Celebrating BTS' upcoming concert in Busan in support of the city’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo, Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind the boy band, will turn the port city into a BTS-themed park through its special project. “BTS ‘Yet to Come’ The City in Busan,” or simply “The City,” will turn Busan into an immersive festival site for fans visiting the city for BTS’ upcoming concert, the K-pop agency said via the fan community platform Weve

Blackpink has become the first K-pop female group in history to clinch the No. 1 spot on the US music and entertainment magazine Billboard’s main albums chart. The band has cemented itself as one of global music fans’ most beloved artists, six years after its debut. Billboard said Sunday (US time) that the quartet’s second full-length album, “Born Pink,” released on Sept. 16, landed atop its 200 chart with 102,000 equivalent album units sold. It made Blackpink the f

All four members of boy band Day6 have renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment. “We agreed to renew the contracts with all members of Day6. We and Day6 will continue making meaningful processes together in the future based on strong mutual trust. We’ll fully support Day6 for another big jump,” the K-pop agency said in a press release statement Monday. The news means that the bandmates -- Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon -- broke the “seven-year curse,” a c

Leading K-pop agency SM Entertainment said on Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Everland, South Korea’s largest outdoor amusement park, to create a zone where parkgoers and fans of artists affiliated with SM can have fun. Under the joint partnership, the two companies will launch “Ever SM Town” to create various experience content combining “SM Culture Universe,” also known as “Kwangya,” which is a shared universe for the K-pop p

After the passing of veteran emcee Song Hae in June, those who grew up watching KBS’ music show “National Singing Contest” has been mired in sorrow. At the same time, all eyes were on who will continue the legacy of the 42-year-old program. Many veteran emcees with careers spanning over 30 years were mentioned as Song’s possible successor, but the Korean broadcaster announced last month that comedian Kim Shin-young, 38, was chosen as the longest-running program’s

Choi Yoo-jung of K-pop girl group Weki Meki has opened a new chapter in her music career as a soloist with her new single “Sunflower,” aiming to show her passion for music and her fans like a sunflower. In a press showcase event held at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, ahead of the album’s online release at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Choi said her first solo EP is a new challenge for the artist to deliver a brand new side of herself, alongside her musicality to a wider range of l

There's a saying that new things are always better than old, but the power of a classic is something to hold on to. It brings back old memories and allows us to reminisce on the good old days. To revive Korean listeners’ memories of the 1980s, renowned rock band musicians Bae Cheol-soo and Koo Chang-moo gathered for a nationwide concert tour after 38 years apart. The rock 'n' roll event was the ticket to an adventure back in time for both the artists and audience of some 9,5

Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, has long been a global phenomenon around the globe. Amid the continued success of Korean content and the never-ending growing popularity of K-pop, the local entertainment industry has offered an exciting content strategy to meet the Hallyu fans' demand. The content business lead of Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind boy band BTS, believes that producing K-pop artist-driven content has largely contributed to enlarging global fandoms, as well as the spread of Korean cult

Surviving the cutthroat K-pop industry is a daunting challenge for any group. It has been about nine months since rookie girl group Ive began its musical career, and the six-piece act not only surviving, but thriving in the K-pop scene. According to Aug. 22-28 data from local album sales tracker Hanteo Chart published Monday, Ive sold 924,363 copies of its third single "After Like" in the first week of its release. While first-week sales tallies usually indicate the size and loyalty

Mamamoo+, K-pop quartet Mamamoo’s first subunit, will release its first single, “Better” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday via online streaming sites. The duo consists of Solar and Moonbyul. According to the duo’s label RBW, “Better” is a romantic song about the comfort of being with a loved one. It features the bandmates’ refreshing vocals. as well as rapper Big Naughty as a featured artist. The subunit’s name is meant to denote that the members will continue

As the metaverse rise in prominence, South Korean cable channel MBN decided to launch the first-ever music survival program using metaverse technology. “Avatar Singer” will feature 10 top-tier musicians that conceal their identities behind a digital character. The contestants, represented by their 3D avatars with supernatural powers, will compete to become the show‘s winner. Their performances will transcend the physical limitations of the stage for a uniquely immersive viewi

K-pop girl group Blackpink is embarking on a massive world tour starting in October. The group’s label YG Entertainment released the first teaser poster for Blackpink’s world tour entitled “Born Pink” via its official social media on Tuesday. The image shows partial dates of the quartet’s upcoming concerts in 26 major cities around the world. Blackpink will kick off its tour in Seoul with a two-day concert on Oct. 15 and 16. The act will head to North America, v

South Korean music sales tracker Gaon Chart has debuted a new name with an aim to provide the most accurate and diverse K-pop data for fans all around the world. The Korea Music Content Association, which operates the Gaon chart, held a proclamation ceremony in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Thursday, during which it layed out a road map for its renewed K-pop chart, as well as unveiling the brand new name for the chart -- Circle Chart. Gaon Chart, founded in 2010, has operated as the country‘

‘힙합 대부’ 타이거JK가 이르면 다음 달 컴백한다. 지난해 9월 발매한 ‘호심술’ (Love, Peace) 리믹스 싱글 이후 약 9개월 만이다. 　 3일 가요계에 따르면 타이거JK는 다음 달 새 디지털 싱글 발매를 목표로 준비에 한창이다. 타이거JK는 신곡 녹음 작업을 마치고 컴백을 위한 막바지 작업에 돌입한 것으로 전해졌다. 　 업계의 한 관계자는 “(타이거JK가) 빠르면 오는 6월 초중순에 신곡을 발매할 예정”이라면서 “현재 신곡 마스터링 작업과 뮤직비디오 촬영만 남겨둔 상황”이라고 말했다. 　 해당 관계자에 따르면, 타이거JK의 이번 신곡 발매의 당초 계획은 늦어도 이번 달 중이었다. 하지만 코로나19 여파와 지난달 진행한 미국 그래미 뮤지엄에서의 공연 등을 위한 출국 일정으로 컴백 시기가 늦춰졌다. 　 그는 “(당초 타이거JK가) 미국으로 출국하기 전에 신곡을 발매하려고 했

가수 겸 프로듀서 박진영이 이끄는 JYP엔터테인먼트가 북미 현지 법인 JYP USA를 설립한 가운데, 해당 법인의 지사장으로는 걸그룹 트와이스가 글로벌 인기 아티스트로 발돋움하는 데 기여한 ‘숨은 조력자’가 낙점됐다. 　 16일 코리아헤럴드 취재 결과, JYP엔터테인먼트의 신현국 아티스트3본부장이 JYP USA를 이끌게 됐다. 그는 JYP엔터테인먼트가 지난해 설립한 자회사인 JYP쓰리식스티 (Three Sixty, JYP 360°)의 수장이기도 하다. 　 전날 JYP엔터테인먼트 관계자는 “(신 본부장이) 단독으로 지사장이 됐다”면서 “(현재 맡고 있는 JYP의) 아티스트3본부장 겸 자회사인 JYP쓰리식스티의 사장 겸 (JYP USA의) 지사장까지 세 가지 역할을 하게 됐다”고 말했다. 　 또 “(미국) 현지 법인은 지난달 설립됐고, 사무실은 LA와 뉴욕으로 셋업 중에 있다”고 귀띔하기도 했

The upcoming 2022 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week, Korea’s largest fashion event, will be introduced through YouTube’s official fashion and beauty channel for the first time, according to the show’s organizer, the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday. The channel has shed light on four fashion weeks -- Paris, Milan, New York and London -- uploading related content for viewers around the world. Seoul Fashion Week will become the first Asian fashion week to be introduced throu

‘2022 베이징 동계올림픽’에서 12년 만에 남자 계주에서 값진 메달을 수확한 한국 쇼트트랙 대표팀이 tvN 예능프로그램 ‘유 퀴즈 온 더 블럭’ (이하 ‘유퀴즈’)에 게스트로 출연한다. 　 21일 코리아헤럴드 취재 결과, 곽윤기(고양시청·33), 황대헌(강원도청·23)·이준서(한국체대·22)·박장혁(스포츠토토·24)·김동욱(스포츠토토·28) 등 5명의 한국 쇼트트랙 남자 국가대표 선수단이 오는 23일 ‘유퀴즈’ 녹화를 앞두고 있다. 　 CJ ENM 관계자는 “5명의 남자 쇼트트랙 선수들을 섭외하게 됐다”고 밝혔다. 이어 이번 동계올림픽에서 활약한 선수들로 꾸려진 "‘국가대표 특집’을 준비 중에 있다"고 귀띔했다. 　 다만 방송일

‘역주행의 아이콘’으로 지난해 최고의 한 해를 보낸 걸그룹 브레이브걸스가 이르면 다음 달 컴백한다. 미니 5집 리패키지 앨범 ‘After We Ride’ 발매 이후 약 6개월 만이다. 　 6일 코리아헤럴드 취재 결과, 브레이브걸스는 올해 2~3월 앨범 발매를 목표로 준비에 한창이다. ‘롤린‘, ‘운전만 해‘로 역주행 바람을 일으켰고 지난해 6월 ’치맛바람‘으로 정주행에 성공하는 등 흥행 가도를 달리는 중인 가운데, 브레이브걸스가 이번 새 앨범을 통해 보여줄 색다른 매력과 독보적인 퍼포먼스에 관심이 쏠린다. 　 업계의 한 관계자는 “당초 브레이브걸스가 지난해 크리스마스쯤을 목표로 신곡을 발매 예정이었지만 멤버들의 일정 등으로 계획이 미뤄진 것으로 알고 있다”면서 “정확한 음반 포맷에 대해서 공개된 바는 없으나, 싱글은 아닐 것으로 예상된다&rdqu

‘K-댄스’ 열풍을 일으킨 엠넷의 댄스 경연 프로그램 ‘스트릿 우먼 파이터’(이하 ‘스우파’)가 실력파 남성 댄서들의 서바이벌 경쟁을 담은 시즌 2로 올여름께 돌아올 예정이다. 　 4일 코리아헤럴드 취재 결과, ‘스우파’ 연출을 맡은 권영찬 CP와 최정남 PD 등 제작진이 ‘스트릿 맨 파이터’(이하 ‘스맨파’) 의 제작을 위해 총 출동한다. 　 한 업계 관계자는 “엠넷이 ‘스우파’의 시즌 2로 가닥을 잡고 (‘스맨파’) 방영을 올해 여름 쯤으로 기획하고 있는 것으로 알고 있다”며 “시즌 2에 걸맞게 힘을 줘서 나오지 않을까 싶다”고 말했다. 　 또 다른 관계자는 “‘스맨파’가 원래 더 빨리 방영 예정이었지만, 댄서 관련 논란으로 제

South Korean mobile payment app operator Kakao Pay has priced its initial public offering at 90,000 won ($76.60) per share, at the top end of its indicative price range of 60,000-90,000 won, the company said in a regulatory filing Friday. Kakao Pay, a 55:45 joint venture of internet giant Kakao Corp. and China’s Ant Group, wrapped up its book building on Thursday. While institutional investors placed their bids to obtain new shares for the IPO, a total of 1,545 domestic and overseas insti