BTS' 'Face Yourself' becomes fastest-selling K-pop record in Japan

"Face Yourself," the latest Japanese release from boy band BTS, has become the fastest-selling K-pop album in Japan to date, according to the country's main music sales tracker on Thursday."Face Yourself," the septet's third Japanese studio album, released on April 2, sold 282,000 copies in its first week, reaching a new high for a South Korean artist in terms of first week shipments, Oricon reported.The previous K-pop record holder was girl group KARA, which sold 275,000 copies of "Super Girl"

April 12, 2018

K-pop star Hyoyeon takes first steps as ‘DJ Hyo’

She is most noted in the K-pop scene for her astonishing dance moves, but Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation is showing a new side of herself to fans: DJing.“Sober,” the debut single released under Hyoyeon’s new alias DJ Hyo, will be available at 6 p.m. Wednesday through local online music streaming websites.  A teaser image for “Sober” (S.M. Entertainment)According to her agency S.M. Entertainment, the song is of the tropical future house genre, with Hyoyeon providing both the vocals and DJing.Hyoyeo

April 12, 2018

Eric Nam isn’t sweet anymore in ‘Honestly’ EP

K-pop soloist Eric Nam was once an icon of “sweetness,” the kind of a guy who would readily whisper words of romance into one’s ears. In his new EP “Honestly,” however, he pulled out a more “candid” self, stripping off his previous boy-next-door image and transforming himself into a man who confesses “maybe it’s a lie that I still love you.”   The “Honestly” EP, Nam’s first EP in two years released Thursday, features six tracks including lead track “Honestly…,” a mid-tempo dance pop number that

April 12, 2018

96 girls from Korea, Japan to vie for ‘Produce 48’ in June

Mnet’s new audition program “Produce 48” will start airing in June, the TV network said Wednesday. “Produce 48” will broadcast competitions among 96 trainees from both South Korea and Japan, contesting for four months to debut as a global girl group.Members of popular Japanese girl group, AKB48, will also be part of the 96 contestants.Trainers will include Lee Hong-ki of FT Island, Soyou, rapper Cheetah and choreographer May J Lee.The survival show will be the third of its kind by Mnet, followin

April 11, 2018

Korean ‘King of Pop’ lives on after half a century

Cho Yong-pil is widely referred in Korea as “Gawang” -- the king of singing or pop music. The nickname is hardly an exaggeration, as the famed singer has performed everything from pop, rock, trot and folk to even songs comparable to contemporary K-pop, in an unparalleled music career.“I found such a nickname actually burdensome. That was never my goal when I sang, I don’t know about being the top, or setting records. I just did it because I love music,” he said at a press conference Wednesday in

April 11, 2018

[Album review] EXO-CBX’s album inspired by days of the week is top-notch

EXO-CBX“Blooming Days”IRIVERThank God EXO-CBX’s new album is nothing like its previous funky-disco tune from “Hey Mama” or the ear-drum bursting EDM sound from EXO’s “Power.” In the world of K-pop where boy bands are given credit for their powerful performances and indiscreet use of synth sounds, the EXO unit’s toned-down “Blooming Days” EP soothes the listeners with a fragrant spring breeze. What is brilliant in this seven-track album is that each track correlates to a day of the week while lyr

April 11, 2018

[Trending] #What is Love #Twice

K-pop super star Twice released a spring-themed song “What is Love?” Monday and the internet went crazy for the girl group’s return.(Related article: Twice asks ‘What Is Love?’)  Twice (JYP Entertainment)The song has swept the local music charts as soon as it was released, ranking the top spots on every chart at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The group’s name “Twice” also skyrocketed to the first spot of Naver’s trending bar Monday, while “Twice What is Love” ranked fifth on the same day.The music video for “W

April 10, 2018

UAE media zero in on K-pop mania amid recent SM gala concert

Media outlets of the United Arab Emirates have offered extensive coverage of a recent K-pop gala concert thrown by SM Entertainment, South Korea's largest entertainment agency, last week in Dubai.The concert, "SM Town Live World Tour VI in Dubai," was held at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai on Friday. A total of 14 acts, including EXO, Red Velvet and TVXQ, participated in the joint label concert. The company announced that some 15,000 gathered at the event.Gulf News, a Dubai-based English langua

April 10, 2018

BTS' latest Japanese album tops Oricon's weekly chart

K-pop group BTS on Tuesday clinched the top spot on the weekly album chart for Oricon, Japan's main music sales tracker, with its latest Japanese release."Face Yourself," BTS' third Japanese studio album released last Wednesday, reached the top of the Oricon's album chart for the week of April 2-8, according to Oricon's website.First week record sales reached 282,000 copies, according to Oricon. "Face Yourself" was also seen at No. 1 on Oricon's daily album chart for the sixth consecutive day. A

April 10, 2018

Twice asks ‘What Is Love?’

After talking about the feeling of love with “Heart Shaker” last winter, Twice is back with a question about love this time: “What is Love?”On Monday, the chart-topping girl group returned with its fifth EP “What is Love?” fronted by a lead track of the same name. In the lead track, which is upbeat and bubbly with the group’s signature pop effusiveness, the members transform into naive young women who have learned about love through books, movies and dramas, but haven’t actually experienced it.

April 9, 2018

Noir debuts with black-tinged ‘Twenty’s Noir’

The K-pop newcomers of Noir are all about black -- the color of power and charisma.On Monday, nine-member act Noir debuted with the group’s first EP, “Twenty’s Noir.” Featuring six songs, the album is led by explosive electronic dance music track “Gangsta,” which leans heavily on the band’s rappers. Overflowing with propulsive beats, flamboyant synths and EDM breaks, “Gangsta” captures the blazing hearts of nine wishing to capture a woman’s heart. Noir, represented by Luk Factory, consists of Ye

April 9, 2018

Day6 to hold first Japan concert in June

Day6 will hold its first ever concert in Japan in June, its agency said Friday.According to S.M. Entertainment, the five-piece K-pop boy band will hold its Japan solo concert “‘DAY6 1st LIVE in JAPAN “THE BEST DAY’” at Tsutaya O-East in Tokyo and Umeda Trad in Osaka on June 13 and 14, respectively.  Day6 (JYP Entertainment)The act made its Japanese debut on March 14 with its first Japanese single EP “If ~ I See You Again ~” which became a theme song for Japanese drama “Repeat.” Day6 is also set

April 8, 2018

Tiger JK to release last album as Drunken Tiger

Korean hip-hop legend Tiger JK announced Friday that in a week he will reveal a prereleased song from his upcoming new album that will be his last under the name “Drunken Tiger.”Drunken Tiger is the name of his hip-hop duo with DJ Shine that debuted in 1999. Even after his bandmate left in 2005, Tiger JK continued releasing new tracks under that name. Tiger JK (Drunken Tiger) (Feel Good Music)The upcoming album is the first full-length album from Drunken Tiger in nine years, since releasing “Fee

April 6, 2018

K-pop group BTS teases new release in 9-minute video

K-pop boy band BTS on Friday released a new cinematic video hinting at the themes and sounds of its upcoming new album.Titled "Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself: Wonder," the nine-minute-long teaser video was shared on YouTube at midnight.In similar fashion to BTS' promotional videos in the past, the video was filmed and edited to resemble a mini feature film, with the septet featured in a montage of various dramatic environments and situations. (Big Hit Entertainment)The footage includes several

April 6, 2018

‘Bosch Dreams’ acrobatic performance highlights Dutch painter’s phantasmagoria

The contemporary circus show “Bosch Dreams” comes to the LG Arts Center from Friday to Sunday.“Bosch Dreams” is a 2016 co-production by Montreal-based The 7 Fingers and Copenhagen-based Theatre Republique, led by artistic director Samuel Tetreault and French video artist Ange Potier. First initiated upon a request made by the Hieronymus Bosch 500 Foundation to mark the 500th anniversary of his death, the contemporary circus production sheds new light on the works of the 15th century Dutch painte

April 5, 2018

[Herald Interview] Winner says it has never stopped growing

A K-pop idol act’s full-length album means more than just setting out another promotional cycle, especially if it is packed with 12 self-created tracks. Four members of Winner, a prominent K-pop boy band under YG Entertainment, was confident in that the act’s second full-length album “EVERYD4Y” was a result of its continuous efforts to reinvent and hone themselves.“For the last few years since our debut, there was no single time we have stopped to become better Winner. I can confidently say that

April 5, 2018

BTS' new Japanese release tops Oricon album chart

K-pop group BTS on Thursday clinched the top spot on the main album chart for Oricon, Japan's main music sales tracker, with its latest Japanese release."Face Yourself," BTS' third Japanese studio album released Wednesday, was on top of the Oricon Albums Chart as of Thursday morning, according Oricon's website.  (Yonhap)The record also reached No. 1 on Apple iTunes album charts in 49 regions, while "Don't Leave Me," part of the album's tracklist, conquered 35 iTunes song charts."Face Yourself" i

April 5, 2018

Violinist Park Ji-yoon appointed concertmaster of Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra

Korean violinist Park Ji-yoon was selected Tuesday as the new concertmaster of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Mikko Franck.She is the first Korean musician to take the concertmaster post at the acclaimed French orchestra. Her tenure will be decided after four months of probation.Violinist Park Ji-yoon (MOC production)Park was previously a member of the Pays de la Loire National Orchestra, as well as the Trio Jade. She won the first prize at the Tibor Varga International Violin C

April 4, 2018

[K-Talk] Jung Dong-ha announces new release for April 17

Singer Jung Dong-ha will return later in the month with a new single album, his agency said Wednesday.It marks his first release since signing with Music 1 Company last month, and first since releasing the album “Life” in October.The single album will consist of cover songs.“As the release date coincides with Jung‘s birthday, we think it will be particularly special for Jung and his fans. We are putting in special effort preparing it,” officials at his agency said. Jung Dong-ha (Music 1 Company)

April 4, 2018

TVXQ has most #1 among foreign artists on Oricon DVD chart

K-pop juggernaut TVXQ has set another record on Japan’s Oricon Chart, topping the weekly DVD chart for a record ninth time. The duo’s “Tohoshinki Live Tour 2017 ～Begin Again” placed No. 1 on this week’s DVD chart, overall DVD chart and chart of combined sales of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. “Tohoshinki Live Tour 2017 ～Begin Again” (S.M. Entertainment)It marked the ninth DVD by TVXQ to top the weekly overall chart. The DVD and Blu-ray Disc contain a recording of TVXQ’s Jan. 21 concert at the Kyocera D

April 4, 2018