[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa to tour Asia in November: report

Lisa of Blackpink will visit fans in Asia for the first time on her own in November, according to a local media report Wednesday. She will be hosting fan meetups in the region with plans to visit Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kaohsiung and Hong Kong in mid-November, the report said. The artist, as a solo act, won the Best K-Pop Award from the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards with “Rockstar” earlier this month and is set to headline the Global Citizen Festival in New York this weekend. &l

Sept. 25, 2024

'Gyeongseong Creature Season 2': faster and ready to confront past

The second season of "Gyeongseong Creature," one of Netflix Korea's largest projects, promises a faster pace as well as an exciting new plot and characters to address viewer comments about the slow pace of the first season, director Jung Dong-yoon said Wednesday. The first season of "Gyeongseong Creature" is set in 1945 Gyeongseong, where Chae-ok (Han So-hee) and Tae-sang (Park Seo-jun) uncover secret experiments intended to transform humans into monsters. The series dra

Sept. 25, 2024

Nmixx to be first K-pop artist in Billborad Latin Music Week

The rising girl group Nmixx will be the first K-pop artist to participate in Billboard Latin Music Week. The group’s agency, JYP Entertainment, announced that Nmixx will attend Billboard Latin Music Week as a panelist. The event will take place from Oct. 14 to 18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach, and Nmixx will join the event on Oct. 16 to discuss K-pop's influence in the Latin music market. Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Billboard Latin Music Week is the largest event in the

Sept. 25, 2024

Super Junior-D&E returns with 6th EP ‘Inevitable’

Super Junior-D&E, a duo consisting of Donghae and Eunhyuk of legendary K-pop boy group Super Junior, made its much-anticipated return with the release of “Inevitable.” The mini-album dropped Wednesday on various online music platforms, marking the beginning of their latest promotional activities. The title track, “Go High,” is a hip hop-based song featuring a powerful blend of drums and bass. With witty lyrics that express the duo's adventurous spirit and reflect

Sept. 25, 2024

An increasing number of K-pop idols are breaking free from big agencies. Why?

An increasing number of K-pop idols are finding it less appealing to renew their contracts with major agencies, citing restrictions on freedom of expression and limited control over their music. Industry insiders point to shifts in media and production that have empowered idols, giving them more control over their careers. With the rise of social media and independent publishers, idols no longer depend on major agencies for success. Local entertainment companies, however, are frustrated by idols

Sept. 24, 2024

NCT Wish desires to continue miraculous journey of growth with 1st EP ‘Steady’

NCT Wish released its first mini album, “Steady,” Tuesday. The EP is led by the titular track “Steady,” a house number with UK garage and Jersey club beats that combines for a sophisticated melody. “The song is about our desire to forever remember the miraculous journey that we’ve been through to meet with our fans. The lyrics are cute and trendy that Gen Zs can easily relate to,” said Sion. The title track was produced by Kenzie, a veteran producer behi

Sept. 24, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink logs 1.7b views with dance video

Blackpink reached 1.7 billion views on YouTube with the performance video for “How You Like That,” label YG Entertainment said Tuesday. It is the group’s first dance video to achieve the feat and fourth video overall, following music videos for “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love” and “Boombayah.” The video is the first of its kind from a K-pop musician to do so. The music video for the 2020 summer anthem surpassed 1.3 billion views on the pla

Sept. 24, 2024

'Stage Fighter' to showcase Korea's top dancers

The new dance survival program "Stage Fighter" is set to dazzle viewers not only with performances from some of Korea's most celebrated dancers, but also with appearances by auteur Park Chan-wook, the program’s producer said Tuesday. "Stage Fighter" is the latest installment in Mnet's successful dance survival series, following the hit shows "Street Woman Fighter" and "Street Man Fighter." The new series will feature 64 male dancers special

Sept. 24, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korean ballet sensation Jeon Min-chul pours his heart into dancing

For Jeon Min-chul, the 20-year-old sensation who has captured the hearts of Korean ballet fans, dancing has been at the center of his world. Asked about hobbies outside of dance, he struggled to find an answer. “That’s actually the hardest question for me. I think I’ve spent all the time I could’ve used for hobbies on dancing. From high school on, it’s all I thought about. Ballet reflects the time and effort you put into it, so I didn’t have the energy for any

Sept. 24, 2024

CJ ENM seeks to diversify its presence at 29th BIFF with TV series, K-pop documentary

South Korean entertainment conglomerate CJ EJM, a leading movie distributor as well as the operator of the country’s largest multiplex chain CJ CGV, is seeking to diversify its presence at the 29th Busan International Film Festival by showcasing its series and a documentary. According to CJ ENM subsidiary Tving, a leading domestic streaming platform, two of its original series “Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard” and “Way Back Love” are screening at the BIFF’s O

Sept. 24, 2024

[Herald Review] Two misfits’ evolving friendship, chemistry spice up ‘Love in the Big City’

“Why it doesn’t make sense that we live together? I mean, the house price in Seoul is so damn expensive!” In a conservative country like South Korea, it’s hard to imagine two friends -- man and woman -- living under the same roof. If that line were from a typical K-rom-com, the next scene would show two friends found in the same bed and falling in love, almost inevitably. But in director Lee Eon-hie’s “Love in the Big City,” they get to know and understa

Sept. 24, 2024

QWER returns with 'My Name is Malguem'

Rising girl group QWER returned with positive energy, hoping to deliver love and comfort with their second EP. The project band QWER, put together by YouTuber Kim Gye-ran, debuted last October. The members consist of Chodan on drums, Hina on guitar and keyboard, Magenta on bass, and Siyeon as the vocalist. The band’s second EP “Algorithm’s Blossom” was released Monday. The title track, “My Name is Malguem,” features the Korean word "Malgeum," which m

Sept. 24, 2024

'Shazam!' to bring multidisciplinary spectacle of dance, circus, visual magic

World-renowned French director and choreographer Philippe Decoufle, known as a pioneer of imaginative multidisciplinary performances, is returning to Korea with his masterpiece "Shazam!" Since its 1998 premiere commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "Shazam!" has been performed over 200 times at major theaters worldwide. One of the iconic and steady hits of Decoufle's DCA Company, "Shazam!" is scheduled to be performed at the LG Arts Ce

Sept. 24, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Boynextdoor announces Asia tour plan

(Credit: KOZ Entertainment)Rookie band Boynextdoor shared plans for its first international tour via agency KOZ Entertainment Monday. It will embark on tour “Knock On Vol. 1” with a two-day concert in Incheon Dec. 14-15. From Jan. 30 to April 12, it is set to visit 12 more cities across Asia: Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong and Jakarta as well as six cities in Japan. The Japan itinerary reflects the popularity of the band in the country where it drew a large crowd at Su

Sept. 23, 2024

World K-Pop Center: Where K-pop dreams take flight

On the afternoon of Sept. 10, six K-pop trainees from China gathered in a dance studio at the World K-Pop Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, for a practice session. Donning comfortable training outfits and sneakers, their faces reflected a mix of excitement, nerves and determination. The trainees are just over two months away from their long-awaited debut as a K-pop girl group in Korea, set for mid-November. However, not all six will be able to debut. They are a portion of a larger group of 17 trainees w

Sept. 23, 2024

SHINee Key turns into cyborg for 3rd EP ‘Pleasure Shop’

Key of the K-pop boy group SHINee released his third solo EP “Pleasure Shop” on Monday. The album features six house tracks led by the title track, “Pleasure Shop.” “The lead track is about a pleasure shop where people come to buy happiness. I am the person who sells happiness at the shop, but I do not have feelings because I am a cyborg,” explained Key. Despite the upbeat title, he darkened the lyrics to add depth to the narrative. “Even though people c

Sept. 23, 2024

P1Harmony reflects on loneliness and growth in new album 'Sad Song'

After a successful world tour and performances at several overseas festivals, P1Harmony is back with a new album full of challenges. Group's 7th mini-album “Sad Song,” released Friday, comes about seven months after their first full-length album “Killin' It.” It has six tracks including the Lain-rhythm-themed title track. The album explores feelings of loneliness and emptiness, as well as the process of overcoming such emotions through the concept of superheroes

Sept. 23, 2024

[Herald Review] IU wraps up 1st world tour 'HEREH' at Seoul World Cup Stadium

K-pop sensation IU wrapped up her first world tour, ‘HEREH,’ with an unforgettable finale Sunday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. She made a striking entrance on a swing-like lift, dressed in a sparkling coral mini dress and a white headset, kicking off the show with “Holssi,” the first track from a captivating setlist that spanned over two hours. IU took an audience of 50,000 on a mesmerizing journey, performing “Ah Puh” amidst a stunning display of whale and

Sept. 23, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Culinary Class Wars': fresh, creative survival show minus the drama

“Culinary Class Wars,” one of the hottest entertainment shows trending in Korea right now, offers a refreshing take on the survival show format, while highlighting the ingenious recipes created by some of Korea's most acclaimed cooks and chefs. The competition features 100 contestants divided into two teams: the white team, consisting of the nation’s top star chefs, and the black team, made up of lesser-known cooks and local restaurant owners. Contestants participate in a

Sept. 23, 2024

Aespa to drop new mini-album ‘Whiplash’ next month

Aespa is set to make its highly anticipated return next month with “Whiplash,” the girl group's fifth mini-album. The six-track album will be released on multiple music platforms at 6 p.m. KST, Oct. 21. Showcasing Aespa’s unique musical style, it will feature title track “Whiplash” alongside tracks of a variety of genres, according to SM Entertainment. Expectations for "Whiplash" are high after the massive success of the group's first full-length

Sept. 23, 2024