[Herald Interview] Minseo returns with dark charisma in ‘Dead Love’

Although she is often thought of as a ballad singer with a soft, emotion-laden voice, Minseo is full of bright energy and has so much more she wants to express. "Everyone is surprised when they meet me in person. I became famous for the lyrical, emotional ballad 'Yes,' so everyone assumes I would be a sentimental, quiet person," the singer said during a group interview on March 21. Minseo came to attention when she made it to the top eight on “Superstar K7” in 201

PerformanceMarch 31, 2024

J-Hope brings his dance to ‘Hope on the Street’ pop-up store in Seongsu

J-Hope of BTS opened a street dance-themed pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul on Saturday, according to Big Hit Music. The “Hope on the Street” pop-up store promotes J-Hope’s special album “Hope on the Street Vol. 1” released Friday and the documentary series “Hope on the Street” which began streaming Thursday. J-Hope is the first member of BTS to organize a solo pop-up store. Three floors are filled with content related to the special album, the docume

K-popMarch 31, 2024

BTS V's 'Fri(end)s' ranks 68th on British singles chart

BTS member V's new song, "Fri(end)s," entered Britain's Official Singles Chart Top 100 for the second consecutive week. His latest digital single ranked No. 68 on the Top 100 chart, down from No. 55 the previous week, according to the chart released Friday. Released March 15, "Fri(end)s" is the artist's first solo project since "Layover," released in September last year. The pop-soul track, entirely written in English, is a sweet love song portraying

K-popMarch 30, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Zerobaseone to appear on Japan TV special

An exclusive television show with Zerobaseone will air on Japan’s TV Asahi Saturday, said agency WakeOne Entertainment on Friday. The special show titled “ZB1 Eyes on No. 1” is a "variety program for Zerobaseone, a nine-member boy band that has gained popularity across the world,” the broadcasting station said. The bandmates will be split into three teams, play games and perform “Yurayura – Unmeino Hana,” the group's Japanese debut track. The

K-popMarch 29, 2024

J-Hope shows his passion for street dance in 'Hope On The Street Vol. 1'

A new album about BTS J-Hope's musical roots has been released. J-Hope's special album "Hope On The Street Vol. 1" is based on the artist’s passion for street dance and is his first solo album in seven months since "Jack In The Box," which was released in August last year. The title of the lead track, "Neuron," came from the name of the dance crew that J-Hope belonged to before his debut. The song is an old-school hip-hop song from the 2000s, marking

K-popMarch 29, 2024

BTS' Suga begins boot camp training as social service agent

Suga of the K-pop sensation BTS began receiving basic military training at a boot camp in a central region Thursday as part of his ongoing alternative service, according to the group's agency. The rapper, whose original Korean name is Min Yoon-gi, has been serving as a social service agent since September, an alternative form of military service in South Korea. Suga entered the Army training camp in Nonsan, located 152 kilometers south of Seoul, BigHit Music said, adding that the move is in

K-popMarch 28, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim to meet fans in May

Le Sserafim invited fans to the group's second fan meetup, to be held in Seoul on May 11 and -12, via Source Music on Thursday. The two-day event, “Fearnada 2024 S/S,” will stream online as well for fans across the world. The poster for the fan meeting was inspired by a scene from the trailer video for third EP “Easy,” and showed the five bandmates shooting laser beams with their eyes. The mini album is now spending a fourth week on the Billboard 200 at No. 112, af

K-popMarch 28, 2024

J-Hope shares his dance journey through documentary series ‘Hope on the Street’

J-Hope of BTS unveiled the first episode of his documentary series “Hope on the Street” on Thursday via online streaming platforms Tving in South Korea and Amazon's Prime Video for overseas viewers. “With the mandatory military service enlistment ahead of me, I kept asking myself what helped me become the person I am now and the answer was 'dance,'" J-Hope said, explaining his decision to create the documentary series. The first episode of the series begins

K-popMarch 28, 2024

[Herald Interview] Dynamic Duo revisits its 20 year history with '2 Kids on the Block'

Gaeko and Choiza, the two members of Korea's legendary hip-hop duo, Dynamic Duo, are not only irreplaceable musical partners but also old friends who have spent more than 30 years together, having known each other since elementary school. Celebrating the 20th year of the group’s debut, the two looked back on their long history together with their 10th studio album, “2 Kids On The Block.” "We first met when we were 12, and it's safe to say that there was no hip-ho

PerformanceMarch 28, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ V hits Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 65

V of BTS ranked No. 65 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with his single “Fri(end)s,” according to the latest chart published in the US on Tuesday. The new single is the artist’s fourth entry on the main songs chart. His previous entries were “Christmas Tree” from a drama original soundtrack, as well as “Love Me Again” and “Slow Dancing,” the pre-release and main tracks from his first solo album “Layover.” The digital single was rele

K-popMarch 27, 2024

Unis, filled with self-esteem and confidence, debuts as ‘Superwoman’

Unis, a K-pop girl group consisting of eight finalists from the SBS audition program “Universe Ticket,” made its debut Wednesday with its first mini album, “We Unis.” The group is made up of four Korean members, Hyeonju, Yunha, Yoona and Seowon; two members from the Philippines, Elisia and Gehlee Dangka; and two Japanese members, Nana and Kotoko. “We finally get to debut as Unis. My life from the day I began dreaming about becoming a K-pop artist to the day that I w

K-popMarch 27, 2024

NewJeans to debut in Japan in June

NewJeans is set to release a single in Korea on May 24 and make its debut in Japan with another single on June 21, according to Ador, the group's agency. The single to be released in Korea on May 24, “How Sweet,” will come with three B-sides including “Bubble Gum,” and instrumental versions of both songs. “Bubble Gum” will be unveiled next month as part of a Japanese commercial and a theme song for a TV program before the official album release. The group

K-popMarch 27, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim surpasses 200m Spotify streams with ‘Unforgiven’

Le Sserafim reached the 200 million streams milestone on Spotify with “Unforgiven (feat. Nile Rodgers),” according to agency Source Music on Tuesday. It is the group’s fourth song to hit the mark, after “Fearless,” “Antifragile” and “Perfect Night.” “Unforgiven” is the lead track from the five-member group's first full album of the same title that came out in May last year and debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 6. The album stay

K-popMarch 26, 2024

EXO D.O., Suho to hold stand-alone concerts

Two EXO bandmates will meet with fans through solo performances to strengthen their respective standing as solo artists. D.O. will meet with global fans at his first solo Asian fan concert tour, "Bloom." He is to perform in 11 cities, starting with his two days of concerts in Seoul on June 8 and 9. He will then perform in Taipei, Taiwan on June 22, Hong Kong on June 29, Jakarta, Indonesia on July 12, Tokyo on July 18, Nagoya, Japan on July 19, Osaka, Japan on July 21, Bangkok on Aug. 1

K-popMarch 26, 2024

Boynextdoor to hold first fanmeeting at Olympic Hall

Up-and-coming K-pop boy group Boynextdoor will hold its first fan meeting in June. Boynextdoor uploaded a poster on the group's official social media channel and global fandom platform Weverse Community announcing that the "2024 Boynextdoor Fanmeeting ONEDOORFUL Day" will be held both in-person and online at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, June 1-2. The fan meeting will commemorate the first anniversary of Boynextdoor, which debuted on May 30 last year. Meanwhile, Boynext

K-popMarch 26, 2024

Zerobaseone writes K-pop history with 1st Japanese single album

K-pop boy group Zerobaseone has topped Oricon’s Weekly Singles Chart with its debut Japanese single album, “Yurayura-unmei no hana.” Zerobaseone made its Japanese debut with the album's release on March 20 under Sony Music. Selling around 302,000 copies of the Japanese single album within five days of its release, the group took the throne on the Weekly Singles Chart dated April 1, which is based on physical album sales. This is a record-breaking number for a foreign album

K-popMarch 26, 2024

Illit says goofiness and honesty are what make them ‘Magnetic’

Hybe’s new girl group Illit made its debut Monday with its first EP, “Super Real Me.” Illit consists of three Korean members Yunah, Minju and Wonhee, and two Japanese members, Moka and Iroha, who were the finalists of the JTBC global girl group survival program “R U Next?” which aired for three months starting June 2023. “The name of our group is a combination of the words ‘will,’ which depicts our independent and adventurous will, and ‘it,&r

K-popMarch 26, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Illit ready to show ‘Super Real Me’

Girl group Illit held its debut showcase in Seoul on Monday, introducing the group's first EP, “Super Real Me.” The five bandmates exuded positive energy and confidence, saying their strength lies in being “overly immersed” on stage. Off the stage, though, they will show who they really are, the bandmates added. In line with the candid message of the debut album – “my real story also is the best story” -- the bandmates did not hesitate to admit th

K-popMarch 25, 2024

NCT Dream newly interpretes dream with ‘Dream()scape’

NCT Dream, a cheery boy group that sings of dreams and hopes, returned to the stage with a mature, confident image, confronting wounds and inner troubles. The septet's new album “Dream()scape” contains six tracks including the title track “Smoothie.” It is the group's first album in eight months since the third full-length album “ISTJ.” "We've so far shown our passionate, hopeful and bright sides, but this time we've prepared an album

K-popMarch 25, 2024

J-Hope says dance is what he cherishes most in life

J-Hope of BTS released a teaser video for his upcoming documentary series “Hope on the Street” via the boy band's official YouTube channel on Monday. The clip shows an interview with J-Hope sitting on a couch wearing a knitted hat, a dark jacket and jeans. “This documentary is about dance, which is what I consider my roots and the most important thing in my life and career,” J-Hope says in introducing the upcoming documentary series. “You will be able to learn

K-popMarch 25, 2024