BTOB frontman Seo Eun-kwang will enlist in the military on Aug. 21, according to his agency Cube Entertainment. The singer confirmed the surprising news himself, releasing a statement through his agency that said, “I am really sorry to fans who might be surprised at this sudden news about my enlistment. I am sorry for not being able to keep all those many promises I made with you. I will keep those promises after I fulfill my military duty.” (Cube Entertainment)Details regarding the time and tra

Performance Aug. 6, 2018

After shaking things up with its song “Red Flavor” in July last year, Red Velvet is set to offer another taste of summer with its new single “Power Up.”“Our new single ‘Power Up’ delivers a message of ‘work hard and play hard.’ If ‘Red Flavor’ is energetic and upbeat from its beginning to end, ‘Power Up’ is very infectious,” said Irene during a press conference for the band’s second solo concert “Red Mare” in Seoul on Sunday.  (Yonhap)Red Velvet’s new summer album “Summer Magic,” slated for rele

Performance Aug. 5, 2018

For the past six years, the versatile singer had his hand in everything from songwriting to pursuing a musical theatre career, except for filling an album only with his voice. And for his ever first solo album “Canvas,” Leo of Vixx transformed himself into a meticulous artist and splashed a blank canvas with colors only the artist himself could create. The seven-track album is led by lead track “Touch & Sketch,” a groovy bass-driven song that bounces between the digitized beat and Leo’s clear br

Performance Aug. 2, 2018

In August last year, iKon fans were enraged at YG Entertainment for the group’s lack of promotion in Korea, even announcing a boycott of products produced by the agency. The coin was flipped with its release of “New Kids: Return” EP earlier in January. The group became one of the most prolific K-pop acts in the scene, releasing two albums a year and enjoying its heyday with the first smash hit “Love Scenario.” Seven months later, the group returned Thursday with “New Kids: Continue,” the last of

Performance Aug. 2, 2018

Vixx’s Leo“Canvas”(Stone Music Entertainment)Welcome to the dreamy land of this magician. It seems like Leo, an effortlessly seductive vocalist and songwriter of Vixx, had a pile of stories to unpack on his first solo album “Canvas” -- not a single track in the seven-track collection sounds insipid. Poised as an artist, Leo did a good job in painting his canvas with his own colors, as the songs, woven together with overarching groovy beats, trendy melodies and an emotional attitude, reflect his

Performance Aug. 1, 2018

When Victon’s recent single “Time of Sorrow,” which was released in May, topped Japan’s Tower Record chart earlier this month, the bandmates could hardly believe their eyes and ears. The song was the group’s first song since its debut in November 2016 to enter the top 100 of a Korean music chart and won third on popular music show “M!Countdown.” However, the song’s crossover success in Japan, a country where the group had not officially debuted, was completely unexpected. “I first heard the news

Performance July 23, 2018

Monsta X’s Hyungwon, who has been active as a DJ recently, released a single with DJ Jimmy Clash on Thursday. According to his agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday, the single “My Name” is an energetic electronic dance music track featuring a female vocalist.  Hyungwon of Monsta X and Jimmy Clash (Starship Entertainment)The two artists met in June as they performed together at Ultra Korea 2018, Seoul’s biggest musical festival, the agency said. Hailing from the Netherlands, Clash is an awar

Performance July 19, 2018

K-pop act Apink’s vocalist Yoon Bo-mi will be featured in hip-hop duo Mighty Mouth’s new single. Shorry of the duo broke the news on his social media account, saying that the collaborative song with Yoon titled “Pretty Woman” will be released Friday.  Mighty Mighty Mouth and Yoon Bo-mi (Allmighty Records)Mouth and Yoon Bo-mi (Allmighty Records)“After seeking a female vocalist that fits best with our new song, we thought of her. Thanks to her, the song got much brighter,” he said.According to Mig

Performance July 18, 2018

Mamamoo“Red Moon”Loen EntertainmentWhile tropical bubblegum sounds with sun-bleached lyrics have long defined “summer tunes” in K-pop, Mamamoo’s new album is nothing to be expected from such a standard: It adds more heat to the fire. But hey, it works. Like the group’s distinct vibe and character, Mamamoo’s new EP “Red Moon” is successful in that there is no single track to lose. Never forgetting the soulful vocal group’s own identity, the six tracks on the EP show what “variety” means, embracin

Performance July 18, 2018

After breaking records with its “Love Yourself: Tear” album in May, BTS will return with a new album on Aug. 24, according to its agency.Big Hit Entertainment said Tuesday that the upcoming album dubbed “Love Yourself: Answer” will be the last part of the act’s record-setting “Love Yourself” series, following last year’s “Love Yourself: Her” and May’s “Love Yourself: Tear” albums.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)Featuring seven new songs and the group’s previous songs, the upcoming album will depict

Performance July 17, 2018

The Los Angeles Police Department is looking into a death threat made against Jimin, a member of K-pop act BTS that is scheduled to perform in the US in September. US broadcaster NBC News reported Saturday that LAPD has confirmed the matter and is currently looking into it, quoting an officer of the LAPD’s media relations section. Jimin, a vocalist of the seven-piece boy band, recently received a death threat from an anonymous Instagram user who posted a photo of a gun and a statement that the u

Performance July 15, 2018

(Screencaptured from YouTube)If this summer is too hot and humid for you, it’s time to for you to freshen your summer playlist. Sistar’s “Touch My Body” and Girls’ Generation’s “Party” may be longtime favorite K-pop summer songs, but let’s go back several years to when K-pop sounded refreshing and remained faithful to its classic seasonal tunes. Here are the five best throwbacks that may evoke nostalgia. 1. Dancing Out – Super Junior (2006)Released in 2006 as part of SMTown’s studio album, the s

Performance July 12, 2018

Han Kyung-rock’s signature look -- a rose-patterned red bandana, disheveled spiky hair and a matching red scarf -- is very telling of his personality.Han, who has been a bassist in the legendary punk rock band Crying Nut for 23 years, is a jocular musician who has quite a penchant for alcohol, spending many nights drinking with fellow musicians. While his wild drinking led to a tumble down some stairs in his favorite bar, Han has his own reasons for adoring booze. “I just love having fun. Great

Performance July 11, 2018

Yoon Mi-rae“Gemini 2”Loen EntertainmentIn “Memories” from her second studio album “Gemini,” 20-year-old Yoon Mi-rae, or Tasha, was all about overcoming hardships that came from being biracial in Korea and surviving in the hip-hop scene. Some 16 years later, the working mom with a 9-year-old son, now in her late 30s, is back with a new autobiographical album, “Gemini 2.” And instead of a stormy description of life’s struggles, she filled the 12-track collection with tales of married life, family,

Performance July 11, 2018

Super Junior’s Ryeowook finished his mandatory military service Tuesday.Thanking fans and friends for helping him finish his duty successfully at the special operations command in Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong Province, the artist said, “Hello, I’ve returned to Super Junior’s Kim Ryeo-wook from Sgt. Ryeo-wook. Thank you for coming, and please support our upcoming activities as a group.” The discharge ceremony was attended by a flock of fans, media and his bandmates Donghae, Eunhyuk, Siwon and L

Performance July 10, 2018