StayC blows out in summer festivity with iconic 'Teenfresh'

The pop queens of StayC is returning Wednesday to enthrall the nation yet again with their bubbly energy. This time, they have gone all-out on youthful effervescence with "Teenfresh." During a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, the members called the album a summer blowout, welcoming listeners to a playground of seasonal festivity. "The album embraces StayC's iconic genre of 'teen fresh.' We've jam-packed it with six songs flourishing in our unique colors

K-popAug. 16, 2023

Secret Number to drop new album on Aug. 24

Multinational K-pop group Secret Number is making a comeback with a new album, the band's agency Vine Entertainment said Tuesday. According to the agency, the album will be released at 12 p.m. on Aug. 24. The forthcoming album marks the band's swift return in three months since releasing its sixth EP "Doxa" in May. Secret Number is six-member act that debuted in May 2020 with the single "Who Dis?" The multinational group is comprised of Lea from Japan; Dita from Ind

K-popAug. 15, 2023

[Herald Review] Le Sserafim overcomes fear with first concert 'Flame Rises'

Le Sserafim's standalone concert was one of many firsts for the five members. A valiant first attempt, and the first time the charismatic and bold group got vulnerable on stage. The two-day event, held over the weekend at the Jamsil Arena located in the Olympic Sports Complex in Seoul, marked the start of the group's first global concert tour "Flame Rises." Some 10,500 tickets for the long-awaited concert were sold out in just eight minutes, according to the band's label

K-popAug. 14, 2023

Day6’s Young K to hold 1st solo concert next month

Young K of the K-pop boy band Day6 is holding his first standalone concert next month before releasing his first solo studio album, according to JYP Entertainment on Monday. The concert “Letter with notes” will be held on Sept. 1-3 at Kwangwoon University’s Donhae Culture and Arts Center in Seoul. The last day of Young K’s first standalone concert will be live-streamed via Beyond Live for fans overseas. Young K also awaits the release of his first solo studio album &ldquo

K-popAug. 14, 2023

Singer-songwriter Younha drops LP record version of 4th studio album 'Supersonic'

Singer-songwriter Younha dropped the LP record version of her fourth studio album “Supersonic," according to C9 Entertainment on Monday. This is the first time in 17 years since her debut that Younha released an LP record version of her album. The LP record orders began online on Friday, and will be available until Sept. 15. Her fourth studio album “Supersonic” was released back in 2012. The album comprises of 12 tracks led by the title track “Run.” It also car

K-popAug. 14, 2023

BTS' V tops iTunes charts in 70 countries with 'Rainy Days'

BTS member V topped the iTunes Top Song charts in 70 countries around the world with his new solo single, "Rainy Days," on Saturday, a day after its release, his agency said. "Rainy Days," one of the six tracks on his upcoming debut solo album, "Layover," was at No. 1 in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France and dozens of other countries as of 9 a.m., according to BigHit Music. "Love Me Again," another pre-released track for V's first solo

K-popAug. 12, 2023

Tumultuous World Scout Jamboree comes to end with K-pop flair, apology

The 25th World Scout Jamboree, after a tumultuous 12-day run, came to an end Friday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Despite the frequent changes and troubles that plagued the Jamboree, around 40,000 participants gathered in Seoul for the closing ceremony and for the “K-pop Super Live” concert that followed. Around 2,500 police officers were present at the stadium to manage the crowd. Some 400 traffic police officers and 30 police cars were placed near the venue for traffic control, a

K-popAug. 12, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] TXT becomes face of Dior

  Tomorrow X Together has been named the brand ambassador of Dior, according to the French fashion house on Friday. “Tomorrow X Together are the perfect ambassadors for Dior. They have a great attitude and style and they look great in their custom stage outfits,” said Kim Jones, artistic director of the maison. Jones custom-designed the stage outfits for the five bandmates who headlined the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago last weekend, a first for a K-pop act. Meanwhile, the b

K-popAug. 11, 2023

BTS’ V unveils ‘Love Me Again’ music video ahead of solo album release

V of the K-pop sensation BTS unveiled the music video for “Love Me Again,” one of the sidetracks in his upcoming first solo album “Layover,” on Thursday. The music video for the R&B track, which accentuates V's low ethereal vocals, was filmed in a cave in Mallorca, Spain, according to Big Hit Music. “The mystical vibe that the cave gives and V’s low and vibrating voice harmonized well to create a unique mood. The camera could only focus on V, the sing

K-popAug. 10, 2023

Singer Yoon Do-hyun reveals fight with cancer

Singer Yoon Do-hyun revealed that he had been fighting cancer for the past three years and that he recently fully recovered. “It was back in 2021 when I was about to start rehearsing for the musical, ‘Gwanghwamun Sonata,’ that I was diagnosed with cancer. I was really surprised. I quickly pulled myself together and went to the hospital to get treated every day. It was a difficult process,” the singer said on his social media Thursday. He added that he decided to not share

K-popAug. 10, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NCT to drop pre-release from 4th LP

NCT will unveil main track from its upcoming fourth studio album on Aug. 23, in advance to the full release, according to label SM Entertainment on Thursday. The band uploaded a timeline poster for the album that included that it would drop “Golden Age,” titular track from the 10-track LP due out on Aug. 28. The album will be fronted by two focus tracks – “Golden Age” and “Baggy Jeans.” The former will feature all 20 members and the latter, Taeyong, Ten

K-popAug. 10, 2023

Jo Yuri shouts 'Love All' with new album

The loud shout of "love all" at the start of a tennis game gives the crowd a rush of adrenaline, and singer Jo Yuri sings of such excitement at a love's start, as well as other ensuing emotions, through her new album "Love All." "Love all" is a term used at the beginning of a new game when the players both start at zero points. Jo's latest album embraces the jolt of a budding love and all the colorful facets and shapes of a romantic relationship as two lov

K-popAug. 9, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Itzy to roll out 1st LP in Japan

Itzy will put out its first full-length album in Japan on Oct. 18, announced label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. LP “Ringo” will consist of 11 tracks including the titular track and three more new songs as well as Japanese-language versions of “Sneakers” and “Cheshire.” The former is the main track from its fifth EP, “Checkmate,” and the latter from sixth EP of the same title, both from last year. The fifth EP hit the Billboard 200 at No. 8 and

K-popAug. 9, 2023

NCT to release 4th LP ‘Golden Age’ this month

SM Entertainment’s NCT is expected to continue its golden era with its fourth studio album, “Golden Age,” set for release on Aug. 28. All 20 members of NCT’s different subgroups -- NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV -- will take part in the upcoming album, according to SM on Wednesday. NCT originally consisted of 23 members but there has been a slight reshuffle in members with Lucas officially quitting NCT in May, announcing that he will go solo after a two-year hiatus. Sungchan

K-popAug. 9, 2023

AKMU to return with new album this month

YG’s K-pop sibling duo AKMU is releasing a new album on Aug. 21, according to YG Entertainment on Wednesday. The comeback comes two years after the group dropped its “Next Episode” collaboration album in July 2021. YG Entertainment announced the comeback in a teaser poster, which read "AKMU is coming," on its official blog. It also unveiled a teaser clip showing a miniature pink, city model that pops up on a mobile phone screen. In it, a cupid character representing L

K-popAug. 9, 2023

Inside a Hong Kong hagwon for K-pop idol hopefuls

HONG KONG -- Vivo Fung Lok-yin is a shy, soft spoken 20-year-old from Hong Kong, but the moment Blackpink’s “Shut Down” blasts from the speakers, she comes alive. She levels a confident stare at her reflection in the mirror-covered studio as she dances to the hip-hop track, a tiny smirk gracing her face. You wouldn’t think that four years ago, she could barely look herself in the mirror while dancing. “I would say I’m a very shy person … I was too scare

K-popAug. 8, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids tops 100m views with ‘S-Class’ video

Stray Kids garnered 100 million views with the music video for “S-Class,” according to label JYP Entertainment on Tuesday. It is the band’s tenth music video to reach the milestone, after those of “God’s Menu,” “Back Door,” “Miroh,” “My Pace,” “Thunderous,” “Maniac,” “Case 143” and “Hellevator.” “S-Class” is the focus track from its third full album “5-Star,&

K-popAug. 8, 2023

The Boyz brings Christmas to summer with new album trilogy

Christmas in summer seems odd, but The Boyz hopes to make the miracle happen with its new album "Phantasy Part 1 - Christmas in August" which dropped on Monday. The EP, a six-song album, marks the start of their three-part LP "Phantasy," from which the band will drop three sub-albums over the rest of the year. It also celebrates the group's return with a new album for the first time in six months since the release of its eighth EP "Be Awake" in February. The 11

K-popAug. 8, 2023

BTS' V set to debut solo with 'Layover' on Sept. 8

BTS' V is coming out solo on Sept. 8 with his first album "Layover," agency Big Hit Music announced Tuesday. The company said V will drop his first solo album "Layover" at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8. "Layover" will be a six-track package consisting of the title song "Slow Dancing," its piano instrumental and four B-side tracks, "Rainy Days," "Blue," "Love Me Again" and "For Us." The lead single, "Slow Dancing,"

K-popAug. 8, 2023

7 years on from debut, Blackpink blooms as most successful female K-pop group

K-pop sensation Blackpink came into the world in 2016 under much pressure as they were expected to follow the lead of YG’s most successful girl group until that point, 2NE1. The quartet of Rose, Jisoo, Lisa and Jennie made its debut with its first single album, “Square One,” which consists of two songs: “Whistle” and “Boombayah.” The debut single album successfully captured the hearts of many, topping major music charts including Melon and Circle Chart i

K-popAug. 8, 2023