Watch Korea’s youngest hip-hop duo swagger through Itaewon (Video)

Korea’s youngest hip-hop duo, Itaewon Kidz, released its debut song “Popo Song” Wednesday. The group consists of Ja-ul, age 10, and his younger brother Ja-on, 6.  Itaewon Kidz (Antworks Communication) The pair are the sons of producer Kim Tae-hoon, who decided to record their new track after watching them chant along to his beats. The music video features the two tiny tots swaggering down the Itaewon s

July 19, 2017

EXO aims to become quadruple million seller with ‘The War’

After seeing all three of its full-length albums sell over 1 million copies, EXO, one of K-pop’s most popular boy bands, dared not hesitate to reveal its ambition to set another record with new album “The War.”EXO became one of K-pop’s biggest acts when it released its first single “MAMA” in April 2012. Now attention is on whether the group will continue its exciting run with “The War,” EXO’s fourth full-length album released Tuesday evening via local streaming sites.  (Yonhap)“We are extremely

July 18, 2017

G-Dragon heats up LA with ‘M.O.T.T.E’ world tour

G-Dragon thrilled some 11,000 fans in Los Angeles on his solo world tour “ACT III, M.O.T.T.E,” the singer’s agency YG Entertainment said Tuesday. On Sunday, the singer began his sold-out concert at The Forum with “Heartbreaker,” the lead track of his first solo album of the same title. He also performed hit songs including “One of a Kind,” “That XX” and “MichiGO” during the two-hour concert. (YG Entertainment)The 28-year-old said to the crowd, “I feel alive when I sing in front of you. If not fo

July 18, 2017

Scandal-ridden Park Yu-chun opens up about marriage

Actor and singer Park Yu-chun on Monday talked about his marriage for the first time since the news surfaced three months ago."I am so sorry that I couldn't tell you about my marriage earlier," the member of popular boy band JYJ wrote on his Instagram. "I didn't even offer (fans) my apology, so it was hard to talk to you about my marriage. I beg your understanding."In June last year, a series of sexual assault complaints were filed against him. Although he was cleared of rape charges later, the

July 18, 2017

[Next Wave] Car, the garden finds his sound with new name

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.Car, the garden has received praise from artists like G2, Paloalto, and Jerry K for his unique voice, but says that he has only recently felt that he could focus solely on music as a career. “After the (first) album was released, I had high expectations and the people who featured on the album had high expectations as well. And of course, I’m sure it was

July 17, 2017

Akdong Musician unveils new song, concept with ‘Dinosaur’

Akdong Musician seeks to leave colossal footprints with the new song “Dinosaur,” whose title, poster and teaser were unreleased via social media pages on Monday.The poster shows the brother-sister duo looking on -- apparently awestruck -- at a distance toward an unspecified object.  (YG Entertainment)It marks the latest in the number of unusual choice of subject matters the much-loved duo has tried for their music; ranging from summer snacks to plain grass.Akdong Musician recently revealed that

July 17, 2017

Psy releases music video for “Love”

Psy on Monday unveiled the music video for “Love” via official social media pages.The song featuring Taeyang is from his recently released eighth studio album, “4X2=8.”Award-winning New Zealand-born choreographer Parris Goebel worked on the music video, with her ReQuest Dance Crew making a special appearance. (YG Entertainment)“I wish to give some of the love I received back with positive energy and a song,” Psy said via YG Entertainment.Psy, who took the world by storm five years ago with smash

July 17, 2017

Psy still doesn’t know why ‘Gangnam Style’ so special

Five years have passed since Psy released the viral single that took the world by storm, but the K-pop singer said he still doesn’t know what was behind his breakout success. (Herald DB)The artist recently talked with Billboard about how his life and career has changed since “Gangnam Style” propelled him to become a world star, adding that he still didn’t understand why the song was so special.  “I was a Korean singer and whenever I released an album, the purpose of it was just to make good song

July 16, 2017

Black Pink gears up for Japanese debut in August

Black Pink dropped a Japanese version of music videos for “Whistle” and “Playing with Fire,” two of the group‘s hits, ahead of its official Japanese debut in August.  (YG Entertainment)The Japanese version of the tracks’ videos were revealed via the group’s label YG Entertainment website Saturday evening, a signal that the K-pop act was all geared up to push ahead with its promotion in Japan. The group is scheduled to launch a media event for its Japanese debut on July 20 in Tokyo and drop its J

July 16, 2017

Winner gears up for new release around late July

Boyband Winner will be returning with a new record around late July or early August, its agency said Friday.YG Entertainment confirmed earlier reports that Winner is preparing a new release, and that it has left the country to shoot a music video for the new song. Winner (YG Entertainment)The agency, however, refused to verify whether the new release will be in the form of a single, an EP or a full-length album.The upcoming release would mark an unusually fast release for a K-pop group, consider

July 14, 2017

Actress Uee, singer Kangnam confirms romantic relationship

Actress Uee and Korea-based Japanese singer Kangnam admitted Thursday that they are dating. It was reported earlier in the day that the two have been dating for three months. Citing TV officials, a local news outlet said that the two got close while appearing in SBS show “Law of the Jungle.”  Uee (left) and Kangnam (Yonhap)While the two stars initially denied the reports, they confirmed their relationship after another news outlet released photos of the two on a date. Uee, debuted as a member of

July 14, 2017

Akdong Musician to release new album next week

Brother-sister duo of Akdon Musician is gearing up for a return on July 20, YG Entertainment confirmed Friday.The agency released teaser images and a video along with the release date for the new record on its official blog (www.yg-life.com) at midnight.  Teaser image for Akdong Musician (YG Entertainment)The images give off a mysterious, almost eerie vibe with a pair of arms reaching out of a bush and a faceless woman standing with a mirror. YG commented that the concept will be different from

July 14, 2017

Sleepless in Seattle as G-Dragon kicks off N. America tour

G-Dragon energized Seattle as he kicked off his North America tour in the rainy city on Tuesday.Standing in front of the crowd gathered at the Key Arena, the K-pop sensation thanked the fans and said it was “a great honor” to hold a global tour. He kicked off the night with his solo debut single “Heartbreaker” -- also the name of his debut album -- and “A Boy.”The singer entertained fans, sometimes up-close as he roamed between the aisles high-fiving and making eye contact.The night went on as G

July 13, 2017

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