[Album review] IU’s classics cover album lacks raw emotion

IU“A Flower Bookmark #2”Loen Entertainment Attempting to recreate the magic of classics, this 24-year-old songstress seems to be bent on proving that she isn‘t just an idolized K-pop singer. With her latest offering “A Flower Bookmark #2,” IU aims to present herself as a thoughtful musician whose heart belongs to the bygone decades.Maybe it’s her signature breathy and light vocals, but the cover album doesn’t quite bear the weight and complicated emotions of the originals.IU flaunts her crystal

Sept. 28, 2017

Wanna One's agency to take legal action over online bullying

K-pop entertainment agency C9 said Thursday it will take legal action over vicious and sexual online comments made towards underage pop star Bae Jin-young, a member of popular idol group Wanna One."We've confirmed that malicious rumors, comments attacking his personal character and posts amounting to sexual harassment were made in several online communities towards Bae Jin-young," C9 said in a statement.The company said it sought legal counsel on the matter and decided to press charges against t

Sept. 28, 2017

BTS moved by Billboard Hot 100 entry, thanks fans for support

Members of K-pop band BTS said Wednesday they were deeply moved by their first-ever entry into the Billboard Hot 100 chart, tipping their hats off to fans for support, according to its agency Wednesday.On Tuesday, BTS' latest song "DNA" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, the American music publication's main music chart, at 85th, backed by 5.3 million first-week US streams and 14,000 downloads."Love Yourself: Her," the EP record that holds "DNA," debuted on the Billboard 200, which tracks US albu

Sept. 27, 2017

Highlight to ‘Celebrate’ 8th anniversary

Five-piece boy band Highlight will release a mini album to celebrate its eighth anniversary.The group’s agency Around Us Entertainment announced Wednesday the release of the new EP “Celebrate” on the band’s official website. A teaser image features the hand-written title “Celebrate” alongside the members wearing black suits. According to the agency, the title reflected Highlight’s hopes to ease the regret that the group could not be with fans on its anniversary last year. A teaser image for High

Sept. 27, 2017

Super Junior to mark 12th year with album

Celebrating its 12th anniversary, global K-pop act Super Junior is set to return to the spotlight on Nov. 6, according to its agency Label SJ.The agency said Wednesday that Super Junior would release a new album that marks the first from the group since its albums “Devil” and “Magic” in 2015. A D-day logo shared on Super Junior’s website teasing the group’s return on Nov. 6 (Label SJl)Super Junior also set a D-day countdown clock on its official website that shows the logo “SJ returns” with the

Sept. 27, 2017

G-Dragon kicks off Europe tour with UK concert

G-Dragon excited fans gathered in Birmingham and London this weekend, kicking off his first European tour.The K-pop superstar held concerts at Genting Arena and The SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, according to YG Entertainment. The Wembley Arena concert was like a blast from the past for the artist who had performed at the iconic venue with Big Bang in 2012. Sunday’s concert also marked the first time for G-Dragon to perform in London as a solo artist.G-Dragon performs a

Sept. 26, 2017

Former Wonder Girls member Ha:tfelt to release new single

Park Ye-eun, known by her stage name Ha:tfelt, will release a new single in mid-October, her agency Amoeba Culture said Tuesday. The upcoming track will mark the singer’s first release since she signed with Amoeba culture in April after the disbandment of Wonder Girls in January. For the new release she will use the stage name Ha:tfelt, which she had used when she released solo tracks with her previous agency JYP Entertainment.  Ha:tfelt (Amoeba Culture)Park debuted with Wonder Girls in 2007 wit

Sept. 26, 2017

'DNA' by K-pop act BTS enters Billboard Hot 100 chart

K-pop boy band BTS' latest song "DNA" was ranked among the top 100 tracks on American music publication Billboard magazine's main chart, according to its agency Tuesday."DNA" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at 85th, backed by 5.3 million first-week US streams and 14,000 downloads sold, Big Hit Entertainment said, citing Billboard's online report.BTS became the second K-pop act to have a Korean-language song on the Hot 100, following South Korean rapper-singer PSY, whose smash hit "Gangnam

Sept. 26, 2017

Electrifying music, disappointing operation in World Club Dome

The self-proclaimed “biggest outdoor club in the world” finally landed in Korea on Friday, and neither the DJs nor the audience held anything back, partying the night away with the hottest electronic dance music in the world.World Club Dome Korea 2017 was held from Friday to Sunday at Munhak Stadium in Incheon, hosting 100,000 music fans from in and out of Korea. It was the first time that the event -- founded in Frankfurt in 2013 by German radio station Big City Beats -- had been hosted in Asia

Sept. 25, 2017

BTS’ ‘Love Yourself Seung Her’ debuts at No. 7 on Billboard 200

BTS’ latest EP “Love Yourself Seung Her” debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart on Sunday, setting yet another milestone for the hottest K-pop group of the moment.  Billboard reports on BTS’ “Love Yourself Seung Her” debuting at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. (Big Hit Entertainment)BTS’s new EP became the highest-charting album ever on the Billboard 200 by a K-pop act, beating the group’s own record set last year with “Wings,” according to Billboard. The group’s 2016 album pe

Sept. 25, 2017

In new album, EXO's Lay sings to mark his grandparent's love

Lay of South Korean boy band EXO will release a second solo album in October, the group's agency said Monday.Before the official launch of the album, S.M. Entertainment made public the music video of "I Need You." It was released on China's internet sites including Youku, iQIYI and YinYueTai as well as on the company's official YouTube channel SMTown and Naver TV.  (S.M. Entertainment)Lay heavily participated in writing and producing the urban R&B song, which was designed to celebrate the 50th w

Sept. 25, 2017

Epik High to hold concerts from Nov. 3-4

Hip-hop trio Epik High will hold concerts in November for its upcoming album, YG Entertainment announced Sunday.The concerts, titled “We’ve Done Something Wonderful,” will take place on Nov. 3 and 4 at Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Tickets will be available starting at 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at ticket.interpark.com.  A poster for Epik High’s upcoming concert (YG Entertainment)The group’s upcoming album will be its first release in three years since “Shoebox” in 2014, which fea

Sept. 24, 2017

BTS’ ‘DNA’ draws over 50m YouTube views in less than a week

BTS’ music video for “DNA” has surpassed 50 million views on YouTube in less than a week. Released on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., the video soon became the fastest K-pop music video to reach 20 million views on the video streaming platform. As of 12:40 p.m. Sunday, the video had reached 50 million views. A screen grab from BTS’ music video for “DNA” (YouTube)“DNA,” the lead track of the band’s latest EP “Love Yourself Seung Her,” took the 90th spot on the British Official Singles Chart on Saturday, maki

Sept. 24, 2017

BTS' 'Love Yourself' hits No. 14 on British albums chart

South Korean boy band BTS' latest EP "Love Yourself: Her" charted in 14th place on the British Official Albums Chart, the charts company said Saturday.It marks the first time the band has entered the chart since it reached No. 62 with "Wings" last October. (Big Hit Entertainment)"DNA," the main track from "Love Yourself: Her," took the 90th spot on the Official Singles Chart, making it the second Korean act ever to make the chart after Psy, according to the Official Charts Company (www.officialc

Sept. 23, 2017

Twice's ‘black suit teaser’ has fans on edge

Twice is teasing the fans to the point of agony with its serial teaser releases for its fan meeting next month, which it capped off with the group photo released Friday.The photo, revealed via its agency JYP Entertainment’s homepage and the group’s official SNS pages, showed the nine members posing in front of the “Twice Mansion” black suit, tie, and shoes.Twice's teaser image (JYP Entertainment)It heralded the upcoming “Twice Fan Meeting: Once Begins” which was to take place on Oct.14-15 at the

Sept. 22, 2017

No longer Wonder girl, Ha:tfelt to take World Club Dome stage

Ha:tfelt will perform at the opening and closing stages of the World Club Dome Korea 2017, its agency said Friday, spurring her development as a solo artist in the post-Wonder Girl years.According to Amoeba Culture, the K-pop star will perform at one of the biggest electronic dance music festivals in Asia for the first time, which will be hosted at Incheon Munhak Stadium from Friday to Sunday.  Ha:tfelt (Amoeba Culture)She will sing her new song “Fly High,” on which she has worked Le Shuuk. The

Sept. 22, 2017

Laboum’s Yulhee dating F.T. Island’s Choi Min-hwan

Girl group Laboum member Yulhee is dating F.T. Island drummer Choi Min-hwan, agencies of the two artists confirmed Friday.Global H Media and FNC Entertainment said that the two are in a relationship, confirming earlier reports that were fueled by a photo posted by Yulhee on her Facebook page. The photo showed her with a man fans suspect is Choi, accompanied by the message, “10 minutes before we say good-bye. I was almost in tears up because I didn’t want to let him go. But it helps to see a phot

Sept. 22, 2017

[Album review] ‘Love Yourself Seung Her’ mirrors past, future of BTS

BTS“Love Yourself Seung Her”Loen Entertainment When most media outlets put this K-pop group on a pedestal earlier this year for its impressive feats -- a Billboard award and several releases on the Billboard albums chart -- many wondered what would come next. And the result was “Love Yourself Seung Her,” which has become the group’s most successful release to date, as well as a mirror of BTS’ past, present and future. The nine-track album opens with “Intro: Serendipity,” a rather smooth preview

Sept. 21, 2017

Sechs Kies sparkle on return, but lack distinct color

Sechs Kies’ first studio album since 1999 may have been enough to satisfy longtime fans’ thirst for music, but it falls short of showing the maturity the group could have been expected to develop during its 20-year hiatus.The five-member group released “Another Light” on Thursday, marking its first full-length album since reuniting last year. “It really feels like we are debuting again,” said leader Eun Ji-won, in a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday. “It feels like we’re starting again

Sept. 21, 2017

JYP new boyband project named ‘Stray Kids’

JYP Entertainment’s “Stray Kids” project, which will debut its newest boyband, will be first aired next month, the agency said Thursday.“The survival program project that JPY will conduct with Mnet will first air at 11 p.m. on Oct.17, and has been named ‘Stray Kids’,” JYP said in a press release.JYP said the name represents the identity of the show, which picks singers with unique talents that distinguish them from idol groups.The logo for “Stray Kids” (JYP Entertainment)JYP has attempted to une

Sept. 21, 2017