Days after singer and actor Lee Seung-gi became embroiled in a payment dispute with his longtime agency, Lee’s legal representative demanded Hook Entertainment disclose all payments for digital streams of his songs since his debut. According to local online media outlet Dispatch on Monday, the singer has not received a single payment for his songs’ digital streams or downloads of his songs on online music platforms. The report claimed that Lee made some 9.6 billion won ($7.27 million

Performance Nov. 24, 2022

Jin, the oldest bandmate of BTS, is set to enlist in the military on Dec. 13. According to local media reports, the band’s vocalist will enter the forward-stationed training unit next month and receive five weeks of basic training in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. Jin will then be placed in an Army unit afterward. After the news broke out, Jin took to Weverse, an online platform for fans, to share his thoughts about entering the military. All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of

K-pop Nov. 24, 2022

2022 has been a roller-coaster ride for K-pop boy band TO1. Several members announced their departure, and three new bandmates -- Daigo and Renta from Japan and Yeojeong, who’s Korean -- joined the group in June. It’s unusual for a rookie band to go through such seismic changes less than two years after its debut because getting its name out to the public is crucial. But for TO1, it was an option to add value to its musical career. And now, as a nine-piece act, the group is ready to

K-pop Nov. 23, 2022

Like a catchy song on the radio, Gomak Boys, a special K-pop project group launched by Kakao Entertainment that introduced themselves to local media on Tuesday evening, hope to get stuck in the ears and hearts of music fans as they make their debut in the K-pop scene. Produced by South Korea’s entertainment giant, the highly-anticipated boy band was featured on Kakao TV’s original series “Gomak Boys,” which aired in September. Gomak Boys, which translates into eardrum boy

K-pop Nov. 23, 2022

Jooheon, the rapper and music producer of boy band Monsta X, will make his acting debut through CJ ENM's global project. An industry insider told The Korea Herald on Monday that the rapper has been cast in CJ ENM's "Lost in America" as a K-pop idol who speaks fluent English and that he’s currently preparing for the role. The film revolves around the story of a Korean boy group that heads to New York for its debut but ends up stranded in Texas with no money and mobile ph

K-pop Nov. 21, 2022

A stage decorated like a flamboyant broadway set that radiated blue lights with a live band session -- drums, bass and a guitar -- welcomed singer-songwriter Eric Nam’s fans in Seoul on Sunday. A series of pop tunes, including Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” and Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” came out from the speakers before the concert started, hyping up the first crowd here to meet the singer in concert in nearly four years. And as the clock struck 7:04

Performance Nov. 21, 2022

Leaving its powerful and frenzied beats behind, boy group Just B returned with a new batch of songs that shout out equality and the importance of it through its third EP, “= (Neun),” released Wednesday evening. If the group’s previous three records -- the Rage trilogy -- revealed stories of internal and external anger and overcoming their fury by stepping into a new world, this time, the rookie K-pop act took a seismic shift by singing songs that spelled out “equality.&rd

K-pop Nov. 16, 2022

The Washington Post called it a “cultural force” -- from welcoming the US presidential couple to representing the country at the Olympic Games -- K-pop has become pervasive now beyond the realm of the entertainment industry. K-pop idol groups have communicated with the world through song, and their milestones at both local and international levels indicate Korea might have found a new resource for diplomacy. In a recent exclusive interview with The Rolling Stone, RM of BTS opened up

K-pop Nov. 16, 2022

K-pop sensation BTS has been nominated by the Grammy Awards for the third year in a row -- and for the first time the band has been nominated in more than one category. According to the the Recording Academy's list of nominees for next year’s Grammy Awards, the boy band has been nominated for best pop duo/group performance with its mega-hit collaboration with British rock band Coldplay titled “My Universe.” Other nominees for the category are ABBA’s “Don’

K-pop Nov. 16, 2022

Chen of boy band Exo added a touch more to the beauty of fall with his third solo EP, “Last Scene,” released Monday evening. This marks a return for the singer-turned-soloist in three years since he last released his second EP, “Dear my dear,” in October 2019. “I performed and met (fans) in August through SM Town Live, but it’s been a while since I’ve greeted (fans) with an album. I’ve honed my efforts into making good music, so I hope those who li

K-pop Nov. 14, 2022

Prosecutors have asked for three years in prison for Yang Hyun-suk, the founder and former chief of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment, who is on trial for allegedly trying to block an investigation into a drug scandal involving a rapper under his company. The trial began at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Monday. The prosecution criticized Yang for failing to show remorse or admit to the crime. The former CEO has been indicted for allegedly threatening and

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2022

Reddy knows the cheat code to be an august solo artist: being comfortable in his own skin. That’s when he finds himself cultivating creativity, and when his music is at its finest. Unlike the chic and mellow rap beats the artist is known for, Reddy is beguiling. Sitting in his studio in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, he exudes a distinct friendliness -- it’s his way of relaxing into his confidence. “I newly joined 131 (ONE THREE ONE), so I’m starting fresh after moving out of my

Performance Nov. 7, 2022

South Korean TikTok creator Changha dropped a single titled “Don’t Be Late” created for the latest drama series “One Dollar Lawyer." Composed by Ryu Won-kang, the soundtrack is a song that can comfort those flowing through challenging times in their lives. The content creator is the sixth singer to contribute music for the drama. The star-studded lineup for the original soundtrack announced by the production company Danal Entertainment also includes rapper DinDin, si

K-pop Nov. 3, 2022

BTS has the most No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 this decade with a total of six songs topping the singles chart, according to Billboard. On Tuesday, the US music magazine shared a new ranking on its social media account that featured the list of global acts that have earned the most No.1 records on the competitive chart over a decade. BTS was named at the top with a total of six chart-topping songs. It’s also the first decade-data released by Billboard this year including the boy band’s &

K-pop Nov. 2, 2022

K-pop girl groups Le Sserafim and (G)I-dle have each entered the main Billboard 200 chart for the first time. According to the latest chart released by the operator on Tuesday, rookie girl group Le Sserafim's second EP, “Antifragile,” ranked No. 14 on this week’s Billboard 200 chart. The music chart shows a list of the most popular albums in the United States and is compiled by Billboard magazine based on sales and streams in America. With such a feat, the five-piece act h

K-pop Nov. 2, 2022