BTS’ V unveils ‘Love Me Again’ music video ahead of solo album release

V of the K-pop sensation BTS unveiled the music video for “Love Me Again,” one of the sidetracks in his upcoming first solo album “Layover,” on Thursday. The music video for the R&B track, which accentuates V's low ethereal vocals, was filmed in a cave in Mallorca, Spain, according to Big Hit Music. “The mystical vibe that the cave gives and V’s low and vibrating voice harmonized well to create a unique mood. The camera could only focus on V, the sing

K-popAug. 10, 2023

Singer Yoon Do-hyun reveals fight with cancer

Singer Yoon Do-hyun revealed that he had been fighting cancer for the past three years and that he recently fully recovered. “It was back in 2021 when I was about to start rehearsing for the musical, ‘Gwanghwamun Sonata,’ that I was diagnosed with cancer. I was really surprised. I quickly pulled myself together and went to the hospital to get treated every day. It was a difficult process,” the singer said on his social media Thursday. He added that he decided to not share

K-popAug. 10, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NCT to drop pre-release from 4th LP

NCT will unveil main track from its upcoming fourth studio album on Aug. 23, in advance to the full release, according to label SM Entertainment on Thursday. The band uploaded a timeline poster for the album that included that it would drop “Golden Age,” titular track from the 10-track LP due out on Aug. 28. The album will be fronted by two focus tracks – “Golden Age” and “Baggy Jeans.” The former will feature all 20 members and the latter, Taeyong, Ten

K-popAug. 10, 2023

Jo Yuri shouts 'Love All' with new album

The loud shout of "love all" at the start of a tennis game gives the crowd a rush of adrenaline, and singer Jo Yuri sings of such excitement at a love's start, as well as other ensuing emotions, through her new album "Love All." "Love all" is a term used at the beginning of a new game when the players both start at zero points. Jo's latest album embraces the jolt of a budding love and all the colorful facets and shapes of a romantic relationship as two lov

K-popAug. 9, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Itzy to roll out 1st LP in Japan

Itzy will put out its first full-length album in Japan on Oct. 18, announced label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. LP “Ringo” will consist of 11 tracks including the titular track and three more new songs as well as Japanese-language versions of “Sneakers” and “Cheshire.” The former is the main track from its fifth EP, “Checkmate,” and the latter from sixth EP of the same title, both from last year. The fifth EP hit the Billboard 200 at No. 8 and

K-popAug. 9, 2023

NCT to release 4th LP ‘Golden Age’ this month

SM Entertainment’s NCT is expected to continue its golden era with its fourth studio album, “Golden Age,” set for release on Aug. 28. All 20 members of NCT’s different subgroups -- NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV -- will take part in the upcoming album, according to SM on Wednesday. NCT originally consisted of 23 members but there has been a slight reshuffle in members with Lucas officially quitting NCT in May, announcing that he will go solo after a two-year hiatus. Sungchan

K-popAug. 9, 2023

AKMU to return with new album this month

YG’s K-pop sibling duo AKMU is releasing a new album on Aug. 21, according to YG Entertainment on Wednesday. The comeback comes two years after the group dropped its “Next Episode” collaboration album in July 2021. YG Entertainment announced the comeback in a teaser poster, which read "AKMU is coming," on its official blog. It also unveiled a teaser clip showing a miniature pink, city model that pops up on a mobile phone screen. In it, a cupid character representing L

K-popAug. 9, 2023

Inside a Hong Kong hagwon for K-pop idol hopefuls

HONG KONG -- Vivo Fung Lok-yin is a shy, soft spoken 20-year-old from Hong Kong, but the moment Blackpink’s “Shut Down” blasts from the speakers, she comes alive. She levels a confident stare at her reflection in the mirror-covered studio as she dances to the hip-hop track, a tiny smirk gracing her face. You wouldn’t think that four years ago, she could barely look herself in the mirror while dancing. “I would say I’m a very shy person … I was too scare

K-popAug. 8, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids tops 100m views with ‘S-Class’ video

Stray Kids garnered 100 million views with the music video for “S-Class,” according to label JYP Entertainment on Tuesday. It is the band’s tenth music video to reach the milestone, after those of “God’s Menu,” “Back Door,” “Miroh,” “My Pace,” “Thunderous,” “Maniac,” “Case 143” and “Hellevator.” “S-Class” is the focus track from its third full album “5-Star,&

K-popAug. 8, 2023

The Boyz brings Christmas to summer with new album trilogy

Christmas in summer seems odd, but The Boyz hopes to make the miracle happen with its new album "Phantasy Part 1 - Christmas in August" which dropped on Monday. The EP, a six-song album, marks the start of their three-part LP "Phantasy," from which the band will drop three sub-albums over the rest of the year. It also celebrates the group's return with a new album for the first time in six months since the release of its eighth EP "Be Awake" in February. The 11

K-popAug. 8, 2023

BTS' V set to debut solo with 'Layover' on Sept. 8

BTS' V is coming out solo on Sept. 8 with his first album "Layover," agency Big Hit Music announced Tuesday. The company said V will drop his first solo album "Layover" at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8. "Layover" will be a six-track package consisting of the title song "Slow Dancing," its piano instrumental and four B-side tracks, "Rainy Days," "Blue," "Love Me Again" and "For Us." The lead single, "Slow Dancing,"

K-popAug. 8, 2023

7 years on from debut, Blackpink blooms as most successful female K-pop group

K-pop sensation Blackpink came into the world in 2016 under much pressure as they were expected to follow the lead of YG’s most successful girl group until that point, 2NE1. The quartet of Rose, Jisoo, Lisa and Jennie made its debut with its first single album, “Square One,” which consists of two songs: “Whistle” and “Boombayah.” The debut single album successfully captured the hearts of many, topping major music charts including Melon and Circle Chart i

K-popAug. 8, 2023

Suga cancels national service deferral, likely to enlist in winter

Suga of BTS recently completed the process of canceling his deferral for mandatory military service and is expected to enlist in the winter of 2023. Big Hit Music announced through Weverse, a communication platform for fans, that Suga has begun the procedure for fulfilling his military duty and that further updates regarding his enlistment will be provided later. The agency requested warm support and unchanging love for Suga as he fulfills his military duty and returns in good health. Suga, who

K-popAug. 8, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] ＆Team to host fan concert for 1st anniversary

Multinational boy band ＆Team will greet its fans in Korea and Japan to celebrate its first anniversary, said agency Hybe Labels Japan on Monday. It will host concerts in Saitama, Japan and in Seoul on Sept. 3 and 9, respectively, to mark the occasion. The events will be livestreamed online for its fans as well. The nonet was formed through an audition program in September last year and officially debuted in December under Hybe’s Japanese affiliate. In the meantime, the bandmates flew in f

K-popAug. 7, 2023

U-Know Yunho tries a new way of promoting 3rd solo EP with short film

U-Know Yunho of TVXQ jumped into a metaverse that he named Nexus in his new solo album “Reality Show,” released on Monday. The artist’s third solo mini album “Reality Show” comprises a total of six tracks that revolves around a single story. The story is about the protagonist Noah, who is an introvert who spends most of his time secluded from the real world, but becomes a totally different person when he dives into a virtual world with the help of his AI assistant S

K-popAug. 7, 2023

[Herald Review] Suga ends solo tour, bids farewell before enlistment

BTS' Suga on Sunday concluded his first solo world tour, "Suga | Agust D Tour ‘D-Day,’" following three days of encore concerts in Seoul. Although the tour came to an end, it marked the start of a new path in the musician's solo career. The encore shows, titled "'D-Day' The Final," were held in Seoul's KSPO Dome from Friday to Sunday, rounding out Suga's four-and-a-half-month solo tour, which kicked off in the US in April. They were a

K-popAug. 7, 2023

Will Blackpink survive the 7-year curse?

YG Entertainment girl group Blackpink will mark its seventh debut anniversary on Tuesday. After making its debut in 2016 with singles “Whistle” and “Boombayah,” Blackpink has flourished as a popular world-renowned K-pop girl group enchanting the public with its imposing charm and topping major music charts in the US and in the UK. But as their seven-year exclusive contract with YG Entertainment is close to being expired, all eyes are on whether the members -- Jennie, Lisa

K-popAug. 6, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s ‘Pink Venom’ music video tops 700m views

The music video for Blackpink’s “Pink Venom” surpassed 700 million views on YouTube, YG Entertainment said Friday. The video was unveiled in August last year and set a record as the most viewed music video from a female act in 24 hours, logging 90.4 million views on the platform. It also hit the milestone of 100 million views in the shortest time for a K-pop girl group, at 29 hours and 35 minutes. “Pink Venom” is a prerelease from its second studio album, “Bo

K-popAug. 4, 2023

Rebooted Treasure heads to Tokyo Dome

K-pop boy band Treasure is making a foray into Japan's prestigious concert hall, the Tokyo Dome, YG Entertainment said. On Friday, the agency announced its rookie band is holding a fan meeting under the title "'Hello Again' Tokyo Dome Special" at the Tokyo Dome on Nov. 12. The biggest concert venue in Japan, the Tokyo Dome is a coveted concert venue for K-pop singers. The five-city 20-show series will start on Sept. 2-3 at Fukuoka's Kokusai Center and continue over

K-popAug. 4, 2023

Summer stunner Kwon Eun-bi returns with 'The Flash'

Soloist Kwon Eun-bi is out to solidify her image as a sexy summer queen that she gained with her steamy performance at the 2023 Waterbomb music festival with new single "The flash." "I'm back after 10 months with my first solo single, and it's a summer album," she said during a press showcase in Seoul on Wednesday. "I always try to show a new side with my albums, and this time I've brought three songs of different genres, all tuning in with the summer seas

K-popAug. 3, 2023