Korean Entertainment News: BTS And Twice Make History, New Movie "Seoul Vibe" On Netflix And More

From South Korea's top groups making history to new music, movie and drama announcements, we're rounding up the biggest news from the Korean entertainment scene this week

Last week, we saw the news of Got7's Bam Bam and Girls' Generation's Taeyeon making solo releases. Comebacks and solo projects announcements continue this week, with EXO's D.O making his solo debut and 2PM making their highly anticipated return to the music scene. Elsewhere, we have two top groups, BTS and Twice making history at the Billboard charts this week.

In the acting industry, Netflix announced a new action movie while the upcoming K-drama, You Are My Spring released its official trailer. There are also casting news for School 2021 and a new romance drama starring Song Kang and Park Min-young. Find out all that and more in this week's Korean entertainment round-up.

In case you missed last week's round-up, read it here. You can read the latest round-up for June here.

BTS makes (more) history with "Butter"

Pop juggernaut group, BTS remains on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her summer smash hit, Butter, charting at number one for a fourth consecutive week. This milestone makes BTS the first Asian act in history to achieve this.

Butter also spend the entire month of June at number one, which is significant given that June is BTS' debut anniversary month. The song drew 12.5 million streams in the US and sold 111,4000 downloads in the week of June 17.

It was also reported that the BTS Meal, in collaboration with McDonald's has sold over 1.2 million sets in South Korea alone, since its release. This sales number marks the first time that McDonald's in South Korea has sold over one million units of a set, consisting solely of side menu items. In the Philippines, it has sold 2.5 million pieces on its launch day.

Twice makes history with "Taste of Love"

K-pop girl group Twice has also achieved a historic first on the Billboard charts with their new mini-album, Taste of Love which debuted at number one on three different charts, namely Top Album Sales, Top Current Album Sales and World Albums.

This makes Twice the first girl group in history to ever top Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with only an EP (mini-album). Other girl groups that have topped the chart are with their full album include Blackpink, Destiny's Child and Spice Girls.

In addition to this historic feat, Twice also became the first female K-pop act to enter the top 10 of the charts with a mini-album, debuting at number six. The album's title song, Alcohol-Free, which they performed at The Ellen DeGeneres show debuted at number three on the World Digital Songs Sales chart.

Seventeen to host online and offline fan meeting

Seventeen is hosting their fifth fan meeting, Seventeen in Carat Land this summer. It's set to take place across three days from 6–8 August and will be held both online and offline at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.

The in-person fan meet is only open to official Carat fan club members and is decided by lottery. Those interested should purchase a ticket from June 28, 2:00 pm KST to July 1, 2:00 pm KST to be eligible to enter. Tickets can be bought on Interpark and winners will be announced via WeVerse and Interpark on July 16, 2:00 pm KST.

Seventeen also recently performed Ready to Love from their new mini-album, Your Choice at Jimmy Kimmel Live.

2PM releases teaser for "Make It"

To mark their long-awaited comeback as a whole group in five years, 2PM is hosting a comeback show Must, where they will perform their new title song, Make It for the first time. The group will drop their long-awaited seventh full-length album, Must on June 28. Their label, JYP Entertainment has dropped teasers leading up to the release date from images as well as a teaser for the title song.

The comeback show Must will be broadcasted on Mnet and M2 at 7:00 pm KST on June 28, an hour after the album's official release.

Epik High to release new song, "Rain Song"

South Korean hip-hop trio, Epik High is releasing a new single called Rain Song on June 29. As with most Epik High songs, this one will also feature another artist but has yet to be named.

Leader Tablo described the upcoming song as their "first official single release of [their] careers". What he means by that is blurry as of now but we can expect more details to be released in the coming days.

EXO's D.O is dropping his first solo album next month

EXO's D.O is finally making his solo debut in July. SM Entertainment released a statement on June 25, "D.O will release his solo album in July. So please show a lot of interest". While D.O has sang a solo song for a movie, this marks his first solo album release.

After being discharged from the military following the completion of his training in January, he held a broadcast and shared that he's "working hard on [his] solo album" and noted that the "songs are ready and [he] just has to work on the lyrics".

Also a known actor, D.O is also making his comeback to acting with two new movies, The Moon and Secret, the latter is the Korean remake of the hit Taiwanese movie starring Mandopop King, Jay Chou.

Netflix announces new movie, "Seoul Vibe"

Netflix's new Korean movie, Seoul Vibe is set to be an action blockbuster packed with thrills and adrenaline-fueled scenes. It boasts a star-studded line-up including Yoo Ah-in, Ko Kyoung-pyo, Lee Kyoo-hyung, Park Ju-hyun, Ong Seung-wu, Kim Sung-kyung, Jung Woong-in and Moon So-ri.

It will follow the story of the drivers of the Sanggye-dong Supreme Team who became involved in a slush fund investigation of a powerful person on the day of the 1988 Seoul Olympics opening ceremony. While all eyes are on the upcoming Olympic games, it provides an opportunity to move illegal funds. The team will chase the money reels in baby drivers with amazing drifting skills.

Baeksang Arts Award best actor, Yoo Ah-in will play Dong-wook, the top drifter in the team while Ko Kyoung-pyo will play DJ John Woo who lightens up the mood for the crew. Lee Kyoo-hung will star as Bok-nam, who knows Seoul like the back of his hand while Baeksang Arts Award Best Actress awardee Park Ju-hyung will play Dong-wook's younger sister Yoon-hee, a president of the top bikers' club in Seoul.

Rising actor Ong Seung-wu will play Joon-gi, the MacGyver-esque crew member and Kim Sung-kyun will play Secret Lee, a key figure in managing the money laundering and slush fund delivery. Meanwhile, Jung Woo-in will play the chief prosecutor who recruits the crew for the mission and Moon So-ri will play Kang In-sook, the loan shark mogul and shadow figure behind the powerful person.

The upcoming movie will be directed by Moon Hyun-sung. No release date has been announced so stay tuned later for more details.

New drama "You Are My Spring" releases official trailer

Director Jung J-hyun of The King: Eternal Monarch and Mr. Sunshine is bringing us a new drama on Netflix, You Are My Spring. It centres around Kang Da-jung (Seo Hyun-jin) who works as a concierge at a five-start hotel and finds herself forming bonds with two men: Joo Young-do (Kim Dong-wook), a psychiatrist and Chae Joon (Yoong Park), the CEO of an investment company.

As Chae starts catching feelings for Jang, the latter finds herself in a perplexing mystery with her neighbour Joo, when they witness a murder at their apartment building. Penned by Lee Mi-na, who also wrote Bubblegum, You Are My Spring premieres on July 5 on Netflix, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday.

Jo Byeong-gyu in talks to star in a new drama

It seems Korean actor Jo Byeong-gyu may be restarting his acting activities soon. The Sky Castle and Uncanny Encounter star is reported to be in talks to star as the lead of History of Losers. His agency, HB Entertainment said in a statement that "It’s one of the projects that Jo Byeong Gyu has received an offer for. He is carefully reviewing [the offer] at the moment".

The drama, based on an eponymous webtoon is about love and relationships that will show the "pathetic sides of people" and the "thrilling moments that come with various forms of love". It was originally slated to be a movie in 2015 but production plans didn't push through and was instead adapted into a musical in 2017. Kim Poong who worked on Confidential Assignment (2017) will be directing the drama.

Should Jo accept the offer, he is set to play Seo Min-ki, a college freshman majoring in Korean literature. Jo had to halt activities following rumours that he's involved in school violence when he studied in New Zealand. Jo and his agency denied the claims and announced that they are taking legal actions as well as addressing the allegations. Jo also said that the allegations have "ruined his career" and "all the projects [that he] was scheduled to participate in has been put on hold".

Filming wraps up for "Baby, Box, Broker"

According to Korean actress, Bae Doona's recent Instagram post, it seems that filming for Japanese director, Hirokazu Kore-eda's first Korean film, Baby, Box, Broker has wrapped up. The star posted a photo with the director with the caption, "That’s a wraaaaaaaaaaaap! It’s been 12 years since Air Doll. Was so good to be reunited with Hirokazu Koreeda".

The actress and the director first worked together on Air Doll (2009) and reunited in this upcoming movie. The highly anticipated Korean debut of the Japanese auteur has been talked about, particularly because it also stars Parasite actor, Song Kang-ho, popular Korean movie actor Gang Dong-won and K-pop soloist, IU. Kore-eda is known for his family dramas and Baby, Box, Broker seems to continue that theme, looking at people who connect through "baby boxes" which are set up so people who are unable to raise their baby can leave them behind safely.

Baby, Box, Broker marks Kore-eda's second film outside of his native Japan after The Truth (2019) which was in French and English. Parasite (2019) and Burning's (2018) cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo also joins in the production, which generated more buzz since the two Korean movies were highly successful.

Song Joong-ki's movie will finish filming in South Korea

Because of the pandemic, Song Joong-ki's upcoming film Bogota will finish filming in Korea instead of Colombia (the film's title is the country's capital). Together with Lee Hee-joon and Kwon Hae-kyo, Bogota tells the story of a group of people struggling to make a better life for themselves in the 1990s.

The movie had already filmed 40 per cent of the movie Colombia in January 2020 before they were forced to return to South Korea in March because of the pandemic. Filming was postponed until 2021 and in March 2021, discussions were held whether they could return to Colombia to finish filming.

Song Joong-ki will play Guk Hee, who arrived in Bogota as a 19-year-old, trying to make it big in the business world. Lee Hee-joon will star as Soo Young, who also moves to Colombia, working at a major corporation while Kwon Hae-kyo will play Sergeant Park, who worked with Guk Hee's father during the Vietnam War and now serves as the head of a local Korean association in Bogota.

Actor Lee Je-hoon sets up his own entertainment agency

Taxi Driver and Move To Heaven star Lee Je-hoon has started his own entertainment company called Company On. "Actor Lee Je Hoon has established a management company called Company On with his partners in order to start a new dream. He will work hard and promote in various fields, including as an actor," said the company in a statement.

The name, Company On, means both the character "on" for warmth and wholeness and the word "on" in English, pronounced similar to the word, "companion" to show that it's a place where people who share the same interest and passion can come together.

It's been a busy year for Lee. After finishing Taxi Driver and Move To Heaven, he'll be producing a series called Unframed.

Cast for "School 2021" confirmed

After much delay and various casting change, the official cast for School 2021 has just been finalised. The upcoming Korean drama is the next edition in the popular School series that launched the careers of today's notable stars from Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jong-suk, Nam Joo-hyuk, Jang Hyuk, Gong Yoo, Jo In-sung and more.

Kim Yo-han from the group, WEi will be starring in the drama opposite Cho Yi-hyun, Kim Young-dae and Kwang Bo Reum Beyol. The eighth instalment of the series will follow these young adults who choose different paths in life. It will explore their dreams, friendships and the coming-of-age stories of young people, looking at an uncertain future.

Kim Yo-han is set to play Gong Ki-joon, who had to quit his dreams of being a taekwondo star following an injury. He feels lost, having to abandon something he did for 11 years. Meanwhile, Kim Young-dae will be playing Jung Young-joo, a transfer student with a hidden story. Cho Yi-hyun is the ambitious Jin Ji-won, who's chasing an unwavering dream while Hwang Bo Reum Byeol is taking on the role of Kang Seo-young who's preparing for the entrance exam to enter one of the top five universities.

School 2021 is expected to air in the second half of the year.

Song Kang and Park Min-young to star in new romance drama

Song Kang has another drama to add to his roster. Upcoming drama, Cruel Story of Office Romance has confirmed that Park Min Young, Song Kang, Girl's Day's Yura and Yoon Park will be part of the cast. This new drama will look at the work and live lives of people at the Korea Meteorological Administration, South Korea's national weather forecast service.

Song Kang is playing Lee Si-woo, a free spirit who's not afraid to think outside the box. He can be clumsy but actually has an impressive IQ of 150. Park will be starring as Jin Ha-kyung, an intelligent worker who wants to do everything by the book and prefers to keep her personal and professional lives separate. To her colleagues, she appears cold and as an outsider.

Taking on the role of Han Ki-joon is Yoon Park, a handsome and quick-witted worker who takes pride in his powers of persuasion. Finally, Yura is playing daily weather reporter, Chae Yoo-jin, who wants more out of her job than what she's assigned to do.

Cruel Story of Office Romance will start filming this summer and is slated to air early next year.

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