Actor-singer Lee Seung-gi discharged from military

South Korean actor-singer Lee Seung-gi finished his mandatory military conscription Tuesday. Meeting with media and fans in front of the special operations command in Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong Province, he thanked his fans and his comrades for helping him finish his duty successfully.“For the past one year and nine months, I‘ve received so much support that I’ve been able to leave the military well and healthy,” Lee, 30, said. “I will use the positive energy I‘ve got from the command to foc

Oct. 31, 2017

Choi Si-won not to be part of Super Junior’s comeback

Choi Si-won, member of K-pop group Super Junior, will not be participating in the promotional activities for its eighth studio album “Play,” his agency Label SJ announced on Tuesday. The announcement came as Choi and his family are under fire for a recent fatal accident in which a restaurateur died of sepsis on Oct. 6 after being attacked by Choi‘s family pet dog. Choi’s agency apologized for disappointing many fans who held high expectations for Super Junior‘s comeback. Choi is said to have par

Oct. 31, 2017

K-pop darlings Twice return with Instagram-inspired ‘Twicetagram’

Fresh from its impressive success in Japan with its first Japanese album, the nine-piece K-pop darlings Twice returned with their first full-length album “Twicetagram” Monday. Having celebrated its second anniversary recently, Twice members expressed excitement over the first full-length album, for which many of them wrote lyrics. “My biggest goal for this year was to release our first full-length album, and I’m really grateful that we finally made it,” said band leader Jihyo during a press show

Oct. 30, 2017

BTS' 'Blood Sweat & Tears' tops 200 mln YouTube views

K-pop group BTS' "Blood Sweat & Tears" music video has garnered over 200 million views on YouTube, its management agency said Monday.The video for the lead song on "Wings," the group's second full-length album released in October 2016, reached 200 million views on the global video site Sunday evening, according to Big Hit Entertainment. BTS has two other songs -- "Dope" and "Fire" -- that have reached the same milestone on YouTube. (Big Hit Entertainment)BTS last month released its latest EP alb

Oct. 30, 2017

Seventeen to showcase new subunit

The upcoming album from Seventeen, “Teen, Age,” will feature not only the boy band’s songs performed as a whole, but also in various subunits.Prior to its Nov. 6 release, Seventeen revealed the album’s track list Saturday, showing that that some of the tracks will be by smaller groups within the band.  Seventeen (Pledis Entertainment)“Hoshi” and “Woozi” will team up for the fifth track “Shoot Me Before You Go,” while Joshua and Vernon will feature in “Rocket.” “Hello” will be by Jun, Mingyu and

Oct. 29, 2017

Indie icon 10cm to be EXO Chen’s new partner-in-harmony

Chen of K-pop behemoth EXO announced a surprise collaboration with Korean indie icon 10cm on S.M. Entertainment’s weekly music project “SM Station.” According to the agency Friday, the duet will release a project single track titled “Bye Babe” on Nov. 3. The sweet voice of EXO’s main vocalist Chen, which has been a signature element to the band’s colorful musical spectrum, will crisscross with the indieman’s emotive vocal to create a new harmony. (S.M. Entertainment)Earlier last month, Chen had

Oct. 27, 2017

[Newsmaker] Fans, family remember rocker Shin Hae-chul on third anniversary of death

ANSEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- The late Shin Hae-chul was a spiritual father to many Koreans, healing hearts with songs like “Here I Stand for You,” which was dedicated to the people he loved. Friday marked the third anniversary of the legendary rocker‘s untimely death from medical complications, and people still mourning for him gathered to pay their respects.  The memorial service for Shin was held at Utopia Memorial Hall in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, where Shin’s ashes are kept, attended by f

Oct. 27, 2017

Rain to release new album in December

Singer Rain has teamed up with Brand New Music to return with a new album in December, reports said Thursday.　Rain and Taewan, an R&B singer and producer with the music label Brand New Music, are currently working on the final stages of Rain’s album, reports said. 　Most of the tracks on the album have been co-written and co-produced by Rain and Taewan. 　 Rain (Rain Company)Taewan participated in producing Rain’s 2008 album “Rainism” and his 2010 album “Back to the Basic.” He has also worked as a

Oct. 26, 2017

PyeongChang Olympics 100-day countdown celebration to feature BTS, EXO

Seoul will celebrate 100 days to the start of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games with a large-scale concert at Gwanghwamun Square on Nov. 1.The most popular acts in K-pop at the moment, including EXO, BTS and Twice, will perform at the massive countdown leading up to the Winter Games.The event will also mark the beginning of the torch relay in Korea, which will travel across the country until it reaches PyeongChang for the opening ceremony on Feb. 9.A concert in Incheon will be held simultaneousl

Oct. 25, 2017

Top 1% enjoys oligopoly in music royalties

Top 1 percent of the Korean music performers’ society are appropriating more than 78 percent of the music royalties incurred by the collective group.Data submitted for audit at the National Assembly showed that 97 percent of the members at the Korea Music Copyright Association, over 131,000 people, received an annual dividend of 130,000 won ($115), while some 1,400 who account for about 1.1 percent of the group, took 78 percent of the total royalty fee amounting to 112 billion won. Stock photo o

Oct. 25, 2017

BTS holds onto Billboard 200 spot for fifth week

K-pop group BTS' album "Love Yourself: Her" has landed on Billboard magazine's main album chart for the fifth straight week, according to the U.S. music publication Wednesday."Love Yourself: Her" clocked in at 86th on the Billboard 200 chart for the week of Nov. 4, according to the company's website.The record first appeared on the chart at seventh place late last month. The album's lead song "DNA," however, fell off the Hot 100 chart, which measures the popularity of individual songs.  (Big Hit

Oct. 25, 2017

Choi Si-won to sit out Japan Super Junior fan event

Super Junior’s Choi Si-won will not take part in the group’s fan event in Japan, its official Japanese fan club E.L.F. Japan announced Monday. According to the announcement, Choi will not attend “E.L.F-Japan Festival 2017 -- Super Sports Day” event which is scheduled to be held today and tomorrow at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.The announcement did not give a reason for his absence. “We are very sorry for the fans who have been looking forward to the event. We ask for your kind understandin

Oct. 24, 2017

[Herald Interview] After 3 years, Epik High raps as if it’s their last

Whether it’s a student studying in a library or an office worker surrounded by piles of paper, the dark vibe of Epik High’s music has long functioned as a remedy for many people struggling with their daily lives. The hip-hop trio’s music dives deep into subjects like desperation, remorse and anger -- everyday emotions that people would rather avoid discussing -- and consoles people in its own way. Three years after topping the charts with “Shoebox,” Epik High, which consists of Tablo, Mithra Jin

Oct. 24, 2017

Veteran singer Uhm Jung-hwa to drop new album next month

Singer-actress Uhm Jung-hwa will release a new album next month, according to a music production company Tuesday.The five-track record will be the second half of "The Cloud Dream of the Nine," Uhm's 10th full-length album, Mystic Entertainment, the production company of Uhm's record, said. The first half, a four-track record, was released in December of last year.The new album will feature contributions by fellow '90s idol stars Lee Hyo-ri and Jung Ryeo-won. The 48-year-old songstress has finish

Oct. 24, 2017

Veteran balladeer Im Chang-jung returns with heart-wrenching EP

There are certain tracks that need to be heard in this sweater weather, and veteran balladeer Im Chang-jung is back on the circuit with a new fall-focused EP to help you get in the mood for the season. Best known for his effusive voice that evokes a whirlwind of feelings, Im returned with his second EP “Do You Know That Person” on Monday, fully charged with bitter emotions for past romances. After kicking off the media showcase for his new EP on Monday in Seoul with a performance of his previous

Oct. 24, 2017

Epik High’s done something wonderful with new album

Hip-hop trio Epik High is sweeping music charts at home and overseas with its long-awaited ninth full-length album “We’ve Done Something Wonderful.”Since their release on Monday evening, the album’s two lead tracks “Home is Far Away” and “Love Story,” each featuring singer Oh Hyuk and IU, quickly cruised to the top of seven local music charts including Melon and Naver Music. Other tracks from the album -- which feature star-studded artists such as Crush, Suhyun of AKMU, Kim Jong-wan of Nell, Son

Oct. 24, 2017

AOA’s Mina to publish book of essays

Singer and actress Mina of K-pop girl group AOA will soon publish her first essay collection, on Nov. 1, according to her agency.FNC Entertainment announced that Mina’s soon-to-be-released essay, titled “Stars Don’t Lose Their Way, Even at Night,” will offer insights into the author’s experiences as well as candid personal stories.The book will additionally feature quotes of wisdom that have supported the singer through her tough times in the past, through which Mina intends to encourage fellow

Oct. 23, 2017

Jarasum Jazz Festival draws 100,000

The 14th Jarasum International Jazz Festival successfully closed the curtain on its three-day event, Sunday, with 100,000 music lovers attending the festival. The JIJF, which is the biggest festival celebrating jazz music in Korea, takes place in October each year on Jarasum Island at the heel of the surrounding mountains in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province – an hour from Seoul by the ITX Cheongchun High Speed Train.At this year’s festival, a total of 257 musicians from 20 countries formed 42 teams t

Oct. 23, 2017

AOA’s Mina to publish book of essays

Singer and actress Mina of K-pop girl group AOA will soon publish her first essay collection, on Nov. 1, according to her agency.FNC Entertainment announced that Mina’s soon-to-be-released essay, titled “Stars Don’t Lose Their Way, Even at Night,” will offer insights into the author’s experiences as well as candid personal stories. Cover of AOA Mina‘s first essay collection “Stars Don’t Lose Their Way, Even at Night” (FNC Entertainment)The book will additionally feature quotes of wisdom that hav

Oct. 23, 2017

Twice tops Japan's Oricon chart for fifth straight day

K-pop group Twice has led Japan's main music chart for the fifth day, with combined sales of its latest single album in the country poised to soon break the 200,000 mark, its agency said Monday."One More Time," released in Japan last Wednesday, held on to the pole position on Oricon's Daily Single Chart as of Monday morning, according to JYP Entertainment. Combined sales stand at 191,157 copies to date.Twice has become the fastest-selling K-pop girl group album in Japan based on first week figur

Oct. 23, 2017