Has K-pop reached its peak? Or will it be able to keep climbing the ladder of global success? More than 20 years have passed since the first generation of K-pop boy groups H.O.T and Sechs Kies made waves within the Korean music scene in the ‘90s. In 2000, legendary dance music duo Clon went overseas and mesmerized fans in Taiwan, which heralded K-pop’s overseas popularity. Since then, the K-pop industry has never slowed down in rolling out K-pop acts that appeal to a global audience, ranging fro

Performance Aug. 14, 2017

MEMPHIS (AFP) - Elvis Presley, American icon and King of rock ‘n’ roll, transformed popular culture, sold over a billion records and is idolized as ever on the 40th anniversary of his tragic death. A fan takes a photo of herself at the Meditation Garden where Elvis Presley is buried alongside his parents and grandmother at his Graceland mansion on Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. (AFP-Yonhap)His Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee -- the second most famous home in the United States after the

Performance Aug. 14, 2017

(YMC Entertainment)Gazing out at the packed 20,000-capacity as the crowd chanted each of their names out loud, Wanna One couldn’t help but be overwhelmed. “We’ve always dreamed of how it would be like to be on the stage of Gocheok Sky Dome. I can’t believe our dream has come true,” said Wanna One during the group’s debut concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Monday. Wanna One is a project boy band formed with the 11 finalists of Mnet TV competition show “Produce 101,” in which viewers

Performance Aug. 8, 2017

When it comes to highly-entertaining K-pop performer Psy, there are some things you just can’t do: You just do not sit down at a Psy concert or leave seat in the middle of the show. Friday’s “2017 Summer Swag” concert (“Soaking Wet Show” in Korean) was over three hours of pure madness and fun that had the 25,000 fans soaked to the skin and jumping with excitement. The show was part one of a two-day extravaganza at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul, in which the crowd was sprayed with water during

Performance Aug. 6, 2017

Song Kang-ho won the best actor award for his work in “A Taxi Driver” at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, said the film’s distributor Showbox.  Song Kang-ho stars in “A Taxi Driver.” (Showbox)Showbox announced Thursday that Jang Hoon, the director of the movie, attended the closing ceremony of the festival Wednesday to accept the award on behalf of Song. The award marks Song’s second best actor prize at the festival. He won the best actor award in 2007 for his role in “The Show M

Film Aug. 4, 2017

NBA superstar Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is set to appear on MBC’s variety show “Infinite Challenge” on Saturday. A teaser photo for Saturday’s episode of MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” (MBC)A recently released preview photo showed Curry posing with other guests, including former professional basketball player Seo Jang-hoon, actor Nam Joo-hyuck, a longtime fan of the reigning NBA MVP, and actor Bae Jung-nam. The two-time MVP Curry visited Korea last week as part of his Asia promotion

Television Aug. 3, 2017

Clad in matching mint-green shirts and skirts, the six members of K-pop darling GFriend performed their summery track “Love Whisper” at a showcase Tuesday. The group had made a bold move with its previous funk-driven hit “Fingertip,” diverging from its signature innocent schoolgirl image for the first time. This time, it kept to its sleek sound in “Love Whisper,” the lead track of the group’s fifth EP “Parallel,” released Tuesday evening.  GFriend performs during a press showcase for its fifth E

Performance Aug. 2, 2017

Five years ago, the duo of JJ Project, a subunit of chart-topping boy band GOT7, were not so different from other 18-year-olds, as they galloped on stage with their upbeat hip-hop debut single “Bounce,” full of energy. Likening their past to innocent children, JB and Jinyoung, both now in their mid-20s, said they wanted to showcase the more toned down and mature sides of themselves in their latest autobiographical album “Verse 2,” which was released Monday. (JYP Entertainment)“At first, we were

Performance Aug. 1, 2017

Jang Hyun-seung, formerly of Beast, apologized for his past disrespectful behavior, over a year after leaving the now-defunct boy band. His unexpected, lengthy apology to fans was made via Instagram on Monday. He shared his thoughts on his departure from the group in April last year. “During the past seven years, I was so loved by many before I left Beast. I achieved my dreams, but during the activities with the group, I had my own thirst and began to stubbornly pursue my own pleasure instead of

Performance Aug. 1, 2017

Despite a brutal heat wave that has plunged the country and its people into a state of exhaustion the last few weeks, rock fans of all ages are in for a treat, as Korea’s two most famous rock festivals are ready to jolt them with spectacular performances. Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival, one of Korea’s most notable annual music festivals that incorporates both music and art, is set to solidify its status again this year with eye-opening headliners and fun-filled activities.  The 2012 Jis

Performance July 27, 2017

More than a month after fans announced a boycott of the star, the mother of Super Junior’s Sungmin is still waiting for the calm after the storm.(S.M. Entertainment)Kang Kyung-sook, Sungmin’s mother, opened up about fans boycotting Sungmin during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul, saying she hopes he will overcome the hardships and get back on his feet with a stronger mindset. Sungmin’s fans declared a boycott of the Super Junior member in June, criticizing him for his disrespect

Performance July 26, 2017

“아직 마음고생을 하고 있지만, 성민이도 이 일을 계기로 인생 공부 좀 해야되요. 어떻게 보면 성민이가 더 성장할 기회인 것 같아요.”(SM엔터테인먼트)성민이 팬들로부터 보이콧을 당한 지 한 달 남짓. 최근 코리아헤럴드가 삼청동의 한 카페에서 만난 성민의 어머니 강경화씨는 팬들의 보이콧 이후 아들 성민의 근황을 전하며 그가 이번 난관을 잘 극복해 더욱 단단해지기를 바란다고 밝혔다. 강씨는 성민 팬들의 보이콧에 대해 “아직 많은 팬들이 성민에게 화가 나 있는 것 같아요. 저도 왜 화가 나셨는지 이해가 가고요”라며 안타까운 마음을 감추지 못했다. 하지만, 강씨는 “소나기가 내리는데 우산이 없으면 그냥 맞아야죠, 그렇지 않겠어요?” 라며 이 상황을 최대한 긍정적으로 받아들이고 있다고 전했다. 6월 10일 한 온라인 커뮤니티의 슈퍼주니어 갤러리에서는 성민의 활동중지 요구 성명서를 담은 글이 게재됐다. 팬들은 성민 퇴출 요구의 가장 큰 이유로 소통 부재를 꼽으며 ‘성민 아웃. 더 이상 이성민

한국어판 July 26, 2017

The Corea Image Communication Institute -- a nongovernmental organization dedicated to promoting Korean culture worldwide -- announced Tuesday the winners of a visual contest, titled “Korea Through the Lens,” organized on the theme of Korea’s identity and beauty. Korean calligrapher Kang Byung-in, who combines his innovative calligraphy and Korea’s traditional sceneries in the clip titled “Beautiful Korea and Hangeul” won the video category’s top prize. Nestle Korea CEO Erwan Vilfeu, who produce

Culture July 26, 2017

Hip-hop artist and producer Primary is set to hit the K-pop scene with a new EP in August. Primary (Amoeba Culture)The artist’s label Amoeba Culture said Tuesday that the upcoming EP is slated to be released on Aug. 4. It will be his first release since his second full-length album “2” in 2015. “Primary has put utmost effort into the upcoming EP. Every song from the EP will be great enough to be chosen as a lead track,” an agency official said. The hit-maker gained recognition in the Korean hip-

Performance July 25, 2017

Amid high expectations, K.A.R.D, the first coed K-pop group in several years, officially introduced itself to Korea with its debut EP “Hola Hola” on Wednesday. The rookie band under DSP Media, which consists of two women and two men, had already gained overseas fans before its official debut here. (Yonhap)K.A.R.D has released three pre-debut singles, which were highly acclaimed internationally. It saw fans chanting its name at overseas concerts thanks to its sleek choreography and incorporation

Performance July 20, 2017