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

Seoul Philharmonic to perform Beethoven‘s ‘Emperor’ with pianist Yevgeny Sudbin

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a concert at Seoul Arts Center in Seoul on Thursday, along with Russian concert pianist Yevgeny Sudbin and conductor Antony Hermus. 　The concert will feature Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 -- also popularly known as “Emperor” -- with Sudbin on the piano. Pianist Sudbini is acclaimed for his recording of Beethoven’s “Emperor” concerto together with the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Osmo Vanska. The pianist is currently signed with Sweden-based

Jan. 28, 2018

19 years on, BoA doesn’t want to be called ‘veteran singer’

There are certain images that K-pop legend BoA, who has spent nearly 19 years in entertainment, keeps away from the public. Her seemingly confident and uptight image seems incompatible with letting loose. She was a “steadfast” musician who pioneered through the rugged K-pop world from the age of 13. And in her upcoming single and first reality show, the veteran singer decided to unveil her true and different selves that weren’t always depicted in the media. “As I got older, I got comfortable wit

Jan. 26, 2018

BTS wins big at Seoul Music Awards

BTS reaffirmed its seat on the throne as the K-pop kings, taking home the grand prize at the 27th Seoul Music Awards on Thursday.It capped off an impressive run for the K-pop juggernaut, which had already taken home the grand prize at the Golden Disc Awards earlier this month, along with artist of the year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and song of the year at the Melon Music Awards in December. BTS speaks onstage after winning the grand prize at the 27th Seoul Music Awards held at Gocheok Sky D

Jan. 26, 2018

Jung Yong-hwa to enlist on March 5

Jung Yong-hwa of CNBLUE will begin his compulsory military service on March 5, his agency FNC Entertainment said Friday. The agency announced in an official statement that Jung had received his enlistment notice and canceled all overseas tours scheduled after his upcoming Hong Kong concert slated for Saturday.  Jung Yong-hwa (FNC Entertainment)Asking fans for understanding, the agency also said, “We will do our best to make sure our action doesn’t have a negative effect on fans by taking adequat

Jan. 26, 2018

[Herald Interview] Rapper BewhY: ‘I want to compete with US hip-hop artists, be the best’

“The reason for my US tour? I want to compete with hip-hop musicians in the US in the future,” said BewhY in his dimly lit studio when asked about his six-stop US tour in November last year. He was more than serious, sitting with his hands firmly clutched together and a determined look on his face. And surprisingly, it didn’t sound so cocky when he added, “And in the distant future, I know I will be the best.”The dream of stateside success has been bubbling inside the ambitious 25-year-old rappe

Jan. 25, 2018

Sisters Chung Kyung-wha and Myung-wha to leave PyeongChang Music Fest after the Olympics

PyeongChang Music Festival’s two artistic directors Chung Kyung-wha and Chung Myung-wha will leave their posts after the PyeongChang Olympics.At a press conference in Seoul to promote the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Music Festival, violinist Chung Kyung-wha and cellist Chung Myung-wha said that they would wrap up their seven-year journey with the music festival.“Though I leave the music festival after the Olympic Games, I will continue to perform for the betterment and improvement of Korea’s cla

Jan. 24, 2018

[Album review] ‘Poet | Artist,’ testament to Jonghyun’s genius

Jonghyun“Poet | Artist”Genie Music Honestly, it wasn’t easy to go through Jonghyun’s posthumous album “Poet | Artist,” maybe because it was a bittersweet testament to the late music prodigy’s genius and his passion for music. Peppered throughout the album, recorded before the SHINee vocalist’s passing last year, is Jonghyun’s outstanding musical artistry, particularly evident in his creative lyrics and sonic style which incorporate everything from electronic pop, edgy R&B and future bass to acou

Jan. 24, 2018

Red Velvet releases new songs in repackaged album

Red Velvet on Wednesday announced the repackaged edition of its second full-length album, complete with three new songs and nine pre-existing songs. “The Perfect Red Velvet,” a repackaged version of “Perfect Velvet,” will be released at 6 p.m. Monday via local music streaming websites, according to S.M. Entertainment. The agency said the lead track “Bad Boy” is a hip-hop based R&B dance track.  A teaser image for “The Perfect Red Velvet” (S.M. Entertainment)“Perfect Velvet” topped iTunes K-pop a

Jan. 24, 2018

[K-talk]Jonghyun’s last album released posthumously

The last album by late SHINee member Jonghyun was released online Tuesday, along with a music video for its lead track. Jonghyun’s album “Poet | Artist,” which was completed last year, comprises 11 songs showcasing the K-pop singer-songwriter’s distinctive musical tonalities. (SM Entertainment)The lead track “Shinin” is an electro-pop song with trap beats and tropical-tinged sounds. The music video for the track was released on streaming platforms including YouTube and Naver TV.The album also in

Jan. 23, 2018

Kumho Art Hall to kick off 2018 Rising Star Series this week

Kumho Art Hall this week begins its 2018 Rising Star Series, a classical music program dedicated to introducing Korea’s young talents. Starting with a recital Thursday featuring James Kim, the first prize winner of the 2006 International David Popper Cello Competition, Kumho Art Hall will highlight two other young artists -- pianist Shin Chang-yong and violinist Kim Gye-hee. Cellist James Kim (Kumho Art Hall)Cellist Kim has given solo recitals organized by New York classical music radio station

Jan. 22, 2018

BoA to return with new single ‘Nega Dola’ on Jan. 31

Legendary K-pop act BoA, often dubbed “Star of Asia,” will return with a new single “Nega Dola” on Jan. 31, the singer’s agency S.M. Entertainment said Monday. According to the agency, the hip-hop-influenced “Nega Dola” will feature a blend of Latin-flavored guitar sounds and synths, while it lyrically touches upon the complicated thoughts of a woman struggling with an obsessive lover.  A teaser image of BoA‘s upcoming single “Nega Dola“ (S.M. Entertainment)After releasing the new single at the

Jan. 22, 2018

Late K-pop star Kim Jong-hyun's final album to see posthumous release

The final album produced by late K-pop singer Kim Jong-hyun, who passed away last month, will be released posthumously next week, according to his agency.The album, titled "Poet I Artist," will be released digitally Tuesday, with the physical version to be available Wednesday, S.M.Entertainment announced Friday through the Instagram account of SHINee, which Kim belonged to as one of the music group's members. Late K-pop singer Kim Jong-hyun (Yonhap)The solo record, Kim's final project before his

Jan. 20, 2018

University set to revoke idol singer's graduate school admission over unfair treatment

South Korea's Kyung Hee University said Friday it will revoke a popular idol singer's admission to its graduate school once he is confirmed of receiving undue favors in his admission process. CNBLUE's Jung Yong-hwa is accused of receiving preferential treatment in his admission, as he matriculated a doctorate course of a graduate school at Seoul's Kyung Hee University in 2016 without having an interview. "Once we confirm that (Jung) didn't take part in an interview that the graduate school had n

Jan. 19, 2018

Star producer Teddy’s plagiarism controversies drag on

K-pop producer Teddy has become embroiled in yet another plagiarism controversy. The producer, who has worked with big-name K-pop groups such as Big Bang and 2NE1, has recently come under fire for “Heroine,” K-pop solo artist Sunmi’s new single, which is being criticized for allegedly copying “Fight For This Love,” a hit of British singer Cheryl Cole.Teddy is no stranger to plagiarism allegations. The producer, who leads The Black Label, a music production subsidiary under YG Entertainment, land

Jan. 19, 2018

Highlight’s Yang Yo-seob to return solo in February

Yang Yo-seob of K-pop group Highlight will return solo in mid-February after six years, his agency Around Us Entertainment said Friday. According to the agency, Yang recently wrapped up shooting concept photos for his upcoming solo album in Sapporo, Japan. He is scheduled to shoot a music video soon. The album’s release date has not been set yet. (Around Us Entertainment)The album, which will mark his first solo release since “Caffeine” in 2012, will consist of tracks composed and penned by the

Jan. 19, 2018

Momoland’s JooE denies school bullying rumors

JooE of Momoland denied ongoing rumors that claimed she had bullied fellow students while at school. The singer’s agency Duble Kick Company on Friday released an official statement to rebut the rumors, saying it would legal action against any further rumors regarding the issue. The statement read, “Please help our girls, who have been trying their best every moment for their dreams, to not get hurt by those false rumors. From this moment on, we will take legal actions against such malicious acti

Jan. 19, 2018

[Trending] #Sunmi #Teddy #Heroine #plagiarism

K-pop diva Sunmi has returned with the new single “Heroine,” and the song was plastered all over the internet Friday.(Read the article: Sunmi returns with ‘Heroine,’ backstory of ‘Gashina’)The song’s music video and photos were posted on the singer’s official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, receiving thousands of likes and shares. (1theK)“My new single ‘Heroine’ was just dropped. Please check this out,” Sunmi wrote on Instagram, along with a shortened version of the music video. The cl

Jan. 19, 2018

Sunmi returns with ‘Heroine,’ backstory of ‘Gashina’

After blowing the ultimate kiss-off to an undeserving lover in “Gashina,” soloist Sunmi walked down memory lane with the song’s protagonist with her new single “Heroine.” The former Wonder Girls member, who has been on a winning streak since her first solo outing with tango-disco “24 Hours” in 2014, rattled the K-pop scene with her viral hit “Gashina” last summer. The chart-topping song was not only responsible for the “finger gun,” the most imitated dance of the year, but also played a huge rol

Jan. 18, 2018

Sejong Center and Seoul Arts Center celebrate milestone anniversaries

The Sejong Center and Seoul Arts Center are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year with performances by internationally acclaimed artists. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Sejong Arts Center, which has seen some 62 million people attend its shows since opening in 1978. It was the only classical music and performance venue in Seoul until the opening of the Seoul Arts Center in 1988 in time for the Seoul Olympics. The Sejong Arts Center has hosted numerous international and local

Jan. 18, 2018