Chinese-speaking K-pop stars side with mainland China against protesters

As Hong Kong citizens intensify their protests against a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, Chinese-speaking K-pop stars are showing their support for the “One China” policy via social media.Lay of EXO ended a modeling contract with Samsung Electronics because, according to the agency representing him in China, the company’s global website does not adhere to the policy, which holds that the territories of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao belong to the state of Chi

Aug. 15, 2019

Nation-led dance company’s Swing-styled contemporary dance to rerun

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will stage its production “Swing” between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 at Seoul Arts Center.“Swing” is a contemporary dance piece of the state-run dance company’s Director Ahn Sung-soo. It had its premiere in April last year and received a positive response.  “Swing,” an hourlong performance, features Ahn’s swing-styled choreography in which he has also combined different types of movements, like the ones y

Aug. 15, 2019

[Herald Interview] Percussion is more than beats and rhythms

To be a solo percussionist is an unusual career choice, as percussionists are usually a part of a larger team such as an orchestra or band. But Lee Hyun-gi is carving out a successful career as a solo percussionist based in London, and she plays a variety of instruments -- not just the drums but also the vibraphone and her specialty, the marimba, an instrument featuring a set of wooden bars that the player strikes with a pair of rubber mallets.“People are unfamiliar with percussion instrum

Aug. 13, 2019

Rain fails to put out the heat at Pentaport Rock Festival

Wrapping up three days of festivities, Weezer took the stage at Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2019 on Sunday at around 10 p.m. As the crowd rocked on to the US band’s “Perfect Situation,” the downpour blew out the generator and the music stopped.The 10-minute delay did not put out the fire for the frenzied crowd, and many continued to rock on as the band played songs including “Africa,” “Happy Together” and “Island in the Sun.”Nasty weather

Aug. 12, 2019

BTS announces long-term break from music scene after back-to-back album releases

K-pop super stars BTS went on a long-term break to recharge themselves following the band's Billboard-topping back-to-back album releases, its management agency said Monday. "Group BTS will have its first official long-term vacation since its debut," Bit Hit Entertainment said on the band's Twitter account and mobile fan application late Sunday.The break kicked off the same day following the band's performance at the 2019 Lotte Duty Free Family Concert earlier in the day.  "T

Aug. 12, 2019

BTS' 'Boy With Luv' hits 500m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop super band BTS' "Boy With Luv" surpassed 500 million YouTube views Sunday, its management agency said. The video of the band's main song on the "Map of the Soul: Persona" album released in April, eclipsed the mark earlier in the day, some four months after it went on sale, according to Big Hit Entertainment.  That makes BTS the first South Korean singers with over 5 million YouTube hits for each of its seven music videos, including those of "

Aug. 11, 2019

Music in PyeongChang wraps up 11-day run

The 16th Music in PyeongChang event, also known as the Great Mountains Music Festival, finished its 11-day run Saturday.The finale concert, “Happily Ever After,” took place in the Alpensia Music Tent, with the PyeongChang Festival Orchestra taking the stage under the baton of conductor Pablo Gonzalez. The summer music festival, titled “A Different Story,” kicked off July 31 in the Olympic city of PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. The presentation marked the 210th annive

Aug. 11, 2019

BTS' V releases solo song in English

V, a member of the globally celebrated K-pop boy band BTS, released his English solo song "Winter Bear" on Saturday. The new song was put up on BTS' official social media for free download, along with a music video.V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, composed the song with producers of his agency Big Hit Entertainment and wrote the lyrics for the new release.It is V's first English-written song following his first self-created Korean song, "Scenery," in Jan.RM, the leader of

Aug. 11, 2019

BTS' 'DNA' music video hits 800m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop super band BTS' hit song "DNA" surpassed 800 million YouTube views Saturday, the band's first music video to accomplish the feat.The video of "DNA," the main track off the boy group's EP "Love Yourself:Her" released in September 2017, passed the threshold at 6:29 a.m., according to Big Hit Entertainment. It is the septet's first music video with 800 million views, following five videos with 500 million clicks, including "Fire" and

Aug. 11, 2019

SHINee, EXO, NCT 127 members to come together in one boy band in Oct.

In collaboration with an affiliate of American entertainment giant Universal Music Group, South Korea's biggest music label SM Entertainment will unveil a new boy band in Oct. that will bring together highly accomplished artists under its wing.Under the joint project with the US-based Capitol Music Group (CMG), home for such famous music acts as Katy Perry and the Beatles, SM will globally launch the seven-member band SuperM, SM said in a press release.  The dream team's lineup is made up o

Aug. 8, 2019

Asia's biggest K-pop awards MAMA reconsiders Japan, Hong Kong as event venues

The Mnet Asian Music Awards, or MAMA, the biggest annual K-pop awards series held outside of South Korea, is reconsidering Japan and Hong Kong as its destinations for this year's event, according to the event's organizer.Having been among the biggest consumers of K-pop outside of Korea, Japan and Hong Kong have hosted the high-profile K-pop event for the past two years, welcoming in an army of A-list K-pop artists to their cities, including BTS, Wanna One and actors Park Bo-gum and Song Joong-ki

Aug. 8, 2019

Novus String Quartet to go on tour with Prague-inspired music

The Novus String Quartet is to embark on a nationwide tour, highlighting composers from the Czech Republic.The tour, slated to take place Aug. 27 to Sept. 1, kicks off in Gwangju and will move on to Seoul, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province before a final concert in Seoul. Titled “Slavic,” the program includes Dvorak String Quartet No. 7 in A minor, Janacek String Quartet No. 1 “The Kreutzer Sonata” and Smetana String Quartet No. 1

Aug. 7, 2019

National Theater Company of Korea cancels performance of play by pro-Japanese playwright

The National Theater Company of Korea has canceled scheduled performances of a play by pro-Japanese playwright Lim Sun-kyu, amid growing economic and political tensions between Korea and Japan. The work was scheduled to be staged Sept. 27-Oct. 13 at Baek Sung-hee & Jang Min-ho Theater in Seoul. “Binghwa” (1940) is a late Japanese colonial period play carrying pro-Japanese elements that was submitted to a drama contest organized by Japan as part of its cultural policy.Lim&rsq

Aug. 6, 2019

Kim Hee-chul, Twice’s Momo deny dating reports

Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior and Momo of Twice have denied rumors that they are dating.  A local media outlet reported Tuesday that Kim and Momo have been in a relationship for two years after first meeting through a TV entertainment show in 2017.However, both sides quickly sent out official statements refuting the claim.Kim’s agency S.M. Entertainment said, “The two are close only as co-workers in the industry,” while Twice’s label JYP Entertainment called the rumor

Aug. 6, 2019

BTS' 'Bring The Soul: The Movie' poised for strong showing at S. Korean box office

As South Korean K-pop sensation BTS is returning to the silver screen with its documentary film "Bring The Soul: The Movie," people are waiting to see whether the boy band can join other local movies to break the monthslong Disney dominance at the local box office."Bring The Soul" is its third documentary film about their behind-the-scenes lives during their "Love Yourself" world tour, aimed at promoting their "Love Yourself" album series last year, as wel

Aug. 6, 2019

K-pop festival in Busan to hold audition for wannabe-stars

The annual Busan One Asia Festival will hold an audition for future K-pop stars, the city officials said Monday.According to Busan Metropolitan Government, this year’s festival will feature “Music Label on BOF,” an event that will provide a stage for the next generation of entertainers in the music industry. It is being co-hosted and co-organized with Cube Entertainment.Those wishing to participate can apply from Aug. 5 to Sept. 24 after downloading the form at the festival hom

Aug. 5, 2019

Cellist Yang Sung-won’s trio to go on Korean tour

Trio Owon, consisting of cellist Yang Sung-won, pianist Emmanuel Strosser and violinist Olivier Charlier, will embark on a nationwide tour in November in celebration of its 10th anniversary.The tour will kick off in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 15, followed by performances in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 16; at the Changwon International Chamber Music Festival in Seoul on Nov. 18; and Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on Nov. 22. The final concert will be held Nov. 24 i

Aug. 5, 2019

Kang Daniel, Jihyo of Twice dating, agencies confirm

K-pop singers Kang Daniel and Jihyo of girl group Twice are in a romantic relationship, their respective agencies confirmed Monday. “It has been confirmed that the two are dating with good feelings toward each other,” Kang’s Konnect Entertainment and Twice’s JYP Entertainment said.  Earlier in the day local media outlet Dispatch broke the news, saying the two K-pop stars had started dating earlier this year. The publication also revealed photos of Jihyo arriving at K

Aug. 5, 2019

BTS Jimin sets new record with 3 songs with 50m streams on Spotify

Jimin of boy band phenomenon BTS has become the first Korean singer to have three songs on Spotify to each surpass 50 million streams.Seven months after “Intro: Serendipity” and “Lie” hit 50 million streams on Spotify, Jimin has extended his record and set a new high-water mark for Korean singers with “Serendipity (Full Length Edition).” No other Korean act has achieved two songs with 50 million streams on Spotify since Psy pulled off the feat with “Gang

Aug. 4, 2019

Model warns of legal action against rumors over video with Kangta

Racing model Woo Joo-ahn will take legal measures against people spreading false rumors about her on the internet following a recent incident involving her ex-boyfriend, singer-songwriter Kangta.“I will take legal action against those spreading false stories, libelous comments, insulting rumors,” Woo said on Instagram on Sunday.“(The legal action) will cover the three main portals, Instagram and major online communities,” Woo added. On Thursday, Woo, 29, mistakenly upload

Aug. 4, 2019