The amount of time K-pop entertainment giants get to greet fans has been ebbing as the coronavirus pandemic persists. But now, agency labels are reaching out to offline pop-up stores in and out of the country to garner more fans and customers. Earlier this year, K-pop superstar BTS has opened or will operate additional offline pop-up stores in four Asian cities: Bangkok, Manila, Taiwan capital Taipei and Singapore. The BTS Pop-up: Map of the Soul store offered products revolving around the

K-pop Sept. 15, 2021

The National Folk Museum of Korea invites sightseers to view its open storage space in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, that contains everyday items from times past, allowing them to revel in nostalgia.  The museum has made a tweak to its preservation paradigm. Thanks to such changes, the remains of the past have shed light on the lives of Koreans’ ancestors and expanded public understanding of the historical timeline.  The antiquities used to be stored underground, but became availabl

Culture Sept. 11, 2021

After rumors about Lisa’s first-ever solo album circulated months ago, she finally answered questions to the anticipation by stretching her solo legs. Lisa of Blackpink sent fans abuzz with excitement by releasing her first EP, “Lalisa,” which dropped Friday evening. The two-track package aims to talk about who Lisa is, as both the name for the album and its title track go by the singer’s real name, which is why her debut album gives her butterflies, she said during an

K-pop Sept. 10, 2021

Soloist HyunA and singer-songwriter Dawn of P Nation released their first-ever duo album, “[1+1=1],” on Thursday, dazzling fans with their sizzling chemistry. The four-track album is packed with stories about love and talks about turning big dreams into reality, conveying their honest feelings, the two musicians said during an online press conference Thursday. Title track “Ping Pong” interweaves Moombahton, a rhythm originated from Dutch house and house music, with 8

K-pop Sept. 9, 2021

StayC returned in nearly five months since they rose to fame with their second single album, “Staydom.” The up-and-coming K-pop rookie act dropped their first EP, “Stereotype,” on Monday evening, in a bid to launch their new songs onto the September music charts. Perky yet mature, the sextet aimed to take another fresh approach to the “teen fresh” genre, a coined term of “teenager” and “fresh,” which represents their unique identity i

K-pop Sept. 6, 2021

Young K of boy band Day 6 welcomed autumn by hopping onto the September music chart craze with his first-ever solo album. The singer-turned-soloist’s album “Eternal,” which dropped Monday evening, touches on the different colors and melodies of music. The fall-themed seven-track package aims to talk about “Kang Young-hyun as a person,” referring to his real name, and “Young K as an artist,” the singer and bassist said during an online press conference

K-pop Sept. 6, 2021

Signboards welcoming bypassers for a cup of joe, the scent of a fresh bag of coffee beans, little nooks for a sip and music playing in the background are no different from an ordinary cafe. But cafe buffs would see a minor tweak to the definition once stepping inside the venue. Birthday cafes Kim Na-young’s dream was to run a cafe business with her older sister. Although the two are nine years apart, they share similar tastes and hobbies. And after years of talking about living out

K-pop Sept. 1, 2021

K-pop megastar band BTS’ global fandom gathered at a coffee shop in Yang-jae, southern Seoul, to celebrate Jungkook’s 24th birthday on Saturday. Fans of all ages came together to talk, laugh, share memories and mark the special day with Jungkook-themed goodies and songs.  Since the pandemic has made it impossible for stars to perform at live concerts or hold meet and greets, the BTS Army took to cafes around the country to pay tribute to their favorite singer. 

K-pop Sept. 1, 2021

Kwon Eun-bi landed well with fans Tuesday, being the first to kick off as a solo artist from the now-disbanded project girl group IZ*ONE. The idol-turned-soloist opened the door to a new chapter of her musical career with her first EP, “Open,” released Tuesday evening. The six-song print is a package brimming with six different flavors, including a ballad track and several eye-catching performances, the singer said during an online press conference Tuesday. “As the name su

K-pop Aug. 24, 2021

Hoping to hit the August music charts, Cravity returned in nearly seven months with their first full-length album, “The Awakening: Written In The Stars,” released Thursday evening. The eight-song package is an album that talks about how the group plans to walk toward their destiny, the band said during an online press conference held Thursday. The album’s lead track “Gas Pedal” is a song that shows how the up-and-coming rookie act aims to solidify their presenc

K-pop Aug. 19, 2021

Tomorrow x Together opened the door to their “The Chaos Chapter” in returning after nearly three months. The five-piece act is back with a repackage of its second studio album, “The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape,” a rearrangement of “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze,” released Tuesday evening. The 11-song repackaged album is about a boy who is ready to confront the brutal and frustrating reality of the world and talks about how the youngster muddles through times

K-pop Aug. 17, 2021

Boy band A.C.E, whose name stands for “Adventure Calling Emotions,” splashed into the music scene with bold ambitions on May 23, 2017. Its five members have come a long way since then, establishing an energetic presence and delving into unique performance styles. But the group’s path to stardom was not an easy one. Online reality shows and popular audition programs on television often function as gateways for K-pop idol-hopefuls looking to make their debut. But in 2016, A.C.

K-pop Aug. 9, 2021

Boy band Astro welcomed the bright and sunny season of August by hopping on the summer music craze. The six-piece act returned after nearly four months with an aim to expand their musical taste and popularity with the eighth EP, “Switch On,” released Monday evening. The six-song package is a “gift by the band to themselves,” as the album talks about the group’s footprints over the past six years and the path the six bandmates aim to walk in the future, the group

K-pop Aug. 2, 2021

K-pop girl group Dreamcatcher is set to release a new summer special EP, “Summer Holiday,” Friday evening. Fronted by lead track “BEcause,” the six-song package aims to alleviate music lovers’ pandemic fatigue and, most importantly, to bring the septet closer to the public, its members said during an online media showcase. 　 “We’ve prepared several songs to let InSomnias all over the world feel the summer breeze just by listening to them,” said

K-pop July 30, 2021

A handful of K-pop acts are vying to control domestic music charts during the sweatiest season. From rookies to heavyweights, many artists are gearing up for a spin next month. Following is a list of singers who are ready to showcase their new summer anthems that will allow music lovers to unplug from pandemic-triggered fatigue.  Astro Astro is ready to switch on the summer button with the release of its eighth EP, “Switch On.” The sextet revealed a snippet of their album

K-pop July 30, 2021