by Ra Hwak Jin / Kim Sun Min

 

▲ This photo, a captured image from BTS' official Twitter account, shows K-pop supergroup BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

◇ BTS to pause group activities to focus on solo projects

K-pop supergroup BTS said it will suspend performing as a group and focus instead on solo projects to explore the growth of individual members.

The septet unveiled the plan on a YouTube video posted on Tuesday night of the group casually having dinner together to celebrate its ninth anniversary.

BTS said it will continue to move forward in the future even though it takes breaks.
 

▲ This photo, a captured image from BTS' official Twitter account, shows K-pop supergroup BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

"The K-pop idol system doesn't give you time to mature. You don't have time to grow because you have to keep producing something," band leader RM said in the video.

Suga, the band's rapper, songwriter and producer, confided he has always been trying to push himself to create music since the band's debut in 2013 and things have changed a lot from seven to eight years ago.

J-Hope, who released his mixtape "Hope World" in 2018, is expected to be the first BTS member to make his solo debut. But no further details on the upcoming album are available. 

Meanwhile, BTS will be ambassador for World Expo 2030 Busan as Big Hit Entertainment announced, “2030 Busan Expo is a very important event not only to the local community but also for the country. Therefore after the mindful consideration, BTS decided to help out 2030 Busan expo.”

 

 

▲ This photo, provided by NEW, shows "The Witch: Part 2. The Other One." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

◇ Movie ‘The Witch: Part 2. The Other One’ in popularity

Director Park Hoon-jung’s “The Witch: Part 2. The Other One” takes the lead in the box office.

On June 16, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC)’s Box Office Information System (KOBIS), “The Witch: Part 2. The Other One” took first place at the box office, gathering 266,000 viewers on the release date.

This figure is more than double the opening score of the previous film of 120,000 people, and is the highest score after “The Roundup” among domestic films released this year.

“The Witch: Part 2. The Other One” took first place (35.0%) in ticket sales on June 16 at 8 a.m., and is expected to continue this momentum until the weekend.

This movie depicts a girl (Shin Sia), who comes out to the world after a secretary laboratory collapses, and is pursued by the gang.

It has maintained its first place in the box office by attracting 224,650 viewers on Friday, which is the third of its release.

 

 

 

▲ This file photo shows a multiplex cinema. (Yonhap)

◇ Theater revenue nears to pre-pandemic level…‘The Roundup’ hits 11 mln viewers·Tom Cruise visits Korea

The scale of financial transactions confirmed cinema districts, which have suffered severe recession due to COVID-19 outbreak, are rapidly recovering with the lift of social distancing regulations.

According to industry tracker Wiseapp, the past month, total amount paid by CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox, was estimated at 147.5 billion won. It is the highest since February 2020.

This is a record close to 158.4 billion won per month in major movie theater transactions from May 2019, before the outbreak of COVID-19, around 11 times higher than May 2020 (13.5 billion won) during the pandemic, 3.7 times higher than May 2021(39.7 billion).

 

▲ This file photo shows the poster of "The Roundup." (Yonhap)

"The Roundup" has led the revival of theaters. It not became the first movie to exceed 10 million viewers since the COVID-19 outbreak, but also recorded sales of 72.5 billion won by surpassing 11 million viewers this week.

As other films, including “Broker” and “The Witch: Part 2. The Other One,” entered the box office rankings, Hollywood star Tom Cruise visited Korea on Friday to promote his new movie "Top Gun: Maverick"("Top Gun 2").
 

▲ This file photo shows Tom Cruise arriving at the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center(SGBAC) on June 17. (Yonhap)
The actor departed on a private jet from the UK, where he was filming "Mission: Impossible 8," and arrived at the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center(SGBAC) on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Tom Cruise, who arrived in sunglasses and a short-sleeved T-shirt, left the airport after posing a "finger heart" for six minutes to hundreds of fans who came to meet him.

 

 

▲ This photo, provided by P NATION, shows PSY's "SUMMER SWAG 2022." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
◇ PSY’s ‘SUMMER SWAG’ concert in controversy for using water amid drought

S. Korean singer PSY's summer concert "SUMMER SWAG," which will be held for the first time in three years, has been embroiled in controversy along with its popularity.

Earlier, PSY appeared on MBC's "Radio Star" last month and said he uses 300 tons of water per performance at his “SUMMER SWAG” concert.

In response, some Internet users voiced that it is inappropriate to use a large amount of water for performances amid reports of a worsening drought throughout the country this year.

Then, controversy has aroused online as S. Korean actress Lee El recently stated through her Twitter account, mentioning another concert similar to “SUMMER SWAG” concert, "I hope the 300-ton water for the Water Bomb concert will be sprayed on Soyang River."

One writer criticized Lee for making narcisstic remarks, while one opposition lawmaker supported her claim.

Meanwhile, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency expressed concerns on Thursday, saying, "There is a risk for the spread of bacteria," and requested the next day, "It possible, do not sprinkle water.”

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