Siblings Next Door (AKMU YouTube channel)

Song Hooryeong: AKMU (aka Akdong Musician) has unveiled their first-ever web series, Siblings Next Door, and the aim of this project is clear: improving their “sibling chemistry.” The show’s goal—at which the pair has already failed twice, with all signs pointing to further failure—might be part of “the producers’ bigger picture” to inhibit the siblings’ chemistry on purpose for the sheer reason of being able to pump out more content, as LEE SUHYUN herself suggested. Despite all that, it’s the chemistry she and her brother LEE CHANHYUK have together that stands out most when watching Siblings Next Door. When LEE SUHYUN gives being her brother’s manager for a day a shot, she has him lie down and playfully steps on his back, claiming she’s giving him a massage. In another scene, he throws a piece of candy at her to get her to stop talking, but his sister simply picks it up off the ground and eats it with a smile, totally unfazed. It’s moments like these that capture the strength of their bond, which is really (like) family. In the first episode of the series, the siblings role-play as master and servant in a segment reminiscent of the kind of sitcoms that Korean families used to gather around the TV to watch in the evening. For example, when LEE CHANHYUK, in his role as his sister’s errand boy, tries to advise against resting on one’s laurels, LEE SUHYUN, fully in character as her brother’s mischievous master, cheekily retorts, “I’ll always be sitting comfortably.” It’s exactly the kind of playful banter they exchange throughout the whole series. In this way, the sibling chemistry arising from their unique combination of nine years of working together while simultaneously being family paints a delightful picture that all are sure to enjoy—one that blurs the line between real life and sketch comedy in an entertaining way. And this is why, even after somewhat clickbaity video titles like “AKMU fighting again,” “Obedience,” and “Hierarchy sorting” pop up, you’re still going to click them, confident they’ll leave you smiling.

Lee Jin Ah - Hearts of the City

Kim Yunha (Music Critic): If a musician makes a particularly strong, completely unforgettable debut, is it more a blessing or a curse for them? In an industry where this question comes up so often that it’s pointless to even count, singer-songwriter Lee Jin Ah finds herself facing the same predicament. Nearly a decade has passed since Lee Jin Ah made her breakout appearance during the fourth season of KPOP STAR on SBS, and yet she’s still seen as a musician with a child-like voice and a very particular style in the public eye. People formed opinions about her, the spotlight cast a long shadow behind her, and she couldn’t shake any of it off. Despite a steady release of singles and albums, Lee Jin Ah was seldom acknowledged for anything more than that particular style of hers.

In Hearts of the City, Lee Jin Ah’s first studio album in five years, the artist and her music, which had seemed destined to forever be frozen in a fairy tale, finally break free from the ties that bound them, unfurl their hidden wings, and soar. Her musical and emotional maturity come through loud and clear here, as easily heard on the first track, “My Whole New World,” which explores both the comfort of a stable relationship and the insecurities that accompany it. The slump that Lee Jin Ah went through last year has only deepened her emotional understanding of the world, where she wandered in search of sparkles visible only to her. Her practically patentable vocals and her unparalleled ability to imbue her music with unpredictability and excitement continue to captivate her listeners as they always have. To top it all off, the sound of her new music feels smoother and more benevolent than ever. Rounding out the emotional warmth and depth of the album are loving contributions from Stella Jang, Park Moonchi, Sarah Kang, Lee Hyori, Lee Sang Soon, and various other artists.

The Communists Are Coming! by Lee Sinju

Kim Gyeoul (Writer): Taken by itself, the title certainly gives off an impression of rebelliousness, but what’s written inside the book is rebelliousness in a somewhat less expected way. This book is a collection of 12 short stories by science fiction writer Lee Sinju, who won first place in the short story category at the third Korean Science Literature Awards in 2018. Each story confidently pushes forward with its unique sci-fi themes that are sure to stimulate the mind of the intellectual reader. A shadowy organization that aims to change people’s perceptions through linguistic manipulation; a perfect food product, developed by a questionable company; the discovery of universal cells, which take on the shape of shrimp; and a condition known as singular identity disorder, where those diagnosed have only one personality—unlike ordinary people(!). These are all intriguing themes in their own right, and they’re further enriched by the author’s serious tone and rigorously constructed plots, allowing the reader to become fully absorbed in each story. The short stories do leave a bitter aftertaste, resisting easy classification as either humorous or melancholic, compelling us to reconsider the concept of human existence. Readers who dive into this collection will be rewarded with extraordinary questions about the self, society, and the world that they’ll be pondering long after they put the book down.