After four years of intense and strategic idol training, MNH Entertainment’s first K-pop boy group 8TURN made its debut Monday with its first mini album “8TURNRISE.” “We put the most effort into performance. They are rookies but we can proudly say they are near perfection as you can see from their performance videos released prior to their debut,” said Lee Ju-seop, the founder of MNH Entertainment who took the stage to introduce 8TURN himself during the media showca

K-pop Jan. 31, 2023

Just a month into the new year, a handful of K-pop acts are vying to announce their latest comeback. Unlike the first two months of previous years, the comeback of some of K-pop's biggest idol groups is yet to come as the groups aim to expand their reach overseas and are out on world tours. “A lot of groups that have global fans are on tours because they haven’t been able to in the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said an industry insider. But we can still exp

K-pop Jan. 30, 2023

South Korean actor Park Bo-gum has signed an exclusive contract with the Black Label, a YG Entertainment affiliate, according to the agency on Monday. "We are very happy to have Park Bo-gum who not only has influence in the country but also overseas," said the Black Label, calling Park a "representative actor" that is "loved and trusted by the public." "We will make use of our strengths and know-how as much as possible to help the actor deepen his talents as an

K-pop Jan. 30, 2023

K-pop singer Dawn signed an exclusive contract with the label AT AREA after leaving P Nation, the management company headed by Psy. “We are glad to introduce Dawn as our first new member of the year 2023. We have always had our eyes on Dawn. We will actively support his potential artistry to the fullest to quench his musical thirst,” announced AT AREA on Monday. “I am happy to be with AT AREA. I feel reassured that we have a deep connection with the goal of going forward as an

K-pop Jan. 30, 2023

South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High is making a return with its new album “Strawberry” on Feb. 1. "Strawberry" comes one year after the release of Epik High’s 10th full-length album “Epik High Is Here Part 2” last February. The album comprises five tracks including the titular track “Strawberry” and side tracks “On My Way,” “Catch,” “Down Bad Freestyle,” and “God’s Latte.” This is the trio&#

K-pop Jan. 26, 2023

Key of SHINee is making a comeback with his second repackaged album “Killer” on Feb. 13, according to SM Entertainment. The comeback comes six months after the release of Key’s second solo studio album “Gasoline” last August. The album is comprised of three new tracks including the titular track “Killer” and side tracks “Heartless” and “Easy.” It also includes 11 tracks from Key’s second full-length album including “Ga

K-pop Jan. 25, 2023

The K-pop industry is strategically expanding its wings beyond the Asian continent to unexplored markets such as the Middle East and the American continent. Following the success of globalization that dates back to the early 2000s, when singer BoA and boy group TVXQ successfully broke into the Japanese market, K-pop entertainment agencies have now moved on to full-fledged “glocalization” strategies by accentuating the originality of Korean culture and localizing their idol groups. Gl

K-pop Jan. 25, 2023

NewJeans, the fresh K-pop sensation, has placed its track “Ditto” on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time among the fourth generation K-pop groups. “Ditto,” the side track from its latest single album “OMG,” hit the chart dated Jan. 21 at No. 96. Such an accomplishment comes only within a year since its debut on last August. The success of the track “Ditto” comes as its streaming gradually accumulated ever since its release on Dec. 19. Previous

K-pop Jan. 18, 2023

Cheeky and fresh is how public broadcaster KBS wants to make over its 30-year legacy of late-night music talk shows, with the first new version of “The Seasons,” starting next month. The program will be a one-year project divided into four different seasons, each hosted by different stars. The first season, “The Seasons-Jay Park’s Drive,” will be led by the Korean singer and rapper Jay Park. It is the first time for Jay Park to host a music program for a local broad

K-pop Jan. 17, 2023

GOT the beat, a seven-member female unit from K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment, unveiled its first mini-album “Stamp On It” on Monday. The title track “Stamp On It” is a R&B hip-hop dance song composed of a groovy piano sound and strong 808 bass beats. The lyrics center on the extreme competition to become the best on stage. Likewise, the music video for the title track is rough and powerful with a caper movie concept. GOT the beat is the first subunit that marked th

K-pop Jan. 16, 2023

Blackpink is returning to Paris to perform at the Yellow Pieces Gala next Wednesday, according to local reports. The Yellow Pieces Gala is a musical charity event held to raise funds for the Hospital Foundation, a charity institution chaired by France’s first lady Brigitte Macron. Brigitte Macron took over the chair position of the foundation from the former first lady of France, Bernadette Chirac, in 2019. Since its establishment in 1989, the Hospital Foundation has been raising funds to

K-pop Jan. 16, 2023

The legendary K-pop idol group Bigbang’s Taeyang has made a comeback with a collaboration with BTS member Jimin. His new digital single, “Vibe,” was released Friday, six years after his last solo release, his third studio album “White Night.” “Vibe” is composed of addictive and strong beats that sing of subtle emotions in a relationship. Not only did the K-pop megastar take part by featuring the song but he also starred in the music video. The track is a

K-pop Jan. 13, 2023

Blackpink will be the first K-pop act to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year. The Korean quartet will take the stage on April 15 and 22 as headliners for the festival that takes place at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, according to the festival’s promoter Goldenvoice on Tuesday. Others leading at Coachella include Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican singer who will be the first Latino artist to headline the show, and the renowned alternative R&B singe

K-pop Jan. 11, 2023

K-pop boy band SF9 returned again after about a year as a full unit on Monday with the group's 12th mini album, “The Piece Of9.” “It feels good to be back with my group members. I feel at home and we are very satisfied with how this album turned out. I am excited to see what our fans will think about it,” said Rowoon of SF9 at a media showcase held at Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul ahead of the album release. Rowoon had put a halt to his participation in the band t

K-pop Jan. 10, 2023

Returning with more powerful performances and unique musical color, South Korean boy group Monsta X launched its 12th mini album "Reason" on Monday. The album, released nine months after the previous EP “Shape of Love,” conveys the group’s story of how it found the reason behind its existence and the meaning of their relationship with one another, according to agency Starship Entertainment. The latest work looks back on the group's eight-year career, the long-est

K-pop Jan. 9, 2023