Choi Mi-yeon, a 25-year-old college student, recently purchased a ticket for Japanese band King Gnu's upcoming concert in Korea. Among her friends who attempted to buy tickets, she was the only one lucky enough to get a ticket for the concert, which is set to take place twice in April. All 6,000 tickets quickly sold out. "It feels like more and more Japanese musicians are visiting Korea since last year, and it's getting really hard to get tickets. J-pop is certainly gaining streng

Performance Feb. 12, 2024

Several rookie boy groups who have debuted less than a year ago are making a comeback in February. The 10-member group n.SSign, which debuted in August last year, will return with a second mini album, "Happy &," on Feb. 15. The group has successfully kicked off their overseas career, holding three solo concerts at Ariake Arena in Tokyo even before their official debut. In the pre-released concept photos, the members wear boyish outfits with vivid colors, expressing playful energy.

K-pop Feb. 10, 2024

Source Music, the agency of trending girl group Le Sserafim, announced that it will hold an audition, seeking members for the next-generation girl group. Source Music released the poster for the 2024 Source Music Audition on social media and the company's official website, announcing the audition schedule. Auditions will be held in six cities, starting with Seoul on March 2, followed by Daejeon on March 3, Busan on March 9, Gwangju and Daegu on March 10, and Jeju on March 16. It is Source M

K-pop Feb. 7, 2024

Pop-up stores marking the comeback of K-pop group Le Sserafim will open in both Korea and Japan, the agency Hybe announced Thursday. In Korea, "Le Sserafim 2024 S/S Pop Up" will open at Geumho Alver in Geumho-dong, Seoul, from Feb. 16 to March 3. The store, which celebrates the release of the group's third mini album "Easy," will be filled with media art that depicts the concept of the upcoming album and fashion items that members wore in the trailer video. At the three-

K-pop Feb. 7, 2024

A bosom friend from childhood. This is the phrase that best represents the color and tone of Lucy, a four-member band that has quickly become one of the leading acts in the Korean band scene. "Our motto is ‘childhood.’ Childhood friends are the only ones who allow us to act immature even after we've grown up," said bassist and producer Cho Won-sang, 27. "I hope listeners feel that way whenever they play our music, just being themselves and free from anxieties,&rdq

Performance Feb. 5, 2024

One of the representative South Korean R&B groups, SG Wannabe, will return with a concert to celebrate their 20th debut anniversary. The trio’s upcoming concert will be held under the title “Our Song,” keeping the name of the group’s concert last year. The title "Our Song" became the concert brand of the trio, starting with a concert in March last year at SK Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park and Seoul. The first "Our Song," was SG Wannabe's f

Performance Feb. 2, 2024

Leading rock band YB returns with a national concert tour, "2024 YB Tour Lights: Infinity." The legendary band kicks off its tour on March 9 at the Chunma Art Center of Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, for a two-day run. The band will visit 10 cities in total, also including Suwon, Ansan and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, Busan, Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, Incheon, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Gwangju. "Lights&

Performance Feb. 1, 2024

The schedule and initial lineup for the 16th Seoul Jazz Festival 2024 have been revealed. In its 16th year, the Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at four venues located in Seoul's Olympic Park from May 31 to June 2, featuring around 60 diverse artists from home and abroad. Singer-songwriter Lauv, who is popular for his dynamic performances and emotional music, and French artist FKJ, who is known for his bold fusion of soul, jazz and electronic music, will visit Korea for the festival. Legend

Performance Jan. 31, 2024

Hyolyn, who occupies an unrivaled position in K-pop with her charisma and powerful voice, is to embark on a world tour. “2024 Hyolyn Show World Tour Concert" will kick off at the Taipei International Convention Center, Taiwan, on Feb. 25. The next destination of the world tour is yet to be unveiled. The upcoming world tour is Hyolyn's second. Her first world tour, "True," took place in 2019 and had her perform eight concerts in seven countries including England, Germany

Performance Jan. 30, 2024

Boy band Ateez completed a two-day concert in Seoul, marking the beginning of the group’s second world tour, “Towards The Light: Will To Power," last weekend. From Saturday to Sunday, 15,000 fans gathered at Jamsil Indoor Stadium to support the eight-member group with enthusiastic cheers. The group’s second world tour follows the group’s 8th mini album, “The World Ep.1: Movement,” 9th mini album, “The World Ep.2: Outlaw,” and second full-lengt

Performance Jan. 29, 2024

One of South Korea’s largest annual indie rock music festivals, Kyugrockjeol, on Tuesday kicks off 2024 Rock and Roll Paradise, in its largest iteration ever. Kyungrockjeol, considered one of the top three festivities in Seoul's indie enclave of Hongdae, along with Christmas Eve and Halloween, started in 2005 as a birthday party for Han Kyung-rok, the bassist of punk band Crying Nut. The event became one of the biggest festivals for South Korean indie musicians and took place at the l

Performance Jan. 28, 2024

Girl group (G)I-dle has suspended all activities ahead of the release of the group's second full-length album on Monday due to the health issues of two of its members. "Minnie and Yuqi visited the hospital the previous day due to fever and migraines. We decided to suspend all schedules of the two members and they will focus on getting enough rest and treatment following the medical team's instructions," Cube Entertainment, the group’s agency, said Saturday. The agency a

K-pop Jan. 28, 2024

Explore guitars at Guitarnet Showroom While enjoying a weekend stroll through Apgujeong, visit the Guitarnet Showroom, where you can feast your eyes on an array of colorful guitars. Just a 5 to 7-minute walk from Apgujeongrodeo Station's Exit No. 6 on the Suin-Bundang Line, the oval-shaped, dark gray store cannot be missed after making a right turn at the Hana Bank. Insa-dong’s Nagwon Instrument Arcade, also known as the Nagwon Music Mall, is widely considered to be a musicians&#

Culture Jan. 26, 2024

A 27-year-old office worker Choi Ji-yeon recently bought a ticket for a concert of the Top 10 participants of the audition program “Sing Again 3.” Tickets for the concert sold out within 10 minutes of opening, showing the popularity of the program. “I have been a big fan of the program since its first season. In the recent season, I’m obsessed with the voice of So Soo-bin, the runner-up of the show,” said Choi. “Audition program is one of the most common theme

Television Jan. 25, 2024

A number of overseas musicians are set to visit South Korea to entertain local fans this year. Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 will visit Korea in February, as part of the group's final world tour before disbanding. The five-member group formed in 1996, rising to global acclaim after the success of its first studio album, "All Killer No Filler," in 2001. The band continued to release several hits, including "Still Waiting," "Make No Difference" and "Undercl

Performance Jan. 22, 2024