[Today’s K-pop] aespa floats teaser for 5th EP

A series of teaser content for aespa’s upcoming fifth EP has been uploadedto promote the new mini album. Short-form clips for “Whiplash,” including snippets of the six tracks and a website dedicated to the mini album, allowed fans to mix and download parts of the titular track. The EP will be fully unveiled on Oct. 21. The album release comes amid the group’s ongoing second international tour “Synk: Parallel Line” which expanded to include North and Latin Am

K-popOct. 4, 2024

Seventeen to take over Apgujeong

Seventeen is set to unveil a revamped “Seventeen Street” event from Oct. 16-25 in Apgujeong, southern Seoul. Pledis Entertainment on Thursday shared a guidebook on the global fan platform Weverse detailing the offline event, which it is calling "Seventeen Street in Apgujeong." This year, the space will embrace themes of "Feel" and "Fill," aligning with the release of Seventeen's upcoming album, "Spill the Feels." Visitors can expect a vari

K-popOct. 4, 2024

Slew of top K-pop stars ready to return from military

A wave of major K-pop artists are gearing up to reenter the music scene after completing their mandatory military service. Monsta X’s Minhyuk was the first of the bunch, officially concluding his military service on Thursday. Of the six bandmates of Monsta X, only Shownu and Minhyuk have completed their duties thus far, with the group expected to be fully reunited next year. Ong Seongwu, a singer and actor known for his debut via season two of Mnet’s "Produce 101" as part o

K-popOct. 4, 2024

K-pop star lip-syncing controversy flares up again

As K-pop stars continue to gain global popularity and greater recognition in the music industry, fans have come to hold higher expectations for their live performances. Many K-pop fans now expect impressive vocal performances during live shows, with little tolerance for lip-syncing. However, music insiders explain that it is nearly impossible for K-pop idols to sing perfectly while performing dynamic choreography. The challenge lies in how well they combine prerecorded vocals with live singing o

K-popOct. 3, 2024

G-Dragon to make talk show debut on tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’

G-Dragon of the legendary K-pop group Big Bang is set to make his talk show debut on tvN’s “You Quiz On The Block” in time for his much-anticipated comeback this month. According to tvN, the episode featuring G-Dragon was recorded Wednesday and is scheduled to air later this month. In this episode, he will share insights about his journey as a member of Big Bang, his experiences as a solo K-pop artist and his long break from music. He is also expected to address the illegal dru

K-popOct. 3, 2024

Copyright group seeks cooperative solutions for music at gyms

Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), the largest music copyright management organization in the country, plans to prioritize raising copyright awareness through active promotion, rather than taking legal action against gym owners not compliant with the copyright music regulation. KOMCA Chair Chu Ga-yeoul recently visited 11 centers across the country responsible for collecting music copyright fees from gyms, collecting on-site complaints. “Creating an environment where copyright ho

K-popOct. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to release 2nd LP in Japan next month

Stray Kids are set to roll out their second full-length album in Japan “Giant” on Nov. 13, label JYP Entertainment said Tuesday. The eight-member act debuted in Japan in March 2020 with the best-of album “SKZ2020” and has put out three mini albums, two physical singles and a full-length album. Their latest EP, “Social Path (feat. LiSA)/ Super Bowl - Japanese ver.,” from September last year swept all Oricon charts -- daily, weekly, weekly combined and monthly a

K-popOct. 2, 2024

Blackpink’s Rose to release 1st solo LP ‘Rosie’ in December

Rose, a member of the iconic K-pop girl group Blackpink, is set to release her first full-length solo album more than eight years after her debut. The Black Label, the singer's agency, announced Wednesday that Rose's first studio album “Rosie” would be released Dec. 6. The title of the album, "Rosie,” is Rose's nickname. The album is expected to reflect the singer's identity, generating expectations that she would share her personal stories and experien

K-popOct. 2, 2024

Will trot bring a breath of fresh air to K-pop?

As K-pop continues its significant expansion in the global market, another genre has been surging rapidly in the domestic music industry: Trot. Following the remarkable success of some trot singers, major K-pop powerhouses are diving into the unexpected combination of trot and K-pop. Trot -- part of the Korean popular music scene since the 1930s -- is a genre characterized by lively rhythms and abundant use of vibrato, the lyrics often catering to the sentiments of the older generations, However

PerformanceOct. 2, 2024

Minho of SHINee to hold first-ever solo concert

Minho of SHINee will hold a stand-alone concert, his first in 16 years. According to SM Entertainment, Minho will host the "Mean: of my first" on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. This will be the singer's first solo concert since his debut with SHINee 16 years ago. Minho released his first solo track with the physical single "Heartbreak" in December 2021, followed by his first EP "Chase" in December 2022. I

K-popOct. 2, 2024

Yena's new single ‘Nemo Nemo' presents clever metaphor for love

Yena is back with her third single album, “Nemo Nemo,” eight months after releasing “Good Morning” in January. The title Nemo Nemo, derived from the Korean word for "square," serves as a metaphor for love’s complex emotions. “Everyone defines or expresses love differently, and this album represents that feeling using a square as a metaphor,” Yena said during a press conference held in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Monday. The title track, also called &

K-popOct. 1, 2024

Blackpink's Jennie to release new single ‘Mantra’

Jennie, a member of the renowned K-pop girl group Blackpink who is also a successful solo artist, is making her highly anticipated return with a new single, “Mantra,” on Oct. 11. This comeback comes for the first time in a year since her last solo digital single, “You & Me,” which was released in October 2023, according to her agency, OA Entertainment. Jennie shared the news on Tuesday on her official website and provided links for fans to presave the upcoming track o

K-popOct. 1, 2024

Big Hit Music to launch hip-hop training program ‘Hit It Base 2024’

Big Hit Music, the music label home to K-pop phenomenon BTS, will launch the specialized hip-hop training program for teenage boys, “Hit It Base 2024,” the company said Monday. The training program, which will run from Nov. 9 to Dec. 15, offers aspiring male hip-hop artists in their teens an opportunity to receive free professional training from songwriting, stage preparation and styling experts. The program culminates in a live performance at the “Final Show” on Dec. 15,

K-popSept. 30, 2024

NewJeans fans corner Hybe amid PR backlash, looming National Assembly audit

Hybe, the parent company of NewJeans’ agency Ador, is facing increasing pressure in its ongoing conflict with the subsidiary's former CEO Min Hee-jin. On Monday, the girl group’s dedicated fan base, known as Bunnies, announced plans to file a complaint against Hybe’s top executives for breach of trust. The complaint stems from concerns over the company’s handling of NewJeans’ promotions and achievements. One of the group's members, Hanni, may also attend n

K-popSept. 30, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa to drop new single next week

Lisa of Blackpink surprised fans by unveiling her upcoming solo single onstage at the Global Citizen Festival in New York on Sunday. She hit the stage at Central Park to headline the charity event with Post Malone and Doja Cat, performing her solo repertoire from "Lalisa" and "Money" to "Rockstar" and "New Woman." Also included in the list was “Moonlit Floor,” which will be rolled out Oct. 4, sampling Sixpence None the Richer’s 1997 hit

K-popSept. 30, 2024

Psy's touch or new trend in music? P Nation’s solo stars lose their shine

Many K-pop chart-toppers who joined Psy’s P Nation in recent years are struggling to replicate the success they once enjoyed. Music critics point to Psy’s involvement in his artists’ music production and the current trend in music which shows a decline in the popularity of solo dance singers. P Nation, a small entertainment agency founded by Psy after he left YG Entertainment in 2018, quickly gained attention largely due to the "Gangnam Style" singer's global f

K-popSept. 30, 2024

Zerobaseone to perform 'Pokemon' theme song

Boy band Zerobaseone will sing the opening theme song for the popular Japanese TV anime "Pokemon." On Oct. 11, Zerobaseone will release its Japanese digital single “Only One Story." This song has been selected as the opening theme for the latest series of the popular Japanese TV anime "Pokemon." The series airs Fridays at 6:55 p.m. on TV Tokyo. "Pokemon," one of the most successful Japanese anime series, enjoys immense global popularity. Zerobaseone'

K-popSept. 30, 2024

P1Harmony opens pop-up store worldwide

Boy band P1Harmony will delight global fans with additional pop-up stores at home and abroad, celebrating the release of its latest album. P1Harmony opened a pop-up store from Sept. 20 to 26 to celebrate the release of its seventh mini album, "Sad Song," at the Hyundai Department Store Sinchon U-Plex in Seoul. Following the successful completion of pop-up stores in five US cities -- including Los Angeles, Atlanta and Dallas, as well as Berlin -- pop-up stores will also be held in Japan

K-popSept. 30, 2024

BTS’ Suga fined W15m for e-scooter DUI

Suga of K-pop boy band BTS was fined 15 million won ($11,468) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol. Judge Lee Yoo-seop of the Seoul Western District Court has imposed the fine on Friday in a summary judgement –- a legal decision made by a judge without a full trial, usually applied to cases deemed relatively minor allowing for a quicker resolution. The amount is identical to the penalty previously requested by prosecutors. Suga has the right to request a formal tr

K-popSept. 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Vanner sings about ordeal of being young in 3rd EP ‘Burn’

K-pop boy group Vanner returns to the music scene with its third EP, “Burn,” on Monday, in which it sings about the hardships that youth face on their journeys to realize their dreams. Such difficulties are familiar to the group that debuted in 2019, shortly before COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a standstill. "We did not get a chance to perform. But winning on JTBC’s idol survival program ‘Peak Time’ last year, we began to garner a lot of love from the pub

K-popSept. 30, 2024