[Today’s K-pop] Lee Hyori to be MAMA’s first female host

Lee Hyori will become the first female host of the Mnet Asian Music Awards, Mnet announced Wednesday. 　 She will be the messenger that links artists and music fans across the world at the 2021 MAMA, slated for Dec. 11, it said. Titled “Make Some Noise, this year’s annual music award ceremony aims to deliver the power of music through respect for differences and to challenge prejudice, it added, describing her as the “singular person” who is aligned with the ideas. 　 MAMA

K-popOct. 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice hits Billboard 100 at No. 83 with new single

Twice entered Billboard 100 at No. 83 with its first English-language single, “The Feels,” according to the newest tally from the publication that became available on Monday in the US. 　 This is the first time the female band hit the chart although its 10th EP, “Taste of Love,” ranked No. 6 on Billboard 200. Twice became the fourth K-pop band to make it on the singles chart, after Wonder Girls, BTS and Blackpink. 　 The single positioned itself as No. 10 and No. 12 on Bil

K-popOct. 12, 2021

Enhypen aims for the top with ‘Dimension: Dilemma’

Rookie boy band Enhypen dropped the group’s first full-length album “Dimension: Dilemma” on Monday. During a press conference in Seoul a day ahead of the album’s release, the bandmates spoke of their shared goal to become the No. 1 K-pop group with the new album. “Many call us fourth-generation K-pop icons, but we’d like to go beyond that title to become the most aspiring among all K-pop idol acts,” Jungwon said during the media event, which was lives

K-popOct. 12, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice to release 3rd LP in November

Twice will come out with its third studio album, “Formula of Love: O+T=<3,” Nov. 12, announced label JYP Entertainment on Friday. 　 In the poster, the nine band members sit in rows of three at tables filled with lab equipment. Chemical symbols and formulas peek out from underneath the picture along with “You + Me -> Love.” 　 The release, along with the news of an upcoming tour, was hinted at in the video for “The Feels,” the band’s first English

K-popOct. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Jo Yuri debuts as solo artist

Jo Yuri, formerly of disbanded IZ*ONE, held an online showcase on Thursday to put out her first solo album. 　 “I’ve been so nervous preparing the album, but feel calm at the actual showcase,” she said admitting that she is feeling the right amount of tension and worry. 　 The mini album “Glassy” consists of three songs, including the main track of the same-title. 　 “[The title track] made me think of a fairy tale. And I tried to express the ambience both thro

K-popOct. 7, 2021

Goyang City, hometown of BTS member RM, unveils mural of beloved star

On Sept. 12, Goyang City unveiled a new tourist attraction after weeks of painting: a mural of K-pop star RM of boy band BTS. The rapper grew up in Ilsan, a district within Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the outskirts of the capital. In August, Goyang City Hall said it was partnering with the artist’s fandom, MoNiJunNi, on a special project to celebrate his 28th birthday. The city and MoNiJunNi jointly announced that they would paint an 18-by-12-meter mural on the side of the Goyang Touris

K-popOct. 7, 2021

BTS, the biggest boyband ever?

BTS has topped the Billboard Hot 100 again Tuesday with “My Universe,” its collaborative single with Coldplay, piling onto the otherworldly feats by the pop sensation that has popped out five No.1 singles in a little over a year. It marked the Septet’s 11th week on the top spot this year, more than any other musical act, and was Coldplay’s second US No. 1 since “Viva La Vida” in 2008. It also debuted No.1 on the Digital Song Sales chart, fitting for the boyba

K-popOct. 6, 2021

N. Flying comforts youth through ‘Sober’

After N. Flying teased a snippet of their promotions on social media, the South Korean rap-rock band who hit it big with their megahit song “Rooftop” is back with another album after nearly four months. The five-member rock band dropped “Turbulence,” a repackage of their first full album, which was released Wednesday evening. The repackaged album talks about how one can always take a leap of faith after wandering through reality and confusion. If the first LP, “M

K-popOct. 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] N.Flying rolls out repacked 1st LP

N.Flying held an online talk show on Wednesday to discuss their repacked first full-length album. 　 The bandmates reassured fans that they all are healthy and ready for the upcoming activities. All five of them returned after being infected with COVID-19 last month. 　 “It was (like going through) ‘turbulence’ for the members as is the name of the new album,” said Yoo Hwe-seung. He apologized for worrying many and recalled their first gathering after recovery. 　 As the

K-popOct. 6, 2021

aespa ready to fight Black Mamba in ‘Savage’

K-pop girl group aespa is back more ferocious than ever, and ready to expand further into the metaverse in the band’s first EP, “Savage.” The quartet held an online press conference Tuesday morning ahead of dropping the new album at 6 p.m. that day. With the album’s preorder volume surpassing 400,000 copies Monday, the rookie girl group from K-pop powerhouse S.M. Entertainment is off to a good start with their first physical album. “We’re both excited and

K-popOct. 5, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] GOT7’s Youngjae puts out solo debut album

Youngjae of GOT7 hosted an online showcase event to introduce his solo debut EP, “Colors From Ars,” Tuesday. 　 He is taking his first steps as a solo musician seven years after debuting as a member of the band. 　 That feels good, said the musician, but makes him nervous at the same time. 　 “But I’d rather take this as a challenge and would like to focus more on the fact that I’ve done it than trying to figure out if it was a failure or a success,” he said.

K-popOct. 5, 2021

Woodz makes autumn the season of love with ‘Only Lovers Left’

As the fall foliage is imminent in South Korea, singer Woodz welcomed the golden-orange landscape of October with his warm glow of love. Cho Seung-young, better known by his stage name Woodz, is back with another love song. The singer-songwriter returned after nearly seven months with his third EP, “Only Lovers Left,” which was released Tuesday evening. The six-song package is an album that talks about “emotions of love.” It’s all about being head-over-heels in

K-popOct. 5, 2021

aespa hopes to move on to 'next level' with new EP

K-pop girl group aespa unveiled its first EP "Savage" Tuesday, expressing hope to move on to a higher level with the album directed by Lee Soo-man, the chief producer and founder of major K-pop agency SM Entertainment. "We're so thrilled and nervous to release our first physical album," the group said during an online press showcase event for the album set to be out at 6 p.m. "We'll show you aespa upgraded one level with 'Savage,' so please keep an eye on us." The

K-popOct. 5, 2021

ITZY debuts at No. 11 on Billboard main albums chart with 'Crazy In Love'

K-pop girl group ITZY landed at 11th on the US Billboard's main albums chart, its highest chart position ever, with "Crazy In Love," Billboard said. The group's first studio album, released on Sept. 24, ranked 11th on the Billboard 200 for this week, Billboard said on its Twitter account Monday (US time). This is the third highest ranking on the chart by a K-pop girl group after BLACKPINK's second and TWICE's sixth. The five-piece act made it onto the chart for the first time in Ma

K-popOct. 5, 2021

BTS-Coldplay collaboration 'My Universe' debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

K-pop supergroup BTS made another No. 1 debut on Billboard's main singles chart with a collaboration single with British rock band Coldplay, Billboard said. "Coldplay and BTS rocket onto the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart at No. 1 with their collaborative new single 'My Universe'," Billboard said on its website Monday (US time). It marks BTS' sixth No. 1 debut and Coldplay's second on the Hot 100, one of the pop music industry's most influential music charts. Billboard said "My

K-popOct. 5, 2021

[Herald Review] TXT’s magical first concert, ‘Act: Boy’

Sitting through the two and half hours of Tomorrow X Together’s online concert on Sunday afternoon, it was breathtaking to watch how closely the five band members connected with their fans, the Moas, even with only a virtual presence. “Although I’ve heard screams so loud that they pierce through the in-ear headphones, it’s my first time hearing them come straight into my ears from the headphones,” said Taehyun during the concert, “Act: Boy,” on the di

K-popOct. 4, 2021

BTS-Coldplay collaboration 'My Universe' debuts at No. 3 on British Official Singles Chart

"My Universe," the collaboration single by K-pop sensation BTS and British rock band Coldplay, has debuted at No. 3 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, on par with two previous highest rankings for the South Korean group. The song, which was released Sept. 24, placed third on the chart dated Oct. 1-7, the Official Charts website said Friday (British time). "It's the week's biggest seller across both digital downloads and CD, notching up 27,000 pure sales over the last

K-popOct. 2, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice to mark 6th anniversary with LP, tour

Twice will release its third studio album next month followed by an international tour, after celebrating its sixth anniversary month with a week-long event. 　 The news came at the end of the music video for its first English-language single “The Feels” that was unveiled Friday. Some of the group’s songs -- including “More & More” from 9th EP, “I Can’t Stop Me” from 2nd LP, and digital single “Cry for Me” -- have English-language v

K-popOct. 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen shows off team spirit

The members of Seventeen gave fans a glimpse of their shared history divulging episodes from the last six years in a video uploaded on Friday. 　 Members of vocal unit -- Junghan, Joshua, Woozi, Dogyeom and Seungkwan -- were in the first part of the three-part series. 　 “There is no need to worry when we’re doing activities as units,” said Woozi, “I think we’re on the same wavelength.” 　 Every recording is a challenge, admitted Junghan. He almost thought abo

K-popSept. 30, 2021

E’last stages complete comeback with new single ‘Dark Dream’

The eight-piece boy band E’last returned on Wednesday as a complete group in 10 months with their single album “Dark Dream.” Member Wonjun, who had sat out during the promotional activities for the previous EP “Awake” to emcee television show “Boni, Hani,” has returned, rejoiced to be back with his bandmates. In an interview conducted ahead of their comeback, the group said via email, “E’last shines the brightest when all eight members ar

K-popSept. 29, 2021