Toxic ultrafine and yellow dust from China will blanket the Korean Peninsula throughout Tuesday. The smog is expected to worsen as the day progresses, as the western regions will be affected by yellow dust and high concentration of smog later in the afternoon. Dust blankets Tuesday morning in Seoul. (Yonhap) Except for the southernmost provinces of South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang and Jeju, the ...

Lovelyz has an uncanny ability to blend a minor key progression with a synthed-up dance beat -- a characteristic that makes its songs recognizable within a few seconds of listening. After a brief detour with “A Piece of Summer,” the group is back to its signature blend. (Woollim Entertainment) Loyal listeners will recognize the sequence of a mostly minor-key melody punctuated by major-key inte...

Both President Moon Jae-in and boy band BTS are vying to be named Time’s 2018 person of the year, in the US magazine’s annual search for the person or group who has had the greatest influence for the past 12 months. This photo of Moon and BTS was posted on the band`s official Twitter account on Oct. 14. (Twitter @BTS_BigHit) BTS currently leads the magazine’s online poll with 10 percent of to...

BTS recently won its first platinum single and two gold album certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America. RIAA certifications are awarded based on number of recording units sold -- over 500,000 certify for gold, over 1 million platinum, over 10 million diamond. (Big Hit Entertainment) The septet’s latest album “Love Yourself: Answer,” which debuted at the top of Billboard ...

Jeon Somi, a winner of season one of the talent competition show “Produce 101,” will embark on a solo career in March 2019. (Mnet) Jeon debuted with the yearlong project group I.O.I following the season finale in April 2016. Comprising contenders who finished within the top 11, I.O.I enjoyed success, winning three new artist of the year awards at three of the major music awards at home: Golden ...

Anti-pollution masks are strongly advised as fine dust levels across the country are expected to hit “bad” levels Monday, induced by industrial particles blown from China’s east coast. The National Institute of Environmental Research said the capital area of the peninsula, northeastern province of Gangwon, central province of Chungcheong, southwestern province of Jeolla, southeastern province of...

South Korean music label JYP Entertainment has seen a strong quarter on the strength of its veteran players and newcomer acts, along with steady overseas market expansion, a brokerage said Tuesday. “JYP Entertainment has shown a solid third-quarter performance due to the increase in overseas revenue of the major lineup (of artists such as GOT7, Twice) and the rapid growth of the newcomer lineup ...

South Korean political parties across the aisle voiced their stances on the latest pop culture controversy involving a boy band and a certain T-shirt. Japanese broadcaster Asahi on Thursday canceled BTS’ scheduled appearance on its music show “Music Station,” citing a certain T-shirt worn by a member of the band as the reason behind the decision. The T-shirt featured images and phrases linked to...

A heavy fine dust concentration continues to envelop the Korean Peninsula on Sunday, with 5 to 20 millimeters of rain expected in the southern region at night. The average ultrafine dust level stands at 54 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul, 55 in Siheung city northwest of Seoul, 30 in South Chungcheong Province and 40 in North Gyeongsang Province. Downtown Seoul shrouded in gray dust Sunday m...

An animal rights organization in Seoul has teamed up with a boy band to increase awareness of prejudice against dark-furred dogs. Last Wednesday, Stray Kids were named honorary ambassadors for the “Black Dog Campaign” organized by a city-run animal rights nonprofit organization, Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth, also known as CARE. President Moon Jae-in adopted a black-coated dog named Tor...

South Korean pop culture is spreading in North Korea amid a surge in mobile phone use, according to Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon. “BTS-related content is understood to be circulating among young people in North Korea,” the minister said Monday during a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. (Big Hit Entertainment) Cho’s remark came as Rep. ...

BTS hit the red carpet at the 2018 MBC Plus x Genie Music Awards, with multiple wins on the horizon. MBC Plus x Genie Music Awards or MGA is a newly launched K-pop music awards co-hosted by South Korea’s major television network MBC and music streaming platform Genie. (Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald) (The Korea Herald) Fans and reporters were crowding the venue in Incheon...

Seoul is hosting the 17th international coffee show, “A Cup of the World,” for four days starting Thursday. South Korea is one of the most coffee-infatuated countries in the world. According to the Korea Customs Service, the domestic coffee market was worth 11.7 trillion won ($10.8 billion) as of 2017, which translates to 26.5 billion cups of coffee sold last year alone. In a country populated b...

Lee Jong-suk has returned home to South Korea after being detained in Jakarta, Indonesia, for about two days. Lee visited Jakarta on Nov. 3 as a part of his fan meetup tour, which included visits to Japan in August, and Taiwan and Thailand in September. He was scheduled to board a plane for South Korea the next day, but Lee and his team weren’t granted departure. (A-man Project) The actor’s d...

Sunday will be warmer than average temperatures for this time of the year, with ultrafine dust levels evoking caution. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the temperature in Seoul will reach a daytime high of 19 degrees Celsius, Suwon 20 C, Daejeon 18 C, Busan 21 C, Daegu 20 C, Gwangju 20 C, Jeonju 19 C, Gangneung 21 C and Jeju City 20 C. (Yonhap) Masks are advised as ultrafi...