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
Korean pop culture piques interest in learning Korean K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG Entertainment'Metaverse Sejong Institute' launched to meet growing demandBy Dong Sun-hwaThe global popularity of Korean culture has boosted interest in diverse aspects of Korea, especially its language. A growing number of people are learning Korean to get a better grasp of the country's cultural content such as K-pop and K-dramas. In the past, the majority of them were found in Asia, but today, they are seen in almost every nook and cranny of the world. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education, the total number of elementary, middle and high schools in France that offer Korean language classes stood at 60 in 2022 ― a 3.5-fold increase from 2018. The total number of students taking these courses reached 1,800, compared to 551 in 2018. In 2021, 26 new Korean words, including “aegyo” (a cute display of affection), “daebak” (awesome) and “mukbang” (a binge-eating show), were added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). The OED explained that the inclusion was a “recognition oApr 10, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop stars featured in soundtrack for animated film 'Bastions' A poster for the animated film, “Bastions” / Courtesy of Thymos MediaBy Dong Sun-hwaHigh-profile K-pop stars including Le Sserafim will roll out new songs for the upcoming animated film, “Bastions.” This is the first time that a homegrown 3D animated superhero movie has collaborated with K-pop. In addition to Le Sserafim, Brave Girls, Heize, AleXa, Seo J, Kang Min-seo and P. Cassady will release tracks to be featured in “Bastions,” a film about environmental pollution. Brave Girls' upcoming song will be their last official release as a group. All four members ― Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji and Yuna ― terminated their contracts with their management company, Brave Entertainment, in February. According to the production company of “Bastions,” Thymos Media, more details about the tunes, including their titles and release dates, will be unveiled later.The animated film revolves around a group of superheroes called, “Bastions,” which strives to protect the Earth from villains polluting it.Thymos Media explained that “Bastions&rApr 9, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
CJ ENM faces backlash for rehiring controversial 'Produce 101' director By Dong Sun-hwaProducer Ahn Joon-young / Courtesy of CJ ENMEntertainment behemoth CJ ENM, the operator of cable channel Mnet, is under siege on all fronts after rehiring Ahn Joon-young, who directed Mnet's fan-voting audition program series “Produce 101” from 2016 to 2019. He recently rejoined the company after two years in prison for rigging votes. In 2019, Ahn was accused of manipulating voting results in favor of certain contestants and taking bribes from some K-pop companies that had fielded the contenders for “Produce 101.” The series gave birth to four project groups: I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*ONE and X1.In 2021, the Seoul Supreme Court upheld the lower court ruling that put him behind bars for two years, ordering him to pay a forfeiture of 37 million won ($33,000).Ahn resigned from Mnet following the scandal, but returned to the company earlier this month. Mnet explained that it decided to give him a second chance considering his eager willingness to "restore trust." However, the news about his return has enraged many, especially those supporting boy group XApr 6, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
Busan holds 'K-Culture Night' to bolster World Expo 2030 bid K-pop artist Rain performs during the "K-Culture Night" concert, held at the outdoor theater area of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District, Wednesday, to celebrate the city's bid to host the upcoming World Expo 2030. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Gyu-leeBusan held a star-studded concert, Wednesday, to celebrate its bid to host the upcoming World Expo 2030, welcoming a delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), an intergovernmental organization overseeing and regulating World Expos.The “K-Culture Night” concert, which took place at the outdoor theater area of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District, invited classical and K-pop artists to provide an opportunity for the delegation to experience the country's music culture which has recently boomed internationally. K-pop girl group Oh My Girl kicked off the show with a performance, followed by Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra led by the famous conductor Gum Nan-se. The orchestra played the soundtracks of popular movies, such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Star Apr 5, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
BTS' Suga to release 1st collaboration with diva IU after 3 years This image provided by BigHit Music is a promotional poster for "People Pt. 2," a collaboration song between BTS member Suga and K-pop soloist IU. YonhapSuga of K-pop giant BTS will release his first collaboration single with singer IU after three years Friday, the band's agency said Wednesday.The song, titled "People Pt.2," will be included in "D-Day," Suga's debut solo album set for release April 21, according to BigHit Music.The two singers last worked together for IU's hit song "Eight" released in May 2020.Suga will be the fifth member of the septet to debut as a soloist when he drops the upcoming album under the stage name "Agust D" for his previous individual songs. It will mark the final installment of the "Agust D" trilogy, which began with his mixtapes "Agust D" (2016) and "D-2" (2020). He wrote and composed all the songs on the album, and took charge of its overall production process to share his sincere personal story, according to the agency. (Yonhap)Apr 5, 2023
K-pop girl groups from small labels on the rise K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY / Courtesy of AttraktBy Dong Sun-hwaSurviving in the K-pop industry is a daunting mission, especially for groups represented by small and mid-sized management companies. The success of these acts is often called a “miracle” that rarely happens. But these days, quite a few girl groups are beating the odds. FIFTY FIFTY, a four-piece act consisting of Saena, Aran, Keena and Sio, is one such example. The quartet is the first group created by K-pop company Attrakt, established in 2021. It recently became the fastest K-pop group to enter Billboard's main singles chart with its February release, “Cupid,” securing the No. 100 spot. It took only four months for FIFTY FIFTY to achieve the feat since its debut last November. It is the fifth K-pop girl group to hit the chart following Wonder Girls, BLACKPINK, TWICE and NewJeans. “Cupid” even climbed up to the No. 94 position this week, showing its growing popularity. The tune also debuted at No. 96 on the U.K.'s Official Singles Chart last week. “We are so glad that we can deApr 5, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
BLACKPINK's Jisoo becomes 1st K-pop female soloist to sell over 1 mil. copies in 1st week Jisoo of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is seen in this photo provided by YG Entertainment. Korea Times fileJisoo, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, became the first K-pop female solo artist with an album that was sold more than 1 million copies in its first week of sales, her agency said Tuesday.YG Entertainment said in a release that her first solo single album "Me," has sold over 1,020,000 copies less than a week after it dropped Friday, based on data from Hanteo Chart, a leading local tracker of album sales.This marks the biggest first-week sales by any female solo artist in the K-pop industry, it added.The album's success was widely anticipated earlier when its preorders surpassed 950,000 copies about two weeks after such purchases began and 1.31 million copies in three weeks.It sold 876,249 copies on the first day of its release, the most ever for an album by a K-pop female soloist.The name of the two-track album has a double meaning. It represents Jisoo's unique identity as a solo artist and "beauty," the meaning of the Chinese letter "Me," according to the agency."Flower," Apr 4, 2023
Prosecution requests jail term for K-pop singer over sexual molestation allegations gettyimagesbankBy Dong Sun-hwaProsecutors requested three years in prison for a former K-pop boy group member over allegations that he sexually molested and “quasi-raped” his bandmate, according to media reports, Monday. “Quasi-rape” refers to the act of sexual assault against a person in an unconscious state or unable to resist.The prosecution also ordered the identity disclosure of the K-pop singer, demanding he receive five years of employment restrictions and undergo a sexual violence treatment program. The K-pop singer ― a former member of a six-piece group ― allegedly touched the victim's body at least three times in different places between 2017 and 2021. The victim reported him to Gangnam Police Station in 2021, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office indicted him in January. The defendant admitted to most of the accusations and expressed regret, but claimed he could not remember some of them as he was “very drunk.” He reportedly left the group following the complaint. After the news made headlines, some online users insisted thaApr 4, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
