Seventeen ranks No. 3 on IFPI's 2021 global albums chart

K-pop supergroup Seventeen has reached No. 3 on the Global Album Sales Chart of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for 2021, becoming the highest-charted K-pop artist. According to the official homepage of the nonprofit body that represents the recording industry worldwide Wednesday, the 13-member group put its name onto the chart with its ninth EP "Attacca," only after Adele's "30" and ABBA's "Voyage." The K-pop group also ranked No. 8

March 2, 2022

NMIXX enters into unknown world through debut album ‘Ad Mare’

With more and more groups splashing onto the music scene here in the fourth generation of K-pop, rookie NMIXX is the latest to throw their hats into the ring. Produced by K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment, which houses globetrotting acts like boy band Stray Kids, the septet entered the K-pop fray last week with an ambition to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Wonder Girls, MissA, Twice and Itzy. The seven members of the girl group -- Haewon, Sullyoon, Jinni, Bae, Jiwoo and Kyujin, al

March 1, 2022

Scandal-ridden Seo Yea-ji to return with tvN drama ‘Eve’

Actor Seo Yea-ji is to return to the small screen in tvN’s new series “Eve” with veteran actors Park Byung-eun, Yoo Sun and Lee Sang-yeop. Taking the role of Lee Ra-el, the mastermind behind a ferocious revenge plan for her dead father, Seo, 31, will be back in the public eye for the first time in almost a year. The actor went off the grid last year as controversies surrounding her surfaced one after another. Seo was accused of allegedly checking staffers’ phones regul

March 1, 2022

‘Singer No. 33’ Kim Ki-tae wins season 2 of JTBC’s ‘Sing Again’

Kim Ki-tae, singer No. 33 on the second season of JTBC’s hit TV competition “Sing Again,” became the final winner Monday, bringing the three-month music competition to a close. Season 2 of “Sing Again,” which aired its first episode in December, drew attention by giving a second chance to 73 singers who had released albums in the past but failed to gain traction. With each contestant called by a number instead of a name, viewers’ curiosity about the singers&

March 1, 2022

Masterminds behind hip-hop in Korea: Who are they?

The East-meets-street style of beats were once censored and unwelcomed here, but now, the blossoming genre is topping charts and has become a musical staple. Not only are the rapping styles leading trendsetters, but the genre has built its own culture to represent the nation. But unlike other entertainment companies, the hip-hop scene is made up of smaller labels that specialize only in the genre. Following is a look into nine hip-hop heavyweights that are making a splash on the global music

March 1, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Rocket Punch returns with 4th EP

   　 Rocket Punch on Monday released its fourth EP, “Yellow Punch,” at a media showcase in Seoul. 　 The six members were happy to return after nine months and said that they put in a lot of effort to show how they have matured in terms of their music. 　 “This is the first time we’ve come out under a confident and cool concept,” Yeonhee said proudly. On stage, they went for a more mature look as was shown in the teasers. 　 “I thought to myself

Feb. 28, 2022

'Squid Game' bags three trophies at SAG Awards

Netflix megahit drama series “Squid Game” won three awards at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, held in Santa Monica, California, Sunday night. The series was nominated in four categories. Two actors -- Jung Ho-yeon and Lee Jung-jae -- won awards for their roles. This marked the second consecutive year of Korean actors winning at least one SAG award. Last year, veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung won for her role as a feisty grandmother in the film “Minari.” Jung, who play

Feb. 28, 2022

Singer Kangnam becomes South Korean citizen

Japanese Korean singer and TV celebrity Kangnam, 34, has become a naturalized Korean citizen, he announced in a live broadcast on YouTube. In the live broadcast on Saturday, Kangnam said he completed his final naturalization interview on Friday, and opened the letter notifying him that he had passed the exam, live on camera. This was the singer’s third attempt at the naturalization exam, after declaring he intended to give up his Japanese citizenship in 2019. In the video, the singer a

Feb. 28, 2022

BLACKPINK's Rose tests positive for COVID-19, cancels part of overseas schedule

Rose, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and canceled part of her upcoming overseas schedule, the group's agency said. "Rose tested positive in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination ahead of her departure for an overseas trip today," YG Entertainment said, adding the virus infection led her to cancel part of her schedule abroad. The remaining three members of the quartet have all tested negative. "Including Rose, all members pres

Feb. 28, 2022

Cho Seong-jin steps in for pro-Putin Russian pianist at Carnegie Hall

South Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin stepped in to replace Russian pianist Denis Matsuev, whose performances Friday at Carnegie Hall in New York were canceled following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Carnegie Hall announced Friday that Cho would join the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Canadian conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin for that evening’s program, performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Both Carnegie Hall and Vienna Philharmonic expressed their deep gr

Feb. 28, 2022

[URGENT] Lee Jung-jae bags trophy at SAG Awards

Lee Jung-jae took home the best actor award at Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance in Netflix’s global hit “Squid Game” on Monday. Lee was named the winner of the outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series award for playing debt-ridden divorcee Seong Gi-hun. Billy Crudup of Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show,” as well as Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin of HBO’s “Succession” were also nominated for the award.

Feb. 28, 2022

Jung Ho-yeon of 'Squid Game' wins best actress at SAG Awards

South Korean actress Jung Ho-yeon won best actress at the US Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for her role in the survival drama "Squid Game." At the ceremony of the 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday (US time), Jung brought home the prize of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series. She beat Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon of "The Morning Show," Elisabeth Moss of "The Handmaid's Tale" and Sarah Snook of "Succession."

Feb. 28, 2022

[URGENT] “Squid Game” Jung Ho-yeon wins SAG Award

Jung Ho-yeon, who played Sae-byeok in Netflix‘s global hit “Squid Game” won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series on Monday. Jung was nominated in the category along with Jennifer Aniston of “The Morning Show,” Elisabeth Moss of “The Handmaid‘s Tale,” Sarah Snook of “Succession” and Reese Witherspoon of “The Morning Show.”

Feb. 28, 2022

'Squid Game' Lee Jung-jae wins best actor at SAG Awards

South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae has won best actor at the US Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for his role in the survival drama "Squid Game." At the televised ceremony of the 2022 SAG Awards on Sunday (US time), Lee was named the winner of Outstanding Performance By a Male Actor in a Drama Series, beating Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong of "Succession," and Billy Crudup of "The Morning Show." Lee took the role of Gi-hoon, a down-on-his-luck middle-aged m

Feb. 28, 2022

'Juvenile Justice' debuts at No. 10 on global Netflix chart

The new South Korean TV series "Juvenile Justice" has made it into the top 10 rankings of Netflix shows two days after its release. According to data released by streaming analytics company FlixPatrol on Sunday (US time), the Netflix's Korean-language original, released Friday, placed 10th on its latest global chart for TV programs available on the streaming service. The 10-part Korean legal drama topped the popularity list in five countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam, and placed

Feb. 28, 2022

'Squid Game' wins SAG Awards for best stunt ensemble

The hit South Korean TV series "Squid Game" has won an award at the US Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for best stunt ensemble. At the advanced announcement of the winners of the 2022 SAG Awards on Sunday (US time), "Squid Game" was awarded Outstanding Action Performance By a Stunt Ensemble in a TV series. The Korean-language Netflix original outdid "Cobra Kai," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "Loki" and "Mare of Easttown." It is

Feb. 28, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] EXID’s Solji strikes out on her own

　 Solji of EXID held an online media conference Friday to roll out her first solo EP “First Letter.” 　 She compared the moment to “early summer” in terms of her journey as a musician. It has been 10 years since she debuted as a member of EXID, and 16 years after she entered the music scene as a part of ballad group 2NB. 　 “I believe a singer shines all the more as one matures. And from that point of view, I still consider myself at the beginning of my career as a m

Feb. 25, 2022

Classic meets gypsy jazz for duet guitar performance

Two leading Korean guitarists from the genres of classical and Latin jazz will meet for a live duet performance this spring. Titled as “Two Guitars,” classical guitarist Park Kyu-hee and Spanish jazz guitarist Park Ju-won will perform together at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul’s Songpa-gu on March 17, performance agency MusicandArtCompany announced Friday. This will be the duo’s second appearance on stage together, following their first in June last year. Park Kyu-hee

Feb. 25, 2022

Dynamic Duo’s Choiza to make solo debut in 20-year music career with ‘Jaeho’

South Korea’s hip-hop artist Choiza of Dynamic Duo is set to make a solo debut with his first EP, “Jaeho,” at 6 p.m. on Friday, according to the artist’s agency Amoeba Culture. It will mark the rapper’s first step as a solo musician, about 20 years after his debut as a member of hip-hop trio CB Mass in 2000. The title of the album “Jaeho” is Choiza’s first name. The upcoming EP will talk about the hardships that he had to face as an artist and J

Feb. 25, 2022

Jin Seon-kyu, Jun Jong-seo to star in Tving’s original series ‘Bargain’

Jin Seon-kyu and Jun Jong-seo have been confirmed as lead actors in the upcoming Tving original series “Bargain.” The local streaming service announced Thursday that its upcoming series will be available in the second half of the year, but an official release date is yet to be revealed. The series, which revolves around a middle-aged man and a young woman encountering an unexpected natural disaster while bargaining the price for sex, is an adaptation of a 14-minute short film of t

Feb. 25, 2022