FNC to hold family concert in Japan

CNBlue. (FNC Entertainment)FNC Entertainment, home to big-time K-pop groups CNBlue, FT Island, AOA and soloist Juniel, will host its “FNC Kingdom” family concert event in Japan this month. Members of the FNC family will hold four shows in Japan including two concerts in Chiba, just outside of Tokyo, on Dec. 20 and two performances in Osaka on Dec. 27. According to officials at FNC, the concert will not only feature performances by each of its idol groups, but will also include a number of never-

Dec. 1, 2014

Agency refutes B.A.P claims

K-pop boy band B.A.P. (TS Entertainment)TS Entertainment on Friday refuted accusations by the K-pop boy band B.A.P that they were working under a “slave contract.” “The artists have not been mistreated, and there are no unfair clauses in the contract,” the label said in a press release, countering the boy band’s allegations. The response comes two days after the rookie K-pop singers filed a lawsuit against their agency, demanding the termination of their exclusive contracts. All six members of B

Nov. 28, 2014

Apink ladies top charts with their ‘LUV’

Apink. (Yonhap)Returning to the stage with the group’s new “Pink LUV” EP, the ladies of Apink have knocked the good boys G-Dragon and Taeyang off their throne, topping all the local music charts on Monday with their new lead single, “LUV.”Although the new six-track, EP dropped a week later than originally scheduled due to unforeseen production needs, the album’s lead track “LUV” managed to quickly climb its way to the No. 1 spot just hours after its release on all the major online music charts i

Nov. 24, 2014

Gayoon releases ballad cover of BEAST’s ‘12:30’

Gayoon of 4Minute. (Cube Entertainment)Gayoon of K-pop girl group 4Mintue has taken a stab at showing off her melancholy vocals with her cover of label mates BEAST’s latest chart-topping single “12:30.” Unlike the electro-dance beat and drum heavy original version of the popular BEAST track, on Monday Gayoon released her own solo take of the single, stripping out the pop feel of the song and turning it into a softer, more soulful ballad. The lead single “12:30” was first released by BEAST in Oct

Nov. 24, 2014

‘K-pop Star 4’ launches first episode

The show that launched the careers of Park Ji-min, Lee Hi, brother-sister duo Akdong Musician and Bernard Park has finally returned for its fourth season. The popular reality survival K-pop audition program “K-pop Star 4” aired its first episode on Sunday, and is looking to up the excitement by featuring an all-new guest judges format. A screen capture of the first episode of “K-pop Star 4.” (YouTube)Similar to last year’s show, this season will include the program’s three main judges ― Yang Hyu

Nov. 24, 2014

GOT7 seeks niche with ‘Identify’

The seven members of GOT7 are taking another stab at solidifying their identity with the release of their first full-length album, “Identify.” This time around, the boys are leaving behind the high-flying martial arts dance moves that they so enthusiastically highlighted when they debuted, referring to their complex choreography as one of the aspects that made them different from other K-pop boy bands. The 11-track album, which includes GOT7’s previously released singles “A” and “Girls Girls Gir

Nov. 18, 2014

Sandara Park, Steven Yeun’s video gets million hits

Sandara Park and Steven Yeun stars in the video. (BeFUNNY Studios)A video series featuring Sandara Park, a member of the K-pop girl group 2NE1, and actor Steven Yeun has received a total of more than 1 million views just four days since its release.Released last week under the title “What’s Eating Steven Yeun?” by BeFUNNY Studios, the video series gained immediate attention from viewers.The series, composed of three parody videos and a highlight episode, tells the comical yet serious story of Ye

Nov. 18, 2014

Lovelyz drops debut album amid controversy

Lovelyz. (Woollim Entertainment)Despite being the target of a number of nasty online rumors, new K-pop girl group Lovelyz has made its debut official with the release of its first album, “Girls’ Invasion.”Looking to bounce back after malicious online rumors about group member Seo Ji-soo led her to suspend her debut with the eight-member group, Lovelyz finally unveiled its entire nine-track debut album on Monday, including the official music video for the girls’ lead single “Candy Jelly Love.” Ea

Nov. 17, 2014

G-Dragon gearing up for new YG collaboration

The official poster for YG Entertainment’s upcoming hip-hop project. (YG Entertainment)Big Bang leader G-Dragon, one of the biggest names in K-pop, will be taking part in his agency’s upcoming hip-hop collaboration team, according to a statement by YG Entertainment on Monday. Officials at YG revealed that the mega K-pop star will be one of the five artists participating in the agency’s next line of music projects. Titled “YG Hiphop Project 1,” the collaboration will feature two YG artists, inclu

Nov. 17, 2014

Former Kara member Nicole to make solo debut

Nicole. (Nicole official Facebook)Nicole, a former member of the K-pop girl group Kara, will be dropping her first solo album, titled “First Romance.”The upcoming album will not only be her first solo release since her departure from Kara, but also her first release under her new management B2M Entertainment, home to K-pop diva Lee Hyori. Nicole recently unveiled the track list for her upcoming album, which will feature a total of six tracks including the lead single “MAMA.” The new album is sla

Nov. 17, 2014

Girl group blasted for ‘Nazi-like costumes’

The relatively unknown K-pop girl group Pritz is hitting the headlines for the first time, but it’s not their music that is grabbing all the attention. New to the K-pop scene, the four-member act is already facing negative publicity, after being criticized for performing in what many netizens are referring to as “Nazi-like costumes.”  Rookie K-pop girl group Pritz was criticized for its outfits that bore similar features to Nazi uniforms. (YouTube screen capture)Earlier this month the members of

Nov. 16, 2014

Park Yu-chun snags rookie actor award

Singer-actor Park Yu-chun grabbed the Rookie Actor Award at the 34th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for “Sea Fog” on Thursday. Park, 29, was recognized for his excellent acting skills in the film, in which he played the part of Dong-sik, an obedient young sailor on a Korean fishing ship. “Sea Fog” is better known by its official Korean title “Haemoo.” On the podium, the hallyu actor thanked the production crew and his fellow actors for their wonderful teamwork. “I gained a lot by simp

Nov. 14, 2014

Ace of Angels returns as feisty felines with ‘Like a Cat’

Striking feline poses and strutting down the catwalk in skintight black getups, K-pop girl group Ace of Angels is returning with a new EP and a “catwoman” concept.During a press showcase held Monday at the Yes24 MUV Hall in Seoul, the seven-member girl group unveiled its latest EP, “Like a Cat,” and its eponymous lead single that was very much in keeping with the group’s feline choreography. The single is an upbeat electro-pop dance track that has the girls dancing in feline movements, with the

Nov. 11, 2014

‘Infinite Challenge’ host quits TV after DUI bust

Comedian and TV show host No Hong-chul on Saturday apologized for driving under the influence of alcohol and offered to leave two popular TV reality shows he is now appearing in to take time to reflect on himself.The move came after he was booked without detention Friday night for drunken driving in southern Seoul. Police said they took a blood sample and sent it to the National Forensic Service for assessment as he refused to take a sobriety test. The test result has yet to be released. Comedia

Nov. 9, 2014

Final lineup revealed for YG’s iKON

The votes have been tallied and the fans have spoken. All of the original members of Team B will officially be debuting as YG Entertainment’s newest boy band, iKON. After six months of filming, with intense song and dance battles that tested the limits of a handful of K-pop idol hopefuls, YG’s “Mix & Match” weekly boy band survival program has concluded. Former “WIN: Who Is Next?” Team B contestants Gu Jun-hoe, Song Yun-hyeong and Kim Dong-hyuk, as well as newcomer Jung Chan-woo, received the mo

Nov. 7, 2014

Big Bang draws most Japanese concertgoers in K-pop

Big Bang drew the most fans in Japan among K-pop stars this year, a Japanese monthly magazine said Friday. 　According to Nikkei Entertainment’s chart of artists with the most concert fans, Big Bang took the second spot with about 920,000 fans in 29 concerts in total this year, Japanese rock band EXILE TRIBE topped the chart, attracting 1.05 million fans. 　About 32,000 fans came to each Big Bang concert. 　Big Bang held dome concerts for the second year straight this year. (YG Entertainment)　Membe

Nov. 7, 2014

Super Junior’s Shindong to join Army

Shindong. (SM Entertainment)Just months after the group’s “Mamacita” return, Super Junior’s agency has confirmed that member Shindong will be enlisting in the Army on Nov. 25 for his mandatory military service.According to an announcement by SM Entertainment, Shindong will begin his five-week training period with the 306th Army Battalion in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, at the end of the month, before going on active duty to complete his 21-month stint as a soldier. As he prepares for his enlist

Nov. 6, 2014

Super Junior’s Kyuhyun going solo with debut EP

Popular Super Junior idol and TV personality Kyuhyun is returning to the stage ― only this time, he’ll be performing solo. Officials at SM Entertainment on Thursday revealed that Kyuhyun will be debuting as a solo artist, dropping his first solo EP “At Gwanghwamun” on Nov. 13. As part of his role in Super Junior, one of the country’s most successful K-pop acts, Kyuhyun has been praised for his vocal abilities, lending his voice to a number of Korean drama soundtracks as well as taking on musical

Nov. 6, 2014

Mamamoo returning with new album this month

Mamamoo. (WA Entertainment)The rookie four-member girl group Mamamoo is gearing up for its sixth release of the year with its upcoming album on Nov. 20. Despite being only weeks away, WA Entertainment officials have yet to release any other details regarding the group’s upcoming return.Mamamoo is still new to the K-pop scene, having officially debuted in June with the single “Mr. Ambiguous,” off the group’s EP “Hello.”Before the group’s debut, the girls released various collaborative singles wit

Nov. 6, 2014