The world of K-pop is buzzing in the new year, with artists both young and old, working alone and in groups, announcing new upcoming albums. Dalshabet (Happy Face Entertainment)First up is Dalshabet, who downsized to a quartet from a sextet after members Gaeun and Jiyul left upon the end of their contract. The remaining members -- Woohee, Subin, Ahyoung and Serri -- are set to release a new seven-track EP including the lead track “Someone Like U” on Tuesday. “Someone Like U,” which was teased wi

Jan. 4, 2016

U.S. music magazine Billboard released its list of the “10 Best K-pop Albums of 2015” last Wednesday, giving the top spot to “Reboot,” from the Wonder Girls.The top 10 list showed a mixed bag of established idol groups, including Wonder Girls, 2PM and TVXQ, and newcomers such as Red Velvet, BTS and Seventeen.The chart only included full-length albums, rarities in the current Korean music market that is flooded with singles and EPs, and gave credit to artists who crafted records in 2015 based on

Jan. 3, 2016

Two SM Entertainment artists, Victoria of f(x) and EXO’s Lay, were named among the top 10 artists on Chinese social media network Weibo in 2015. They were the only artists based in Korea to make the top 10.According to Weibo, Lay came in at No. 5 with 90.5 million followers while Victoria came in at No. 10 with over 75 million. Victoria was also the only female star in the top 10.Lay and Victoria are currently supported in their promotions in China by SM Entertainment through a local “workshop”

Jan. 3, 2016

To some, a night of musical theater could conjure up thoughts of kitsch song and dance numbers and enchanting fairy-tale love stories. Composer Tom Kitt and author Brian Yorkey’s “Next to Normal” has none of that.Brought to life by leading ladies Kolleen Park and Jung Young-ju, who alternately play the role of the struggling mother Diana, “Next to Normal” stretches the scope of musical boundaries by addressing often socially taboo topics such as suicide, substance abuse and questionable moral di

Jan. 3, 2016

JYJ Junsu(left) and EXID Hani (Yonhap)Kim Jun-su, a member of the popular boy band JYJ, has been dating a member of the South Korean girl group EXID since last summer, their agencies said Friday.   The 28-year-old beloved singer and the 23-year-old Hani began interacting with music and have been in a relationship to date, they said.    JYJ, a K-pop boy band, was formed in 2010 with three members -- Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu.   Hani is a lead vocal of the five-member girl group. (Yonhap)

Jan. 1, 2016

Maestro Chung Myung-whun was met with howling cheers, applause and standing ovations from his local audience in the conductor’s final concert with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Wednesday night. The concert comes just one day after Chung submitted his official resignation as music director, citing the orchestra’s ongoing legal dispute regarding human rights violations by its former head as the reason for his departure after a decade at its helm.   Maestro Chung Myung-whunPrior to the concer

Dec. 31, 2015

As 2015 comes to an end, the local music stage is gearing up for its next season of classics, from the highly anticipated performances of Cho Seong-jin and his fellow International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition competitors to the taste of international prestige with the Chicago and San Francisco Symphonies.  　Below are some highlighted performances of 2016. 　Steve Barakatt　 Canadian pianist Steve Barakatt (Rainbow Bridge Story)　Canadian pianist and composer Steve Barakatt and the Herald Phil

Dec. 30, 2015

EXO member Chen will be joining composer and pianist Steve Barakatt on stage during his upcoming Seoul concert with the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra, according to UNICEF, Chen’s agency SM Entertainment and concert promoter Rainbow Bridge Story on Sunday.Chen will be performing John Lennon‘s song “Imagine” to the accompaniment of Barakatt, showing his support for UNICEF‘s work providing aid to vulnerable children around the world. Steve Barakatt is currently serving as a UNICEF Ambassador.Steve

Dec. 30, 2015

After 10 years at its helm, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s maestro Chung Myung-whun has decided to lay down his baton. Citing the ongoing public disputes plaguing the controversy-filled SPO and the continued legal battles regarding the alleged mistreatment of employees by its former CEO Park Hyun-jung, conductor Chung officially resigned as the music director of the country’s most prestigious orchestra.  In a letter sent to the SPO members on Tuesday, the conductor -- who has arguably establishe

Dec. 29, 2015

Balladeer Kim Bum-soo will hold a two-day concert in March to celebrate the 17th anniversary of his debut.　The program will feature the hits of the popular vocalist, including “Promise,” “I Miss You,” “Last Love” and “It Will Pass” in addition to a number of new songs, according to a statement released by the concert's planning agency Delight Company Inc. on Tuesday.Kim Bum-soo (Polaris Entertainment)　Kim, 36, known for his smooth vocals and flawless technique, has come to occupy a key position

Dec. 29, 2015

International girl group Cosmic Girls, set to debut early next year, has collaborated on a special New Year’s release with boy band UNIQ, the girl group’s agency announced Tuesday. 　The two groups have released a track titled “Happy New Year” and its music video in China, marking Cosmic Girls' first video debut. From left: Xuan Yi, Eunseo and Yeoreum from 12-member girl group Cosmic Girls, set to debut early 2016 (Starship Entertainment)　“The video is filled with warm colors and a fun, quirky st

Dec. 29, 2015

Upheaval at the controversy-plagued Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra continued as its board of directors decided to postpone its decision on renewing maestro Chung Myung-whun’s contract as the city orchestra’s music director.Members of the orchestra’s board of directors met Monday morning to discuss whether to keep Chung, who has promised to fulfill next season’s conducting commitments with the SPO regardless of his contract status.  Conductor Chung Myung-whun (Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra)Earlier i

Dec. 28, 2015

Psy performs at his "All Night Stand" concert at the Seoul Olympic Park's Gymnastics Arena. (Yonhap)“Music, action! Lights, action! Your screams, action!”The first night of Psy‘s annual year-end concert “All Night Stand” began with a cue for the audience, and it was clear throughout the night that the fans would be an integral part to bringing the show together.Psy, who kicked off the show with the dance track “Right Now,” walked around the specially extended stage urging people to scream louder

Dec. 25, 2015

What happens when an orchestra conductor marries his violinist, who leaves him for a trumpet player, then ends up falling for a harpist -- only to find out his estranged wife wants to reconcile? The basic premise of Japanese author Koki Mitani and composer Takayuki Hattori’s musical “Orchestra Pit” may sound befuddling, but its combination of light-hearted humor and up-tempo musical interludes make it a refreshing departure from other blockbuster musicals whose scores and lyrics have been memori

Dec. 24, 2015

Kim Bong-mee conducts the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra, which is slated to hold its year-end concert on Dec. 27 at the Inje Cultural Foundation’s Grand Concert Hall in Inje, Gangwon Province. (Korea Herald file photo)Continuing its forging of orchestral-based, genre-hodgepodge reinterpretations of widely recognized repertoires, the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra will present its final concert of the year on Sunday. Under the baton of Kim Bong-mee, the Herald Phil’s year-end performance will be h

Dec. 23, 2015

Korea’s award-winning Gracias Choir held its last winter concert Wednesday in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, ending its monthlong national Christmas concert tour. The 15th annual “Christmas Cantata” concert tour, helmed by Russian conductor Boris Abalyan of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, presented a nativity musical and classical yuletide tunes to audiences in 19 cities in Korea, including Seoul, Goyang and Ansan. The first act showcased an opera on the birth of Christ, while the second act

Dec. 23, 2015

Boy group BTS will hold its second official meetup with fans at Korea University’s Hwajung Gymnasium, Seoul, on Jan. 24.  (Big Hit Entertainment)Big Hit Entertainment revealed the fan-meeting poster, notifying that the event will held in two rounds at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.The septet, who dropped its fourth EP “The Beautiful Moments in Life, Part 2” last month, is gearing up diverse segments to present for fans. Meanwhile, BTS recently also made headlines for their charity donation of 7 tons of rice.

Dec. 23, 2015

Singer Se7en on Wednesday officially launched his own label, “Eleven9.” The agency is situated in the Hongik University area of Seoul. Se7en officially announced in July that he would establish his own agency. The newly built label aims to cover a wide range of segments including music and acting, while also fostering rookies to become a comprehensive entertainment agency.  (OSEN)“Se7en was involved in many details throughout the construction process. Since the label officially kicked off, he wi

Dec. 23, 2015