[Today’s K-pop] Boynextdoor announces Asia tour plan

(Credit: KOZ Entertainment)Rookie band Boynextdoor shared plans for its first international tour via agency KOZ Entertainment Monday. It will embark on tour “Knock On Vol. 1” with a two-day concert in Incheon Dec. 14-15. From Jan. 30 to April 12, it is set to visit 12 more cities across Asia: Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong and Jakarta as well as six cities in Japan. The Japan itinerary reflects the popularity of the band in the country where it drew a large crowd at Su

K-popSept. 23, 2024

World K-Pop Center: Where K-pop dreams take flight

On the afternoon of Sept. 10, six K-pop trainees from China gathered in a dance studio at the World K-Pop Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, for a practice session. Donning comfortable training outfits and sneakers, their faces reflected a mix of excitement, nerves and determination. The trainees are just over two months away from their long-awaited debut as a K-pop girl group in Korea, set for mid-November. However, not all six will be able to debut. They are a portion of a larger group of 17 trainees w

K-popSept. 23, 2024

SHINee Key turns into cyborg for 3rd EP ‘Pleasure Shop’

Key of the K-pop boy group SHINee released his third solo EP “Pleasure Shop” on Monday. The album features six house tracks led by the title track, “Pleasure Shop.” “The lead track is about a pleasure shop where people come to buy happiness. I am the person who sells happiness at the shop, but I do not have feelings because I am a cyborg,” explained Key. Despite the upbeat title, he darkened the lyrics to add depth to the narrative. “Even though people c

K-popSept. 23, 2024

P1Harmony reflects on loneliness and growth in new album 'Sad Song'

After a successful world tour and performances at several overseas festivals, P1Harmony is back with a new album full of challenges. Group's 7th mini-album “Sad Song,” released Friday, comes about seven months after their first full-length album “Killin' It.” It has six tracks including the Lain-rhythm-themed title track. The album explores feelings of loneliness and emptiness, as well as the process of overcoming such emotions through the concept of superheroes

K-popSept. 23, 2024

[Herald Review] IU wraps up 1st world tour 'HEREH' at Seoul World Cup Stadium

K-pop sensation IU wrapped up her first world tour, ‘HEREH,’ with an unforgettable finale Sunday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. She made a striking entrance on a swing-like lift, dressed in a sparkling coral mini dress and a white headset, kicking off the show with “Holssi,” the first track from a captivating setlist that spanned over two hours. IU took an audience of 50,000 on a mesmerizing journey, performing “Ah Puh” amidst a stunning display of whale and

K-popSept. 23, 2024

Aespa to drop new mini-album ‘Whiplash’ next month

Aespa is set to make its highly anticipated return next month with “Whiplash,” the girl group's fifth mini-album. The six-track album will be released on multiple music platforms at 6 p.m. KST, Oct. 21. Showcasing Aespa’s unique musical style, it will feature title track “Whiplash” alongside tracks of a variety of genres, according to SM Entertainment. Expectations for "Whiplash" are high after the massive success of the group's first full-length

K-popSept. 23, 2024

Illit to release second mini-album 'I'll Like You' next month

Rookie K-pop group Illit will release its second mini-album “I’ll Like You” on Oct. 21, the band announced through global fandom platform Weverse on Monday. This marks the group’s first new music in seven months, following the success of their debut mini-album “Super Real Me.” The album made waves both at home and abroad, even securing a spot on the Billboard 200. The group has quickly risen to prominence since its March debut, with its title track “Magn

K-popSept. 23, 2024

New Fifty Fifty off to strong start

Recently rebooted K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, with four new members after last year’s legal dispute between their agency, Attrakt, and the original members, is off to a promising start with the new mini album “Love Tune,” which released Friday. The album, available in both "Love" and "Tune" versions, features six tracks, including lead single “SOS” and the prereleased “Starry Night.” Other tracks include "Push Your Love,"

K-popSept. 22, 2024

Hybe acquires US PR agency

K-pop giant Hybe said Friday it has acquired a US-based public relations agency as part of its strategy to bolster the PR capabilities of its American unit. According to Hybe's semi-annual report, The Agency Group PR LCC, a non-listed company based in Santa Monica, California, has been added to the list of its consolidated subsidiaries through an equity acquisition. The Agency Group PR, whose main business is public relations, is now a subsidiary of Hybe America, with Hybe holding a 51 perc

K-popSept. 20, 2024

'Music Bank' team demands apology from Real Madrid for cancellation of Madrid concert

The KBS' “Music Bank” overseas concert, scheduled for next month at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, has been abruptly canceled by Spanish soccer club Real Madrid, according to the "Music Bank" production team. In a statement released Thursday, the production team asked for an official apology and explanation from Real Madrid CF, expressing its deep frustration over the sudden cancellation of the Madrid concert. “We deeply regret Real Madrid's unilat

K-popSept. 20, 2024

Park Jin-young to celebrate 30th debut anniversary with year-end concert

Park Jin-young, also known by his stage name J.Y. Park, is set to hold a solo concert, "Still JYP," to celebrate his 30th anniversary as a singer. The concert will take place at Olympic Hall in Seoul's Olympic Park from Dec. 27 to 29, according to JYP Entertainment on Friday. The singer-songwriter and entrepreneur plans to celebrate the milestone with fans who have supported him throughout his career, performing signature hits that span generations. Debuting in 1994, Park shot to

K-popSept. 20, 2024

Underdog boy bands take on ambitious survival journey

Seven ambitious boy bands are off to a fierce battle. The New Six, 8Turn, Oneus, Younite, Cravity, Tempest and the project team The Crew One, which consists of the boy groups ATBO and Just B., are competing on Mnet's survival program "Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace," starting Thursday night. Taemin of SHINee will host the show. “We felt the pressure to surpass our performances in Season 1, but we overcame it with even greater passion. Since we believe it’s a K-pop idol&#

TelevisionSept. 19, 2024

Bill proposes stricter limits on work hours for child idols, actors

A bill has been introduced to lower the weekly working hours for underage entertainers, as related concerns such as young entertainers' health issues remain unaddressed. On Sept. 11, Rep. Kim Jun-hyuk of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed a revision to the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act to reduce the working hours of juveniles working in cultural industries, and apply different working hour caps for different ages. The revision would cap weekly working

PoliticsSept. 19, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Illit amasses 400m Spotify streams with ‘Magnetic’ in record time

Illit generated 400 million streams on Spotify with its debut song “Magnetic,” agency Belift Lab said Thursday citing the platform. The rookie group achieved the feat in 176 days, the shortest time for a debut single from a K-pop band. Illit has already set Spotify records for a K-pop girl group when reaching the 100, 200 and 300 million play milestones. “Magnetic” fronted the group's first EP “Super Real Me” and swept music charts at home and abroad, m

K-popSept. 19, 2024

BTS, NewJeans fandoms clash over Hybe-Min Hee-jin conflict

The conflict between Hybe and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin appears to be escalating into a broader dispute between the fandoms of BTS and NewJeans, as BTS's fanbase, Army, raises its voice in opposing Min's potential return. A group identifying itself as part of the BTS Army community released a statement on X Monday, expressing its unified stance against Min’s return as the CEO of Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe. The group made clear that it opposes her reinstatement in a leadership r

K-popSept. 18, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids Hyunjin becomes face of Cartier

Hyunjin of Stray Kids has been chosen as brand ambassador for jeweler Cartier. He graced the cover of men’s magazine Esquire Korea’s October issue, draped in the accessories from the French jewelry house, which had previously appointed Jisoo of Blackpink and V of BTS to represent its campaigns. The dancer and rapper has shown affinity for Cartier, wearing its jewelry on a number of occasions and attending an event hosted by the jeweler. The news set the idol’s fans abuzz, cel

K-popSept. 13, 2024

Former Ador CEO files injunction to remain as director after her current term

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, filed for an injunction Friday to be reinstated as a director at the company after her term ends Nov. 2. Anticipating that the Ador board will not renew her term, Min’s legal representative law firm Sejong and her PR firm, Macoll Consulting Group, announced that they had submitted a petition to the Seoul Central District Court, requesting an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting and Min's reappointment as an internal director. Previously, Ador

K-popSept. 13, 2024

Pledis Entertainment partners with Jeju Island to produce ‘K-Pop Jeju Content’

Pledis Entertainment and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on Friday announced a partnership to produce K-pop content featuring the island’s unique features. Pledis, a subsidiary of entertainment giant Hybe, and Jeju Island held a signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding at Hybe’s Yongsan headquarters to promote K-pop content related to Jeju. Pledis CEO Lee Da-hye, Jeju Gov. Oh Young-hun, and other representatives from both sides attended the ceremony. Pledis Entertain

TravelSept. 13, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s Jeonghan to enlist late this month

Jeonghan of Seventeen will begin serving his mandatory military duty on Sept. 26, his agency Pledis Entertainment announced Thursday. He will be the first member of the 13-piece act to enlist. He will serve as an alternative social agent, as he had ankle surgery about nine months ago. He, at 29, is one of the three oldest members along with S.Coups and Joshua, but S.Coups was exempted from the duty after knee surgery and Joshua is a US citizen. As previously notified, he will be absent from prom

K-popSept. 12, 2024

Blackpink's Lisa wins second Best K-pop award at MTV VMAs

Lisa of Blackpink, who is also a solo artist, won the Best K-Pop award at the MTV Video Music Awards for the second time. The ceremony took place Wednesday at the UBS Arena in New York City. Lisa clinched the Best K-Pop award with her song "Rockstar," surpassing strong contenders like BTS Jungkook's "Seven," NCT Dream's "Smoothie," NewJeans' "Super Shy," Stray Kids' "Lock” and Tomorrow X Together's "Deja Vu." &

K-popSept. 12, 2024