by Ra Hwak Jin/Jiwon Woo
◇ 'Squid Game' wins best drama series actor, director at Emmys
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| ▲ In this AFP photo, South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk accepts the award for Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series for "Squid Game" at the 74th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 12, 2022. (Yonhap) |
The South Korean phenomenon survival drama "Squid Game" has become the first non-English TV series to win best actor and director in a drama series at the prestigious Primetime Emmy Awards.
At the ceremony for the 74th edition at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Monday (U.S. time), Hwang Dong-hyuk, who produced, wrote and directed "Squid Game," took home the prize of Outstanding Directing and Writing For a Drama Series for the Netflix series' first episode, "Red Light, Green Light."
It is the first time that a non-English TV series has earned an Emmy, the most coveted honor in the U.S. TV industry, for its director.
Hwang thanked the global streaming platform Netflix for opening the door to his all-Korean show and giving an unprecedented opportunity to access global audiences outside Korea.
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| ▲ In this Reuters photo, Lee Jung-jae accepts the award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for "Squid Game" at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 12, 2022. (Yonhap) |
Lead actor Lee Jung-jae was named Outstanding Lead Actor In a Drama Series, beating Jason Bateman from "Ozark," Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong from "Succession," Bob Odenkirk from "Better Call Saul" and Adam Scott from "Severance."
Lee became the first non-English speaking performer and South Korean actor to win an Emmy, one of the four major American awards for performing arts and entertainment.
In his acceptance speech, the actor thanked director Hwang Dong-hyuk for creating the series that was accepted by audiences all over the world and Korean fans for supporting him.
◇ NCT127 drops fourth full-length album '2 Baddies,' aims for Billboard
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| ▲K-pop group NCT 127 poses for the camera during a press conference at a Seoul hotel on Sept. 16, 2022, to promote its fourth full-length album, "2 Baddies," in this photo provided by SM Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲K-pop group NCT 127 poses for the camera during a press conference at a Seoul hotel on Sept. 16, 2022, to promote its fourth full-length album, "2 Baddies," in this photo provided by SM Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
"2 Baddies," released at 1 p.m. Friday, is the nine-member band's fourth full-length album following its third full album, "Sticker," released a year ago.
NCT 127 was confident about the new album during a press conference held at a Seoul hotel a few hours before the release.
The album has a total of 12 tracks of diverse genres, including the title track, "Faster," "Time Lapse," "Crash Landing," "Designer," "Gold Dust," "Black Clouds" and "Playback."
Taeyong said: "It's a song that is NCT 127 itself. It's a good title song that combines well the members' mischievous and 'neo' images, which also can be shown well in stage performances."
Johnny said the band's next goal, if any, is to climb to the top of Billboard's main charts. "It would be great if we can exert more efforts and attain a good result," he added.
Meanwhile, Photo on the back of album had only eight members, missing Doyoung.
SM Entertainment apologized to the Boy Group NCT 127 fans for omitting photo of member Doyoung on the fourth full album "2 Baddies."
SM Entertainment said, "It was a mistake caused by the lack of meticulous inspection," adding, "We sincerely apologize to the fans and NCT 127 members including Doyoung who were heartbroken."
◇BLACKPINK drops second studio album 'Born Pink' aiming at global market
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| ▲ This image provided by YG Entertainment is a promotional poster for BLACKPINK's second full album, "Born Pink," set to come out at 1 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
K-pop girl group BLACKPINK dropped its second full-length album, "Born Pink," on Friday.
"As indicated by its title, the new album depicts the confidence of the four members who were unique from the beginning," the band's agency YG Entertainment said in a release. "The album will paint the team's discography deeply with its unique music color."
According to the music industry on Saturday, 1,011,000 copies of "BORN PINK" were sold in the day of its release, Friday.
According to the music industry on Saturday, 1,011,000 copies of "BORN PINK" were sold in the day of its release, Friday.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by YG, shows BLACKPINK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
This is the first time in the history K-pop girl group has exceeded one million copies on the first day.
BLACKPINK also had more than 2 million pre-orders, predicted to be the first double million seller in girl group history.
Meanwhile, their second full length pre-released song "Pink Venom" has remained on UK's official single Top 100 chart for four consecutive weeks.
According to the latest chart released on Saturday, "Pink Venom" ranked 47th, down seven places from 40th previous week.
◇Movie 'Confidential Assignment 2' surpasses four million audiences in 11 days
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| ▲This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows movie "Confidential Assignment 2." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Action comedy movie "Confidential Assignment 2: International," starring Hyun-bin and Im Yoon-ah, surpassed 4 million cumulative audiences on the morning of Saturday, the 11th day of its release, according to distributor CJ ENM.
The movie garnered an additional one million people only five days after exceeding three million on Monday.
This is two days faster than the previous movie, which exceeded 4 million on the 13th day of its release, and 7.81 million in total.
"Confidential Assignnment 2" depicts detectives from North and Korea and FBI agents chasing criminals from North Korea.
◇Align Partners Capital Management respects early termination of contract between SM Ent and Like Planning
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| ▲This photo, provided by SM Entertainment shows, photo of executive producer Lee Soo-man. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Align Partners Capital Management welcomed SM Entertainment's action to consider the early termination of the producing contract between Like Planning and SM Entertainment on Friday.
In total, Align Partners Capital Management holds 1.1 percent of SM Entertainments shares, including those stocks held by related party.
Lee Soo-man was accused of intentionally signing a producing contract between his personal company Like planning and SM Entertainment by provided certain amount of royalty based on SM Entertainment's operation profit.
Executive producer of the SM Entertainment Lee Soo-man sent out an additional statement regarding the early termination on Friday.
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| ▲This photo, provided by SM Entertainment shows, Lee Soo-man (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
According to the statement, SM Entertainment has asked Like Planning to continue on with the contract until the artists of SM Entertainment become better known throughout the scene.
"Young upcoming producers will do great without any problems," adding "As a executive producer, listening and following minor shareholder's opinion of me to step down from my current position will be granted as well as early termination of the contract between Like Planning and SM Entertainment." addressed executive producer Lee Soo-man, according to the SM Entertainment.
Meanwhile, the announcement regarding the early termination is positively affecting the cost of SM Entertainment's stock price.
According to the data collected from the KOSDAQ, Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, market on Friday at 9:12 a.m., a single stock of SM Entertainment was being traded at 72,700 won which is 12.71 percent higher than the price recorded on September 15.
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