Lia to join Itzy’s comeback in H2

Lia of Itzy is returning to the K-pop scene after taking a break since September 2023 due to health issues. According to JYP Entertainment, Lia will be joining her group for the upcoming album scheduled for release sometime this year. “Lia has been getting treatment for her anxiety issues and has recovered remarkably. After a thorough discussion with Lia, we’ve decided Lia will be resuming her group activities for their upcoming solo album scheduled for release in the second half of

K-popJuly 9, 2024

Lee Seunghoon of Winner collaborates with webtoon creator Kian84 for solo EP

K-pop boy band Winner’s Lee Seunghoon hinted at a special collaboration with renowned webtoon creator and entertainer Kian84 for his first-ever solo album, “My Type.” YG Entertainment posted a 14-second clip on YouTube announcing the collaboration. The clip shows Kian84 in a close-up shot, during which he says, “Lee Seunghoon of Winner is back with his first solo album.” The clip also unveils a bit of the melody for the eponymous “My Type.” Lee Seunghoon

K-popJuly 9, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Jay Park to host fan meeting in Seoul

Jay Park will greet his fans at a fan meetup in Seoul on Aug. 10-11, for the first time in 11 years, agency More Vision announced Monday. As the title of the event “Jay Park Season 3: Dedicated 2 U” suggests, it is part of the musician’s namesake project that began in April. The artist told fans that he will focus on music this year through a video clip introducing the project. He has been releasing a series of singles since then – “Your/My” and “Tax

K-popJuly 8, 2024

K-pop groups produced by K-pop artists: Better chances of success?

The number of K-pop artists expanding their careers and venturing into producing new K-pop groups is slowly growing. These artists are typically in their late 20s to 30s who once dominated the entertainment scene such as Kim Jae-joong, Zico and Lee Hae-in. Due to the notorious "seven-year curse" in K-pop, most idols' heyday is over when they are in their 20s. The seven-year curse refers to the disbanding of most K-pop groups seven years after their debut as their exclusive contrac

K-popJuly 8, 2024

Jimin of BTS lands on Official UK Singles Chart with new solo song

Jimin of the K-pop sensation BTS entered the Official UK Singles Chart with his solo song “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco).” “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” is a B-side track from the artist’s upcoming second solo album “Muse” and was dropped on June 28 ahead of the full release. The song landed at No. 46 on the Official UK Singles Chart dated July 11, becoming Jimin’s fifth solo single to enter the chart. His first single to chart wel

K-popJuly 7, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Zerobaseone to return next month: report

Zerobaseone is set to make a comeabck in late August, according to a local media report on Friday. Its previous album was third EP “You had me at Hello” that came out in mid-May. The boy band was formed through a survival show and would be a year old next week. It took K-pop scene by storm as its debut album “Youth In The Shade” became a million-seller on the day of release. From then on, it has been shattering sales records as the following two EPs – second EP

K-popJuly 5, 2024

Is Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk really ignoring NewJeans?

One of the issues raised by CEO Min Hee-jin of Ador, the K-pop agency behind the popular girl band NewJeans under Hybe, during her teary press conference on April 25, was that Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk was treating her K-pop quintet poorly. Parents of NewJeans members also revealed in an interview with a local media outlet in May that Bang had regularly ignored the band when they greeted him at the company’s headquarters in Seoul, even before the controversy arose. Hybe denied claims that

K-popJuly 5, 2024

Korea, South East Asia musicians to hold concerts in Busan

Artists from Korea and Southeast Asia will gather in Busan for two nights of special concerts to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Korea-ASEAN ties. The “Round in Korea” music festival, co-hosted by KBS and the ASEAN Culture House under the Korea Foundation, will be held on Saturday and Sunday at KBS Busan Hall. BamBam of GOT7 will host the event, and the lineup includes singer Kim Yoon-ah from Jaurim, and bands Nell, Touched and Nerd Connection. K-pop group H1-KEY will join them

PerformanceJuly 5, 2024

Korean-Taiwanese K-pop audition TV program searches for applicants

A Korean-Taiwanese collaborative K-pop audition TV program is searching for ambitious boys who wish to be a next-generation K-pop star. According to SBS M, applications for the global boy group debut show "Scool," will be open until July 14. Any male applicant born before 2000 who loves K-pop can apply. Applicants wishing to apply must fill out an application form on the official website and send a photo taken within the last three months, a dance and singing video for the audition, an

TelevisionJuly 5, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Twice gives peek at 5th Japan LP

Twice gave fans a taste of its upcoming fifth studio album in Japan on Thursday. It is poised to bring out LP “Dive” on July 17, about two years after its fourth LP, “Celebrate,” with which the group marked the fifth anniversary of its debut in the country. The last LP claimed No. 1 on Oricon’s daily album ranking. In the meantime, the nonet will embark on the Japan leg of its fifth international tour later this month. It is set to hit three stadiums, in Osaka, Toky

K-popJuly 4, 2024

Lee Chae-yeon proves herself an all-rounder with 'Showdown'

Lee Chaeyeon has returned with her 3rd mini album, “Showdown,” some 10 months after the release of her first single, “The Move: Street.” The singer stressed that she played a large part in producing the album, from writing the lyrics to the choreography. The featured track, “Don’t,” is a two-step dance pop song with a fresh infusion of everyday sounds such as phone rings. Along with repetitive lyrics and addictive melody, the lyrics depict the mind of so

K-popJuly 4, 2024

Third launch of Billboard Korea delayed

Billboard Korea’s much-anticipated June inaugural issue has yet to hit the stands, with some speculating the launch has been delayed to August. "Billboard K Vol.1 is scheduled to be published in June. With the release of Billboard K Vol.1, you can consider our official launch to have begun,” Billboard Korea CEO and publisher Kim Yuna said at a press conference marking the launch of the magazine on April 15. However, June has come and gone with no sign of the inaugural issue. And

K-popJuly 4, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez opens pop-up store in Seoul

A pop-up store opened in Seoul Wednesday for characters inspired by the members of Ateez, according to agency KQ Entertainment. As hinted by teaser content, including a video that contained animated characters who are chosen to be the mascots of a college ice hockey team. The cute characters, named Aniteez, were first introduced in February and a new range of merchandise will be available for purchase at the temporary store. Meanwhile, the band is spending its fourth-straight week on the Billboa

K-popJuly 3, 2024

All(H)ours makes shocking return as energetic goblins

With an aspiration to imprint themselves on K-pop fans worldwide, rising boy band All(H)ours is marking a return -- this time as charismatic goblins. All(H)ours is the first boy band from Eden Entertainment, the agency established by Cho Hae-sung, a former executive of K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment. The septet debuted in January with “All Ours” and returned after about six months with the second mini album “Witness.” Lead track "Shock" is a drift phonk song

K-popJuly 3, 2024

Lisa's new solo single sets guideposts for other Blackpink members

Since all Blackpink members terminated their solo contracts with YG Entertainment last year to embark on their individual paths, Lisa became the first among the four to release a new single. Titled “Rockstar,” it dropped on June 28 in partnership with RCA Records, setting a milestone for the other former members as they pursue their solo careers. The Thai K-pop star kicked off her solo venture with a bang. Her new single instantly ranked 8th on Spotify’s Global Chart in the US

K-popJuly 3, 2024

Lisa's 'Rockstar' shows new route to ‘localized’ K-pop

Right after Lisa of Blackpink released her new solo single “Rockstar” on June 28, a heated debate ignited online between Korean and Thai fans about whether the song should be classified as K-pop or Thai pop. Lisa moved to Korea in 2011 at the age of 14 and underwent more than five years of training at YG Entertainment before debuting as a member of what is now K-pop's most successful girl group. Korean fans argue that her identity as a K-pop star justifies calling her new single

K-popJuly 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin to carry torch for Paris Olympics: report

Jin of BTS was named as one of the torchbearers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to local media on Tuesday. The artist will join a list of over 11,000 people carrying the flame across the country over 11 weeks until the opening ceremony on July 26. The torch arrived in France last week and Jin is expected to fly over soon, although no specifics have been announced yet. Jin was discharged on June 12 and instantly resumed activities, starting with a fan meeting the next day that fell on the

K-popJuly 2, 2024

Katseye, Hybe’s first multinational K-pop girl group, off to disappointing start

K-pop powerhouse Hybe’s much anticipated first multinational K-pop girl group Katseye, formed in collaboration with Geffen Records, is failing to make a name for itself not only in the US, its target market, but also in Korea, the homeland of the genre. The K-pop sextet with only one Korean member, Yoonchae, has been at the center of questions as to whether a K-pop band that is mostly non-Korean could succeed. In the global market, two indicators of popularity and success -- Spotify and iT

K-popJuly 2, 2024

Jin of BTS to be torchbearer for 2024 Paris Olympics

Jin of K-pop phenomenon BTS will carry the torch for the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to a local media outlet on Tuesday. The K-pop star will soon depart for France to carry the Olympic flame, but details about the torch relay location and schedule have not been disclosed. The singer's involvement in the torch relay is believed to be due to BTS' popularity worldwide and the group's consistent message of "Love yourself" over the past decade. Jin's agency Big Hit Mu

K-popJuly 2, 2024

StayC makes cheeky return with 'Metamorphic'

StayC is back, and full of confidence and charisma. The group's first full-length album "Metamorphic" was released Monday. It follows "Teenfresh," a mini-album that came out in August last year. The new album features 14 tracks, including unit and solo songs. "We have been preparing for this full-length album for a long time. As the album's title suggests, listeners will see a transformed version of StayC. We were worried about whether we could pull off all 14

PerformanceJuly 2, 2024