[Today’s K-pop] Three Victon members leave agency

Three members of six-piece act Victon left agency IST Entertainment, said the company on Thursday. Choi Byungchan, Do Hanse and Jung Subin decided not to renew their contracts that expired as of Thursday. Han Seungwoo, Kang Seungsik and Im Sejun will stay with the agency as theirs are extended due to serving their military duties. Han was discharged in January and Kang is currently serving, as will Im from June. The remaining three members “will carry on their activities as arranged inclu

K-popApril 20, 2023

[Profile] Moonbin, beloved Astro all-rounder, leaves behind 14-year entertainment career

Singer and actor Moonbin was found dead Wednesday evening at his home in Seoul. Moonbin entered the entertainment industry at just 11 years old, making his debut in the 2009 KBS drama “Boys Over Flowers.” Even before his official debut in the entertainment industry, Moonbin used to model for kid fashion brands. In 2016, Moonbin made his way into the K-pop scene as a member of Astro, a six-member boy band under Fantagio. He was 18 at the time and took on the role of a sub-vocalist and

K-popApril 20, 2023

K-pop singer Moonbin of Astro dies at 25

Moonbin of K-pop group Astro died on Thursday at the age of 25. The singer was found dead in his home on Wednesday night. Astro's agency, Fantagio, announced Moonbin's demise through the official fan community on Thursday early morning. "On April 19, Astro's member Moonbin has unexpectedly passed away," the announcement read. "The bandmates of Astro and the artists and staff of Fantagio who have known Moonbin for a long time are mourning his death in great grief and

K-popApril 20, 2023

[Herald Interview] Ryu Sujeong explores feelings in 1st LP 'Archives of Emotions'

As Ryu Sujeong enters her late 20s, she continues her journey as a solo artist, deeply reflecting on the feelings she felt along the way, transforming them into songs. Ryu's songs, written as if they were her diary, fill her first full-length album “Archives of Emotions,” which was released on Thursday. “The tracks from my previous albums are more hopeful and mellow, filled with pretty words. But these recent ones embrace more realistic concerns that I’ve been having

K-popApril 20, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Twice to drop 10th single in Japan

Twice will release its tenth single in Japan “Hare Hare” on May 31, according to label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. The company floated teaser photographs for the single album via its social media channel in the country. The nine-member act is set to go live in Osaka and Tokyo on May 13-14 and 20-21, respectively. It will be the first K-pop girl group to hold concerts in stadiums in Japan. It is part of the group’s fifth international tour that began in Seoul last weekend.

K-popApril 19, 2023

Blackpink dazzles Coachella with Korean hanbok

K-pop idol singers are often touted as the representatives of Korean culture -- especially fashion -- with many making use of their global stardom to spotlight Korean heritage. Taking the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday in southern California, as the first headlining K-pop girl group, Blackpink also used the historic moment to turn the world's attention to hanbok, Korean traditional dress. Stepping on stage at the music fest as the night's final perfor

K-popApril 19, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'There's ppongjjak inside every Korean': producer 250

It all began from a question about what makes Koreans dance, music producer 250 said about his sensational first album "Ppong." "When you think about the music that all Koreans know, there's not so many genres. In the case of ppongjjak, however, from the teenagers to our parents in their 50s and 60s, we all recognize ppongjjak when we hear it," 250, whose real name is Lee Ho-hyeong, said during an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul last month. Ppongjjak among us

K-popApril 18, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink notches another Guinness record

Blackpink set yet another Guinness World Record, as its YouTube channel became the most viewed music channel on YouTube, according to YG Entertainment on Tuesday. The group’s channel has registered 3.01 billion views as of last week, edging past Justin Bieber. The channel opened about six years and nine months ago and had the most subscribers among artists as of September 2021. It currently has 86.9 million subscribers. This is the foursome’s 21st time to set a record recognized by

K-popApril 18, 2023

'Blackpink producer' Teddy Park launches audition in Thailand

Hit K-pop producer Teddy Park's label, The Black Label, has launched a new company in Thailand to discover new global talent. The Black Label, an affiliate label co-founded by Teddy Park under YG Entertainment, on Tuesday announced it has established a joint venture, Theblacksea, with Bangkok-based Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group. Teddy Park, once an in-house producer of YG, made his name as the creative director and composer of K-pop stars Blackpink, Big Bang and 2NE1. In 2016, he

K-popApril 18, 2023

David Yong drops new single 'Maybe Love' featuring Mamamoo's Moonbyul

Singaporean entrepreneur David Yong continues to expand his scope as a K-pop singer with his new digital single "Maybe Love." The CEO of Singapore-based Evergreen Group Holdings on April 12 dropped his new single, "Maybe Love," featuring Moonbyul of girl group Mamamoo. The song marks Yong's return with a Korean song for the first time in around 9 months since the release of his single "In My Pocket" in July 2022. According to Evergreen Group Holdings, "May

K-popApril 18, 2023

BTS' J-Hope enlists in army

K-pop phenomenon BTS' member J-Hope is enlisting for military service Tuesday. The singer bid farewell to fans through his social media on Monday night, posting a picture of himself with his head shaved, along with a hand-written message that read, "I'll be back in good health." J-Hope is reportedly beginning his obligatory military service on Tuesday. Reports showed that he will complete five weeks of training at an army division boot camp in Gangwon Province, before joining

K-popApril 18, 2023

iKON to release 3rd full-length album 'TAKE OFF' on May 4

K-pop boy group iKON is making a comeback for the first time since they joined a new label. iKON is set to drop its third full-length album “TAKE OFF” on May 4, according to 143 Entertainment on Tuesday. All members of iKON joined 143 Entertainment on Jan. 1 after their exclusive contract with YG Entertainment expired in December last year. iKON, consisting of members Bobby, Jay, Song, DK, Ju-ne and Chan, debuted under YG Entertainment in September 2015. They were grouped together wh

K-popApril 18, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink to hold encore concert in US this summer

Blackpink will hold four more concerts in the US in August, said label YG Entertainment on Sunday. The quartet will perform in New Jersey, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles from Aug. 12-26, returning to the US where they held 14 concerts in seven cities last year. On Saturday in the US, the bandmates headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival as the first K-pop act to do so. They will go live again on Saturday, the last day of the music fest. Meanwhile, speculations claiming t

K-popApril 17, 2023

Lee Kigwang returns as solo artist with 'Predator'

Singer Lee Kigwang, who is also a member of the K-pop group Highlight, is back as a solo artist with his first full-length album "Predator." Lee held a press conference in Seoul on Monday before the album's release later in the evening. "I'm happy to be back doing my main job," Lee said during the press event. "I made the album thinking about what I could show more as a solo artist. I worked on it hoping I could show an upgraded version of myself as a solo musi

K-popApril 17, 2023

SM artists to join Hybe's fan community Weverse

SM Entertainment artists will join Hybe's K-pop fan community platform Weverse. Weverse, the largest global K-pop fan community platform, has around 65 million users from 245 countries or regions worldwide. Weverse on Monday announced that a dozen artists from SM Entertainment will open their fan communities on the platform by September. SM Entertainment is one of the nation's leading K-pop agencies whose roster of artists include aespa, EXO, NCT, Red Velvet, SHINee and Super Junior. T

K-popApril 17, 2023

Aespa is back from Kwangya

K-pop girl group aespa is back, making its long-awaited return with a new album 10 months after the release of its last album. Aespa's new mini album, “My World,” will be out on May 8, according to an announcement by SM Entertainment on Monday. This is the group's third mini album following its previous mini album “Girls” which was launched last July. The new album comprises a total of six tracks in which aespa will continue to tell its story evolving around Kwa

K-popApril 17, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] aespa to return May 8: report

Girl group aespa will make a much-anticipated return on May 8, according to a local media report Friday. SM Entertainment confirmed the news following the report. More details and a timetable for promotions will be announced soon, the company said, asking fans to keep their expectations high. It has been about 10 months since the release of the group's second EP “Girls,” which went on to hit the Billboard 200 at No. 3. The EP sold 1.64 million copies in preorders and became the firs

K-popApril 14, 2023

BTS to release soundtrack for animated film 'Bastions'

Global K-pop sensation BTS will drop a new original soundtrack for the animated film "Bastions." The seven-piece boy band is set to sing the main original soundtrack for the 3D action-hero flick, according to Thymos Media on Friday. "Bastions" is produced and invested by local IT company Nable Communications. A 30-second clip featuring the septet's voices was also posted on the movie's social media platforms on Friday, officially announcing BTS as the singers of its

K-popApril 14, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] (G)I-dle readies for May comeback: report

(G)I-dle is gearing up for a return in May, according to a local media report Thursday. Agency Cube Entertainment confirmed the news following the report. The group’s previous album was its fifth EP “I Love” in October last year. The group entered the Billboard 200 for the first time with the EP at No. 71. The mini album topped iTunes top albums charts in 40 regions and sold more than 678,000 copies in the first week, a record for the five-member act. (G)I-dle debuted in May 2

K-popApril 13, 2023

Lee Chaeyeon is ready to "KNOCK” on hearts of many with 2nd EP

K-pop performance queen Lee Chaeyeon is back to knock over the music scene with her second mini album, “Over The Moon.” This comeback comes six months after Lee Chaeyeon made her debut as a solo artist last year with her debut album, “Hush Rush.” “I tried to put my bold and adventurous characteristics into the album, in which the concept is to depict diverse identities, from a high school honor student to a wannabe,” Lee Chaeyeon introduced her new album at a

K-popApril 13, 2023