[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Baekhyun starts military service

Baekhyun of EXO shared photos of himself with close-shaven hair, bidding a temporary farewell to his fans Thursday. There also was a picture with bandmate Seho, who was touching his hair with a smile. 　 The veteran idol began his training the same day, which was also his birthday. The exact time and location were not announced. After three weeks of training, he will start his alternative duty as a public service worker, as he has hypothyroidism. 　 He first shared the news of his enlisting in A

K-popMay 6, 2021

Rookie girl group aespa to drop new song in May

Rookie K-pop girl group aespa will release new single "Next Level" on May 17, the group's agency said Thursday. The four-piece group, trained and produced by K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment, made its debut in November with single "Black Mamba." The song made a splash on global music charts, landing on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart and topping streaming on the Korean music chart ran by China's QQ Music. The song's music video also became the fastest debut music video

K-popMay 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee to mark 13th anniversary with livestream

Shinee is hosting an online event to celebrate the 13th anniversary of debut. 　 To spend the anniversary with its fans, the quartet will take to Naver’s V Live for a live fan meeting on May 25. It has been holding the “SHINee Day” event annually, and this year decided to go virtual. The band will perform a series of hit songs, share episodes from their recent promotional activities and play games. 　 The veteran idols put out their seventh studio album, “Don’t Cal

K-popMay 4, 2021

BTS' J-hope donates W100m for children in Africa

J-hope, a member of popular K-pop band BTS, has donated 100 million won (US$89,000) for children in Tanzania, a Seoul-based charity said Tuesday. According to ChildFund Korea, J-Hope expressed hope that his donation will be a helping hand to children in overseas countries on South Korea's Children's Day, which falls on Wednesday. J-hope has contributed 700 million won through the charity since 2018 as a member of Green Noble Club, a group of high-value donors of ChildFund Korea. (Yonhap) 

K-popMay 4, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee’s Taemin to release EP before enlisting

Taemin of Shinee will put out his third solo EP, “Advice,” May 18, said label S.M. Entertainment on Monday. 　 It has been six months since his second solo LP, “Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 2.” This new album will be the last before he leaves to begin his military service later this month. 　 The EP consists of five tracks, including the title track, which was unveiled in advance at his solo digital concert Sunday. 　 The show, “Taemin: Never Gonna Dance Again,&rdq

K-popMay 3, 2021

Hybe’s growing influence acknowledged in global media

Hybe, the company behind BTS, and its leaders have made it onto the lists of two international media outlets in recognition of their growing influence in the world. Time magazine announced its annual “Time100 Most Influential Companies” on Wednesday. Hybe and Samsung were the only two South Korean companies on the list, which also included Google, Apple and Netflix. This was the first time Hybe made the list, with Time crediting the entertainment company with “creating a BTS-f

K-popMay 1, 2021

[Eye Interview] From BTS to G-Dragon, Kim Ri-eul breaks barriers of hanbok

When global sensation BTS danced to its 2018 hit “Idol” at an ethereally moonlit Gyeongbokgung in Seoul on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” last September, fans all over the world had their eyes on the seven beloved superstars -- first for their mesmerizing performance and then for their black outfits inspired by Korea’s traditional attire, or hanbok. Those stylish suits, sleekly embellished with Korean elements, immediately created buzz on soc

K-popApril 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to return with 2nd LP on May 31

Tomorrow X Together is coming out with second full-length album on May 31, according to an announcement on Friday.  　 The album is named “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze” and hails the beginning of a new narrative. 　 Since the boy band’s debut, their work has centered on the concept of dreams, starting with their debut EP “The Dream Chapter: Star,” the first studio album “The Dream Chapter: Magic” and then the second EP “The Dream Chapter: Eterni

K-popApril 30, 2021

BTS wins 4 nominations at 2021 Billboard Music Awards

BTS has clinched nominations in four categories -- the most for the K-pop superstars -- in the upcoming 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) set for next month. The seven-member act was nominated in the categories of Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Social Artist and Top Selling Song at this year's BBMAs, scheduled for May 23 (US time), according to Billboard. It marks the most nominations for BTS since the group was first named a candidate for Top Social Artist in 2017. This year, the

K-popApril 30, 2021

ITZY returns more daring with ‘Guess Who’

Girl group ITZY is returning more powerful and confident with the new album “Guess Who.” Ahead of the album‘s release, the group conducted an online press conference Thursday. The band’s fourth mini album, “Guess Who” is a six-track set led by “M.A.F.I.A. in the Morning.” “‘Guess Who’ refers to an unknown person. In this album, we manifest various visuals and emotions according to different times and places, becoming more wild

K-popApril 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] IZ*ONE's Japanese members bid farewell

The bandmates of IZ*ONE from Japan returned to their home boarding an airplane together Thursday.   　 Miyawaki Sakura, Honda Hitomi and Yabuki Nako eagerly greeted fans gathered at the airport, but upon hearing their warm parting words, turned solemn. Hitomi welled up with tears and the other two comforted her.   　 The group was disbanded Wednesday as its contract with CJ ENM expired, wrapping up the 2 1/2 year career. The Korean members will return to their original agencies except

K-popApril 29, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Hot Issue debuts triumphantly

  Seven-piece girl group Hot Issue debuted with a much-anticipated online showcase Wednesday.   　 The group came out with five-track EP “Issue Maker,” with its lead track “Gratata” that comes after machine gun sounds, as the group ambitiously aims to target the public like skilled snipers.   　 The debut of the new girl group has drawn extra attention, as it is the first band to come from S2 Entertainment, established by Hong Seungseong who has produced co

K-popApril 28, 2021

Streams of BTS hit 'Dynamite' surpass 300m in Japan: Oricon

Combined streaming of the BTS megahit "Dynamite" has reached more than 300 million in Japan, a music chart tracker in the Asian country showed Wednesday. The disco-pop track added 6.69 million streams in the latest weekly streaming chart compiled by Oricon between April 19 and 25, hitting 306.53 million streams in total, said Big Hit Music, the K-pop act's agency, citing the Japanese music chart. "Dynamite," which achieved the feat in 36 weeks, is the third song to break th

K-popApril 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen sets record with 3rd Japanese single

Seventeen ranked No. 1 on Oricon’s weekly singles chart with hits third Japanese single “Hitorijyanai” last week. 　 The single sold over 314,000 units in the first week of sales, repeating the feat of its second Japanese single from last year that also topped the weekly tally and sold over 300,000 units in seven days. 　 “Hitorijyanai” also made the boy band the first international male musicians to have three consecutive singles with over-200,000-unit sales in th

K-popApril 27, 2021

BTS to release 2nd English single 'Butter' on May 21

K-pop sensation BTS is ready to come back next month with the cheerful summer number "Butter," its agency said Tuesday. The "fun and upbeat summer song," which will be the seven-piece act's second English single following "Dynamite" released last year, will drop globally in a digital version at 1 p.m. on May 21, according to Big Hit Music. The physical version of the new single will be available this summer, the company added, without elaborating on a release date

K-popApril 27, 2021

Enhypen speaks of growth and pains through ‘Border: Carnival’

Big-name rookie group Enhypen has returned even bigger than before with the second EP “Border: Carnival,” which sings about the ferocious five months since the group’s debut. The seven-piece group held a media event in Seoul on Monday ahead of the album‘s release at 6 p.m. that day. Taking on the story from their first EP “Border: Day On,” which depicts a complication of emotions faced ahead of debut, “Border: Carnival” sings of another wave of

K-popApril 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhyphen rolls out 2nd EP

Enhyphen held a showcase in central Seoul on Monday to introduce its second EP, “Border: Carnival.”   　 “It’s been five months and I’m way more nervous than I thought,” confessed Jeongwon. The rest of the members agreed that they could not believe that it already is their second album. Debut album “Border: Day One” came out in November last year.   　 “Enhyphen is trying a variety of genres in every album,” said Jake, “a

K-popApril 26, 2021

BTS music video 'Idol' breaks 900m YouTube views

The music video for the 2018 BTS hit "Idol" has surpassed 900 million views on YouTube in the latest feat for the K-pop dynamo. "Idol," the main track of the seven-piece act's repackaged album "Love Yourself: Answer," hit the milestone at 5:59 a.m. on Sunday, according to Big Hit Music, the group's agency. When adding the views for another version of the song featuring Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj, total views exceed 1 billion, it added. "Idol&quo

K-popApril 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS joins hands with Louis Vuitton

BTS members have become the new faces of Louis Vuitton, label Bit Hit Music and the French fashion house announced on Friday. 　 The septet will serve as House Ambassadors for the French label. 　 “I am looking forward to this wonderful partnership which adds a modern chapter to the House, merging luxury and contemporary culture,” said Louis Vuitton men’s artistic director Virgil Abloh. 　 “I can’t wait to share all the very exciting projects we are working on,&rdqu

K-popApril 23, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS' V unveils part of self-written song

 V of BTS gave a taste of his self-composed song, uploading the snippet online at 4 a.m. Wednesday. 　 Par of the yet-to-be-titled song -- one minute and 48 seconds to be exact -- was accompanied with one word: “sleep,” he posted on the band’s Twitter. 　 The artist almost whispers of how one finally lumbers into sleep looking at clouds through the window, to the soft tunes of piano and strings. The rustling sounds of a blanket adds a final touch to the song that some migh

K-popApril 22, 2021