2,500 flock to 2017 SXSW's K-pop night: Seoul agency

From mainstream idol groups to indie acts, South Korean musicians representing today's Korean music scene have thrown a heated gig at this year's South by Southwest festival in the United States, according to organizers Monday.Seven South Korean acts -- Red Velvet, Tiger JK, Hyolyn of girl group Sistar, Yoon Mi-rae, No Brain, Galaxy Express and Big Phony -- took part in the "K-pop Night Out" at the 2017 SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 17 local time, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency.

March 20, 2017

K-pop groups seek to explore non-Chinese markets

Popular K-pop stars held successful concerts in East Asian nations over the weekend, in a positive sign that the region can fill the hole left in the wake of a diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing over a US anti-missile system.On Saturday, Kim Jae-joong, a member of JYJ, performed in Bangkok, Thailand. It was his first visit to the country since March 2014.Around 5,000 fans, not only from the country but also from neighboring nations including Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, flew in to see the Ko

March 20, 2017

IU to release 'Night Letter' from upcoming album this week

Singer-songwriter IU will release her new song "Night Letter," part of her upcoming fourth full-length album, this week, her agency said Monday. (Yonhap)The K-pop diva will release "Night Letter" on Friday, according to Loen-Fave Entertainment. The company released accompanying movie poster-like teaser images for the song on the artist's social media.IU's new album will be released on April 21. The singer is scheduled to release another song on April 7 before the entire album comes out.The upcom

March 20, 2017

CNBLUE drops new teaser for 'Between Us'

South Korean idol rock band CNBLUE has unveiled a new teaser for its upcoming new song "Between Us." (Yonhap)The short clip uploaded on the website of FNC Entertainment, the group's agency, features the four band members performing the pop rock number in a live stage setting, transitioning between black-and-white and color footage. The song, part of CNBLUE's seventh EP album titled "7℃N," is about the emotional complexities two people face right before the start of a romantic relationship, commo

March 20, 2017

EXO concert heats up Malaysia

K-pop juggernaut EXO held a concert in Malaysia on Saturday as part of their ongoing global tour.“EXO Planet #3 - The EXO’rdium - in Kuala Lumpur,” held at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, marked the group’s first concert in the Malaysian capital in about a year. EXO performs at a Malaysia concert held Saturday in Kuala Lumpur. (S.M. Entertainment)Among the hit songs performed were “Wolf,” “Love Me Right,” “Growl” and “Overdose,” along with “Monster” and “Lucky One” from its studio album from la

March 19, 2017

Sheeran to close Glastonbury Festival

Ed Sheeran is to close this year‘s Glastonbury Festival, headlining the final night, the giant British music event said Thursday.The singer-songwriter, who is dominating the British charts by holding a record 16 singles in the top 20, has performed at the festival before but this time is topping the bill. Ed Sheeran performs on NBC‘s “Today” show on March 8, in New York. (AP-Yonhap)“Ed Sheeran is Glastonbury’s third 2017 headliner! He‘s gone from the Croissant Neuf tent in 2011 to topping the bi

March 17, 2017

IU to release fourth full-length album in April

South Korean singer-songwriter IU will release her fourth full-length album next month, her agency said Friday.The K-pop diva's new album will be released on April 21, according to Loen-Fave Entertainment. IU will pre-release two songs from the album on March 24 and April 7, respectively.  (Yonhap)The self-produced upcoming album is IU's first new material since "Chat-shire," an EP album that came out in October 2015."IU has collaborated with talented musicians," the agency said, and added that

March 17, 2017

GOT7 to hold ‘The Flight Log’ exhibition

K-pop boy band GOT7 is holding a special exhibition to celebrate the group’s recent release “Flight Log: Arrival.”The exhibition, titled “GOT7 ‘THE FLIGHT LOG’ EXHIBITION,” is being held at Gallery Won in Cheongdam-dong until March 22.  The official poster for “GOT7 ‘THE FLIGHT LOG’ EXHIBITION” (JYP Entertainment)“Flight Log: Arrival” is the last entry in the group’s “Flight Log” trilogy that started in March 2016 with the mini album “Flight log: Departure.” The exhibition will feature content,

March 16, 2017

JYJ's Park cleared of sex assault charges: agency

Park Yu-chun, member of K-pop boy band JYJ, has been cleared of all four sexual assault allegations that have dogged him since last year, his agency said Thursday.C-JeS Entertainment, Park's agency, said that "the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office notified (Park) of such investigation results," and added, "the string of cases involving Park Yu-chun since last June have been closed."(Yonhap)Park, a member of the famous K-pop boy band JYJ, was embroiled in a scandal as four different women

March 16, 2017

[K-Talk] T-ara to release last album in May

K-pop group T-ara is set to release a new album, to be the group’s last album with all the members before their individual contracts expire. The group’s agency MBK Entertainment released a statement saying that the upcoming album -- slated for a May 17 release -- will be the last in its “complete form.” T-ara (MBK Entertainment)“Concerts and other activities as a group will cease as of late June. The members will discuss their future plans with the agency afterwards,” MBK Entertainment said.The

March 16, 2017

Kim Jae-joong's 2nd studio album named favorite K-pop album in China for 2016

South Korean singer Kim Jae-joong's second full-length album has been chosen as the most popular K-pop album in China for 2016, his management said Wednesday.Kim's "NO. X" topped the ranking recently announced by the major Chinese video streaming platform Youku, C-JeS Entertainment said. The ranking was based on album reviews and grades posted on the popular media review sites in China. Kim Jae-joong, a member of K-pop boy band JYJ, performs during a concert in Seoul on Jan. 22, 2017. (Yonhap)Re

March 16, 2017

SM Entertainment plans talent audition in Indonesia

SM Entertainment will hold auditions in Indonesia to scout talent for its "NCT" idol group project, the nation's top entertainment agency said Wednesday.Company founder Lee Soo-man unveiled the plan for its first-ever talent audition in Indonesia at a South Korea-Indonesia business summit in Jakarta the previous day. "Last year, we launched our global idol group project NCT and are producing groups tuned to the cultures of each city around the world," Lee was quoted as saying. The K-pop mogul an

March 16, 2017

How K-pop fans reach for the stars

Tucked away from the main thoroughfare of Cheongdam-dong, a posh residential-business area, is the headquarters of JYP Entertainment, one of the three biggest entertainment agencies in Korea.A blown-up poster of the company founder Park Jin-young is plastered on the building’s facade, making it impossible to miss. The excited faces of a group of young people standing outside it suggest something is going on.“Why did Jackson (of GOT7) come here? I thought he didn’t have anything on his schedule t

March 15, 2017

Twice wins endorsement deal for Pocari Sweat

South Korean girl group Twice has been hired by beverage maker Donga Otsuka Co. to promote the company's flagship sports drink Pocari Sweat, the group's agency said Wednesday. (Yonhap)"Twice was picked as Pocari Sweat's model for the beverage's 30th anniversary," JYP Entertainment said, adding that Twice has become the first idol group to model for the iconic drink product. In the TV commercial which begins airing Wednesday, the team's nine members head to the beach sporting attire that matches

March 15, 2017

Seo Tai-ji mulls 25th anniversary concert

Korean pop cultural icon Seo Tai-ji is mulling a concert to mark 25 years since his debut, his agency said Tuesday.SeoTaiji Company confirmed earlier reports that local production companies have approached Seo about a 25th anniversary concert.“We have had offers and held meetings. But nothing has been decided yet,” an official from the company told local media. Seo Tai-jiThe official noted, however, that the singer will certainly celebrate the silver jubilee of his debut in some form.Last month,

March 14, 2017

Ex-Wonder Girls member Sunmi joins new management agency

South Korean pop singer Sunmi has signed up with a new management agency after leaving JYP Entertainment following the disbandment of Wonder Girls early this year, her new company announced on Tuesday. Make Us Entertainment said that it signed an exclusive contract with Sunmi last month. The company, which also represents artists Park Won and Urban Zakapa, said it "won't shy away from fully supporting Sunmi's music endeavors."Sunmi promised fans that she will deliver an unseen, fresh image throu

March 14, 2017

BTS' 'Boy In Luv' video tops 100 mln YouTube views

The "Boy In Luv" music video by BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, becoming the South Korean idol group's fourth video to reach the milestone, its agency said Tuesday.The view count for the video, uploaded on February 2014 on YouTube, stood at 100,274,422 as of 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, according to Big Hit Entertainment, the team's agency. (Big Hit Entertainment)So far, BTS has four songs -- the three others being "Dope," "Fire" and "Blood Sweat & Tears" -- wi

March 14, 2017

MAP6 to release second Japan album

Korean boy band MAP6 will release its second album “No Surrender” in Japan on March 15, according to its agency Dream Tea Entertainment.  Korean boy band MAP6 (Dream Tea Entertainment)“The title song ‘No Surrender’ has the group’s newfound resolve to step onto the new terrain of infinite possibilities,” the agency said Monday. In the released photo, the band gives off a “manly and renegade feel,” it added. MAP6 debuted in November 2015 with its first single album “Storm.” It has members Minhyuk,

March 13, 2017

Singers Kwanghee, Lim Hyung-joo join Army

Kwanghee of K-pop boy band ZE:A and operatic pop tenor Lim Hyung-joo enlisted in the Army to fulfill their military duty on Monday. (Yonhap)Kwanghee, who is better known as one of the six emcees for popular variety show "Infinite Challenge," entered a basic training camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, and Lim was sent to one in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday afternoon.After five weeks of basic training, Kwanghee will begin service in an Army band while Lim will join a regional Army u

March 13, 2017

[Herald Interview] GFriend comes of age with ‘The Awakening’

At its creation, the concept of GFriend was embodied by its name: a girlfriend, who is with you at all times. True to its driving idea, the group’s image was of a band approachable and easy to relate to.With its fourth EP “The Awakening,” however, the six-member group has shed its girl-next-door image for a mature and chic look, with heavier makeup and colorful clothing. The group says the change is in accordance with its youngest members reaching the age of majority this year. GFriend (Ije Comp

March 12, 2017