Teen-spirited Pristin returns with rebellious ‘Schxxl Out’

It has been almost five months since 10-piece K-pop act Pristin introduced itself to K-pop fans by shouting out their group slogan “We are Pristin!” in March. The group’s debut EP “Hi! Pristin” was successful on both local and world albums charts, leading the rookie group to be tapped as a rising K-pop act to watch for this year by Billboard.  Reloaded with cheerful energy and confidence, the budding K-pop darlings have returned with their second EP, “Schxxl Out,” and the band seems to have part

Aug. 24, 2017

Seo Tai-ji tribute album to be released next month

A remake album celebrating the 25th anniversary of groundbreaking Korean pop musician Seo Tai-ji's debut will be released next month, according to a record label Wednesday."Time: Traveler," an album consisting of covers of Seo's past catalogue, will come out on Sept. 2, Seo Tai-ji Company said. (Seo Taiji Company)The record will be a collection of songs produced by today's leading K-pop artists, including BTS, Suran, Younha and Heize. The numbers include "I Know," the breakout track for idol tri

Aug. 23, 2017

Taeyang climbs to top of Billboard’s world albums chart

Taeyang means “sun” in Korean, and the K-pop star has shined as bright as anyone on the international stage, topping Billboard’s world albums chart with “White Night.”As of Wednesday, the Big Bang singer had claimed the No. 1 spot with his third studio album “White Night,” released Aug. 16. It also took the top spot on iTunes album charts in 24 countries, according to YG Entertainment. Taeyang (YG Entertainment)The R&B vocalist went out of his way to explore new possibilities with the album, fro

Aug. 23, 2017

[Herald Review] Electrifying show by Gallagher, Foo Fighters; could’ve been more?

The fans waited a very long time for a kick-ass show, which they got but not for very long.Liam Gallagher and Foo Fighters sent tremors down the city of Seoul and shivers down the spines of music fans gathered at Jamsil Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul on Tuesday. “Live Forever Long” offered Korea a chance to see Gallagher and Foo Fighters for the first time in five and two years, respectively. And it did not disappoint.Liam Gallagher performs during the “Live Forever Long” concert in Seoul on Tuesda

Aug. 23, 2017

Dia returns full of love with ‘Love Generation’

K-pop act Dia returned fully charged with powerful energy with its third EP “Love Generation.” Clad in black-and-white school uniforms, the group’s nine singers sparkled as they took to the stage at a media showcase for their new EP in Seoul on Tuesday. Dia is short for “Diamond.”(Yonhap)“Love Generation” marks Dia’s first release since its second full-length album “YOLO” four months ago. The EP delves into the feelings of a teenage girl dabbling in love. Each track features a different musical

Aug. 23, 2017

BTS, Seo Taiji to sing 8 songs together

Boy band BTS and Korean pop legend Seo Taiji have revealed the songs that they will perform together at Seo’s upcoming 25th anniversary concert.Seo’s label Seotajji Co. revealed the eight songs in the set list, consisting of his biggest hits including “Nan Arayo,” “Hayeoga,” “Kyoshil Idaeyo” and “Come Back Home.”  The set list for Seo Taiji’s upcoming concert (Seotajji Co.)The songs are from four albums Seo released as the leader of Seo Taiji and Boys, a trio which consisted of Seo, Lee Juno and

Aug. 22, 2017

[Next Wave] DJ duo Garenz hopes to fill clubs with own music

Dance music fans may recall Garenz at the 2017 Seoul World DJ Festival in May, an energetic and funky Korean DJ duo that danced atop the DJ booth while spinning one of the anthems for this year’s annual electronic dance music festival.   The DJ duo that produced “Wanna Get You Closer,” chosen as one of two official tracks for this year’s festival at Jamsil Olympic Stadium, said it was time for DJs to move beyond the ailing local club scene and explore their options as artists.  (DCTOM)Consisting

Aug. 21, 2017

‘TVXQ Week’ heralds phase 2 of duo’s career

They’re back.Having started off as teenage heart-throbs before blossoming into artists of international fame, the duo of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin appeared before the public as TVXQ on Monday, the first time since being discharged from the military.“We’ve been introduced as ‘K-pop kings, and I’m really starting to feel the weight of such an expression. I’m happy to be back and to be able to greet you all as TVXQ,” U-Know Yunho said at a press conference held at Hotel Shilla in Seoul on Monda

Aug. 21, 2017

Red Velvet moved by huge fans at 1st stand-alone concert

Compared to their peers, idol band Red Velvet's ascent to stardom has been a slow burn. The five ladies, who debuted in 2014 under K-pop titan S.M. Entertainment, didn't have a genuine megahit for the first few years while rivals GFriend and TWICE became overnight sensations.That changed in February 2017 after the success of its catchy pop funk track "Rookie" from the fourth EP album, also titled "Rookie." Last month, Red Velvet dropped another chart-topping number, "Red Flavor," which drove the

Aug. 21, 2017

BTS’ ‘Dope’ tops 200m YouTube views

The music video for “Dope,” a track from K-pop boy band BTS’ “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1,” has reached over 200 million views on YouTube.Released on June 23, 2015, the video reached the milestone on the YouTube channel run by 1theK, the content production division of Loen Entertainment, at 6:34 p.m. Saturday. Loen is the music label behind the group‘s 2015 EP album.  A screen capture of BTS' "Dope" music video (Big Hit Entertainment)Including views on the official channel run by t

Aug. 20, 2017

Singer Rain plans to release comeback album in November

South Korean pop singer Rain is working on a new EP record and plans to release it in November, according to his company Friday. "Rain plans to briefly visit the U.S. in September and will later focus on producing the album to put it out in an EP format in November," a representative at Rain Company said.The most recent work released by the singer, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, was "Rain Effect" back in January 2014. His new project will reportedly include self-written tracks along with ones

Aug. 18, 2017

Taeyeon distressed after incident at Jakarta airport

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation took to Instagram to share her thoughts after a harrowing experience at a crowded airport in Indonesia.  Taeyeon (S.M. Entertainment)　The singer flew to the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday for promotional activities, accompanied by a single manager. As soon as Taeyeon landed at the airport, however, she encountered an unruly crowd that rushed toward her, eventually knocking her down.  Taeyeon wrote via her Instagram on Friday to address the issue. “People’s fe

Aug. 18, 2017

iKon fans announce boycott on YG products

Fans of iKon announced they will boycott all goods produced by YG Entertainment, claiming that the label has been mistreating both the K-pop act and its fans.  iKon (YG Entertainment)　iKon’s fandom iKonic released a statement on Thursday that read, “We decided to boycott all upcoming products from YG, including the DVD ‘iKon Summertime Season2 in Bali,’ until we receive complete and sincere feedback from YG.”The statement also revealed that fans sent an 18-page document on July 24 to YG accusing

Aug. 18, 2017

TVXQ will embark on 'press tour' in 3 Asian cities next week

K-pop duo TVXQ will meet with press in three Asian cities to announce the resumption of activities as Shim Chang-min, better known by his stage name Max Changmin, will be discharged from the military on Friday, its management agency said Thursday.(S.M. Entertainment)S.M. Entertainment said the duo will have a press conference in Seoul and Tokyo on Aug. 21 and in Hong Kong the next day.The other member, U-Know Yunho, finished his military duty in April."At the events, they will discuss plans for

Aug. 18, 2017

Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany may study in US

Tiffany of Girls’ Generation may head to the US for her studies, a local media outlet reported Thursday. Tiffany of Girls’ Generation (Herald DB)The report said the singer had recently decided to study acting in the US, quoting a source close to Tiffany who said the singer has already told her close friends about the plan and they are supporting her decision. Following the report, Tiffany’s agency S.M. Entertainment commented on the matter later in the day, saying “We are discussing things relat

Aug. 17, 2017

Maestro Chung Myung-whun holds on to the dream of oneness

Bringing people together with music is maestro Chung Myung-whun’s lifetime calling, a calling he has answered this time with One Korea Orchestra, formed specifically for two concerts marking the first anniversary of Lotte Concert Hall on Friday and Saturday.Maestro Chung Myung-whun rehearses with One Korea at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Wednesday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Chung conceived the idea for One Korea Orchestra in 2013 with the goal of musicians from both South and North Korea per

Aug. 17, 2017

TVXQ’s Changmin, Super Junior’s Siwon to be discharged from military Friday

Changmin of TVXQ and Siwon of Super Junior will be discharged from the military Friday. The two singers enlisted in the military on Nov. 19, 2015 and served as police officers at the Seoul Police Agency’s department of public relations. Changmin of TVXQ (left), Donghae and Siwon of Super Junior (Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Instagram)Following Changmin’s discharge, TVXQ will embark on the TVXQ! Asia Press Tour in Seoul on Monday. The duo will visit three Asian cities to meet the press and

Aug. 17, 2017

Girls' Generation under talks to extend contract with S.M.

K-pop group Girls' Generation is in negotiations with S.M. Entertainment on extending their contract, sources said Wednesday.According to the sources, most of the eight members recently extended exclusive contracts with the South Korean agency, with remaining members also positively reviewing the deal. Girls` Generation (S.M. Entertainment)Debuting in 2007 with "Into the New World," Girls' Generation has become one of the major K-pop girl groups with multiple hits including "Gee," "Genie" and "I

Aug. 16, 2017

Ariana Grande knocked for attitude problem after Seoul concert

The “Dangerous Woman” songstress’s first performance in Seoul would have been perfect, if the singer didn’t leave fans disappointed and upset at what they referred to as her “disrespectful” attitude. Despite pouring rain, some 20,000 people flocked to Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, which was also Korean National Liberation Day, to see the American pop star who won hearts around the world by returning to the stage just three weeks after a suicide bomber attacked her concert in Manchester i

Aug. 16, 2017

Taeyang returns solo with ‘White Night,’ but roots remain with Big Bang

From “Hot” and “Solar” to “Rise,” the past album titles of Big Bang’s Taeyang describe the singer himself. Taeyang, whose stage name means “Sun” in Korean, returned with his third full-length solo album “White Night” on Wednesday, more than three years after his second full-length album “Rise” in 2014.(YG Entertainment)“I came up with the new album’s concept when I was working on my previous album ‘Rise.’ I didn’t want the sun to go down after it rose, and the image of ‘white night,’ a natural p

Aug. 16, 2017