[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin to enlist

Jin of BTS will be the first member of the septet to enlist. His enlistment was pushed back to end of this year as recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, but he will retract the deferral later this month and follow the procedure for mandatory military service, said label Big Hit Music on Monday. The rest of the members will carry out their duties according to their respective plans, and everyone is hoping to resume full-group activities approximately in 2025, the company ad

K-popOct. 17, 2022

Lee Chan-hyuk says death is the beginning of his new musical life through first solo album ‘Error’

As the phrase goes, every end is the beginning of something new. For sing Lee Chan-hyuk, it took eight years as a part of sibling duo AKMU to finalize the pieces of his solo identity and put together his first solo album, “Error,” which dropped Monday evening. Though there are many terms that can signal a new start, the word that surrounds the whole album is “death." The Lee Chan-hyuk that people are aware of has disappeared, and a new Lee Chan-hyuk has arrived, said the s

K-popOct. 17, 2022

[Herald Review] Blackpink wraps up in Seoul, jet-sets off on world tour

Blackpink successfully embarked on its first world tour in four years, "Born Pink," kicking it off in Seoul over the weekend. The concerts were held on Saturday and Sunday at the KSPO Dome in Jamsil, Seoul, and the two sold-out shows drew a total of 20,000 people. KSPO Dome is a sports complex with a capacity of some 15,000 seats, but the band's label YG Entertainment said it limited tickets out of safety concerns. The 120-minute gig on Sunday night opened with "How You Like That,

K-popOct. 17, 2022

[Herald Review] BTS' 'Yet To Come' concert brings the world to Busan

BTS' Busan concert on Saturday was not just a live music show, but a promise with the fans of the future it has ahead and a declaration to the world that its best is still yet to come. "Whatever happens, if the seven of us hope for the same and if you guys trust us, we will overcome everything and continue to be happy and hold concerts," the band leader RM said to the crowd during the concert. BTS' concert "'Yet To Come' in Busan" took place at the Busan Asiad Stadium on Satu

K-popOct. 16, 2022

[From the Scene] BTS paints Busan purple with ‘Yet to Come’ concert, events

  BUSAN -- K-pop sensation BTS has covered Busan in a shade of purple. The boy band’s fandom, Army, from all over the world has flocked to the country’s second-largest city in unison to feel the festive vibes on the day of the septet’s concert, "BTS 'Yet to Come' in Busan" on Saturday. The music event was planned to support and promote Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. While it was scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. at the Asiad Main Stadium, tens of

K-popOct. 16, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids sets sales record with 7th EP

     Stray Kids’ seventh EP “Maxident” sold over 2.18 million copies in the first week of its release, label JYP Entertainment said Friday. The EP became the fourth-most sold album in K-pop history and the band the second-bestselling artist. The top three bestselling albums all belong to BTS. Main track “Case 143” headed straight to the top of Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs Powered By Twitter chart, raising expectations that it would also r

K-popOct. 14, 2022

BTS’ Busan concert looms amid purple frenzy

  With only two days left until K-pop superband BTS' concert in Busan, the city has flushed into the shade of purple with a series of events taking place to welcome the band and its fans. The septet is holding its concert "BTS 'Yet To Come' in Busan" on Saturday in its efforts to support and promote Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The city has literally lightened up in purple as landmark spots, from Busan City Hall to the Gwangan Bridge and Busan Tower, gleam in purple ev

K-popOct. 13, 2022

Kep1er returns to solve problems in 3rd EP ‘Troubleshooter’

Right in time for the season of leather jackets, Kep1er returned with a girl crush concept. Leaving its usual cute and perky image behind, the girl group dropped its third EP, “Troubleshooter,” Thursday evening. This marks a return after nearly four months for the rookie K-pop act, since its second EP, “Doublast,” in June. Before releasing the new album, the band successfully forayed into Japan's music market with its Japanese debut album, “Fly-Up,” last

K-popOct. 13, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Kep1er’s Kim Dayeon dating Ciipher’s Won: report

  Kim Dayeon of Kep1er and Won of Ciipher are seeing each other romantically, according to a local media report on Thursday. There have already been speculations among fans that they are in a relationship, as the pair uploaded on social media their pictures visiting the same places, wearing the same clothes. Kep1er’s agency told the media outlet that it will not deny the rumor. “We’re not responding to the dating rumor because we don’t see a reason,” it said. R

K-popOct. 13, 2022

Park Ji-hoon hopes ‘My Answer’ will give listeners 'genuine happiness'

Having spent a year away from music, singer Park Ji-hoon has returned with his sixth EP, “The Answer,” which dropped Wednesday evening. “I was on hiatus for quite a long time since I was busy shooting a drama and doing other activities. I’m a little nervous and excited at the same time thinking that I’ll be able to see my fans in person,” he said during Wednesday’s online press conference. “Since I’m putting out an album after so long, I dyed

K-popOct. 13, 2022

Kwon Eun-bi hopes to cause a stir in K-pop scene with 3rd EP 'Lethality'

Kwon Eun-bi, formerly leader of Iz*One, returned to the stage Wednesday with her third EP, “Lethality." The singer held a press showcase to talk about the album and its production at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul, ahead of the EP's release at 6 p.m. the same day. The new album marks the soloist’s return after a six-month break following the release of the second EP, “Color,” released in June. “Like the lexical meaning of the word ‘lethality,’ my goal

K-popOct. 12, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Ex-Iz*One Lee Chaeyeon shares excitement with solo debut EP

    Lee Chaeyeon, formerly of Iz*One, held a media showcase in Seoul Wednesday to bring out her first solo EP “Hush Rush.” “I am nervous filling up the stage on my own, not as a team, but am also excited to show a new side of me,” she said. She has paved her way as a performer through a string of audition shows, including “Produce 48,” through which the multinational girl group was formed. “I’ve missed the stage so much and couldn’t

K-popOct. 12, 2022

[Herald Interview] Baekho makes solo debut with EP 'Absolute Zero'

Physics considers absolute zero to be the lowest temperature possible. At this point, all particles inside a substance are motionless. Baekho said he felt like he was in that state when he first started making his first solo album earlier this year, unconstrained yet unable to take the next step. "When I first thought of making an album, I didn't know what kind of song to write. It didn't really hit me at first, and I felt kind of lost," the singer said during an interview

K-popOct. 12, 2022

Mamamoo ready to 'cause an incident' with 12th EP, 'Mic On'

With sounds of rustling leaves as a backdrop across the country, girl group Mamamoo made its way back to the music charts as a full unit with its 12th EP, “Mic On,” which released Tuesday evening. This marks a return for the band a year after “I Say,” an album that celebrated the K-pop act’s seventh anniversary in September 2021. During Tuesday’s press conference, Solar said the new album shows who Mamamoo is. Moon-byul added that the album’s title could

K-popOct. 11, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Chen to make his solo return

  Chen of EXO will roll out his third solo EP on Oct. 31, the singer's label SM Entertainment announced on Tuesday. The “Last Scene” EP comes about three years after the release of “Dear My Dear.” The new EP will consist of six tracks. He completed serving his military duty in April and resumed activities as a member of the band, joining bandmates Suho and Kai on stage for the label’s all-star concert in Tokyo, despite mixed responses from fans. In January 2020

K-popOct. 11, 2022

Dreamcatcher continues to send message of climate action with 7th EP ‘Apocalypse: Follow Us’

Girl group Dreamcatcher returned to the music scene with its seventh EP, “Apocalypse: Follow Us” on Tuesday. The seven-member act aims to continuously share its heartfelt message, calling for action to protect the earth through its new songs. It marks the septet’s return after a six-month hiatus following the release of its second full-length album, “Apocalypse: Save Us,” dropped in April. The new album is the sequel to the group’s previous release. At a press

K-popOct. 11, 2022

Shinhwa’s Shin Hye-sung arrested for refusing to breathalyze in stolen vehicle

Shin Hye-sung of the K-pop male group Shinhwa has been arrested for refusing to take a breathalyzer test. The vehicle that he was driving was registered as stolen. Seoul Songpa Police Station said that Shin was apprehended in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, around 1:40 a.m., Tuesday, for refusing to comply with a breathalyzer test. Police received a call addressing a stopped vehicle in the middle of the road. When they arrived at the scene, the singer was sleeping in the car, according to the sta

K-popOct. 11, 2022

AKMU’s Lee Chan-hyuk to put out solo debut album led by ‘Panorama’

Lee Chan-hyuk of K-pop sibling duo AKMU is gearing up to release his first solo album this month. The upcoming album’s lead track will be “Panorama,” YG Entertainment, the duo’s agency, said Monday. With the announcement, the K-pop powerhouse also released a new poster image hinting at the message of the new song. It shows the musician bending his back and gazing upward in a dark tunnel. His first individual album, “Error” is set to drop on Oct. 17. Details on

K-popOct. 10, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim’s 2nd EP sells over half million copies in pre-orders

Le Sserafim’s forthcoming EP sold more than 560,000 million units in pre-orders as of Friday, according to a distributor. EP “Antifragile” started receiving pre-orders on Sept. 19 and surpassed the sales record of its debut album “Fearless.” The EP will be the rookie girl group's first album since it became a quintet. A trailer for the new EP, dubbed “The Hydra” after one of the five tracks, clocked up 1 million views on YouTube in about 10 hours. On Sa

K-popOct. 7, 2022

Stray Kids can be darlings: Boy band returns with ‘Maxident’ that spells out love

As once-verdant leaves are transforming into reds and browns of autumn, Stray Kids welcomed the season with their new album “Maxident” on Friday evening to navigate the seasons of love. This marks the boy band’s return nearly seven months after it released its sixth EP, “Oddinary,” in March. “We didn’t know how to prepare for our new album. We’ve received so much love in the thick of our second ‘Maniac’ world tour, and our skills and st

K-popOct. 7, 2022