AfreecaTV aims to broadcast diverse Korean content for global audience

AfreecaTV, one of South Korea’s biggest livestreaming service platforms, is exclusively broadcasting the K-pop idol survival program “Boys Planet” in Southeast Asia in real time with translations in various languages spoken in the region. The online platform, which airs the show every Thursday, has since garnered popularity across the region. The show, produced by Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM’s music channel Mnet, involves evaluating K-pop trainees through vari

K-popApril 4, 2023

YG to launch Blackpink The Game

YG Entertainment is launching a mobile game utilizing Blackpink intellectual property with Takeone in the second quarter of this year. In Blackpink The Game, the player acts as the producer that nurtures Blackpink members into K-pop idols, YG said Tuesday. The player can run a training and business management simulations and decorate the avatars of Blackpink members. The players can also communicate with other users from around the world. Blackpink took part in the project by helping to creating

K-popApril 4, 2023

KOZ Entertainment’s 1st boy group produced by Zico to debut in May

Rapper and producer Zico is gearing up for the debut of his K-pop boy group. The first K-pop boy group of KOZ Entertainment is set to enter the music scene on May 30, according to KOZ Entertainment on Tuesday. KOZ Entertainment is an affiliate of Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, which was initially launched by Zico back in 2018. The sub-label currently houses Zico and singer-songwriter Dvwn. All eyes are on whether this group will turn out to be successful among the many others to also deb

K-popApril 4, 2023

BTS' Jimin tops Billboard Hot 100 as first K-pop soloist

BTS member Jimin landed atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his song "Like Crazy," becoming the first K-pop solo artist to top the singles chart in history. Jimin, the latest BTS member to debut solo, placed his song "Like Crazy" on top of the Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart dated April 8. "Like Crazy" is the lead track of Jimin's first solo album "Face" which was released on March 24. This makes Jimin the first Korean soloist to grab the covet

K-popApril 4, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin hits Billboard 200 at No. 2 with solo album

Jimin of BTS entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 with his first solo album “Face,” according to the publication on Sunday in the US. This is the highest spot for a K-pop solo musician and replaces that of his bandmate RM, whose solo album “Indigo” ranked No. 3 on the main albums chart in December last year. The six-track EP includes the main track “Like Crazy” and the pre-release “Set Me Free Pt. 2.” The latter hit Billboard’s Hot 100 at No.

K-popApril 3, 2023

With flaming hot, elegant stage, Red Velvet reclaims 'queendom'

Thousands of people cheered as the lights of the KSPO Dome in Seoul shone bright, signalling the beginning of Red Velvet’s fourth concert, “R to V.” The excitement from the audience was palpable as the long-awaited concert kicked off after three years and five months of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On a lift, the queens appeared on stage wearing stunning jet-black outfits that made them look like five black swans. Red Velvet began their last day of the gig on Sunday wit

K-popApril 3, 2023

Le Sserafim back with 1st LP 'Unforgiven' on May 1

Le Sserafim is set to drop its first full-length album, "Unforgiven," on May 1. The five-piece girl group announced through Weverse on Monday the release of the new album "Unforgiven" next month. The album will be the first full-length album since the group's debut in May 2022. The album, set for release a day before the group's first anniversary, will embody Le Sserafim's desire to venture forth on its own path no matter what other people say of them, the grou

K-popApril 3, 2023

BTS' Suga to release solo album 'D-Day'

Suga, rapper of the K-pop phenomenon BTS, will release his new solo album on April 21, giving fans a sneak peek of the album with a pre-release single on Friday. Through Weverse, a fan community platform, Suga disclosed Monday that he is set to return with a solo album, "D-Day," on April 21. Big Hit Music, the label behind BTS, soon followed up with a statement, stating that Suga is set to release the album under his alias Agust D. According to the label, "D-Day" is set to ma

K-popApril 3, 2023

SM Entertainment founder Lee looks to the future as company appoints new management

Lee Soo-man, the founder and former chief producer of SM Entertainment, said Friday he was moving toward the future in a press statement issued ahead of the company's regular shareholders meeting here, where new management was appointed. "Today marks the end of an era for SM Entertainment, which was named after me," he said in the statement sent to reporters before the meeting began at the company's headquarters in Seoul. Lee did not attend the shareholders meeting. He said

K-popMarch 31, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin sells record 1.45m copies of solo album

The first solo album from Jimin of BTS sold more than 1.45 million copies in the first week, according to label Big Hit Music on Friday. It is a record for a solo musician in K-pop history. EP “Face” sold over 1.02 million units on the day of release, becoming a million-seller in a single day. This is the first time for a solo act since a local chart started tallying first-week sales. It also landed atop all three of Oricon’s weekly charts -- the weekly digital album ranking,

K-popMarch 31, 2023

Seventeen to release 10th EP 'FML' on April 24

Global K-pop band Seventeen is coming back in April with a new album. Seventeen's agency Pledis Entertainment on Friday announced Seventeen is releasing its 10th EP "FML" on April 24. The new album will mark the 13-piece boy band's return after nine months since the release of its fourth LP-reissue "Sector 17" last summer. A teaser poster was posted at midnight on Seventeen's official social media platforms. Colored in shades of white and blue, the poster boast

K-popMarch 31, 2023

NewJeans and Coca-Cola collaborate for a new song

K-pop girl group NewJeans is set to drop a new song in collaboration with Coca-Cola next week. Ador, the label behind NewJeans, said on Friday that the group is set to drop "Zero," a commercial song for Coca-Cola, on Monday. Earlier on Thursday, the label had announced that NewJeans has been tapped as the new global ambassador for the drink brand. As the ambassadors, the five members are taking part in the new Coca-Cola Zero campaign launched in South Korea, Ador added. The new song re

K-popMarch 31, 2023

Blackpink's Jisoo eyes for million-seller with solo debut

Blackpink's Jisoo is expected to become a million-seller with her first solo single album "Me." Jisoo officially debuts as a soloist musician on Friday with the album's release. The package consists of two songs, the main track "Flower" and side track "All Eyes On Me." According to Blackpink's label YG, the title "Me" has two meanings -- one refers to Jisoo herself, and the other refers to the Korean word for beauty. "Me" is an alb

K-popMarch 31, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin tops iTunes chart in 115 regions

Jimin of BTS swept the iTunes top songs chart with “Like Crazy," which notched the No. 1 spot on the chart in 115 regions. It is the main track from his first solo album, “Face,” and topped the chart in 100 regions within about seven hours of its release. The song is the third song among those released this year to achieve the feat. The first two are: “Set Me Free Pt. 2,” a pre-release from the album, and “Vibe,” a collaboration between Big Bang&rs

K-popMarch 30, 2023

K-pop diva Chungha leaves long-time agency MNH Entertainment

K-pop diva Chungha is leaving her long-time nest, agency MNH Entertainment. MNH Entertainment, the agency that currently houses Chungha, announced Wednesday on the soloist’s online fan community cafe page that her seven-year exclusive contract with MNH Entertainment expires next month. “Our exclusive contract with Chungha who has been with us for the past seven years since her debut in 2016 expires on April 29, 2023. We want to thank Chungha for her hard work and also her fans for su

K-popMarch 30, 2023

10-piece Xikers debuts, hopes to become rookie band of the year

Rookie boy band Xikers is throwing its hat into the ring on Thursday with its debut EP, "House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing." A 10-piece band debuting with KQ Entertainment, Xikers has garnered huge excitement ahead of its official kick-off as the brother group of Ateez, KQ's first boy band that has made it into the topmost tiers of the highly competitive K-pop hierarchy. Thanks to the spotlight shared by Ateez, Xikers has already been on some big stages, including KCON 2023 in Tha

K-popMarch 30, 2023

Jisoo of Blackpink finds new 'ME' while bringing up her 1st solo album

Jisoo of Blackpink’s debut as a soloist with her first-ever solo album “ME” is just a day ahead. The superstar plans to show a new version of herself never seen before through “Flower,” the album’s titular track, and also through the side track “All Eyes On Me.” “I put a lot of thought into how I can show the soloist Jisoo instead of the Blackpink Jisoo. I continuously developed music that only I can do and that I am good at. During the proce

K-popMarch 30, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids tops 100m views with ‘Case 143’ music video

The music video for Stray Kids’ “Case 143” has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, announced label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. It is the band’s ninth music video to reach the milestone. “Case 143” came out in October last year as the main track for EP “Maxident” that topped Billboard 200. The music video combines cartoon effects while highlighting perfectly choreographed dances from the eight bandmates. Meanwhile, the 5-year-old band is se

K-popMarch 29, 2023

NewJeans collabs with Apple at special pop-up sessions at Apple Gangnam store

K-pop girl group NewJeans has linked up with Apple to hold a special pop-up session for the Apple Gangnam store's grand opening on Friday. The 15-minute free session involved experiencing Apple’s spatial audio technology with NewJeans’ latest titular track “OMG.” “This was part of our effort to communicate with our fans. When you listen to our songs with Apple’s spatial audio, you will feel as if we are singing standing next to you. We wanted to give back

K-popMarch 29, 2023

Mamamoo+ opens new chapter with first single 'Act 1, Scene 1'

Mamamoo+, the subunit of the K-pop girl group Mamamoo, returned on Wednesday with its first single "Act 1, Scene 1." Consisting of members Solar and Moonbyul, Mamamoo+ invites listeners to a new chapter with the single. The duet's latest release comes seven months after its digital single "Better." Fronting the three-track collection is "GGBB," also titled "Good Girl Bad Boy," an upbeat and groovy dance-pop tune that unpacks the dynamic charms of the

K-popMarch 29, 2023