The viral children’s song “Baby Shark” landed at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Wednesday. Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark,” originally uploaded on YouTube in 2016, is the third Korean single to make the top 50 of the Billboard’s Hot 100, following BTS and Psy.  (Smart Study)The song also went viral in UK, staying in the Top 40 of UK’s Official Singles chart for eight consecutive weeks since it first appeared in August last year and ranking No. 6 on Jan. 4. Pinkfong became the first Korean artist

Performance Jan. 10, 2019

Black Pink created the track that was covered more than any other in 2018 among K-pop.According to global K-pop video community site Amazer, Black Pink’s “Ddu-du Ddu-du” ranked No. 1 in the category of K-pop songs most covered last year.The song features an addictive melody with a powerful choreography that includes a gun-shooting hand gesture, which has gotten global K-pop fans especially interested in filming cover videos. Jennie’s solo single, “Solo,” also ranked seventh on the same chart. (Y

Performance Jan. 9, 2019

BTS will resume its “Love Yourself” world tour this month, following its performances in Taiwan last month.Since the Taiwanese leg of its tour, the group has been busy participating in year-end awards programs during which BTS took home a bagful of trophies.  (Billboard)The tour has 11 remaining concerts: Saturday to Sunday at Nagoya Dome in Japan; Jan. 19 in Singapore; Feb. 16-17 at Yafuoku Dome in Japan; March 20-21 and 23-24 at AsiaWorld-Expo Arena in Hong Kong; and April 6-7 in Bangkok, Thai

Performance Jan. 9, 2019

Minho of SHINee will be holding a solo fan meeting tour across Asia.“Choi Minho Fan meeting Tour - Best Choi’s Minho” will kick off in Seoul on Feb. 17 before traveling to cities in Asia, including Tokyo from Feb. 23-24, Bangkok on March 2 and Taipei on March 3. (S.M. Entertainment)Minho debuted with SHINee in 2008. The boy band has released megahits, including “Replay” (2008), “Lucifer” (2011), “Sherlock” (2012) and “View” (2015). Minho has also demonstrated his talent in other fields, appearin

Performance Jan. 9, 2019

Hollywood actress Megan Fox is currently in Korea to film “Jangsa-ri 9.15.”According to the film production company Taewon Entertainment on Tuesday, Megan Fox arrived in Korea on Sunday and is currently filming the Korean movie “Jangsa-ri 9.15” at Namyangju Studio.  (Yonhap)“Jangsa-ri 9.15” deals with the Jangsa landing operation in 1950, led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, in the well-known battle at Incheon during the Korean War. Fox will play the role of Margaret Higgins, a war correspondent for t

Film Jan. 8, 2019

SHINee member Key will be staging his first solo concert in South Korea, “The Agit Key Land – Key,” in February in Seoul.According to S.M. Entertainment on Tuesday, the concert will run for six days, February 2-3 and 7-10, at the SMTown Theatre in SMTown’s Coex Artium.  (S.M. Entertainment)Since he made his solo debut in November with the album “Face,” the singer has successfully reached out to Japan with his first J-pop solo album, “Hologram.” Released in December, the five-track album was well

Performance Jan. 8, 2019

Chungha’s latest song “Gotta Go,” released Jan. 2, was sitting atop global iTunes K-pop charts as of Tuesday.According to the MNH Entertainment, which represents Chungha, the singer’s new digital single “Gotta Go” ranked No. 1 on the iTunes K-pop chart of Thailand and Qatar, ranked second on Singapore’s KKBOX K-pop chart and was No. 8 on Apple Music.  (MNH Entertainment)The track appears to have been well received by global fans, popping up on charts of global music streaming service Spotify in

Performance Jan. 8, 2019

Lee Minhyuk of BTOB on Monday revealed the schedule leading up to his solo debut slated for Jan. 15.The leader and rapper of BTOB will release his first solo album, “Hutazone,” next week.  (Cube Entertainment)Lee will drop teasers, including the track list, on Tuesday, followed by a concept image, trailer clip, audio teaser and a music video teaser. The rapper previously dropped a single as part of BTOB members’ solo single project series “Piece of BTOB” in 2017. Through the project, Lee not onl

Performance Jan. 7, 2019

Having grabbed bagful of gongs at the MMAs and Asia Artist Awards, BTS once again won big at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards in Seoul on Sunday As soon as BTS was called out to receive the Daesang, or the grand prize, members stood up bowing their heads repeatedly toward all the singers and their fans to show their gratitude. (Yonhap)“We turn the honor of the awards to our official fanclub Army for supporting us throughout 2018,” said leader RM. “We had a hard time at the start of the year, getting

Performance Jan. 7, 2019

Lee Hyori and Lee Sang-soon appeared at IU’s concert in Jeju on Saturday. The couple surprised fans by making an appearance during IU’s 10th anniversary concert “dlwlrma-Jeju ‘Curtain Call’” held at the International Convention Center Jeju on Jeju Island. “Thank you so much for coming to my concert. I’m so nervous right now,” said the 26-year-old as she greeted the two. (IU’s Twitter)Lee Hyori and IU sang a duet song, “She’s Different From Me,” with Lee Sang-soon’s guitar accompaniment. The song

Performance Jan. 6, 2019

Apink has dropped a music video teaser for its song “%%” slated for release at 6 p.m. Monday.Representing the girl group, Plan A Entertainment unveiled the first music video teaser for “%%,” the title track of the upcoming EP “Percent,” at midnight Friday via Apink’s official fan page and social media channels. (Plan A Entertainment)The 52-second clip features member Son Na-eun whispering some words while other members appear to be in the middle of a ritual: They are gathered around looking at a

Performance Jan. 6, 2019

Black Pink was named the most popular K-pop girl group in January, followed by Twice and Red Velvet, according to the Korea Brand Reputation Center. The center analyzed over 135 million pieces of big data on K-pop girl groups from Dec. 4, 2018 to Jan. 5 and examined their brand reputation in the categories of participation, media, communication and community.  (YG Entertainment)The brand reputation measures positive and negative perception rates, interest from the media and attention and communi

Performance Jan. 6, 2019

BTS won the Digital Bonsang and the Global V Live Top 10 Best Artist awards at the 2019 33rd Golden Disc Awards held Saturday at Gocheock Sky Dome in Seoul.“Thank you to our fanclub Army for streaming our songs, allowing us to win the Bonsang,” said Suga at the event. “We are working hard on new tracks to present our fans with good music. Thank you for waiting,” added the leader RM. (BTS official Twitter)This was not the end of BTS showing love toward its fans. On Sunday morning, member Jimin an

Television Jan. 6, 2019

Korean actress Clara announced her wedding through her agency Koreana Clara on Thursday.According to Koreana Clara, the actress will marry her Korean-American fiance in a small private wedding ceremony in the US on Sunday, with only families and friends attending.  (to Bride)Here is a translation of the statement released by Clara’s agency:Hello this is actress Clara’s agency Koreana Clara.It is rather abrupt but there is a happy announcement about Clara.The actress will get married in the US th

Film Jan. 3, 2019

S.M. Entertainment will hold its “SMTown Special Stage in Santiago” concerts at Estadio Nacional sports complex in the Chilean city on Jan. 18-19, the first time the agency’s flagship event will take place in South America.Many of the marquee names in the agency including BoA, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation’s Yuri and Hyoyeon, SHINee’s Key and Taemin, EXO, f(x)’s Amber, Red Velvet and NCT are to participate in the event to perform colorful stages for two days.(S.M. Entertainment)Estadio Naciona

Performance Jan. 3, 2019