YG to launch two K-pop boy bands soon

YG Entertainment, the label of such famous K-pop bands as Big Bang and Blackpink, is set to launch two more K-pop boy bands in the near future, the company's chief said Tuesday."Following (the launch of) 'Treasure,' whose membership is fixed at seven, (YG) will soon announce the second team composed of six members," YG head Yang Hyun-suk said on his Instagram account.YG NEW BOY GROUP "TREASURE" (YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk Instagram @fromyg)The seven "Treasure" members were selected in the idol surviva

Jan. 29, 2019

[K-Talk] Brown Eyed Girls snub break-up rumors with comeback

Brown Eyed Girls are returning from a four-year hiatus with their first release since 2015, their agency Mystic Entertainment said Tuesday. The poster for Brown Eyed Girls’ concert in 2016. (Mystic Entertainment)The label confirmed earlier reports that the four-piece act is currently preparing an album that will be revealed in the first half of the year. The members had briefly mentioned a possible comeback on TV. The band had never said it broke up, but speculation had brewed, as a four-year br

Jan. 29, 2019

[K-talk] Taemin of SHINee gears up for new solo EP

Taemin of boy group SHINee heralded a new EP release as a soloist, his first in over a year.Slated for release Feb. 11, the seven-track EP “Want” marks the SHINee vocalist’s first solo Korean work since the studio album “Move” in October 2017. Teaser image for Taemin’s upcoming solo EP (S.M. Entertainment)The 25-year-old debuted as a solo artist in August 2014 with the EP “Ace,” six years after his debut with SHINee in 2008. He has since released two full Korean albums and two Japanese EPs.Taemi

Jan. 29, 2019

Ticket sales for BTS concert film top 200,000 in 3 days

"Love Yourself in Seoul," the second documentary film capturing the thrill of live BTS concerts, attracted more than 200,000 local movie goers in the first three days after its release at some local screens last week, data showed Tuesday.The accumulated ticket sales for the film, which hit 161 theaters on Jan. 26, reached 207,339 as of Monday, according to the Korean Film Council's box office data. BTS (Yonhap)The film was the daily box office No. 2 for the last three days despite the limited nu

Jan. 29, 2019

Winter melodies to bring back memories of PyeongChang

The biannual concert series “Music in PyeongChang - Winter Festival” aims to bring back memories of the PyeongChang Olympics, while also enriching cultural aspect of Gangwon Province with classical music performances. On Monday, the event’s artistic director pianist Son Yeol-eum and Gangwon Art & Culture Foundation Chairman Kim Sung-hwan attended a press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul and announced the winter portion of the festival’s program, which is held in summer and winter each

Jan. 28, 2019

[K-talk] NCT 127 rounds off first solo concert in Seoul

Boy group NCT 127 rounded off its first solo concert on Saturday and Sunday, attracting 24,000 fans and playing to sold-out crowds both nights.The group’s first concert, “Neo City: Seoul -- The Origin,” took place at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul.  NCT 127 (NCT 127’s official Twitter @nctsmtown_127)“This has been our dream since our trainee days. We’ve worked hard for this day to happen,” said band member Taeyong.NCT 127 debuted in July 2016 as the Seoul-based subunit

Jan. 28, 2019

[K-talk] HyunA, E’Dawn sign with Psy’s new label

HyunA and E’Dawn signed with P Nation, a music label launched by Psy, the musician said Sunday.According to Psy’s Instagram posting, the two former Cube Entertainment artists have gotten on board with the “Gangnam Style” star’s nascent entertainment company. Psy’s official Instagram (Instagram @42psy42)HyunA and E’Dawn left Cube Entertainment last year after getting heat from the label for publicizing their relationship. After her debut in 2007 with Wonder Girls under JYP Entertainment, HyunA ma

Jan. 28, 2019

Scores from beloved films, dramas to be performed

Familiar music from Koreans’ favorite films and dramas will be played live, bringing back tears and laughter for fans. A series of concerts featuring orchestral performances of scores from the country’s most beloved visual content will be held in Seoul. As the performances are all based on visual productions, many of the concerts will have clips from the shows screened. Original soundtracks from the tvN drama “Mr.Sunshine” will be played at the Lotte Concert Hall on Feb. 24.  Drama “Mister Sunsh

Jan. 27, 2019

Musical performance in memory of Sewol ferry disaster showcased to public

A musical performance created in remembrance of the Sewol ferry tragedy was showcased to the public over the weekend. On Saturday, a preview event for “Song of Jjokbit” -- jjokbit translates to indigo blue -- was held at the Seoul City Hall.  The musical performance “Song of Jjokbit” (Yonhap)The performance centers on the tragic accident in 2014, when the Sewol ferry capsized near waters off Jeju Island, resulting in the death of more than 300 people, mostly high-school students on a field trip.

Jan. 27, 2019

[K-talk] VIXX’s leader N to enlist on March 4

N of boy band VIXX will join South Korea’s armed forces on March 4 as part of the Army band.The VIXX vocalist and leader announced via the group’s official fan website on Saturday that he wanted to enlist without “making a big deal,” but decided he would “deliver the news (himself), as word spreads quickly.” VIXX’s N (Jellyfish Entertainment)He will serve as an active-duty soldier as part of his mandatory military service. All able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the military for arou

Jan. 27, 2019

[K-talk] EXO tops 200 million view on YouTube again with ‘Ko Ko Bop’

EXO’s hit “Ko Ko Bop” has garnered over 200 million views on YouTube, becoming the third video by the boy band to reach the milestone on the video-sharing platform.  A concept image for the album “The War” (S.M. Entertainment)Dropped on July 18, 2017, the lead track off the group’s fourth studio album “The War” debuted at No. 87 on Billboard 200, marking the group’s second entry on the chart since “Exodus” in 2015.One of the most popular K-pop groups today, EXO also reached the 200-million-view

Jan. 27, 2019

Jennie, Kai break up after their relationship was made public this month

Jennie, the pivotal member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK, and Kai from the boy band EXO split up less than one month after their romantic relationship was exposed by a media outlet, according to the latter's management agency on Friday.(Yonhap)"The two parted ways," SM Entertainment told the media, without providing the reason for the separation. The former couple was put under intense media attention after their romantic relationship was revealed to the public on Jan. 1 by a media outlet that se

Jan. 25, 2019

SHINee's Key to start mandatory military service in band

Popular K-pop boy band SHINee's member Key will begin the mandatory 21-month military service in early March as a member of the military band, his management agency SM Entertainment said Friday.The 28-year-old, whose real name is Kim Ki-bum, "will join the military on March 4, having recently got admitted into the military band," according to SM.  (Yonhap)Key is the second of the four SHINee members to join the military after the oldest member Onew was enlisted at the end of last year. Another m

Jan. 25, 2019

[K-talk] Astro to hold third official fan meeting in March

Boy band Astro announced Wednesday at midnight that it will be holding its third official fan meeting.In teaser images for the event, dubbed “The 3rd Astro Festival: Black,” Astro members are dressed in outfits inspired by the movie “Men in Black”  Teaser poster for Astro’s fan event (Fantagio Music)Presale tickets are available from Jan. 28 at 8.pm., while general ticket sales begin at 8 p.m. Jan. 30. The event will take place on March 2 at the 2,452-seat Olympic Hall in Seoul’s southern distri

Jan. 24, 2019

[K-talk] Members of Big Hit’s first boy band since BTS confirmed

Big Hit Entertainment revealed Thursday the full lineup of its new boy band Tomorrow X Together, or TXT.With Soobin as the leader, the quintet comprises Yeonjun, Hueningkai, Taehyun and Beomgyu. TXT (TXT’s official Twitter account @TXT_bighit)A two-minute introductory clip featuring the group attracted over 2.5 million YouTube views 10 hours after its release on Wednesday midnight. TXT’s official Twitter account, also launched simultaneously at midnight, had close to half a million followers as

Jan. 24, 2019

Why K-pop girl groups can’t stand the test of time

Earlier this month, Sojin of the K-pop girl group Girl’s Day decided she is leaving the Dream T Entertainment label when her contract expires in February. The announcement left fans in shock, with many questioning whether this was a prelude to the disbandment of the 9-year-old four-piece act. Though the agency denied it, other members Yura, Minah and Hyeri are reportedly in contact with other agencies about pursuing individual activities as their contracts are set to expire later this year. But

Jan. 24, 2019

[K-talk] Tablo of hip-hop group Epik High announces new release

Tablo of Epik High made a surprise announcement of an upcoming album via a Twitter post.On Tuesday evening, Tablo congratulated singer Lee So-ra for her success on the music charts with single “Song Request,” featuring Suga of BTS. “Song Request,” co-written and penned by the 38-year-old rapper-songwriter, topped iTunes charts in 44 countries, including Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil and Sweden, upon release at 6 p.m. Tablo’s official Twitter account (Twitter @blobyblo)“Thanks everyone for all the lo

Jan. 23, 2019

[K-talk] Twice’s first Japanese dome tour to draw 210,000

Twice has scheduled an additional show for its upcoming Japanese dome tour due to high demand, making it a three-city, five-show event, with a total audience size of 210,000.Representing the girl group, JYP Entertainment said Wednesday that Twice will hold an additional show on March 20 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka in response to explosive ticket sales for previously scheduled shows. (JYP Entertainment)The nine-piece act kicks off the tour in Osaka’s Kyocera Dome from March 20-21 before moving o

Jan. 23, 2019

Buchbinder to hold Beethoven sonata recital in May

“Beethoven specialist” Rudolf Buchbinder will share his take on Beethoven with the Korean audience through a piano recital. Titled “Rudolf Buchbinder & Beethoven,” the piano performance is slated to take place at the Seoul Arts Center on May 12. Before the performance, Buchbinder will tour cities in Korea, performing in Daegu, Gwangju and eastern Seoul.  Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder (Vincero Arts Management & Entertainment)The recital in May marks the pianist’s first performance here in six years.

Jan. 22, 2019

[K-talk] Roh Tae-hyun of Hotshot unveils tracklist for solo EP ‘biRTHday’

Roh Tae-hyun of boy band Hotshot has unveiled the tracklist for his solo debut extended play, “biRTHday.”Representing the artist, Star Crew Entertainment released the list on its official social media pages. Roh participated in the songwriting process for all the songs on the EP, which is his first solo work, according to the agency. Teaser image for Roh Tae-hyun’s solo debut EP (Star Crew Entertainment)Fronted by a lead track of the same title, “biRTHday” includes three more tracks: hit songwri

Jan. 22, 2019