermaid’ dancers trade fins for legs, learn to walk for the first time
Cho Yeon-jae, returning to the role for a second time after last year’s premiere, and Kim Byeol, making her debut after understudying, will perform the drama ballet from Wednesday to Sunday at the Seoul Arts Center.
Aug. 13, 2025 - 11:49:03
Zoonizini hopes for lasting bonds, passion for music in 'Some Things Never Change’
Whether we like it or not, change is the only constant in life. Good moments do not last forever, but neither do bad ones, and even those moments of serenity eventually transform into something new. In hopes that their passion for music and the bond they share with their bandmates will remain forever, MJ and Jinjin of boy group Astro have come together for the first time as Zoonizini, debuting as a unit with the main track "Some Things Never Change," which will be released Wednesday at 6 p.m. "I
Aug. 13, 2025 - 08:00:00
Citi eyes Korea’s mid-market growth as key global hub
Tasnim Ghiawadwala, global head of commercial banking at Citi, reaffirmed the bank’s long-term commitment to Korea, describing the country as a hub of innovative mid-sized companies eager to capture global market share. From cosmetics brands breaking into European retail chains to industrial suppliers expanding alongside global clients, she said Korea’s export-oriented companies offer fertile ground for the bank’s cross-border financing and advisory services. Making her first visit to Korea sinc
Aug. 12, 2025 - 15:16:37
‘Winning Grammy will be a message to every Asian American girl who’s ever felt impostor syndrome,’ says ‘Golden’ songwriter Ejae
Everyone has a dream. Some see it through. Others are forced to let go. For 33-year-old Korean American singer-songwriter Ejae, born Kim Eun-jae, the dream was to debut as a K-pop idol after spending 10 years training at SM Entertainment. But the call never came. Neither in a group nor as a soloist did the powerhouse label see her fit to debut. Instead of turning her back on music, Ejae found another path — one that would lead her to co-write “Golden,” the soaring anthem from Netflix’s megahit “
Aug. 12, 2025 - 11:22:15
Bridge connecting worlds: Wu Guanzhong’s art lands in Seoul
In the painting "Snow-covered Mountain," Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010) left blank large areas of Xuan paper, a traditional Chinese handmade paper. The untouched whiteness of the paper evokes snow-covered mountains in striking contrast with black ink. The work hints at the Chinese art master's philosophical approach to ink wash painting. “Ink, when applied to Xuan paper, exudes a vibrant spirit thanks to the strong contrast between black and white. White plays a commanding role in tradi
Aug. 11, 2025 - 17:31:51
Where K-pop fandom meets platform power
Emily Mei Li, co-founder and CEO of fan-based cultural experience platform ArtisynX, is steadily emerging as a dynamic force in bridging Eastern and Western entertainment. Driven by a lifelong passion for storytelling and global connection, Mei co-founded the entertainment and talent management company ArtisynX in 2024 with partner Joey Ngoy. Together, they envisioned a cultural bridge where diverse narratives intersect and new creative possibilities emerge. “With a seasoned team behind us, we f
Aug. 11, 2025 - 16:34:40
Interview: Jeon Somi embraces chaos in bold new EP ‘Chaotic & Confused’
Jeon Somi is back after a year with her second EP, “Chaotic & Confused” — a candid exploration of self-discovery found within moments of disorder and doubt. The singer first rose to fame in January 2016 on the large-scale survival project “Produce 101,” where she finished first among 101 contestants. She debuted later that year as a member of the project group, I.O.I. After the group disbanded in early 2017, she signed a solo contract with JYP Entertainment but parted ways a year later without n
Aug. 11, 2025 - 08:00:00
Blackpink producer R.Tee seeks to shape the future of electronic music
Standing in the heart of his sleek, dimly lit studio, producer and DJ Kim Jung-gu -- better known as R.Tee -- is framed by towering high-end speakers as he scrolls through tracks on twin monitors, searching for a one to play. Then “Switch Out” bursts from the speakers -- a surge of pulsating techno and vibrant synths, pulling the body into its relentless rhythm. "Switch Out" is a track in his double single, dropped Sunday, which also includes "Damdadi," featuring vocals by Soyeon of I-dle. It’s
Aug. 10, 2025 - 13:59:57
Lawyer-turned-CEO aims to rewrite rules of entertainment industry
After decades working at the crossroads of law and entertainment — from serving as a prosecutor and entertainment lawyer to leading CJ ENM as its chief executive officer — Kang Ho-sung is taking on a new challenge: Building an agency that redefines what it means to professionally represent South Korean celebrities. His latest venture, KHS Agency, goes beyond traditional management, he said. “Korea’s management system still hasn’t properly developed a specialized agency system,” Kang told The Kor
Aug. 9, 2025 - 16:00:00
Interview: Ahn Bo-hyun trades tough for tender
Ahn Bo-hyun has played his share of tough guys. An alpha male par excellence of Korean dramas, he has terrorized Park Seo-jun as the sneering chaebol heir in "Itaewon Class" and thrown punches alongside Han So-hee in Netflix's "My Name." On the big screen, Ahn has nearly battled Jung Hae-in to the death in "I, Executioner." Meeting him at a Samcheong-dong cafe on Thursday, it's clear why he gets cast this way. The guy stands nearly 190 centimeters tall with a muscular and imposing boxer's frame
Aug. 8, 2025 - 16:05:17
Interview: Yoona becomes the devil she fakes
"I think I have both sides in me — that's why I was drawn to these characters," Lim Yoona says at a Samcheong-dong cafe on Thursday. She's talking about her dual role in "Pretty Crazy," where she plays a picture-perfect bakery owner who transforms into a demon every night with no memory of it come morning. For nearly two decades, Yoona has been Korea's sweetheart. She's been the face of dozens of brands and the star of TV dramas everyone's mother watches, all while perpetually glowing with a cel
Aug. 7, 2025 - 15:15:09
We were all first-time daters once
Jae-yoon dived head-first into a pile of grass to avoid approaching women; Jung-mok confessed he's already thinking about marriage just days into the experience. These raw, awkward and often hilarious portrayals of first love quickly helped "Better Late Than Single" to become a breakout hit. Following 12 participants, most of them in their late 20s, who had never been in a romantic relationship, the Netflix Korea show has gained global popularity since its July premiere. Just one week after its
Aug. 4, 2025 - 14:30:16
Koo Jeong-a illuminates the invisible
ARLES, France — At first, “Seven Stars,” an installation of 10 paintings by Koo Jeong-a, also known as Koo Jeong A, on view at LUMA Arles in southern France, appears to be a set of abstract paintings. But in a single moment, the space turns into a cosmic world with stars appearing to glow in the dark — like the stars in the sky that are invisible in daylight, but always present. Only 10 people at a time are allowed into the maze-like space at Koo’s new solo exhibition. When the light fades out,
Aug. 2, 2025 - 16:00:00
What would you do if you had a gun?
Guns and South Korea are two subjects rarely linked in everyday discourse. Netflix’s new series “Trigger” tests Korea's strict gun control, imagining what could happen if guns were suddenly introduced into a society already grappling with deepening social divisions. “Trigger” follows Yi-do (Kim Nam-gil), a police officer who begins to suspect that civilians are receiving shipments of guns. As violent incidents escalate, Yi-do races to uncover the root of the crisis. The series premiered Friday,
July 30, 2025 - 13:12:16
'All you need is a phone and your voice': Adoo's TikTok rise is just the beginning
Adoo, whose real name is Choi Sory, always dreamed of becoming a singer. But her path to success has been anything but easy. Now in her late 30s, Adoo is finally gaining recognition — not through music programs or major entertainment companies, but through TikTok. "Ever since I was a child, I loved singing," she said during an interview with The Korea Herald on July 21. "But I wasn't the most confident person." From idol setbacks to viral resurgence Her first experience in the music industry cam
July 28, 2025 - 16:51:46
