[FULL TRANSCRIPT] BTS hopes LA concerts mark the start to their new chapter

K-pop sensation BTS conducted a global press conference at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, after opening the curtains to the “Permission to Dance on Stage” concert series the previous night. The seven bandmates -- RM, V, Jimin, Suga, Jungkook, Jin and J-Hope -- shared their emotions and thoughts after reuniting with their global fans, known collectively as Army, in person for the first time in two years, and shared plans for the future. Following is a full transcript of wha

K-popNov. 29, 2021

BTS leader says he feels 'invisible wall' for Korean artists

RM, leader of the K-pop sensation BTS, said Sunday (US time) he felt there is an "invisible wall" for Korean artists despite the group's back-to-back success in the global music industry. The remark was seen as referring to the group's failure to win nomination for the top four Grammys despite a series of dazzling successes, such as producing back-to-back Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers and winning the coveted top honor at the American Music Awards. "We secured the AMAs' artist

K-popNov. 29, 2021

[From the Scene] Fans paint LA purple and orange ahead of BTS concert

LOS ANGELES – With locals having flushed out of the city for the Thanksgiving holiday, the streets of downtown Los Angeles were empty in the days leading up to K-pop sensation BTS’ “Permission to Dance On Stage” concert series, which kicked off on Saturday. But sure enough, a flush of purple, the group’s signature color, flooded into the city as it geared up to welcome the world‘s biggest boy band and their global fandom, Army. The hashtags “Armys have

K-popNov. 28, 2021

KOCCA, KBS team up for immersive K-pop show for global fans

The Korea Creative Content Agency and state-run broadcaster KBS are joining hands to present immersive K-pop shows for Hallyu fans around the world, featuring augmented reality and extended reality content. The state agency and broadcaster presented Friday’s episode of the popular KBS K-pop program “Music Bank” to 114 countries on KBS 2TV, KBS World TV and the KBS World YouTube channel. The title was “Music Bank With K-Content,” and the live show featured 18 K-pop

K-popNov. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Woodz floats poster for December concert

Woodz, also known as Cho Seungyeon, will hold a concert in Seoul Dec. 11-12. 　 Under the theme “The Invisible City,” he said he will bring his fans to a mirage-like space that does not exist in reality but can be found everywhere. The live performance will be also streamed around the world. 　 He held his first concert -- dubbed “2020 Woodz: Not Just a Concert - W Box” -- online last year, and demonstrated his presence for 120 minutes. 　 He won the first place in a telev

K-popNov. 26, 2021

‘BTS law’ at a standstill at National Assembly

A subcommittee of the South Korean National Assembly’s defense committee reached a standstill in its deliberations on changes to the Military Service Act, the so-called BTS law, Thursday. The subcommittee discussed whether the country should grant exemptions from military service to pop artists who have helped elevate its global standing. The bill, if passed, would allow K-pop stars to work in their field for 34 months under an alternative program instead of undertaking active-duty servic

K-popNov. 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] The Boyz to celebrate 4th anniversary

The Boyz on Thursday shared a timetable for celebrating their fourth debut anniversary with a batch of photographs. 　 Each of the 11 members posed for individual shots as athletes in different sports, ranging from soccer and hockey to shooting and archery, as part of its forthcoming season’s greeting campaign named “Athlete Club.” 　 The band will host an in-person concert, named “The B-Zone,” Dec. 3-5, to mark the anniversary. It has been close to three years sinc

K-popNov. 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Minho to host solo fan meet

Minho of SHINee will meet with fans in person at a fan event on Dec. 21. 　 It has been two years and nine months since his previous solo fan meeting, growing anticipation for the event that will also be broadcast live through Naver’s V Live for fans from around the world. 　 The veteran idol will put on a performance and talk to fans as well as play games, quenching the thirst of fans who have been waiting for a chance to see him on stage. 　 In addition to his activities as part of SHINe

K-popNov. 24, 2021

Hwasa’s ‘Guilty Pleasure’ shows there’s no light without shadow

After a year-and-a-half away from music, Hwasa hopped back into the pop scene during one of its most vibrant months with solo release “Guilty Pleasure” on Wednesday evening. The Mamamoo songstress said in an online press conference the same day that the three-song package talks about who she is, what she has gone through, and her thoughts and emotions about different phases in life. “I think I went through a wave of emotions and downs musically since I released my last solo

K-popNov. 24, 2021

'Boy With Luv' becomes first BTS video to top 1.4b YouTube views

The music video for the K-pop supergroup BTS' 2019 hit "Boy With Luv" surpassed 1.4 billion YouTube views for the first time among videos from the group Wednesday. "Boy With Luv," the main track of the septet's sixth EP "Map of the Soul: Persona," hit the milestone at around 10 a.m., according to the group's management agency Big Hit Music. The feat was achieved about four months after the video passed the 1.3 billion mark. The upbeat track, featuring American si

K-popNov. 24, 2021

BTS again aims for first Grammy Award

Fresh from conquering the AMAs, K-pop sensation BTS now has its sights set on a gramophone shaped trophy, with a nomination for best pop duo or group performance for next year’s Grammy Awards. The group was nominated Tuesday for the prize for its megahit “Butter.” BTS received its first-ever Grammy nomination last year for “Dynamite,“ but failed to get a nomination for any of the top four overall Grammys. “Butter” was recognized alongside songs by big

K-popNov. 24, 2021

BTS nominated for Grammy award for best pop group performance

South Korean megastar BTS was nominated Tuesday (US time) for the best pop duo or group performance at the Grammy Awards for the second year in a row. The septet was nominated for the pop genre prize for their megahit "Butter," in a virtual ceremony streamed live. The group, however, did not score any nomination for the awards show's top four "general field" categories. 2021 marks the second consecutive year BTS was nominated for the best pop duo or group performance af

K-popNov. 24, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhyphn to celebrate 1st anniversary all week

Enhypen piqued the interest of fans on Tuesday with a poster that bore the weeklong schedule for the first anniversary of the group’s debut. 　 Along with the poster, the band shouted out to its official fandom Engene, asking if they are ready to enjoy the anniversary with the hashtag “2021 Eniversary Stage 1122 Timetable.” The septet will celebrate the anniversary that falls on Nov. 30 with a string of content including family photos, two dance videos and a magazine that will b

K-popNov. 23, 2021

BTS’ fate on military duty may be decided this week

Whether or not the members of K-pop sensation BTS will soon be off to the military could be decided this week. Fresh off of their triple win at the American Music Awards on Monday, when the singers took home the artist of the year award, the future of the boy band depends on Thursday’s National Assembly defense committee subcommittee meeting. Changes to the Military Service Act are to be discussed there, and the lawmakers could decide to grant service exemptions to pop artists who have he

K-popNov. 23, 2021

After big night at AMAs, will BTS earn Grammy nomination for 2nd year?

After BTS won the artist of the year, considered the top honor, at the American Music Awards (AMAs), beating out big names like Ariana Grande, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, all eyes are now on the South Korean group's next challenge -- the Grammy Awards. Will a gramophone-shaped trophy be an added jewel for the K-pop megastar who has bagged two of the three largest music awards in the United States this year? BTS won artist of the year, favorite pop duo or group and favor

K-popNov. 23, 2021

SF9 says ‘Rumination’ describes their identity

As the frosty season is just around the corner, boy band SF9 hopped on the winter music craze by bringing out a song for chilly nights to warm listeners into a sensual mood. The group dropped the 10th EP, “Rumination,” nearly four months after the previous release to stake out an identity as performers on another level. In an online press conference Monday, the band said its 10th EP is a prequel to their “9lory” universe, which talks about the history of the nine ban

K-popNov. 22, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice ranks No. 3 on Billboard 200 with 3rd LP

Twice’s third studio album, “Formula of Love: O+T=<3,” landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, according to the publication on Monday. 　 This marks the strongest record for the group whose previous EP, “Taste of Love,” entered the chart at No. 6 in June, and is the fourth-highest position for a K-pop act, following BTS, SuperM (both No. 1) and Blackpink (No. 2). 　 The nonet also became the first Korean girl group to have two albums among the Billboard 200’

K-popNov. 22, 2021

BTS writes history as the first Asian act to win top prize at AMAs

BTS achieved another landmark feat at the American Music Awards on Sunday, bagging three trophies in total, including Artist of the Year. During the 2021 AMA ceremony on Sunday (US time) at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the K-pop superstars picked up prizes in three categories -- Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Duo or Group and Favorite Pop Song, for their hit “Butter.” BTS is the first Asian act in history to be nominated and win Artist of the Year at the AMAs. The other

K-popNov. 22, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ha Sungwoon looks back on his music career with 6th EP

  Singer-songwriter Ha Sung-woon rolled out his sixth EP “Electrified: Urban Nostalgia” on Friday. 　 The album, titled “Electrified: Urban Nostalgia,” consists of four tracks that describe the complexity of feelings and duality of reality and our memories of it. His dreamy vocals blends with guitar riffs and synth sounds against punk rhythm in the main track “Electrified” that brings a sun-filled cityscape to mind. 　 “I have faced myself in differe

K-popNov. 19, 2021

Monsta X ready to go all in with ‘No Limit’

K-pop sensation Monsta X welcomed the start of the winter season with  their 10th EP, “No Limit,” on Friday, returning in nearly five months after their previous work. In an online press conference Friday, the six-member group described the latest album as “perfect,” and one that “delineates Monsta X’s identity as a group that shines in an era where there’s an infinite supply of competitors and how they unlimitedly keep pushing the envelope in an

K-popNov. 19, 2021