Articles by Choi Ji-won
Choi Ji-won
jwc@heraldcorp.com-
[Herald Review] Enhypen makes dome debut with 'Manifesto' in Japan
K-pop boy band Enhypen made a magnificent dome debut in Japan's Osaka, leaving an unforgettable mark in their journey. The seven-piece group held concerts at Kyocera Dome in Osaka over the weekend. The gigs were conducted as part of the act's first world tour "Manifesto" that has been running since September. The act's dome debut comes two years since its debut in November 2020 and a year and a half since its Japan debut in July 2021. And it was a successful dome debut
K-pop Jan. 23, 2023
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NCT 127 to hold virtual concert in Roblox
NCT 127 is launching a virtual concert in collaboration with Roblox. SM Entertainment on Wednesday announced NCT 127 will hold a global virtual concert, "The NCT 127 Concert Experience," in the metaverse space of Roblox. Along with the platform's developer Roblox Corp., the nine-piece K-pop band will launch the first-ever K-pop concert inside the metaverse space. From Jan. 28-30, the concert will take place every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Korean time, allowing fans from around
K-pop Jan. 18, 2023
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Aespa to perform in New York in June
Aespa will be taking the stage at New York's Governors Ball Music Festival this summer. SM Entertainment on Wednesday announced that the girl group has been invited to the annual festival, becoming the first female K-pop act to perform at event. This year's Governors Ball is set to take place on June 9-11 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, with Lizzo, Odesza and Kendrick Lamar among the headlining artists. According to the performers lineup unveiled by the festival on Tuesday,
K-pop Jan. 18, 2023
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Cignature paints a colorful palette with 'My Little Aurora'
Ending a hiatus that had stretched over a year, Cignature marked a long-awaited return Tuesday. The K-pop girl group on Tuesday dropped its third EP, "My Little Aurora." Ahead of the album's release at 6 p.m. that day, the act conducted an online press conference. Cignature consists of Chaesol, Jeewon, Seline, Chloe, Belle, Semi and Dohee. "I'm nervous but it feels good. We've waited a long time -- and our fans also -- and we worked hard so that we could live up to
K-pop Jan. 17, 2023
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'We fight because we love': Choi Yena taps into her raw, honest emotions in love
Love is not always pink, and oftentimes it brings out a raw side of us that even we had not been aware ourselves. With her first single "Love War," solo musician Choi Yena looks into such an unrefined side of herself that comes out during a heated romance. On Monday, just a day before her first anniversary, Yena dropped her first single "Love War." Ahead of the record's release at 6 p.m. that day, Yena conducted a press conference in Seoul on Monday afternoon. "Love
K-pop Jan. 17, 2023
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Taeyang dominates global charts in comeback after 6 years
Backed by K-pop phenomenon BTS' Jimin, Taeyang made a smooth return back onto global charts with his new song "Vibe." Taeyang on Friday dropped his new digital single "Vibe," featuring BTS' Jimin, and quickly found himself atop local and global music charts. According to the Black Label, Taeyang's agency, "Vibe" shot to the topmost tiers of the local music charts within an hour of its release and notched No. 1 on iTunes top songs charts in 60 regions
K-pop Jan. 16, 2023
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Enhypen's Jay apologizes for disparaging Korean history
Jay of K-pop band Enhypen apologized on Wednesday for his contentious comments regarding Korean history. On Tuesday, Jay spoke with his bandmate Sunghoon of Enhypen on the issue of history during an online broadcast. In the casual chat, Jay said Korean history is "like a short novel," causing some fans out to lash out that his words as disparaging. The conversation began with Sunghoon saying, "I used to find history not fun, but I'm into Korean history recently. It's bee
K-pop Jan. 11, 2023
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[Herald Interview] Byul returns after 14 years with new album
After a 14-year break of devoting herself to her family, Byul is ready to return with her sixth full-length album. Byul on Wednesday is set to unveil her sixth full-length album, "Startrail," the first album under her name since she tied the knot with comedian and singer Haha in 2012 and since her fifth LP "Like A Star - Primary" dropped in 2009. Standing before local press for a joint interview a week ahead of the album release, Byul expressed that she had been "despera
K-pop Jan. 11, 2023
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[Herald Interview] 'Everyone will be able to make their own music'
Pozalabs' artificial intelligence composition technology does not aim to replace the role of human songwriters, but to assist them and help more people flourish as composers, according to founder and CEO Huh Won-gil. During an interview with the Korea Herald in December, the engineer-turned-CEO said he was able to start the company because he himself was a musician. Having played the piano since he was 5 years old and grown up playing music, Huh said he still spends whole weekends on the pi
K-pop Jan. 9, 2023
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Moonbin, Sanha of Astro make return as perfumers with 'Incense'
Moonbin and Sanha of K-pop band Astro released their third EP, "Incense," on Wednesday, along with the music video for lead track "Madness." The two members conducted a press conference Wednesday afternoon ahead of the album's release. "I'm excited and nervous. I'm also a little worried whether our fans will be satisfied, but we've really put in our everything so there is no regret," Sanha said during Wednesday's event. "Incense" m
K-pop Jan. 4, 2023
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Twice to drop new English single 'Moonlight Sunrise'
K-pop girl group Twice will unveil its new English single "Moonlight Sunrise" later this month, making its first step of the new year. JYP Entertainment, the act's agency, on Wednesday said Twice will drop the new song, a prerelease from the upcoming album, at 2 p.m. on Jan. 20. Ahead of the announcement, JYP posted on the act's social media the online cover image of "Moonlight Sunrise," revealing the title for the first time. The image showed a blurry white orb han
K-pop Jan. 4, 2023
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What to look forward to from K-pop in 2023
The year that just ended saw the Korean music scene go through a whirlwind of changes. But don't sit back yet, as the new year is already hyping up with unexpected returns, anniversary celebrations and lingering questions to be answered. Among the biggest events to come this year is the unveiling of a new YG Entertainment girl group. The company broke the news at midnight on Sunday, releasing a video that gave a peek into the upcoming girl group to be named Baby Monster. According to the vi
K-pop Jan. 2, 2023
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From disbandment, legal disputes and plagiarism issues: 2022 K-pop wrap up (2)
This year has opened up a new chapter for K-pop. Novel names have dominated the scene, with long-loved veterans venturing out on a path never walked by others. Groups released new records, with the overall market growing annually to see the highest physical album sales this year. But with the ups come the downs, and 2022 brought to light many problems -- old and new -- inside the industry. While some were mild hiccups, many have shocked society and remain unresolved. With only a few days left th
K-pop Dec. 30, 2022
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From BTS enlistment to reign by new girl groups: 2022 K-pop wrap up (1)
This year has opened up a new chapter for K-pop. Rookies have stepped up, with girl groups excelling beyond all. BTS ended the long discussion on the seven members' conscription with Jin's December enlistment. Long-awaited comebacks came as the end of the prolonged virus pandemic nears, with some surprise returns making a splash. The K-pop market itself is expanding fast. The top 400 albums sold 74 million copies as of last week, up 30 percent from 2021, Circle Chart (previously, Gaon
K-pop Dec. 30, 2022
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Ex-CEO of YG acquitted of blackmailing drug scandal whistleblower
The ex-chief of YG Entertainment, Yang Hyun-suk, has been ruled not guilty of threatening an informant in order to cover up a drug scandal involving a singer-rapper. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday acquitted Yang of blackmailing and coercing a police source in an attempt to thwart investigations involving the agency's rapper, citing lack of evidence. Other officials of YG who had been indicted on the same charge was also acquitted. "The victim's testimony is not cre
K-pop Dec. 22, 2022
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