House of BTS offers special experience for fans

BTS’ pop-up store in Seoul, called “House of BTS,” has opened its doors to fans, offering them a unique and exciting experience related to the K-pop juggernaut. Taking over a three-story building in the posh district of Gangnam, southern Seoul, the pop-up was crowded with fans from all over the world Monday morning, many of whom waited in a long queue for hours before the store opened at 10 a.m. Mainly decorated in pink, inspired by BTS’ hit “Boy With Luv,

K-popOct. 21, 2019

Rookie TXT returns with new album ‘The Dream Chapter: Magic’

TXT, the rookie band from BTS agency Big Hit Entertainment, on Monday returned to the music scene with the group’s first full-length album, “The Dream Chapter: Magic.”The new album arrives seven months since the five-piece act -- leader Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Huening Kai -- made a much-anticipated debut in March with EP “The Dream Chapter: Star.” The new eight-track album is led by “Run Away,” a synth-pop tune that highlights its brig

K-popOct. 21, 2019

Did Korean sales send SuperM’s debut album to top of Billboard chart?

Despite dominating this week’s headlines with their No. 1 debut in the US, K-pop supergroup SuperM has come under scrutiny over album sales in their home market that industry sources say have helped them secure the top spot. The group, consisting of stars from multiple acts under S.M. Entertainment -- SHINee, EXO, NCT127 and WayV -- topped the Billboard album chart in the first week of October with 164,000 album sales and 4.9 million streams, which means nearly 95 percent of the hot debut

K-popOct. 16, 2019

[Newsmaker] BTS writes history with Arab fans at Riyadh concert

RIYADH – For BTS and the 30,000 screaming Arab fans who filled King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday evening, it was a night to remember.“We’d never thought we would perform here. Thanks to all the people, to all the ARMYs (BTS’ fandom) who made this possible. There is a beautiful full moon up in the sky. Remind of us, remind of tonight,” band leader RM called out to the crowd. Indeed, BTS’ Saudi Arabian leg of its ongoing &ld

K-popOct. 13, 2019

ATEEZ gears up for first full-length album

After pulling off a successful world tour in their first year, ATEEZ is on full steam with their very first full studio album “TREASURE EP.FIN: All to Action” which was released on Oct. 8.Known for their strong stage presence and powerful dance moves, the full-length album is the latest addition to the group’s short but growing discography, which naturally has plenty of intense dance tracks, accompanied by high-energy choreography.As the title suggests, the album is the end of

K-popOct. 8, 2019

Mnet launches another audition show amid Produce 101 controversy

Mnet’s new survival audition show “World Klass” premieres Friday, with a score of contestants competing over the next few weeks to become the next K-pop star.Viewers will see 20 trainees from countries all over the world including South Korea, Japan, China, the US and Australia put on display a set of multiple entertainment skills such as singing, dancing, acting and even banter.And only 10 people will get to debut as Too – an acronym of Ten Oriented Orchestra -- a group

K-popOct. 4, 2019

Q&A: SuperM answers big questions before its debut this week

After weeks of teasing fans with numerous clips, photos and announcements, SuperM is finally stepping into the music scene later this week.The group’s ultimate goal, according to its producer, S.M. Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, is for the West and the East to become one and create what he calls a “culture universe.”Naturally, the group is focusing on the US market, with their debut record release due Friday, swiftly followed by a performance outside the Capitol Records Tow

K-popOct. 2, 2019

Capitol’s creative director says SuperM’s debut performance will be ‘historic’

With just days to go before SuperM’s debut on Friday, a creative director at Capitol Music Group, S.M. Entertainment’s US partner, says the K-pop supergroup’s first performance will be special and historic."At the launch, we have a very special and historic debut performance on Saturday at the Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles. And we are building on an incredible stage and (it) will be livestreamed around the world,” Nicole Frantz, Capitol’s creative chi

K-popOct. 1, 2019

Rookie Oneus drops new EP ‘Fly With Us’

Rookie band Oneus, which debuted earlier this year, was already back to the music scene Monday with new EP “Fly With Us.”The six-track EP is the final chapter of the band’s “US” trilogy that started with debut EP “Light Us” in January and was followed by “Raise Us” in May. The new album consists of “Intro: Fly Me to the Moon,” “Plastic Flower” “Lit,” “Blue Sky,” “Level Up” and &ldquo

K-popOct. 1, 2019

Meet the members of K-pop supergroup SuperM

It’s been weeks since S.M. Entertainment unveiled plans to launch new supergroup SuperM in the US at Capitol Congress 2019. Since then more information has been revealed, including multiple teasers and images.With their much-anticipated debut album slated for release on Oct. 4, we have profiled the bandmates and recap their history.Taemin from SHINeeAge: 26 / Debut year: 2008 Taemin stepped into the limelight first as a member of SHINee, which debuted in 2008 with first single “Repla

K-popSept. 27, 2019

Military musical brings K-pop idols back to stage on military terms

A rare military musical brought back to the stage a group of high-profile K-pop stars who went out of the public eye to fulfill their mandatory military service, including members of the popular boy bands SHINee and EXO."Return: The Promise of the Day," commissioned by the South Korean Army, will kick off on Oct. 22 at Olympic Park's Woori Financial Art Hall in southern Seoul. It will run till Dec. 1. The musical's unusually star-studded line-up, which includes EXO's Xiumin and SHINee'

K-popSept. 24, 2019

Zico to release 1st full-length solo album

K-pop artist and producer Zico will release his first full-length solo album in his eight-year music career later this month, his management agency said Friday.The new album, "Thinking," will be released in two batches, with the first, "Part. 1," to hit the music scene on Sept. 30. The following one, "Part. 2," will be unveiled next month, according to KOZ Entertainment. This marks his first full-length solo album since his debut in 2011 as a member of K-pop bo

K-popSept. 20, 2019

BTS leader donates 100 m won for students with hearing impairments

RM, the leader of the popular boy band BTS, has donated 100 million won ($83,745) to help students with hearing impairments, a Seoul school said Friday.The BTS leader made the donation earlier this week in celebration of his birthday, Sept. 12, in a bid to help students receive music education, according to officials at Seoul Samsung School."RM made the donation, expressing his will to help students with hearing difficulties enjoy music through various means," a school official said. S

K-popSept. 20, 2019

[REVIEW] Seventeen’s ‘Ode to You’ rattles Seoul with unwavering love for fans

Over the last few years, fans have learned that Seventeen always goes above and beyond when it comes to them. In a familiar scene at K-pop concerts, when Seventeen said “jump,” the crowds jumped. When it requested screams, they offered frenzied roars. But that’s not all that made the 3 1/2 hour concert one of the best shows of this year so far. Kicking off Seventeen’s “Ode to You” world tour, the concert took place at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on Aug. 31, the sec

K-popSept. 19, 2019

Kassy drops new love-themed EP ‘Rewind’ for your autumn blues

Singer Kassy is back with her second EP, “Rewind,” nearly six months after the single “True Song.”The album, which consists of four songs and one instrumental track, keeps in line with the title as the main theme throughout the record is love.The lead single, “Story of Night Fall,” is a fitting track for the autumn season as the song captures the loneliness that many experience after a relationship comes to an end.“You know when it’s late at night

K-popSept. 19, 2019

#Sunmipop: 7 Songs to celebrate the best of Sunmi

 With over 5 million Instagram followers and 200 million views on YouTube, Sunmi has built a brand of her own since a time when a solo female artist was considered something of a novelty in the K-pop world.Having debuted in 2007 as part of the four-piece Wonder Girls, the 27-year-old has been in the game for over a decade now. And since departing from JYP Entertainment in 2017 and going solo with a new label, she has churned out a number of quality pop bangers.With a consistency in style an

K-popSept. 19, 2019

Dreamcatcher’s video game fantasy gets real with ‘Raid of Dream’

The seven-piece group, famous for its distinctive metal and dance fusion sound, has returned to the music scene with a little twist this time.The special EP “Raid of Dreams,” which comes nearly seven months after their fourth mini album “The End of Nightmare,” features a total of five tracks including an intro track all produced by Ollounder and LEEZ who the group has worked with since their debut.To the delight of both music fan gamers, the record itself is a collaborati

K-popSept. 18, 2019

Seventeen delves into ‘fear’ with new single

Seventeen has always been associated with playfulness and quirkiness, but not this time. The 13-piece multinational boy band has returned with its long-awaited single “Fear,” which features the act in a totally new light -- or rather darkness. “This is a song that will showcase the darkest side of Seventeen. It explores our inner feelings of ‘fear,’ which will be able to draw out new sides of us,” said Woozi, who took part in crafting the song, at the band&rsq

K-popSept. 18, 2019

BTS’ special playlist

After enjoying a monthlong vacation, BTS resumed its activities Monday, boarding a plane for an overseas engagement. While its agency, Big Hit Entertainment, declined to disclose details of the trip, fans are happy to see their favorite boy band back in the game. The Korea Herald has compiled a special playlist for fans who have been waiting for the band. While it was not easy to pick just a few tunes from the group’s hefty discography, here is a curated list of our favorites, in chronolog

K-popSept. 18, 2019

Music fans flock to stream K-pop classics

One of South Korea’s longest-running music chart shows is streaming old episodes from the 1990s and 2000s, a move that has proven a hit with music fans.SBS’ “Inkigayo” has been showcasing the best of Korean pop music to viewers across the country for the last three decades on the small screen and some of its most glorious days are now available for viewing on the YouTube channel SBS Kpop Classic.The channel has been broadcasting episodes from between the late 1990s and ea

K-popSept. 18, 2019