NCT Wish released its first mini album, “Steady,” Tuesday. The EP is led by the titular track “Steady,” a house number with UK garage and Jersey club beats that combines for a sophisticated melody. “The song is about our desire to forever remember the miraculous journey that we’ve been through to meet with our fans. The lyrics are cute and trendy that Gen Zs can easily relate to,” said Sion. The title track was produced by Kenzie, a veteran producer behi

K-pop Sept. 24, 2024

Key of the K-pop boy group SHINee released his third solo EP “Pleasure Shop” on Monday. The album features six house tracks led by the title track, “Pleasure Shop.” “The lead track is about a pleasure shop where people come to buy happiness. I am the person who sells happiness at the shop, but I do not have feelings because I am a cyborg,” explained Key. Despite the upbeat title, he darkened the lyrics to add depth to the narrative. “Even though people c

K-pop Sept. 23, 2024

K-pop sensation IU wrapped up her first world tour, ‘HEREH,’ with an unforgettable finale Sunday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. She made a striking entrance on a swing-like lift, dressed in a sparkling coral mini dress and a white headset, kicking off the show with “Holssi,” the first track from a captivating setlist that spanned over two hours. IU took an audience of 50,000 on a mesmerizing journey, performing “Ah Puh” amidst a stunning display of whale and

K-pop Sept. 23, 2024

With Chuseok beginning this weekend, long hours of driving in heavy traffic to visit family in people's hometowns await. Here are some timeless songs to listen to in the car that bridge generation gaps between parents and children. Lee Moon-sae’s “Sunset Glow” Released in 1988, this ballad by Lee Moon-sae, a Korean pop icon since his debut in 1978, remains a favorite. The song's enduring appeal is evident as it was also covered by legendary K-pop boy group Big Bang

weekender Sept. 14, 2024

Lisa of Blackpink, who is also a solo artist, won the Best K-Pop award at the MTV Video Music Awards for the second time. The ceremony took place Wednesday at the UBS Arena in New York City. Lisa clinched the Best K-Pop award with her song "Rockstar," surpassing strong contenders like BTS Jungkook's "Seven," NCT Dream's "Smoothie," NewJeans' "Super Shy," Stray Kids' "Lock” and Tomorrow X Together's "Deja Vu." &

K-pop Sept. 12, 2024

K-pop group NewJeans has issued an ultimatum against Hybe, demanding the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin as CEO of Ador, by the deadline of Sept. 25. The request was announced during a livestream they held on YouTube Wednesday evening, the post about which was subsequently deleted from X, formerly Twitter. “What we want is for Ador to be restored to its original state with Min Hee-jin as the CEO, where management and producing are integrated. Restore Ador to its original state by Sept. 25,&rd

K-pop Sept. 12, 2024

Major K-pop agencies such as JYP Entertainment, YG Entertainment and Cube Entertainment have declared war on deepfake visual content created using images of their K-pop artists. This comes at a time when deepfake crimes have attracted renewed attention in South Korea, after the revelation of online rooms in which users shared AI-generated pornographic videos of local women and acquaintances. It is becoming more and more common for K-pop singers to fall victim to deepfake pornography, according t

K-pop Sept. 11, 2024

Yungin, a Korean-American audio engineer boasting three Grammy Awards, made his music producer debut Tuesday with the launch of his first full-length album, "Did You Know? Part 1.” The album is a landmark project featuring a roster of prominent Korean hip-hop artists including Jay Park, Jessi, Camo, Lil Cherry, Changmo, Paul Blanco, Since, Sokodomo, BM, Bobby, Loopy, Dok2 and Koala, according to All Up In The Mix Korea, the agency representing Yungin. “Since the release of '

K-pop Sept. 10, 2024

K-pop sensation Seventeen headlined the Lollapalooza Berlin music festival on Sunday. The group was the last headlining act to take the main stage at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Seventeen delivered a spectacular 90-minute set, showcasing 19 tracks and sharing heartfelt moments with the audience. The show was as well-prepared as the group's standalone concerts, featuring grand-scale performances with 12 dancers on stage. The group kicked off with high-energy tracks like “Super&rdq

K-pop Sept. 9, 2024

Blackpink member Jennie is set for a solo comeback. Jennie's agency, OA Entertainment, announced Monday that the star had signed on with Columbia Records, a major American record label under Sony Music Entertainment. She will be releasing a single in October. Columbia Records is home to global pop stars such as Beyonce, Adele and Harry Styles. Jennie's upcoming solo track marks her first release since the special single "You & Me," released in October. Jennie also release

K-pop Sept. 9, 2024

K-pop artists Kim Jae-joong and Kim Jun-su, former members of legendary K-pop group TVXQ, are holding a concert together. According to Kim Jun-su’s agency, Palmtree Island, the two artists will hold a three-day concert titled “JX 2024 Concert Identity in Seoul” at the KSPO Dome Nov. 8-10 to celebrate their 20th debut anniversary. Kim Jae-joong and Kim Jun-su have created official social media accounts to promote their duet concert and communicate with their fans. "This con

K-pop Sept. 6, 2024

TikTok is to launch its first K-pop girl group competition, “Time Turner,” in November. TikTok has collaborated with new media companies Pi Corp. and MakeStar to produce the audition show that will premiere on TikTok. “Time Turner" is a unique real-time competition set in the boundless realm of space-time known as "P-314," where aspiring dreamers embark on a journey to achieve their dreams through time travel. The ultimate winners of the show will be determined b

K-pop Sept. 6, 2024

Customize smartphone cases at Casetify Buying new accessories for and decorating your smartphone might be some of the easiest ways to refresh your look nowadays. Though there are many unmanned stores and pop-up shops featuring smartphone-themed merchandise, pay a visit to Casetify to customize your phone covers with the inspiration-filled designs. Located at the second basement floor of The Hyundai Seoul -- the biggest department store in Yeongdeungpo-gu, western Seoul, Casetify displays a wide

Culture Sept. 6, 2024

Korean band Day6 is set to become the first Korean band to hold a standalone concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome, the largest dome venue in Seoul, which can accommodate around 25,000 people. JYP Entertainment announced Wednesday that it is currently planning for the band’s show near the year-end to celebrate their 10th debut anniversary. Specific details of the concert will soon be announced, according to the agency. Day6, a Korean pop rock band consisting of guitarists Sungjin and Young K, ke

K-pop Sept. 5, 2024

The entertainment industry continues to be captivated by the virtual K-pop artist phenomenon, despite initial skepticism that it would fade into obscurity like the once-popular notions of the metaverse and NFTs. As virtual idols are increasingly being recognized beyond the niche market, major K-pop agencies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe are entering the virtual artist market, aiming to replicate the success of virtual groups like Vlast's Plave. Jumping on the bandwagon SM Entertainment

K-pop Sept. 4, 2024