[Herald Review] G-Dragon reveals ‘true self’ at Seoul concert

From the singer’s outfits to the concert lighting and his microphone, everything on stage was splashed a bloody red, a color that represented the theme of G-Dragon’s Saturday solo performance: going back to the roots of his birth.  G-Dragon performs during a concert at Sangam World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Saturday. (YG Entertainment)“Hello, my name is Kwon Ji-yong. You are witnessing the first-ever concert by ‘the human Kwon Ji-yong’,” the frontman of Big Bang screamed at 40,000 fans after openi

June 11, 2017

T.O.P leaves hospital amid military service suspension

T.O.P of South Korean boy band Big Bang, who has been hospitalized for a drug overdose, left the hospital on Friday, as he was officially suspended from his mandatory military service due to a marijuana scandal. (Yonhap)"I'm sorry," the singer responded succinctly towards a barrage of questions from reporters as he came out of the intensive care unit of Ewha Womans University Medical Center in western Seoul.The singer, who came out sitting in a wheelchair, was in a patient gown and wearing a mas

June 9, 2017

Astro makes Billboard charts again

Boy band Astro has entered the Billboard music charts again with its fourth EP “Dream Part 1,” coming in at No. 6 on the World Album charts as of Friday, the group’s label Fantagio Music announced. 　Astro made the Billboard World Album charts last year with its first and second EPs “Spring Up” and “Summer Vibes.” 　 Astro’s fourth EP is listed on the Billboard World Albums chart. (Billboard)With the listing of its recent EP, released May 29, the six-member band which debuted in 2015 features alon

June 9, 2017

G-Dragon’s new album reigns on iTunes charts worldwide

Big Bang member G-Dragon’s self-titled solo album “Kwon Ji Yong” is reigning over iTunes album charts around the world, setting a new record in the Korean music scene.  (YG Entertainment)The album, which was released Thursday with the lead track “Untitled,” has topped the iTunes album chart in 39 countries including the US, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Ukraine, Colombia, Finland and Thailand, as of Friday morning.G-Dragon now holds the record for simultaneously topping the most iTunes album charts

June 9, 2017

G-Dragon drops new solo album ‘Kwon Ji Yong’

G-Dragon of Big Bang returned with a new solo album Thursday evening, amid ongoing controversy surrounding bandmate T.O.P, who has been indicted on allegations of marijuana use. T.O.P regained consciousness late Thursday afternoon after being hospitalized Tuesday for an apparent drug overdose. (YG Entertainment)The lead track for G-Dragon’s latest album, titled “Kwon Ji Yong,” the artist’s real name, has been changed to “Untitled,” a slow-tempo piano ballad about love, from the previously announ

June 8, 2017

YG apologizes over T.O.P’s marijuana controversy

YG Entertainment issued an official apology Thursday amid ongoing controversy over Big Bang member T.O.P’s marijuana use. The statement came two days after the rapper was hospitalized at Ewha Womans University Medical Center for drug overdose Tuesday.  (Yonhap)It read: “We bow our heads and sincerely apologize to those who were hurt and disappointed by the recent shameful happenings surrounding T.O.P. As the hospital confirmed at the media conference recently, after the rapper was found unconsci

June 8, 2017

Chungha debuts solo with summer single ‘Why Don’t You Know’

Chungha, formerly of the since disbanded project girl group I.O.I, took to the stage alone to show she is all set to perform solo. The 21-year-old made her solo debut with her first album “Hands on Me,” featuring the lead track “Why Don’t You Know,” released Wednesday. While she feels emptiness without her former I.O.I bandmates, most of whom have gone on to form other girl groups, Chungha said she decided to buck the trend and pursue her own musical endeavors.  Chungha performs at a press showc

June 8, 2017

T.O.P still ‘unconscious’: medical staff

T.O.P, a member of Big Bang, remains “unconscious” and is likely to recover in a week, medical staff said at a press conference on Wednesday. The clarification by physicians in charge of the Korean rapper came after a flurry of conflicting reports about the singer‘s condition flooded the local media. T.O.P had been taken to hospital for alleged drug overuse on Tuesday.  (Yonhap)“When T.O.P was brought into the hospital he was in a state of stupor and deep drowsiness and only responded to very st

June 7, 2017

Kim Hyun-joong storms Japan’s daily Oricon chart with ‘re:wind’

Singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong’s album “re:wind,” released in Japan on Tuesday, has topped the daily Oricon chart, Japan’s largest music chart. The album secured the No. 1 spot on the chart and sold 21,377 copies on the first day of its release. It was his first album since he completed his compulsory military service in February. Singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong (Universal Music Japan)Prior to its release, the singer dropped a teaser clip for the album through Universal Music Japan’s YouTube channel. B

June 7, 2017

Big Bang's T.O.P hospitalized for suspected drug overdose

Popular South Korean singer and actor T.O.P of boy band BIGBANG has been hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose, his Seoul-based agency said Tuesday. YG Entertainment said the 29-year-old rapper, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, is currently receiving treatment at an intensive care unit of a Seoul hospital. The agency first reported that Choi was found unconscious, but police later denied that he was in critical condition.South Korea's singer and actor T.O.P of boy band Big Bang (Yonhap)"

June 6, 2017

How we cope with death

Two large works of art face off each other at the Barakat Seoul, sharing the common subject of the death of a father. However, the two pieces, part of “The Absence of Paterfamilias” exhibition, are dissimilar in almost every other way. “The Dinner,” an animation loop by Belgian artist Alex Verhaest, is calm on the surface, but the tension among the characters is clearly palpable. The figures seem void, yet full of angst, their empty gazes looking out in different directions. The characters keep

June 6, 2017

Korean hip-hop duo XXX to perform at Midem music fest

Korean hip-hop duo XXX has been invited to perform at the opening of Midem music festival, the world’s largest business-to-business music event, held in Cannes, France.XXX will be putting on a 40-minute performance at the event’s opening show, titled “Midem by Night,” Tuesday evening, according to its label Beasts and Natives Alike.Some 6,000 music industry insiders from 75 countries are expected to participate at this year‘s Midem.  Hip-hop duo XXX (BANA)Other Korean artists such as rock band G

June 6, 2017

Super Junior to return with new album this year

Global K-pop act Super Junior is preparing to return with a new album this year, according to its agency, Label SJ, Tuesday.This will mark the boy band’s return to the spotlight about two years after it released the second part of its 10th anniversary special album “Magic” in September 2015. K-pop group Super Junior (S.M. Entertainment)Earlier in the day, a local report said the group would return in either late October or early November. Eunhyuk and Donghae will likely be able to promote the al

June 6, 2017

2PM’s Junho to release ‘2017 S/S’ in Japan next month

K-pop boy band 2PM’s Junho will drop his fifth solo album “2017 S/S” in Japan on July 26, according to his agency on Tuesday.The artist has been releasing special albums every summer since 2013 and topped the Oricon’s Daily chart in July 2016.  Album image for “2017 S/S” (JYP Entertainment)“’2017 S/S’ will be part of his summer project. ‘S/S’ stands for ‘Summer Stream,’” JYP Entertainment said. “The lead track for the album is ‘Ice Cream,’ which will remind people of fresh summer.” The pop-dance

June 6, 2017

[Next Wave] Getting the language and music right

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.Fans of OOHYO have something to be excited about this year as the singer, who remains a mysterious figure in the Korean indie scene, is expected to finish up her studies in England this summer and return to Korea to focus on music. 　 OOHYO (MUNHWAIN)“(M)y goal this year is to put together a new album, write lots of new, better sounding songs and to reall

June 5, 2017

Prosecution indicts Big Bang’s T.O.P over marijuana use

T.O.P, a member of Big Bang, has been indicted without detention on charges of smoking marijuana, prosecutors said Monday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said that T.O.P, 29, is suspected of smoking the banned substance four times with a female singer trainee at his home in Seoul in October last year.(Herald DB)The types of illegal drugs he is alleged to have used are marijuana and liquid cannabis through e-cigarettes. T.O.P initially denied he had smoked marijuana. After he test

June 5, 2017

Black Pink confirms June release, following G-Dragon

K-pop girl group Black Pink will release a new album in June, according to its agency on Monday. “The exact date of release has not yet been confirmed but Black Pink is slated to drop the album sometime in mid-June,” YG Entertainment said. “The group will be filming the music video for an upcoming song this week.” Black Pink will be the next YG Entertainment artist to release an album, following Big Bang’s G-Dragon’s album release in early June, according to the agency. K-pop quartet Black Pink

June 5, 2017

Nine Muses reveals tracklist for upcoming EP

A tracklist for Nine Muses’ upcoming EP “Muses Diary Part2: Identity” has been revealed.  Promotional photos for Nine Muses‘ upcoming EP “Muses Diary Part2: Identity” (Star Empire Entertainment) A tracklist for Nine Muses‘ upcoming EP “Muses Diary Part2: Identity” (Star Empire Entertainment)A total of six songs, including the lead track “Remember,” are on the tracklist that was released by the group’s agency Star Empire Entertainment Saturday. The new EP marks the group’s first release since its

June 4, 2017

Big Bang’ T.O.P issues hand-written apology for marijuana use

T.O.P of Big Bang wrote a letter to apologize for his recent marijuana case. A hand-written letter from T.O.P to apologize for his marijuana use (YG Entertainment)In the hand-written letter released by YG Entertainment Sunday, the rapper wrote, “First of all, I would like to extend my sincere apology to many of you for causing huge disappointment and disturbance. I feel so embarrassed that I can’t show myself in front of you to apologize.”“I have no excuses and deserve any kind of punishment. I

June 4, 2017

Son Ga-in claims boyfriend‘s friend suggested marijuana

Singer Son Ga-in of Brown Eyed Girls dropped shocking news that a friend of her boyfriend Joo Ji-hoon had suggested she use marijuana. (Son Ga-in`s Instagram)Son took to Instagram Sunday to reveal a photo that screen-captured messages between her and a man surnamed Park, whom she identified as Joo’s friend and the person who suggested she smoke marijuana. Along with the photo, she also posted a lengthy letter that fiercely accused Park of offering her the product.In the letter, Son said that her

June 4, 2017