GFriend vocalist Yuju is set to release her first solo EP on June 29, her agency said.The news was first announced Monday at midnight on GFriend’s official website via a teaser image of rain falling on a flower with Yuju’s name at the top. The song’s title and the collaboration artist have not yet been revealed.   A teaser image for Yuju‘s upcoming solo EP (Source Music)Having debuted as a member of GFriend in January 2015 with a single “Glass Bead,” Yuju is well known for her outstanding vocal

Performance June 25, 2018

Although “pungsu jiri,” a Korean version of Chinese feng shui that concerns correlation between life-force energy and its surroundings, is often regarded as superstitious, the idea is often reflected in the interior design of many Korean residences.The practice of integrating this intricate art of geomancy with housing, at the macro level, is usually done by building one’s home on an auspicious site to bring peace and luck. But it doesn’t always have to be complicated, as there are simple ways t

Arts & Design June 22, 2018

Celebrity couple Jo Jung-suk and Gummy will be tying the knot this fall.  Jo announced the happy news on his fan site, writing, “Maybe I’m standing at a new starting line of my life or at a crossroads where I can grow up as an actor, and I feel excited and somehow nervous, as I’ll be walking that road with someone else.” (Culture Depot, C-Jes Entertainment)“While the exact date hasn’t been set yet, the reason I couldn’t tell you earlier, I’m going to get married this year. I decided to marry her

Performance June 22, 2018

Twice is set to drop its first Japanese full-length album in September, its agency said.According to JYP Entertainment on Friday, the nine-piece K-pop girl group will release “BDZ” on Sept. 12. With “BDZ” standing for bulldozer, the album produced by the agency’s head producer Park Jin-young embodies the band’s determination to move forward. Twice (JYP Entertainment)　It will include five new songs and five of Twice’s previous Japanese singles such as “One More Time,” “Candy Pop,” “Wake Me Up,”

Performance June 22, 2018

Just as its name refers to a “purple rainforest,” Jaurim’s music is the epitome of profoundness and mysteriousness. Or, life itself. Seesawing between extreme highs and lows, the band dives deep into dark human emotions of angst and touches on societal illnesses. But it also coos about hope and lasting love in the most sophisticated language, as if trying to say life’s not always miserable.  Celebrating 20 years in the music scene, the band -- vocalist Kim Yoon-ah, bassist Kim Jin-man and guitar

Performance June 22, 2018

BTOB“This Is Us” (Loen Entertainment)While it’s a widely known fact that BTOB rarely disappoints fans with its ballads, the group proved that it does indeed have a range in its new album “This Is Us.” With the members’ fingerprints all over it, the seven-track collection features an array of light and vocally-driven tracks that are perfectly baked with all kinds of ingredients that even non-K-pop listeners can relish. Opener “Call Me,” in which Ilhoon lent his hand in writing lyrics and composin

Performance June 20, 2018

Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment and producer of BTS, has joined Variety’s list of international music leaders for 2018. The list by the US magazine recognized 23 figures in the global music industry who are currently “driving music consumption with creativity, acumen, and passion” and companies “best poised to forge into a promising future.”  Bang Si-hyuk (Big Hit Entertainment)Introducing Bang as one of the “game changers,” the magazine chronicled his feats as a producer of BTS, stat

Performance June 20, 2018

Taeyeon’s latest album EP has topped iTunes charts in 12 countries, according to her agency Tuesday. “Something New,” the artist’s third solo EP and her first record since “This Christmas? Winter Is Coming” EP released in December, climbed to the top of iTunes charts in Chile, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Cambodia, S.M. Entertainment said. Taeyeon (S.M. Entertainment)Along with the neo soul title track, the six-track album also includes “All Night L

Performance June 19, 2018

If you’ve ever wondered how Lisa of Black Pink was showered by money with a bill-shooting gun in the “DDU-DU DDU-DU” music video, check out Black Pink’s “Square Up” pop up house.Located in the busy street of Hongdae area in Mapo-gu in Seoul, the house, renovated from the previous “Black Pink House,” is full of hands-on experiences related to the band’s recent “Square Up” EP. The pink-and-black set features four different squares, and The Korea Herald took a look to give readers a sneak peak of w

Travel June 19, 2018

Just three months since its “What Is Love” EP, Twice is ready to return with a summer single in “Dance the Night Away,” on July 9.According to its JYP Entertainment agency Monday, the K-pop girl group’s upcoming song will offer a fresh tune that suits the summer weather. The song’s teaser image, released by the agency, showed a wooden tent against a backdrop of a starry night sky and dark green forest.  Teaser for Twice’s upcoming single, “Dance the Night Away” (JYP Entertainment)Since debuting

Performance June 18, 2018

A music video teaser image for Minseo’s upcoming single “Is Who” (Mystic Entertainment)　Minseo, a female vocalist from Mnet’s audition program “Super Star K,” will release the third track of her debut album on Wednesday.According to her agency Mystic Entertainment, the artist’s upcoming song titled “Is Who” will feature a dramatic transformation of the 21-year-old singer. While her previous music has been centered on folk songs and ballads, the charismatic “Is Who” will offer a jazzy gypsy-sound

Performance June 17, 2018

Cube Entertainment held its label concert “United Cube – One” on Saturday. The concert, which took place at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Seoul, featured performances by a total of 33 Cube artists including HyunA, Jo Kwon, BTOB, CLC, Pentagon, (G)I-DLE and Yu Seon-ho, that ran for more than four hours. The annual concert has been held since 2013.  "United Cube-One” was held on Saturday at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Seoul. (Cube Entertainment)　Rookie girl band (G)

Performance June 17, 2018

From “K-pop Star” to “Superstar K” to “Unpretty Rapstar” to “The Unit,” the audition programs the two members of KHAN have gone through pretty much sums up the competitive and variable nature of the K-pop industry. Like other K-pop aspirants, Yuna Kim and Jeon Min-joo competed in several audition programs, endured grueling practice and trained under agencies with the hope of debuting.  KHAN poses during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)The pair

Entertainment June 14, 2018

Elris has revealed the track list for its upcoming “Summer Dream” EP.The girl group’s agency Hunus Entertainment on Thursday released the track list that showed a background of a blue ocean and a sandy beach. (Hunus Entertainment)The five-track EP will feature the lead track “Summer Dream,” “Will Be Mine,” “Prod. RAVI” and “Focus.” Accompanying the track list were lyrics of the songs written by the members themselves. It will mark the first release for the K-pop act since the EP “Color Crush” la

Performance June 14, 2018

SHINee“The Story of Light EP.2” IRIVERJudging by its new album, SHINee is still SHINee even after 10 years. It could be the vocals or the band’s effusive use of synths -- it’s ineffable -- but there always has been this unique color of SHINee scattered throughout its albums.And “The Story of Light EP.2” -- its first album as a quartet following the death of member Jonghyun last year -- is no exception: experimental, vibrant and SHINee-like. The album begins with “I Want You,” a tropical house le

Performance June 13, 2018