Fifty Fifty enters Billboard's year-end Hot 100 as 1st K-pop girl group

Fifty Fifty made it onto Billboard's year-end list of most popular songs as the first K-pop girl group in history. The US music publication recently unveiled its 2023 year-end charts, which showed Fifty Fifty's "Cupid" at No. 44 on the annual Hot 100 songs chart. This marked the first time that any K-pop girl group's song has made it onto Billboard's year-end main singles chart. The year-end Hot 100 chart is a rundown of the year's biggest hits in the US compil

Nov. 24, 2023

Christmas comes early with aespa's 'Jingle Bell Rock'

Aespa is spreading the Christmas cheer early with its new song "Jingle Bell Rock." The band's agency, SM Entertainment, on Friday announced that the quartet will drop its reinterpretation of the popular Christmas carol at 2 p.m. later that day. Aespa's version of "Jingle Bell Rock" will offer new delights, the agency said, with the four members' voices interlaced over the minimal track peppered with powerful 808 bass and catchy instrumental sounds, The new song

Nov. 24, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Digital paradigm shift to VR will happen 2026’

It was in 2019 that LA-based tech firm AmazeVR, a comprehensive virtual reality entertainment startup, pivoted its main business to virtual concerts. In just three years, it became the frontrunner in the field and officially launched its service in South Korea this year. Last month, AmazeVR released its first virtual concert here, featuring K-pop girl group aespa. Produced jointly with the quartet's label, SM Entertainment, the show was available offline at the Megabox Coex cinema in southe

Nov. 24, 2023

[Herald Interview] Former Treasure member Bang Ye-dam debuts solo

Bang Ye-dam embarked on a new journey as a K-pop solo artist Thursday with his first solo mini album, “Only One.” “I’ve always wanted to take part in bringing up my album by composing and writing lyrics to the songs. I wanted to express what I hope to share with the public through my own songs. For that, I am at my happiest moment debuting as a solo artist,” said Bang Ye-dam in an interview with The Korea Herald. Bang Ye-dam made his first appearance on television i

Nov. 23, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink receives MBE honors from King Charles

Blackpink was awarded an MBE by the UK's King Charles in recognition for the girl group's support for raising awareness for climate change. The four bandmates accepted their medals for the honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday in London, while President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee were present. Rose’s title came without the honorary classification, as she holds dual citizenship in New Zealand, which is part of the Commonwealth.

Nov. 23, 2023

Dreamcatcher returns as 'villains' with special power

K-pop girl group Dreamcatcher returned as villains for their ninth EP, “VillainS,” which dropped on Wednesday. “We opened a new universe with this album, in which we’ve become villains that move our way forward to accomplish a goal and face many temptations along the way,” explained Jiu, the leader of Dreamcatcher during a press conference in Seoul. The new album carries six tracks led by title track “OOTD” which is of the punk rock genre. “The acr

Nov. 23, 2023

Pianist Kim Jun-hyung named Kumho Art Hall's artist-in-residence for 2024

Pianist Kim Jun-hyung, the second prize winner of the 2022 ARD International Music Competition’s piano category, is Kumho Art Hall’s artist-in-residence for the next year, according to the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation Wednesday. Born in 1997, Kim took his first piano lesson at age 10 and made his debut as Kumho Prodigy Concert Series in 2012. He is currently pursing a master's degree in New Music at The University of Music and Performing Arts Munich where he studies with Ant

Nov. 23, 2023

Story of first female leader of traveling entertainers reimagined

Meet Baudeogi, who was born to a poor peasant in Anseong in 1848 and joined the Namsadang, a traveling entertainment troupe, at age 5. Anseong was one of the largest marketplaces during the Joseon era. Raised by a troupe of male acrobats, she mastered the art of singing, dancing and jultagi, or a traditional Korean performance of tightrope-walking. Before long she made a name for herself, captivating audience hearts with her looks and unparalleled talent and earning a reputation that echoed thro

Nov. 23, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook continues to set records on Billboard charts

Jungkook of BTS extended his own record on the latest Billboard charts. His first solo album, “Golden,” ranked No. 6 on the Billboard 200, down four rungs, while lead single “Standing Next To You” stayed on Hot 100 at No. 50 after hitting it at No. 5. Three more songs from the album – “Too Much (feat. The Kid Laroi, Central Cee)” “3D (feat. Jack Harlow)” and “Seven (feat. Latto)” – also stayed on the main singles chart rank

Nov. 22, 2023

G-Dragon to take legal action against malicious commenters

K-pop artist G-Dragon, who had been booked without detention for breaching the Narcotics Control Act after his name came up during a recent drug bust in Gangnam, Seoul, is taking legal action against internet users who have left malicious comments. “We are taking legal action against the creators of malicious posts about Kwon Ji-yong (G-Dragon’s real name), including defamation, sexual harassment and dissemination of false information,” announced the artist’s legal repres

Nov. 22, 2023

Will Blackpink renew contract as group?

Blackpink, one of K-pop's top groups, attended Tuesday a banquet at Buckingham Palace in honor of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the UK. The appearance of all Blackpink members -- Jisoo, Rose, Jennie and Lisa -- raised the possibility that the members might renew their contract with their label, YG Entertainment. The quartet’s exclusive contract with YG expired in August but it still remains unclear whether or not the group will renew their contract with the agency. Ea

Nov. 22, 2023

Remaining BTS members to head to military

RM, Jimin, Jungkook and V of South Korean mega group BTS have started their military enlistment process, BTS' label, BigHit Music, announced Tuesday. According to the company, the group's remaining four musicians have undertaken procedures to fulfill their national service obligations, following the other three members, Jin, Suga and J-Hope, who are already serving their duties. Specific details on the enrollment are expected to be announced later. All men of South Korean nationality a

Nov. 22, 2023

Disney+ brings romance to year's end

Winter is here, and that means prime time for heartwarming love stories. While Disney+, the flagship streaming service of US media giant Walt Disney Co., caught many viewers’ eyes with exciting superhero action flick “Moving” and spy thriller “Vigilante,” the streamer is set to wrap up the year with two romantic love stories in “Tell Me That You Love Me” and “Soundtrack #2.” Adapted from a 1995 Japanese drama series of the same title, “

Nov. 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids makes Billboard’s Hot 100 for 1st time

Stray Kids entered Billboard’s Hot 100 with the main track from its eighth EP, announced label JYP Entertainment on Tuesday. “Lalalala” from EP “Rock-Star” ranked No. 90 on the main singles chart and made the band the second K-pop boy band to make the chart, only after BTS. It is the seventh K-pop group to chart on the Hot 100. The American publication also commented on the group’s first entry writing that “Stray Kids are officially Billboard Hot 100-ch

Nov. 21, 2023

Mnet’s ‘Street Dance Girls Fighter 2’ targets global audience with multinational teen dancers

Mnet returns Tuesday night with the second season of its dance competition show “Street Dance Girls Fighter,” which features teenage female dancers. Different from the first season of the show, the program included young dancers from abroad and dancers even younger, between the ages of 13 and 18. “We decided to include dancers from other countries because we thought that dancing is another way of communication in a situation where there are language barriers. Because K-pop is p

Nov. 21, 2023

Jungkook holds live stage event for fans

Jungkook of BTS held his first-ever fan-exclusive live stage event with around 2,800 fans in Seoul on Monday. The global pop star performed all of the tracks in his recently released solo album, “Golden,” at the event, “Jungkook ‘Golden’ Live On Stage.” The singer kicked off the show with “Standing Next to You,” the lead track of his album, and sidetrack “Yes or No.” “I’ve prepared this concert solely for Armys. I happily pr

Nov. 21, 2023

BTS’ V, actor Yoo Seung-ho to star in ‘Running Man’

Terrestrial broadcaster SBS on Monday confirmed that V of K-pop sensation BTS and actor Yoo Seung-ho will star in its hit variety show, “Running Man,” in an episode set to air on Dec. 3. V, who was a guest on episode 671 (Sept. 10) was praised by the hosts, production staff and viewers after showcasing his skills in the psychological battle round and his ability to lead the show in various missions. He was admired for his poker face and using his acting to gain an advantage in the ga

Nov. 21, 2023

[Herald Interview] VIXX highlights group’s continuity in 5th EP ‘Continuum’

K-pop boy group VIXX returned to the music scene on Tuesday with its fifth EP, “Continuum,” the group's first album release in four years. “We've longed for this comeback. In this album, we talk about one of our core values which is continuity. Our group hopes to continue presenting new albums for our fans,” Leo said during a group interview in Seoul. Over the past four years, all members of the group have been individually active in expanding their careers b

Nov. 21, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids tops Billboard 200

Stray Kids charted No. 1 on Billboard 200 with its eighth EP, according to the publication’s preview published on Sunday in the US. EP “Rock-Star” is the band’s fourth consecutive album to achieve the feat, following previous EPs, “Oddinary” and “Maxident,” as well as third studio album “Five-Star.” The eight-member act is the only K-pop band to top the main albums chart more than four times besides BTS that did so six times. The band

Nov. 20, 2023

Seoul Philharmonic's new music director van Zweden to focus on Mahler, collaborations

The full Mahler cycle, collaborations with diverse genres and arts groups as well as fostering talented new musicians -- especially conductors -- will take center stage at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, which will kick off its first season with music director Jaap van Zweden. Beyond that, the new music director and the orchestra will strive to raise quality to the top level, which, according to van Zweden, is “the best promotion for an orchestra.” “The weeks that I was her

Nov. 20, 2023