Latest news with #Mnet
Globe and Mail
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Boryeong Mud Festival 2025 Features K-pop Power and Korea's Leading Music Show on August 7
One of Asia's most beloved summer events, the Boryeong Mud Festival, returns in 2025 with even bigger thrills, deeper cultural immersion, and star-studded performances, including the highly anticipated Mnet M Countdown concert on Thursday, August 7th, hosted at the iconic Mud Expo Square on Daecheon Beach. Running from July 25 to August 10, 2025, the festival transforms the picturesque coastline of Daecheon Beach into a lively, mud-soaked wonderland filled with fun for all ages. Since its inception in 1998, the Boryeong Mud Festival has attracted millions of international visitors with its signature mineral-rich mud and electrifying summer energy. This year's edition promises an unforgettable blend of entertainment, wellness, adventure, and K-pop excitement. Mnet M Countdown: A Star-Studded Night on August 7 The undeniable highlight of this year's entertainment lineup is the M COUNTDOWN concert, Korea's leading K-POP chart show broadcast live by Mnet, set to dazzle audiences on Thursday, August 7. Taking place at the Mud Expo Square, this live event will showcase performances from top K-pop artists, delivering a spectacular evening that combines the energy of a music festival with the glamor of a television broadcast. As part of the festival's final week celebrations, K-POP Super Live, presented by KBS2, will follow on Saturday, August 9, featuring fresh hits, artist collaborations, and surprise performances sure to thrill K-pop fans worldwide. Festival Highlights: Mud, Music, and More This year's Boryeong Mud Festival is anchored by the Mud Experience Zone, where visitors can dive into giant mud pools, race down thrilling mudslides, and join friendly mud-based competitions. Whether you're enjoying the chaos of the Mud Mob Scene, indulging in a mud beauty treatment, or splashing in the Mud Water Park, there's something for every kind of traveler. Dedicated zones for kids and pets ensure the entire family can get in on the fun, while adrenaline seekers can explore the Jeep Track, Sky Bike, and more. Beach, Culture, and Aerial Spectacle Set against the scenic backdrop of Daecheon Beach, famed for its wide white sands and gentle waters, the festival also celebrates Korean heritage and local entrepreneurship. Attendees can browse the Boryeong Specialties Market and shop from the Youth Booths, run by local business owners under 45. One of the most thrilling moments of the festival is the Black Eagles Air Show, where South Korea's elite aerobatic team takes to the skies for a gravity-defying performance above the beach. Wellness and Rejuvenation The festival isn't just about getting dirty; it's also a haven for wellness enthusiasts. The Boryeong Mud Theme Park offers government-certified spa treatments and mud massages, using mineral-rich mud sourced from the region's pristine waters. It's the perfect place to unwind after a day of muddy fun. Travel Made Easy To enhance accessibility for domestic and international guests, a special 'Seoul–Boryeong Mud Train' will run on July 26, August 1, and August 8, offering 400 seats per trip (1,200 in total). The all-in-one day-trip package includes round-trip KTX tickets, shuttle service, admission to Gaehwa Art Park, access to the Boryeong Mud Festival, and a 10,000 KRW Onnuri gift certificate. Tickets to the Mud Experience Zone start at just 14,000 KRW for adults on weekends, with early bird discounts (11,200 KRW) available until June 25. For travel packages, visit the official Korail Tourism Development website: For festival information, visit the official site: A Must-See Global Festival Recognized as one of Asia's top three festivals, the Boryeong Mud Festival blends nature, music, community, and adventure into one unforgettable summer celebration. From exhilarating mud experiences to jaw-dropping performances like Mnet's M COUNTDOWN on August 7, the 2025 edition promises a dynamic escape into the heart of South Korea's cultural charm. Whether you're a thrill-seeker, a music lover, or simply looking for a unique way to celebrate summer, Boryeong Mud Festival 2025 invites you to dive in, get messy, and make memories. Stay connected and share the experience using #BoryeongMudFestival. For any inquiry, contact J.Y Lee at mudyaho@ For the latest updates, follow on Social Media.
India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Contestant from Boys Planet II slammed for Jungkook hate posts
Although BTS are currently off-stage, their name continues to be entangled in K-pop controversies. This time, the focus is on 'Boys Planet II' trainee Peng Jin Yu. He has come under fire for performing Jungkook's hit song 'Seven', despite a resurfaced history of making disparaging remarks about BTS and other discovered old Weibo posts allegedly showing Peng criticising Jungkook, as well as members of TWICE and June 12, Peng was introduced as an independent contestant on Mnet's 'Boys Planet II'. But rather than generating excitement, his appearance prompted immediate backlash. Alongside clips of his audition and performances, screenshots of previous social media activity began circulating. It revealed a pattern of hate-filled posts, particularly directed at Jungkook and female idols from TWICE and Aespa. (Credit: X/mhereonlyforbts) What further angered fans was Peng's reputation as a dedicated BLACKPINK supporter, or BLINK. While being a fan isn't inherently problematic, accusations have surfaced that Peng used his fan account to share anti-BTS content during periods of heightened BLINK vs. ARMY the posts was one allegedly comparing Aespa members to dogs, and another mocking TWICE's Tzuyu over the Taiwan flag incident, labelling the group as pro-Taiwan backlash was swift. Many fans pointed out the contradiction between Peng's past behaviour and his decision to perform Jungkook's 'Seven'. They accused him of exploiting BTS's popularity for personal gain. Making matters worse, he has yet to publicly address the controversy, with reports stating he offered only a private apology via direct message to a single fan. (Credit: X/itzaboutime) As 'Boys Planet II' continues to attract viewers, fans are calling on both Mnet and Peng to take internet users urged the BTS fandom to remain vigilant and to continue holding to account those who attempt to benefit from BTS's success while having disrespected them in the past.- EndsMust Watch
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Demon boy band? These ballet dancers had already cast their spell
Breakout team behind sold-out show mixed heritage with ballet, and struck a chord In the first half of this year, no ballet in Korea stirred up more buzz than 'Gat,' a 70-minute contemporary ballet inspired by traditional Korean hats. Created by the newly established Yunbyul Ballet Company, 'Gat' completed a six-city national tour, selling out every seat along the way — a rare feat for a fledgling company barely a year old. The second run, following its 2024 premiere, drew a wave of fans eager to see the ballerinos who rose to stardom through Mnet's hit dance competition "Stage Fighter." But the excitement didn't stop there. Following the global success of Netflix's animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' social media users began drawing comparisons between the film's fictional boy band, the Saja Boys, and the five ballerinos in "Gat." Their playful curtain call — a nod to the demon boy band's signature poses — brought this ghostly ballet back into the spotlight, racking up 1.94 million views on Instagram. At the center of it all are two rising creatives — choreographer Park So-yun and Yun Byul, her longtime dance partner and the company's founder. 'This year, with the national tour and everything, we've been overwhelmed — incredibly busy, but just really happy,' the pair said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. The unexpected journey, they recalled, began with something simple, but with a twist: A ballerina wearing a gat. Ballerinas wearing gat The spark came in 2019 with Netflix's 'Kingdom,' the Korean zombie thriller set in the Joseon era, which ignited a global fascination with traditional Korean hats. Historically, gat refers to a wide range of hat styles worn according to one's social class, profession, or a particular occasion. What's commonly recognized today as gat — the tall, black, wide-brimmed hat — is called "heungnip," traditionally worn by "seonbi," or male scholars. 'But what if a ballerina wore gat?' said Park. 'I thought the strong cultural significance associated with the male seonbi and their virtues would be intriguing when worn by a woman.' Park had long been collecting choreographic ideas, knowing that her debut as a choreographer would take a deeply Korean form. During a casual bus ride with Yun, she shared her concept. As it happened, Yun was organizing a gala. 'I immediately said, 'Let's do it,'' Yun recalled. 'I loved the idea of combining ballet with gat, and I trusted Park could make it work.' The result was an eight-minute group piece for female dancers that premiered in 2021: On the stage, the ballerinas tiptoe slowly with dignified restraint. Their upright posture, accentuated by the hats and en pointe technique, evokes the image of calligraphy brushes or ghostly, Korean-style grim reapers moving through fog. From wanderer's satgat to bride's jokduri From that short piece, 'Gat' naturally expanded into a 70-minute production composed of nine vignettes, each inspired by distinct headwear. Park selected hats with the most vivid imagery. The red jurip worn by Joseon-era military officers becomes a majestic portrait of a female general in a gender-swapping segment. A wide straw "satgat" tells the tale of a lone wanderer, while the humble "paeraengi" (a commoner's hat) becomes a rhythmic, playful dance of traveling merchants. The "jokduri," a delicate bridal coronet, captures the shyness and excitement of a woman before her wedding. One standout scene and a major factor behind the show's success features the "jeongjagwan" (a tall, pointed hat with an upward-curving structure) traditionally associated with fussy schoolmasters or folktale villains like Nolbu. Usually worn indoors by noblemen, it carries strong connotations of wealth and pride. In this segment, three male dancers swagger across the stage, puffing on long pipes. 'Here, I wanted something with arrogant flair — a little hunched, a little mocking, like they don't care. That energy shaped the movement,' said Park. Yet Park encourages audiences to not seek one 'correct' interpretation. 'Even though I created this with specific images in mind, I hope people imagine their own stories. Maybe one scene feels a little sad, or a dancer carries their own story — that imaginative freedom is what makes it fun.' Credit for the company's rising profile also goes to a savvy blend of dance films and active social media. 'It's a turbulent time in the dance world. Dancers can go viral overnight but attention fades just as fast,' said Yun. 'I've performed in nearly empty theaters and in front of thousands. I believe good marketing and good artistry must go hand in hand — each supporting and enhancing the other.' With their debut production a breakout hit, Yun and Park are now focused on shaping their company's identity and brand. 'As a choreographer, I want to challenge the notion that contemporary ballet is boring or inaccessible,' said Park, adding that the most rewarding feedback came from first-time balletgoers. 'People often think only classical ballet sells. But I believe new works like this can actually be more welcoming to audiences who are new to ballet.' Yun said founding his own company led him to let go of the self-focused mindset and start viewing the performance as a cohesive whole. 'Running a company feels like the tycoon game I used to play when I was young,' Yun said. 'The smallest decisions can change everything. How you speak to dancers, the costumes, marketing, show length, venue -- every detail shapes the final outcome.' 'And when the audience recognizes that dedication, it brings a whole new level of fulfillment for us as creators,' they said. The duo's shared goal is captured in the company's motto: 'It's not how much you see. It's how deeply you see.' 'We plan to keep experimenting and continue creating something that is truly our own.' In the coming months, Park will return to the stage as both dancer and choreographer in 'Developpe,' a ballet gala blending original and classical works, at Guro Arts Valley on Aug. 2. Meanwhile, the 'Gat' segment featuring the jeongjagwan will be performed this Saturday at the Jeju International Dance Festival, with a full 'Gat' tour planned for next year.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Old hats in new style: How ‘Gat' became ballet sensation
(for online headline: Demon boy band? These ballet dancers had already cast their spell) Breakout team behind sold-out show mixed heritage with ballet, and struck a chord In the first half of this year, no ballet in Korea stirred up more buzz than 'Gat,' a 70-minute contemporary ballet inspired by traditional Korean hats. Created by the newly established Yunbyul Ballet Company, 'Gat' completed a six-city national tour, selling out every seat along the way -- a rare feat for a fledgling company barely a year old. The second run, following its 2024 premiere, drew a wave of fans eager to see the ballerinos who rose to stardom through Mnet's hit dance competition "Stage Fighter." But the excitement didn't stop there. Following the global success of Netflix's animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' social media users began drawing comparisons between the film's fictional boy band, the Saja Boys, and the five ballerinos in "Gat." Their playful curtain call -- a nod to the demon boy band's signature poses -- brought this ghostly ballet back into the spotlight, racking up 1.94 million views on Instagram. At the center of it all are two rising creatives -- choreographer Park So-yun and Yun Byul, her longtime dance partner and the company's founder. 'This year, with the national tour and everything, we've been overwhelmed -- incredibly busy, but just really happy,' the pair said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. The unexpected journey, they recalled, began with something simple, but with a twist: a ballerina wearing gat. Ballerinas wearing gat The spark came in 2019 with Netflix's 'Kingdom,' the Korean zombie thriller set in the Joseon era, which ignited a global fascination with traditional Korean hats. Historically, gat refers to a wide range of hat styles worn according to one's social class, profession, or a particular occasion. What's commonly recognized today as gat -- the tall, black, wide-brimmed hat -- is called heungnip, traditionally worn by seonbi, or male scholars. 'But what if a ballerina wore gat?' said Park. 'I thought the strong cultural significance associated with the male seonbi and their virtues would be intriguing when worn by a woman.' Park had long been collecting choreographic ideas, knowing that her debut as a choreographer would take a deeply Korean form. During a casual bus ride with Yun, she shared her concept. As it happened, Yun was organizing a gala. 'I immediately said, 'Let's do it,'' Yun recalled. 'I loved the idea of combining ballet with gat, and I trusted Park could make it work.' The result was an eight-minute group piece for female dancers that premiered in 2021: On the stage, the ballerinas tiptoe slowly with dignified restraint. Their upright posture, accentuated by the hats and en pointe technique, evokes the image of calligraphy brushes or ghostly grim reapers slicing through fog. From wanderer's satgat to bride's jokduri From that short piece, 'Gat' naturally expanded into a 70-minute production composed of nine vignettes, each inspired by distinct headwear. Park selected hats with the most vivid imagery. The red jurip worn by Joseon-era military officers becomes a majestic portrait of a female general in a gender-swapping segment. A wide straw satgat tells the tale of a lone wanderer, while the humble paeraengi (a commoner's hat) becomes a rhythmic, playful dance of traveling merchants. The jokduri, a delicate bridal coronet, captures the shyness and excitement of a woman before her wedding. One standout scene and a major factor behind the show's success features the jeongjagwan (a tall, pointed hat with an upward-curving structure) traditionally associated with fussy schoolmasters or folktale villains like Nolbu. Usually worn indoors by noblemen, it carries strong connotations of wealth and pride. In this segment, three male dancers swagger across the stage, puffing on long pipes. 'Here, I wanted something with arrogant flair -- a little hunched, a little mocking, like they don't care. That energy shaped the movement,' said Park. Yet Park encourages audiences to not seek one 'correct' interpretation. 'Even though I created this with specific images in mind, I hope people imagine their own stories. Maybe one scene feels a little sad, or a dancer carries their own story -- that imaginative freedom is what makes it fun.' Credit for the company's rising profile also goes to a savvy blend of dance films and active social media. 'It's a turbulent time in the dance world. Dancers can go viral overnight but attention fades just as fast,' said Yun. 'I've performed in nearly empty theaters and in front of thousands. I believe good marketing and good artistry must go hand in hand -- each supporting and enhancing the other.'
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Iconic Korean variety shows gear up for major comebacks
12th season of 'Show Me the Money,' global rollouts of 'Physical: 100,' season 2 of 'Culinary Class Wars' confirmed for broadcast Legendary Korean reality and competition series are making a comeback — with fresh casts, revamped formats and ambitious global editions in the pipeline. Mnet confirmed on Monday that "Show Me the Money" will return for its 12th season. The popular rap competition series, credited with catapulting Korean hip-hop back into the mainstream and launching the careers of breakout stars like Loco, Bobby and Basick, is set to begin production next month. A recent teaser released on YouTube hints at the show's comeback with imagery referencing the number 12, drawing parallels to the 12 months of the year, zodiac signs, and musical notes, under the tagline: 'The world is completed by 12.' The new season marks the show's return after a three-year hiatus. Season 11 made headlines in 2022 with a record-breaking 30,000 applicants and a win by rapper Lee Young-ji, the first female champion in the show's history. According to Mnet, casting for Season 12 is now underway. Meanwhile, Netflix is doubling down on its hit competition series "Physical: 100," announcing a slate of international editions alongside the upcoming third season. Created by MBC producer Jang Ho-gi, the reality series, whose first season set record in 2023 as the first Korean series to top Netflix's global non-English TV rankings, pits 100 contestants against each other in a series of physically demanding quests to determine the ultimate competitor. Set to premiere later this year, the show's third season, titled "Physical: Asia," will be a region-wide showdown featuring national teams from across the continent. Among the confirmed participants is Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who will represent the Philippines. Netflix is aiming for a full-scale franchise rollout, with the platform announcing on July 16 that "Physical: 100 USA" has been confirmed for production. The US edition will feature 100 contestants, including athletes, fitness professionals and military personnel, from across North America. Netflix has also announced that a European version of the program is in development. Also returning is the fan-favorite culinary survival show "Culinary Class Wars," with season 2 set to stream on Netflix in the latter half of the year. The series topped Netflix's non-English TV chart following its debut and recently took home best entertainment program honors at the Blue Dragon Series Awards, held Friday. Although filming for season two has been complete, specific details, including the new season's theme, cast and filming schedule, remain under wraps. Meanwhile, speculation has been swirling around the possible return of celebrity judge and food mogul Paik Jong-won, who has recently come under scrutiny for a series of controversies. Paik has faced public criticism following accusations of workplace misconduct and food regulation violations, including allegations of mislabeling the country of origin on food products. A former MBC producer also accused Paik of disruptive behavior during the production of "My Little Television." Netflix has confirmed that season 2 of Culinary Class Wars will premiere later this year as planned, but declined to comment on whether Paik will return.
