More K-pop singers turn to video streaming service

More K-pop musicians struggling to succeed in the entertainment industry are turning to the local livestreaming platform AfreecaTV as a way to make money. AfreecaTV has long been ill-received by the public due to its involvement in several social problems, including sex crimes and the abasement of disabled persons. For K-pop musicians, appearing on the platform’s video streaming service has been seen as taboo. However, for many former idols who have devoted their youth to training to becom

K-popAug. 5, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen to return in October

Seventeen will release its 12th EP in October, agency Pledis Entertainment said Monday. The band will also embark on a world tour to be held across North America and Asia where it will perform songs from the upcoming album. The tour will be named “Right Here,” after the group's best-of album “17 Is Right Here,” which was released in April. Consisting of 33 tracks, the compilation album set a record on the Oricon chart, topping its weekly combined album ranking for th

K-popAug. 5, 2024

[Herald Review] Infinite leader Kim Sung-kyu mesmerizes fans with top-notch live performance with band

Kim Sung-kyu, the leader of veteran boy band Infinite, thrilled fans with a stand-alone concert last weekend, his first in 18 months. The singer's “LV3: Let's Vacay” concert took place over the weekend at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul. Following 2022's "LV1 : Light & Voice" and last year's "LV2: Like Your Vibes," the third iteration of the singer's branded concerts embraced the theme of summer vacation in steaming heat, subtitled &

PerformanceAug. 5, 2024

JYP launches new subsidiary Innit

JYP Entertainment announced on Monday the establishment of a new subsidiary, Innit Entertainment, aimed at enhancing its capabilities as a comprehensive entertainment company. According to JYP Entertainment, the name Innit derives from a shortened form of the English expression “isn’t it.” Innit Entertainment will handle various music genres including pop, ballad, trot and R&B; it plans to launch soloists, duos as well as actors, utilizing JYP Entertainment's training

K-popAug. 5, 2024

[Herald Review] (G)I-dle kicks off 'iDOL' world tour

“I am the top, super lady,” the first line of (G)I-dle’s hit track “Super Lady,” echoed through the KSPO Dome in Seoul evoking earsplitting cheers from the nearly 8,000 fans that filled the venue on Saturday. Soon after, (G)I-dle appeared from a lift like warriors, dressed in black sets, to kick off their world tour “iDOL” with a two-day concert in Seoul. As they slowly descended towards the main stage, they were welcomed by a mega dance crew that togeth

K-popAug. 4, 2024

Solo debut rush of K-pop artists

In the latter half of this year, the K-pop scene will witness several high-profile solo debuts of K-pop artists. Yoon San-ha of Astro releases his debut solo mini-album "Dusk" on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in his eight-year career. The album features six tracks, each designed to signify the stages of dusk, from the setting sun to the deep night. San-ha, who debuted as the youngest member of Astro in 2016, has been steadily building his solo musicality, contributing to the

PerformanceAug. 3, 2024

Hybe announces 'Hybe 2.0' strategy, emphasizes commitment to fans

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, has unveiled its new business strategy, "Hybe 2.0," aiming to secure "superior leadership" in the global K-pop scene while underscoring its dedication to fans. The strategy was announced through a letter sent to Hybe's shareholders recently, which has been in preparation since the latter half of last year to ensure long-term business competitiveness, the company said on Thursday. "Based on Hybe 2.0, which focuses on nurturing f

K-popAug. 2, 2024

SM reveals first British K-pop group 'Dear Alice'

K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment introduced their first British K-pop boy band “Dear Alice” on Thursday at the Soho Hotel in London, the agency said Friday. The group is a collaborative effort between SM Entertainment, the North American corporation of Kakao Entertainment, and the British entertainment company Moon & Back. The British company handled casting in the UK, while SM Entertainment provided K-pop expertise in music, vocals and choreography. "Training at SM has bee

PerformanceAug. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM spotted at local festival

RM of BTS was spotted at a local festival in Gangwon Province Thursday. He is serving his mandatory military service as a member of the 15th Infantry Division’s marching band, which is set to perform at a tomato festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province where the division is based. The artist was seen preparing for the stage alongside fellow soldiers, according to local media reports. The fest will run until Sunday. Meanwhile, RM uploaded a photo of himself Thursday sharing the news that he m

K-popAug. 2, 2024

FT Island to launch Asia tour

FT Island is gearing up for a tour of Asia, FNC Entertainment announced Friday. The tour, under the banner of "Pulse in Asia," kicks off in the Philippines' capital Manila on Sept. 14, followed by performances in Hong Kong on Sept. 28, Kaohsiung in Taiwan on Oct. 26 and Macao on Nov. 10. As implied by the tour's name, FT Island plans to deliver live performances filled with intense musical energy, reminiscent of a beating heart. The band recently held a concert in Seoul, also

PerformanceAug. 2, 2024

G-Dragon secures trademark rights ahead of comeback

K-pop icon G-Dragon is preparing for a long-awaited comeback after securing the trademark rights to his stage name from his former agency, YG Entertainment. G-Dragon has taken a significant step towards his future activities by acquiring the trademark rights to his name. His former agency extended a favor by transferring the rights to “G-Dragon” and “GD” to his current agency, Galaxy Corporation, without any compensation. “Thanks to the generosity of Chief Executive

K-popAug. 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin to drop English-language version of solo song

Jimin of BTS will sing a B-side track from his second solo EP in English, according to label Big Hit Music on Thursday. He will release an English version of “Be Mine,” one of the seven tracks from EP “Muse,” on Friday. The mini album was rolled out on July 19 and hit Billboard 200 at No. 2 and topped iTunes Top Albums chart in 80 regions. Focus track “Who” claimed the No. 1 spot on its Top Songs chart in all 119 regions, as did the pre-release from EP “

K-popAug. 1, 2024

Le Sserafim's tearful documentary criticized for emotional displays

Le Sserafim’s latest YouTube documentary series, “Make It Look Easy,” which depicts the girl group's hardships over the past year, is facing criticism for playing on emotions related to the band’s recent controversies. Released on Hybe's official YouTube channel on Monday, the five-part series showcases the group’s intense preparations and emotional struggles. It captures the endless practice sessions, anxiety about public performances and the pressure to

K-popAug. 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] Min says her ‘prime time’ is not over

K-pop solo artist Min used to be swayed by how the public evaluated her. She used to react to criticism by dwelling on past glories. But not anymore. "At some point, I thought to myself, 'Why let these strangers influence the way I live my own life?'" she said during an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. This was when Min came up with her latest song “Prime Time,” the title track of her first EP that was released on June 21. “People defined my glo

K-popAug. 1, 2024

K-pop summer queens set to return in August

Female K-pop artists are returning to earn the title of summer queens. Hyolyn, known for her energetic and summer-ready image since her time as a member of the girl band Sistar and as a solo artist, is making a comeback. Her new single "Wait," set to be released on Aug. 12, is an Afrobeat track featuring addictive beats and lyrics celebrating freedom. Concept photos and teaser videos show Hyolyn with tanned skin, wandering through streets and lush forests. Hyolyn showcased the performa

K-popAug. 1, 2024

Ador’s Min denies ignoring sexual harassment at agency

Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has taken the bull by the horns, disclosing her KakaoTalk messages on her Instagram account on Tuesday to combat allegations that she disregarded a female employee who claimed to have been sexually harassed by a male executive. Min shared six conversations that involved the male executive, the female employee, an advertiser and herself. These conversations show the male executive and the female employee arranging a meeting over dinner with an advertiser during which the fema

K-popJuly 31, 2024

K-pop’s dilemma: ‘Super fans’ vs. ‘casual fans’

A significant dilemma has surfaced in the ever-evolving world of K-pop: Should the industry focus on nurturing casual fans or continue to cater to its dedicated superfans? This debate came to the forefront when Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, addressed the issue on a local TV show last November. Bang expressed concerns about K-pop being in crisis, partly due to the intense consumption patterns of its superfans. “The basis of my crisis theory lies in the intense consumption

K-popJuly 31, 2024

TXT premieres VR concert

K-pop boy group TXT has announced its first virtual reality concert. From July 31 to Aug. 27, TXT is presenting its first VR concert, “Hyperfocus: Tomorrow X Together VR Concert,” at Megabox Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This VR concert will feature prefilmed performances of hit songs such as “Sugar Rush Ride” and “Deja Vu,” and run for approximately 60 minutes. For the virtual concert experience, the audience will wear VR headsets, immersing themselves in perfor

PerformanceJuly 31, 2024

Internet drives K-pop stars to overwork

The punishing schedule and little rest that K-pop stars endure are not new. Big-name K-pop agencies have been consistently criticized for operating like factories in producing and managing artists. Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, acknowledged this issue in a CNN interview in March 2023. “It’s not a total urban legend. Of course, there was some element of it in the past,” he said. Bang suggested that the issue was a thing of the past and argued that today, K-pop

K-popJuly 30, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin hits Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 14

Jimin of BTS claimed the No. 14 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 with “Who,” according to the chart preview published Tuesday. “Who” is the main track from his second solo EP “Muse” which notched the second-highest rung on the Billboard 200 as did his previous EP “Face.” Suga and V also tied with their solo albums on the main albums chart with “D-Day” and “Layover,” respectively. “Who” would be Jimin’s fif

K-popJuly 30, 2024