[Herald Interview] Park Ki-young’s motherhood, power of empathy

It was one of those beautiful spring mornings where everything on the street sparkled under the warm sunlight. Stepping into a small and cozy coffee shop located in Hapjeong-dong in Seoul, this reporter was greeted by an unusually warm smile and handshake from singer-songwriter Park Ki-young, who celebrates her 20th anniversary in the business this year.  “I think my biggest strength is that I have the ability to empathize. I can closely relate to others’ problems, thinking, ‘How can I make that

May 1, 2018

Scottish Ballet returns with ‘Hansel and Gretel’

The last time the Scottish Ballet performed in Seoul was in 1992 as part of the cultural entourage accompanying Prince Charles and Princess Diana.After more than a quarter of century, Scottish Ballet, led by artistic director Christopher Hampson, will perform its adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale “Hansel and Gretel” at the LG Arts Center from May 23 to May 27. Scottish Ballet's "Hansel and Gretel" (LG Arts Center)The Glasgow-based ballet company’s “Hansel and Gretel,” which premiered in 2013

May 1, 2018

K-Will confirms May 10 release

Vocalist K-Will confirmed that he will release a new single on May 10.The singer’s agency Starship Entertainment released a teaser image of “The 4th Album Part 2. #1 Will be a start,” on its homepage, with the message that it will be released at 6 p.m. on May 10.As the name suggests, the single is the first segment of the three-part project for part-two of his fourth studio album. K-Will will release two more singles after “Will be a start,” which will complete the second part. The singer releas

May 1, 2018

Cho Yong-pil’s 50th anniversary celebrated in Times Square

An advertisement celebrating Korean “King of Pop” Cho Yong-pil’s 50th anniversary has been screened in Times Square, New York. Cho’s three fan clubs, Eternally, Club Mizi and The Great Birth, said Monday that they jointly raised money to celebrate the singer’s 50th anniversary by putting up an advertisement at the major commercial intersection in Manhattan.  (Yonhap)Alongside a picture of him playing the guitar, the advertisement reads, “Cho Yong Pil: The K-Pop Legend. Celebrating the 50th anniv

April 30, 2018

Hwang Chi-yeul’s face hangs in Times Square

Just for a day, K-pop singer Hwang Chi-yeul became one of the most-viewed faces in the Big Apple as an advertisement for his second EP was screened in Times Square.According to his agency How Entertainment, an advertisement for Hwang’s EP “Be Myself” was put on the 32-story Thomson Reuters Building at the world-famous intersection in New York from 6 a.m. until Saturday to 2 a.m. Hwang’s fans commissioned the ad. Hwang Chi-yeul‘s ad in Times Square, New York (How Entertainment)Along with the titl

April 30, 2018

SHINee to hold fan meeting, make comeback in May

K-pop group SHINee will make a comeback near the end of May, according to SM Entertainment.The agency said Monday that “SHINee is in its final preparations to release a new album at the end of May.”The group is also scheduled to hold a fan meeting on May 27, celebrating the 10th anniversary of debut.  (SM Entertainment)SHINee made its debut in 2008 with “Replay.” Some of its other hit tracks include “Love Like Oxygen,” “Juliette,” “Ring Ding Dong,” Lucifer” and “View.”The unexpected death of lea

April 30, 2018

20 years on, Kim Bum-soo’s musical journey just starting

There is a famous phrase “Kim-Na-Park-Lee” among fans of Korean pop music, referring to singers Kim Bum-soo, Naul, Park Hyo-shin and Lee Soo who are widely considered the country‘s top vocalists.“It’s an interesting phenomenon. It’s not like there are just four great vocalists in the country, but it has become like a symbol for good singers. I’m honored as it’s a list picked by the public, but I don’t really know what’s so great about me,” said Kim, during a press conference for a new project co

April 26, 2018

Super Junior’s ‘Lo Siento’ debuts on Billboard’s Latin Chart

K-pop act Super Junior’s recent Latin-inspired single “Lo Siento” debuted at No. 13 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chart this week.According to Billboard on Tuesday, Super Junior became the first K-pop act to enter the chart with the trilingual single, which incorporates Spanish, Korean and English and features Latin pop star Leslie Grace and DJ duo Play N Skillz. The song has also hit No. 2 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart.  (Billboard)Billboard stated that the move could

April 26, 2018

Preorders for new BTS album top 1.44 million

More than 1.44 million copies of BTS' new album have been preordered ahead of its release next month, the group's management agency said Thursday."Love Yourself: Tear," the K-pop sensation's third full-length album, has garnered a total of 1,449,287 preorders as of Tuesday since it became available for preorders on April 18, Big Hit Entertainment said.It is the largest preorder volume for a BTS album, 400,000 more than the band's 2017 hit album "Love Yourself: Her," the first in its band's "Love

April 26, 2018

BTS to perform new track at Billboard Awards

BTS’ first performance of a new track from its upcoming album will be at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs). The K-pop act will perform the song at the BBMAs, according to the band’s agency Big Hit Entertainment. The group has also been nominated for the top social artist award for the second consecutive year. It won the award last year, beating other well-known global artists.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)The track is part of BTS’ new full-length album “Love Yourself: Tear” set for release on Ma

April 25, 2018

[Album review] Despite changes, Lovelyz is still Lovelyz

Lovelyz“Healing”Loen Entertainment  Unlike many K-pop competitors that juggle genres and concepts under pressure to keep impressing fans, Lovelyz has rarely stepped out of its pink wonderland, seemingly completely immune to any teardrops or sadness in life. For the first time, the eight-piece K-pop darlings soaked up a small drop of pain in its break-up song “That Day,” a lead track from the recent EP “Healing.” The irresistible nature of those happy Tinker Bells, however, doesn’t seem to have c

April 25, 2018

EXO-CBX to drop first full-length album in Japan in May

EXO-CBX, the K-pop boy band EXO's sub-unit, will release its first full-length album, titled "MAGIC," in Japan next month, its agency said Wednesday.SM Entertainment said the album features 11 tracks, including eight new songs, such as "Horololo" and solo songs by its members, Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin.With the May 9 release, the sub-unit will go on tour in Japan. Titled "EXO-CBX Magical Circus Tour 2018," the concert will start off in Yokohama from May 11-13, followed by Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osa

April 25, 2018

BTS to perform new song at Billboard Music Awards next month

Korean Boy band BTS will perform at the Billboard Music Awards next month as the first K-pop artist to do so.Announcing the news on the band's official Twitter account Tuesday night, Big Hit Entertainment said the seven-member K-pop sensation will return to the BBMAs as a performer and debut its new single."Look out for our second appearance or - say what? - FIRST PERFORMANCE at the BBMAs!" the group wrote. It also thanked its fans, known as Army, for making the performance possible with their e

April 25, 2018

Hwang Chi-yeol returns as heart-stirring balladeer

Hwang Chi-yeol, one of the best-known tear-jerking balladeers in K-pop history, has returned with an ever-deeper voice to deliver emotion in a new EP. Drenched in heart-melting strings and melodies, Hwang’s second EP, “Be Myself,” is led by “The Only Star,” a poignant ballad displaying the singer’s romantic side. Likening his lover to his only star, he wails, “I only think about you. ... Why does my heart beat?/Because you are my star,” in the syrupy song penned by the singer himself.  (Yonhap)“

April 25, 2018

‘High School Rapper’ muses on teenage life

The once-controversial “High School Rapper” has wrapped its second season, after striving to deliver teenagers’ stories and messages.　The TV competition, the high school counterpart to “Show Me the Money” and “Unpretty Rapstar,” aired its season finale on April 13. The eight-part show ranked an average viewership rating of 1.5 percent, relatively high for a cable channel. Songs from the show are also currently ranking near the tops of local music charts. 　What set the second season apart from th

April 24, 2018

Crush says happy birthday to me with new single

Crush is planning to celebrate his 27th birthday with a new single.According to his agency Amoeba Culture, the singer will release a single on his birthday, which falls on May 3. It marks the first release for him in five months.Crush has vowed to put more effort into promotional activities related to his music this year. Crush (Amoeba Culture)“He is planning to introduce various types of music this year, including a new album that has the distinct style of the artist. He will also visit the fan

April 24, 2018

Halsey to hold first concert in Korea

Halsey will visit Korea for the first time in August for a concert, local promoters said Tuesday.As part of the pop singer’s “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour,” Halsey will hold a concert at Yes 24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul at 8 p.m., Aug. 6. The tour follows the release of her second studio album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” last year, which became her first album to top the US Billboard 200. “Bad at Love,” a single off the album, became her first solo top 5 entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

April 24, 2018

Lovelyz returns as ‘healers’ in new album

Having captured the K-pop world’s attention with its vivacious “Ah Choo” signature tune, K-pop girl group Lovelyz returned as musical “healers” in its new EP. Lovelyz’s fourth EP “Healing,” released Monday, is an extension of the group’s representative twinkling synths which has been seen in the act’s previous hits “Ah-Choo” and “Now, We.” The difference is that Lovelyz sprinkled a bit more of freshness in its new songs, as if trying to wash all the dust from one’s heart.  Lovelyz performs durin

April 24, 2018

World-class DJs to land in Korea for Ultra Korea 2018

Party-rockers of Korea are in a for an ear-blasting treat, as Ultra Korea recently confirmed its schedule and the preliminary lineup for Ultra Korea 2018, including the Chainsmokers, Above & Beyond and Swedish House Mafia.Organizers of the electronic dance music festival announced that Ultra Korea 2018 will be held June 6-10 at a venue yet to be confirmed. Last year’s event was held at Jamsil Olympic Complex in Seoul. The crowd cheers during the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida, on March 2

April 23, 2018

Yoona to kickoff fan meeting tour next month

K-pop star and actress Yoona will be holding fan meetings across Asia, her agency said Monday.According to S.M. Entertainment, Yoona is slated to hold a fan meeting at 6 p.m. on May 20 at Sejong University in Seoul. It will be part one of her Asia fan tour that will include Bangkok in July and Hong Kong in August. More cities are expected to be added. The poster for Yoona’s Seoul fan tour (S.M. Entertainment)Yoona, whose real name is Im Yoon-a, is best known for her involvement with K-pop act Gi

April 23, 2018