Big Bang’s Seungri to star in Chinese film ‘Love Only’

Big Bang member Seungri will star in upcoming Chinese film “Love Only,” the singer’s agency YG Entertainment said Thursday. Seungri, who is making his Chinese acting debut in “Love Only,” will begin promotions for the movie by attending a press conference in Hong Kong on Thursday, according to the agency.  “Love Only” (YG Entertainment)In the romance flick, the singer will play the lead role of Yun Sheng, the marketing director of a conglomerate who grew up in Europe and puts love on top of ever

Feb. 8, 2018

[Album review] Seventeen just gets better and better

Seventeen“Director’s Cut”(Loen Entertainment) Whether they are crafted for special occasions or are part of the group’s regular album, Seventeen’s music has been improving with each new release. The group’s “Director’s Cut,” an extended, reissued version of the K-pop act’s “Teen, Age” album from last year, features four new songs. The new songs are off-cuts that were not released at the time, but each of them sparkles with Seventeen’s signature bubbly energy, flagging themselves as perfect singl

Feb. 7, 2018

Jo Kwon caught in academic favor controversy

Jo Kwon (Yonhap)A news broadcast reported Tuesday that a K-pop star received a graduate degree from Kyung Hee University despite not meeting the requirements.Along with the report, a photo of the singer was revealed. Though the face was blurred, the public was able to identify the person as singer Jo Kwon, who majored in Postmodern Music at the university. While Jo‘s agency, Cube Entertainment, has been refusing to comment on the matter, the singer’s acquaintance spoke to another media outlet, h

Feb. 7, 2018

WJSN to return with wizardly ‘Dream Your Dream’ on Feb. 27

K-pop act WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, will return with its fourth EP “Dream Your Dream” on Feb. 27, the group’s agency Starship Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album marks the group’s first release since its first full-length album “Happy Moment” in June last year.  WJSN (Starship Entertainment)The release schedule for the new album shared via WJSN’s official website featured dates for the release of track-list and a music video, slated for Feb. 21 and 22, respectively. The wizardl

Feb. 5, 2018

Yoon Do-hyun to release new singles

Yoon Do-hyun, frontman of YB, will release new digital songs on Feb. 22, his agency said Sunday.According to Dee Company, the two songs will come in the form of digital singles produced by Yoon himself. He recorded the songs with the London Symphony Orchestra at Air studios in London. The studio was founded in 1965 by Beatles producer George Martin and his partner John Burgess. Yoon Do-hyun during records in London. (Dee CompanyAll of the recording process, as well as the shooting for the music

Feb. 4, 2018

Big Star’s Raehwan to enlist on Feb. 5

Raehwan of Big Star will begin his mandatory military service Monday, his agency Brave Entertainment said Friday.The agency said in an official statement that the singer will undergo basic military training at a recruitment training center at Goseong, Gangwon Province, after which he will serve as a full-time reserve solider for 21 months.  Raehwan of Big Star (Brave Entertainment)Raehwan, who had been competing in KBS2’s idol competition program “The Unit” since October last year, also shared a

Feb. 2, 2018

Big Bang’s Seungri, Junkilla join forces with new Asia-based music label

Big Bang’s Seungri and Korean music duo Junkilla have joined forces with Liquid State, an electronic dance music label newly launched by Sony Music Entertainment and Tencent Music Entertainment. According to an official statement released by Sony Music on Thursday, Seungri and Junkilla signed up with the new EDM label to be involved in music collaborations across the dance genre. Seungri has also been tapped as an ambassador to promote the label, along with Hong Kong’s Nicholas Tse and China’s C

Feb. 1, 2018

[Herald Interview] Memories, regrets bring Typhoon back after 10 years

“Our time as Typhoon, it was like a raging storm that leaves as quickly as it comes. But now that we are back together, we want to last long calmly, rather than sweeping in and out like a storm,” said Solbi, a vocalist of dance hip-hop trio Typhoon during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul.Despite its successful start, Typhoon lasted less than three years. Consisting of Solbi, Woojae and Jihwan, the co-ed trio made a major impression with its debut single “So” in 2006, coming on t

Feb. 1, 2018

Singer Lee Chang-min stands on his own

Singer Lee Chang-min has decided not to renew his contract with Big Hit Entertainment, and will instead handle the music-related and other promotional activities on his own, the agency said Thursday.“As of Wednesday, the management deal with Lee has expired. After a lengthy discussion with Lee, we‘ve decided to terminate our exclusive relationship,” Big Hit said in a press release, adding that Lee will now establish a one-man agency. Lee Chang-min (Big Hit Entertainment)In an Instagram message t

Feb. 1, 2018

BTS on Billboard 100 record run for K-pop group　

BTS’s “Mic Drop” has stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a ninth straight week as of Wednesday, proving its prominence in the mainstream US music market and reaffirming its position as the hottest K-pop group today.In the chart for the week of Feb. 3, “Mic Drop” stood at No. 84. The song featuring Desiigner and remixed by Steve Aoki had peaked at No. 28 upon its debut in early December.BTS’ “Mic Drop” (Big Hit Entertainment)Despite falling five spots from the week before, “Mic Drop” extend

Jan. 31, 2018

[Album review] Nice album, but where is Suzy?

Suzy“Faces of Love”(Genie Music)It’s an indisputable fact that the latest album from former Miss A member Suzy is well-made, or “manufactured” by her agency. But why does it sound so shallow? Why does Suzy sound like a trained puppet merely lending her voice without fully understanding the songs herself? When the singer released her second solo EP “Faces of Love,” fans were expecting to hear how the 24-year-old viewed and interpreted various facets of love in the songs that she had a hand in cre

Jan. 31, 2018

Steve Aoki confirms collaboration with BTS

Steve Aoki, the mastermind behind BTS’ “Mic Drop” remix, has confirmed his next collaboration with K-pop’s reigning boy band. The musician-producer recently told US pop site Trending Live that he plans to release an original track with BTS this year. Steve Aoki (Yonhap)“That (‘Mic Drop’ remix) was the start. And now we got some new music coming out for 2018. That’s exciting as well. So we got this remix to put out there, but now we have some more original music as well,” he said. The “Mic Drop”

Jan. 30, 2018

Suzy: “I always wanted to sing about various facets of love”

Juggling her roles as a singer and an actress, Suzy has been keeping a delicate balance. Just when the scale seems to have tipped toward acting, the former Miss A member once again jumped toward music with her new EP “Faces of Love.”  Suzy at a media showcase for her new EP “Faces of Love” in Seoul on Monday. (JYP Entertainment)The singer’s second EP released Monday evening marks her first album release since her R&B-tinged debut EP “Yes? No?” in January last year. Returning as a soloist has bee

Jan. 29, 2018

White roses, Kesha offer rallying cry for women at Grammys

NEW YORK -- Dozens of Grammy Award performers and attendees wore or held white roses Sunday in support of the Time’s Up movement, in an awards season where every awards show has confronted sexual misconduct in show business.“My message on this is for everybody to treat each other like we want to be treated,” said Reba McEntire, winner for best roots gospel album. “It’s the golden rule.”Singer-songwriter Ledisi, nominated for three Grammys and a performer at the Women‘s March in Las Vegas earlier

Jan. 29, 2018

BTS: Secret behind our success is not social media, but sincerity, equality

Many have attributed the high popularity of the K-pop boy band BTS to its clever use of social media, but the group said its sincerity and quality were more integral to its success.“People pay attention only to the fact that we have communicated well with our fans on social media. But more important is that since we’re singers the quality of our music and performance should be unconditionally good,” RM, leader of the group, said during a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul. BTS (GQ

Jan. 29, 2018

Bruno Mars has magical night at Grammys, winning 6 for 6

NEW YORK -- Bruno Mars owned the Grammys with his R&B-inspired album “24K Magic,” winning all six awards he was nominated for at a show where hip-hop was expected to have a historical night.Jay-Z, the leading nominee with eight, walked away empty handed Sunday -- a year after his wife lost album of the year to Adele, causing fans and peers to criticize the Recording Academy for not properly rewarding Beyonce’s bold “Lemonade” project. And though Kendrick Lamar won five awards, he lost in the top

Jan. 29, 2018

H.O.T to reunite on ‘Infinite Challenge’

Legendary K-pop act H.O.T is to reunite on TV entertainment show “Infinite Challenge.” The mega-hit band debuted in 1996 and quickly rose to stardom, attracting fans from all age groups before it ultimately disbanded in 2001.  H.O.T (S.M. Entertainment)The production staff of MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” announced the H.O.T reunion Monday, “H.O.T is to perform at MBC Dream Center on Feb. 15 as a part of the TV show.” It explained discussions had started in 2014, but as the bandmates had spent a lo

Jan. 29, 2018

GOT7 to drop new album

Boy band GOT7 is to release a new album. “The group is preparing for a comeback, but the exact date has not been set,” said the group’s management agency JYP. GOT7 (JYP Entertainment)Local media outlets expect the release to be between February and March, citing industry officials. According to reports, the seven-member group is shooting a music video for the new track. The multinational band, which includes three non-Korean members, debuted in 2014. Its latest EP “7 for 7” released last October

Jan. 28, 2018

B1A4 sustains minor injuries in car crash

K-pop act B1A4 was rushed to a hospital after being involved in a car accident.The boy band was on its way to perform at the ICON Concert in Inje, Gangwon Province, on Saturday. The event was held in support of the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.  B1A4 (WM Entertainment)The accident occurred in the Gapyeong area of Gyeonggi Province when the group’s car collided with a vehicle in front of it. At the time of the crash, all of the five members -- CNU, Baro, Gongchan, Sandeul and Jinyoun

Jan. 28, 2018