BTS praises youth for welcoming challenges of COVID-19 pandemic

　South Korean superband BTS addressed the U.N. General Assembly Monday and praised the world‘s young people for welcoming the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. 　The septet flew to New York to speak in person at the 76th U.N. 　General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Goals Moment event as special presidential envoys for future generations and culture. 　  Following a speech by President Moon Jae-in, the K-pop act took the podium at the U.N. General Assembly Hal

K-popSept. 21, 2021

[Herald Interview] Yang Yo-seob hopes to shape his musical experiences with wider taste

A year since Yang Yo-seob of boy band Highlight announced his discharge from the military, he has fans brimming with excitement that new music was on its way. The singer is finally returning to the stage with his first-ever solo LP, “Chocolate Box,” released Monday evening. The 31-year old talked about how dropping new music and showcasing his voice and songs to the public gave him butterflies and agitation at the same time. “I had always set my heart on releasing a full-len

K-popSept. 20, 2021

NCT 127 gifts fans a boxful of joy with ‘Sticker’

Returning a year and half after their smash-hit second full-length album, K-pop boy band NCT 127 said the main concern in preparing new album “Sticker” was going beyond themselves. They achieved the goal -- and much more -- with preorders for their third studio album “Sticker” surpassing 2 million copies Thursday, triple the number of their second studio album “NCT #127 Neo Zone” even before the release of the album the following day. During a media showc

K-popSept. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT127 poised to show another side with 3rd LP

NCT127 held a showcase on Friday to roll out its third full album “Sticker.” 　 “It has been almost 1 1/2 years and I am nervous and excited at the same time,” said Doyoung, asking fans to enjoy the moment as well. 　 Since its previous song “Kick It” was a huge hit, it put pressure on the band, members said. 　 “Preparing for this album, we were worried and anxious if we could do better, if we would be able to put on a cooler performance,” Taeyong

K-popSept. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT127’s 3rd LP sells over 2 million in preorders

NCT127 has already sold 2.12 million copies of its forthcoming third full-length album, “Sticker,” according to label SM Entertainment on Thursday.   　 The LP, due out Friday, topped 1.3 million in preorders on the first day.   　 The album consists of 11 tracks, including the title track, a hip-hop dance number that is said to feature catchy pipe sounds. The band will perform it for the first time on stage on CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden” o

K-popSept. 16, 2021

[Photo News] BTS, Seventeen invite fans to find respite in nature

  As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic continues to persist, opportunities to meet and greet fans across the globe in person have been shuttered. But Hybe, the company behind megastars like boy bands BTS and Seventeen, has come up with a pop-up event in the South Korean capital for fans who reside in the nation.  The pop-up retail shop is based on Hybe’s “In the SOOP” content, a reality program that allows the company‘s groups to unplug from their busy

K-popSept. 15, 2021

Idol bands pop-up in Seoul to put fans at ease amid pandemic

The amount of time K-pop entertainment giants get to greet fans has been ebbing as the coronavirus pandemic persists. But now, agency labels are reaching out to offline pop-up stores in and out of the country to garner more fans and customers. Earlier this year, K-pop superstar BTS has opened or will operate additional offline pop-up stores in four Asian cities: Bangkok, Manila, Taiwan capital Taipei and Singapore. The BTS Pop-up: Map of the Soul store offered products revolving around the

K-popSept. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS to host online concert next month

BTS is holding a digital concert on Oct. 24, the band announced Wednesday. 　 Titled “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage,” the show will broadcast live. 　 It has been about a year since the group’s previous concert, “BTS Map of the Soul ON:E,” which was livestreamed across the world and attracted 993,000 fans from 191 countries. 　 Meanwhile, the septet is leaving for New York on Saturday to attend the 76th United Nations General Assembly alongside South Korea Presi

K-popSept. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] aespa to release 1st EP next month

Rookie girl group aespa will release its first EP, “Savage,” on Oct. 5, announced label SM Entertainment on Tuesday.   　 The EP will consist of six songs including the titular main track. It will be the first physical album for the band, which debuted in November last year. The four-member group stormed into the spotlight with the debut song “Black Mamba” and following single “Next Level” topping music charts at home and abroad. The music videos amassed

K-popSept. 14, 2021

President Moon meets BTS, officially appoints them as special diplomatic envoy

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday presented the members of K-pop sensation BTS with certificates of appointment as his special envoys and expressed gratitude for the band’s role in raising the nation’s global profile. Donning black masks and black suits, the septet attended a ceremony Tuesday morning at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, marking the start of their roles as “special presidential envoys for future generations and culture.” President Moon conferred a lette

K-popSept. 14, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez returns with 7th EP

Ateez came out with its seventh EP “Zero: Fever Part 3” on Monday and discussed new music at an online showcase.   　 “I’ve stayed up all night tingling with excitement,” said leader Hongjoong.   　 The new album deals with the fever and confusion surrounding the youth, he explained, comparing it to the color of blue. The color also is similar to that of the mysterious lights of dawn, just as the world is ready to be revealed, added Yeosang.   　 The

K-popSept. 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink has the most YouTube subscribers among artists

Blackpink became the artist or group with the most subscribers on YouTube around the world.   　 According to label YG Entertainment, subscribers to the girl group’s official channel surpassed 65.2 million Friday afternoon, surpassing Justin Bieber.   　 “It’s unbelievable. It is a moment of miracle made by Blink,” the bandmates said through their management firm, thanking their official fandom.   　 “This is a result achieved with our fans so we hop

K-popSept. 10, 2021

Lisa shows who she is through ‘Lalisa’

After rumors about Lisa’s first-ever solo album circulated months ago, she finally answered questions to the anticipation by stretching her solo legs. Lisa of Blackpink sent fans abuzz with excitement by releasing her first EP, “Lalisa,” which dropped Friday evening. The two-track package aims to talk about who Lisa is, as both the name for the album and its title track go by the singer’s real name, which is why her debut album gives her butterflies, she said during an

K-popSept. 10, 2021

K-pop girl group LOONA set for official debut in Japan next week

K-pop girl group LOONA will make its official debut in Japan with its first Japanese language songs next week, its management agency said Thursday. 　 　The 12-member group will pre-release four songs Wednesday, including double main tracks of its upcoming Japanese album -- “Hula Hoop” and “Starseed: Kakusei” -- according to Blockberry Creative. The group‘s first Japanese album will hit shelves on Oct. 20. 　 　K-pop producer Ryan Jhun co-composed “Hula Hoop,&rdq

K-popSept. 9, 2021

HyunA and Dawn say love is a riddle with ‘Ping Pong’

Soloist HyunA and singer-songwriter Dawn of P Nation released their first-ever duo album, “[1+1=1],” on Thursday, dazzling fans with their sizzling chemistry. The four-track album is packed with stories about love and talks about turning big dreams into reality, conveying their honest feelings, the two musicians said during an online press conference Thursday. Title track “Ping Pong” interweaves Moombahton, a rhythm originated from Dutch house and house music, with 8

K-popSept. 9, 2021

Impact of China’s crackdown on K-pop fandom limited as agencies diversify markets, business models

On Saturday, photos of a Jeju Air airplane featuring BTS’ Jimin on its exterior circulated on Weibo as part of a BTS fan club’s campaign to celebrate the K-pop star’s 26th birthday. K-pop fan clubs often celebrate the birthdays of their stars by buying advertisements in newspapers, on public transport or on subway billboards. But the photos sparked serious backlash in China, and Weibo banned the fan club-run social media account with over 1.1 million followers from posting f

K-popSept. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS gets 400m-plus views for another video

BTS now has as many as 14 music videos with more than 400 million views on YouTube. 　 The kinetic manifesto film for “ON” from its fourth full-length album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” logged 400 million views as of Wednesday. The video features over 30 dancers and a 12-piece marching band, manifesting the band’s energy and determination to accept fate and march forward without hesitation. 　 The septet’s fourth LP landed atop the Billboard 200 when it was released

K-popSept. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to collaborate with Enhyphen

Tomorrow X Together turned out to be the the featured artist in Enhyphen’s soon-to-be-released album.  Taehyun and Huening Kai of TXT appeared in a late-night Japanese radio show hosted by Jay and Niki of Enhyphen on Monday and at the end of the program thanked the two for inviting them.  “It was fun doing this together with Enhyphen. Please have us again,” said Taehyun and Huening Kai. They also told listeners that their first Japanese EP “Chaotic Wonderland&

K-popSept. 7, 2021

[Herald Interview] DPR Live on striving for perfection

It’s often said that one’s life follows one’s name -- how we label ourselves can shape the attitude we take in life, affecting our decision-making, and in end, determining our destiny. And since forming in 2015, Dream Perfect Regime, an independent multi-genre music and video production label, has tried to do just that. “Our spirit was to set the goal as high as possible and just try our best to get the closest we could to it. The dream felt far-off at first, yet we ha

K-popSept. 7, 2021

StayC hopes to break cliches through ‘Stereotype’

StayC returned in nearly five months since they rose to fame with their second single album, “Staydom.” The up-and-coming K-pop rookie act dropped their first EP, “Stereotype,” on Monday evening, in a bid to launch their new songs onto the September music charts. Perky yet mature, the sextet aimed to take another fresh approach to the “teen fresh” genre, a coined term of “teenager” and “fresh,” which represents their unique identity i

K-popSept. 6, 2021