Black Pink rocks! Here are 10 reasons

US-based Billboard spotlighted Black Pink with a feature titled “10 Things to Know About Black Pink” on Wednesday.  (Yonhap)“Female quartet Black Pink is making big waves in the K-pop scene,” it said. “As they grow more prominent internationally, here are a few facts to know about the revolution that is Black Pink.”The following are 10 key points about Black Pink listed by Billboard:1. They’re the best charting female Korean act ever2. They have only nine songs3. Four members, four flavors4. Bot

July 13, 2018

Will BTS and Charlie Puth collaborate?

BTS’ Jungkook and Charlie Puth have had a thing going on for about a year and a half now, and we are not sure what to call it.  Jungkook of BTS (left, Big Hit Entertainment), Charlie Puth (right, Charlie Puth official website)Let’s not say ‘bromance,’ which has become too hackneyed a term they will call any sight of two men not hating each other "bromance." It’s more than mere professional admiration between two musicians. It’s not quite a full-blown “stanship (stan: a maniacal fan),” as some ha

July 13, 2018

Mamamoo’s agency to release two ‘brother’ boy bands

Two new boy bands are on the way, produced by the agency that created girl group Mamamoo.RBW said Friday that it will launch ONEUS and ONEWE in the second half of this year. They are to have distinctly different musical styles but are to be “brother groups” that developed deep friendships during their training period. ONEUS (RBW) ONEWE (RBW)ONEUS, a six-piece group, consists of former participants of audition programs like “Produce 101 Season 2” and “Mix Nine,” including Lee Gun-hee and Yeo Hwan

July 13, 2018

5 best K-pop summer tunes that will make you nostalgic

(Screencaptured from YouTube)If this summer is too hot and humid for you, it’s time to for you to freshen your summer playlist. Sistar’s “Touch My Body” and Girls’ Generation’s “Party” may be longtime favorite K-pop summer songs, but let’s go back several years to when K-pop sounded refreshing and remained faithful to its classic seasonal tunes. Here are the five best throwbacks that may evoke nostalgia. 1. Dancing Out – Super Junior (2006)Released in 2006 as part of SMTown’s studio album, the s

July 12, 2018

Twice’s ‘Heart Shaker’ YouTube video tops 200 million views

The music video for Twice’s “Heart Shaker” has been watched more than 200 million times on YouTube, following in the footsteps of the group’s previous singles.The group’s agency JYP Entertainment confirmed Thursday that the video, which was released in early December last year, surpassed 200 million views on YouTube on Wednesday night, becoming the fifth video from the group to reach the 200 million threshold.Another of the nine-piece band’s singles “TT” became the first video by a female K-pop

July 12, 2018

Seo In-young to release new single next month

Fans of Seo In-young’s music will be glad to hear that the singer, who hasn’t released anything since 2015, will release a new single next month.The K-pop star’s label Soribada on Thursday confirmed reports that she will release a new single on Aug. 2. It was originally slated to be released in late June. Seo In-young (Herald Pop)“(The release date) was pushed back because (Seo) put much effort and thought into it, as it has been so long since she last released a record. It is still a work in pr

July 12, 2018

Incheon Airport signs on BTS to target millennial tourists

Incheon International Airport on Tuesday announced its decision to employ BTS-designed BT21 characters to promote the airport.(Incheon International Airport) Eight promotion films featuring BT21, which will also be disclosed through social media, are set to air at the airport during the month of July. The airport luggage carts will be renewed to feature BT21 characters as well.Incheon International Airport president and CEO Chung Il-young said, “85 percent of travelers to Korea are from Asia, 60

July 11, 2018

[Herald Interview] Ever-evolving artist Han Kyung-rock spreads musical joy

Han Kyung-rock’s signature look -- a rose-patterned red bandana, disheveled spiky hair and a matching red scarf -- is very telling of his personality.Han, who has been a bassist in the legendary punk rock band Crying Nut for 23 years, is a jocular musician who has quite a penchant for alcohol, spending many nights drinking with fellow musicians. While his wild drinking led to a tumble down some stairs in his favorite bar, Han has his own reasons for adoring booze. “I just love having fun. Great

July 11, 2018

[Album review] Yoon Mi-rae’s heartwarming tales of her late 30s

Yoon Mi-rae“Gemini 2”Loen EntertainmentIn “Memories” from her second studio album “Gemini,” 20-year-old Yoon Mi-rae, or Tasha, was all about overcoming hardships that came from being biracial in Korea and surviving in the hip-hop scene. Some 16 years later, the working mom with a 9-year-old son, now in her late 30s, is back with a new autobiographical album, “Gemini 2.” And instead of a stormy description of life’s struggles, she filled the 12-track collection with tales of married life, family,

July 11, 2018

BTS sets another record in US with ‘Love Yourself: Tear’ album

K-pop sensation BTS’ latest album has become one of the most sold records in the US so far this year.BTS’ third studio album “Love Yourself: Tear” has become the ninth most sold physical album in the US during the first half of 2018, becoming the only foreign language record to chart in the top 10, according to Nielsen Music’s Mid-Year Report for 2018.The group sold 132,000 physical copies of the Korean-language album between its release on May 18 and the week ending June 28.(Big Hit Entertainme

July 11, 2018

Super Junior’s Ryeowook discharged from military

Super Junior’s Ryeowook finished his mandatory military service Tuesday.Thanking fans and friends for helping him finish his duty successfully at the special operations command in Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong Province, the artist said, “Hello, I’ve returned to Super Junior’s Kim Ryeo-wook from Sgt. Ryeo-wook. Thank you for coming, and please support our upcoming activities as a group.” The discharge ceremony was attended by a flock of fans, media and his bandmates Donghae, Eunhyuk, Siwon and L

July 10, 2018

Music websites reform to prevent chart-rigging

A collection of music streaming and sales websites announced Monday the reform plans that they hope will prevent chart-rigging as in the recent scandals involving popular k-pop groups, effective Wednesday. The policy committee for Gaon charts, consisting of officials at Naver Music, Bugs, Melon, Soribada, Mnet, and Genie working to improve how local music charts are run, said that the aforementioned websites will begin to freeze rankings between the hours of 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. Momoland (MLD Entert

July 9, 2018

BTS’ exhibition ‘Five, Always’ slated for Aug.-Oct. in downtown Seoul

Following the closure of BTS’ fifth anniversary celebrations in June, the septet has announced another event this summer and follow-up details are now available. (Big Hit Entertainment)BTS is presenting an exclusive exhibition dubbed “2018 BTS Exhibition ‘24,7=Serendipity (Five, Always),’” which marks the group’s second exclusive exhibition after 2015’s “Butterfly Dream.” The “Five, Always” part is stylized as “O, neul” in Korean -- a play on words that also translates to “today.” This is elabor

July 9, 2018

SHINee’s Key features in remix version of Years & Years’ ‘If You’re Over Me’

SHINee’s Key has lent his voice for English synth pop band Years & Years’ remix version of “If You’re Over Me,” contributing to K-pop’s worldwide expansion. In the remix version of the song, released on Friday, the K-pop star sings both in Korean and English alongside the British trio. Key’s Korean verses reflect the English song’s original meaning, as Key asks his lover to stop pushing-and-pulling. He wrote the lyrics himself, according to his agency S.M. Entertainment. The single’s release coi

July 8, 2018

Japanese idol quits Produce 48 amid controversy

Matsui Jurina is quitting the survival reality TV show “Produce 48” due to health reasons, a decision that came after the Japanese idol star was embroiled in a controversy surrounding her attitude.The officials of the Mnet show confirmed Sunday that she is off the program, a day after her original group SKE48 announced that Matsui is putting her career on hold for her health. The group said this means ceasing any activity on social media or personal mail. Matsui Jurina (Mnet)The 21-year-old has

July 8, 2018

Jessie sizzles with summer single ‘Down’

Jessie has unveiled a beach-themed music video for her latest single “Down,” featuring plenty of tight choreography. The 29-year-old singer’s new video for the upbeat song has been watched over 1.5 million times on YouTube since it was released on Friday, prompting some fans to call her the “Korean Nicki Minaj.”Jessie and backup dancers perform a choreographed dance. (Youtube)The song, which is packed with plenty of feel good vibes and irresistibly addictive beats, has been hailed as a surefire

July 8, 2018

Dating fellow idols not an option for Dreamcatcher

Dating fellow idols is not a priority for Dreamcahter for now, the girl group said in a recent interview.In the recent interview with a local magazine bnt, members of the seven-piece band said they are putting work before love at the moment and ruled out dating fellow idols.When the magazine asked whether there had been advances made by male idol stars, the girls said compliments on looks for their strong makeup are all they get. (bnt)When it comes to ideal types of boyfriends, Siye said she doe

July 8, 2018

One way to interpret BTS’ ‘Love Yourself’ saga

It is no secret that BTS has a talent in conveying deep messages through its music.Previously known for its millennial-oriented social commentary, the septet ventured into the realm of romance in its recent releases.  "Love Yourself: Her" concept images of Jin (top left), Jimin (bottom right) constrast with the black-and-white images of V (top right), Jungkook (bottom left) from "Love Yourself: Tear." (Big Hit Entertainment)BTS released “Love Yourself: Tear” on May 18, a sequel to 2017’s “Love Y

July 6, 2018

CNBLUE’s Lee Jung-shin to enlist for military service in end-July

Lee Jung-shin of CNBLUE will leave the K-pop scene to begin his military service on July 31, confirmed the band’s agency FNC Entertainment on Thursday morning. The exact location of his enlistment will remain confidential, as per the artist’s wish. Lee Jung-shin (FNC Entertainment)This makes Lee the second member of the band to serve his military duties, following leader and vocalist Jung Yong-hwa’s enlistment in March.Lee, the group’s bassist, is scheduled to have a busy month before his absenc

July 5, 2018