Virtual girl group 'Feverse' to debut on May 9 Virtual girl group Feverse will debut with the song, “CHO” on May 9. Courtesy of Kakao EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaFeverse, a virtual girl group formed on Kakao Entertainment's program, “GIRL'S RE:VERSE,” will burst onto the K-pop scene next month.Feverse will put out its debut track, “CHO” on May 9, according to Kakao. The group will premiere the song in a special fan event, which will take place one day before its official release. Feverse consists of the five winners from “GIRL'S RE:VERSE”: Muneo, Seoritae, Keuang, Rien and Kimserena. They are the virtual avatars of different K-pop girl group members, whose identities have been concealed. “GIRL's RE:VERSE” is Korea's first survivor show featuring virtual idols, in which 30 K-pop stars went head-to-head. The 12-episode program wrapped up on March 6. According to Kakao, “CHO” was composed by acclaimed songwriters who were behind the success of numerous K-pop hits. Its choreography was also crafted by a popular dance team that previously worked with several K-popApr 19, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS' J-Hope begins military service This photo captured from Hybe's Weverse fan community platform shows J-Hope of K-pop boy group BTS giving a salute with a buzz cut. YonhapJ-Hope of the K-pop supergroup BTS began military service Tuesday to become the second member of the group to do so.The 29-year-old entered an Army boot camp in Wonju, 87 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to begin five weeks' basic training.In Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years.A black minivan, believed to be carrying him, passed through the main gate at about 1:53 p.m. with some other band members and staff members from the band's agency reportedly traveling in four to five other vehicles to bid him farewell.He headed directly to the precincts of the camp without getting out of the car or holding a separate event for fans and reporters. Fans, who were waiting in a drizzling spring rain to catch a glimpse of their favorite star, expressed disappointment when they saw the minivan drive past without stopping.To prevent possible congestion, the military and police strictly controlled all vehicles passing Apr 18, 2023
NCT's new unit debuts with first EP, 'Perfume' NCT Dojaejung, a new unit of K-pop boy group NCT, poses for the camera during an event held at an art center in Seoul to mark its launch. From left are members Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo, April 16. YonhapA new K-pop unit composed of three members of the K-pop supergroup NCT made a debut with its first EP on Monday, the group's agency said.NCT Dojaejung, which consists of Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo, dropped the EP "Perfume," SM Entertainment said.They first performed as a unit during the NCT 127 world tour in Seoul in October.The EP consists of six songs, including the title track of the same name, "Kiss," "Strawberry Sunday" and "Dive."The unit held a special launching show at an art center in southern Seoul the previous day to celebrate its debut."I think we came this far because fans like our combination," the unit said during the show. "We'll succeed in the tradition of SM's three-piece units like Super Junior-K.R.Y., Girls' Generation-TTS and EXO-CBX," it added.Several SM artists who are senior to NCT, such as TVXQ's Max Changmin and Taeyeon of Girls' Generation, and Seulgi aApr 17, 2023
BLACKPINK's 'Pink Venom' music video garners 600 million views on YouTube This image provided by YG Entertainment celebrates BLACKPINK's "Pink Venom" music video surpassing 600 million views on YouTube. YonhapThe music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Shut Down" topped 600 million views on YouTube on Friday, its agency said."Shut Down" is the prereleased track off the quartet's second full-length album, "Born Pink," released Sept. 16 last year. YG Entertainment said the music video surpassed 600 million views on the video sharing site at 1:21 p.m., becoming the group's 13th video to reach the milestone.The group set a world record for female artists when the video collected 90.4 million YouTube views in the first 24 hours following its release in August. Also with the video, BLACKPINK became the fastest K-pop girl group to surpass 100 million views on YouTube. The video reached the 100-million mark 29 hours and 35 minutes after its release."Pink Venom" is a hip-hop genre song that combines intense beats and a sound from a traditional Korean instrument. It has reached No. 22 both on the Hot 100 main songs chart of the U.S. Billboard and the British OApr 14, 2023
BTS to release soundtrack for animated TV series A promotional poster for SBS' new animated TV series "Bastions," provided by its production company, Timos Media / YonhapK-pop supergroup BTS will release the lead song for the original soundtrack of a Korean TV animation series set to go on air next month, the series' production company said Friday.It will be the first release from BTS as a team since "Yet To Come" in June."Bastions," set to premiere on the SBS channel on May 14, is a 3D animation series that tells the story of a rookie superhero who uncovers the identity of a villain responsible for environmental destruction and grows into a true hero by saving the Earth, according to Timos Media."BTS is expected to provide an overwhelming sense of immersion to the emotions and action scenes of the series by singing the theme song in perfect harmony," it added.Also participating in the original soundtrack will be K-pop girl group Le Sserafim and soloists Heize and AleXa. (Yonhap)Apr 14, 2023
Newly discovered flower named after BLACKPINK's Lisa By Dong Sun-hwaLisa of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentLisa, the Thai member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has had a flower named after her. A new species of flowering plant discovered in Thailand was named Bunga Lalisa, according to the Bangkok Post, Thursday (local time.) Bunga means flower in Thai and Lalisa is Lisa's given name. This rare plant was found in the southern province of Narathiwat by a group of researchers at Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Science. It belongs to the Annonaceae family of plants comprising trees, shrubs or lianas. “It was named in honor of Lalisa Manobal, a famous Thai rapper, singer and dancer, whose motivation has greatly inspired the first author ― Anissara Damthongdee ― to overcome any obstacles during her Ph.D. studies,” reads the official research report. The researchers reportedly stressed that it should be grouped as Critically Endangered.“Bunga Lalisa” / Courtesy of Biodiversity CHM ThailandLed by Thanawat Chaowasku, the research team ran the project in order to delve deeper into the taxApr 14, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
Girl group Fifty Fifty says its presence on Billboard chart 'unbelievable' New K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty poses for the camera during a press conference held in Seoul, April 13. YonhapAn incredible thing happened in the music scene recently, as a rookie K-pop girl group with less than five months since its debut has stayed for three consecutive weeks on the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 songs chart.Fifty Fifty ranked 85th with its single "Cupid" on the latest chart updated Wednesday, rising nine spots from 94th a week ago, after debuting at No. 100 two weeks ago to become the fastest K-pop group to enter the chart since its launch.It took only 135 days for the quartet, which debuted in November, to first enter the chart. The period is faster than any other K-pop groups that have been on the chart, such as Wonder Girls, TWICE, BLACKPINK, BTS and NewJeans.During a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday to mark its entry on the chart, the quartet said it had never expected that kind of thing would happen. "Actually, I still cannot believe it and appreciate it very much," band leader Saena said. "We have always thought about how to send our positive energy to Apr 13, 2023
INTERVIEW 'The Beginning': Former CLC member Jang Ye-eun starts new chapter as soloist K-pop singer Jang Ye-eun / Courtesy of Superbell CompanyJang Ye-eun goes solo with EP, 'The Beginning'By Dong Sun-hwaWhen Jang Ye-eun was part of the K-pop girl group CLC, she hardly had a chance to show her smiley face to her fans. Since most of CLC's songs were strong and powerful, she had to act in accordance with these images instead of displaying her authentic self. Nevertheless, this period in her life is now a thing of the past. Jang has just embarked on her solo journey, through which she can showcase who she truly is. The 24-year-old rolled out her debut solo EP, “The Beginning,” Thursday.“I did not have many opportunities to reveal my bright side in the past, but now I do,” the blond-haired Jang said with a beaming smile during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Mapo District, northern Seoul. “With my solo release, I want to highlight my liveliness and bubbly side, showing diverse aspects of myself. I think I am both calm and cheerful.” It has taken eight years for Jang to go solo after she debuted as a CLC member withApr 13, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS' 'Dynamite' becomes 2nd song to surpass 700 million streams in Japan K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo. Courtesy of Big Hit MusicK-pop supergroup BTS' 2020 megahit single "Dynamite" has become the second song ever to garner more than 700 million streams in Japan, the band's agency said Wednesday, citing a recent chart from the country.The upbeat disco-pop track added 5,716 streams to an accumulated total of 701,100,000 in the latest weekly streaming chart compiled by Oricon, BigHit Music said in a release. It became the second song in Oricon's history that has surpassed 700 million streams.The agency added BTS is the first to hit the milestone both as a male act and a non-Japanese act.The septet made history with the all-English song released in August 2020. The song became the first song by a Korean act to top the Billboard's main singles chart and earned the group its first Grammy nomination. (Yonhap)Apr 12, 2023
Ive's Rei to suspend activities due to health problem Rei, a member of K-pop girl group Ive, poses for a photo during a press conference to promote the group's first studio album in Seoul, April 10. YonhapPopular girl group Ive's member Rei will temporarily suspend her activities due to a health problem, her agency said Tuesday."Rei recently visited a hospital as she had experienced abnormal symptoms, such as chest palpitations and shortness of breath, and was advised by a doctor that she needs to be treated and take a rest," Starship Entertainment said in an online cafe for the group's fans."After sufficient discussion with Rei, we decided to have her temporarily pause her activities so she can recover her health."On Monday, Rei only participated in a photo session for health reasons during a press conference at a Seoul hotel to promote the group's first full-length album.The agency said Ive will work as a five-member group without Rei for the time being. (Yonhap)Apr 11, 2023
