EXO to perform 1st concerts in May

EXO, an idol group with one of the largest fan followings in K-pop, will put on the group’s first concert since its debut nearly two years ago. In celebration of the group’s two-year anniversary, the 12 members of EXO will hold their first full concert at the Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium on May 24-25. According to representatives at SM Entertainment, EXO will also hold concerts in other major cities across Asia.EXO is scheduled to release its newest EP on April 15, and host a special showca

April 8, 2014

Lena Park returning with new album, solo concert

Popular Korean-American R&B singer Lena Park, also known as Park Jung-hyun, will return with a new EP “Syncrofusion” and a series of upcoming concerts in Seoul, Busan and Daegu. “Syncrofusion” is slated to be released on April 18 and will mark Park’s first album release following the artist’s eighth studio album “Parallax” nearly two years ago. The album was produced by Team 89, the producing team from local talent agency Mystic89, which is home to popular artists such as Cho Jung-chi, Lim Kim a

April 8, 2014

K-pop stars big in Japan, bridge diplomatic divide

TOKYO (AFP) ― Thousands of K-pop fans flocked to a major concert by top South Korean music stars in Japan last week, with organizers and fans alike calling it a “bridge” for two nations locked in a never-ending diplomatic squabble.The K-pop juggernaut has been spreading around the world with South Korean music, television and movies making a big splash in countries with few ties to Seoul.But the country’s offerings are particularly loved across the sea in Japan, whose own unique culture has long

April 7, 2014

Akdong Musician tops charts with debut album ‘Play’

“K-pop Star 2” winners Lee Chan-hyuk, 17, and Lee Soo-hyun, 14, of the brother-sister duo Akdong Musician finally released their debut album “Play” on Monday after taking the “K-pop Star” crown more than a year ago. Within hours of its release, the album hit the top of the K-pop charts. It took the top 11 spots on Naver’s real-time music chart while a handful of the album’s singles ranked in the Top Ten list on various online charts with the single “200%” topping all nine local charts.  Chan-hyu

April 7, 2014

Crowds gravitate to Nell shows after release of ‘Newton’s Apple’

South Korea’s signature alt-rock band Nell delivered a series of live performances last week at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Seoul, showcasing its new studio album “Newton’s Apple.”Nell’s concert on Friday night was best described as intimate, emotional and sentimental. Throughout the entire performance, the band’s dreamlike sounds and heartfelt lyrics drew in listeners like gravity, living up to the theme of its recent album.Since its debut 15 years ago, Nell has had a distinct style th

April 7, 2014

[Band Uprising] Lucite Tokki: classmates-turned-bandmates

As the Korean music market gains more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the sixth installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed. Cho Ye-jin and Kim Sun-young of the acoustic duo Lucite Tokki first met during a college music-writing course. Cho majored in singing while Kim was a guitar major, and as part of a class assignment, the students were asked to spl

April 6, 2014

Tiffany, Nichkhun confirmed dating

Tiffany, a Korean-American member of Girls’ Generation, is in a romantic relationship with Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul, a Thai-American member of K-pop group 2PM, their respective entertainment agencies confirmed on Friday.“Tiffany and Nichkhun have been in a relationship for four months,” a spokesperson for SM Entertainment, Girls’ Generation’s agency, told a sports daily.Rumors of their romantic relationship surfaced on March 11 after Nichkhun, 25, and Tiffany, 24, were seen on a date at a fusion

April 4, 2014

20th Dream Concert to showcase popular K-pop acts

The 20th edition of the Dream Concert, an annual showcase of popular K-pop acts, will take place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 7, the concert’s organizer Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association said on Tuesday.Under the slogan “We Love You Korea,” this year’s Dream Concert is scheduled to feature today’s hottest K-pop groups including Girls’ Generation, EXO, Beast, KARA, 4minute, B1A4, VIXX, A Pink, Girl’s Day, T-Ara, U-Kiss, BTOB, Rainbow, Crayon Pop, Boys Republic, Dal Shabet and m

April 2, 2014

No band is an island

A 3,500-full concert hall in Bangkok broke into the Korean version of “Happy Birthday” towards the end of the March 29 concert of rock band FTISLAND. A birthday cake was brought out with the mini figures of the five members who led in singing the song to celebrate six years in the industry since their debut.Bangkok was the last leg in the FTISLAND Sixth Anniversary Concert (FTHX) tour and fans came wearing their club’s official colour of yellow.The Thai capital is significant to the band because

April 2, 2014

Wheesung to come back with new EP

Wheesung (YMC Entertainment)Veteran singer-songwriter Wheesung is slated to make a comeback with a new album next month, marking his official return to the music scene since completing military duty last year.Wheesung is working on a new EP to be released in early May, his agency YMC Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album will be the singer’s first official EP release in more than two years. His last EP, “They Are Coming,” dropped in 2011. Since completing his military duty last August, W

April 1, 2014

Boy band EXO to return this month with showcase, EP

EXO, one of the nation’s most popular K-pop acts, is returning to the music scene with “EXO Comeback Show” at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium on April 15 as well as the release of its latest EP. Although the group will promote its new album separately in Korea and China through the subunit groups EXO-K and EXO-M, the upcoming showcase will combine the two to feature all 12 members. The group’s upcoming promotions will be done in collaboration with Samsung, and the showcase will be streamed live throug

April 1, 2014

BoA stars in Hollywood dance flick

BoA has taken her dance moves to Hollywood, becoming the leading lady in the independent dance flick “Make Your Move.” The movie is a Romeo and Juliet-inspired dance film directed by Hollywood filmmaker Duane Alder, who was also behind the scripts for box office smashes “Save the Last Dance” and “Step Up.”Starring alongside American dancer, choreographer and five-time “Dancing with the Stars” winner Derek Hough, BoA plays Aya, a dancer from Japan who leads the “Cobu” hip-hop dance crew in New Yo

April 1, 2014

Akdong Musician to debut next week

Akdong Musician, the winner of last year’s popular SBS singing audition program “K-pop Star 2,” will make its official debut next week.The young duo of singer-songwriter Lee Chan-hyuk and his sister and vocalist Lee Soo-hyun will release the album online on April 7, its agency, YG Entertainment, announced on its official blog Monday.Akdong Musician is scheduled to showcase these new songs on the upcoming episode of “K-pop Star 3” on April 6, the eve of its official release.Every song recorded on

March 31, 2014

[Herald Interview] Lee Michelle talks empowerment and breaking down stereotypes

Lee Michelle was first introduced to the public eye after auditioning for the first season of popular reality audition program K-pop Star in 2011, and has since further redefined racial stereotypes in Korea. Born to a Korean mother and African American father in the artistic rural town of Paju just north of Seoul, Lee grew up in Korea with her mother and older sister after her parents split. Her father returned to the States before she was born and to this day, Lee has never met him. Lee has alw

March 31, 2014

Crayon Pop returns with red headscarves and ‘Uh-ee’

The playful members of Crayon Pop are leaving their signature helmets behind and returning with a new dance and their fifth single “Uh-ee.”Crayon Pop, which shot to stardom thanks to the surprise hit single “Bar Bar Bar” and the trademark “straight-five engine dance,” unveiled its latest single at a showcase held at the Olleh Square in central Seoul on Friday. The ladies sauntered out onto the stage dressed like a pack of little red riding hoods and revealed that their latest costumes concept wa

March 30, 2014

[Band Uprising] Yellow Monsters encourage listeners to riot and rise against

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 fifth installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed. When it comes to punk rock, Yellow Monsters is everything one would expect from energetic head-banging, rioting and mosh pit catalyst rockers. Well known in the Hongdae rock scene, the trio quickly became one of

March 30, 2014

Korean pop singers Rain, G-Dragon win Chinese music awards

Two K-pop artists have won prizes at a music awards ceremony hosted by a Chinese online music service, their management agencies said Friday.Pop singer and actor Rain and G-Dragon, leader of the boy band BigBang, won awards for most influential overseas artist and for most popular artist from South Korea or Japan, respectively, at China's "QQ Music Awards," Cube Entertainment and YG Entertainment said. Rain performed some of his latest hit songs during the awards show held in the southern Chines

March 28, 2014

Alt-rock band Nell to showcase new album

Signature South Korean alt-rock band Nell is scheduled to hold a series of concerts next month, showcasing its new studio album “Newton’s Apple.”Nell will stage five live performances titled “Nell’s Season 2014 ― Newton’s Apple” at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Seoul from April 3-6.The four-member band, composed of vocalist and leader Kim Jong-wan, guitarist Lee Jae-kyung, bassist Lee Jung-hoon and drummer Chung Jae-won, entered the local music scene in 2001 with the indie album “Reflecti

March 27, 2014