[Herald Interview] Turning a quirk into a perk: Junny on his Canadian side

The odds of making it in the music industry and into a listener’s playlist are so small that a career in the entertainment industry is a long row to hoe. But singer-songwriter Junny’s “Thank You” sat at No. 17 on the Apple Music R&B Chart in 2018, even before his official debut. And now the singer is embarking on a journey of tunes and songs. ‘Hide & Sick’ As a famous saying goes, musicians don’t hold back on emotion in their songs. The same

K-popNov. 19, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s “As If It’s Your Last” video tops 1.1b views

The music video of Blackpink’s “As If It’s Your Last” surpassed 1.1 billion views on YouTube on Thursday, according to label YG Entertainment. 　 The band now has four music videos -- including those of “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love” and “Boombayah” -- that reached the milestone, the most for a K-pop artist. 　 “As If It’s Your Last” came out in June 2017 as a single and the dance number was included in YouTube&rsquo

K-popNov. 18, 2021

BTS’ time capsule displayed in National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

A time capsule that global K-pop phenomenon BTS presented to President Moon Jae-in on Sept. 19 during an event marking Youth Day held at Cheong Wa Dae is now on display at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The box is displayed in the permanent exhibition hall located on the fifth floor of the museum. The box measures 40 centimeters in length, 30 centimeters in width and 26 centimeters in depth, according to the museum. The box is purple -- a color associated with the band and

K-popNov. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT floats teaser photos for 3rd LP

NCT dropped teaser photos for its third studio album, “Universe,” Wednesday. 　 Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaemin, Yangyang and Jisung were featured in the first batch of photographs, which were imbued with a futuristic and sophisticated ambience. The phrase “New Axis” is shone onto the face of the youngest member. 　 It has been about 14 months since the band put out a full-group album. The second album “Resonance” sold over 2 million copies. Subunits NCT 127 a

K-popNov. 17, 2021

[Video] An invitation to Taehyung Forest No. 1

K-popNov. 17, 2021

K-pop stars to resume world touring concerts amid eased travel restrictions

With travel restrictions eased under the "living with COVID-19" scheme, big-name K-pop stars are heading overseas to hold live concerts with foreign fans that have not been held for nearly two years. Superband BTS is at the forefront of the move, scheduled to throw a series of live in-person concerts in Los Angeles, titled "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage - LA" to be held at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 1 and 2. They will be the septet's first live in-person con

K-popNov. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Chen expecting 2nd child: report

Chen of EXO will have another child soon, according to a local media report on Tuesday. 　 His label, S.M. Entertainment, later confirmed that his wife is pregnant with their second child. 　 The veteran idol announced that he was marrying his girlfriend in January 2020. The news sent fans into shock, and some went so far as to demand that he be expelled from the band. 　 Sometime after a private wedding, they welcomed a daughter and recently were reported to have celebrated her first birthday at

K-popNov. 16, 2021

MAMA ready to ‘make some noise’ with in-person ceremony next month

Turning the page to the post-COVID era, the nation’s biggest annual music ceremony, Mnet Asian Music Awards, will return as an in-person event after a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic. CJ ENM, the host of the music awards, on Tuesday conducted a global press conference during which it announced the details of this year’s edition to take place on Dec. 11 in Seoul. The entertainment arm of conglomerate CJ also revealed its vision to reposition the annual awarding ceremony as a glo

K-popNov. 16, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT127 to hold 3 days of concert next month

NCT 127 will meet fans in person with a three-day concert series in Seoul in December, announced label SM Entertainment on Monday. 　 The subunit of NCT will host “NCT 127 2nd Tour ‘NEO City: Seoul - The Link’” from Dec. 17-19, almost three years since its last concert. The live performance on the final day will also be broadcast across the world via Naver’s V Live. The group will then tour through a string of major international cities. 　 The nine-member act relea

K-popNov. 15, 2021

BTS wins four prizes at MTV Europe Music Awards

K-pop megastar BTS has clinched four trophies at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA), the most at the annual ceremony. In the ceremony held in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday (local time), the seven-member act took home Best Pop, Best Group, Best K-pop and Biggest Fans. BTS is one of just two names to clinch more than one trophy at this year's MTV EMA, along with British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran who claimed the most coveted Best Song for "Bad Habits" and Best Artist. The Kor

K-popNov. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s “How You Like That” video tops 1b views

Blackpink now has five music videos with over 1 billion views each. 　 The music video of “How You Like That” had garnered 1 billion views on YouTube as of Friday, according to label YG Entertainment -- about 505 days since its release. 　 It follows the videos for “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love,” “Boombayah” and “As If It’s Your Last.” 　 The song is from the band’s first studio album, “The Album,” and not onl

K-popNov. 12, 2021

TWICE to drop third studio album

K-pop girl group TWICE will release its third studio album, titled "Formula of Love: O+T=<3," on Friday, its management agency said. Presales of the album reached 700,000 units, about 200,000 more than its previous release and last EP "Taste of Love," according to JYP Entertainment. The group said the name "Formula of Love: O+T=<3" expressed the group's relationship with its fandom ONCE in the form of a simple math equation using the initials of the fandom a

K-popNov. 12, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Kai to return as solo singer

Kai of EXO is putting out his second solo EP, “Peaches,” Nov. 30, label S.M. Entertainment announced Thursday. 　 It has been about a year since his eponymous album, which topped iTunes top albums charts in 55 regions as well all major charts at home. The music video for the song “Mmmh” had more than 100 million views on YouTube as of October. 　 The second EP consists of six tracks that span across genres. 　 Meanwhile, he will appear as one of six entertainers competin

K-popNov. 11, 2021

Mystic Story’s first girl group Billlie debuts with star-studded ‘Ring X Ring’

Mystic Story, a subsidiary label of K-pop powerhouse S.M. Entertainment, finally revealed its first girl group, Billlie, on Wednesday. The six-piece act -- comprising four South Korean members, Moon Sua, Suhyeon, Haram and Siyoon, and two members from Japan, Tsuki and Haruna -- have landed in the K-pop scene with their first EP “The Billage of Perception : Chapter One.” Ahead of their album release, the group conducted a debut showcase in Seoul, which was live-streamed as a pandem

K-popNov. 10, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Billlie debuts amid much hype

A six-member girl group named Billlie debuted Wednesday with an EP titled “The Billage of Perception: Chapter One.” 　 The name of the band refers to the “B-side” of everyone’s personality. 　 The EP is based on a unique and strong narrative that will be carried forward in a series, said the bandmates, asking fans to keep an eye out for the messages they convey later. 　 Focus track “Ring X Ring” mobilizes a score of hit makers, as expected from the fir

K-popNov. 10, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] The Boyz to host concert in December

The Boyz are holding a three-day concert next month in Seoul, the band announced Tuesday. 　 The band will perform live in front of fans for the first time in about three years. Its last concert, “The Film Festival,” was held online in December last year. 　 Under the title “The B Zone,” named after the band’s official fandom, The B, the 11-member act will perform in a variety of styles. The Boyz were named Artist of the Year at the Fact Music Awards last week and

K-popNov. 9, 2021

BTS to perform 'Butter' remix with Megan Thee Stallion at AMAs

K-pop superstars BTS will hit the stage with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion for a joint performance of "Butter" at the 2021 American Music Awards. BTS and Megan Thee Stallion were among the list of AMA performers announced Monday (US time) by the show on its website, along with Bad Bunny and Olivia Rodrigo. The septet was nominated in three categories -- "Artist of the Year," "Favorite Pop Duo or Group" and "Favorite Pop Song" for "Butter."

K-popNov. 9, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] T-ara to return after 4 years

  T-ara will put out new music for the first time in about four years, announced mobile media channel Dingo, which joined forces with the band Monday. 　 In one teaser poster that accompanied the announcement, the four band members pose all in black. In another, dressed as cowgirls, they turn their backs to the camera. 　 Park Jiyeon shared the good news in a tweet, joyously telling fans the new music was out before the first snow -- and without a management company, at that. The musicians fu

K-popNov. 8, 2021

Filipino man’s billboard ad to demonstrate affection to Blackpink Jennie sparks criticism

Online fuss continues after a billboard intended to win the affections of Blackpink’s Jennie was erected near the artist’s agency, YG Entertainment, in Seoul. The ad was put up by Filipino businessman Christian Albert Gaza, who proclaims himself as Jennie’s No. 1 fan. Gaza had the two-panel ad -- with one side in English and the other in Korean -- installed atop a five-story building a few kilometers from the agency in Yongsan, Seoul. The billboard ad reads: “Kim Jennie

K-popNov. 7, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] IZ*ONE’s Wonyoung joins new band Ive

Jang Wonyoung, of disbanded group IZ*ONE, is joining a new girl group Ive, announced agency Starship Entertainment late Thursday. 　 She is the third member to be identified, following her former bandmate Ahn Yujin, and according to the new profile pictures, will go by her first name only. 　 In the promotional images, she switches between a fresh-faced pretty girl next door and a daring lass in a dramatic makeup. She will be the main vocalist of the six-member act. 　 Jang has been the face of a

K-popNov. 5, 2021