Ra Hwak-jin / Woo Ji-won
◇ BTS wins three 2022 People's Choice Awards
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| ▲ K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by Big Hit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
South Korean boy group BTS has received three prizes at this year's People's Choice Awards, a U.S. awards show for recognizing people in the entertainment.
The K-pop giant nabbed The Group of 2022 and The Concert Tour of 2022 (for "BTS Permission To Dance on Stage") during the awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California, on Tuesday (U.S. time). Jungkook, a BTS member, won The Collaboration Song of 2022 for "Left and Right," his collaborative single with U.S. singer-songwriter Charlie Puth.
BTS beat seven other nominees, including Korean girl group BLACKPINK, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Maneskin and OneRepublic, to be named the best group for the third year in a row.
In the best concert tour category, BTS competed against big-name stars, such as Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Lady Gaga.
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| ▲This Associated Press photo shows Jungkook, a member of South Korean boy group BTS, performing "Dreamers," from the official World Cup soundtrack, during the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Nov. 20, 2022. (Yonhap) |
BTS, Jungkook and BLACKPINK had also been nominated for best music video for "Yet to Come" and "Left and Right" and "Pink Venom," respectively, but the honor went to Taylor Swift for the video of "Anti-Hero."
The People's Choice Awards have been held since 1975 to recognizable artists and entertainers in various fields, including movies, television and music, with the public and fans voting for the winners.
Last year, BTS won three prizes, including the best group of the year, and the global South Korean TV sensation "Squid Game" was hailed as the "bingeworthy" show of the year.
◇ NMIXX slims to sextet with member Jinni's departure
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| ▲K-pop group NMIXX attend a red carpet event of the 2022 MAMA Awards in Osaka, Japan, on Nov. 29, 2022, in this UPI photo. (Yonhap) |
Seven-piece girl group NMIXX will be reduced to a sextet with the departure of member Jinni, the band's agency said Friday.
"Jinni, who has been with NMIXX as a member, will leave the team for personal reasons and conclude her contract (with the agency)," JYP Entertainment said in a release.
NMIXX will become a six-member group consisting of Lily, Sullyoon, BAE, Jiwoo and Kyujin following Jinni's departure.
"We're sorry for causing trouble to many fans with the abrupt news," JYP said, asking for warm support from fans for Jinni and the remaining six members.
◇ BLACKPINK's 'Born Pink' on Billboard's Best Albums of 2022
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| ▲ K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is seen in a concept photo for "Born Pink," its second full-length album, provided by YG Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
"Born Pink," the second full-length album by South Korean girl group BLACKPINK, has been picked among the best albums of 2022 by Billboard.
"Born Pink" was the only K-pop album included in "The 50 Best Albums of 2022: Staff List" announced by the U.S. music magazine on Tuesday (U.S. time), ranking at No. 42.
"With the accolades BLACKPINK received for the release of 2020's 'The Album,' the pressure was on when it came time for the world biggest girl group to drop its sophomore album. But with powerhouse record label YG and trusted producer Teddy Park by Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rose's side, success was always in the cards for 'Born Pink'," Billboard said.
BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl group to claim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart for the album released on Sept. 16.
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| ▲K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is seen in a concept photo for "Born Pink," its second full-length album, provided by YG Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
"The album soars not just because of its impeccable balance between English and Korean, or its general infectiousness -- 'Born Pink' shows the idols marrying the excitement of the old BLACKPINK with and a more mature, grown-up version of the group, emboldened by a fanbase which endlessly supports them," it added.
The K-pop quartet has received attention from various other overseas media, not just Billboard.
The group hit No. 25 on Rolling Stone's list of The 100 Best Albums of 2022 for "Born Pink" and was the most-streamed girl group on Spotify in 2022.
On Tuesday, it was chosen as Time magazine's 2022 Entertainer of the Year, making it the first girl group ever to earn the title and the second K-pop acts to do so after BTS in 2020.
BLACKPINK is currently on its largest-scale world tour expected to attract about 1.5 million fans in North America, Europe and Asia and Oceania.
◇ Press Conference of 'Avatar: The Way of Water' takes place in Korea
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| ▲James Cameron, director of "Avatar: The Way of Water", speaks during a press conference at Conrad Hotel in Seoul on Dec. 9, 2022. (Yonhap) |
"Avatar: The Way of Water" is an adventure and love story that will make viewers think about the value of family and the relationship between humans and the oceans, its director James Cameron said Friday.
The Oscar-winning film director introduced the long-awaited sequel to his 2009 sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" as "immersive narrative storytelling" surrounding an alien family with a heavy focus on underwater life.
"I think the film is an adventure first and foremost," the director said during a press conference during his trip to Seoul along with four cast members and co-producer Jon Landau. "It's a family story ... This is a love letter to family and how family makes you stronger."
Unlike the first film that deals with human greed in mining and extraction projects, Cameron said the second story exposes human exploitation of the oceans in the hope of raising awareness of environmental issues.
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| ▲(From L) James Cameron, director of "Avatar: The Way of Water" and cast members, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang X, and Jon Landau, co-producer, pose for a photo during a press conference held in Seoul on Dec. 9, 2022. (Yonhap) |
In regard to the running time of over three hours, Cameron was confident that viewers would not complain about its length once they watch it on the big screen.
"It's shorter than say, 'Titanic,' and that worked out okay," the veteran filmmaker said of his 1997 film that last 3 hours and 15 minutes. "To me, more of a good thing is more."
Meanwhile, the movie has exceeded 50% of reservation rate among other movies on Thursday, showing signs of great success in Korea.
The movie has been topping the reservation rate chart since the opening day of the ticket release on Wednesday.
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