Articles by Hong Yoo
Hong Yoo
yoohong@heraldcorp.com-
[Herald Interview] Rapper Mirani pushes beyond past accomplishments with new album
A shooting star is not what rapper Mirani wants to be in the hip-hop scene but an everlasting star that shines consistently. Mirani quickly rose to stardom after her debut in 2020 by taking part in the ninth season of “Show Me the Money,” the longest-running hip-hop competition show on Mnet. Taking part in the show helped Mirani imprint her rapping talent on the public. She then landed on major local music charts with the track, “VVS,” a mission track from the show in whi
K-pop June 14, 2023
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Poland to hold its first K-pop stadium concert
Poland will host its first K-pop stadium concert this September at a venue large enough to fit 50,000 people, an association representing Korean entertainment agencies said Wednesday. The concert under the name “2023 KPOP NATION X Korea Music Festival” will be held at the PGE Narodowy stadium in Warsaw, Poland, on Sept. 23, according to the Korea Management Federation, which represents at least 350 Korean entertainment agencies and labels. Around eight major K-pop acts are expected t
K-pop June 14, 2023
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Ren of NU’EST debuts solo with 1st EP ‘Ren’dezvous’
After 11 years as a member of the boy group NU’EST, Ren finally debuted as a soloist on Tuesday. “I’m so relieved and happy to finally get to make my solo debut. In my first solo mini album ‘Ren’dezvous,’ I tried to describe that my past days working as a member of NU’EST were valuable experiences that served as a 'seed' to help me bloom as a soloist and begin a new ‘season’ of my life,” said Ren during a press conference in S
K-pop June 13, 2023
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Stray Kids tops Billboard 200 with 3rd LP ‘5-STAR’
Stray Kids’ third studio album, “5-STAR,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart dated June 17, Billboard said Monday. This is the K-pop act’s third time topping the chart following the success of albums “MAXIDENT” and “ODDINARY” released last year. The eight-piece act, which debuted in January 2018, became the second Korean artist to have reached such a milestone after BTS. The 12-song set earned 249,500 equivalent album units in the US
K-pop June 13, 2023
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[BTS' 1OTH] BTS seizes hearts of global listeners in relatable lyrics
Behind the global stardom of K-pop phenomenon BTS is not only remarkable dancing and singing talent, but the genuine music in the bandmates' own words to deliver a message to fans. In creating its first single album, “2 Cool 4 Skool,” that started the band's journey on June 13, 2013, the bandmates were involved in composing and writing the lyrics based on the principle that hip-hop musicians should speak through their music. In the debut lead track “No More Dream,&rdq
K-pop June 13, 2023
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The New Six brings back '90s K-pop vibe
The New Six, also known as TNX, returned with their third mini album, “BOYHOOD,” which has a 1990s vibe through and through from the concept photos to their dance moves for the title track, “Kick It 4 Now.” “For this Y2K-inspired album, we looked into a lot of reference clips. Then we found pop duo Deux’s music video for their track ‘In Summer’ and we studied it a lot. They were very trendy and sensational,” said Sungjun of The New Six during
K-pop June 8, 2023
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[팟캐스트] (511) 서울 전역 사이렌, 경보 오발령에 외국인 패닉/ ‘알바돌’ 배너 피크타임 우승은 오랜 노력의 결실
진행자: 홍유, Beth Eunhee Hong 1. Sirens, alerts unsettle foreign residents in chaotic Seoul morning 기사 요약: 서울시 대피 재난문자 한국어로만 전송되 아무런 정보 없이 대피 통보를 받은 외국인들은 불안에 떨어야 했다. [1] Foreign residents of Seoul were startled and confused as they woke up to emergency sirens and an alert sent out by the city government early Wednesday morning, just after North Korea launched what it says was a space satellite. *foreign residents: 외국인 거주자 *launch: 발사하다 [2] At 6:41 a.m., the Seoul city government sent phone
Podcast June 8, 2023
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Major 2nd generation boy groups will return to K-pop scene
A number of familiar faces will return to the K-pop scene in the second half of the year. Some of the major second-generation K-pop boy groups poised to make a comeback starting this month include Teen Top, Infinite, U-Kiss and SHINee. Among them, SHINee will be the front runner, making its comeback on June 26 with its eighth studio album “HARD.” This album comes after more than two years since the group's last one. SHINee is celebrating its 15th debut anniversary this year wit
K-pop June 7, 2023
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Australian BTS fans in Seoul to celebrate group's 10th anniversary
Dressed in colorful hanbok, 28 BTS fans shouted out loud “BTS, we love you” as they posed for a group photo at Changdeokgung in Seoul on Wednesday. As members of the BTS fandom, Army, the fans from Australia are in South Korea as part of a special tour hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the K-pop megastars' debut. Under the name “BTS Road,” the tour will focus on following in BTS' footsteps, visiting locations that hold special s
K-pop June 7, 2023
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NCT’s Taeyong sheds tears of thanks for his solo debut
Taeyong of the popular K-pop band NCT made his solo debut with his first mini album, “SHALALA,” on Monday. The talented artist composed and wrote the lyrics to all of the seven tracks in this new album, which is led by title track “SHALALA.” “The album comprises all kinds of honest feelings and thoughts from when I was having a hard time in life, to when I was having my best moments as well. I hope this album can help people cheer up to achieve their dreams and (fin
K-pop June 6, 2023
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[Herald Review] K-pop diva Taeyeon leaves audience in awe with a cappella performance
It took more than three years for Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation to hold a solo concert in-person. The excitement from thousands of fans seated at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on Sunday to finally see their star onstage fired up the venue even before the concert began. As soon as the lights dimmed to signal the beginning of Taeyeon’s fifth solo concert “The ODD Of LOVE,” the audience aroused an ear-deafening cheer and the dome was rippling in pink lights coming from the fan light
K-pop June 5, 2023
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[Herald Interview] For singer-songwriter Kassy, music is means of expressing true feelings
Singer-songwriter Kassy is an introvert who has difficulty expressing her feelings and emotions, but she has music to lean on as her medium to share such things. “Just like me, I think there are a lot of people who are not used to talking about themselves and instead rely on music to relieve their stress and express their feelings. I share my experiences and feelings through music hoping that it could help such people relate to and be comforted,” she said in an interview with The Kor
K-pop June 5, 2023
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Stray Kids hopes 3rd LP "5-Star" can inspire confidence and courage
Stray Kids returned with their third studio album “5-Star” on Friday, eight months since their seventh EP “Maxident.” “It took us around two years to release a studio album after the second one ‘Noeasy,’ because we took a lot of time in choosing the songs that would appeal to Stay and also all of our members,” said Changbin of Stray Kids through a press release. Stay is the name of Stray Kids' fandom. Despite their worries, the new album helpe
K-pop June 2, 2023
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JYP Entertainment to enhance strategic partnership with US music label
K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment and US music label Republic Records are expanding their strategic partnership. The labels announced Thursday their plan to expand their partnership, which includes global distribution of artists and catalogs, marketing, business development and artist repertoire. Their partnership was initially formed back in 2020 to promote JYP Entertainment’s girl group Twice outside South Korea. The partnership has proved successful, with Stray Kids and Twice housed by
K-pop June 1, 2023
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SHINee makes long-awaited comeback with 8th studio album “HARD”
After more than two years of hiatus, K-pop legend SHINee is finally returning to the music scene with its eighth studio album, “HARD,” on June 26. The upcoming album comprises a total of 10 tracks led by the titular track “HARD,” according to SM Entertainment. SHINee celebrates its 15th debut anniversary this year with this studio album which will open a new chapter in the group's career. The band established a strong position in the K-pop industry with irreplaceable
K-pop June 1, 2023
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