[Album review] New era opens with 'Summer Magic'

Red Velvet“Summer Magic”IRIVERUntil now, we all thought that nothing would top “Red Flavor,” Red Velvet’s biggest feat that was even blared at North Korea, where K-pop is forbidden. But with the act’s new seasonal album, Red Velvet proves that it does not linger in the past, but instead takes itself to the next level. Living up to the group’s nickname “summer queen,” Red Velvet’s new EP “Summer Magic” is rife with all the elements that will elevate your mood. Don’t let your expectations get too

Aug. 8, 2018

K-pop duo MXM releases concept photos before debut

Pop duo MXM has released concept photos ahead of the release of its debut album “More Than Ever” next week.The duo, Im Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun, released two sets of photos on Instagram on Monday, as the upcoming album is to be released Tuesday the following week in two different versions.The “More” version showed the duo’s youthful side, with the two in bright clothes and flashing a smile.Members of MXM cut a stylish figure in a new teaser image. (Brand New Music)MXM looked more mature in th

Aug. 8, 2018

Hidden messages of Red Velvet’s ‘Power Up’ MV

(Screenshot from YouTube)K-pop powerhouse Red Velvet is famous for its quirky and memorable music videos. While some aspects are pretty obvious, such as featuring the girls in the most stylish and savvy way possible, the videos always contain some multi-layered messages, allowing fans leeway to make various interpretations. Following last year’s chart-topper “Red Flavor,” Red Velvet returned with new summer single “Power Up,” which is also rife with hidden meanings and references. Here are some

Aug. 7, 2018

World Club Dome to land once again in Incheon

The self-proclaimed “biggest outdoor club in the world” is gearing up for this year’s edition at Korea’s port city of Incheon, with BigCityBeats World Club Dome Korea 2018 to be held from Sept. 14-16.The Korea Tourism Organization on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Incheon Metropolitan Government and Peter Pan MPC, the host of the show, to cooperate for the successful operation of the event. Last year’s event brought together over 100,000 fans from Korea and overseas. The organizers of the

Aug. 7, 2018

Mamamoo’s Moonbyul spreads K-pop in Vietnam

Girl group Mamamoo’s Moonbyul is actively promoting K-pop to Vietnamese audiences as a video jockey on a music chart show in the Southeast Asian country.  (RBW Entertainment)Moonbyul already meets with Vietnamese fans every Thursday through Vietnam’s only chart program, “V Heartbeat,” which airs via Naver’s V app. Now Moonbyul is joining “V Heartbeat” as a VJ to introduce K-pop news and music. Mamamoo’s songs have ranked highly on Vietnam’s iTunes chart, and the Vietnamese audiences have been qu

Aug. 7, 2018

Why Stray Kids are K-pop’s new power players

(Stray Kid`s Instagram)At first, their strong leanings on hip-hop and aggressive choreography seem reminiscent of the early days of K-pop phenomenon BTS. But there is something particular about this sparkling rookie group. New JYP Entertainment group Stray Kids have seen quite a bit of success despite their short time in the scene; Since its debut in March, the nine-member group quickly racked up a huge international following and continued to create a buzz by landing its pre-debut album at No.

Aug. 6, 2018

BTOB leader Seo Eun-kwang to enlist after concerts this month

BTOB frontman Seo Eun-kwang will enlist in the military on Aug. 21, according to his agency Cube Entertainment. The singer confirmed the surprising news himself, releasing a statement through his agency that said, “I am really sorry to fans who might be surprised at this sudden news about my enlistment. I am sorry for not being able to keep all those many promises I made with you. I will keep those promises after I fulfill my military duty.” (Cube Entertainment)Details regarding the time and tra

Aug. 6, 2018

Ailee opens up about negative effects of extreme dieting

Singer Ailee shed tears while recalling her experience of dieting during the episode of “Hidden Singer” that aired Sunday. “Hidden Singer” is a TV program in which a pop star and impersonators compete in a singing battle while the audience tries to guess the real singer by listening to their voices only. (JTBC)During Sunday’s episode, an impersonator said she had lost 15 kg to become a singer after she saw Ailee had lost weight. In turn, Ailee opened up about her own experience.Ailee said she wa

Aug. 6, 2018

Seoul city to issue special EXO-themed edition of Seoul tour pass

The city of Seoul and Seoul Tourism Organization announced Monday a special EXO-themed Seoul tour pass for foreign visitors will go on sale on Aug. 20.The special edition of the Discovery Seoul Pass comes with images of the EXO bandmates. There are 10 different versions, including solo shots of the eight bandmates and two group photos.  (Seoul Metropolitan Government) (Seoul Metropolitan Government) (Seoul Metropolitan Government)The city plans to issue 1,000 Discovery Seoul Pass cards priced at

Aug. 6, 2018

Jo Kwon enlists on Aug 6.

2AM’s Jo Kwon will begin his 19-month mandatory military service Monday, according to his agency.Cube Entertainment, representing Jo Kwon, said, “The time and place of training camp will not be revealed since artist wanted a quiet enlistment.” (Instagram)The artist posted a selfie taken while shaving his head on his Instagram with a comment, “2018.8.6 – 2020.3.24. Keep Going. I’ll be healthy and well. Thank you and I love you.”Debuted as a member of 2AM in JYP Entertainment in 2008, Jo Kwon rece

Aug. 6, 2018

Red Velvet says its new single ‘Power Up’ will power fans up

After shaking things up with its song “Red Flavor” in July last year, Red Velvet is set to offer another taste of summer with its new single “Power Up.”“Our new single ‘Power Up’ delivers a message of ‘work hard and play hard.’ If ‘Red Flavor’ is energetic and upbeat from its beginning to end, ‘Power Up’ is very infectious,” said Irene during a press conference for the band’s second solo concert “Red Mare” in Seoul on Sunday.  (Yonhap)Red Velvet’s new summer album “Summer Magic,” slated for rele

Aug. 5, 2018

CL’s dramatic change

Pictures showing CL’s dramatic change in appearance have drawn a great deal of attention from media and fans.On Friday the charismatic singer appeared to have gained a significant amount of weight when she was spotted at Incheon Airport on Friday, as she traveled to Singapore for a concert.In the images released by local media, CL was seen wearing an oversized black T-shirt that draped over her body with a pair of jeans baring her knees. (CL's Instagram)But her outfit was overshadowed by talks o

Aug. 3, 2018

Kallaci String Quartet fills late violinist Kwun Hyuk-joo's place

Kallaci String Quartet now has a new member on the violin, a position left vacant for two years following the unexpected death of violinist Kwun Hyuk-joo. Since Kwun’s passing, the group had been inviting guest violinists to perform with it.Now, with violinist Kang Su-yeon as a new member, the Kallaci String Quartet will hold a concert at Kumho Art Hall on Aug. 30.From left: violinist Kang Su-yeon, violinist Jang Yoo-jin, violist Lee Han-na and cellist Shim Joon-ho perform at Kumho Art Hall in D

Aug. 3, 2018

HyunA opts for ‘honest’ route, confirming relationship with E’Dawn

HyunA confirmed she has been dating E’Dawn, a fellow member of the group Triple H.The confirmation came as local news outlets reported Friday the stars have been dating for two years. HyunA and E’Dawn perform together on stage as two-thirds of Triple H. (Yonhap)HyunA said she had met E’Dawn when he was a trainee and they became friends while working together, before starting a relationship around May 2016.She said she got closer with E’Dawn while making music together, particularly when E’Dawn h

Aug. 3, 2018

[Video] BT21 characters hit Incheon Airport

BT21 collection, co-produced by BTS and Line Corp., the Japanese subsidiary of Korea's biggest portal Naver, is witnessing an explosive growth in less than a year since its launch.While BT21 may seem like eight fluffs of pure cutness on the outside, one should be careful not to underestimate the fictitious octet's star power.BT21's RJ at Incheon Airport's Terminal 2 (The Korea Herald)Mang, Tata, Chimmy, Cooky, RJ, Shooky, Koya and Van have become some of the hottest names anywhere since their de

Aug. 2, 2018

Vixx’s Leo fills ‘Canvas’ with splashes of his unique color

For the past six years, the versatile singer had his hand in everything from songwriting to pursuing a musical theatre career, except for filling an album only with his voice. And for his ever first solo album “Canvas,” Leo of Vixx transformed himself into a meticulous artist and splashed a blank canvas with colors only the artist himself could create. The seven-track album is led by lead track “Touch & Sketch,” a groovy bass-driven song that bounces between the digitized beat and Leo’s clear br

Aug. 2, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘We don’t expect anything from our new song,' says iKon

In August last year, iKon fans were enraged at YG Entertainment for the group’s lack of promotion in Korea, even announcing a boycott of products produced by the agency. The coin was flipped with its release of “New Kids: Return” EP earlier in January. The group became one of the most prolific K-pop acts in the scene, releasing two albums a year and enjoying its heyday with the first smash hit “Love Scenario.” Seven months later, the group returned Thursday with “New Kids: Continue,” the last of

Aug. 2, 2018

Agency denies snowballing rumors of HyunA dating E’Dawn

HyunA’s agency has denied rumors that the singer is dating E’Dawn, a fellow member of mixed-gender pop trio Triple H.Dating rumors between the two swirled after a report by Korean online media outlet TV Report claimed they began dating after meeting via Triple H.A source close to both singers’ agency Cube Entertainment denied the rumors in talks with multiple media outlets.HyunA (middle) and E'Dawn (right). (Yonhap)But speculation continues unabated, as the detailed report outlined the timeline

Aug. 2, 2018

Will CJ co-create BTS’ younger sibling?

BTS’ agency joins CJ ENM to launch entertainment companyCJ ENM is already the biggest company in the Korean entertainment industry today, but it could be heading for an even bigger presence in the global market, as the agency of BTS -- arguably the biggest star in K-pop at the moment -- is joining its massive family.The entertainment behemoth will collaborate with Big Hit Entertainment to launch an entertainment venture firm later in the month, according to local media reports. The CJ affiliate

Aug. 1, 2018

Orchestra to hold concert near DMZ

The Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra will hold a peace-promoting concert at Camp Greaves, a former military base in the northernmost area of South Korea, just 2 kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone, in collaboration with members from the Yale Symphony Orchestra and young musicians from around the globe. Led by violinist and artistic director Won Hyung-joon, the festival orchestra is a project orchestra formed in 2009 with hopes to create a joint South-North orchestra. It holds a concert at the ca

Aug. 1, 2018