Refund Sisters: latest K-pop sensation that S. Korea is raving about

It depends on what you define K-pop as, but the Refund Sisters are probably not your typical K-pop stars. Brimming with confidence and bad girl vibes, nothing seems to daunt the group's four divas -- soloists Uhm Jung-hwa and Lee Hyori, rapper Jessi and Hwasa of girl group MAMAMOO -- who seem to get along pretty well despite their age gap and different backgrounds. In fact, the moniker Refund Sisters, otherwise known as Refund Expedition in Korean, comes from their strong girl demeanor that no

K-popOct. 27, 2020

‘Minisode 1: Blue Hour,’ TXT’s short tale told in the era of COVID-19

Tomorrow X Together returned with their third mini album “Minisode 1: Blue Hour” Monday, sharing a hopeful message to young people isolated and lost in emotions amid the unprecedented pandemic. “The album tells the story of a boy who faces a completely changed world after experiencing a sudden shift in his relationship with his friend,” the quintet’s leader Soobin said during an online press conference in Seoul. Fronting the album is “Blue Hour,” a di

K-popOct. 27, 2020

BTS' 2014 album lands on Billboard main albums chart

A 2014 EP album by K-pop megastar BTS has made a surprise debut on the Billboard main chart. "BTS' 'Skool Luv Affair' debuts at No. 12 on this week's Billboard 200. It's the group's 12th career entry on the chart," the US music publisher said in a Twitter post updated Monday (US time). "Skool Luv Affair," the septet's second EP released in February 2014, was recently republished and released after it won a fan vote on albums and DVDs that should be released again. The feat

K-popOct. 27, 2020

BTS nominated for American Music Awards for 3rd year

K-pop megastar BTS has been nominated for this year's American Music Awards (AMAs) for a third consecutive year, the band's agency said Tuesday. The seven-member band was nominated in two categories -- "Favorite Duo or Group - Pop/Rock" and "Favorite Social Artist" -- in the ceremony scheduled for Nov. 22 (US time). Other nominees in the "Favorite Duo or Group - Pop/Rock" category were the Jonas Brothers and Maroon 5. Four other musicians were nominated for the &q

K-popOct. 27, 2020

Twice in struggle between good and bad with ‘I Can’t Stop Me’

Twice is facing the duality of good and evil in its brand new single “I Can’t Stop Me.” The nine-piece band dropped its second full-length Korean album “Eyes Wide Open” on Monday evening, which features the disco-tinged pop lead track “I Can’t Stop Me.” Ahead of the release, the bandmates shared details of the new song and excitement over releasing their first full-length album in three years. “Comparing ourselves to three years ago, we re

K-popOct. 26, 2020

TXT's new album appears more relatable than ever amid COVID-19

K-pop act Tomorrow X Together said Monday their upcoming album captures the stories and sentiments of teens who are living in an unprecedented world amid the new coronavirus pandemic. "Like everyone else, we were taken aback and confused by the situation that we're experiencing for the first time. Above all, it was sad not to be able to listen to MOA's cheering sounds when we perform on stage," Taehyun said during a media conference, referring to the group's dedicated fan base called

K-popOct. 26, 2020

Annual K-Music festival to hit London this week as live-online hybrid event amid pandemic

The annual K-Music festival in London will kick off this week for a 17-day run as a hybrid event combining live performances and YouTube livestreaming amid the global coronavirus pandemic, its organizer said Monday. This year's K-Music 2020 celebrates the 7th year of its presence in the British capital, showcasing traditional Korean music, called "gukak," as well as rock and jazz to British audiences. K-Music 2020 will kick off on Saturday (London time) to run till Nov. 16, co-hoste

K-popOct. 26, 2020

BLACKPINK becomes first K-pop girl group to sell 1m albums

After becoming the first K-pop girl group to rank No. 2 on the Billboard main album chart, BLACKPINK has set another record by becoming the first all-female act to sell more than 1 million albums, its agency said Monday. "The Album," the group's first studio album released earlier this month, has sold 1.2 million units worldwide, including 871,335 copies here and 319,300 in Europe and the United States, according to YG Entertainment. The previous record is known to be 760,000 album s

K-popOct. 26, 2020

TWICE says 2nd full album shows band's more daring, dark side

Popular K-pop girl group TWICE said Monday that its upcoming full-length album "Eyes Wide Open" will likely surprise fans with the band's darker and bolder side. "It portrays the danger and anxiety that come from standing on the boundary between the good and bad," rapper Dahyun said in a series of questions and answers sent to the press before the album drops at 6 p.m. "It also captures a provocative ambience that boldly crosses the line, which I feel that a lot of peo

K-popOct. 26, 2020

SM Entertainment's new girl group to debut in Nov.

SM Entertainment, the K-pop powerhouse that represents popular girl groups Girls' Generation and Red Velvet, on Monday announced the debut of a new girl group next month. Little is known about the new act, named "aespa," except for a logo and a teaser video uploaded on the group's social media accounts early Monday. SM Entertainment said the band's name comes from the English words "avatar, experience and aspect" -- with the name meaning "to be able to meet another se

K-popOct. 26, 2020

NCT, BLACKPINK make Billboard 200's top 10

Popular K-pop acts NCT and BLACKPINK both ranked in the top 10 on the Billboard's main albums chart with their latest albums. The 23-member boy band NCT debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with its new album "NCT - The 2nd Album RESONANCE Pt. 1," the Billboard reported Sunday (US time). The Billboard 200 is one of the US music publisher's main charts, ranking the most popular albums of the week in the United States based on data, including album sales and streaming. NCT's album ea

K-popOct. 26, 2020

Red Velvet's Irene apologizes over bullying scandal

Irene, a member of popular K-pop act Red Velvet, admitted to allegations that she verbally attacked a stylist during a recent shoot and apologized over the incident. "I sincerely apologize for hurting the stylist with my foolish attitude and careless words and action," Irene said in an Instagram post uploaded Thursday evening, with an image of a plain black square. "There were a lot of people who helped me to get where I am now, and I regret hurting them with immature behavior,&

K-popOct. 23, 2020

New boy band from TV audition show releases trailer ahead of Nov. debut

ENHYPEN, the seven-member band consisting of reality audition program "I-Land" winners, unveiled its first trailer on Thursday ahead of its debut next month. ENHYPEN's seven members were selected through a televised survival program co-organized by entertainment giant CJ ENM and BTS' agency Big Hit Entertainment. Big Hit's chief Bang Si-hyuk himself took part in selecting the final seven winners from a pool of 23 candidates. The trailer "Choose-Chosen," posted on the band'

K-popOct. 22, 2020

BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' racks up 600m views

South Korean all-female band BLACKPINK's music video "How You Like That" has earned 600 million views on YouTube in what its agency said was reached in the shortest time for a K-pop act. The quartet's music video of the hit song reached the milestone at around 1 a.m. on Thursday, roughly 117 days and seven hours after it was released on June 26, according to YG Entertainment. The agency said the band set the record about two months earlier than its "Kill This Love" music vi

K-popOct. 22, 2020

BLACKPINK appears on US talk show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

K-pop quartet BLACKPINK performed and shared its stories on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," becoming the first K-pop girl group to appear on the US late-night show. The band, which Kimmel introduced as "the most popular all-female group in the vast realm of music known as K-pop" joined the show through video chat on Tuesday (US time). BLACKPINK's four members -- Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa -- talked about their successful gig at the Coachella music festival last year and behind-the-s

K-popOct. 21, 2020

Key takeaways from Big Hit’s big stock debut

At 8:50 a.m. on Thursday, Chairman Bang Si-hyuk of Big Hit Entertainment, home to K-pop phenom BTS, rang the bells marking the company’s initial public offering at the Korea Exchange headquarters in Seoul. A huge step forward for the 15-year-old company, and also one of the most anticipated IPOs of the year, the listing ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube -- a first in the bourse operator’s history. “We began as a small entertainment company that set out to bring healing th

K-popOct. 20, 2020

Stop politicizing K-pop, warn experts

In the last few years, K-pop has become more than just a music genre. Its influence has not only been proven on the Billboard charts and on US TV shows, but has also spilled over into the realm of diplomacy. Recently, global sensation BTS faced an uproar after the group received an award from the Korea Society, which celebrates South Korea-US ties. In an acceptance speech, leader RM mentioned the “pain of history” in a reference to the 1950-1953 Korean War. His seemingly innocuou

K-popOct. 20, 2020

BTS' 'Dynamite' ranks No. 5 on Billboard singles chart

K-pop megastar BTS has ranked fifth on the Billboard's main singles chart with its latest hit "Dynamite" that had topped the list for three weeks, Billboard reported. "BTS' 'Dynamite' drops 2-5 on the Hot 100, after three nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1, as it posts an eighth week atop Digital Song Sales," the US music publisher said Monday (US time). The seven-member act made history with the English-lyric pop song by becoming the first South Korean band to top the Hot 100 c

K-popOct. 20, 2020

With ‘Semicolon,’ Seventeen says it’s OK to take a break

Seventeen released its new album, “Semicolon,” Monday, with a message of encouragement for young people to take some time off in their busy lives. “Just like the album’s title symbolizes a pause in a sentence, we wanted to convey a message that it’s OK to take a break from the everyday struggles and that it’s going to be a preparation for a journey called life,” said Vernon during an online press conference in Seoul on Monday. Marking the group&rsquo

K-popOct. 20, 2020

BLACKPINK's 1st full album ranks No. 6 on Billboard 200 in 2nd week

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's latest album ranked No. 6 on Billboard's main album chart this week, coming in the top 10 on the chart for the second consecutive week, according to Billboard. "The Album," the first full-length album of the quartet, ranked No. 6 with 35,000 equivalent album units earned in the second week of its release, Billboard reported Sunday (US time). The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart last week, setting a new record for a South Korean girl gro

K-popOct. 19, 2020