CJ ENM to hold KCON in Saudi Arabia for first time The poster for “KCON 2022 SAUDI ARABIA” / Courtesy of CJ ENMBy Dong Sun-hwaCJ ENM, a leading entertainment and media company, will hold its “KCON” Korean culture festival in Saudi Arabia for the first time this month, the company said Sunday. The “KCON 2022 SAUDI ARABIA” will take place at Boulevard Riyadh City, which is known as the largest entertainment complex in the capital of Saudi Arabia, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 (local time).“Saudi Arabia is a young country where a half of the population is under 30 years old, and K-pop is highly popular online particularly among young people,” CJ ENM said in a statement. “It recently announced Saudi Vision 2030 ― an economic and social reform plan made for its economic diversification ― and Korea is one of its partners. Geographically, it connects Asia, Africa and Europe. So we decided to hold KCON in Saudi Arabia, believing Korean culture might be able to expand beyond the region with its organization.” High-profile K-pop acts including ATEEZ, New Jeans, ONEUS, P1Harmony, STAYC and TSep 12, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
NCT DREAM electrifies 30,000 concertgoers NCT DREAM performs during “THE DREAM SHOW2 ― In A DREAM” concert at the Jamsil Sports Complex's Main Stadium in southeastern Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentK-pop band displays 'matured' dream in 1st live concert as septetBy Dong Sun-hwaAlthough the path was quite rocky, K-pop boy group NCT DREAM at last arrived at the Jamsil Sports Complex's Main Stadium in southern Seoul ― the largest concert venue in Korea that can accommodate more than 60,000 spectators. The SM Entertainment act played the first leg of its second solo concert, “THE DREAM SHOW2 ― In A DREAM,” Thursday, nearly three years after holding its last in-person concert in 2019.“I am feeling all sorts of emotions right now because honestly, our road to this stadium was pretty bumpy,” frontman Mark said during a press conference that took place at the stadium a few hours ahead of the concert. “So I am truly thankful that we are finally here and that we can hold our first solo concert as a septet. I will not take it for granted.”NCT DREAM poses during a press Sep 10, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
NCT Dream thrilled to hold 1st-ever concert at Seoul's Olympic Stadium Members of K-pop boy group NCT Dream pose for a photo during a press conference at Olympic Stadium in southeastern Seoul, Thursday, before beginning two nights of concerts there. YonhapFor many K-pop artists, Olympic Stadium, the country's largest concert venue with a capacity to house up to 100,000 spectators, including standing seats, is considered "a stage of dreams," because only a few big names have had their individual concerts there. Most recently, globally popular stars, such as EXO, BTS and Psy, have performed there.And NCT Dream, a boy group managed by SM Entertainment, became the latest K-pop act to take the stage for a concert Thursday, six years after its debut.The bandmates shared how they feel about their first-ever concert at the stadium during a press conference held a few hours before the show's opening."Actually, I have so many feelings about it," team leader Mark said. "I think it was not easy for us to achieve this chance. Every member may have different thoughts, but at this moment, I think I'll take the stage with great gratitude."The two-night concert titled "Sep 8, 2022
BLACKPINK's upcoming album to be led by 'Shut Down' A concept photo for "Shut Down," the lead track of BLACKPINK's second full-length album set to be released Sept. 16. Courtesy of YG EntertainmentThe lead single of BLACKPINK's upcoming full-length album is titled "Shut Down," the band's agency said Wednesday."It's a title that is intuitive and creates a strange tension," YG Entertainment said in a release. "BLACKPINK will once again captivate music fans around the world with its unique charisma and girl-crush charm," it added.The agency, however, did not give details of the new song.K-pop band BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentThe K-pop quartet's second full-length album, "Born Pink," will drop on Sept. 16. "Pink Venom," a prereleased single from the upcoming album, debuted atop Billboard's Global 200 and Global 200 Excluding United States charts, and was 22nd on the latest British Official Singles Chart after it was released on Aug. 19.Billboard said Wednesday on social media that the band secured its second consecutive No. 1 on the two global charts for this week to become the first female K-pop act to do so.The single surpasSep 7, 2022
Stray Kids to drop new EP next month K-pop group Stray Kids / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentK-pop boy group Stray Kids will return with its seventh EP titled "Maxident" on Oct. 7, the band's agency said Tuesday.It will mark the first release from the group since its sixth EP, "Oddinary," in March.The last EP debuted atop the Billboard 200 main albums chart with the album's lead single, "Maniac," streamed more than 100 million times on Spotify, the world's largest music streaming service.Stray Kids debuted in 2018 and consists of eight members ― Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N. (Yonhap)Sep 6, 2022
EXO's Xiumin to drop 1st solo album 'Brand New' on Sept. 26 Xiumin, a member of K-pop act EXO / Courtesy of SM Entertainment By Dong Sun-hwaXiumin of K-pop boy group EXO is slated to bring out his first solo album “Brand New” on Sept. 26, more than a decade after debuting as part of EXO. The upcoming album will offer five tracks of “various genres,” according to his management company SM Entertainment, Monday. But the agency did not reveal more details about its lead single. On Aug. 20, Xiumin performed “Serenity” ― one of the songs to be included in “Brand New” ― for his fans during the “SM TOWN LIVE 2022 : SMCU EXPRESS @HUMNA CITY_SUWON” concert that took place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.“Xiumin has been enjoying global popularity as an all-rounder in the field of music, musicals and film,” SM said in a statement. “He is expected to showcase another of his unexplored sides in his solo material.”Xiumin is the seventh EXO member to put out a solo album, following Baekhyun, Chen, Suho, Lay, Kai and D.O. The 32-year-old, whosSep 5, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Lovelyz member Ryu Su-jeong sets up her own labelBy Dong Sun-hwa Singer Ryu Su-jeong / Courtesy of House of Dreams Ryu Su-jeong, a member of K-pop girl group Lovelyz, has established her own label, House of Dreams. Ryu, who terminated her contract with her former agency Woollim Entertainment last year, is planning to pursue a solo career under her own company. She reportedly founded House of Dreams with the desire to realize her various goals in the music industry. Entertainment company Artist Rider will work together with her, helping House of Dreams with managing investments and intellectual property, among other aspects of the business. Ryu debuted in 2014 as part of Lovelyz, which dropped numerous hits such as “Ah-Choo” (2015) and “Destiny” (2018). After making her solo debut with the album “Tiger Eyes” in 2020, she has rolled out a series of songs like “Maybe We” (2022). In 2021, all Lovelyz members, except for the group's leader Baby Soul, ended their contracts with Woollim. Member Kei moved to Palmtree IslandSep 3, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS' Busan concert changes venues K-pop superstars BTS / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooFollowing safety concerns over BTS' scheduled concert in Busan, Hybe has decided to change the venue from a former glass factory site near Ilgwang Beach to Busan Asiad Main Stadium, which can accommodate about 60,000 spectators.“We have decided to change the concert venue from a special stage near Ilgwang Beach to the Busan Asian Main Stadium to maximize attendees' safety and comfort and ensure a smooth concert,” the septet's agency said in a statement, Friday. K-pop superstar group BTS made a recent announcement about the free concert on Oct. 15 in Busan, titled “BTS Yet to Come in Busan,” to support the city's bid to host the World Expo in 2030. The group is one of the Expo bid ambassadors.Busan Metropolitan City has been facing severe criticisms from BTS fans and local residents who argued that the earlier location is not appropriate to hold 100,000 spectators. Some raised concerns that such a large public gSep 2, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
ONEUS, NCT 127, NMIXX: K-pop stars to start September chart race K-pop boy group ONEUS / Courtesy of RBWBy Dong Sun-hwaAfter a wave of high-profile K-pop groups like Girls' Generation, IVE and TWICE heated up the K-pop scene in August, another crop of stars are preparing for their new music offerings this month. Included in the lineup are ONEUS, NCT 127 and NMIXX. Boy group ONEUS is set to drop its eighth mini-album, “MALUS,” Sept. 5, about four months after putting out its seventh EP, “TRICKSTER.”The upcoming mini-album will offer seven tracks including the lead single “Same Scent” ― a tune about a man who cannot forget the scent of his ex-lover. “Characterized by reggae rhythms and guitar sounds, the song will highlight the vocal prowess of ONEUS members,” the group's record label RBW said in a statement. “It has sentimental lyrics, too.”After debuting with the EP “Light Us” in 2019, ONEUS has made its name known to the public with tracks like “Luna” (2021). K-pop act NCT 127 / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBoy group NCT 127 is set to roll out its fourth full-lengtSep 2, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop artist-driven content can help singers go beyond time, space: HYBE official Helena Chang, the content business lead at HYBE, speaks at the 2022 BroadCast WorldWide (BCWW), which took place at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Korea Creative Content AgencyBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop stars have fans in every nook and cranny of the world, which makes it difficult to meet their followers frequently due to their hectic schedules and the long distances between them. Thus, in an effort to promote interaction between these singers and their fans, HYBE, the record label behind K-pop superstar group BTS, has opted to create more “artist-driven” content featuring their stars, capable of reaching a wide audience anywhere, anytime. “K-pop artists are often constrained by time and space, but we believe we can help them transcend these limits by making more artist-driven content,” Helena Chang, the content business head at HYBE, said during the 2022 BroadCast WorldWide (BCWW) conference, at a session titled “K-Contents and the Korean Wave: Expanding the Cultural Horizon for World Citizens,” Thursday. HostSep 2, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
