Apink drops teaser video, concept image before new release

Just a day before the release of “Pink Up,” Apink on Sunday offered a peek at what its concept and the music video would be for its upcoming EP.Its agency Plan A Entertainment uploaded the concept image with Park Cho-rong, Yoon Bo-mi, Jung Eun-ji, Son Na-eun, Kim Nam-joo and Oh Ha-young on the band’s official fan page and social media pages at midnight Saturday. It followed up by revealing a teaser video of the song at noon, Sunday. The clip, an excerpt from Apink’s new music video, revealed par

June 25, 2017

Black Pink’s new song makes it to Apple Music list

Black Pink’s new single “As If It’s Your Last” is getting attention from home and abroad, with Apple Music Pop putting it on its “Best of the Week” list.The list compiles popular songs across the globe, selected by Apple Music’s editors. The songs on the latest list include rock legend Radiohead’s “Man of War” and rapper Drake’s “Signs.”“As If It’s Your Last” was released last week, garnering immediate popularity.  Black Pink (YG Entertainment)According to YG Entertainment, the music video for B

June 25, 2017

Stolen Buddhist painting exhibited to public after discovery in US

A South Korean temple on Friday opened an 18th-century Korean Buddhist painting, stolen about 50 years ago, to the general public after its American owner and a US art museum let it be repatriated to South Korea last year.The painting, called "Obuldo" in Korean, a depiction of the Five Buddhas, was stolen from Songgwang Temple in Suncheon, 415 kilometers southwest of Seoul, in the early 1970s. Obuldo, made by Uigyeom, a Buddhist monk and painter in the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, was one painting

June 23, 2017

Black Pink’s new release tops charts

Black Pink’s latest release “As If It‘s Your Last” is sweeping local charts as of Friday. The single has topped major music charts Genie, Bus Music, Naver Music, Olleh Music, Soribada and Monkey 3, and ranked second on Mnet and Melon behind girl group Mamamoo’s “Yes I Am.”(YG Entertainment)(YG Entertainment)(YG Entertainment)(YG Entertainment)“As If It’s Your Last” also scored first place on the iTunes global singles chart and second on iTunes Japan. The music video for the track surpassed 13 mi

June 23, 2017

Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin begin shooting new police thriller

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin have started shooting the new police thriller “Negotiation” (unofficial translation) last Saturday, the film’s producer JK Film announced Friday.　The film is about Chae-yoon, a cop at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency played by Son ye-jin, attempting a dangerous negotiation with a kidnapper who has taken her boss Tae-gu, played by Hyun Bin, hostage.　The first shoot was completed on a set in Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province, JK Film said.　 Son Ye-jin (left) and Hyun Bin on se

June 23, 2017

AOA's Choa announces departure, FNC says matter being discussed

Choa, lead singer of K-pop girl AOA, said Thursday she was leaving her team, citing long term insomnia and depression as the reasons."I've taken medication and have reduced my schedule for two years to treat my insomnia and depression. But I came to cease all activities, as the problem wasn't due to fatigue," the singer wrote on her Instagram."Following talks with my agency, I plan to leave AOA effective today and cheer on my fellow members," the 28-year-old said. (Yonhap)FNC Entertainment stopp

June 23, 2017

Black Pink feels pressure to fill shoes of Big Bang, 2NE1

With 2NE1 disbanded and Big Bang members joining the military service, the pressure on remaining artists of YG Entertainment is greater than ever.Black Pink said it feels the pressure, but not from being the only female group in the company.“I know we don’t have girl groups (in YG), but we don’t really think about that. ... It’s important to realize that we represent the company and act accordingly,” said Jennie during a joint press interview in Seoul on Thursday.Jennie of Black Pink (YG Enterta

June 22, 2017

Black Pink’s Lisa hopes for Thailand showcase and concert

As Black Pink gears up for a stage comeback with its single “As If It’s Your Last,” the group said it hopes to expand its activities to outside of Korea. Thai member Lisa said that she has always hoped to return home.“Since I’m Thai, naturally I want to go there. I think eventually we will also hold showcases and other various performances there,” she said, during a press interview in Seoul on Thursday. Lisa of Black Pink (YG Entertainment)Black Pink speaks during a join press interview in Seoul

June 22, 2017

Black Pink wants to embody both pink and black

K-pop girl groups have always been associated with words like “cute” or “lovely,” and their 20-something members are often referred to as “girls.”Black Pink has been one of the exceptions, with its provocative and suggestive lyrics and powerful dance moves. Now in its second year, the group says it wants to show off its “girly” charms as well.“It’s the first time we’re being seen (by the public) in six months, and we have a completely new look. I hope we can really make it on our own,” said Jenn

June 22, 2017

British-Korean singer Shannon’s new song to feature members of f(x), Geeks

Established Koran artists will chip in for British-Korean singer Shannon’s upcoming song, slated for release Tuesday.According to her agency MBK Entertainment, the song will feature rapper Lil Boi of Korean hip-hop duo Geeks. The English version of the song will feature Amber of f(x), who is close friends with Shannon.  (MBK Entertainment)Celebrity makeup artist Pony will be in charge of the singer’s appearance. Shannon, whose full name is Shannon Areum Williams Lees, was born to a Welsh father

June 22, 2017

Big Bang’s Taeyang named honorary ambassador for PyeongChang Winter Olympics

Taeyang of Big Bang has been selected as the face of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games and Winter Paralympics, authorities said Wednesday.The organizing committee for the upcoming Olympics officially named the K-pop superstar its honorary ambassador for the international event in a ceremony held at Seoul Press Center. As the honorary envoy, Taeyang will not only promote the event, but also produce a song dedicated to the PyeongChang Olympics. Taeyang (YG Entertainment)“Through my performances ou

June 21, 2017

Hyolyn-Kisum releases summer-themed photos

K-pop stars Hyolyn and Kisum unveiled concept photos for their upcoming tune, “Fruity.”In the images uploaded on the social media page of Hyolyn’s agency Starship Entertainment, the two are clad in summer clothes and apparently enjoying the sun.  (Starship Entertainment) (Starship Entertainment)The photos were shot by local photographer Kim Tae-gyun, better known as “Less.” He has shot photos of several K-pop stars, including IU, SHINee and f(x). Hyolyn, famed for her powerful and unique singing

June 21, 2017

Hwang Chi-yeul becomes best-selling nongroup artist since 2013

Sales of the EP “Be Ordinary” by singer Hwang Chi-yeul have surpassed 100,000 copies, according to a local music sales tracker, Hanteo Chart, on Wednesday.From June 14 to Tuesday, 103,787 copies of the record were sold.This marked the most sales by an artist not affiliated with a group, since 2013 when legendary singer Jo Yong-pil released his album “Hello.”Hwang Chi-yeul (HOW Entertainment)Boy bands and girl groups typically dominate music sales in the K-pop scene. Most commercially successful

June 21, 2017

Crush confirms June 30 album release

Artist Crush confirmed Wednesday that he will return with a new album on the last day of this month. His agency Amoeba Culture uploaded a teaser image for the upcoming record with the words “Crush/2017.6.30/6PM,” referring to the release date and time. The image only shows a drawing of a bone against a light-blue background, leaving fans to guess the concept of the new album. Crush (Amoeba Culture)A teaser image for Crush’s new album (Amoeba Culture)The agency is planning to unveil two teaser vi

June 21, 2017

Mamamoo offers video peek at new EP ‘Purple’

Mamamoo fans got the chance to get a sneak peek at its upcoming EP “Purple” on Wednesday, as the girl group dropped a video collage of its songs. The video, 1 minute and 22 seconds long, was uploaded via the group’s official social media and YouTube pages. It contains the hook and highlights of five songs from the record. Images from Mamamoo’s video (RBW Entertainment)Kicking off the video is “Da Ra Dam,” featuring US artist Jeff Bernat and rising star B.O., and is followed by “Worthless,” “Fina

June 21, 2017

Sulli criticized for sadism online

Korean actress, singer and model Choi Jin-ri, better known by her stage name Sulli, was criticized online for posting a video clip on her social media account, which showed a chopped eel being burnt alive with a women saying “Please help me, please help me,” in the background. Following a hailstorm of criticism, Sulli deleted the clip and replaced it with a photo of a barbecued eel. With a provocative movie “Real” already revealing her sensitive body parts, Sulli has been gathering interests onl

June 20, 2017

US pop star Ariana Grande to perform in Korea in August

American pop star Ariana Grande will hold a concert in Seoul in August, the show’s promoter Hyundai Card said Tuesday.The artist’s first concert in Korea will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, on Aug. 15, which marks Korea’s Liberation Day. The upcoming concert is a part of Hyundai Card’s annual cultural project that invites iconic and innovative artists around the world to Korea. A poster for US pop star Ariana Grande’s upcoming concert in Seoul (Hyundai Card)“Grande is a remark

June 20, 2017

Black Pink unveils teaser video for new song

Black Pink on Tuesday revealed a short clip of its music video for “As If It’s Your Last,” with members Lisa, Rose, Jennie and Jisoo making an appearance.The group‘s agency YG Entertainment uploaded the teaser video to its blog (www.yg-life.com), before the song’s official release on Thursday.Lisa kicks off the 19-second video, which offers a peek at the main riff and its concept.  An image from Black Pink’s teaser video (YG Entertainment)The music video was directed by Seo Hyeon-seung, who work

June 20, 2017

Seo Tai-ji to perform past hit songs ‘just as they were’

A blast from the past awaits those attending the upcoming 25th anniversary concert of Seo Tai-ji, as the Korean pop culture icon is planning to sing his earliest songs exactly as they were performed in the 1990s.According to his agency SeoTaiji Company, the legendary singer will perform the songs from all four albums of his previous group Seo Taiji and the Boys without any changes to the original version. The boy band had experimented with various genres and is considered the first Korean group

June 20, 2017

Nine Muses revamps as quartet with sassy ‘Remember’

Rather than cooling off the heat, the four members of Nine Muses are set heat up the summer with the group’s new single “Remember.”The members, in their mid- and late- 20s, delved into the confused feelings of the youth with their new EP “Muses Diary Part2: Identity” that was released Monday, but with a firm dedication to show more the mature sides of themselves.The four members of Nine Muses perform “Remember,” the lead track of the group’s new EP “Muses Diary Part2: Identity” at a press showca

June 19, 2017