[Today’s K-pop] Rocket Punch returns with 4th EP

   　 Rocket Punch on Monday released its fourth EP, “Yellow Punch,” at a media showcase in Seoul. 　 The six members were happy to return after nine months and said that they put in a lot of effort to show how they have matured in terms of their music. 　 “This is the first time we’ve come out under a confident and cool concept,” Yeonhee said proudly. On stage, they went for a more mature look as was shown in the teasers. 　 “I thought to myself

K-popFeb. 28, 2022

BLACKPINK's Rose tests positive for COVID-19, cancels part of overseas schedule

Rose, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and canceled part of her upcoming overseas schedule, the group's agency said. "Rose tested positive in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination ahead of her departure for an overseas trip today," YG Entertainment said, adding the virus infection led her to cancel part of her schedule abroad. The remaining three members of the quartet have all tested negative. "Including Rose, all members pres

K-popFeb. 28, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] EXID’s Solji strikes out on her own

　 Solji of EXID held an online media conference Friday to roll out her first solo EP “First Letter.” 　 She compared the moment to “early summer” in terms of her journey as a musician. It has been 10 years since she debuted as a member of EXID, and 16 years after she entered the music scene as a part of ballad group 2NB. 　 “I believe a singer shines all the more as one matures. And from that point of view, I still consider myself at the beginning of my career as a m

K-popFeb. 25, 2022

BTS crowned IFPI Global Recording Artist for 2nd consecutive year

K-pop phenomenon BTS was recognized as Global Recording Artist of the Year by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, an organization representing the worldwide recording industry, on Thursday in the UK. The seven-member act became the first artists to nab the honor in two consecutive years, after having made history by becoming the first Asian act to win the award last year. The award is given to the bestselling artist of the year globally, based on a number of measuremen

K-popFeb. 25, 2022

Tickets nearly sold out for livestreaming of upcoming BTS concert at movie theaters

Tickets to remotely watch the upcoming BTS concert at movie theaters have nearly sold out, reflecting the high fan interest in the group's first in-person concert in Seoul in two years, officials said Friday. Some 36,000 tickets for "live viewing" of the K-pop superstars' concert on March 12 at the theaters of CJ CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox nearly sold out in minutes, according to the multiplex chains Friday. Each ticket costs 49,000 won ($40). CGV opened the sales of 25,000 tickets

K-popFeb. 25, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] (G)I-dle to release 1st LP next month

   　 (G)I-dle uploaded an artwork Thursday to share the news that it will put out its first studio album on March 14. 　 The teaser image themed after a shooting target spelled out “I Never Die.” 　 It has been over a year since the group released its fourth EP “I Burn.” It also is the first new album since it reorganized into a five-member act since Soojin left following a bullying rumor when she was in school. 　 In the meantime, claims were made online tha

K-popFeb. 24, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘It took 10 years to be called singer Lee So-jung’

Lee So-jung reintroduced herself as a soloist to the public through JTBC’s popular “Sing Again” last year. Stepping outside her long-held comfort zone as part of Ladies’ Code and shrugging aside the burdens that came with the name, she said she “now hopes to become a singer who can smile” during the show. A year has passed since then, and Lee now thinks that she is happy, the artist said in an interview conducted in January at Herald Square in Yongsan, Seoul

K-popFeb. 24, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] TXT collabs again with Salem Ilese

　 Yeonjun and Taehyun of Tomorrow X Together teamed up with American musician Salem Ilese again, announced label Big Hit Music Wednesday. 　 The two were the featured artist for the singer/songwriter’s new single “PS5.” It was produced by DJ Alan Walker and released online on the day. It will be included in her upcoming EP “Unsponsored Content,” due on Feb. 25 in the US. 　 As the title suggests, the song describes how one is torn between playing video games and

K-popFeb. 23, 2022

[Herald Interview] Rapper Kisum talks about coping with COVID-19 with ‘Bare Trees’

Rapper and singer-songwriter Kisum has returned with her first new release in a year and ten months, putting behind a long winter and sharing her stories through the single “Bare Trees.” Penning both the melody and the lyrics, Kisum said the song compares the emotions she felt as she endured the COVID-19 pandemic to the bare trees. “Not just me, but all musicians, we have far fewer opportunities to work during the pandemic. I had to take a long break, and I felt then that I w

K-popFeb. 23, 2022

BTS 'Butter' music video tops 700m views

The music video for BTS' 2021 megahit single "Butter" surpassed 700 million YouTube views Wednesday, becoming the 10th video from the K-pop group to hit the milestone. The video passed the 700 million threshold at 9:31 a.m., about nine months after it was uploaded online on May 21 last year, the group's agency Big Hit Music said. The upbeat summer song became a global hit upon its release, staying on the Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart for 10 non-consecutive weeks. The song's mu

K-popFeb. 23, 2022

JYP Entertainment accused of plagiarizing Ateez for new girl group’s music video

K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment finds itself embroiled in controversy for alleged plagiarism of an Ateez music video and the boy band’s concept for its own rookie girl group’s debut. On Tuesday, the company's new girl group NMIXX entered the K-pop fray with the single “Ad Mare.” But just a day since the debut, the septet is making headlines for accusations of plagiarism: The band’s titular “O.O” has come under fire for copying boy band Ateez's music

K-popFeb. 23, 2022

BTS to hold four in-person concerts in Las Vegas in April

K-pop giant BTS will hold four live concerts at a stadium in Las Vegas in April, the group's management agency said Wednesday. The shows, titled "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage - Las Vegas," will take place at Allegiant Stadium on April 8-9 and 15-16, Big Hit Music said. They will be the first BTS concerts in the United States in about four months with the latest having been its four concerts in Los Angeles before more than 210,000 fans between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1. For those who fail

K-popFeb. 23, 2022

Hybe tops W1tr in annual sales, first in K-pop industry

Hybe has become the first K-pop management agency to surpass 1 trillion won ($838 million) in annual sales, boosted by successes of its artists led by global superstars BTS. The company said in a regulatory filing Tuesday its sales for 2021 were tentatively tallied at 1.25 trillion won, up 58 percent from the previous year. Its operating profit rose 30.8 percent on-year to 190.3 billion won with a net profit estimated at 141 billion won, up 62 percent. It marks the first time Hybe has exceeded

K-popFeb. 22, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Enhypen to release 2nd Japanese single in May

Enhypen will drop its second Japanese single on May 3, the group’s agency Belift Lab announced on Tuesday. 　 The single, titled “Dimension: Senkou,” will include Japanese versions of “Drunk-Dazed,” the lead track from its second EP “Border: Carnival,” and “Tamed-Dashed,” the lead track from its first LP “Dimension: Dilemma.” It will also contain “Always,” the band’s second original song in Japanese that was chos

K-popFeb. 22, 2022

BTS' V fully recovers from COVID-19

V, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, has fully recovered from COVID-19 and been released from isolation, his agency said Tuesday. The 26-year-old singer, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, tested positive a week ago after experiencing a mild sore throat. "V was released from isolation today as he was confirmed to have fully recovered from COVID-19," Big Hit Music said on the group's online fan community platform Weverse. He completed vaccination and showed no extraordinary symptoms whil

K-popFeb. 22, 2022

In their 10th year, BTOB is ready to ‘be together’ with fans by making memories to cherish

After a four-year hiatus, boy band BTOB is ready to greet fans as the spring season nears and the flowers bloom. Now that all six bandmates have finished their mandatory military service, they‘ve returned with their 3rd full-length album, “Be Together,” released Monday evening. In an online press conference on Monday, Eun-kwang described the album as an album that spells out what it means to be “together” and defines “togetherness.” “BTOB is a

K-popFeb. 21, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Red Velvet to host concert next month

Red Velvet will hold two concerts in Seoul next month, label SM Entertainment announced Monday. 　 The quintet will perform live at “2022 The ReVe Festival: Prologue” on March 19-20. The second day’s performance will be broadcast live for fans from around the world. 　 It has been two years and three months since its previous standalone concert.  Last week the band confirmed that it will put out an album in March, as it hinted at the label’s all-star concert last mo

K-popFeb. 21, 2022

Korean soundtrack album sales surge, merchandise profits plunge

In line with the K-pop boom in and out of South Korea, sales of original soundtrack albums of Korean dramas and movies have surged. K-pop merchandise sales, on the other hand, have been sluggish in the wake of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, data showed Sunday. Last year, 28,939 copies of soundtrack albums of hit dramas and movies were sold at Ktown4u, an online shopping mall that sells albums of K-pop groups and related goods. This marked huge jump from 8,784 copies in 2020 and 2,624 in 2019,

K-popFeb. 20, 2022

2 members of K-pop girl group Momoland test positive for COVID-19

Two members of South Korean girl group Momoland have tested positive for the coronavirus during their trip in Mexico, their management agency said Sunday. "Hyebin and Nancy tested positive for coronavirus in Mexico," MLD Entertainment said in a statement. The six-member group was visiting Mexico to promote its new digital single, seeking to advance into the Central and South American market. Another member, Jooe, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month and has fully recovered.

K-popFeb. 20, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Red Velvet to return in March: report

   　 Red Velvet will make a comeback in March with a new album, according to local media reports on Friday. 　 Label SM Entertainment confirmed the news saying the band is preparing for a new album due out next month. 　 The quintet’s last album was its sixth EP “Queendom” released in August last year, which marked the group’s return after being away for more than 1 1/2 years. The EP topped iTunes top albums chart in 54 regions as well as all major charts at

K-popFeb. 18, 2022