BTOB Eun-kwang enlists Aug. 21

Boy band BTOB’s leader Eun-kwang will enlist in the army as a draft on Tuesday.Cube Entertainment, representing BTOB, said, “As the singer wants a quiet enlistment, the time and place of the enlistment will not be revealed.”On Monday midnight, Eun-kwang posted a handwritten letter on his Instagram that starts with the sentence, “Hello Melody, my love! This is BTOB’s leader Eun-kwang.”  (Instagram) (Instagram)In the letter, he calmly talked about his shaved head, and asked BTOB fans, known collec

Aug. 21, 2018

BTS releases track list for ‘Love Yourself: Answer’

With a return to the music stage set for less than a week away, BTS has released the track list for its upcoming repackaged album, “Love Yourself: Answer.”The track list shared on social media Sunday showed the new EP, the final part of the group’s “Love Yourself” series, featuring a total 25 songs. Part A, which contains 16 songs, includes seven original tracks -- “Epiphany,” “Trivia: Just Dance,” “Trivia: Love,” “Trivia: Seesaw,” “I’m Fine,” “IDOL” and “Answer: Love Myself” -- and nine previou

Aug. 20, 2018

Sunmi to release new single, ‘Warning’

Sunmi is set to make a splash in early September with a new single, “Warning.”Sunmi released a poster for the single Monday, featuring two red roses and candles with wax dripping from them. The blurred image and purple background create a seductive, mysterious atmosphere in line with the song’s concept.The new single is Sunmi’s first work in eight months. Her last single, “Heroine” -- a prequel to her massive hit single “Gashina” -- was released in January. “Warning” is the last single in the th

Aug. 20, 2018

iKon kicks off world tour with Seoul concert

K-pop act iKon kicked off its international tour with a concert in Seoul on Sunday, which marked its first solo concert in the city in over two years.The concert, held at Olympic Gymnastics Arena, captivated 10,000 fans for nearly three hours, with the band performing for almost an hour after the prescheduled performance had wrapped up.The seven-piece act showcased its hits, along with the single “Climax,” which it recorded and released in 2013 prior to its official debut. (YG Entertainment)Afte

Aug. 19, 2018

GOT7 ranks No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Tours Top 10

K-pop boy band GOT7 has made its debut on Billboard’s Hot Tours chart, ranking No. 9 on Saturday. (JYP Entertainment)According to Billboard, it is first time that GOT7 has ranked on the Hot Tours chart although it has appeared several times on other ranks including No. 1 on the World Albums chart four times and No. 2 on Social 50 chart. The group performed at The Forum in Inglewood, California,in front of some 9,600 fans. The show earned 1.4 billion won ($1.3 million), which placed GOT7 on the “

Aug. 19, 2018

Tickets to BTS' first concert in US sell out

Tickets for K-pop boy band BTS' first concert in a US stadium sold out as soon as sales began, the group's management agency said Saturday.The seven-member K-pop sensation will perform at New York City's Citi Field Stadium on Oct. 6 as part of its world tour of 16 countries, including Canada, Britain, Germany and France. The band will begin the tour with local concerts in Seoul slated for Aug. 25-26.BTS will become the first South Korean singers to hold a solo concert at the home ballpark of the

Aug. 18, 2018

Conductor Chung Myung-whun, KBS Symphony Orchestra reunite after 20 years

Maestro Chung Myung-whun is getting ready to conduct the KBS Symphony Orchestra for the first time in 20 years. Chung’s last concert with the orchestra took place in March 1998 in Japan, when he held the chief conductor post. The reunion concert runs Aug. 23-24 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Conductor Chung Myung-whun (KBS Symphony Orchestra)Titled “Talk With the Virtuoso of German Classic,” the upcoming concert will feature two of the most highly acclaimed violin symphony compositions by Ge

Aug. 17, 2018

Anticipation heightens over BTS’ new teaser photos

Just a week away from its much-anticipated return, BTS released teaser photos for its upcoming “Love Yourself: Answer” album. On Thursday night, the act’s agency Big Hit Entertainment revealed 16 promotional photos, divided into “L” and “F” versions, on its Twitter account. The group previously released teaser photos for the upcoming album in “S” and “E” versions, all of which combine to form the word “Self” from “Love Yourself.” BTS had also released four different sets of teaser for its “Her”

Aug. 17, 2018

'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin dies in Detroit at 76

NEW YORK -- Aretha Franklin, the undisputed "Queen of Soul" who sang with matchless style on such classics as "Think," "I Say a Little Prayer" and her signature song, ``Respect," and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, has died from pancreatic cancer. She was 76. Publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told The Associated Press through a family statement that Franklin died Thursday at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit.A professional singer and pianist by her late teens, a superstar by her mid-20s, Frank

Aug. 17, 2018

‘One Night in Paris’ and ‘Disney in Concert’ offer a late-summer treat after heat wave

Seoulites suffering from “cabin fever” after spending weeks indoors with their air conditioners on full blast might find some relief at Olympic Park 88 Grass Yard, where “Disney in Concert” and soprano Jo Su-mi’s concert “One Night in Paris” are scheduled to run Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, respectively. Jo and the Ditto Orchestra, conducted by Lorenzo Passerini, will perform a variety of songs thematically tied to Paris, ranging from opera arias to genre-crossing pieces, chosen to appeal to opera buffs

Aug. 16, 2018

Belated ‘epiphany’: What’s in store for final installment of BTS ‘Love Yourself’ saga

A year and two full-length albums later, BTS is finally here to give us the key to all the clues.As the world awaits the third and final chapter of the group’s “Love Yourself” saga, grandly titled “Answer,” Jin signaled at one of summer’s most highly anticipated releases with a trailer that went online on Thursday.  Jin leads the introduction of "Love Yourself: Answer" with "Epiphany." (Big Hit Entertainment)The septet likes to give fans something to chew on in the form of several-minute-long tr

Aug. 15, 2018

The Weeknd to hold Seoul concert in December

Those captivated by the smooth vocals of The Weeknd are in for a year-end treat, as the pop star has confirmed that his first concert here will take place in December.In the latest offering of the Hyundai Card Culture Project, which hosts cultural icons in such fields as music, art, dance and architecture, the R&B singer will perform at Gocheok Skydome in Seoul at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15.“The Weeknd symbolizes the PBR&B (alternative rhythm and blues) genre of today, which is rising as a trend in popul

Aug. 15, 2018

[Album review] DIA’s ‘Summer Ade’ needs more pop

DIA“Summer Ade” InterparkMany say that DIA is one of the most underrated K-pop acts, with its music always dwelling somewhere between “decent” and “superb.” Summer EPs have traditionally served as a means for K-pop groups to pursue different genres or go full-on-summery, like what GFriend and Red Velvet have done with “Sunny Summer” and “Summer Magic,” respectively. What DIA has done with its EP “Summer Ade,” however, doesn’t belong to either of the categories, ambiguously floating between two,

Aug. 15, 2018

[Video] MXM returns with self-produced album ‘More Than Ever’

Rising K-pop duo MXM, consisted of two former contestants of popular audition program “Produce 101 Season 2,” returned Tuesday with its first full-length album “More Than Ever.” Fronted by bubbly chill trap number “Ya Ya Ya,” the 14-track album has the fingerprints of Im Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun all over it, from songwriting to designing the album cover. The lead track, which lyrically compares love with the process of being addicted to bitter Americanos, makes ample use of breathy synths,

Aug. 14, 2018

YG Entertainment declares war on online trolls

YG Entertainment announced Tuesday it is launching a major legal battle against vicious online comments targeting its artists.The major K-pop agency said it has gathered evidence from February and has filed complaints concerning a dozen posts containing malicious rumors, slander and pornographic content, as well as 57 posts intended to humiliate the agency’s artists.(YG Entertainment)A legal move of this scale is seen as rare in South Korea’s entertainment industry, and could send a strong messa

Aug. 14, 2018

BTS releases photos for ‘Love Yourself: Answer’

Boy band BTS released photos for its upcoming repackaged album “Love Yourself: Answer” on Monday. The photos revealed via the band’s official homepage featured two different concepts: “S” and “E.”  (Big Hit Entertainment)The “S” group photo features a red background with members appearing impassive. Individual shots show each member seemingly trapped in a red box with different obstacles.  (Big Hit Entertainment)The “E” group photo shows members tied to strings and looking at the camera. Individ

Aug. 14, 2018

Genius reinvented, pianist Kim Sun-wook returns with new resolution

Even if you have something you love as a lifelong career, there can be moments you lose the passion you once had. Pianist Kim Sun-wook said during a press conference Tuesday that he had those moments over the last few years but has since regained the love for classical music he had when he was younger.  Pianist Kim Sun-wook speaks during a press conference held in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)“I used to like having things planned out. I used to dream big and make plans accordingly. Like going to th

Aug. 14, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘We will keep evolving, regardless of our age,’ says Super Junior D&E

Despite having given countless media interviews, Eunhyuk said he still feels nervous when he sits face to face with reporters. Looking causal with light makeup and huge glasses, Eunhyuk and Donghae of Super Junior D&E, a subunit of Super Junior formed in 2011 and named after the first letter of each member’s name, sat down with The Korea Herald to talk about their new album “‘Bout You” at the S.M. Entertainment Communication Center in Seoul on Monday. Although they appeared nervous at first, the

Aug. 14, 2018

K-pop legend H.O.T. to hold 1st concert since 2001

H.O.T., one of the biggest groups in K-pop history, is holding its first concert since its 2001 break-up.Local promoters for the concert on Monday confirmed earlier reports that the boy band will hold a concert in October at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul, after their comeback performance on MBC’s “ToToGa 3: Return of the Kings” made headlines and created a nationwide buzz.H.O.T. (S.M. Entertainment)“There have been a parade of requests from the fans since the ‘Totoga’ concert in F

Aug. 13, 2018

BTS and ARMY honored at Teen Choice Awards

BTS and its fan club ARMY were named Choice International Artist and Choice Fandom at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards.  (Big Hit Entertainment)US broadcaster Fox aired the 20th Teen Choice Awards held in California on Sunday. The annual event celebrates the year’s notable achievements in music, film, TV and fashion, based on votes by US viewers aged 13 to 19. (Twitter)ARMY outdid the fan clubs of Fifth Harmony, Taylor Swift, Black Pink, CNCO and One Direction, while BTS bagged the Choice Internation

Aug. 13, 2018