Articles by Choi Ji-won
Choi Ji-won
jwc@heraldcorp.com-
Christmas comes early with aespa's 'Jingle Bell Rock'
Aespa is spreading the Christmas cheer early with its new song "Jingle Bell Rock." The band's agency, SM Entertainment, on Friday announced that the quartet will drop its reinterpretation of the popular Christmas carol at 2 p.m. later that day. Aespa's version of "Jingle Bell Rock" will offer new delights, the agency said, with the four members' voices interlaced over the minimal track peppered with powerful 808 bass and catchy instrumental sounds, The new song
K-pop Nov. 24, 2023
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[Herald Interview] ‘Digital paradigm shift to VR will happen 2026’
It was in 2019 that LA-based tech firm AmazeVR, a comprehensive virtual reality entertainment startup, pivoted its main business to virtual concerts. In just three years, it became the frontrunner in the field and officially launched its service in South Korea this year. Last month, AmazeVR released its first virtual concert here, featuring K-pop girl group aespa. Produced jointly with the quartet's label, SM Entertainment, the show was available offline at the Megabox Coex cinema in southe
K-pop Nov. 24, 2023
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Fifty Fifty's Keena marks group's 1st anniversary with apology
Downsized from a four-piece, Fifty Fifty's last remaining member Keena celebrated the group's first anniversary with an apology. Keena penned a hand-written letter to fans Saturday, a year on from the group's debut. "I'm cautious as to how to start this since I'm addressing my fans, Hunnies, for the first time in a while, but I'm plucking up my courage to speak on my honest thoughts," Keena began her letter. "First of all, I'm sorry to Hunnies wh
K-pop Nov. 19, 2023
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Surf's up: Enhypen enjoys the ride with 'Orange Blood'
Enhypen returns with a riveting new sound with its fifth EP "Orange Blood." The members on Thursday held a press conference in Seoul, a day ahead of the album's release. Member Jungwon said the album deviates from the team's iconic intoxicating music and exudes a "subtle sexiness." Representing Enhypen's new sound on "Orange Blood" is "Sweet Venom," a groovy and chill punk-pop melody through which the members vow their eternal love. Accordin
K-pop Nov. 16, 2023
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Soyeon, Winter, Liz's collaborative song 'Nobody' comes out Thursday
A collaborative single by (G)I-dle's Soyeon, aespa's Winter and Ive's Liz comes out today. Titled "Nobody," the single gets it global release at 6 p.m., according to the song's music video distributor M:USB on Thursday. The music video will be released with the song on M:USB's YouTube channel. The high-profile collaboration of the top girl group members comes in support of the 2030 Busan World Expo host bid, the producer said. "The song is based on disco-i
K-pop Nov. 16, 2023
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Seventeen urges global youth to 'dream together' at UNESCO
K-pop group Seventeen took center stage at the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum on Tuesday, becoming a beacon for growth through solidarity among young people around the globe. The multinational group stepped up to the podium at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris as the first K-pop group to address UNESCO at its main hall. Twelve members of the 13-member group appeared on stage wearing simple black suits. Member S. Coups was absent due to a leg injury. The band hosted a special session on the first day
K-pop Nov. 15, 2023
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Seoul subway to hold second strike Nov. 22
Unionized workers of Seoul Metro, the operator of Seoul subway lines No. 1-8, will stage a second strike on Nov. 22 in protest of the company's workforce downsizing plans. The Seoul Metro labor union on Tuesday announced it will hold a press conference the following morning in front of the Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, central Seoul, and disclose the plans to its forthcoming walkout. The announcement follows the union's temporary strike held Thursday-Friday, as the workers' body fai
Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2023
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UNESCO HQ hit by largest-ever crowd ahead of Seventeen's Youth Forum speech
Paris was filled with K-pop fans ahead of boy band Seventeen's historical speech and performance at UNESCO headquarters on Tuesday. The 13-member group arrived in the city on Sunday, according to a statement from the group's agency, Pledis Entertainment on Tuesday, amid shouts and screams from fans who flocked to the airport to welcome them. Seventeen's attendance at UNESCO headquarters was highly anticipated as it marked the first time a K-pop group had been invited to speak at
K-pop Nov. 14, 2023
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Jungkook scores another Billboard record with 6th Hot 100 song
Jungkook continues his historic run with his solo album, "Golden," with Tuesday seeing the BTS singer place his sixth song on Billboard's main singles Hot 100 chart. "Standing Next to You," the lead single of "Golden," arrived on Hot 100 at No. 5 this week, Billboard said Tuesday. The song tallied around 10.6 million online streams and 400,000 radio airplays, as well as 99,000 physical and digital singles sales, the music publication added. Jungkook broke the d
K-pop Nov. 14, 2023
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BTS company Hybe heading to Latin America
Hybe, the company behind K-pop phenomenon boy band BTS, has announced its foray into the Latin American music market. The company has established the local subsidiary, Hybe Latin America, in Mexico, the firm said Monday. “We aim to extend our reach into Latin America, one of the fastest-expanding music markets in the world,” Hybe said in a statement Monday, adding the regional division will serve as its local office for the artists of Hybe Labels, the management arm of the multilabel
K-pop Nov. 13, 2023
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Jungkook's 'Golden' hits No. 2 on Billboard 200 with biggest-ever sales for a Korean soloist
Jungkook of BTS has made his solo arrival on the Billboard 200, with "Golden" reaching No. 2. On Sunday, US music publication Billboard previewed the album chart for this week, showing "Golden" behind only Taylor Swift's "1989 (Taylor's Version)." "Golden" recorded 212,000 equivalent album units, the chart's highest-ever weekly sales by a K-pop solo singer. Equivalent album units comprise physical and digital album sales, as well as streamin
K-pop Nov. 13, 2023
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Billboard-topping boy band Stray Kids returns to 'rock'
Three-time Billboard 200 chart-topper Stray Kids made a grand comeback Friday, this time as rock stars. Marking the eight-member group's return after five months is EP "Rock-Star," which continues from the past album, "Five-Star," a mega-hit album that had landmark successes, including its third-straight Billboard 200 No. 1 hit. It was a highly anticipated return, and the eight men were overflowing with renewed charisma as they went in front of the press on Friday mornin
K-pop Nov. 10, 2023
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YG's new group Babymonster to debut on Nov. 27
Babymonster of YG Entertainment is set to debut on Nov. 27. The agency on Friday released a poster showing the message, "Babymonster 2023.11.27 0AM KST," on a black backdrop, with a red V-shaped mark pointing downward. Shooting for the group's music video, which began at the end of last month, has been completed, YG said. "Babymonster members will (unveil) not only their own talents, but the identity of the team (through the video). To do this, YG mustered all the company
K-pop Nov. 10, 2023
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'Omega X will not give up': Boy band returns to share message of hope
Overwhelming emotions must have hit Omega X members as they spoke to the local media in Seoul on Tuesday, taking the spotlight for the first time in a year since they announced the termination of their contracts with Spire Entertainment, under which they reportedly suffered abuse. Despite appearing in overly bright smiles, as if to assure the public that they were okay, their voices trembled several times as they responded to questions throughout the hour-long event, held in celebration of the
K-pop Nov. 8, 2023
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Mama Awards stays in Japan for 2nd straight year
Despite its global aspirations, the renewed Mama Awards by Mnet is set to take place in Japan for the second straight year. Although at a more sluggish pace than expected, the world's biggest K-pop festival said it is inching toward its goal of being held outside Asia, with this year's event taking place at the Tokyo Dome, Japan's top concert venue, for the first time. With 20 days left until the festival on Nov. 28-29, producers of organizer CJ ENM, and this year's host, Jeo
K-pop Nov. 8, 2023
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