'BTS Exhibition: Proof' chronicles group's 9-year career

If BTS' anthology album "Proof" is a musical record documenting the act's nine-year career, "2022 BTS Exhibition: Proof" invites fans to immerse themselves in a visual trail of BTS' history. Upon walking into the Seoul exhibition at the Hybe Insight building, which opened on Sept. 28, visitors are greeted by gigantic concept images of the seven K-pop superstars from its latest album "Proof." The album, which dropped in June, wrapped up the 9-year-ol

K-popOct. 5, 2022

Seulgi debuts solo after 8 years with '28 Reasons'

Seulgi of girl group Red Velvet on Tuesday dropped her first solo EP, "28 Reasons." Ahead of releasing the EP later that day, Seulgi conducted an online press conference in Seoul on Tuesday afternoon. Her bandmate Wendy emceed the event. Dropping her first solo album in the eight years since she set foot into the K-pop scene with Red Velvet in 2014, Seulgi said she thought "it was about the right time." "Although I'd been preparing for a long time, I officially kicked of

K-popOct. 4, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] AB6IX frees itself to ‘take a chance’ on 6th EP

    AB6IX held an online media showcase Tuesday to bring out its sixth EP, “Take A Chance.” The EP conveys the bandmates’ own stories and feelings, particularly “how opportunities are always close and how we are to prove it,” said Lee Daehwi. Jeon Woong admitted that he was under a lot of pressure preparing the album. Lee agreed, acknowledging that he has had a hard time writing music as he was caught up in the idea that he had to make something new.

K-popOct. 4, 2022

Treasure hopes 2nd EP ‘The Second Step: Chapter Two’ will be a present for fans

With much anticipation, Treasure is ready to hop on a new treasure hunt with its second EP, “The Second Step: Chapter Two,” making its grand return eight months since enjoying success with its first EP, “The Second Step: Chapter One.” Ahead of the album’s release on Tuesday, the rookie boy band’s members shared their thoughts and musical ideas that went into its forthcoming musical project via an official press release Q&A. Q. How does it feel to release a

K-popOct. 3, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘My goal is to hoist K-pop to be No. 1 in the world’

The ever-increasing success and popularity of K-pop is highly visible these days, with big-name artists such as BTS and Blackpink sweeping global music charts and taking home well-recognized awards. A seemingly never-ending stream of K-pop songs are released each week and make their way into the ears of fans worldwide, keeping them hooked and eager to hear what is next. Many of K-pop's biggest hits in recent years, including IU’s “Celebrity,” Oh My Girl’s “Du

K-popOct. 3, 2022

[Herald Review] fromis_9 promises happy ending in first concert 'Love From.'

It was a long and rough path for fromis_9 on its way to its first exclusive concert, with the band changing its agency once and losing a member in the meantime. But for fans, the three-night show proved the wait was more than worth it. K-pop girl group fromis_9 on Friday kicked off its first stand-alone concert series "Love From." at KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, and continued the show over the weekend. The eight members of fromis_9 are Lee Sae-rom, Song Ha-young, Park Ji

K-popOct. 3, 2022

Suzy to make musical comeback with new digital single ‘Cape’

Actor and songstress Suzy is making a return to music with a new digital single, “Cape,” on Thursday. According to her agency Management Soop, the singer-songwriter is making her way back seven months after the release of “Satellite” on Feb. 17, which she wrote the lyrics for. It added that her upcoming single has also been written by the musician. “Cape” has a folk-based melody that gives off an ethereal ambiance. The song’s musical arrangement is mainl

K-popOct. 3, 2022

[Photo News] fromis_9 holds its first concert 'Love From.'

K-pop girl group fromis_9 on Friday kicked off its first stand-alone concert series "Love From." at the KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul. On the second night on Saturday, the members performed a total of 22 songs from their near five-year career since the act's debut in 2018. An eight-piece band, fromis_9 consists of members Lee Sae-rom, Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, Roh Ji-sun, Lee Seo-yeon, Lee Chae-yeong, Lee Na-gyung and Baek Ji-heon. It originally debuted as a nine-piece

K-popOct. 2, 2022

'Hallyu'-themed annual K-culture fest to kick off Saturday in Seoul

An annual festival showcasing the Korean Wave will kick off in Seoul on Saturday, featuring popular K-pop stars, such as NCT Dream, The Boyz, Monsta X, Ive, Oh My Girl and WJSN. Founded in 2020 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated private Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), the festival has been held every year to promote "hallyu," or the global boom of Korean pop culture. The festival's third edition will take place at Gwangh

K-popSept. 30, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids adds dates to world tour

Stray Kids will perform two more times in the US in March next year, announced label JYP Entertainment on Friday. The band added one concert each to those planned for Atlanta and Fort Worth, Texas according to the poster uploaded by the company. This will expand the ongoing tour to seven cities – from Jakarta, Indonesia and Bangkok to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia -- and 11 concerts from Nov. 12 to March 27. The poster also hinted that more concerts may be on the way. The eight-member t

K-popSept. 30, 2022

g.o.d to reunite after 4 years for year-end concert in Seoul

All five members of veteran K-pop idol group g.o.d will meet fans in person in a year-end concert in Seoul. According to IOK Co., organizer of the upcoming concert, on Friday, the quintet is scheduled to kick off a three-day concert on Dec. 9 at KSPO Dome at Olympic Park in southern Seoul. The event will mark the band's first time together in four years, since the act’s last concert “Greatest” in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its debut. The group has been unable t

K-popSept. 30, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids’ new EP sells over 2m copies in pre-orders

Stray Kids’ upcoming EP “Maxident” sold more than 2.24 million copies in pre-orders, according to label JYP Entertainment on Thursday. The EP will roll out on Nov. 7 and the figure is strong indication that it will be another million-selling album. The eight-piece act’s second studio album “Noeasy,” from August last year, was its first to sell over 1 million units. EP “Oddinary” from March was its second. The EP landed atop the Billboard 200, a fe

K-popSept. 29, 2022

Melon Music Awards to return offline after two years

After three years of pandemic-related setbacks, the Melon Music Awards are returning offline, according to Kakao Entertainment, which runs Melon, the nation’s largest music streaming platform. The South Korean entertainment giant said Thursday that the 14th edition of the event will be held at its usual ceremony venue at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, southwestern Seoul, on Nov. 26. This year’s event will be presented by Kakao Bank, the banking affiliate of the Korean internet firm. &l

K-popSept. 29, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s ‘Shut Down’ lands on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 25

Blackpink has placed two songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 dated Oct. 1. “Shut Down,” the main track from its second studio album “Born Pink,” hit the chart at No. 25 while the pre-release from the album “Pink Venom” ranked No. 57, extending its stay to fifth week. The two songs were No. 1 and No. 2 on Billboard’s Global 200, respectively, as well as on the Global Excl. the US. Blackpink is the fourth artist ever to top both charts at the same time, af

K-popSept. 28, 2022

From Treasure to Stray Kids, boy bands gear up for October return

With the rush of cool air, boy bands are welcoming the year's colder seasons with new music, and some big names, from Treasure to Stray Kids, are in for a clash in the coming weeks. Among the most anticipated returns will be Treasure, the rookie boy band of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment. Treasure is set to drop its new album, "The Second Step: Chapter Two," on Oct. 4. The act's second EP, "The Second Step: Chapter Two," will be fronted by the main track "He

K-popSept. 28, 2022

[Feature] Will SM go back for sale after terminating contract with Lee Soo-man’s Like Planning?

After leading K-pop agency SM Entertainment’s announcement that it was considering early termination of its contract with music production company Like Planning, the entertainment industry and market are keeping a close watch on SM’s fate amid the undervaluing of its stock and a “brief halt” on a takeover deal. SM Entertainment is seeking to terminate its contract with the music production company wholly owned by SM’s chief producer and founder, Lee Soo-man, by the

K-popSept. 28, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Mamamoo to make full-group return next month

    Mamamoo will make a comeback with its 12th EP on Oct. 11, according to agency RBW Entertainment on Tuesday. The company uploaded a poster for the EP “Mic On,” signaling the group’s first full-group return in about a month. It released the best-of album “I Say Mamamoo: The Best” in September last year to mark its seventh anniversary. Last month Solar and Moonbyul dropped the single “Better” as the quartet’s first subunit Mamamoo P

K-popSept. 27, 2022

[Album Review] An ode to the ‘90s: Xiumin’s ‘Brand New’ is a retro delight

One thing K-pop fans, or listeners who love Korean music in general, haven’t heard much of and enjoyed in the past few years is retro K-pop. Younger music aficionados may not know much about this genre, but songs from those earlier times had catchy melodies that were easy on the ears and simply fun to listen to on repeat. That’s what Xiumin of boy band Exo hopes to do with his first-ever solo musical project, “Brand New,” which was released on Monday evening. As a singer

K-popSept. 27, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] NCT 127 hits Billboard 200 at No. 3

    NCT 127 had its fourth studio album place at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, according to the publication’s online article that came out on Sunday in the US. The LP “2 Baddies” tied the band’s previous career-high, achieved with third LP “Stickers” last year. Its second LP, “NCT #127 Neo Zone,” ranked No. 5 on the chart. The new LP sold over 1.54 million copies in its first week and swept a series of major music charts at home and in

K-popSept. 26, 2022

Hybe to transform Busan into theme park for BTS fans for ‘The City’ project

Celebrating BTS' upcoming concert in Busan in support of the city’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo, Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind the boy band, will turn the port city into a BTS-themed park through its special project. “BTS ‘Yet to Come’ The City in Busan,” or simply “The City,” will turn Busan into an immersive festival site for fans visiting the city for BTS’ upcoming concert, the K-pop agency said via the fan community platform Weve

K-popSept. 26, 2022