3rd generation K-pop girl group Twice still adored in Japan

The third-generation K-pop girl group Twice continues to be loved by many in Japan. Last weekend, Twice became the first K-pop girl group to hold a concert at a stadium in Japan. Tickets to the nine-member group’s two-day concert at the Yanmar Stadium in Osaka, Japan were sold out. These gigs were part of the Japanese leg of Twice's world tour “Ready to Be.” Next up are the act’s gigs at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday. Around 220,000 fans are e

K-popMay 16, 2023

BTS medal hits record sales for Korea Minting; 2nd edition to follow

South Korea's state-run minting agency said Tuesday the commemorative medal for the 10th anniversary of K-pop sensation BTS' debut has racked up its all-time highest sales ever. Korea Minting and Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp., or Komsco, on Tuesday said the first edition of BTS' 10th anniversary medal sold over 10,000 copies last year, racking up around 6 billion won ($4.49 million) in sales. Komsco said it is the highest sales recorded by any commemorative medal

K-popMay 16, 2023

N.Flying to release new fan song for 8th anniversary

K-pop rock band N.Flying is celebrating its eighth anniversary with a new single devoted to its fans. FNC Entertainment, the group's management, announced Tuesday that N.Flying will release a digital single, "Once in a Blue Moon," on Saturday. According to the agency, the new single embodies the band's wish to stay in this moment forever with its fans, watching the blue moon, a term poetically referring to something that occurs extremely rarely. Leading the single package is

K-popMay 16, 2023

(G)I-dle sings about self-esteem in new album 'I feel'

(G)I-dle has returned with a new album to deliver the message that those who are filled with self-esteem are the ones who look truly beautiful to others. The five-piece group released its sixth mini album “I Feel” on Monday, seven months after the group's last release. The girls took on a new challenge to dramatize the album through tracks that develop around one single story in which each member has their own character. “We wanted to make a dramatized album because when I

K-popMay 16, 2023

Fromis_9 to make summer splash with first LP

K-pop girl group Fromis_9 will kick off the summer with its first full-length album, "Unlock My World." The act's agency, Pledis Entertainment, on Tuesday announced Fromis_9 is dropping its first LP, "Unlock My World," on June 5. The new album will mark the return of the eight-piece group after almost a year since the release of its fifth EP, "From Our Memento Box," in June. This is the group's first comeback with eight members, following the departure of

K-popMay 16, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] aespa sets first-week sales record with 3rd EP

Girl group aespa sold more than 1.69 million units of its third EP, breaking the first week sales record for a K-pop girl group, according to label SM Entertainment on Monday. This dethrones Blackpink, whose second full-length album “Born Pink” logged 1.54 million copies in September last year. The EP “My World” sold more than 1.8 million albums in pre-orders and over 1.37 million on the day of release, another record for a K-pop girl group. The quartet has been touring

K-popMay 15, 2023

Hybe opens up an era of 'tech-tainment' with new artist Midnatt

South Korean singer Lee Hyun re-debuted on Monday as Midnatt, an alter ego created through the incorporation of artificial intelligence. Midnatt is the first artist to debut through Hybe's new music project, Project L. Midnatt officially debuted on Monday with "Masquerade," a song jointly produced by Hybe's label Big Hit Music and the company's interactive media technology subsidiary Hybe IM. The song was released in six different languages. "It feels strange and ex

K-popMay 15, 2023

Hit by 'Cupid,' global listeners are head over heels for Fifty Fifty

Virality was the key to success for the K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty to break records in the biggest Western music charts, US-based Billboard and UK-based Official Charts, despite its low profile in South Korea. Fifty Fifty, which consists of four members -- Keena, Aran, Sio and Saena -- debuted in November last year with its first EP “The Fifty” led by the title track “Higher.” Fifty Fifty, housed by a small-sized independent record label Attrakt, seemed set for an uphil

K-popMay 15, 2023

Ukiss to celebrate 15th anniversary with comeback

Once a leading boy band in K-pop, Ukiss is making a full-fledged comeback in celebration of its 15th anniversary. Tango Music, the band's agency, announced Monday that Ukiss will come back as a six-piece soon. "In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Ukiss has confirmed its comeback as a six-piece led by members Soohyun, Hoon and Kiseob," the agency said in a statement Monday, adding, "We will fully support the group so that they can give back to the fans who have waited for

K-popMay 15, 2023

Fifty Fifty's 'Cupid' climbs to No. 8 on the British Official Singles Chart

Fifty Fifty's "Cupid" has reached No. 8 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, setting a new record for a K-pop girl group. According to the latest chart released Friday (British time), the song stayed on the chart for a seventh consecutive week and climbed one spot from the previous week to hit No. 8. Since its debut on the chart at No. 96 in early April, "Cupid" has rapidly ascended the rankings, reaching No. 61, No. 34, No. 26 and No. 18 and cracking the Top

K-popMay 13, 2023

BTS' animation OST 'The Planet' tops iTunes charts in 67 countries

K-pop supergroup BTS' new digital single "The Planet" topped iTunes charts in 67 countries Saturday, the group's agency said. The original soundtrack for TV animation series "Bastions" was released the previous day. The song had claimed the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Top Songs charts in 67 countries, including the United States, France and Australia, as of 9 a.m., Big Hit Music said. "The Planet" is the septet's new song as a full lineup in nearly a yea

K-popMay 13, 2023

IU hit with plagiarism attacks, continues legal battle

Singer-actor IU's agency on Friday denied all plagiarism allegations and pledged legal measures against those responsible. Edam Entertainment released an official statement on Friday after reviewing the accusations and the recent plagiarism case filed against the artist. On Wednesday, it was reported that someone had filed a complaint to the local police against IU on charges of plagiarism regarding six of her songs. "Based on comprehensive data that we collected from the media and the inve

K-popMay 12, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS to publish autobiography in July: report

BTS will release an autobiography in July, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing American publisher Flatiron Books. The publishing company confirmed the news by sharing the article on its official social media account. The book, titled “Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS,” is penned by journalist Kang Myeong-seok and the seven members of the K-pop jugganaut, with the English translation by Anton Hur, in collaboration with Clare Richards and Slin Jung. The Korean editi

K-popMay 12, 2023

YG's rookie Babymonster to debut with 7 members

YG Entertainment's new girl group Babymonster will debut as a seven-piece this fall, the agency said Friday. The agency on Friday announced the members of Babymonster, revealing the group will consist of seven members and not five as previously announced. YG's founder and executive producer Yang Hyun-suk made the announcement in a YouTube video posted on Friday, two weeks after the band's final evaluation, made public via a YouTube series, came to a close. "So many fans, around 99 percent o

K-popMay 12, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Billlie to drop 1st single in Japan next week

Girl group Billlie will officially debut in Japan on May 17 with the single “GingaMingaYo (the strange world) – Japanese ver.),” according to agency Mystic Story on Thursday. It uploaded a group photograph of the bandmates coordinated in blue tones on the day. The titular track from the upcoming single is a Japanese-language version of its hit song from last year. The seven-member act will host a showcase in Tokyo on May 20 and will also greet fans at a series of in-person eve

K-popMay 11, 2023

Teen Top's C.A.P leaves group after controversial livestream

C.A.P, whose real name is Bang Min-su, is leaving his group, Teen Top, following a controversial YouTube livestream, the group's agency, TOP Media, said Thursday. The management on Thursday released an official statement announcing C.A.P's dismissal from the team. "Through discussions with Teen Top members, we have decided C.A.P will leave the group as of today," the statement said, adding the team will continue as a four-piece group with members Niel, Changjo, Chunji and Ric

K-popMay 11, 2023

Jennie to take part in 76th Cannes Film Festival

Jennie of Blackpink will attend the 76th Cannes Film Festival which kicks off next week for the premiere of the upcoming HBO series “The Idol” and the red carpet event on May 22, according to YG Entertainment. Jennie made her debut as an actress with “The Idol” and the series has been chosen by Cannes Film Festival as one of four Out of Competition Selections. The story of “The Idol” revolves around the protagonist’s character, an aspiring pop star named

K-popMay 11, 2023

[Album Review] Aespa drops intensely conceptual music and tries out new style

Aespa is finally back from Kwangya -- the fictional universe shared by the artists of SM Entertainment -- to the “real world” to introduce its new album. “My World” is made up of songs filled with bright, young energy -- the kind of music that the quartet has always wanted to do. Just in time for a change, aespa dropped pursuing intensely conceptual tracks, instead going for easily understandable music that revolves around the life of ordinary teenagers. “Welcome to

K-popMay 11, 2023

Kai of EXO begins national service

Kai of EXO began his mandatory military service today, according to SM Entertainment. He is to serve as an alternative social worker after receiving basic military training at a boot camp. He is the seventh member of the group to enlist after Xiumin, D.O. Suho, Chen, Baekhyun and Chanyeol. The specific time and place of his admission have not been revealed. “We respect Kai’s decision to go as quietly as possible, so we will not share the time and place of his military admission. Ther

K-popMay 11, 2023

Blackpink Lisa earns two more Guinness World Records

Blackpink's Lisa racked up two more Guinness World Records, YG Entertainment said Thursday. According to YG Entertainment, Lisa's solo album "Lalisa" has won the Guinness World Record for the first album by a K-pop solo artist to amass a billion streams on Spotify. "Lalisa" is the Blackpink rapper's debut solo album which was released in September 2021 and consists of two songs, "Lalisa" and "Money." YG said the Thai singer earned another gl

K-popMay 11, 2023