“K-pop Star 2” winners Lee Chan-hyuk, 17, and Lee Soo-hyun, 14, of the brother-sister duo Akdong Musician finally released their debut album “Play” on Monday after taking the “K-pop Star” crown more than a year ago. Within hours of its release, the album hit the top of the K-pop charts. It took the top 11 spots on Naver’s real-time music chart while a handful of the album’s singles ranked in the...

South Korea’s signature alt-rock band Nell delivered a series of live performances last week at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Seoul, showcasing its new studio album “Newton’s Apple.” Nell’s concert on Friday night was best described as intimate, emotional and sentimental. Throughout the entire performance, the band’s dreamlike sounds and heartfelt lyrics drew in listeners like gravity, li...

Acoustic pop duo finds music in friendship

Tiffany, a Korean-American member of Girls’ Generation, is in a romantic relationship with Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul, a Thai-American member of K-pop group 2PM, their respective entertainment agencies confirmed on Friday. “Tiffany and Nichkhun have been in a relationship for four months,” a spokesperson for SM Entertainment, Girls’ Generation’s agency, told a sports daily. Rumors of their romanti...

The 20th edition of the Dream Concert, an annual showcase of popular K-pop acts, will take place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 7, the concert’s organizer Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association said on Tuesday. Under the slogan “We Love You Korea,” this year’s Dream Concert is scheduled to feature today’s hottest K-pop groups including Girls’ Generation, EXO, Beast, KARA, 4minute, B1...

South Korea’s first ‘idol band’ marks six years in the tough world of Kpop

Veteran singer-songwriter Wheesung is slated to make a comeback with a new album next month, marking his official return to the music scene since completing military duty last year. Wheesung is working on a new EP to be released in early May, his agency YMC Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album will be the singer’s first official EP release in more than two years. His last EP, “They Are...

EXO, one of the nation’s most popular K-pop acts, is returning to the music scene with “EXO Comeback Show” at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium on April 15 as well as the release of its latest EP. Although the group will promote its new album separately in Korea and China through the subunit groups EXO-K and EXO-M, the upcoming showcase will combine the two to feature all 12 members. The group’s upcomin...

BoA has taken her dance moves to Hollywood, becoming the leading lady in the independent dance flick “Make Your Move.” The movie is a Romeo and Juliet-inspired dance film directed by Hollywood filmmaker Duane Alder, who was also behind the scripts for box office smashes “Save the Last Dance” and “Step Up.” Starring alongside American dancer, choreographer and five-time “Dancing with the Stars” ...

The winning duo from ‘K-pop Star 2’ to showcase new, self-composed album

K-pop Star contestant releases debut single album ‘Without You’

The playful members of Crayon Pop are leaving their signature helmets behind and returning with a new dance and their fifth single “Uh-ee.” Crayon Pop, which shot to stardom thanks to the surprise hit single “Bar Bar Bar” and the trademark “straight-five engine dance,” unveiled its latest single at a showcase held at the Olleh Square in central Seoul on Friday. The ladies sauntered out onto the ...

Punk rock band as ‘crazy’ and energetic as they come