‘Big sisters’ to show where ‘Strong My Way’ is

Rapper Cheetah and JeA of Brown Eyed Girls are to be “big sisters” to young Korean women, returning in the second season of “Strong My Way,” which kicked off Thursday.The show’s first season, created by SBS’ mobile entertainment division Mobidic, was well received, recording 12 million views in its 13-episode run last year. Cheetah and JeA, known for their bold manner of speaking, read stories submitted by viewers and dished out harsh yet realistic advice. While the first season focused mainly o

April 19, 2018

Funeral held for late film icon Choi Eun-hee

The funeral for Choi Eun-hee, the late South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by North Korea to create propaganda films before escaping, was held on Thursday and attended by her family and close friends.Choi, a South Korean film icon of the 60s and 70s, died on Monday while receiving kidney dialysis treatment at a hospital in Seoul. She was 92. A portrait of late actress Choi Eun-hee at her funeral procession at the Catholic University of Korea`s St. Mary`s Hospital in Seoul on Thursday. (Y

April 19, 2018

Yoon Mi-rae to return with new single Friday

Singer and rapper Yoon Mi-rae is set to release her new single “Kawi Bawi Bo” on Friday, according to her agency Feel Ghood Music Thursday.“Kawi Bawi Bo” will be a part of the artist’s upcoming album titled “Gemini2,” a long-anticipated follow-up of her previous album “Gemini” that came out in 2002. The song will talk about the power of strong-willed women, the agency said.  A promotion image for Yoon Mi-rae‘s upcoming single “Kawi Bawi Bo” (Feel Ghood Music)Born in Texas to a Korean mother and

April 19, 2018

BTS' new album tops Amazon's pre-order list

K-pop boy band BTS topped Amazon's album pre-order list, its agency said Thursday.Big Hit Entertainment said "Love Yourself: Tear," the K-pop sensation's upcoming full-length album, shot to No. 1 on Amazon's CDs & Vinyl Best Sellers list in the US, a day after the pre-order became available on Tuesday local time.In September, "Love Yourself: Her," the first in the band's "Love Yourself" series, stayed on top of the list for six consecutive days. The album has so far sold over 1.49 million copies

April 19, 2018

Lee Seung-gi to host new season of 'Produce' audition show

Singer-actor Lee Seung-gi will host the latest season of Mnet's "Produce" music program, the network announced Wednesday.Lee will serve as emcee of "Produce 48," the third season of the popular "Produce 101" series, set to begin airing in June, according to Mnet.A file publicity photo of singer-actor Lee Seung-gi provided by Mnet (Yonhap)The show's past two seasons have lead to the creation of I.O.I and Wanna One, two of the most successful K-pop rookie groups in recent years. Boy band Wanna One

April 18, 2018

Mamamoo’s solar confirms new releases for solo project

Part six of “Solar Gamsung (sentiment)” will be released at 6 p.m. on April 24, extending the solo project for the K-pop singer.According to her agency RBW, the vocalist for Mamamoo will release four songs for the latest “Solar Gamsung” project, including music videos for all four songs. A remake of Mamamoo song “Star, Wind, Flower & Sun,” which was written by Solar herself, will be included. Solar (RBW)The new record will be an LP that will consist of new songs, along with previously released o

April 18, 2018

Mamamoo’s solar confirms new releases for solo project

Part six of “Solar Gamsung (sentiment)” will be released at 6 p.m. on April 24, extending the solo project for the K-pop singer.According to her agency RBW, the vocalist for Mamamoo will release four songs for the latest “Solar Gamsung” project, including music videos for all four songs. A remake of Mamamoo song “Star, Wind, Flower & Sun,” which was written by Solar herself, will be included. Solar (RBW)　The new record will be an LP that will consist of new songs, along with previously released

April 18, 2018

[Album review] Eric Nam’s poppish new album offers whiff of freedom

Eric Nam“Honestly” CJ E&MEric Nam may be one of the K-pop scene’s most underrated talents, whose pursuit of musical growth has been overshadowed by his public image as a “boy next door.” Despite his versatility, most of his previous work has been feel-good music, which eventually became somewhat lackluster gradually eliciting the response “Yes, this song is sweet, exactly like him.” But let’s salute Nam, who has finally shed his old skin and unleashed a more genuine self in his new EP “Honestly.

April 18, 2018

BTS nominated for Billboard Music Awards for second straight year

South Korean boy band BTS has been nominated for a Billboard Music Award for the second consecutive year, the organizer announced on its website on Tuesday (local time).BTS will compete for "Top Social Media Artist" at the Billboard Music Awards 2018 against big-name pop stars, such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendes.The Korean act won the award in 2017 and snatched the top spot 70 times on the Billboard "Social 50" chart of the most influential and active artists on t

April 18, 2018

NU’EST member cleared of sexual harassment charge

Baekho of NU’EST has been cleared of the allegation that he sexually abused a minor in 2009, the boy band’s agency announced late Monday.According to Pledis Entertainment, the K-pop singer -- whose real name is Gang dong-ho -- had his name cleared by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office recently. Baekho (Pledis Entertainment)“We were formally notified that he has been cleared of charge. ... It wasn’t true to begin with, so it proves his innocence,’ an official of the agency told the lo

April 17, 2018

Pianist Son Yeol-eum pays homage to Marriner with her new album

Pianist and artistic director of Great Mountains Music Festival, Son Yeol-eum is dedicating her latest album to her late mentor Sir Neville Marriner. Simply titled “Mozart,” the album due to be released Friday, includes a recording of Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467 by the young pianist and the venerated conductor. It is the first and the last recording the two have done together.Pianist Son and Marriner first met in April 2016, when she performed with Marriner and the Academy of

April 17, 2018

Hyolyn to drop new single next week

Hyolyn of disbanded girl group Sistar will drop a new single in a week.The singer’s agency Bridge said Tuesday that “Dally” will be released next Monday as part of Hyolyn’s solo project, “Set up Time.”It will be the second single of the project, following “To Do List” which was released in February. According to Bridge, the new single will feature a unique performance by Hyolyn, dubbed “heels dance.” (Bridge)Hyolyn established Bridge, her own one-person management agency after the breakup of Sis

April 17, 2018

BTS announces new release

BTS is to drop a new album, continuing its “Love Yourself” series. The band’s agency Big Hit Entertainment announced the details of the new release, uploading a post on BTS’ official fan website Tuesday. According to the agency, the new full-length album “Love Yourself Jeon Tear” will be dropped on May 18. BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)The upcoming album is a sequel to the band’s previous album “Love Yourself Seung Her” and “Love Yourself Ki Wonder.” The albums’ titles are inspired by the four-char

April 17, 2018

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee dies aged 91

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee, one of Korea’s leading classic film stars, died at the age of 91 Monday.According to local media reports, Choi passed away Monday afternoon when she went to hospital for kidney dialysis. She had been suffering from a kidney condition for years. Choi was widely known for being a doyenne of the Korean cinema in the 60s and 70s, but her life off the screen has been far more tumultuous and dramatic than a movie, including an abduction by North Korean agents, reunion w

April 17, 2018

Ex-Turtles member Cha Eun-sung begins new chapter with trot

Changing one’s name is a big deal, as it means starting from scratch with a new identity. But soloist Cha Eun-sung, whose previous stage name was SuBin, said opening a new chapter of her career as a trot singer was more than delightful.“I’ve been singing since 2001, but it hasn’t been steady. But I will go back to basics with a mindset of a rookie so that I can sing for a long time,” said Cha during a media showcase for “Moon and the Star,” her first EP under her new name, in Seoul on Monday. Ch

April 16, 2018

GFriend confirms April 30 release of new EP

The countdown for GFriend’s new EP begin Monday, according to the timeline for the release of “Time for the Moon Night” revealed by the girl group.The group’s Source Music agency released a promotional schedule for activities related to the new record. Included were the release dates of the concept photo, track list, teasers and preorder date for the EP.It will mark the first release for the K-pop act in seven months, since the repackaged album “Rainbow” last September.  GFriend (Source Music)Th

April 16, 2018

Diagnosed with panic disorder, Jung Chan-woo takes break

Comedian and broadcaster Jung Chan-woo has taken an indefinite hiatus from all activities due to a mental disorder. Jung broke the news himself Sunday during SBS Power FM radio show “2 O’clock Escape Cultwo Show,” which he has hosted alongside fellow comedian Kim Tae-gyun since 2006. Jung Chan-woo (Cultwo Entertainment) 　“I am not well now that I can’t bring joy to you. I think I should take a break first. I will halt all broadcast activities for the time being and concentrate on getting treatme

April 16, 2018

Lee Hyo-ri’s husband records voiceover for MBC’s Sewol commemoration

Singer Lee Sang-soon, perhaps more known now for being diva Lee Hyo-ri’s husband, became the voice for MBC’s special current events program commemorating the fourth anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Sewol Ferry. MBC said Monday that its feature series on the Sewol tragedy, of which the first part will air 11:10 p.m. on the day, will have Lee as the narrating voice.  (MBC)For his participation in the project, Lee said that “Back then (during the Sewol Ferry’s sinking on April 16, 2014), th

April 16, 2018

Twice to drop new Japanese single next month

K-pop group Twice plans to release a new Japanese single next month, according to its agency Monday.The group's third Japanese single, "Wake Me Up," will be released on May 16 in the neighboring country, JYP Entertainment said.Twice debuted in Japan in June 2017 with the compilation album "#TWICE." The Japanese debut album and two follow-up singles -- "One More Time" and "Candy Pop" -- were all certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, a recognition given to records that

April 16, 2018

[Herald Interview] Woogie sets new trend by going off-trend

Just like top K-pop producers Park Jin-young and Brave Brothers who credit their songs with their own signature sounds -- “JYP” and “Brave Sound,” respectively -- Woogie is a versatile producer who uses his signature line “Woogie on and on” that is heard in many hip-hop tracks. As a producer signed under hip-hop label H1ghr Music, Woogie rose to fame by creating hits such as Loco’s “Still,” Jay Park’s “Stay With Me” and Sik-K’s “Ring Ring,” all of which are characterized by a laid-back sensitivi

April 15, 2018