BTS’ ‘Dope’ tops 200m YouTube views

The music video for “Dope,” a track from K-pop boy band BTS’ “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1,” has reached over 200 million views on YouTube.Released on June 23, 2015, the video reached the milestone on the YouTube channel run by 1theK, the content production division of Loen Entertainment, at 6:34 p.m. Saturday. Loen is the music label behind the group‘s 2015 EP album.  A screen capture of BTS' "Dope" music video (Big Hit Entertainment)Including views on the official channel run by t

Aug. 20, 2017

Singer Rain plans to release comeback album in November

South Korean pop singer Rain is working on a new EP record and plans to release it in November, according to his company Friday. "Rain plans to briefly visit the U.S. in September and will later focus on producing the album to put it out in an EP format in November," a representative at Rain Company said.The most recent work released by the singer, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, was "Rain Effect" back in January 2014. His new project will reportedly include self-written tracks along with ones

Aug. 18, 2017

Taeyeon distressed after incident at Jakarta airport

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation took to Instagram to share her thoughts after a harrowing experience at a crowded airport in Indonesia.  Taeyeon (S.M. Entertainment)　The singer flew to the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday for promotional activities, accompanied by a single manager. As soon as Taeyeon landed at the airport, however, she encountered an unruly crowd that rushed toward her, eventually knocking her down.  Taeyeon wrote via her Instagram on Friday to address the issue. “People’s fe

Aug. 18, 2017

iKon fans announce boycott on YG products

Fans of iKon announced they will boycott all goods produced by YG Entertainment, claiming that the label has been mistreating both the K-pop act and its fans.  iKon (YG Entertainment)　iKon’s fandom iKonic released a statement on Thursday that read, “We decided to boycott all upcoming products from YG, including the DVD ‘iKon Summertime Season2 in Bali,’ until we receive complete and sincere feedback from YG.”The statement also revealed that fans sent an 18-page document on July 24 to YG accusing

Aug. 18, 2017

TVXQ will embark on 'press tour' in 3 Asian cities next week

K-pop duo TVXQ will meet with press in three Asian cities to announce the resumption of activities as Shim Chang-min, better known by his stage name Max Changmin, will be discharged from the military on Friday, its management agency said Thursday.(S.M. Entertainment)S.M. Entertainment said the duo will have a press conference in Seoul and Tokyo on Aug. 21 and in Hong Kong the next day.The other member, U-Know Yunho, finished his military duty in April."At the events, they will discuss plans for

Aug. 18, 2017

Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany may study in US

Tiffany of Girls’ Generation may head to the US for her studies, a local media outlet reported Thursday. Tiffany of Girls’ Generation (Herald DB)The report said the singer had recently decided to study acting in the US, quoting a source close to Tiffany who said the singer has already told her close friends about the plan and they are supporting her decision. Following the report, Tiffany’s agency S.M. Entertainment commented on the matter later in the day, saying “We are discussing things relat

Aug. 17, 2017

Maestro Chung Myung-whun holds on to the dream of oneness

Bringing people together with music is maestro Chung Myung-whun’s lifetime calling, a calling he has answered this time with One Korea Orchestra, formed specifically for two concerts marking the first anniversary of Lotte Concert Hall on Friday and Saturday.Maestro Chung Myung-whun rehearses with One Korea at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Wednesday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Chung conceived the idea for One Korea Orchestra in 2013 with the goal of musicians from both South and North Korea per

Aug. 17, 2017

TVXQ’s Changmin, Super Junior’s Siwon to be discharged from military Friday

Changmin of TVXQ and Siwon of Super Junior will be discharged from the military Friday. The two singers enlisted in the military on Nov. 19, 2015 and served as police officers at the Seoul Police Agency’s department of public relations. Changmin of TVXQ (left), Donghae and Siwon of Super Junior (Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Instagram)Following Changmin’s discharge, TVXQ will embark on the TVXQ! Asia Press Tour in Seoul on Monday. The duo will visit three Asian cities to meet the press and

Aug. 17, 2017

Girls' Generation under talks to extend contract with S.M.

K-pop group Girls' Generation is in negotiations with S.M. Entertainment on extending their contract, sources said Wednesday.According to the sources, most of the eight members recently extended exclusive contracts with the South Korean agency, with remaining members also positively reviewing the deal. Girls` Generation (S.M. Entertainment)Debuting in 2007 with "Into the New World," Girls' Generation has become one of the major K-pop girl groups with multiple hits including "Gee," "Genie" and "I

Aug. 16, 2017

Ariana Grande knocked for attitude problem after Seoul concert

The “Dangerous Woman” songstress’s first performance in Seoul would have been perfect, if the singer didn’t leave fans disappointed and upset at what they referred to as her “disrespectful” attitude. Despite pouring rain, some 20,000 people flocked to Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, which was also Korean National Liberation Day, to see the American pop star who won hearts around the world by returning to the stage just three weeks after a suicide bomber attacked her concert in Manchester i

Aug. 16, 2017

Taeyang returns solo with ‘White Night,’ but roots remain with Big Bang

From “Hot” and “Solar” to “Rise,” the past album titles of Big Bang’s Taeyang describe the singer himself. Taeyang, whose stage name means “Sun” in Korean, returned with his third full-length solo album “White Night” on Wednesday, more than three years after his second full-length album “Rise” in 2014.(YG Entertainment)“I came up with the new album’s concept when I was working on my previous album ‘Rise.’ I didn’t want the sun to go down after it rose, and the image of ‘white night,’ a natural p

Aug. 16, 2017

Girls’ Generation tops Billboard world chart

Girls’ Generation is picking up right where it left off, topping charts with “Holiday Night.”The sixth studio album by the K-pop act took the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s world albums chart as of Wednesday, a little over 10 days after it was released on Aug. 4.  Girls' Generation (S.M. Entertainment)The album, which features the tracks “Holiday” and “All Night,” took the top spot on the iTunes album charts of 19 countries at one point. (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 16, 2017

BTS reveals highlight reel of ‘Love Yourself’ series

Bangtan Boys on Wednesday dropped a highlight video of its upcoming “Love Yourself” series, a collection of music under a single concept, which will be launched with its album in September. Uploaded via the official YouTube channel of the group’s agency Big Hit Entertainment, the video hints at how the series will unfold. Short love stories revolving around each of the seven members are featured. Excerpts from BTS’s highlight reel of the “Love Yourself” series (Big Hit Entertainment)“We were pla

Aug. 16, 2017

SHINee’s Onew to face probe over sexual harassment

Prosecutors will investigate Onew of boy band SHINee for allegedly touching a woman inappropriately at a club in Gangnam, Seoul, on Saturday. The singer was arrested at the club after a friend of the woman called the police. Onew denied the charges, saying that he has no memory of the alleged incident, as he was too drunk at that time.Police plan to send the case to the prosecutor’s office.  Onew of SHINee (Herald DB)SHINee’s agency S.M. Entertainment said the incident stemmed from “a misunderst

Aug. 15, 2017

K.A.R.D turns to world stage again

K-pop mixed gender rookie group K.A.R.D wrapped up its promotional activities in Korea for its latest track “Hola Hola” and will meet its overseas fans again. K.A.R.D will perform at the Summer Sonic 2017 rock festival in Japan on Saturday. It will then head to Los Angeles for KCON 2017, the annual Hallyu convention hosted by entertainment giant CJ E&M. In September, it will embark on another world tour in Europe, during which the group will visit five countries including the United Kingdom and

Aug. 15, 2017

BTS nabs best int’l artist at Teen Choice Awards

K-pop megastar BTS once again proved its global popularity, snagging the international artist prize at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards held in the US.　The seven-member act was announced the winner of the Choice International Artist Award on Sunday, local time, at the ceremony which took place at Galen Center in Los Angeles. 　The category included four K-pop nominees, including EXO, Seventeen and Monsta X, and Mexican group CD9 and Latin pop group CNCO. 　BTS has become the second K-pop group to win t

Aug. 15, 2017

Did Ariana Grande refuse to enter Korea? Speculations of terror fears ahead of concert

Pop star Ariana Grande, who is in Korea for her first concert here, is refraining from any contact with the media and fans before her performance, possibly out of fears of terrorism.Grande is believed to have arrived at Gimpo International Airport late Monday, without being greeted by a crowd of fans and the media as is the norm when megastars visit the country. This sparked a rumor that Grande had refused to enter Korea after seeing a flock of reporters at the airport. Ariana Grande (AP)Hyundai

Aug. 15, 2017

Incheon Pentaport Rock crowd size reaches 76,000: organizer

The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, a major summer music festival in South Korea, saw a slight drop in the number of visitors from last year, according to organizers Monday.Industry watchers attribute the drop to a growing competition from other music events held in the summer.   (Yescom Entertainment-Yonhap)The festival was held at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, from Friday to Sunday, featuring a total of 70 international and domestic artists, including

Aug. 15, 2017

HyunA to drop new album on Aug. 29: sources

HyunA, a former member of the now-disbanded girl group 4minute, will put out a new album late this month, sources in the music scene said Monday.The sources said the idol singer will release her sixth EP led by a song composed by Sinsadong Tiger on Aug. 29. It will be her first album after "A'wesome," her fifth EP out in August last year.HyunA had a "fan meeting" tour of Seoul and eight North American cities in February to mark the 10th anniversary of her debut as a 4minute member. In May, she f

Aug. 15, 2017

Bubble not to pop anytime soon

Has K-pop reached its peak? Or will it be able to keep climbing the ladder of global success? More than 20 years have passed since the first generation of K-pop boy groups H.O.T and Sechs Kies made waves within the Korean music scene in the ‘90s. In 2000, legendary dance music duo Clon went overseas and mesmerized fans in Taiwan, which heralded K-pop’s overseas popularity. Since then, the K-pop industry has never slowed down in rolling out K-pop acts that appeal to a global audience, ranging fro

Aug. 14, 2017