K-pop stars set to perform at 'World K-pop Concert' next month

A two-day Korean culture festival will bring together K-pop acts like NCT Dream and aespa next month to provide comfort to people around the world who are exhausted from COVID-19, the culture ministry said Wednesday. "The K-Culture Festival - 2021 World K-pop Concert" will take place at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul, on Nov. 13-14, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The event is aimed at comforting Korean Wave f

K-popOct. 27, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Kai to return with solo music next month: report

Kai of EXO is preparing a new solo album that will be released at the end of November, according to local media reports Tuesday. 　 Label SM Entertainment confirmed the news and asked fans to keep their eyes peeled. 　 The veteran idol put out his first solo music in November last year. The eponymous EP consisted of six songs including main track “Mmmh,” and topped iTunes top albums chart in 50 regions. 　 Now in his 10th year as a musician, also as a member of EXO and SuperM, he has

K-popOct. 26, 2021

[Herald Review] BTS embraces vulnerability, connects with fans in ‘PTD On Stage’

Over the past year, global K-pop sensation BTS‘ virtual concerts have showcased impressive technological innovation, creative renditions of the group’s biggest hits and elaborate productions, but for Sunday’s livestreamed gig, the septet took time to return to the basics of a traditional concert. “BTS Permission To Dance On Stage,” kicked off at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul, the exact location where the group had held their last concert in

K-popOct. 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhypen enters Billboard at No. 11

Enhypen arrived on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 11 with its first full-length album “Dimension: Dilemma,” the publication tweeted on Sunday, US time. 　 The album was released on Oct. 12 and for the second time in its less-than-a-year-long career, the boy band found itself on the chart. The group’s second EP “Border: Carnival” from April debuted at No. 18 on the chart. 　 In Japan, the LP topped Oricon’s daily and weekly album charts as well as weekly total a

K-popOct. 25, 2021

BTS to hold online concert for first time in almost 1 year

K-pop superband BTS was set to hold an online concert, "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage," on Sunday, featuring cutting-edge visual effects, according to its management agency. The seven-piece act's performance on a scale equivalent to an offline concert will be livestreamed from a local stadium, starting at 6:30 p.m., Big Hit Music said. It is BTS' first global online concert in about a year. The agency said powerful visual effects will help the audience enjoy computer-generated vis

K-popOct. 24, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen releases 1st English song

Seventeen put out its ninth EP, “Attacca,” on Friday, with its first English-language song “2 Minus 1” included among the seven tracks.   　 “It is a song that Joshua and I sang together,” explained Vernon. It is a digital-only track and was made in English “to express our gratitude toward our fans from around the world,” he said.   　 The two searched for the best genre to highlight their charms, and as per Vernon’s suggestion, cho

K-popOct. 22, 2021

Seventeen ready to rock the stage with ‘Rock with You’

K-pop sensation Seventeen welcomed the fall foliage, autumn breeze and the romance of October by dropping their ninth EP, “Attacca,” on Friday afternoon, returning in nearly four months after their previous work. “Attacca” is a follow-up to the band’s previous album and its “Power of Love project.” The EP is aptly named -- attacca is a direction in music at the end of a movement to begin the next without pause. In a press conference on Friday, the 1

K-popOct. 22, 2021

BTS set to host online concert this weekend

K-pop superband BTS will hold an online concert, "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage," this weekend, featuring fresh up-to-date viewing technologies, its management agency said Friday. The seven-piece act's performance on a scale equivalent to an offline concert will be livestreamed from a local stadium Sunday, according to Big Hit Music. It is BTS' first global online concert in about a year. "This event is designed to help our fans feel like they are at the concert in person,&qu

K-popOct. 22, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Kingdom brings snowy story to stage

Boy band Kingdom held an online showcase for its third EP, “History of Kingdom: Part 3 Ivan,” Thursday.   　 The EP was themed after a snow king and the performance dramatizes a battle set against a snow-covered kingdom. The band has been putting out a seven-part series, each installment on kings from different backgrounds. As the title of the album states, the band’s Ivan is the main character in the new EP. Arthur and Chiwoo took central roles in the first and second EPs

K-popOct. 21, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] CNBlue returns after 11 months with 9th EP

CNBlue came out with its ninth EP, “Wanted,” on Wednesday and hosted a talk show to mark the release.   　 For the first time since the band debuted in 2010, the bandmates opted for a theme and fashioned themselves into hunters.   　 “We’ve looked back at the albums so far and realized that we didn’t have a visual theme yet. ... We thought it would be nice to be fuller in terms of appearance,” said Jung Yonghwa.   　 They went for looks tinged wit

K-popOct. 20, 2021

History foundation releases new Dokdo song 'Island'

A history foundation released a new song about South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on Wednesday in an effort to enhance the world's understanding of the islets as part of Korean territory. The Northeast Asian History Foundation unveiled the song titled "Island" via its social media accounts and major domestic music services at noon along with the song's music video. The R&B pop number was written and composed by three artists -- DINT, T-lack and Hertz -- and sung by Lee So-

K-popOct. 20, 2021

Nam Woo-hyun looking forward to starting heyday

As an early cold snap gripped South Korea, with record-low temperatures for mid-October, Nam Woo-hyun of boy band Infinite welcomed the cool weather. The singer dropped his fourth EP, “With,” Tuesday evening nearly two years after his previous work. The six-song package talks about thanking the fans who waited so long for the artist’s music. As the title suggests, it is about being together with someone or doing something together, the singer said Tuesday during an online pre

K-popOct. 19, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Infinite’s Nam Woohyun seeks to outshine former self

Nam Woohyun of Infinite held an online showcase to present his fourth solo EP, “With,” Tuesday.   　 It has been almost 2 1/2 years since he left to serve his military duty as a social service agent.   　 “I might be slightly nervous since it’s been a while, but I’ve put a lot of effort into this album,” said the singer. For the last three weeks, he had trouble sleeping, he confided, thinking and worrying too much. Even though he did not completely s

K-popOct. 19, 2021

From music to fashion, BTS is the music style icon

K-pop sensation BTS debuted in 2013 with high-top sneakers, bandanas, shades and snapbacks. While the boy band style in the K-pop scene was all about putting on glad rags, little did the industry know the septet would be leading creative hijinks in the fashion industry. And apart from having among the highest net worths in the South Korean A-list, the seven bandmates are also known for their tastes for adventurous fashion. Last month, South Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed the globetro

K-popOct. 19, 2021

BTS to join LA stop of this year's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour

Globally popular K-pop group BTS will perform on the Los Angeles stop of this year's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, the largest year-end radio show in the United States, organizers said Tuesday. The septet was included in a star-studded lineup for the LA show scheduled for Dec. 3, the iHeartRadio, the country's largest online radio platform, announced on its website and social media. The South Korean band will open the show performing its mega-hit songs "Dynamite" and "Butter,&qu

K-popOct. 19, 2021

[Herald Interview] Seori: Sharing a piece of herself to make healing music

Facing the deepest, darkest emotions in life, we are often comforted not through words of hope, but by the presence of someone who sits by us silently, sharing our feelings. Seori, making a splash debut into the global spotlight last year with her soulful, husky voice, hoped her music could be that friend beside her listeners in life, sharing a piece of her own, genuine story in her songwriting. “I remember, I decided it was a singer-songwriter that I wanted to become when I realized tha

K-popOct. 18, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Lee Jinhyuk reaches out to fans with 4th EP

Lee Jinhyuk held an online showcase Monday to discuss his fourth EP, “Ctrl+V.”   　 Even though it has not been long since his previous EP, “Scene26,” he acknowledged he was full of excitement.   　 “I am working in a range of areas but am most excited when I get to present a new side of me as a singer,” said the singer and actor.   　 “The expectant feelings for the first solo album are still vivid, but it already is the fourth,” he s

K-popOct. 18, 2021

Big Hit Music to host global audition to recruit talent

Big Hit Music, the K-pop agency behind BTS and Tomorrow X Together, said Monday it will throw a global audition to launch a next-generation boy band. Any males born after 2002 can apply from Monday through Dec. 20 regardless of their nationality and country of residence, according to the agency. Applicants are required to send a video of themselves singing, rapping and dancing along with their frontal photo to the audition website at bighitaudition.com. The video should be at least longer than

K-popOct. 18, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] The Boyz to return on Nov. 1

The Boyz will come out with new music in November, agency Cre.ker Entertainment announced Friday. 　 It has been only three months since it rolled out its sixth EP, “Thrill-ing,” which brought five trophies from television music chart shows. The title track “Thrill Ride” topped iTunes’ songs chart in 36 regions. 　 Local media reported last week that the band was shooting a music video in Seoul. 　 Earlier this month, the boy band was named artist of the year at 20

K-popOct. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa to collaborate with DJ Snake, Megan Thee Stallion

Lisa of Blackpink will team up with DJ Snake, Megan Thee Stallion and Ozuna, the French-Algerian producer/DJ announced via his Instagram on Thursday. 　 He shared a 30 second teaser that showed number plates -- with the names of the singers and himself -- on black cars, with the caption, “Coming Soon.” Label YG Entertainment confirmed the news. 　 Lisa left for Paris on Oct. 4 and is currently in France, reportedly working on the project and shooting a music video. She is due to be b

K-popOct. 14, 2021