Top 11 of ‘Producer 101’ to debut as Wanna One

The 11 winners of the second season of K-pop competition show “Produce 101” will debut on Aug. 7 as the boy band Wanna One, the group’s agency said Wednesday.According to YMC Entertainment, the hotly anticipated rookie group will release its first EP next month and perform on stage for the first time as a group at Wanna One Premier Show-Con. Wanna One (YMC Entertainment)The event, a combination of a showcase and a concert, will be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, western Seoul. Details of th

July 5, 2017

Dream Theater returns to Korea for ‘Images, Words & Beyond’ tour

Legendary progressive metal band Dream Theater will hold a concert in September to mark the 25th anniversary of its iconic album “Images and Words.”According to the show’s local promoter AIM, the concert will take place at Olympic Hall in Seoul at 6 p.m. on Sept. 16. It marks the eighth time that the US band will be performing in the country. A poster for Dream Theater’s “Images, Words & Beyond” concert in Seoul (AIM)The concert is part of the global tour “Images, Words & Beyond,” which commemor

July 5, 2017

Woman in false accusations case involving Park Yoo-chun found not guilty

The second woman who sued K-pop singer-actor Park Yoo-chun for sexual assault was declared not guilty Wednesday of wrongful accusations against Park. 　“It is difficult to ascertain that the defendant brought a suit against (Park) based on false facts, or that she damaged his reputation,” the court announced at the end of the first trial. “It is a case where there is no evidence of the criminal counts charged,” the court said. 　The woman, surnamed Song, was charged with falsely accusing Park of s

July 5, 2017

[Exclusive] Gospel singer Sohyang collaborates with Swedish composer for upcoming release

Gospel singer Sohyang, who set an impressive winning record on MBC’s weekly music competition show “King of Masked Singer,” is collaborating with a Swedish composer for her upcoming release. According to Sohyang’s manager Monday, the singer and Simon Petren, a Swedish composer, recently finished working on Sohyang’s two new songs.“Sohyang and Petren have recently wrapped up producing two of her new songs, and they are now in the middle of mixing process,” the manager said.“The upcoming new songs

July 4, 2017

Zico releases teaser image for new EP

Rapper Zico of boy band Block B on Tuesday released a teaser image for his new song “Behind the Scenes,” which will be included in his upcoming EP.His agency Seven Seasons Entertainment uploaded the image on its official social media pages Tuesday. The image showed a television with a tongue extended from it, set atop a pile of books.  (Seven Seasons Entertainment)The agency did not elaborate on the meaning of the image, but said that the new song will be about Zico’s personal story and how he a

July 4, 2017

Twice defends No.1 spot at Oricon daily album chart

Twice remained on the top at Oricon’s daily album chart in Japan, taking the No. 1 spot for the second straight day as of Tuesday.“#TWICE,” released last Wednesday by the K-pop act, recorded daily sales of 14,988 records on Tuesday to top the chart. It stayed at the No. 2 spot for four straight days after its release before taking the top spot on Sunday.Twice is featured on a Japanese TV show. (JYP Entertainment)Twice also held a debut showcase on Sunday at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. As of Tu

July 4, 2017

Girls’ Generation celebrates 10-year anniversary with new album

Girls’ Generation -- one of the longest running K-pop acts in the country -- will release its sixth studio album in August.According to S.M. Entertainment, the group will release the album -- the title of which has not been revealed -- sometime next month.(http://ticket.yes24.com)The group will also hold a fan meeting at Olympic Park in Seoul on Aug. 5, which will mark exactly 10 years since its debut on Aug. 5, 2007. During the event, it will perform its biggest hits and hold fan activities loo

July 4, 2017

BTS wraps up Japan tour

BTS heated up Japan with its May-July tour that concluded with a concert in Sapporo on Sunday.According to Big Hit Entertainment, the K-pop sensation’s “2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour ~Japan Edition~” was attended by 145,000 fans in Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Saitama, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. The agency added that the concerts were a complete sellout, including standing-only tickets that were released after all seats were sold.“We’re so happy and thankful to meet our Japanese fans

July 3, 2017

Heize rules local music charts

Singer-songwriter Heize is topping Korean music charts with songs from her third EP “///,” released on June 26 Singer Heize (CJ E&M) 　“You, Clouds, Rain,” one of the tracks from the new EP has debuted at No. 1 on seven main music charts including Melon, Genie and Mnet, as of Monday morning. The album’s lead track “Don’t You Know” was also ranking high on the charts since its release, until “You, Clouds, Rain” took over the first spot. Featuring singer Shin Yong-jae, “You, Clouds, Rain” is an emo

July 3, 2017

[Photo] Black Pink hands out treats to fans

Fans who gathered to meet Black Pink over the weekend caught a glimpse of the stars, got their autographs -- and even scoops of ice cream.On Sunday, the K-pop act held its first autograph-signing event since its debut last year. Each member expressed her gratitude to fans. Lifting the mood even further was the news that Black Pink had ranked No. 1 at SBS “Inggi Gayo” with its recently released single “As If It’s Your Last.” Prior to Sunday’s autograph session, Black Pink held an event in front o

July 3, 2017

Red Velvet releases teaser for ‘The Red Summer’

Red Velvet on Monday released a teaser image featuring Seulgi for its upcoming EP “The Red Summer.” The image released by its agency S.M. Entertainment is available at redvelvet.smtown.com and instagram.com/redvelvet. Seulgi is seen posing inside a frame that has the words “Red Velvet Summer Mini Album (EP) ‘The Red Summer’ - July 09, 2017” with the complete track list. (S.M. Entertainment)The new EP consists of five songs: “Red Flavor,” “You Better Know,” “Zoo,” “Mojito” and “Hear the Sea.” Acc

July 3, 2017

Taeyang confirms second global tour as solo artist

Taeyang will showcase his skills worldwide again, with the lead vocalist of Big Bang on Monday confirming his second global tour as a solo artist.The tour, named “Taeyang 2017 World Tour ‘White Night’,” will kick off Saturday with four concerts across Chiba and Kobe in Japan that are expected to attract some 140,000 fans. The K-pop singer has made impressive progress in the country since his album “Rise+Solar&Hot” peaked at No. 2 on Oricon’s daily album charts. (YG Entertainment)In addition to b

July 3, 2017

[Photo] VIXX reveals extra images from Nylon cover shoot

Boyband VIXX on Monday released unused photographs from its photo shoot last month for the fashion magazine Nylon.Its agency Big Hit Entertainment revealed the images featuring members N, Leo, Ken, Ravi, Hongbin and Hyuk through the photos that were not used for the July cover of Nylon.In the interview that was conducted with the photo shoot, the group said the concept it chose for the recently-released “Shangri-La/Paradise on Earth” was their favorite.VIXX, which has been noted for its various

July 3, 2017

Taemin of SHINee holds first concert in Japan

Taemin of K-pop act SHINee wrapped up his first concert as a solo artist in Japan on Sunday, S.M. Entertainment said Monday.“Taemin The 1st Stage Budokan” took place over the weekend at Budokan arena in Tokyo. The sellout concerts attracted 28,000 fans. (S.M. Entertainment) (S.M. Entertainment)The 23-year-old singer performed hit songs, including “Tiger,” “Danger,” “Press your Number” and “Drip Drop.” He also showcased songs like “Flame of Love,” “I’m Crying” and “Door,” which will be included i

July 3, 2017

[Next Wave] Babylon taking next step to grow as artist

The Korea Herald is introducing Korean singers, musicians and actors poised to join the next wave of top stars in a twice-monthly series. -- Ed.At one point, virtually every clubber in Korea was grooving to the vocals of singer Babylon, featured in the popular single “Boys and Girls” by Zico.The R&B singer, who debuted in 2015 with “Pray,” has one of the more recognizable voices in the Korean music scene, a result of his many collaborations with prominent artists.But the 29-year-old says he is r

July 3, 2017

Twice's Japanese debut album tops Oricon chart

K-pop girl group TWICE's Japanese debut album has topped the country's key music sales chart, according to its agency Monday."#TWICE," released last Thursday in Japan, rose to No. 1 on Oricon's daily album sales chart as of Sunday, JYP Entertainment said. The record has sold over 115,000 copies in just five days. (JYP Entertainment)On the day, TWICE held a debut showcase in front of a 15,000-large crowd at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.The album, which has TWICE's past hit songs, both in Japa

July 3, 2017

Big Bang’s ‘Fxxx It’ MV garners over 100 million views

Big Bang’s music video for “Fxxx It” became the K-pop group’s ninth MV to reach over 100 million views on YouTube.The video for “Fxxx It,” released in December, surpassed 100 million views on YouTube on Saturday evening, YG Entertainment announced.The agency’s head Yang Hyun-suk posted an image on his social media account congratulating Big Bang. “Fxxx It” (YG Entertainment-YouTube)Other Big Bang music videos that have garnered over 100 million views include “Bang Bang Bang,” “Bad Boy,” “Loser”

July 2, 2017

Gill apologizes after caught drunk driving again

Singer-producer Gill of hip hop duo Leessang apologized Saturday on social media after he was found intoxicated and asleep at the driver’s seat last Wednesday. “I have nothing to say even if people point a finger at me and throw insults at me for the rest of my life,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “I am ashamed to face my parents, family, friends and fans. I am very sorry.”  Gill stars in “Show Me The Money 5.” (Mnet)Gill, whose full name is Gill Sung-joon, was caught near the entrance of Nam

July 2, 2017

Pentaport Rock Fest announces third lineup for 2017 event

The third and last lineup for the annual rock festival in the western port city of Incheon was announced by its organizer.Brother-sister acoustic duo Akdong Musician, female acoustic duo Bolbbalgan4, hip-hop/R&B singer Zion.T and Japanese rock band Crystal Lake are among the eight new names added to the festival‘s lineup released on Friday.They will perform in this year’s Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival that will be held on Aug. 11-13 at the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, also known as Pentapor

July 2, 2017

Shinhwa’s Eric ties knot with actress Na Hye-mi

Singer-actor Eric of boy band Shinhwa and actress Na Hye-mi tied the knot at a quiet church ceremony Saturday.The ceremony, attended by family and a number of close acquaintances, took place around 3:30 p.m. at Young Nak Presbyterian Church in Seoul.Several celebrities attended the wedding, including the five other Shinhwa members who were present as best men, Lee Seo-jin, Yoon Kyun-sang and Ye Ji-won. 　Wedding photo of Eric and Na Hye-mi (E&J Entertainment)“I sincerely thank the many fans who h

July 2, 2017