BTS takes another shot at Grammys

BTS is reportedly running for the 65th Grammy Awards. The band has thrown its hat into the upcoming Grammy race, set to take place in February 2023, taking its final shot at snagging an award there before the bandmates go into a long group break. Citing reports from inside the US music industry, Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday reported that four songs from BTS including collaboration tracks were submitted as entries for the 65th Grammy Awards. The septet's "Yet To Come," which w

K-popOct. 26, 2022

Enhypen puts out first Japanese LP ‘Sadame’

K-pop boy group Enhypen released its first Japanese full-length album, “Sadame,” on Wednesday, signaling the act’s full-fledged activities there. The 10-track package is about boys who are aware of their fates and pledge to make a new future based on their own will. Fronted by the main song, “Future Perfect (Pass the MIC),” the full-length album includes the Japanese version of “Blessed-Cursed,” which was featured on the group’s first repackaged LP

K-popOct. 26, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM to co-host variety show

RM of BTS will co-host an entertainment program that launches this winter. With movie director and TV personality Jang Hang-jun, he will lead tvN’s “The Dictionary Of Useless Human Knowledge,” a third spin-off of a popular talk show. A score of intellectuals such as a forensic doctor, astronomer and novelist will be regulars. The leader of the mega band confirmed the news via his Instagram, saying, “So it happened.” He is known to have been a fan of the television

K-popOct. 25, 2022

More claims, footage of assault against Omega X members by agency CEO revealed

Even after Spire Entertainment, the agency behind Omega X, denied the allegations that its CEO had verbally and physically assaulted the band's members, more evidence and witnesses are spreading fast online. On Monday evening, SBS Entertainment News, which first reported the case the day before, released exclusive video footage of what it claims to be Spire Entertainment's CEO, referred to only by her surname Kang and known to be in her 50s, yelling at Omega X bandmates. In the video

K-popOct. 25, 2022

MAMA announces nominees for 2022 MAMA Awards

K-pop groups are vying to take home some of the biggest awards at the 2022 Mnet Asian Music Awards, which will take place at Osaka’s Kyocera Dome in Japan from Nov. 29-30. Ive, Kep1er, Le Sserafim, NewJeans, NMixx and Choi Yena, who made their debuts between December 2021 and July 2022, are battling it out for the best new female artist category, also known as the rookie of the year award. The nominees for the best new male artist are ATBO, Tempest, TNX, Xdinary Heroes and Younite, who all

K-popOct. 25, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS gives peek at full-group photo book

BTS gave fans a sneak peek Monday at its upcoming photo book “Us, Ourselves, and BTS ‘We.’” It will be the final installment of its eight-part series that featured each of the seven members one by one. As the teaser photographs hinted, the book has two main themes: sports day and self-portraits. The book will be fully unveiled on Nov. 7. Separately, Jin left Seoul on Monday to join Coldplay in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He will perform the forthcoming single “The Ast

K-popOct. 24, 2022

[Herald Review] SHINee’s Key invites fans to enjoy the best night at ‘Keyland’

A super-sized stage, pyrotechnics and innocuous screaming from the jam-packed audience at Jangchung Arena in Seoul was befitting of a K-pop superstar concert. SHINee's Key brought unseen energy and enthusiasm to his live show, “G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) In The Keyland,” on Saturday for the first time in a little less than four years, having to make up for lost time due to the pandemic and his two-year military service. Saturday’s concert was a mixture of high product

K-popOct. 24, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘I was once a perfectionist but learned how to embrace my shortcomings'

Jo Yu-ri might have made her name as a vocalist in project girl group IZ*ONE, but her more recent solo career has taken her further, to a point where she is comfortable with herself. Jo debuted solo with the single “Glassy” in October last year and released her first EP, “Op. 22 Y-Waltz: in Major” in June. After a four-month break, the singer returned to the stage with her second single, “Op. 22 Y-Waltz: in Minor” on Monday. In a recent interview with a group

K-popOct. 24, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa tops 700m views with ‘Money’ dance video

Lisa of Blackpink hit 700 million views on YouTube with the performance video for her solo single “Money,” YG Entertainment announced Friday. The video is the quartet’s 11th to reach the milestone. “Money” is from Lisa's solo debut single “LaLisa,” and topped iTunes top songs chart in 66 regions. It hit Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 84 and ranked No. 46 on UK’s Official Chart Top 100. The superband left Seoul on Friday and headed to Dallas, whe

K-popOct. 21, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Kara to drop Japanese album in December

    Kara will release a new album in Japan on December 21 to mark its 15th anniversary, its agency RBW Entertainment announced on Thursday. The Japanese-language album “Move Again [Japan Edition]” will be its first album released in the country in six years. Beginning Feb. 23, the veteran group will tour Japan, hopping from Osaka to Fukuoka and Yokohama. The band made an official debut in Japan in 2010 with the single “Mister” and swept the Oricon charts wi

K-popOct. 20, 2022

[Album Review] For (G)I-dle, self-love is not silly. It’s how to feel like the otherworldly person you are

People love to talk about the things they love. For some, it could be their friends and family, while for others its a pet or hobby. Girl group (G)I-dle approached the word “love” in a way that the five members have never experienced before. On its latest project, the group ponders a different way to approach love: How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you. And to do that, the band offers a look into pompous love. With So-yeon at the helm of producing the group’

K-popOct. 20, 2022

WEi hopes to ‘spray’ listeners’ playlists with fifth EP ‘Love Pt.2: Passion’

When you're young, developing a crush can happen in an instant. But in many ways, falling in love is quite difficult. With that knowledge, boy band WEi has made a return to show off a more mature approach to love with its fifth EP, "Love Pt.2: Passion," which dropped Wednesday evening. “We’re back with a whole new concept, and our band is excited to showcase this change to people,” the band’s leader Dae-hyeon said during Wednesday’s media press confer

K-popOct. 19, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] (G)I-dle tops iTunes chart in 40 regions with 5th EP

(G)I-dle landed atop iTunes top albums chart in 40 regions with the group's fifth EP “I Love.” The EP was released Monday and main track “Nxde” debuted at No. 1 on all major real-time music charts at home. Paying homage to Marilyn Monroe, the five bandmates all went blonde for the new album that takes a stab at prejudices against female stereotypes. The six-track EP sold over 700,000 copies in preorders, a new best for the quintet. It comes about seven months since the g

K-popOct. 19, 2022

[Feature] Alcohol marketing: How the forbidden became a K-pop trend

K-pop idols must be camera-ready at all times, and be able to sing, dance and show their charms and talents simultaneously on TV shows and in interviews. But there's one thing you wouldn't have spotted the multitalented artists doing on screens: drinking. Despite being a huge part of South Korean culture, the topic of drinking has been mostly kept off limits for K-pop celebrities. And if they do partake in a drink or two, it is often done in secret, away from the cameras. But in recent

K-popOct. 19, 2022

BTS Jin to debut solo with single 'The Astronaut' on Oct. 28

Jin of K-pop superband BTS is making his official solo debut with the single "The Astronaut" on Oct. 28. The band's agency Big Hit Music on Tuesday released a statement announcing Jin's solo debut date and the title of his first single. "Jin put his love for the Army in making 'The Astronaut,' and we anticipate it to be like a gift to the Army," the agency said about the song in its statement. Army refers to the band's global fanbase. Ahead of releasi

K-popOct. 19, 2022

BTS' Jin to debut solo this month, enlist year-end

  K-pop sensation BTS' eldest member Jin will debut as a solo artist at the end of this month before starting his military duty. BTS' label Big Hit Music on Tuesday told the local media that Jin will release his first solo single at the end of October. Several outlets confirmed with the label. The news of Jin's solo debut had first announced last weekend during the septet's concert held in Busan. During BTS' concert held on Saturday at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Jin broke out the news himsel

K-popOct. 18, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Mamamoo announces plan for 1st world tour

    Mamamoo will host its first international tour starting from next month, agency RBW Entertainment announced Tuesday. The quartet will kick off the “My Con” tour with concerts in Seoul from Nov. 18-20. Once the group departs, it will be the first time for the girl group to tour outside Korea since its debut in 2014. The name of the tour not only reflects the group's confidence, but also plays on the title of the group's 12th EP, “Mic On,” which it rolled

K-popOct. 18, 2022

Love yourself to be able to love others: (G)I-dle on ‘I love’

After enjoying immense love through its first-ever world tour, girl group (G)I-dle has made a return with its new album, “I love,” which dropped Monday evening. This marks a return for the band seven months after it last released “I never die,” the group’s first full-length album, in March. “Being on the world tour was a whole new experience, especially seeing how our foreign fans sang along to our songs. Actually, we finished producing the whole album before

K-popOct. 17, 2022

N. Flying reflects the anxious hearts of youth in love with 'Dearest'

South Korean rap-rock band N. Flying dropped its eighth album "Dearest" on Monday and held a media showcase in Seoul ahead of its release. The band is returning with a new album just over a year since the release of its first full-length repackage album "Turbulence." "We're happy to be able to have more chances to meet our fans in person and enjoy music together through more music shows and festivals," member Hwe-seung said during Monday's event. "W

K-popOct. 17, 2022

Le Sserafim returns as quintet with 2nd EP ‘Antifragile’

While rookie girl group Le Sserafim had to overcome the hurdle of repositioning into a quintet just two months after its debut, the members said the experience has toughened them up. That new attitude can be heard throughout the group's second EP, "Antifragile," which dropped Monday. Ahead of the album’s digital release at 6 p.m., the band held a press showcase event to talk about the album and its production. The bandmates said they were able to improve their singing and

K-popOct. 17, 2022