Latest news with #Hongjoong
Korea Herald
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Encouraging vote: from celebrities to fans
Celebrities encourage voting, while fans add a little fun with 'voting certification paper' On Tuesday, celebrities took to social media to show proof of voting and to encourage others to do the same. Fans also created their own rituals around voting, turning participation into a kind of communal activity or a campaign. While many stars posted selfies and photos from polling stations, actors and musicians were careful not to reveal numbers or colors associated with particular political parties in their photos as expressing political preferences is often considered taboo for Korean celebrities. Ateez members Seonghwa and Hongjoong cast their votes on Tuesday and shared a selfie on social media. Both were dressed in neutral-toned outfits. Actor Yoon Eun-Hye also posted a photo taken in front of the voting station on Tuesday, wearing a brown hat and ivory top. J-Hope of BTS and IU, who had participated in early voting, had earlier posted selfies wearing all-black outfits, including their hats. The five Korean members of rookie boy band KickFlip, who also took part in early voting together, posted a photo of their hands with vote stamps. Singer Lee Chae-yeon, who couldn't remove her blue wrist brace — a color strongly associated with the Democratic Party of Korea — held red cherry tomatoes in the other hand to "neutralize" the photo with red, the color of the People Power Party. Some celebrities encouraged voting more directly, by sending messages via fan communication platforms. Actor Lee Dong-wook sent a message via fan communication platform Bubble on Sunday and said that he had participated in early voting. He went on to urge fans to vote, saying, 'To those who say there's no one worth voting for, I always say this: Voting is about preventing the worst. If you can't choose the best, go for the second best. If there's no second best, choose the lesser evil to stop the worst.' Haewon of Nmixx also appeared on Bubble saying, "I've participated in early voting. Let's all vote together." Fans add element of fun While celebrities called for their fans to exercise one's right to vote, fans combined voting and their affection for their stars by creating 'voting certification papers.' Voters in Korea often stamp the back of their hands as proof of having voted. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, plastic gloves became mandatory at polling stations, making it difficult to stamp hands. This led to the rise of creative alternatives like voting certification papers, which seem to be here to stay. These papers are themed templates that fans either design themselves or download from free sources. Typically, the design features a vacant space such as a character's face or a speech bubble, where voters can place their vote stamp and then share the image on social media. Fans design and distribute these templates online, often incorporating K-pop lightsticks, group logos or even the Korean flag. One BTS fan created and shared a design combining the Army Bomb, the group's lightstick, and the Taegeukgi, the Korean flag. Groups such as Ateez, xikers and Billlie even shared voting certification paper templates via their official accounts on social platform X, featuring their logos or mascots. This trend isn't limited to the K-pop scene; it has expanded to include professional sports leagues such as baseball and soccer, as well as popular character designs from emoji and sticker artists. Even without a custom voting paper, fans have found other creative ways to include their favorite stars in the voting process, such as stamping directly onto a K-pop idol's photocard and sharing the image online. Stamping and posting a picture of a personal item like a custom paper or photocard is not in violation of the law. However, the photo must be taken outside the polling booth. According to the National Election Commission, photographing a ballot inside the booth can result in up to two years imprisonment or a fine of up to 4 million won ($2,900).
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: K-pop bands Ateez, Cravity to hold maiden KL show on May 31
KUALA LUMPUR: K-pop sensations Ateez and Cravity are set to make their Malaysian debut at the K-pop Masterz concert series. The show kicks off at 5.30pm on May 31 at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), here. Ateez, an eight-member South Korean group whose name stands for "A TEEnager Z," burst onto the global scene after their debut in October 2018. Comprising Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, they are renowned for high-energy performances and hits like 'Wave', 'Answer', and 'Wonderland'. In a landmark year for the group, Ateez became the first K-pop act to perform at the US music festival Coachella in 2024 and also headlined Morocco's Mawazine music festival. Cravity, a nine-member group, debuted in 2020 and were quickly dubbed "Monster Rookies" by Korean media. Known for their energetic performances, captivating stage presence, and unique musical style, the group consists of Serim, Allen, Jungmo, Woobin, Wonjin, Minhee, Hyeongjun, Taeyoung, and Seongmin. They shot to fame with tracks such as 'Break All The Rules' and 'Cloud 9', earning several 'Rookie Of The Year' awards at Korean music shows. The event is organised by Paradise E&A, Monday Morning Creative Lab, and Genesis Entertainment, with Entertainment and Three Angles Production as co-organisers.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
K-pop bands Ateez and Cravity to perform in KL for the first time
K-pop boy bands Ateez (pic) and Cravity will be performing in Kuala Lumpur for the first time ever on May 31. — Photos: Handout K-pop boy bands Ateez and Cravity will be performing in Kuala Lumpur for the first time ever on May 31, 5.30pm, at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), as part of the K-pop Masterz concert series. Ateez, short for 'A TEEnager Z', is an eight-member South Korean boy group that has taken the world by storm immediately after their debut in October 2018. Comprising Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, the band is best known for hits like Wave , Answer , and Wonderland , as well as their high-energy performances. In 2024, Ateez became the first K-pop boy group to perform at US music festival Coachella, as well as headlining Morocco's Mawazine music festival. Known for their energetic performances, charming stage presence, unique and versatile music styles, Cravity made its debut in 2020 and were quickly nicknamed the 'Monster Rookies' by Korean media. Comprising nine members (Serim, Allen, Jungmo, Woobin, Wonjin, Minhee, Hyeongjun, Taeyoung, and Seongmin), it shot to fame with hits like Break all the Rules and Cloud 9 and won several "Rookie of the Year" awards at big Korean music shows. Tickets for the show are now available for purchase online at and range from RM359 to RM999. The K-pop Masterz is a concert series that showcases top rising artistes from Asia, mainly Korea, combining performances and fan talks, connecting K-pop fans worldwide with artistes, supporting album promotion, and publicity. The K-pop Masterz 2025 in Kuala Lumpur event is organised by Paradise E&A, Monday Morning Creative Lab, and Genesis Entertainment, and co- organised by Entertainment and Three Angles Production.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
ATEEZ World Tour 'Towards the Light' Concert Film in Theaters May 2025
ATEEZ will light up movie theaters worldwide this May with the release of a new concert film. The live juggernaut K-pop group stars in the ATEEZ World Tour [Towards the Light : Will to Power] in Cinemas that will transport audiences to January 2024 for the tour's kickoff performance at Jamsil Arena in Seoul. Presented by CJ 4DPLEX and Trafalgar Releasing, the massive stadium-sized show gets packaged for fans across Asia, North America, Europe, and more territories for a series of showings throughout May. A 126-minute spectacle, the upcoming concert film brings high-voltage performances of singles like 'Guerrilla,' 'Crazy Form' and 'Say My Name,' and special renditions of songs like the 'Symphony No.9 'From the Wonderland'' version of 'WONDERLAND.' Fans will also see solo and unit performances that spotlight the unique live artistry of members Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. Leveraging CJ 4DPLEX's immersive technologies, audiences will be treated to a range of experiences with ATEEZ World Tour [Towards the Light : Will to Power] in Cinemas via ScreenX (the 270-degree panoramic showcase that surrounds viewers with visuals extending across multiple screens), 4DX (motion-synchronized seating and environmental effects like wind, water and scents), Ultra 4DX (a hybrid of ScreenX and 4DX at select premium locations) and traditional 2D (for the purists who prefer a classic, concert film viewing). 'Presenting ATEEZ's concert in cinemas continues our efforts to expand what theatrical storytelling can be,' Jun Bang, Chief Executive Officer at CJ 4DPLEX, said. 'At CJ 4DPLEX, we've long explored how music and film converge, and through our immersive formats — ScreenX, 4DX, and Ultra 4DX — we're proud to offer a powerful, cinematic experience that brings audiences closer to the energy of live performance.' Marc Allenby, the Chief Executive Officer of Trafalgar Releasing, emphasized the massiveness of the Towards the Light : Will to Power world tour — which included the band's first U.S. stadium shows at New York's Citi Field and BMO Stadium in Los Angeles — emphasized how it 'deserves' to be on the big screen. 'Building on our history of successful collaborations, we're excited to partner with CJ 4DPLEX once again to bring ATEEZ's incredible live show to cinemas,' Allenby added. 'The scale and artistry of this tour deserve to be experienced on the big screen and we're committed to providing fans with the highest quality cinematic event.' As ATEEZ pushed their artistic and on-stage boundaries on their last international trek, ATEEZ World Tour [Towards the Light : Will to Power] in Cinemas acts as the latest example of K-pop's evolving relationship with global event cinema following recent concert-documentary films from girl group IVE and solo superstar IU earlier this year. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, April 30 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET via
