logo
Gonna be golden: K-pop girl groups are taking over Singapore amid KPop Demon Hunters success

Gonna be golden: K-pop girl groups are taking over Singapore amid KPop Demon Hunters success

Straits Timesa day ago
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
K-pop girl group I-dle (top right) will take the stage at the Bubbling & Boiling Music and Arts Festival​ Singapore on Sept 13 while 2NE1 will be performing at the 2025 edition of music festival Waterbomb Singapore on Aug 30 and 31.
SINGAPORE – The season of K-pop girl groups is officially upon Singapore.
Not only have fictional trio Huntrix from the hit animated movie KPop Demon Hunters become the first girl group to
hit No. 1 on US Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart – for their ubiquitous banger Golden – since America's Destiny's Child almost 25 years ago, but a slew of South Korean all-female acts are also set to perform in Singapore every month until the end of 2025.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

My Girlfriend Is The Man! Episode 8: Everything We Know So Far
My Girlfriend Is The Man! Episode 8: Everything We Know So Far

International Business Times

time5 hours ago

  • International Business Times

My Girlfriend Is The Man! Episode 8: Everything We Know So Far

August 14, 2025 19:14 +08 My Girlfriend Is The Man! Poster KBS My Girlfriend Is The Man! episode 8 will air on KBS2 on Thursday (August 14) at 9:50 PM KST. The chapter will focus on Kim Ji Hoon, Kang Min Joo, and Park Yoon Jae. According to the production team, viewers can expect to watch a chaotic clash in the upcoming episode. The newly released stills show Park Yoon Jae stunned, watching Kang Min Joo and Kim Ji Hoon sleeping under the same blanket. A photo captures the surprise on Park Yoon Jae's face after watching the two rivals sleeping in the same bed. Another image focuses on sleeping Kang Min Joo and Kim Ji Hoon, while the third one features a chaotic moment. Kim Ji Hoon and Kang Min Joo get involved in a wild brawl shortly after they wake up. They pull each other's hair and get into a fight. The newly released stills have left the viewers wondering how the two rivals ended up in the same bed. Here is everything about My Girlfriend Is The Man! episode 8, including the air date, preview, spoilers, and streaming details. How to Watch My Girlfriend Is The Man! Episode 8? People in Korea can watch the next episode of this KBS romantic comedy drama on TV or stream it online. K-drama fans from other parts of the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Mexico, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, China, Japan, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, Turkey, and South Africa, can watch the mini-series with subtitles on online streaming platforms, like Viu and Rakuten Viki. Here are the International Air Timings of My Girlfriend Is The Man! Episode 8: US - 7:50 AM Canada - 7:50 AM Australia - 11:20 PM New Zealand - 1:50 AM Japan - 9:50 PM Mexico - 6:50 AM Brazil - 9:50 AM Saudi Arabia - 3:50 PM India - 6:20 PM Indonesia - 7:50 PM Singapore - 8:50 PM China - 8:50 PM Europe - 1:50 PM France - 1:50 PM Spain - 1:50 PM UK - 12:50 PM South Africa - 2:50 PM Philippines - 8:50 PM My Girlfriend is the Man! is an ongoing romantic comedy drama based on a webtoon of the same name. It premiered on KBS2 on Wednesday (July 23) at 9:50 PM KST. The mini-series features ASTRO member Yoon San Ha as Park Yoon Jae, an astronomy student. OH MY GIRL member Arin portrays his girlfriend, Kim Ji Eun. The KBS drama revolves around the transformation of Kim Ji Eun as a man named Kim Ji Hoon, played by Yoo Jung Hoo. Chuu appears as Kang Min Joo, a popular student in college. Screenwriter Lee Hae Na wrote the script for this K-drama, and Yoo Kwan Mo directed it. Studio N and Blossom Story produced this mini-series, which airs on KBS2 every Wednesday and Thursday at 9:50 PM KST.

Slay all day: Demon Slayer carves out a place in anime history
Slay all day: Demon Slayer carves out a place in anime history

Straits Times

time6 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Slay all day: Demon Slayer carves out a place in anime history

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Japanese anime movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba has surpassed its predecessor's record. The sequel Infinity Castle – the first of three movies that wrap up the story begun in the anime series – is showing in Singapore cinemas. In Japan, it has already toppled previous Demon Slayer movie Mugen Train's opening-weekend box-office grosses . The Straits Times' artists Cheong Huan Ting and Soh Hwee Yi recount the franchise's killer achievements through the years. The story ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CHEONG HUAN TING AND SOH HWEE YI Tanjiro Kamado, the teenage protagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, returns home to discover his sister, Nezuko Kamado, has been turned into a demon and the rest of his family are dead. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps to find a cure to turn her back into a human while also exacting revenge on the demons. His goal is to kill Muzan Kibutsuji, the King of Demons, to end their existence once and for all. In the latest movie, the Pillars – the strongest members of the Demon Slayer Corps – confront Muzan together, but are separated before they can land a single blow and find themselves transported to a realm known as the Infinity Castle. Critical consensus Infinity Castle was released in Japan on July 18. The action sequences and quality of the animation, as well as the movie's emotional depth, have been highly praised, while some critics say the pacing and story structure could have been improved. Box-office records ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CHEONG HUAN TING AND SOH HWEE YI It was the fastest anime film in Japan to earn 10 billion yen (S$86.67 million), achieving that number in just eight days. It earned 5.5 billion yen on its opening weekend in Japan theatres, breaking the record set by its predecessor, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Mugen Train (2020). Timeline ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CHEONG HUAN TING AND SOH HWEE YI 2016: The manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, by Japanese artist Koyoharu Gotouge, debuts in manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Bukit Merah fire: Residents relocated as town council carries out restoration works Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What are the fire safety rules for PMDs? Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at wrong airport in South Korea Opinion Could telco consolidation spell the end of attractive mobile plans? Singapore Change in law proposed to pave the way for public-private sector data sharing Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength 2019: The anime adaptation begins airing in April, with the series spawning four seasons to date. The manga sells 12.1 million copies in Japan in 2019, overtaking One Piece – the reigning champion since 2008 – as the year's top-selling manga series. 2020: The first big-screen adaptation, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Mugen Train, opens in Japanese cinemas in October and records 7.9 million admissions in two weeks. With a total gross of 36.55 billion yen, it is Japan's highest-grossing animated film, beating Spirited Away's (2001) long-held record of 31.68 billion yen. The final volume of the manga is released in December, selling about 2.86 million copies in the first week, with a total of 120 million copies in circulation across the entire series. ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CHEONG HUAN TING AND SOH HWEE YI 2023: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba To The Swordsmith Village is released in Japan theatres on Feb 3. It is a full-length compilation film consisting of the last two episodes of Season 2 (February 2022) of the anime series and the first episode of Season 3 (April 2023), which had yet to be aired at the time. 2024: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba To The Hashira Training is released in Japan on Feb 2. It is a full-length compilation film consisting of the previously released Season 3 finale (June 2023) and the then unaired first episode of Season 4 (May 2024). 2025: The manga records more than 220 million copies in circulation by July, with 164 million in Japan alone. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle is released in Japan on July 18 and is showing in Singapore cinemas. Past and present collaborations ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CHEONG HUAN TING AND SOH HWEE YI Aniplus Cafe SG A pop-up cafe at Esplanade Mall featuring Demon Slayer-themed decor and selling food and beverages, as well as merchandise based on the main characters, from Feb 21 to May 1, 2025. Universal Studios Japan The theme park in Osaka, Japan, has hosted multiple Demon Slayer-themed attractions over the years, with the most recent being Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba XR Ride – Race To Swordsmith Village and Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc X Hollywood Dream – The Ride from July 2024 to January 2025. Fashion partnerships These included coming up with versions of the Rivalry Low footwear with Adidas (November 2024 to present); UT shirts with Uniqlo (July 2025 to present); and the Echo Clog with Crocs (August 2025). Upcoming themed events Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba In Concert (Oct 17 and 18) ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CHEONG HUAN TING AND SOH HWEE YI To be held at the Esplanade Theatre, the live concerts will feature Season 1's soundtrack performed by an 18-piece orchestra, while scenes from the anime are projected onto a full-sized cinema screen. Los Angeles Dodgers (Aug 15) The seasonal match at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between Major League Baseball teams Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will include a giveaway of the Dodgers X Demon Slayer collaboration hats and a themed drone show to celebrate the release of Infinity Castle, which opens in North American theatres on Sept 12.

Theatre review: Despite forgettable songs, Lord Of The Rings musical immerses fans with stagecraft
Theatre review: Despite forgettable songs, Lord Of The Rings musical immerses fans with stagecraft

Straits Times

time10 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Theatre review: Despite forgettable songs, Lord Of The Rings musical immerses fans with stagecraft

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Actor Rarmian Newton (playing Frodo, front) in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale stage production. The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale Base Entertainment Asia Sands Theatre Aug 13 Fans of the Lord Of The Rings (LOTR) media franchise of books, films, television series and video games now have another avenue to indulge their love for all things Middle-earth – the theatre. And like the fictional setting populated with fantastical wizards, elves, orcs and dwarves, the stage wields its own magic too, allowing audiences to feel like they are part of the enchanting world. The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale, which plays at Sands Theatre until Aug 31, is adapted from English writer J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy of novels (1954 to 1955), but also shares similarities with the film series (2001 to 2003) directed by New Zealand film-maker Peter Jackson. It made its debut in Toronto, Canada, in 2006 and has come to town for its Asia premiere, reimagining the story from the perspective of hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, and focusing on their quest to destroy the One Ring. What differentiates this production, which runs for about 175 minutes with an intermission, is its immersive quality. For one thing, the action is extended beyond Sands Theatre's stage to its aisles and walkways. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea Asia Strong India-Singapore ties key to economic growth amid 'volatile landscape': DPM Gan Singapore Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on former stepdad's instructions Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids Asia Citizenship for foreign talent: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength Cast members deliver lines, strut off in a huff or rush to one another's rescue from these areas, enveloping the audience in the action. Prior to the show starting, actors are already greeting and mingling with guests, and inviting them to partake in the celebration of hobbit Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday, the first scene of the musical. Talk about breaking the fourth wall. This artistic choice also accentuates the venue's cavernous quality, reminiscent of some of the film's epic settings such as beautiful elven realm Lothlorien and Barad-dur, the formidable fortress of the dark lord Sauron. A set largely featuring wood carvings captures the simple charm of the hobbits, while stunning projections bring to life many of the books' familiar scenes, from the tranquillity of elven sanctuary Rivendell to the dark chaos of Moria's dwarven mines. Wonder what happens when someone puts on the One Ring, which allows bearers to enslave all forever? That is also answered through clever staging. And puppets are used to depict many of the more sinister elements from the forces of evil. Puppets are used to depict many of the more sinister elements from the forces of evil. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD From voiceovers to lighting to shadows, every theatrical trick is used to bring this battle of good and evil from page to stage. Lighting and shadows are used to bring the battle of good and evil from page to stage. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD And for the most part, it works. The temptations and inner struggles faced by the characters are deftly captured by actors Terence Crawford (Gandalf), Laurence Boxhall (Gollum) and Jemma Rix (Galadriel). One actor who deftly captures his character's inner struggles is Terence Crawford (left, playing Gandalf), seen here with actor Rarmian Newton (right, playing Frodo). PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD Hobbits are a merry, fun-loving bunch, and this is played out with the production's use of music, all performed live by the cast members. For example, Jeremi Campese (Merry) pulls double duty on the cello, while actress Hannah Buckley (Pippin) tackles the violin. However, what disappoints is the overall original music, co-composed by Oscar-winning Indian maestro A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 2008). The 19 songs, which include folksy Celtic numbers and crowd-rallying anthems, are mostly forgettable, and seemingly serve to only express the emotions of the moment or impress on a character's grand entrance, without really moving the plot forward. It is almost as if these numbers are shoehorned into a perfectly fine play just so it can be called a musical, regardless if the source material meshes well with traditional musical theatre elements. Most of the songs in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale stage production are forgettable. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD Nonetheless, LOTR fans will likely delight at being able to come so close to memorable characters and scenes, and having music add another dimension to the experience. The comforting duet Now And For Always, delivered by Rarmian Newton and Wern Mak (playing Frodo and Sam respectively), celebrates their enduring bond in the face of the conflict and turmoil. But for the most part, casual theatregoers may puzzle over why characters are singing in the first place. Thankfully, there is enough stagecraft to keep them entertained. Actors Wern Mak (left, playing Sam) and Ruby Clarke (right, playing Rosie) in The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale stage production. PHOTO: DANIEL BOUD Book It/The Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: Until Aug 31, 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays) Admission: $68 to $238 via Marina Bay Sands ( ), Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to ) and Klook ( )

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store