Sechs Kies to release an album with new songs for 1st time in 17 years

Iconic 1990s K-pop band Sechs Kies plans to release an album April 28, which would mark the first time since 2000 for the group to release an album of new songs.The boy band’s agency YG Entertainment on Wednesday uploaded a poster of the group’s 20th anniversary project, which featured the phrase “New Album[The 20th Anniversary]” on the top.“If last year’s (digital) single ‘Three Words’ heralded a new beginning for Sechs Kies, this album will present a new path for the group,” YG Entertainment s

April 19, 2017

10 K-pop springtime tunes

Cherry blossoms have peaked and are falling, marking the arrival of spring. In celebration of warmer days, The Korea Herald has compiled a list of 10 K-pop tunes -- old, familiar, lesser known and newly released -- for road trips and lazy days in grassy parks.  Clazziquai -- “Fiesta”　Listed in the experimental band’s 2007 album “Love Child of the Century,” “Fiesta” is an ambient techno-infused tune about taking off on an unexpected holiday to a tropical beach.f(x) -- “Traveler” feat. Zico　Like i

April 18, 2017

Sting to perform in Korea in May

World-renowned musician Sting will hold a concert in Seoul in May, the show’s promoters Hyundai Card said Tuesday.“Hyundai Card Curated Sting” will be held May 31 at the Hyundai Card Understage in Itaewon, central Seoul. The venue is a 400-seat hall, which officials said the company has reserved for handpicked artists. “Sting is a world-famous artist who seeks to convey his philosophy and change society through music. The concert will be a special chance (for the audience) to enjoy the essence o

April 18, 2017

Twice confirms new album release in May

K-pop group Twice on Tuesday confirmed its new album release here in May.K-pop group Twice (JYP Entertainment)“Twice is gearing up to return to the spotlight next month, but the exact date of the album release has not been set yet,” the group’s agency JYP Entertainment said, confirming an earlier media report that Twice was planning to drop a new album around the third week of May. But JYP Entertainment denied the report about the group’s plan to promote the album for two weeks before heading to

April 18, 2017

Challenge accepted: All-American 'Korean' group seeks glory in K-pop land

Over the past few years, South Korean pop music, or K-pop, as a whole has grown into a legitimate cultural force to be reckoned with. And while the scene has moved and evolved at lightning pace, some also began to look back and wonder: what makes K-pop K-pop?EXP Edition, an experimental boy band which released its debut single "Feel Like This" on Monday in South Korea, is the brain child of Kim Bora, through which she asks that exact question in a unique and interesting approach.The four-member

April 17, 2017

Big Bang’s Daesung launches Japan tour

Daesung of Big Bang on has successfully launched his first dome concert tour in Japan, YG Entertainment said Monday.According to the agency, the singer held concerts in Metlife Dome -- formerly known as Seibu Prince Dome -- in Saitama, Japan on Saturday and Sunday. It marked the first of his “D-lite Japan Dome Tour 2017,” after his Japanese stage name “D-lite.” Daesung performs at his solo concert held at the Metlife Dome in Saitama, Japan. (YG Entertainment)Daesung showed off his hit solo singl

April 17, 2017

SHINee’s Taemin to hold solo concert in Japan

K-pop boy band SHINee’s Taemin will hold a solo concert in Japan, according to his agency. “Tae-min will hold his very first concert titled, ‘Taemin the 1st stage Nippon Budokan’ from July 1-2,” S.M. Entertainment said.  SHINee's Taemin (S.M. Entertainment)The concerts will take place at the Nippon Budokan arena, which can accommodate more than 8,000.The venue has hosted not only famous Japanese artists but also other big-name foreign celebrities including the Beatles, Celine Dion, Deep Purple a

April 16, 2017

Coldplay comes to Korea

Coldplay entered Korea through Incheon Airport on Thursday. The group posted a photo of fans waiting at the airport via its official social media channels. (Coldplay Facebook)The band will host concerts in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday at Jamsil Olympic main stadium. It is the group’s first visit to Korea since its debut in 1998. Coldplay added an extra performance due to the enthusiastic response from fans. Tickets sold out in minutes. Coldplay is a four-piece rock band consisting of Chris Marti

April 14, 2017

Eric Nam features in Forbes ’30 Under 30 Asia’ list

Singer Eric Nam was named one of the world’s most influential Asian celebrities by Forbes. Singer Eric Nam is featured in Forbes‘ ’30 Under 30 Asia‘ list Wednesday. (Herald DB)Forbes unveiled its 2017 “30 Under 30 Asia” list Wednesday, which features 300 young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who are making an impact in the world. The second annual list includes 30 honorees, all under age 30, for each of the 10 industries that make up the list. Nam was featured as one of the most recognized

April 14, 2017

JYJ’s Park Yu-chun to wed in fall

JYJ’s Park Yu-chun confirmed Thursday that he is set to tie the knot with a non-celebrity woman in this fall.Singer-actor Park Yu-chun (C-Jes Entertainment)“It’s true that Park Yu-chun will get married in fall,” a C-Jes Entertainment official told The Korea Herald. “We want to be careful about giving any further details, since Park is currently serving as a public service officer and the bride-to-be is a non-celebrity woman.” Earlier in the day, local media reports said that Park is to wed a 28-

April 13, 2017

Kim Whan-ki's painting breaks Korean auction record at 6.55 bln won

A painting by Korean abstract artist Kim Whan-ki has been sold for 6.55 billion won ($5.74 million) on Wednesday, making it the most expensive South Korean artwork ever sold.At an auction held in Seoul, Kim's "Tranquility 5-IV-73 #310" with his signature style of blue dots and a white-edged square broke the previous record of 6.32 billion won set by the very same artist during an auction held in Hong Kong last November with a painting named "12-V-70 #172." The auction for the 205-by-261-centimet

April 13, 2017

Former I.O.I member Kim Chung-ha to drop first solo single

Kim Chung-ha of disbanded girl group I.O.I is set to embark on a solo career, according to her agency MNH Entertainment.  Kim Chung-ha (MNH Entertainment)The agency said Wednesday the singer’s first digital single will be prereleased on April 21 via online music streaming sites and Kim will share details of the song via the Naver V app on Wednesday evening. The official album release is slated for May. Kim will be the first to debut as a solo artist among the 11 former members of I.O.I., which w

April 12, 2017

Kim So-hyang cast in US production of ‘Sister Act’

Musical actress Kim So-hyang has been cast in the US production of the hit Broadway musical “Sister Act,” her agency said Wednesday.According to EA&C, Kim will play a supporting role in the Asian tour of the musical that will kick off in May. It highlighted that this marks the first time a Korean actress has been cast in the American production of the musical.  Kim So-hyang (EA&C)Kim, 36, said she has been looking to participate in an American production and that “Sister Act” is a huge opportuni

April 12, 2017

IU to sue YouTuber for sexual harassment

IU (Fave Entertainment)IU’s agency said Wednesday it plans to pursue legal action against a man running a channel on video-sharing platform YouTube for his recent sexual comments about the singer, comparing her to his dog.Fave Entertainment told local media that it had met with legal representatives to file charges against the man, and vowed a “strong response without mercy.”In a follow-up video, he alleged that the comment was merely a joke and that the reporter who wrote the story on his video

April 12, 2017

Universal Music to launch Korean label

Global record label Universal Music will launch its first Korean label, On the Record, the company said Tuesday. “On the Record” is meant to signify that the label will present music that needs to be more widely known, according to the company. (Universal Music)Universal Music has various subsidiary labels over the world, including Def Jam where Justin Bieber is signed, Republic with Ariana Grande and Interscope with Eminem. However, this marks the first time for the music giant to launch a Kore

April 11, 2017

Quartet EXID seeks to grow despite Solji’s absence

An eclipse is usually associated with an image of darkness and shadow, and such was the case for EXID with its main vocalist Solji missing from the launch of its latest EP “Eclipse.”The remaining four members, however, said the temporary shake-up is only a prelude to better things to come. “The title symbolizes our changes as an artist and our commitment to ‘rise again’ as a full five-member team after Solji’s return, as does the full moon after a lunar eclipse,” LE said during a media event hel

April 11, 2017

Former Wonder Girl Ha:tfelt joins Amoeba Culture

Park Ye-eun, former member of Wonder Girls also known by her stage name “Ha:tfelt,” has inked a management deal with Amoeba Culture, the agency said Tuesday.“As of April 7, 2017, Ye-eun has become the newest member of the Amoeba Culture family as solo artist Ha:tfelt,” the agency said in a press release. “She has shown a lot of potential both with her career as a member of the Wonder Girls and as a solo artist. We will try our best to make sure that she can show off her wide spectrum of musical

April 11, 2017

BTS among nominees for Billboard's Top Social Media Artist

K-pop idol group BTS or Bangtan Boys has been nominated for the "Top Social Media Artist" of the Billboard Music Awards 2017, the organizer unveiled on its website on Monday. (Yonhap)The popular boy band will compete with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes. It is the only Korean artist on the nominee list.The Billboard said they were picked based on "key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social eng

April 11, 2017

‘SMTown Live’ concert will be back in Seoul

S.M. Entertainment artists will reunite at the 2017 SMTown concert tour titled “SMTown Live,” according to the agency Tuesday. S.M. Entertainment artists perform at the “SMTown Live Tour V in Japan” held at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, in 2016. (S.M. Entertainment)“The upcoming concert will gather the artists on the big stage again in Korea since the fourth tour, which was held in 2014 in the country,” an S.M. Entertainment representative said.The 2014 “SMTown Live World Tour IV in Seoul” featu

April 11, 2017