Joy of Red Velvet announces indefinite hiatus due to health issues Joy has gone on a break citing health reasons. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Jung Han-byulK-pop star Joy of Red Velvet is taking a break due to concerns surrounding her health.According to her agency SM Entertainment on April 26, “Joy visited a hospital recently after feeling unwell, where she was strongly recommended to take proper treatment and rest by the medical staff.” Joy has canceled all of her scheduled upcoming events to focus on her recovery. SM Entertainment stated, “We apologize for making our fans worry and we want to ask them for their understanding on the matter. This decision was made after a long discussion on the matter concerning her health. We will make sure Joy fully recovers so that she can meet her fans again, and we will share updates with you later when we know more about the timeline of her return.”Joy had been a regular panelist alongside Shin Dong-yup, Chung Sun-hee and Tony Ahn for “TV Animal Farm” on SBS. Regarding the latest situation, an official at SBS said, “Joy will not be at the recording of 'TV Animal FarApr 27, 2023
$78.5 million: BLACKPINK's 'Born Pink' becomes highest-grossing tour by female group K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaBLACKPINK has become the female group with the highest-grossing tour, making $78.5 million (105 billion won) in 2022 from its ongoing world tour titled, “Born Pink.”According to American box score reporter Touring Data, the quartet broke the previous record set by Spice Girls, an English girl group that earned $78.2 million with The 2019 Spice World Tour. Trailing behind them are TLC and Destiny Child, who each made $72.8 million and $70.8 million, from their tours. BLACKPINK, consisting of Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa and Rose, kicked off its globe-trotting tour in Seoul last October and performed 26 shows in 2022, drawing an audience of 366,248. “Born Pink” is the largest-ever world tour for a K-pop girl group and is projected to attract some 1.5 million concertgoers worldwide. The YG Entertainment stars are set to play 31 concerts this year, performing the last leg of the tour in Paris in July. If they sell out tickets for all the shows, they are expected to make $200 million in total.BLACKPINK Apr 26, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
Latest global K-pop trends blend old with new BLACKPINK performing “Typa Girl” at Coachella on April 22 with traditional Korean tiled roofs adorning the stage behind them. The group also showcased a traditional Korean fan dance. Courtesy of YG EntertainmentK-pop draws inspiration from traditional Korean culture as hip crowd finds appeal in the country's old heritageBy Yang Seung-joonA musician begins playing the traditional Korean instrument “haegeum” against the backdrop of a majestic painting depicting a mountain scenery drawn on a roll of white cloth. The brief solo is joined by the humming of other Korean instruments, including the “geomungo” and “gayageum,” to form an ensemble. Contrary to what you might think, this was not a traditional Korean music performance that you might typically see at the National Gugak Center. In fact this was a scene in a documentary featuring BTS member Suga released on Disney Plus on April 21, titled “Suga: Road to D-Day” with the BTS star rapping on stage to the tune of traditional Korean instruments. Suga's new track, “Haegeum,Apr 25, 2023
ZB1 from Mnet's Boys Planet to debut this year Project boy group ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) / Captured from TwitterBy Dong Sun-hwaZEROBASEONE (ZB1), a new project boy group formed on cable channel Mnet's audition program, “Boys Planet,” will arrive on the K-pop scene this year, according to its management company, WAKEONE. But the company has not yet revealed the exact debut date. Prior to its official debut, the nonet will perform at KCON JAPAN 2023 in Chiba, Japan, on May 13-14. Established in 2012, KCON is the world's largest K-pop and culture convention organized by entertainment behemoth CJ ENM. CJ is also the operator of Mnet. ZB1 consists of the nine winners from “Boys Planet” that wrapped up Thursday. The members are: Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin. ZB1 will be active for two and a half years. “People from 184 countries and regions cast 9.4 million votes in the final stage to pick the ZB1 members,” WAKEONE said in a statement. All nine members wrote hand-written letters to their fans to show their appreciation, wApr 23, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
Le Sserafim, aespa and other K-pop superstars get ready for May releases May set to be big month for K-pop By Dong Sun-hwaK-pop fans worldwide are eagerly waiting for May to come, as a slew of megastars are releasing their new music offerings next month. Included in the lineup are Le Sserafim, aespa and ONUES. Le Sserafim (May 1) A teaser for K-pop girl group Le Sserafim's upcoming album, “UNFORGIVEN” / Courtesy of Source MusicK-pop girl group Le Sserafim will drop its first full-length album, “UNFORGIVEN,” on May 1. It has taken seven months for the quintet to make a comeback, following the release of “ANTIFRAGILE” last October. The album will be fronted by the lead single of the same name featuring Grammy-winning American musician Nile Rodgers, according to the group's management company, Source Music. This is the first time that Rodgers has collaborated with a K-pop artist. Feli Ferraro, who was behind the success of K-pop juggernaut BTS' 2022 track “Run BTS” and other acclaimed musicians have joined the creative process of “UNFORGIVEN.” It is a tune fusing hip-hop and funk rhythms, samplApr 23, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS Suga's 'D-Day' tops Japan's Oricon daily album chart Suga of K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by the band's agency, BigHit Music. YonhapSuga, a member of K-pop superband BTS, has topped Japan's Oricon Daily Album Ranking chart with his official solo debut album, "D-Day," BigHit Music said Sunday. Since the album's release Friday, it has sold more than 110,000 copies in Japan and soared to No. 1 on the Oricon Daily Album Ranking, his agency said."D-Day," released under Suga's other stage name, Agust D, marks his first solo project in three years since "D-2" in 2020. The album is the final installment of the "Agust D" trilogy, which began with his mixtapes "Agust D" (2016) and "D-2."The new album consists of 10 songs, including "Haegeum," the prereleased song "People Pt. 2 (Feat. IU)," "D-Day," "Huh?! (Feat. J-Hope)," "Amygdala," "SDL," "Interlude: Dawn" and "Snooze (Feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kim Woo-sung of The Rose)."BigHit said "Haegeum" ranked No. 3 on the Oricon daily digital singles chart, and several other songs, including "Snooze," "Huh?!" and "Life Goes On," also landed in the top 20.In Korea, Suga's album sold Apr 23, 2023
Girl group Fifty Fifty's 'Cupid' spends 4th week on British Singles Chart K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty /Courtesy of ATTRAKTRookie girl group Fifty Fifty has stayed on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for four weeks in a row, with its single "Cupid" ranking 26th this week.According to the latest chart unveiled Friday (local time), the song climbed eight notches from the previous week to hit No. 26. The group debuted less than five months ago, and rose to stardom after a sped-up version of the catchy song went viral on TikTok."Cupid" is the lead track off the quartet's first single album, "The Beginning: Cupid," released Feb. 24. The tune first entered the chart at No. 96 late last month and has since moved up rapidly to 61st, 34th and 26th.Also of note, BTS member Jimin ranked 65th this week, 27 slots down from the previous week, with "Like Crazy," the lead track off his debut solo album. (Yonhap)Apr 22, 2023
BTS' Suga sells over 1 mil. copies of 'D-Day' on 1st day of release This photo, provided by BigHit Music on April 6, shows the poster of "SUGA: Road to D-DAY," a documentary featuring the process of BTS' Suga making his first solo album "D-DAY." YonhapSuperstar Suga of boy group BTS has recorded the biggest first-day sales as a K-pop soloist with his official debut solo album, "D-Day," according to sources in the music industry Saturday.The sources said the album sold over 1,070,000 copies in the first day following its release under Suga's other stage name, Agust D, Friday, citing data from Hanteo Chart, a local album sales tracker.The record was previously set by his bandmate Jimin last month with "Face," which sold around 1,021,000 copies on the first day."D-Day" marks Suga's first solo project in three years since "D-2" in 2020; it is also the final installment of the "Agust D" trilogy, which began with his mixtapes "Agust D" (2016) and "D-2."The new album consists of 10 songs, including "Haegeum," the pre-released song "People Pt. 2” (Feat. IU), "D-Day," "Huh?!” (Feat. J-Hope), "Amygdala," "SDL," "Interlude: Dawn" and "Snooze” Apr 22, 2023
BTS' Suga drops 1st official solo album 'D-Day' BTS' Suga / Courtesy of BigHit MusicCaptured images of music video of BTS rapper Suga's first official solo album, "D-Day." Courtesy of BigHit MusicK-pop superstar Suga on Friday released his first official solo album, "D-Day," under a stage name for his individual projects, Agust D, the group's agency said.Unveiled simultaneously with the album at 1 p.m. was the music video for its lead track, "Haegeum."When his unofficial mix tapes are included, "D-Day" marks Suga's first solo project in three years since "D-2" in 2020. The album also marks the final installment of the "Agust D" trilogy, which began with his mix tapes "Agust D" (2016) and "D-2."The new album consists of 10 songs, including "Haegeum," the prereleased song "People Pt. 2 (Feat. IU)," "D-Day," "Huh?! (Feat. J-Hope)", "Amygdala," "SDL," "Interlude: Dawn" and "Snooze (Feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kim Woo-sung of The Rose)."Also among the 10 was "Life Goes On," in which Suga reinterpreted the band's hit song of the same name according to his own sensibilities, according to BigHit Music.The album carries the message of prioritiApr 21, 2023
ASTRO member Moonbin dies at 25 Moonbin, a member of K-pop boy group ASTRO / Courtesy of FantagioK-pop singer found dead at his homeBy Dong Sun-hwaMoonbin, a member of K-pop boy group ASTRO, has died at the age of 25. He was found dead by his manager at his home in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, at about 8:10 p.m., Wednesday, according to the police. The manager is known to have gone to his home because Moonbin was out of contact. Moonbin is believed to have taken his own life, as there was no evidence of foul play. But police are reportedly considering an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. “Moonbin left us all of a sudden and became a star in the sky,” Fantagio, his agency, said Thursday. “ASTRO members, other Fantagio artists and officials are mourning him deeply. It is heartbreaking for us to deliver such news to his fans who have been supporting and loving him.” Born in 1998 in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Moonbin debuted as a child model in 2004. Two years later, he appeared in a music video for K-pop act TVXQ's song “Balloons,” in which he played a yApr 20, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
