Actor-director Yang Ik-june faces assault investigation
News comes just days ahead of Yang's scheduled press appearance for his upcoming thriller 'Confession'
Seoul police confirmed Monday they are investigating actor-director Yang Ik-june on allegations of assault.
Yang is accused of repeatedly hitting a staff member with rolled paper and making verbal threats at a bar in Seongbuk-gu on Dec. 13. The case is expected to be forwarded to prosecutors this week, according to police.
The news comes ahead of Yang's scheduled appearance at a prerelease event Wednesday for his upcoming thriller "Confession," where he stars alongside Japanese actor Toma Ikuta.
Directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita, the film follows two former climbing club members trapped in a mountain hut after one confesses to a murder committed 16 years prior.
Film representatives said Monday that the event would proceed as planned.
Yang, 48, gained international recognition for his 2008 directorial debut, "Breathless," which won 13 awards at international film festivals including Rotterdam and Deauville.
He has since appeared in various TV series, including Netflix's "Hellbound," and established himself as a character actor in South Korea's independent film scene.
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Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Violinist Yang In-mo on freedom found in collaboration
Korean violinist reflects on his evolving artistry ahead of two concerts with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under Jonathan Nott In his 20s, Korean violinist Yang In-mo made his mark with high-profile wins — from the Paganini Competition in 2015 to the Sibelius Competition in 2022. Back then, most of his time was spent in solitude, immersed in rigorous practice. More recently, however, the 29-year-old's career has entered a new phase of collaboration. Performing with orchestras around the world, he is having one of his busiest seasons yet, having played 16 concertos, including several contemporary premieres. 'In my 20s, most of my time was spent alone, practicing,' Yang said. 'Now, almost every week I collaborate with a different orchestra. That exchange is my greatest teacher now.' 'Building strong relationships with them, exploring more repertoire together, and deepening our musical connection — I think that's the greatest privilege of the career I have now," Yang said. As he prepares to perform the Sibelius and Mendelssohn violin concertos with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Korea in July, Yang reflects on a season of transformation — not just in repertoire, but in mindset. 'This was only the second time I have played with the OSR, but it felt like reconnecting with old friends. Some orchestras are distant, but OSR was open and warm. It allowed me to be completely free,' he said during a recent online interview. Yang joined the OSR on stage in Switzerland on May 8 for Sibelius' Violin Concerto. Reflecting on the performance afterward, the conductor remarked, 'Inmo is, of course, an exceptionally talented violinist but more importantly, he's a truly great musician. We were both smiling as the concerto came to a close.' That sense of freedom has become central to Yang's current musical philosophy. Having performed Sibelius' Violin Concerto nearly 20 times since winning the 2022 Sibelius Competition, his approach to the work has matured through both repetition and cultural immersion. 'Working with Finnish orchestras and musicians has changed how I view the piece,' Yang said. 'In Finland, I realized drama doesn't only come from human emotion. Nature has its own intensity. Silence, stillness, sudden shifts — these are part of the Finnish sensibility and Sibelius reflects that.' Instead of focusing solely on rhythmic clarity, as many conductors do with Sibelius' complex phrasing, OSR conductor Jonathan Nott encouraged Yang to shape long, lyrical lines. 'It was the first time I felt a conductor guide Sibelius horizontally rather than vertically,' Yang notes. 'At one point, he even sang the phrase to show me his vision. That's rare.' "He's a very musical, lyrical and horizontal conductor, someone who communicates his intentions clearly to the orchestra members, and he's also someone who truly respects and supports the soloist," he said. Yang's evolving relationship with music is not limited to Sibelius. For the upcoming July performance in Korea, he is also returning to Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto — a piece he last performed as a child. While often labeled as 'nice' or familiar, Yang is determined to explore its deeper, even radical layers. 'Mendelssohn's music can sound overly polite if you play it safe. But there's fire and risk beneath the surface, especially in the final movement. His tempo markings are absurdly fast," the Berlin-based violinist said, adding, "While living in Germany, I've come to see the works of German composers with fresh eyes, and in the case of Mendelssohn, beneath all the refinement, I sense something adventurous simmering underneath. I thought maybe it was time to try interpreting that in my own way, especially while performing in Korea.' For all his international engagements, Korea remains the most emotionally charged stage for him. 'I owe everything to my Korean fans,' he said. 'There was no one person who pulled me up — it was the support of people who believed in me after the competitions. When I play in Korea, I feel a responsibility to show them my best self.' Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, under the baton of Jonathan Nott, will present two distinct programs on July 5 and 6 at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. On July 5, the orchestra will perform Debussy's "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune" (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) and Stravinsky's "Petrushka," with Yang joining as the soloist for Sibelius' Violin Concerto. On July 6, audiences can look forward to the Asian premiere of William Blank's "Morphosis for 42 instruments" alongside Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, with Yang once again as soloist. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won ($36.80) to 270,000 won. Meanwhile, OSR will embark on its Asia tour on July 3 in Beijing at the National Center for the Performing Arts before coming to Seoul. It will then head to Japan from July 8 to 13, touring five cities including Tokyo and Kyoto. gypark@
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
‘Loyalty and victory': BTS' RM and V discharged, Army welcomes them back
Fans from around the world flock to Seoul to celebrate the stars' return CHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province — BTS members RM and V completed their mandatory military service Tuesday morning, emerging in uniform at a sports park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, after 18 months of enlistment. RM, wearing sunglasses, appeared playing the soundtrack from the Japanese anime 'Detective Conan' on a saxophone. V followed with a broad smile and a large bouquet in hand. The two stood before the press and saluted before shouting 'Chungseong!' (loyalty) and 'Pilseung!' (victory) to mark the end of their service. 'I'm Sergeant Kim Nam-joon of the 15th Division military band, officially discharged today. I'm finally out,' RM said. 'Honestly, I think we might've served one of the shortest military terms in history. The conditions have improved a lot. There were tough and painful moments, of course, but during our service, I came to deeply appreciate the many people who have protected this country,' he said. He continued, 'It was a meaningful time where I could grow closer to fellow soldiers who had already completed their service.' 'I want to thank Army (BTS fan name) for waiting for us,' he added. 'Now, I'm ready to hit the ground running again as RM of BTS. Thank you to everyone who waited and looked after us.' V followed with a salute, saying, 'Sergeant Kim Tae-hyung, honorably discharged. Loyalty.' He added, 'It was a time for me to reset both physically and mentally. I really want to run to Army as soon as I can. Thank you for waiting for us during our military service. If you can wait just a little longer, I promise to return with an amazing performance.' Looking ahead, RM expressed excitement for what is next. 'What I want to do most is perform. I'll work hard on the next album and return to the stage soon,' he said with a smile. 'No more going back to base — it's time to return to the stage.' While the discharge ceremony was not open to the public for safety reasons, around 100 fans from Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and other countries gathered at the venue to welcome the stars. A large balloon above the sports park read, 'V is back, Taehyung, congratulations on your discharge. We support your new beginning.' Sightseeing buses wrapped in V's image were parked near the venue. Streets in front of Hybe building turn purple Meanwhile, in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, hundreds of fans gathered in front of Hybe's headquarters from early morning to mark the members' return. Trucks and buses with congratulatory messages and large images of RM and V lined the streets, while fans, many dressed in purple — BTS' symbolic color — waved their national flags and photos of the BTS members. Jayna, 28, flew in from the UK to join the celebration. 'This feels incredible. To be here in Seoul, to see the place where BTS grew up and started singing and dancing — it's amazing,' she said. 'I want to say to RM and V that you are a massive inspiration, and I love you so much!' Ivory, 24, from Australia, arrived four days ago to take part in BTS Festa and the members' discharge events. 'I'm going to attend BTS Festa, go to J-Hope's concert in Goyang and celebrate the members' discharge,' she said, holding an Australian flag. BTS Festa is an annual celebration of BTS' debut on June 13, and this year's event will take place at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, June 13-14. 'To RM and V, thank you so much for your hard work. It's been a long, long time without you. I'm so glad you're back and finally free to do whatever you want to do,' Ivory added. Leilani Santos, an Army in her 50s also from Australia, said, 'I think we've all waited a long time, and we've kept the love alive. We want to reassure BTS that we're not going anywhere.' With RM and V now discharged, BTS is one step closer to regrouping. Jin and J-Hope were discharged last year in June and October, respectively. Jimin and Jungkook are scheduled to complete their service Wednesday, while Suga will be discharged June 21.
Korea Herald
3 hours ago
- Korea Herald
National Museum of Korea seeks to broaden reach of Korean culture overseas
State-run museum supports over 23 museums in 10 countries through Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program South Korean culture has much more to offer than K-pop. Setting its sights on making South Korea one of the top five nations in terms of soft power, the state-run National Museum of Korea has been actively promoting Korean art and culture by providing grants to Korean galleries at overseas institutions through its Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program since 2009. A total of 23 museums in 10 countries are part of the program as of May this year. They include the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi, to name a few. For example, the Reitberg Museum in Switzerland is hosting a special exhibition titled "Hallyu! The Korea Wave" from April 4 to Aug. 17, showcasing Korea's vibrant and diverse pop culture. With over 200 objects on display, the exhibition invites visitors to delve into the genesis of hallyu, its links to traditional Korean art, and its global influence on artistic fields, including pop culture, film and fashion. On view at the Reitberg Museum are works by video art pioneer Paik Nam-june, a replica of the set from the four-time Oscar-winning film "Parasite," and hanbok worn by Korean celebrities. The exhibition also features a Google Art Dance Room where visitors can learn K-pop moves and dance along with choreographers. The exhibition is part of a traveling series that began in 2022. The show was created by a curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum in the UK appointed through NMK's support program. The exhibition has toured internationally, with stops at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco in 2024. A special touring exhibition will showcase artifacts donated by the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee starting in November. The exhibition will feature various Korean cultural artifacts, including several National Treasures, according to a senior official at the state-run museum. Also, curatorial staff members have been dispatched to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and the Art Institute of Chicago to prepare for the exhibition. The first stop will be at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in the US in November, followed by the Art Institute of Chicago in March and the British Museum in September next year.
