Most Popular
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[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'
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Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
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Nicaragua shuts down Seoul embassy
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Rocket engine expert, ex-NASA exec to lead Korea's new space agency
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Hybe's multilabel system tested amid conflict with Ador
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SNU profs to suspend treatment for one day
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SK hynix pledges W20tr to ramp up DRAM production at home
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Over-50s, men, single-person households take up majority of those filing for bankruptcy
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Ministry denies blame for Jamboree debacle
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Pianist Cho Seong-Jin named Berlin Philharmonic's artist-in-residence
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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-popDec. 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-popDec. 30, 2022
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iKon to not renew contract with YG
K-pop boy band iKON is leaving its current agency YG Entertainment as its exclusive contract has come to an end. According to industry sources, the members of iKON -- Song, Jay, Ju-ne, Chan, Bobby and DK -- decided to not renew their contracts with YGt. This comes seven years after their debut in September 2015. The iKON members are currently looking for new agencies and at the same time are considering the option of forming an agency themselves to continue their careers together as a band. Prev
K-popDec. 30, 2022
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[Exclusive] Blackpink to move to YG affiliate The Black Label
Blackpink will change its management to The Black Label, an affiliate of YG Entertainment, according to industry sources. On Friday, an industry insider told The Korea Herald that the four-piece girl group would leave YG to join The Black Label, and that discussions over the contracts were completed early this year. The Black Label is headed by Teddy, a creative director and songwriter who has worked with Blackpink since the group’s debut. Formerly an in-house producer for YG, Teddy co-fou
K-popDec. 30, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook logs 100m streams with ‘Dreamers’ in record time
Jungkook of BTS surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify with solo work “Dreamers” on Thursday. It is from the original soundtrack for 2022 FIFA World Cup and reached the milestone in 35 days, record time for a K-pop solo artist. The single debuted on the music platform’s global chart at No. 2, the highest spot for a solo musician from Asia. “Dreamers” landed atop the iTunes top albums chart in 102 regions and Billboard’s digital song sales chart. Pictures of
K-popDec. 29, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] Treasure confirms Asia tour plan
Treasure will tour seven cities in Asia from March next year, announced label YG Entertainment on Wednesday. It will be the boy band’s first tour in the regions since its debut in 2020. The band will begin its itinerary in Taipei on March 4 before going live twice each in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia in following weeks. The next month, it will hop around Bangkok, Singapore and the Philippine capital of Manila before wrapping up in Macau. The ten members have been touring
K-popDec. 28, 2022
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GOT7’s Yugyeom to comeback with new digital single “Ponytail”
Yugyeom, a member of K-pop boy band GOT7, is making a comeback on Jan. 2 next year with his new digital single “Ponytail,” announced agency AOMG with concept photos on Thursday. The photos depict Yugyeom slumped against an obstacle in jet-black outfits with silver accessories. He is also sporting a charismatic expression, covering part of his face with his hand. The new digital single “Ponytail” comes 10 months after Yugyeom dropped his digital single “Take You Down
K-popDec. 28, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM leaps to record No.3 on Billboard 200 with solo album
RM of BTS notched No. 3 spot on Billboard 200, setting a record for a K-pop solo musician. His first solo album “Indigo” debuted at No. 15 on the chart dated Dec. 17 and slipped out of it on the following week. But sales of the physical album pushed it back on to the chart. He “is the first member of BTS to earn a solo top 10 album on the Billboard 200, and the second to reach the chart in 2022 with a solo project, following the No. 17 debut and peak of J-Hope’s Jack in
K-popDec. 27, 2022
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K-pop girl group members compete in virtual world
Unlike most K-pop survival programs, Kakao Entertainment has brought 30 former and current girl group members together to compete in a virtual world. Kakao Entertainment’s new virtual idol survival program “Girl’s Re:Verse” will walk the audience through the journey every Monday at 9 p.m. starting on Jan. 2 via Kakaopage and its official YouTube channel. Only the final five that survive the competition will make their debut. The singers took part in the program with virtu
K-popDec. 27, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] Big Bang’s Taeyang leaves YG Entertainment
Taeyang of Big Bang will leave label YG Entertainment and join The Black Label, said YG Entertainment on Monday. “We are sincerely pleased to deliver the news that Taeyang is making a fresh start,” said the company. It remains unchanged that Taeyang still is a family of YG Entertainment and a member of Big Bang, it added hinting that he will continue as a part of the veteran idol group. The Black Label is headed by Teddy, a creative director and songwriter best known for his works f
K-popDec. 26, 2022
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2022 highlights of K-Pop: From rise of new female groups to long-awaited return of legends
Addictive rhythms and powerful choreography continued to propel K-pop up the global music charts in 2022. Korean artists have reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 -- the ranking of the best-performing albums and EPs in the US -- a record four times this year. Stray Kids was the first Korean act to top the chart this year with its album “Oddinary,” followed by Blackpink, (G)I-idle, and RM. Apart from the global chart-toppers, this year’s K-pop scene was undoubtedly dominate
K-popDec. 26, 2022
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Tiffany Young joins Sublime agency
K-pop singer and actress Tiffany Young signed an exclusive contract with the agency Sublime. “We signed an exclusive contract with Tiffany Young who has an irreplaceable identity. We are glad to have Tiffany Young encompassing boundless influence join us. We plan to fully support her in expanding her capabilities in diverse sectors and also in her overseas career-related activities,” announced Sublime on Monday. Some renowned actors, actresses, and singers including Song Kang-ho, Rai
K-popDec. 26, 2022
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Annual physical sales of K-pop albums set to hit record 80 mln in 2022: chart
South Korea‘s K-pop physical album sales are at the brink of reaching the 80 million milestone for 2022, thanks to the robust performance of boy band BTS and popular girl groups, a major music chart revealed Saturday. The annual physical sales of the top 400 K-pop albums had stood at 74.2 million as of Dec. 10, up 29.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the country’s benchmark Circle Chart. K-pop superband BTS sold 6.07 million physical copies during the cited p
K-popDec. 24, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to roll out 1st LP in Japan
Stray Kids will release its first studio album in Japan on Feb. 22, announced label JYP Entertainment on Friday. The company uploaded a teaser trailer for the album on the day in which the eight members exuded confidence with thumping beats in the background. The album’s release will coincide with the band’s encore concerts in Japan. It is hosting two concerts each at Saitama Super Arena and Kyocera Dome Osaka, on Feb. 11-12 and Feb. 25-26, respectively. Meanwhile, its digital album
K-popDec. 23, 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-popDec. 22, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] Loona pushes back return amid controversy
Loona decided to put a hold on their album release, announced agency Blockberry Creative on Thursday. The group was set to return as an 11-member act with the EP “The Origin Album [0]” on Jan. 3, 2023, despite being in the middle of controversy surrounding the agency’s firing of Chuu for bullying employees. We have come to the conclusion that promoting the album without solving the situation is meaningless, said the management firm. Launching the group has been a long-term pro
K-popDec. 22, 2022
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[Today’s K-pop] New Jeans to debut on Japanese television
New Jeans will appear on Japanese television for the first time next week, said agency Ador on Wednesday. The rookie group will be on Nihon TV’s year-end music award for most-listened to songs on Dec. 28, performing “Attention” for the first time on Japanese TV show. “Attention” is the focus track from its eponymous debut album that rolled out in August. The song topped daily chart on Melon, the largest music platform in Korea, for 18 days. It generated
K-popDec. 21, 2022
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[Herald Interview] 'It was like playing a game at first, and my world has changed': WonJeong
Even just a couple of years ago, it would have been unheard-of for 10- and 20-something social media users to shrug off a video of a young man shouting out “Mama!” in a quirky, high-pitched voice. With the meteoric rise of TikTok, WonJeong, whose real name is Seo Won-jeong, is definitely in the opportune limelight as a creator. Over the last two years, the 26-year-old has become the nation’s No. 2 TikTok creator boasting more than 50 million followers, right next to K-pop pheno
K-popDec. 21, 2022
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Twice to drop new English single in January, album in March
Twice is set to kick off the new year big with a new English song and a mini album. JYP Entertainment on Wednesday announced Twice will drop a new English song in January, before making an official comeback in March with its 12th Korean mini album. The English single will be a pre-release from the upcoming album, the company's announcement poster on Twice's social media showed. Hinting about the new releases were the words "Our Youth" written below Twice's name on the po
K-popDec. 21, 2022
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Kara drops Japanese edition of 'Move Again' album
K-pop girl group Kara dropped a new album in Japan on Wednesday to mark their 15th anniversary. The Japanese-language album “Move Again” is their first album to be released in the country in seven years and six months. It carries six tracks including the lead track “When I Move” and a new track, “Queens,” exclusively unveiled in the Japanese edition of the album. Prior to the release of the Japanese-language album, the K-pop divas had made a stunning comeback
K-popDec. 21, 2022