Articles by Choi Ji-won
Choi Ji-won
jwc@heraldcorp.com-
Epex spells out growing pains of love in new album
K-pop boy band Epex on Wednesday released its new album "Prelude of Love Chapter 2. Growing Pains." The album comes six months after the release of its fourth EP "Prelude of Love Chapter 1. Puppy Love" in October. A few hours ahead of the album’s release on Wednesday, the eight-piece band held a press conference in Seoul. "We've been waiting for this moment for a long time. We're happy to be back," Wish said, to which Yewang added, "All the memb
K-pop April 27, 2023
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[Herald Interview] Hong Isaac and Chin Sooyoung's jazzy conversation over piano in 'Everland'
It was their attitudes, or perhaps personalities, that clicked between singer-songwriter Hong Isaac and jazz pianist Chin Sooyoung at their second encounter in October 2022. Photographer Rie -- well acquainted with both musicians and many others in the local entertainment industry -- connected the two, based on a hunch that Hong and Chin would connect artistically. She was more than right. Through six months of close-knit collaboration, Hong and Chin released their first project album "Ever
K-pop April 27, 2023
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BTS' Suga continues successful solo career, heads overseas
Making a successful solo comeback with his new album "D-Day," Suga of sensational K-pop band BTS gears up to extend his reach to overseas. Suga on Wednesday is set to begin his global concert tour, "'Suga | Agust D-Day Tour," in the US. Following the first gig at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, on Wednesday, the series will continue in Newark, Rosemont, Los Angeles and Oakland until mid-May. Suga will then embark on his Asian leg of the tour, starting off with c
K-pop April 25, 2023
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After 6 years, Taeyang rises again with 'Down to Earth'
Keeping the seed of life alive inside him as he waited six prolonged years for his comeback was the sunset, singer Taeyang said ahead of the release of his new solo album. Watching the final burning of the sky before it loses its light, he felt comforted and healed. "Sunset is always followed by the night, and I saw myself in it as I'd felt like being drowned by darkness everyday. The sunset blends into darkness without complaining, and it made me think about what I could do and how I
K-pop April 25, 2023
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Seventeen shouts 'F--- My Life' in new album
Seventeen returned Monday with its 10th EP, titled "FML," through which the K-pop band treats young ears to cheerful tunes and hopeful messages. "FML" marked the 13-piece group's return with a new album nine months after the release of its fourth LP reissue, "Sector 17," in July. "We've embodied all the music and messages that we had wanted to do and deliver in this album,"the group's leader S.Coups said in an official statement to the local
K-pop April 24, 2023
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BTS' Suga dominates Japan's Oricon charts with solo album 'D-Day'
BTS' Suga has taken over the Japanese music charts with his latest solo album "D-Day." Dropped under his alias Agust D, "D-Day" and its tracks landed in the top tiers of Japan's Oricon charts. The album soared to No. 1 of Oricon's daily album ranking after its release on Friday, with over 110,000 copies sold inside Japan on its first day. The album's title track, "Haegeum," landed at No. 3 on the daily digital singles ranking, with the album'
K-pop April 23, 2023
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K-pop singer Moonbin of Astro dies at 25
Moonbin of K-pop group Astro died on Thursday at the age of 25. The singer was found dead in his home on Wednesday night. Astro's agency, Fantagio, announced Moonbin's demise through the official fan community on Thursday early morning. "On April 19, Astro's member Moonbin has unexpectedly passed away," the announcement read. "The bandmates of Astro and the artists and staff of Fantagio who have known Moonbin for a long time are mourning his death in great grief and
K-pop April 20, 2023
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Blackpink dazzles Coachella with Korean hanbok
K-pop idol singers are often touted as the representatives of Korean culture -- especially fashion -- with many making use of their global stardom to spotlight Korean heritage. Taking the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday in southern California, as the first headlining K-pop girl group, Blackpink also used the historic moment to turn the world's attention to hanbok, Korean traditional dress. Stepping on stage at the music fest as the night's final perfor
K-pop April 19, 2023
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[Herald Interview] 'There's ppongjjak inside every Korean': producer 250
It all began from a question about what makes Koreans dance, music producer 250 said about his sensational first album "Ppong." "When you think about the music that all Koreans know, there's not so many genres. In the case of ppongjjak, however, from the teenagers to our parents in their 50s and 60s, we all recognize ppongjjak when we hear it," 250, whose real name is Lee Ho-hyeong, said during an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul last month. Ppongjjak among us
K-pop April 18, 2023
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'Blackpink producer' Teddy Park launches audition in Thailand
Hit K-pop producer Teddy Park's label, The Black Label, has launched a new company in Thailand to discover new global talent. The Black Label, an affiliate label co-founded by Teddy Park under YG Entertainment, on Tuesday announced it has established a joint venture, Theblacksea, with Bangkok-based Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group. Teddy Park, once an in-house producer of YG, made his name as the creative director and composer of K-pop stars Blackpink, Big Bang and 2NE1. In 2016, he
K-pop April 18, 2023
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David Yong drops new single 'Maybe Love' featuring Mamamoo's Moonbyul
Singaporean entrepreneur David Yong continues to expand his scope as a K-pop singer with his new digital single "Maybe Love." The CEO of Singapore-based Evergreen Group Holdings on April 12 dropped his new single, "Maybe Love," featuring Moonbyul of girl group Mamamoo. The song marks Yong's return with a Korean song for the first time in around 9 months since the release of his single "In My Pocket" in July 2022. According to Evergreen Group Holdings, "May
K-pop April 18, 2023
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BTS' J-Hope enlists in army
K-pop phenomenon BTS' member J-Hope is enlisting for military service Tuesday. The singer bid farewell to fans through his social media on Monday night, posting a picture of himself with his head shaved, along with a hand-written message that read, "I'll be back in good health." J-Hope is reportedly beginning his obligatory military service on Tuesday. Reports showed that he will complete five weeks of training at an army division boot camp in Gangwon Province, before joining
K-pop April 18, 2023
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Lee Kigwang returns as solo artist with 'Predator'
Singer Lee Kigwang, who is also a member of the K-pop group Highlight, is back as a solo artist with his first full-length album "Predator." Lee held a press conference in Seoul on Monday before the album's release later in the evening. "I'm happy to be back doing my main job," Lee said during the press event. "I made the album thinking about what I could show more as a solo artist. I worked on it hoping I could show an upgraded version of myself as a solo musi
K-pop April 17, 2023
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SM artists to join Hybe's fan community Weverse
SM Entertainment artists will join Hybe's K-pop fan community platform Weverse. Weverse, the largest global K-pop fan community platform, has around 65 million users from 245 countries or regions worldwide. Weverse on Monday announced that a dozen artists from SM Entertainment will open their fan communities on the platform by September. SM Entertainment is one of the nation's leading K-pop agencies whose roster of artists include aespa, EXO, NCT, Red Velvet, SHINee and Super Junior. T
K-pop April 17, 2023
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BTS to release soundtrack for animated film 'Bastions'
Global K-pop sensation BTS will drop a new original soundtrack for the animated film "Bastions." The seven-piece boy band is set to sing the main original soundtrack for the 3D action-hero flick, according to Thymos Media on Friday. "Bastions" is produced and invested by local IT company Nable Communications. A 30-second clip featuring the septet's voices was also posted on the movie's social media platforms on Friday, officially announcing BTS as the singers of its
K-pop April 14, 2023
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