BTS to promote Seoul tourism in video ad

Boy band BTS will be featured in a new video advertisement promoting the major tourist destinations of Seoul, city officials said Thursday. The ad titled "BTS's Seoul Life" produced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government will start airing on television stations in around 100 countries this month, the city announced. It will also run on online video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Youku Tudou. (Yonhap)

Sept. 14, 2017

EXID's Solji will record, but probably won't do much else

EXID‘s run as a quartet will soon come to an end, as its fifth member Solji is set to rejoin the team for the upcoming record that will be released in October.Banana Culture Entertainment confirmed Thursday that the girl group will release a record in October, and that Solji will participate in the recording process.EXID at 2017 Asia Tour in Taipei on Saturday. (Banana Culture Entertainment)But it is yet unclear whether Solji will participate in the related activities of the new release, such as

Sept. 14, 2017

Fans condemn G.NA’s thank-you message amid prostitution ‘rumors’

K-pop singer G.NA’s thank-you message to fans has received an icy reception from some followers over a prostitution scandal last year. On Wednesday, G.NA broke her 19-month silence with a photo of a letter on her Instagram page vowing “a new beginning.” “Thank you so much to everyone who has stood by me til this day. Thank you for having faith in me..believing in me.. not giving up on me.. even through all the obstacles, heartaches and endless rumors,” she wrote.Despite what was apparently meant

Sept. 14, 2017

[K-Talk] BTS, EXO take top two spots on Billboard social

BTS defended its top spot on the Billboard’s Social 50 chart, while EXO took No. 2, marking the first time in the chart’s history that K-pop acts have held the top two spots.Although the group’s hotly anticipated EP “Love Yourself Seung Her” is still on its way -- set for release next Monday -- BTS remained the king of hill for the ninth straight week. Overall, it marks BTS’ 39th week at No. 1. BTS (Big Hit Entertainment) EXO (S.M. Entertainment)EXO made an impressive surge from No. 10 a week ea

Sept. 14, 2017

Elris aims for 2017 rookie award with 'Color Crush'

(Yonhap)Rookie K-pop act Elris on Wednesday released its second EP record "Color Crush," expressing its ambition to win the year-end's rookie of the year award. "I really hope to win the rookie of the year award through our latest promotional activity," member Sohee said during a media showcase held at Yes24 MUV Hall in western Seoul.Elris isn't pulling any punches when it comes to the highly sought honor offered by major TV networks and music streaming services at the end of the year. The five-

Sept. 13, 2017

‘iamnot’ what you expect

The band iamnot is by no means a household name. Its entry to the Korean music scene in 2015 was more like a plop than a splash.Now iamnot is preparing for the gamble of a lifetime with its October concert in front of a crowd of 2,000 -- part of CJ Culture Foundation and singer Lee Seung-hwan’s joint project to support up-and-coming indie musicians -- nearly seven times the audience it usually performs to of about 300. Pull it off, and iamnot may be on the path to becoming one of more successful

Sept. 13, 2017

Park Yu-chun’s wedding delayed

Singer-actor Park Yu-chun’s wedding has been put off once again, as the date has not been set yet, according to his agency. In July, the member of JYJ confirmed the wedding rumors -- which had been circulating since April -- and subsequent reports said his wedding would take place on Sept. 10. It was later reported that the date had been postponed to Sept. 20. Park Yu-chun (C-Jes Entertainment)“A specific date hasn’t been set yet. Park technically never confirmed the date himself, so it can’t be

Sept. 13, 2017

BTS' 'Fire' music video tops 200 mln YouTube views

K-pop band BTS' music video for "Fire" surpassed 200 million views on YouTube, its agency said Wednesday.Released on May 1, 2016, the video reached the milestone at around 1 a.m., becoming its fifth video to hit the mark according to Big Hit Entertainment. (Big Hit Entertainment)"Fire" is the title track of its "Epilogue: Young Forever" album. It was No. 3 on YouTube's 2016 list for the world's most-viewed K-pop music videos.BTS will release a new album titled "Love Yourself: Her" next Monday. T

Sept. 13, 2017

Hip-hop duo UV’s Muzie makes solo return

Hip-hop artist Muzie, better known as a member of comedic hip-hop duo UV, will return as a solo artist after a five-year break.According to Muzie Sound, the singer is set to drop a new solo EP on Sept. 22. It will mark his first release since his first solo EP “My Name Is Muzie” in 2012. The label also stated that Muzie plans to continue releasing EPs and full-length albums.  Muzie (Muzie Sound)After years as a singer-songwriter and a member of band High Syde in the underground music scene, Muzi

Sept. 12, 2017

NU’EST W fans warned about ticket scam for Taiwan concert

NU’EST W fans have been warned against purchasing fake tickets from scalpers for the group’s upcoming concert in Taiwan. The event’s organizer took to its Facebook page Monday to clarify the situation and asked fans not to be deceived by the scalpers saying, “If you have purchased the tickets, they are absolute scams!” Tickets for the concert have not yet been released. Fans in Taiwan were confused by Weibo posts which said “reserved tickets” or “group tickets” for the concert were being sold. 

Sept. 12, 2017

2017 MAMA to be held in 3 countries

Mnet Asian Music Awards, an annual K-pop award ceremony, will hold “MAMA Week” in three countries this year, its organizer CJ E&M said Monday. The music awards will kick off in Hoa Binh Theater, Vietnam on Nov. 25, then head to Yokohama Arena, Japan on Nov. 29, before winding up in Hong Kong with two events, at W Hotel Hong Kong on Nov. 30 and at AsiaWorld-Expo on Dec. 1.  (CJ E&M)“Expanding MAMA, which has been a one-day event in an Asian country, as a week-long event in Vietnam, Japan and Hong

Sept. 11, 2017

The Chainsmokers collaborates with BTS for ‘Love Yourself’

BTS’ upcoming album “Love Yourself Seung Her” will feature a collaboration with American DJ and producer duo the Chainsmokers.The track “Best of Me,” is an electronic dance music track featuring the Chainsmokers’ expressive harmonies. Rap Monster, Suga and J-Hope of BTS and Andrew Taggart of The Chainsmokers collaborated on the track.  (BTS' Twitter)The two artists met in May when BTS attended the Billboard Music Awards where the K-pop juggernaut grabbed the award in the top social artist catego

Sept. 11, 2017

Pianist Sohn Jeung-beum ranks 1st in Munich competition

Pianist Sohn Jeung-beum has become the first South Korean to win the piano category of the ARD International Music Competition, its organizer said Sunday.The 26-year-old won the first prize at the 66th ARD International Music Competition in Munich, the largest international classical music competition in Germany.In the contest’s final stage that took place Saturday, Sohn played Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto No. 1.It is the first time a South Korean has won the first prize in the piano category of

Sept. 10, 2017

GFriend’s car accident caused by inattentive driver: agency

Source Music issued a statement Sunday on a recent car accident that involved GFriend, saying that the singers did not sustain any major injuries and that the accident was caused by the inattentive driving of the group’s manager.  (Source Music)According to the agency, GFriend was on its way to Incheon Munhak Stadium for the 2017 Incheon K-pop Concert when its car hit the vehicle in front of it while changing lanes on the Second Gyeongin Expressway at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. “The recent accid

Sept. 10, 2017

Seo Taiji to hold encore shows for 25th-anniversary concert

K-pop icon Seo Taiji will hold concerts at the end of the month, as encore for his 25th-anniversary concert that took place last week.Seo Taiji Company said Friday that in return for the fans’ support on Seo Taiji’s 25th-anniversary concert on Sept. 2, the singer will hold “Time: Traveler Encore” at the Olympic Hall inside Olympic Park on Sept. 29-30.“The 25 years of Seo Taiji is the 25 years of history with fans,” the agency said, adding that the show was prepared to give fans an opportunity to

Sept. 8, 2017

R&B artist G.Soul soars high with ‘Circles’

The eagle is finally soaring. G.Soul, a soulful R&B artist relatively new to the K-pop scene, waited a long time to take flight, honing his skills under the watchful eyes of JYP Entertainment for 17 years before his debut. But it’s at his new label that he’s really been able to spread his wings.He returned with the self-produced EP “Circles” featuring the lead track “Can’t” on Thursday. But while his voice is warm and sweet as a melting marshmallow, it also carries the flavor of alcohol on his n

Sept. 8, 2017

[Album review] Where did EXO’s power go?

EXO“The War: The Power of Music”Genie Music　Before anything else, there is one question that needs to be answered regarding “Power” from EXO’s extended re-release of July’s “The War”:  What’s up with the line “We got that power, power”? The reigning K-pop act intended to show off its comical side in the music video, morphing into animated extraterrestrial characters wielding superpowers. But it is difficult to shake off the feeling the song sounds like a childish cartoon theme song. Starting wit

Sept. 7, 2017

BTS caught up in blackmail, marketing controversy

K-pop group BTS’ label Big Hit Entertainment has come under fire, suspected of using expedient means to promote its Billboard award-winner BTS. (Big Hit Entertainment)On Wednesday, Seoul Central District Court sentenced a former business associate of the label, surnamed Lee, to one year in prison for blackmailing the agency and receiving payments. The man threatened to reveal information about the company’s inappropriate methods used to promote BTS.  In an official statement released Wednesday e

Sept. 7, 2017

U-Kiss’ Kiseop suffers second-degree burns while filming music video

Kiseop of U-Kiss suffered burns from an explosion during the filming of a music video “U-Kiss member Kiseop was in an accident involving an explosion while filming a music video,” said the K-pop group’s agency in a statement Wednesday night.According to NH EMG, the smoke emitter that the singer was holding exploded toward his face. He suffered second-degree burns and was hit by dozens of shrapnel. He was rushed to a hospital in Incheon, near the filming set. “He received primary care at a nearby

Sept. 7, 2017

S. Korean band Hyukoh announces N. American tour

South Korean indie rock sensation Hyukoh will embark on an eight-city North American tour, according to its management agency Thursday.The band will kick off the tour at The Opera House in Toronto on Friday (local time) and later travel to six US cities, including New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to DRDRamc. Hyukoh will finish the tour in Vancouver on Sept. 23.The band will also participate in Vancouver's Albatross Music Festival and the Modern Sky Festival 2017 in Arca

Sept. 7, 2017