Kep1er to return with 4th EP 'Lovestruck!' in April

Just in time for spring, when flowers bloom to awaken the hearts of many, K-pop girl group Kep1er is launching its fourth mini album “Lovestruck!” on April 10. The return comes just six months after the group released its third mini album, “Troubleshooter.” Kep1er’s fourth mini album comprises five tracks, led by “Giddy,” alongside “LVLY,” “Back to the City,” “Why” and “Happy Ending.” Swing Entertainment dr

March 23, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Solo song from BTS’ Jimin found ‘unsuitable’ for TV

A song from the upcoming solo debut album of BTS’ Jimin was deemed “ineligible” for television broadcasting, according to a review by KBS released Wednesday. The review cited profanity, slang and indecent expressions in the lyrics as reasons. “Face-Off” is the first track from the album “Face,” and the artist, along with bandmate RM, co-wrote the lyrics. Other tracks from the album – focus track “Like Crazy” and “Alone” &nd

March 22, 2023

BTS’ Jimin stars in KBS variety show

Public broadcaster KBS announced that Jimin of K-pop superstar group BTS is scheduled to star in its Thursday night variety show, “Beat Coin,” in an episode set to air on March 30. “Jimin said he liked to watch ‘Beat Coin’ even before starring in our show. The cast were surprised to see Jimin at the shooting site as well. Everyone always gives everything to entertain the viewers, but I think the viewers can have high expectations for our upcoming part with Jimin,&

March 22, 2023

Lineup of K-pop rookies to make their debut this year

K-pop rookies stole the K-pop scene last year, as many fourth-generation idol groups launched successful debuts. This year awaits yet more rookies ready to debut, and eyes are on who among them will be painting the town red. First in the lineup is the long-awaited debut of YG Entertainment’s new girl group Baby Monster. With the aim of launching the group in the first quarter of this year, YG unveiled seven of its trainees as candidates to debut as Baby Monster. But the agency surprised ma

March 22, 2023

Tomorrow X Together to headline at Lollapalooza

Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will be among the lead acts at at one of the America's largest music festivals this year. Lollapalooza announced Wednesday the lineup of performers to take part in the festival in Chicago’s Grant Park on Aug. 3 to 6. This will be the second year in a row TXT has performed at the festival and they are the only K-pop group to do so. Also, they are the second Korean musician to take the main stage at the Lollapalooza after J-Hope of BTS. TXT made its US festival

March 22, 2023

[Herald Review] 'Six' nods to modern-day divas in 'herstory' of King Henry VIII's wives

“Six the Musical” is about the six wives of King Henry VIII, who ruled England from 1509 until his death in 1547. Through the creative process of young playwrights Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the six women have been brought to life, finding their voices to tell “herstory” instead of "history," which portrays them as nothing but the unfortunate wives of the king, only to be remembered by the rhyme -- "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.&

March 22, 2023

Tenor Ha Man-teak presents recital tour

South Korean tenor Ha Man-teak will embark on a recital tour for the first time in 11 years. Starting from Jeonju, North Jeolla Province on Wednesday, the singer-turned-businessman will bring his recital to Daejeon on Thursday and to Seoul on Saturday before bringing the tour to a close at Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday. Under the title “Se Ti Manca,” an Italian phrase meaning “Do you miss it?” in English, Ha will sing various songs like F.P. Tosti’s “

March 22, 2023

Twice's Chaeyoung apologizes for wearing T-shirt with swastika

Twice's Chaeyoung on Wednesday apologized for wearing a T-shirt with a swastika logo. In a statement posted on her Instagram, Chaeyoung apologized and explained she was not aware of the logo. "I sincerely apologize regarding the Instagram post. I didn't correctly recognize the meaning of the tilted swastika in the T-shirt I wore," Chaeyoung said in the post written in both Korean and English. She continued: "I deeply apologize for not thoroughly reviewing it, causing con

March 22, 2023

Wavve's ‘Combat Correspondent’ Korea’s most expensive drama series to date

Local streaming service Wavve announced Tuesday that it will join hands with Eric Beck, the German screenwriter behind Paramount’s neo-Western American drama series “Yellowstone,” to produce an original historical drama series based on true events during the Korean War of 1950-1953. The 10-part series with the working title “Combat Correspondent” will center around the story of American reporter Marguerite Higgins (1920-1966), the first woman to receive the Pulitzer

March 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie sets record with solo music video

Jennie of Blackpink generated 900 million views on YouTube with the music video for her solo song “Solo,” according to label YG Entertainment on Tuesday. She is the first K-pop female artist to reach the milestone. It is the seventh video from the group to achieve the feat. “Solo” fronted her solo album of the same title that came out in November 2018. It topped the iTunes top songs chart in 40 regions as well as all major charts in Korea. The song also was the first fro

March 21, 2023

Bol4 to release new album, hold concerts in Seoul, Taiwan in April

Singer-songwriter Bol4, better known locally by her full name Bolbbalgan4, is gearing up for an April comeback and live concerts. The singer's agency Shofar Entertainment on Tuesday released a comeback poster on Bol4's social media. The poster reveals that Bol4 will release a new album on April 16 and hold concerts at the Olympic Hall in Jamil, Seoul, on April 29-30. Ahead of her official comeback with the new album, Bol4 is set to greet her Taiwanese fans first. According to the pos

March 21, 2023

Doosan Humanities Theater marks 10th anniversary with program on age, generations

An exhibition, three plays and eight lectures under the theme of "Age, Age, Age" make up this year's annual program at the Doosan Humanities Theater, which showcases exhibitions, plays and lectures that explore contemporary themes. The programmed events will take place at the Doosan Art Center and Doosan Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul, from April 3 to July 15. “Korea is an aging society. We are living longer while the birth rate is dropping," said Doosan Humanities Theater

March 21, 2023

Bobby's 1st solo single 'S.i.R' marks start of year-long series

Boy band iKON's member Bobby is setting off on a new chapter of his music career with his new single "S.i.R" on Tuesday. As the first single he is releasing as a soloist musician, 'S.i.R" marks the rapper-producer's return after two years and three months since he last dropped his second full-length album "Lucky Man" in 2021. A renowned member of the six-piece group, Bobby is putting out two new songs with the new single. He took part in writing these two

March 21, 2023

MBC audition show ‘Fantasy Boys’ to be streamed across Asia

Terrestrial broadcaster MBC announced that its upcoming audition program “Fantasy Boys,” set to premiere on March 30, will also be available in 12 different Asian countries via video streaming platforms. While the platform Abema will stream “Fantasy Boys” in Japan, viewers in many Southeast Asian countries, including Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam will be able to watch the show through Chinese streamer iQiyi. In Korea, it will be strea

March 21, 2023

Cho Yong-pil to hold solo concert in May

Pop legend Cho Yong-pil, who is widely known as “Gawang” -- the king of singing or pop music in Korean -- will hold a solo concert in Seoul on May 13, the concert’s organizer announced Tuesday. Titled “2023 Cho Yong-pil & the Great Birth Concert,” the concert is set to be held at the Seoul Olympic Stadium inside the Olympics sports complex in Jamsil, southern Seoul. The Great Birth is a band that has worked with Cho at his concerts since 1979. This is Cho'

March 21, 2023

Do or die: Actor Jeon Do-yeon’s approach to ‘Kill Boksoon’ action scenes

Cannes-winning actor Jeon Do-yeon said she practiced a “do or die” mindset for her role as a top assassin in her first-ever action film, “Kill Boksoon.” “I was particularly careful about doing action scenes and practiced a lot because I had to (work with) fellow actors, not stuntpeople. I worried about getting too emotional and overdoing the action scenes,” she told reporters during a press conference held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Tuesday.

March 21, 2023

Nmixx’s new album 'expergo' tackles connection, change

JYP Entertainment’s latest K-pop girl group Nmixx launched its first mini album “expergo” on Monday. “The storyline of this album is a sequel to our previous album as we tried to connect the dots to portray our worldview,” said Haewon, the leader of the group during a media showcase in Seoul. “If you see the music video of our titular track ‘Love Me Like This,’ we deliver wisdom, love and courage to people. In the process, we connect with them and

March 21, 2023

[Herald Review] 'Korea Emotion': a blend of gugak, hanbok and ballet

It's difficult to express emotions, especially when the emotion itself isn't clearly defined by language. In Korea, there’s a complex, multi-faceted emotion called “jeong,” which is deeply rooted in Korean culture. "Jeong" is often described as a feeling of affection or attachment that arises from a sense of emotional connection. It is sometimes characterized by feelings of warmth, fondness or longing and yearning for someone or something. But after watching

March 20, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Twice hits Billboard 200 at No. 2

Twice entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 with their 12th EP, “Ready To Be,” Billboard announced in advance of the chart's full release on Monday. It is the highest spot on the main albums chart for the nine-member act, whose previous EP, “Between 1＆2” and third studio album, “Formula of Love: O+T=〈3” each ranked No. 3. The group is the second K-pop girl group to notch the No. 2 spot, after Blackpink. The EP sold over 1.7 million copies in pre-orders and is li

March 20, 2023

JTBC mystery show ‘Crime Scene’ to return with new season

Content production company Studio LuluLala (SLL) confirmed that its whodunnit variety series, “Crime Scene,” will be making a return after six years. SLL, a subsidiary of cable channel JTBC formerly known as JTBC Studios, announced Monday that it is in talks with Tving -- an online streaming service provider run by entertainment giant CJ ENM -- to produce a fourth season, titled “Crime Scene Returns.” The show is a mystery variety program featuring celebrities and TV pers

March 20, 2023