by Ra Hwak Jin / Kim Sun Min
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| ▲ This photo, provided by IST Entertainment, shows THE BOYZ. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ COVID-19 sweeps entertainment industry…Singer·actor·comedian all test positive
As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 exceeded 17,000 a day this week, a series of infected cases follow one after another in the entertainment industry.
K-pop boy group THE BOYZ's Eric(real name Son Young-jae) has tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday morning. Two or three days later, Young-hoon and Hyun-jae from the same group also tested positive for COVID-19.
Their agency IST Entertainment said, "We apologize for causing concerns," adding, "We are taking all necessary measures in accordance with the quarantine authorities and will faithfully cooperate with the quarantine guidelines as a top priority."
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| ▲ This photo, provided by WAKEONE·Swing Entertainment, shows Kep1er. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Besides THE BOYZ, some members of K-pop groups iKON, WEi, TREASURE, SF9, Brave Girls, VIVIZ and Kep1er as well as singers Hyolyn and Kwon Eun-bi, a former member of now-disbanded girl group IZ*ONE, were confirmed to have contracted the virus this week.
The performances are being cancelled in the theater industry as well due to the spread of COVID-19.
The musical "Something Rotten" canceled its third show from Jan. 28 to Jan. 29, as the lead actor Seo Kyung-su who plays Shakespeare, tested positive for COVID-19.
As actor Lee Sang-yoon tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 29, the play "Last Session," in which he is starring with O Yeong-su and Shin Gu, was canceled until Jan. 31.
Meanwhile, comedian Cho Sae-ho canceled all his upcoming plans after testing positive on Friday.
He is fully vaccinated and received a booster shot, according to his agency, image9comms.
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| ▲ This photo, a captured image from BTS' official YouTube channel, shows a video regarding Chipotle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ BTS power…changes Twitter name and increases product’s weight
Every word of BTS is having tremendous impacts on the industry beyond fans and entertainment business.
"Chipotle," a famous fast-casual chain of Mexican restaurants in the United States, its Twitter account name to "Chicotle" on Monday(U.S. Time) because of BTS.
Earlier on BTS' official YouTube channel, a video was uploaded, showing Jung-kook, who appears to be trying Chipotle for the first time, said, "How can I eat this, Chicotle?," and the video went viral among fans.
Then Chipotle changed the name of its Twitter account name as Jung-kook pronounced it, posting a tweet "It's chicotle from now on."
It also retweeted a post from a fan that said, "IF JUNGKOOK SAID ITS CHICOTLE THEN ITS CHICOTLE."
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Paldo, show the Paldo Bibim-myeon Cup 1.2." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Paldo, a Korean ramyeon manufacturing company, announced it would release a limited number of "Paldo Bibim-myeon Cup 1.2," which has increased its weight by more than 20% on Wednesday.
The launch of this product came true after BTS’ RM told the fans that he wished to increase the weight of the product.
Earlier, RM enjoyed the Paldo Bibim-myeon cup and expressed his hope for a new product 1.5 times bigger in size, to come out in his live broadcast.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Netflix, shows a teaser image of "Our Beloved Summer." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ Realistic romance drama 'Our Beloved Summer' finishes with 5.3% of viewer rate
SBS TV's Monday and Tuesday drama "Our Beloved Summer," which depicts the love and development of the youth in their late twenties, ended with its own highest ratings.
The final episode of "Our Beloved Summer," which was aired on Tuesday at 10 p.m., recorded 5.3% of viewer rate, according to Nielsen Korea, a television audience measurement company, on Jan. 26.
"Our Beloved Summer" drew attention of the viewers as it realistically displays the lives and love of the youth in their late twenties.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by SBS, shows a scene from "Our Beloved Summer." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The drama, which depicted a story of the youth with different kinds of pain developing one step further as they treat each other, went viral and ranked No.9 on the global "TOP TV Shows on Netflix."
The acting of the actors in the drama played a big role in the popularity of the work.
In particular, Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi, who showed realistic acting, enhanced the viewers' concentration as they were assimilated into the character to the extent that the actors were not distinguished from the roles.
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