BTOB“This Is Us” (Loen Entertainment)While it’s a widely known fact that BTOB rarely disappoints fans with its ballads, the group proved that it does indeed have a range in its new album “This Is Us.” With the members’ fingerprints all over it, the seven-track collection features an array of light and vocally-driven tracks that are perfectly baked with all kinds of ingredients that even non-K-pop listeners can relish. Opener “Call Me,” in which Ilhoon lent his hand in writing lyrics and composin

Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment and producer of BTS, has joined Variety’s list of international music leaders for 2018. The list by the US magazine recognized 23 figures in the global music industry who are currently “driving music consumption with creativity, acumen, and passion” and companies “best poised to forge into a promising future.”  Bang Si-hyuk (Big Hit Entertainment)Introducing Bang as one of the “game changers,” the magazine chronicled his feats as a producer of BTS, stat

Taeyeon’s latest album EP has topped iTunes charts in 12 countries, according to her agency Tuesday. “Something New,” the artist’s third solo EP and her first record since “This Christmas? Winter Is Coming” EP released in December, climbed to the top of iTunes charts in Chile, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Cambodia, S.M. Entertainment said. Taeyeon (S.M. Entertainment)Along with the neo soul title track, the six-track album also includes “All Night L

If you’ve ever wondered how Lisa of Black Pink was showered by money with a bill-shooting gun in the “DDU-DU DDU-DU” music video, check out Black Pink’s “Square Up” pop up house.Located in the busy street of Hongdae area in Mapo-gu in Seoul, the house, renovated from the previous “Black Pink House,” is full of hands-on experiences related to the band’s recent “Square Up” EP. The pink-and-black set features four different squares, and The Korea Herald took a look to give readers a sneak peak of w

Just three months since its “What Is Love” EP, Twice is ready to return with a summer single in “Dance the Night Away,” on July 9.According to its JYP Entertainment agency Monday, the K-pop girl group’s upcoming song will offer a fresh tune that suits the summer weather. The song’s teaser image, released by the agency, showed a wooden tent against a backdrop of a starry night sky and dark green forest.  Teaser for Twice’s upcoming single, “Dance the Night Away” (JYP Entertainment)Since debuting

A music video teaser image for Minseo’s upcoming single “Is Who” (Mystic Entertainment)　Minseo, a female vocalist from Mnet’s audition program “Super Star K,” will release the third track of her debut album on Wednesday.According to her agency Mystic Entertainment, the artist’s upcoming song titled “Is Who” will feature a dramatic transformation of the 21-year-old singer. While her previous music has been centered on folk songs and ballads, the charismatic “Is Who” will offer a jazzy gypsy-sound

Cube Entertainment held its label concert “United Cube – One” on Saturday. The concert, which took place at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Seoul, featured performances by a total of 33 Cube artists including HyunA, Jo Kwon, BTOB, CLC, Pentagon, (G)I-DLE and Yu Seon-ho, that ran for more than four hours. The annual concert has been held since 2013.  "United Cube-One” was held on Saturday at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Seoul. (Cube Entertainment)　Rookie girl band (G)

From “K-pop Star” to “Superstar K” to “Unpretty Rapstar” to “The Unit,” the audition programs the two members of KHAN have gone through pretty much sums up the competitive and variable nature of the K-pop industry. Like other K-pop aspirants, Yuna Kim and Jeon Min-joo competed in several audition programs, endured grueling practice and trained under agencies with the hope of debuting.  KHAN poses during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)The pair

Elris has revealed the track list for its upcoming “Summer Dream” EP.The girl group’s agency Hunus Entertainment on Thursday released the track list that showed a background of a blue ocean and a sandy beach. (Hunus Entertainment)The five-track EP will feature the lead track “Summer Dream,” “Will Be Mine,” “Prod. RAVI” and “Focus.” Accompanying the track list were lyrics of the songs written by the members themselves. It will mark the first release for the K-pop act since the EP “Color Crush” la

SHINee“The Story of Light EP.2” IRIVERJudging by its new album, SHINee is still SHINee even after 10 years. It could be the vocals or the band’s effusive use of synths -- it’s ineffable -- but there always has been this unique color of SHINee scattered throughout its albums.And “The Story of Light EP.2” -- its first album as a quartet following the death of member Jonghyun last year -- is no exception: experimental, vibrant and SHINee-like. The album begins with “I Want You,” a tropical house le

Vocalist Taeyeon will release a new EP on June 18, its agency said.According to S.M. Entertainment, the artist’s upcoming EP “Something New” marks her first record since her winter special album “This Christmas – Winter Is Coming” in December last year.  A teaser image for Taeyeon‘s upcoming EP “Something New” (S.M. Entertainment)Also her third EP, “Something New” will include a total of six tracks that span various genres. Having debuted in 2007, the Girls Generation member kicked off her solo

Band Day6 is set to release a new EP on June 26, its agency said.According to JYP Entertainment Monday, the act’s upcoming third EP “Shoot Me: Youth Part1” marks the band’s first release since its second full-length album “Moonrise” in December last year.  Day6 (JYP Entertainment)The five-piece act has released two full-length albums and 25 singles last year through its yearlong monthly release “Every Day6” project, for which the act released two songs every month with concerts before each relea

Lee Yi-kyung and Jung In-sun have ended their relationship that had lasted more than a year.On Friday, both HB Entertainment and CJes Entertainment, Lee and Jung’s agencies, respectively, confirmed the actors’ recent breakup, stating the couple separated on good terms and agreed to remain supportive.  Lee Yi-kyung (HB Entertainment), Jung In-sun (CJes Entertainment)Lee and Jung had been dating for about a year when their relationship was revealed to the public in April. The two starred together

K-pop act NU’EST W is set to return with a new single on June 25.The subunit of NU’EST made the announcement Thursday by sharing a handwritten letter on its official website that stated: “We know that it took us a long time for the new album. We’ve prepared and practiced a lot for the album. (Pledis Entertainment)“I hope the album could be like a gift for fans. It’s time for us to reciprocate your love.”The upcoming album marks the first record for the boy band since its debut EP “W, Here” in Oc

Wanna One“1÷χ=1(Undivided)” (Stone Music Entertainment) The clock is ticking for Wanna One, but the path the band has taken for its new album “1÷χ=1(Undivided)” is quite disappointing. As a group that was handpicked through a Korean audition show last year, Wanna One knows what kind of music pleases the public. It has continued its winning streak with super catchy hits like “Energetic,” “I.P.U” and “Boomerang,” songs that fit into K-pop’s typical sonic standard. But with “Light,” the UK garage-i

“Wonder Girls, it was everything about my 20s. It’s a huge part of my identity,” Yubin said, looking back on the days when she toured the US on a bus as a member of one of the most legendary K-pop girl groups. Eleven years after her debut, the former Wonder Girls rapper has returned as a solo vocalist with her retro-themed debut EP “City Woman.” Sporting a vivid pink blouse and large accessories that matched the theme of her album, Yubin sat down with The Korea Herald in Seoul on Monday to talk

In an effort to expand its clout in the Chinese market, JYP Entertainment is gearing up to launch its first Chinese boy band in the country.The agency announced on Monday that Boy Story, a new Chinese idol group jointly formed by JYP China, a subsidiary of the K-pop agency, and Chinese streaming giant Tencent Music Entertainment, is eyeing an official debut in September. The six-member group consists entirely of teenagers, 11 to 14 years old, and it will focus solely on promotion activities in C

Already half way through its short lifespan, with a disbandment planned at the end of the year, boy band Wanna One is working at full throttle.The act’s special album “1÷x=1 (Undivided),” due out on Monday, is a follow-up of its previous “0+1=1 (I Promise You)” EP released in March. The new EP is led by “Light,” an up-tempo garage dance track that throws a message of hope and love. “‘Light’ delivers a sexy image that all of us (members) wanted to try. We’ve put a lot of effort into our choreogra

Rising actor Jung Hae-in will hold his first fan meeting in Seoul in July.Jung’s agency FNC Entertainment recently said that the event titled “Smile” will taks place at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University at 5 p.m. on July 28. Jung Hae-in (FNC Entertainment)　After his first fan meeting in Korea, Jung will bring the event to Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Manila. Jung made his debut with a TV series “Bride of the Century” in 2014. He has featured in various dramas and films, including

What else is there to say about BTS’ global fame? International media have been rushing to cover the K-pop act’s coming-of-age saga and President Moon Jae-in sent a personal congratulatory message to the band on the septet becoming the first K-pop act ever to top the Billboard 200 chart with its “Love Yourself: Tear” album. Only a few days later, the group’s single “Fake Love” hit the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10. BTS debuted in 2013 as a hip-hop heavy-act with “2 Cool 4 Skool” EP under Big Hit En