K-pop merchandisers punished too lightly for unfair consumer practices: lawmaker

Punishments for unfair consumer practices by K-pop merchandise producers are too light compared to their profits, a lawmaker argued in the National Assembly audit. Rep. Kang Yu-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party said Monday that entertainment giant Hybe was fined only 3 million won ($2,200) for violating the rights of K-pop product consumers while earning over 1 trillion won over a period of three years from selling such products, raising questions over the punishments’ effective

K-popOct. 8, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream to host encore concert

NCT Dream will return to Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul for a three-date concert that will close its world tour, label SM Entertainment announced Tuesday. The seven-member NCT subunit will host the encore concert "Finale in Seoul" from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. The group will be hitting the same stage where it launched its tour “The Dream Show 3: Dreamscape” in May. The band has visited eight cities in Asia, 11 in North and Latin America, and it will begin touring five across Europe fr

K-popOct. 8, 2024

Baby Monster to release first full-length album in November

Rookie girl group Baby Monster will release its first full-length album, “Drip,” on Nov. 1, seven months after its April debut, YG Entertainment said Monday. The title track, "Drip," composed with the help of Big Bang’s G-Dragon, is expected to be a dance anthem for all ages. The other eight tracks include "Clik Clak," a hip-hop track described by YG Entertainment Chief Executive Producer Yang Hyun-suk as “unlike anything YG has ever presented before,&

K-popOct. 8, 2024

K-pop CEOs sidestep key issues at National Assembly audit

K-pop agencies on Monday denied or sidestepped responsibility for major issues in the industry during a National Assembly audit in Yeouido, Seoul. YG Entertainment CEO Yang Min-suk, SM Entertainment CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk and JYP Entertainment CEO Jimmy Jeong appeared to answer lawmakers’ questions about chart manipulation, album bundling with photo cards, fair trade law violations and choreography copyright issues. Hybe was represented by Joon Choi, CEO of its subsidiary Weverse Co. Rep. Lim

K-popOct. 7, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to return with 7th EP next month

Tomorrow X Together will make a comeback on Nov. 4 with seventh EP, Big Hit Music announced Monday. EP “The Star Chapter: Sanctuary” will be the first of its fourth series, which follows “chapters” of dream, chaos and name. The mini album comes about seven months since the band put out previous EP “minisode 3: Tomorrow,” which sold over a million copies on the day of release and swept music charts at home. The sixth EP debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 3 and

K-popOct. 7, 2024

[Herald Review] 2NE1 returns better than ever

“Come Back Home” echoed through the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, on Sunday evening, sparking ecstatic cheers from fans as all four members of the iconic K-pop girl group 2NE1 took to the stage for their first concert in over a decade. The group, comprising Sandara Park, CL, Park Bom and Minzy, dazzled in their signature eclectic outfits that have long defined their unique style. CL sported a striking red jacket with a large red ribbon, while Sandara Park showcased a bold bole

K-popOct. 7, 2024

Can Jennie break the K-pop solo artist slump?

All eyes are on Jennie of Blackpink as she prepares to release her new solo single, "Mantra," on Oct. 11 -- her first release since "You & Me" came out a year ago. Amid the recent struggles of her fellow female K-pop solo artists, many wonder if an idol as successful as Jennie can break the current slump. Several female K-pop soloists, such as Chungha, Somi and Sunmi, have recently been unable to replicate their past chart successes domestically and internationally. Chu

K-popOct. 6, 2024

Korean bands get their day in the sun, finally

Bands are dominating local charts at the moment, led by JYP Entertainment's pop-rock sensation Day6. With four of their old and new tracks among the top 10 on Melon’s music chart as of Friday -- “Happy” and “Welcome to the Show” claiming the No. 1 and No. 3 spots and “Melt Down” and “Time of Our Life” holding strong at No. 4 and No. 6, respectively -- it’s clear the Korean music scene is in the midst of a band craze. Day6 is no new

K-popOct. 4, 2024

BTS-themed moon jar to be unveiled on Hangeul Day

Cultural objects like a white porcelain moon jar will be reimagined with a BTS theme, Hybe, the label behind the K-pop superstars, announced Friday. Fourteen items decorated with BTS lyrics and designs linked to the seven-member boy band have been created in the latest collaboration between Hybe and the state-run National Museum Foundation of Korea, Hybe said. A white porcelain moon jar and a seated pensive bodhisattva and are some of the items to be made public Wednesday, which is also Hangeul

K-popOct. 4, 2024

Coldplay to celebrate release ‘Moon Music’ with Han River drone show

To celebrate the release of "Moon Music," a drone light show featuring 1,000 drones will light up the night sky at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul on Friday to celebrate the release of British pop band Coldplay's latest LP, "Moon Music," the same day. Music producer Max Martin, who has been working with Coldplay as a co-writer and producer since Coldplay’s 2014 album “Ghost Stories,” also took part in producing the 10-track album. The track listing inclu

K-popOct. 4, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] aespa floats teaser for 5th EP

A series of teaser content for aespa’s upcoming fifth EP has been uploadedto promote the new mini album. Short-form clips for “Whiplash,” including snippets of the six tracks and a website dedicated to the mini album, allowed fans to mix and download parts of the titular track. The EP will be fully unveiled on Oct. 21. The album release comes amid the group’s ongoing second international tour “Synk: Parallel Line” which expanded to include North and Latin Am

K-popOct. 4, 2024

Seventeen to take over Apgujeong

Seventeen is set to unveil a revamped “Seventeen Street” event from Oct. 16-25 in Apgujeong, southern Seoul. Pledis Entertainment on Thursday shared a guidebook on the global fan platform Weverse detailing the offline event, which it is calling "Seventeen Street in Apgujeong." This year, the space will embrace themes of "Feel" and "Fill," aligning with the release of Seventeen's upcoming album, "Spill the Feels." Visitors can expect a vari

K-popOct. 4, 2024

Slew of top K-pop stars ready to return from military

A wave of major K-pop artists are gearing up to reenter the music scene after completing their mandatory military service. Monsta X’s Minhyuk was the first of the bunch, officially concluding his military service on Thursday. Of the six bandmates of Monsta X, only Shownu and Minhyuk have completed their duties thus far, with the group expected to be fully reunited next year. Ong Seongwu, a singer and actor known for his debut via season two of Mnet’s "Produce 101" as part o

K-popOct. 4, 2024

K-pop star lip-syncing controversy flares up again

As K-pop stars continue to gain global popularity and greater recognition in the music industry, fans have come to hold higher expectations for their live performances. Many K-pop fans now expect impressive vocal performances during live shows, with little tolerance for lip-syncing. However, music insiders explain that it is nearly impossible for K-pop idols to sing perfectly while performing dynamic choreography. The challenge lies in how well they combine prerecorded vocals with live singing o

K-popOct. 3, 2024

G-Dragon to make talk show debut on tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’

G-Dragon of the legendary K-pop group Big Bang is set to make his talk show debut on tvN’s “You Quiz On The Block” in time for his much-anticipated comeback this month. According to tvN, the episode featuring G-Dragon was recorded Wednesday and is scheduled to air later this month. In this episode, he will share insights about his journey as a member of Big Bang, his experiences as a solo K-pop artist and his long break from music. He is also expected to address the illegal dru

K-popOct. 3, 2024

Copyright group seeks cooperative solutions for music at gyms

Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), the largest music copyright management organization in the country, plans to prioritize raising copyright awareness through active promotion, rather than taking legal action against gym owners not compliant with the copyright music regulation. KOMCA Chair Chu Ga-yeoul recently visited 11 centers across the country responsible for collecting music copyright fees from gyms, collecting on-site complaints. “Creating an environment where copyright ho

K-popOct. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to release 2nd LP in Japan next month

Stray Kids are set to roll out their second full-length album in Japan “Giant” on Nov. 13, label JYP Entertainment said Tuesday. The eight-member act debuted in Japan in March 2020 with the best-of album “SKZ2020” and has put out three mini albums, two physical singles and a full-length album. Their latest EP, “Social Path (feat. LiSA)/ Super Bowl - Japanese ver.,” from September last year swept all Oricon charts -- daily, weekly, weekly combined and monthly a

K-popOct. 2, 2024

Blackpink’s Rose to release 1st solo LP ‘Rosie’ in December

Rose, a member of the iconic K-pop girl group Blackpink, is set to release her first full-length solo album more than eight years after her debut. The Black Label, the singer's agency, announced Wednesday that Rose's first studio album “Rosie” would be released Dec. 6. The title of the album, "Rosie,” is Rose's nickname. The album is expected to reflect the singer's identity, generating expectations that she would share her personal stories and experien

K-popOct. 2, 2024

Will trot bring a breath of fresh air to K-pop?

As K-pop continues its significant expansion in the global market, another genre has been surging rapidly in the domestic music industry: Trot. Following the remarkable success of some trot singers, major K-pop powerhouses are diving into the unexpected combination of trot and K-pop. Trot -- part of the Korean popular music scene since the 1930s -- is a genre characterized by lively rhythms and abundant use of vibrato, the lyrics often catering to the sentiments of the older generations, However

PerformanceOct. 2, 2024

Minho of SHINee to hold first-ever solo concert

Minho of SHINee will hold a stand-alone concert, his first in 16 years. According to SM Entertainment, Minho will host the "Mean: of my first" on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. This will be the singer's first solo concert since his debut with SHINee 16 years ago. Minho released his first solo track with the physical single "Heartbreak" in December 2021, followed by his first EP "Chase" in December 2022. I

K-popOct. 2, 2024