by Ra Hwak Jin / Lee Hyo Yoon
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Hybe, shows "2022 Weverse Con (New Era)." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) ] |
◇ End-of-year concerts reschedule due to stricter COVID-19 quarantine schemes
Rolling back its "live with COVID-19" scheme, the government will re-impose stricter distancing rules starting Saturday to limit private gatherings and restrict business hours of restaurants, cafes, movie theaters and live concert halls.
In accordance to the stricter quarantine scheme, TWICE canceled on the 16th, their first-day of Seoul concert and the remaining two concerts will start hours earlier than initially scheduled.
In addition, the “2022 Weverse Con (New Era),” a joint concert of Hybe’s iconic artists such as BTS, Seventeen and TXT with pop star Justin Bieber has been rescheduled to 5:30 p.m., Dec. 31.
Also, the New Year’s countdown, which originally was to be included in the show, will be separately live-streamed on YouTube at 11:50 p.m., Hybe added.
Seventeen, TXT and Enhyphen are among the headliners of the show, but global super-group BTS will not appear as the members are on a long vacation to recharge themselves, according to the company.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by JYP Entertainment, shows TWICE's world tour. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Sony Pictures, shows film "Spider-man : No Way Home." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ While Spider-man is on bullish-run, nighttime curfew expected to strike a blow to theaters
"Spider-Man: No Way Home," Marvel's latest Spider-Man series film, has set the best opening-day record at the South Korean box office since the outbreak of the COVID-19 infection.
Garnering about 635,000 viewers upon its debut on the 15th, it accounted for 96.9 percent of its first day ticket-sale, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).
The blockbuster film also outnumbered the previous pandemic-era debut records by Marvel Studios' series, including "Eternals" with 296,000 tickets and "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" with 203,000 seats sold.
However, this feat may have to put on brakes due to the toughening of social distancing rules which will start effect on Saturday.
The nighttime curfew forcing theaters to evacuate their screens past 10 p.m. is expected to slow down the blockbuster’s non-stop record-setting as well as to affect other upcoming films.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Mega Box PLUS M, shows film "King Maker." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by by the organizer of the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, shows Yoo Jae-suk. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ Yoo Jae-suk tested positive for COVID-19 infection…Shows and ceremonies host by Yoo to be affected
As the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading, confirmed cases are coming out from the entertainment scene as well.
Star MC Yoo Jae-suk was tested positive for the infection on the 13th, after 2 days of his management agency’s head producer and singer You Hee-yeul was tested positive on the 11th.
Yoo’s tested positive has affected many programs he has been appearing on .
“Running Man” scheduled to be filmed on the 13th carried on with Yoo and “Yoo Quiz on the Block” canceled this week’s shooting.
Also, it is not sure whether the star MC will appear on Entertainment Awards of the big 3 broadcasters at the end of the year.
In addition, members Xiaoting and Mashiro of girl-group Kep1er who had to push back debut due to a staff tested positive has also confirmed to be infected by the virus. Actress Shin Hyun-bin was tested positive on the 14th.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by WAKEONE Entertainment and SWING Entertainment, shows girl group Kep1er. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ 2PM's Chan-sung announces marriage in 2022 with fiancee's pregnancy
Boy-group 2PM’s Hwang Chan-sung announced his marriage plan in next year and his girlfriend’s pregnancy on the 15th.
“While preparing marriage with this person, after I returned from military, a new life came to us earlier than expected. We are thinking of getting married early next year,” wrote Hwang on his Instagram post.
He also added that he will not renew his contract with JYP Entertainment which is to expire in January 2022.
“Wishing to figure out my own path and as I have a new family to accompany my life, we have agreed not to renew my contract after thorough discussion,” said Hwang.
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| ▲ This photo shows Chang-sung of 2PM. (YONHAP) |
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