SHINee gears up for third world tour

Nearly two years since the group’s previous world tour, the five members of SHINee are in full swing once again and will be taking their music and performances across borders on their new tour, “SHINee World III.” “We are about to embark on our next world tour and we are very excited to be performing outside of Korea once again,” said Min-ho during a press conference held in Gymnastics Stadium at the Seoul Olympic Park on Sunday. “The performanc for this tour is very upbeat and a lot more engagi

March 10, 2014

YG to establish U.S. operation

YG Entertainment, one of South Korea’s largest music management companies, is setting up a North American base for its artists.The agency, whose singers include K-pop acts 2NE1, Psy and Big Bang, said Friday that construction was underway in the United States for “YG Land,” an independent space complete with recording infrastructure to support and promote its artists in North America.In partnership with the American real-estate agency MD Properties, “YG Land” will be built inside The Source, a s

March 10, 2014

YG Entertainment looks to U.S. with ‘YG Land’

(YG Entertainment)YG Entertainment, home to several k-pop musicians including Psy and Big Bang, announced Friday that it would establish a base in the United States for its artists as part of efforts to strengthen its presence in North America. The entertainment powerhouse plans to partner up with the U.S. real estate developer M+D Properties to open “YG Land” in the multi-entertainment space “The Source.” The building complex, currently under construction, is set to open in Orange County, Calif

March 10, 2014

Why can‘t China make 'My Love from Star'?

  With the hit Korean drama “My Love from the Star” sweeping China, its government is keeping a wary eye on the frenzy the drama has created in the nation. 　 The U.S. daily Washington Post reported Friday that the Chinese government officials discussed the popular Korean drama’s success with envy at the ongoing China‘s National People’s Congress, where the country‘s highest governing bodies meet annually to discuss legislative issues. 　 In a committee of China’s political advisory body

March 10, 2014

[Band Uprising] Monni feeds its greed with ‘Follow My Voice’

As the Korean music market is beginning to receive more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the second installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed. The band name itself says all about the four members of rock band Monni ― the musicians all have an insatiable thirst for quality music. Monni derives from a Korean term for greed, and is representative of the

March 9, 2014

Scholars discuss hallyu’s influence on Southeast Asia

From K-pop to Korean dramas and TV shows, South Korean popular culture has been enjoying high popularity globally, especially in the Asia-Pacific, which has more hallyu fans than anywhere else in the world, according to a recent report by the Korea Foundation.In turn, scholars are zeroing in on Southeast Asia, one of the largest markets for South Korean popular cultural content today. Academics from around the world gathered at the third annual “International Hallyu Workshop” in Seoul on Friday

March 7, 2014

Rock band Monni to release 4th studio album

Korean modern rock band Monni has announced that it will release its fourth studio album “Follow My Voice” on March 18.Monni’s upcoming release is expected to showcase various emotions such as strength, tenderness, coldness, sweetness and yearning, according to the band’s management agency Modern Rock Record.The agency said the album was titled “Follow My Voice” in hopes that people will naturally be attracted to the music and “come over when hearing Monni’s sounds.” The title track “In the Mome

March 4, 2014

Lim Chang-jung to release 12th studio album

Veteran singer-actor Lim Chang-jung is scheduled to unveil his 12th studio album later this month, according to his management agency NH Media on Monday.The upcoming release will be Lim’s first studio album in five years. Though Lim released the EP “A Guy Like Me” last September, his most recent studio album, “Return To My World,” was released in 2009.Lim’s 12th album features songs he wrote himself as well as works by singer Wheesung and renowned ballad composers such as Baek Min-hyuk, Ahn Youn

March 4, 2014

With new album, So Chan-whee returns in neo-rockabilly fashion

Longtime veteran singer So Chan-whee, best known for her hit single “Tears,” has returned to the music scene, only this time around she has shed her dance-ballad image and is paying tribute to the legendary Elvis Presley and the tremendous influence he had on the rockabilly movement. “Although I did make my debut performing dance music, the truth is I have always had the desire to pursue rock music,” said So during a press conference held at Rolling Hall in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, on Monday. “I thou

March 4, 2014

New girl group 1PS releases debut album

Four-member girl group 1PS, made up of leader Ye-na, Ji-eun, Sae-ha and Yoon-seo, has joined this year’s lineup of K-pop rookies with the ladies’ debut single album “The First Score” on Monday. The album includes the pop-ballad main track “Because I am a Woman” as well the single “Anticipating.” 1PS took to the stage last week on “M! Countdown” and performed the group’s lead track live for the first time. Despite the influx of girl groups pursuing the sexy and risque concept, 1PS ― an abbreviati

March 3, 2014

Girls’ Generation’s ‘Mr. Mr.’ racks up 4.3 million views

Girls’ Generation made a much-anticipated return to the music scene last month with the new EP “Mr. Mr.,” topping major music charts in South Korea.The nine girls are reaffirming their global popularity with the release of the new music video for “Mr. Mr.,” which has received more than 4.3 million views and comments on YouTube as of Monday, just days after the video was released on Feb. 28. In the video, the girls portray glamorous nurses dressed in pink, as they play doctor in a colorful operat

March 3, 2014

2NE1 releases videos for ‘Come Back Home,’ ‘Happy’

Top K-pop girl group 2NE1 released music videos for their popular title tracks “Come Back Home” and “Happy” on its official YouTube channel and YG’s blog on Monday, receiving thousands of hits, likes and comments within minutes.The music video for “Come Back Home” is set in an undefined future, where people escape to a world of virtual reality. Once “plugged in,” they experience psychedelic effects as euphoric colors and odd images warp into an endless cosmos. The four girls eventually set fire

March 3, 2014

TVXQ wins big at Japanese music awards

South Korean pop duo TVXQ has scooped up five awards at the Japan Gold Disk Award 2014, including best Asian artist, the duo's management agency said Friday.Four other awards they won are Pop Album of The Year, Best 3 Albums, Song of the Year by Download and Best Music Videos, S.M. Entertainment said in a release.Girls' Generation, a K-pop group also management by the company, had two of its albums -- the second and third full-length albums -- on the Best 3 Albums list.Founded in 1987, the Japan

Feb. 28, 2014

Ham So-won announces breakup with Chinese property mogul

Actress Ham So-won has recently ended her four-year relationship with her Chinese boyfriend, real estate mogul Zhang Wei, Korean media reported Friday.“We decided to go separate ways to focus on our careers. We naturally grew apart as both of us have been extremely busy,” Ham told the Sports Chosun. “Zhang offered top-notch apartments in Beijing and land in Shanxi worth tens of billions won as farewell presents, but Ham turned down the offer,” a source close to the two was quoted as saying. The

Feb. 28, 2014

2NE1 tops major music charts with new album ‘Crush’

Popular K-pop girl group 2NE1 has returned to the music scene ― and with a powerful force.The four-member hip-hop-infused girl group released their sophomore studio album “Crush” on Thursday, immediately sweeping all local real-time music charts.The title track “Come Back Home” topped the music charts of major online music services such as Melon, Bugs Music, Naver Music, Daum Music, Cyworld Music, Soribada and Monkey3. “Gotta Be You,” another title track, trailed behind closely at second place.

Feb. 27, 2014

Actress Choi Ji-woo joins YG Entertainment

Top actress Choi Ji-woo has signed a contract with YG Entertainment, the agency announced on Wednesday. 　“Choi Ji-woo will continue her acting career under YG’s systematic and globalized management,” an official from YG Entertainment said. 　The veteran actress, who recently made a comeback with the drama “Suspicious Housekeeper,” is set to re-solidify her status as a queen of the Korean culture boom in Asia. 　YG Entertainment recently scouted top actor Cha Seung-won and a few other stars, a rare

Feb. 27, 2014

2 outgoing KARA members to start anew

The K-pop girl group KARA has already lost one member, Nicole, and is soon to lose a second, Ji-young.  (Captured from Nicole's instagram)Nicole went to the U.S. to study right after her contract with her management company, DSP Media, recently ended. She is currently considering a solo career and will return to South Korea at the end of March.She is reportedly planning to open a bakery in Shibuya, Tokyo. (Osen)The plans of Ji-young, another departing member, are also drawing attention in online

Feb. 26, 2014

Ok Taec-yeon to play troubled bodyguard

Since his debut as a member of the boy band 2PM over five years ago, Ok Taec-yeon has quickly cemented a career as a singing-acting double threat, starring opposite high-profile actresses like Moon Geun-young and Kim Tae-hee in various dramas. Now, the 25-year-old star is slated to play a tough-fisted bodyguard in KBS’ new weekend series “Wonderful Days,” where he will be rubbing shoulders with actress Kim Hee-seon and actor Lee Seo-jin. In the upcoming drama, Ok plays Kang Dong-hee, younger bro

Feb. 18, 2014