[Today’s K-pop] Zerobaseone sells 1 million albums in 1 day for 3rd time

Zerobaseone’s third EP sold over 1 million copies on the day of its release, as did its two previous albums, said agency WakeOne Entertainment on Tuesday, citing a local tally. The rookie band is the first in K-pop history to achieve the feat. Its first and second EPs have both sold over 2 million units so far. The EP “You Had Me at HELLO” was released Monday and topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 22 regions while the title track “Feel the POP” landed atop its

May 14, 2024

YG to release first Blackpink digital collectibles

YG Entertainment will release digital collectibles using its girl group Blackpink's intellectual property. Blackpink’s first-ever digital collectibles will be released through VeVe, a New Zealand-based company specializing in licensed digital collectibles, from May 22-26, says the agency. A digital collectible is a unique or limited-edition copy of a virtual item. Blackpink’s digital collectibles are inspired by “Pink Venom,” the group’s hip-hop single released

May 14, 2024

‘When We Bloom Again’ depicts bereaved families’ strife, sorrow after Sewol tragedy

Over the past decade since the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which claimed nearly 300 lives of high school students on a field trip, numerous documentaries on the tragedy have been made. In contrast, there have been just a few feature films, likely because this genre requires a careful and sensitive approach to dramatizing of the disaster. In “When We Bloom Again,” which has the Korean title “On the Day when Cotton Blooms,” (direct translation), the story is told from two di

May 14, 2024

(G)I-dle to embark on third world tour

K-pop girl group (G)I-dle will kick off its third world tour in August. Cube Entertainment, the band's agency, revealed the poster of the world tour "iDOL" through the group's official social media channels Tuesday. The five-member group will kick off the world tour in Seoul with two days of concerts on Aug. 3-4, according to the unveiled poster. The group will then meet fans in a total of 14 cities, including Hong Kong; Tokyo; Tacoma, Washington; Oakland and Anaheim, Califor

May 14, 2024

Rain to meet fans in Korea, Japan

Singer Rain, also known as Jung Ji-hoon, is set to meet fans through performances in Korea and Japan. Rain will hold the solo concert "Still Raining" on June 8-9 at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The upcoming concert marks Rain's first solo performance in Korea since his "The Squall" concert in 2015. It is also an extension of the tour concert held in the United States last November under the same title. The title "Still Raining" signifies

May 14, 2024

Pianist Baik Kun-woo releases first-ever Mozart album

South Korean pianist Paik Kun-woo kicked off his Mozart trilogy project Tuesday with the release of “Mozart: Piano Works 1." The Deutsche Grammophon album marks the first Mozart album by the 78-year-old pianist, who has an extensive discography of more than 30 albums. "Mozart's works are inherently difficult. It feels like bringing pure, natural music just as it is. After much contemplation on how to interpret it, I discovered the 'as is' music that Mozart captu

May 14, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' offers meticulously crafted scenes, layered characters

Upon its release in 2011, the classic Hollywood blockbuster IP Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy, backed by Oscar-nominated VFX techniques, captivated audiences worldwide with its shocking story of primates challenging humans as the dominant species on Earth. The series is back seven years later with a meticulously crafted fourth installment, which effectively prompts the question of what it means to be human -- and whether it will be possible for different species with high intelligence to co

May 14, 2024

Zerobaseone dreams big with third EP in 'Youth' trilogy

K-pop rookies Zerobaseone wrapped up their “Youth” trilogy with a third EP, “You had me at HELLO,” released Monday. This album comes after the band’s two million-selling EPs: “Youth In The Shade,” which kicked off its “Youth” trilogy about how the hardships youth face make them shine even brighter, and “Melting Point,” about becoming a thorn to protect their fans who have made their dreams of becoming K-pop artists come true. Zero

May 14, 2024

NewJeans' members' parents complained to Hybe, email shows

Embattled Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has drawn NewJeans’ members' parents into the ongoing dispute between Hybe and herself in an bid to strengthen public sentiment against the parent company, Hybe said Monday. A local media outlet, Monday, disclosed an email from the parents of NewJeans’ members sent to Hybe through Ador on April 3. Ador, one of the 11 subsidiaries of Hybe, is the music label behind NewJeans. In the email, the parents expressed their regret towards Hybe CEO Park Ji-w

May 13, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen hits Billboard 200 at No. 5 with best-of album

Seventeen claimed the No. 5 spot on the Billboard 200 with its best-of album, according to the chart preview posted Sunday in the US. Expectations were high for the album “17 Is Right Here” as the main track “Maestro” debuted on its Global 200 and Global excl. the US charts at No. 91 and No. 40, respectively, in less than four days after release. The lead single topped the iTunes Top Songs chart in 32 regions and the album landed atop Oricon’s weekly and weekly comb

May 13, 2024

Ador CEO’s fate to be decided on May 17

Beleagured Ador CEO Min Hee-jin’s fate as the leader of the Hybe subsidiary will practically be decided Friday, the day of a hearing for the injunction against Hybe, according to an industry source, Monday. Min, on May 7, filed for an injunction with the Seoul Central District Court to prohibit Hybe from exercising its voting rights in favor of a proposal to dismiss her. With Ador’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting scheduled to take place May 31, the court’s decision o

May 13, 2024

NewJeans to appear on reality show amid ‘Hybe-Ador’ dispute

Popular girl group NewJeans of Ador is making its first appearance on a TV reality show amid the ongoing conflict between its music label CEO Min Hee-jin and the parent company Hybe. Public broadcaster KBS recently confirmed NewJeans’ participation in its reality-variety show “2 Days & 1 Night.” “We have recently finished filming the upcoming episode with NewJeans and it will air sometime in mid-June,” KBS said Monday. Hyein, one of the five group members, did n

May 13, 2024

[Herald Review] Highlight kicks off Asia tour with memory-filled Seoul concert

Despite heavy rain, the KSPO Dome in Seoul on Saturday was packed with fans who had to come to see the boy band Highlight perform a Seoul concert of its Asia tour "Lights Go On, Again." The three Seoul concerts on May 10-12, Highlight's first concerts in two years, marked the group's 15th anniversary. Amidst crimson lights and lasers, the quartet emerged and opened the show with intense performances of "Switch On," "Alone," "Paper Cut," and other

May 13, 2024

Rising pansori stars bring 'Chunhyang' to 'Peerless Pansori'

The fourth installment of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea's "Peerless Pansori" series returns this weekend with emerging "pansori" performers Cho Yu-ah and Kim Soo-in. The shows, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Daloreum Theater, were sold out soon after tickets sales opened. The "Peerless Pansori" concert series was launched in 2021 to create opportunities for young and emerging pansori singers to explore the music and mise-en-scenes with conte

May 13, 2024

NewJeans-Pharrell Williams collabo part of group's debut Japanese album

NewJeans collaborated with American pop star Pharrell Williams for their Japanese debut single album. According to Ador, Pharrell Williams participated in composing and writing the lyrics to the K-pop girl group’s titular track of their first-ever Japanese single album, “Supernatural.” The lead track, “Supernatural,” is composed with a melody that brings back memories from the past and harmonizes well with the group’s mellow vocals, says the agency. “Pro

May 13, 2024

[New on the scene] Director Kim Se-hwi captures dark side of social media in thriller

While people’s obsession and dependence on social media services have only grown stronger in recent years, social media use can be a double-edged sword. It can be a tool used to gain important information and spread useful tips, or it can be a means to stalk people or even plot a crime. In director Kim Se-hwi’s debut film, “Following,” a real estate agent named Gu Jeong-tae (Byun Yo-han) has a strange if not perverse habit of peeping into other people’s lives. Wheth

May 13, 2024

Hybe-Ador CEO conflict gets messier

What started as a dispute between Hybe and Min Hee-jin, the CEO of its subsidiary, Ador, over Min's alleged attempt to usurp management rights is getting messier. Hybe last Friday released a statement saying it would take civil action against Min for revealing an internal audit it had conducted Thursday of Ador’s styling directing team leader over suspicion of embezzlement. Ador’s team leader is alleged to have received advertising fees directly from an advertiser instead of thr

May 12, 2024

Popular online game soundtracks rearranged as traditional music

The soundtracks of popular online games such as Black Desert and Lineage have been rearranged as traditional Korean music. The National Gugak Center is unveiling a series of single albums titled "National Gugak Center x Game Sound Series," which rearranges 13 popular game melodies into traditional Korean music, starting from last Thursday to May 24. Among the tracks are theme songs and background music from Lies of P, Skul, Sanabi, MapleStory, TalesWeaver, Epic Seven, Lost Ark, Guardia

May 12, 2024

BTS’ ‘Dynamite’ certified 5X platinum in US

BTS’ digital single “Dynamite” has reached a new milestone in the US. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the digital single released in August 2020 was certified with "5X Platinum" for recording more than 5 million units of download sales. This is BTS' first 5X platinum certification from RIAA. The K-pop sensation currently has a total of nine platinum certifications from RIAA for its singles including “Idol,” “Bo

May 12, 2024

[What to play] Musical tributes to family in the month of family

May is known as the month of family in South Korea. With Children's Day on May 5, Parents' Day on 8, and Married Couples' Day on 21, it is a month for spending time with loved ones and thinking about the meaning of family. Why not take a moment under the pleasant May sunshine to reflect on the gratitude we hold for our families with some comforting songs? “Mother to Daughter” – Kim Kyu-ri & Yang Hee-eun Singer Yang Hee-eun's "Mother to Daughter,&q

May 11, 2024