[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen sells 2m copies of 4th LP in preorders

   　 Seventeen’s upcoming fourth studio album sold more than 2 million copies in preorders, according to distributor YG Plus on Friday. 　 The LP “Face the Sun” is likely to become the biggest-selling album for the band whose five previous albums each sold over a million units. 　 The LP will be fully unveiled on May 27 and the 13-member act will host a showcase the next day. The event will be broadcast live around the world through a range of platforms including

K-popMay 20, 2022

Le Sserafim’s Kim Ga-ram halts activities as bullying allegations grow

Kim Ga-ram of rookie girl group Le Sserafim is halting all of her activities amid growing controversy over bullying allegations against her. The six-member act’s management agency Source Music announced a temporary suspension of Kim’s activities Friday via the group’s fan community platform Weverse. “After discussions with Kim Ga-ram, it has been decided that the member will take a break for a while to ease her mind. ... Until Kim’s return, Le Sserafim will conti

K-popMay 20, 2022

BTS’ ‘Proof’: Nine years of evidence and more to come

K-pop sensation BTS’ upcoming anthology album “Proof” is set to offer an expansive look over the group’s nine-year career and what’s to come. BTS’ agency, BigHit Music, revealed the band will be returning to the stage on June 10 with an anthology album spanning the band’s discography. The three-CD collection will allow fans to walk down memory lane and explore unreleased rarities and never-before-heard tunes. The first CD will act as “the chroni

K-popMay 19, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] GOT7’s Jay B to host solo fan concert next month

Jay B of GOT7 will host his own fan concert in Seoul on June 18, his label H1gher Music announced on Thursday. 　 The “Nostalgic” concert comes a year after his online fan meet event “Somo:Fume, Style of My Own: Fume” that drew over 1,800 viewers. The concert will be broadcast online as well for fans from around the world. 　 The musician joined the label as a solo artist last year and released his first solo EP “Somo:Fume” that topped iTunes top albums chart

K-popMay 19, 2022

GOT7 to make full-group comeback with new self-titled EP

After rumors about GOT7’s new album circulated about a year ago, the boy band finally put a stop to the questions with an announcement of the release of the self-titled EP “GOT7.” On May 9, the band’s new agency Warner Bros Korea said that GOT7 is currently gearing up for a comeback. Set to be released on Monday, this marks the septet’s return in more than one year since its previous work, “Encore.” The news first broke on April 22 as local media out

K-popMay 19, 2022

TWICE's Nayeon to make debut as solo artist next month

Nayeon of girl group TWICE will release "Im Nayeon," her first album as a solo artist next month, her agency said Thursday. JYP Entertainment also unveiled a promotional poster for the upcoming EP on social media. Nayeon will drop the EP at 1 p.m. on June 24 in South Korea, which is midnight US EST, apparently with the US music market in mind. The date is Friday, and Billboard charts are compiled from Friday to the following Thursday according to the eastern US time zone. The album

K-popMay 19, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] GFriend’s Yerin shows off her colors with debut EP

Yerin, formerly of now-disbanded GFriend, held a media showcase on Wednesday to introduce her first solo EP “Aria.” 　 Even though she debuted in 2015 as a member of the girl group, she admitted that she was all nerves and full of doubts. 　 “I questioned myself, wondering if I could do it right without making any mistake. But I am confident,” she declared before performing on stage. 　 “It would be a lie if I said I didn’t’ feel the pressure striking o

K-popMay 18, 2022

Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week

K-pop boy group Ateez will release a new Japanese-language EP next week, its management agency said Wednesday. The octet will drop its second Japanese EP "Beyond: Zero" next Wednesday, KQ Entertainment said, adding it will be the band's first release in Japan since its single "Dreamers" in July last year. The EP will have seven tracks, including the main track "Rocky" and "The King." Ahead of the album's release, Ateez unveiled a music video for

K-popMay 18, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Onew to release 1st LP in Japan

Onew of SHINee will roll out his first studio album in Japan on July 6, his label SM Entertainment announced on Tuesday. 　 The LP will consist of ten tracks: six new songs and four remakes of hit Japanese songs including Kazumasa Oda’s “Kirakira” and Misia’s “Everything.” 　 He will unveil the LP “Life Goes On” gradually -- first with a pre-release song “Kirakira,” followed by more tracks. 　 The veteran idol will then tour Japan from

K-popMay 17, 2022

‘Psy’s boy band’ TNX makes debut with EP ‘Way Up’

TNX, the first boy band of P Nation, headed by “Gangnam Style” hitmaker Psy, made their long-awaited debut on Tuesday with its first EP “Way Up.” The six-member act – comprised of members TaeHun, KyungJun, HyunSoo, JunHyeok, Hwi and SungJun -- conducted its debut media showcase in Seoul a few hours ahead of the album’s release at 6 p.m. that day. “It feels unreal to be standing here on this stage … as much as we’ve dreamt about this moment

K-popMay 17, 2022

Girls’ Generation to make full-group comeback in August after five years

Girls’ Generation is making a long-awaited comeback in August in celebration of its 15th anniversary. After rumors that the K-pop legend is returning with a new batch of songs, the band’s agency S.M. Entertainment confirmed Tuesday that the band will drop a new album sometime in August. The band also plans to appear on various television programs to celebrate the 15th anniversary album and launch a new reality show, according to the agency. The company said it would provide mor

K-popMay 17, 2022

Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years

K-pop group Girls' Generation will make a comeback in August by dropping a new album to mark the 15th anniversary of its debut, the group's agency said Tuesday. All eight members of the group will take part in the album that will be the band's first release in five years, SM Entertainment said without giving any details on the upcoming album. Debuting in 2007, the group churned out hit after hit, such as "Girls' Generation," "Gee," "Genie" and &q

K-popMay 17, 2022

Astro boasts its signature freshness in 3rd LP ‘Drive to the Starry Road’

K-pop boy band Astro is back with its signature freshness for its third full-length album, “Drive to the Starry Road,” delving deeper into new sounds with the band’s six years of experience. The six-member act held a press conference in Seoul on Monday afternoon, a few hours ahead of the album’s release. Member MJ, real name Kim Myung-jun, started his military service last Monday and was absent from the event. “Drive to the Starry Road” marks the band&rsquo

K-popMay 16, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to drop 2nd EP in Japan next month

　 Stray Kids will put out its second Japanese EP “Circus” on June 22, the group’s label JYP Entertainment announced on Monday. 　 It will consist of six tracks -- a title track and two new songs, as well as Japanese versions of three songs, including “Maniac,” the lead track from the group’s most recent EP “Oddinary.” The EP came out in March and reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 　 The songwriting trio within the band – Bang Chan, Changbin

K-popMay 16, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids’ EP sells over 1 million

   　 Stray Kids earned certification for its million-selling EP “Oddinary.” 　 The EP was released on March 18 and has become the band’s second million-seller, following second studio album “Noeasy” last year. 　 The EP sold 1.3 million copies in preorders and in the first week of sales, sold more than 850,000 units, a record for the eight-member act. The album landed atop the Billboard 200 and made the band the third K-pop musician ever to achieve th

K-popMay 13, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘Musical introvert’ Kim Ye-ji breaks out of shell to sing for women, socially disadvantaged

Kim Ye-ji found fame as a musician through the survival show “The Voice of Korea” in 2020. Last year, the singer became the center of attention when she introduced herself by singing Bishop Briggs’ “River” on the audition program “Super Band 2.” People know her as a rock vocalist with short hair and a signature winged eyeliner look who makes great cover songs. But this time, the singer made her way onto the music charts with her first EP, “Turned

K-popMay 13, 2022

aespa listed as one of 'next generation leaders' by TIME

South Korean girl group aespa has been chosen as one of the Next Generation Leaders by the US news magazine TIME. Since 2014, the magazine has annually announced the list featuring trendsetters and trailblazers who are guiding the way to a brighter future. "aespa is an experiment, but it may also be the inevitable next step for the music industry: a fresh way to bridge the virtual and the real," it commented of the rookie group, unveiling the list Wednesday (US time). Debuting in Novem

K-popMay 13, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids’ “Thunderous” music video tops 200m views

   The music video for Stray Kids’ 2021 hit “Thunderous” surpassed 200 million views on YouTube, according to label JYP Entertainment on Thursday. 　 It became the third music video from the eight-member act to reach the milestone following those of “God’s Menu” and “Back Door.” 　 The song is the main track from its second full album “Noeasy” and topped iTunes top songs chart in 52 regions when it came out in August last year.

K-popMay 12, 2022

(G)I-dle to hold first world tour

South Korean girl group (G)I-dle will hold a world concert tour for the first time since its debut four years ago, its agency said Thursday. The tour will kick off in Seoul on June 18 and 19, and make stops in 15 major cities in the United States, Chile, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Singapore until Oct. 1, Cube Entertainment said. Debuting in May 2018, the quintet has released many popular songs, such as "Latata" (2018), "Senorita" (2019), "Oh My God&quo

K-popMay 12, 2022

Jeong Sewoon invites people to stop by his ‘musical garden’ and gain comfort through ‘Where is my Garden!’

As the season has changed from the springtime blooms to bright summer, singer-songwriter Jeong Sewoon has welcomed the transition with his fifth EP, “Where is my Garden!” released Wednesday evening. This is the soloist’s first release since “24 Part 2,” which was put out in January 2021. In a press conference Wednesday, the singer described his latest album as “an album that sings the hopes that the youth carry.” The titular garden is Jeong’

K-popMay 11, 2022