Taeyang confirms venues for N. America tour

K-pop superstar Taeyang has confirmed the North American cities that he will perform in as part of his upcoming global tour “White Night.”The Big Bang lead vocalist will kick off the tour with a concert at the International Centre in Toronto on Aug. 30, according to YG Entertainment. He will return to Canada -- this time on the west coast -- with a concert at the Orpheum in Vancouver on Sept.15 to wrap things up. The promotional image for Taeyang’s “White Night” tour. (YG Entertainment)Along the

July 13, 2017

[Herald Interview] ‘I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life miserable’

Her husky yet warm voice used to dig deep into torn young hearts pining for past loves. Fully charged with overpowering emotions, Korean singer-song writer Ali crooned lines like “If only I can remove you with an eraser, I want to erase you a hundred times over” in her tear-shedding ballad hits. Ali poses during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)However, Ali’s persona has outgrown her downbeat past and the singer has developed into a young woman i

July 12, 2017

Psy relinquishes YouTube throne to Wiz Khalifa

For the first time since 2012, Psy has been unseated on YouTube as Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” became the most watched video of all time.As of Tuesday, the heart-wrenching song -- featuring Charlie Puth – surpassed the South Korean pop sensation’s “Gangnam Style” as the most-played clip.  Psy shows off his trademark “horse-riding” dance move in the music video of “Gangnam Style.” (YG Entertainment)The popularity of “Gangnam Style,” the first video to garner more than 2 billion views on YouTube

July 12, 2017

EXO passes 100 million views on YouTube for 5th time

EXO has done it again, passing 100 million views on YouTube, this time with the music video for “Wolf,” Tuesday.According to S.M. Entertainment, the video has just become the fifth of EXO‘s YouTube productions to garner over 100 million views.  (S.M. Entertainment)“Wolf” is the lead track from EXO’s first studio album “XOXO” in 2013. The K-pop sensation had already broken the mark four times, with “Overdose,” “Growl,” “Call Me Baby” and “Monster.”EXO is set to release its fourth studio album, “T

July 12, 2017

Sulli, Kim Min-joon confirm breakup

K-pop group member-turned-actress Sulli, also known as Choi Jin-ri, and brand director Kim Min-joon have broken up after being together for four months. Kim took to Instagram on Monday to announce the split. “After lots of thought, Choi Jin-ri and I decided to go separate ways,” he wrote. Through the post, he waved aside possible speculations and asked people not to make up stories about the breakup. “It was ordinary dating. There is only the story of the two and no other special stories or curi

July 11, 2017

SHINee's Taemin to drop third solo album next month

Boy group SHINee's Taemin will make a comeback as a solo artist in August, his agency said Tuesday."Taemin will release his third album as an individual artist next month," S.M. Entertainment said in a release. "This would be his first album in 1 1/2 years."The agency, however, did not reveal the exact date of the album's release. (S.M. Entertainment)The singer is scheduled to hold his first individual concert in his home country at the Olympic Hall inside Olympic Park in southeastern Seoul on A

July 11, 2017

Roy Kim accuser takes ‘plagiarism case’ to top court: report

The protracted legal battle surrounding the alleged plagiarism by singer Roy Kim will be taken to the Supreme Court, local media reported Tuesday.According to the reports, the unidentified songwriter appealed the earlier verdict that ruled in favor of Kim. Both the district court and the appellate court ruled that the song in question, “Bom Bom Bom,” was not the product of plagiarism. Roy Kim (CJ E&M)In 2013, the Christian music composer filed charges against the then-20-year-old singer, claimin

July 11, 2017

VIXX launches Japan tour

VIXX kicked off its concert tour in Japan on Tuesday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of its debut.According to its agency Jellyfish Entertainment, the boy band was to hold two concerts in Nagoya on Tuesday to commence the tour. The band will hold two concerts in Tokyo on Saturday and will wrap up the tour with two performances in Osaka. The poster for VIXX’s Japan tour (Jellyfish Entertainment)The concerts are part of VIXX’s project launched to celebrate its anniversary. It started with the

July 11, 2017

Super Junior returns in smaller size

K-pop boy group Super Junior will return to the K-pop music scene in October with less members, its management agency said Monday. Super Junior (S.M. Entertainment)Originally consisted of 11, the restructured team will be made up of seven members -- Leeteuk, Heechul, Shindong, Yesung, Eunhyuk, Donghae and Siwon -- said Label SJ, the special label created by S.M. Entertainment exclusively for the globally well-known K-pop group. Eunhyuk, Donghae and Siwon, currently serving in the military, are e

July 10, 2017

Akdong Musician to return later this month

Brother and sister duo Akdong Musician will make a return later this month, the group‘s agency said Monday.Confirming earlier reports, YG Entertainment said that the beloved duo has just finished shooting the music video for its new song, set for release this month.  Akdong Musician (YG Entertainment)“The specific schedule has not been set yet,” it said, adding that it is yet unclear whether Akdong Musician will release an album, EP or a single.　The agency did not comment on when Lee Chan-hyuk -

July 10, 2017

‘Produce 101’ contender Samuel to debut in August

Samuel, previously a contender for the Mnet audition program “Produce 101 Season 2,” will officially debut on Aug. 2. His agency Brave Entertainment on Monday put out the release date, the cover image and the complete track list for his debut EP “Sixteen.” The cover image has the number 16 scribbled in red across a white background, and the EP will consist of six songs including “Jewel Box,” “Sixteen” and “I Got It.” (Brave Entertainment)The 15-year-old was born Samuel Arrendondo and is also kno

July 10, 2017

CNBLUE’s Jung Yong-hwa reveals cover image for ’Do Disturb‘

CNBLUE frontman and vocalist Jung Yong-hwa on Monday released online the cover image for his upcoming album “Do Disturb.”His agency FNC Entertainment launched an official teaser website for the album at midnight, on which the image was posted. (FNC Entertainment)The photo had two identical images of Jung -- arranged in symmetry to the background of what appears to be tropical plants. According to FNC, the album’s lead track “That Girl” will be a cheery, upbeat song featuring rapper Loco.Jung’s l

July 10, 2017

Park Yoo-chun mum on marriage rumors

Park Yoo-chun’s agency on Monday refused to confirm or deny rumors that the singer is set to marry his fiancee on Sept. 20.“We’ve yet to hear (from Park) on anything wedding-related. The priority (for him) is to finish his mandatory military service,” C-Jes Entertainment said.  (C-Jes Entertainment)Park is currently carrying on his military duties -- serving as a public service officer, which he will complete on Aug. 26.Earlier in the day, a local media outlet reported that Park has confirmed hi

July 10, 2017

EXO to return with ‘The War’ on July 18

K-pop hit maker EXO will make a long-awaited comeback on July 18 with new album “The War,” its label S.M. Entertainment said Monday.  A teaser photo of EXO‘s Kai for the group’s upcoming album ‘The War’ (S.M Entertainment)“The War,” EXO‘s fourth full-length album, includes nine tracks of various genres, featuring upbeat dance track “Ko Ko Bop” as a lead song. The upcoming album will be released on July 18 at 6 p.m. via local music streaming sites. The label has also hinted at the album’s concept

July 10, 2017

Highlight, EXID and other K-pop stars to perform, make donations in London

Several of the hottest K-pop singers will visit London this weekend to perform in a Hallyu event hosted by state-run organizations.According to the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, “2017 Feel Korea in London” co-hosted by the foundation and the Korean Culture Center UK will be held Friday and Sunday at the Olympia National exhibition hall in downtown London. (Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange)The event was launched to introduce various forms of Korean art, i

July 7, 2017

Ex-4Minute member Jeon Ji-yoon to release single

K-pop star Jeon Ji-yoon, also known by her stage name Jenyer, confirmed that she will release a new single on July 20. It will be her first official release since she released “Cliche,” a collaboration with singer Samuel Seo, four months ago.  Jeon Ji-yoon (Robin K. ENT)According to her agency Robin K. ENT, her new single will be produced by Primary, who has worked with several hip-hop and pop artists in Korea including Supreme Team, MBLAQ and Dynamic Duo. The agency said Taylor Parks participat

July 7, 2017

‘Desperate’ Halo seeks breakthrough with new EP

Since its 2014 debut, boy band Halo has for the most part stayed under the radar.While the group has had a following, it has fallen short of the standards set by major rivals like Winner, GOT7 and BTS.“We are smiling on the outside, but we are desperate for our names to be widely-known,” said Dino during a press showcase held Thursday in Seoul for its third EP “Here I Am.” It marked the group’s return from a 10 month break, by K-pop boyband standards, a considerable hiatus. Halo members perform

July 7, 2017

[Herald Interview] Hang5va hopes to become EDM sensation in K-pop

With electronic dance music bringing many people around the world to their feet, an EDM act in Korea hopes to carve out its own niche in the K-pop industry with the band’s throbbing electro bass. The group’s relaxed, jovial nature belies the quartet’s name: Hang5va, pronounced like “hangover.” The hip-hop-based EDM group strutted into the K-pop scene with a swagger early this year, consisting of band leader Kazu, MC Crooner, Chocoboi and DJ Hotdog. Korean EDM quartet Hang5va poses during a recen

July 6, 2017

Former I.O.I members to debut with girl group next month

Choi Yoo-jung and Kim Do-yeon of disbanded K-pop group I.O.I will reunite in the new group Weki Meki, which will debut in August.According to their agency Fantagio Entertainment, the pair will join six other singers to form the group. A pre-released image of the group showed only the shoes and legs of the eight members, keeping its concept under wraps.  (Fantagio Entertainment)With Choi and Kim joining Weki Meki, all 11 members of I.O.I have formally launched careers with their respective groups

July 6, 2017

Week of Twice -- 210,000 albums ship in Japan debut

Twice’s Japan debut is garnering an explosive reaction, as over 210,000 copies of the group’s album “#TWICE” have been shipped out just a week since its release.According to JYP Entertainment, the K-pop group has sold 130,594 records, taking the No. 2 spot on Japan’s Oricon daily album charts on Thursday. Twice held the top spot for three straight days before being dethroned by Kanjani8’s “Jam.” (JYP Entertainment)Twice has already been the top-selling K-pop artist or group in Japan for the past

July 6, 2017