2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert Singer-actor Lee Jun-ho performs during his concert on Aug. 14 at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium at Seoul's Olympic Park. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment2PM's Lee Jun-ho shows off his performing skills at 'Before Midnight' concertBy Dong Sun-hwaLee Jun-ho had a brilliant time in 2021 as an actor, thanks to the stellar success of his drama, “The Red Sleeve.” The 32-year-old assumed the role of King Jeongjo of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty in the 17-episode historical romance series, which depicted a love story of the king and court lady Sung Deok-im ― played by actress Lee Se-young. The series wrapped up with a 14.3-percent rating nationwide and was followed by Lee winning the Best Actor award at the prestigious Baeksang Awards this year. This is the first time that a K-pop-idol-actor has received this prize in the 58-year history of the Baeksang. Singer-actor Lee Jun-ho during his concert on Aug. 14 at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium at Seoul's Olympic Park / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBut Lee, a member of K-pop boy group 2PM, is not just a talented actor ― he is alsoAug 16, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BLACKPINK to perform at 2022 MTV Video Music Awards K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentK-pop girl group BLACKPINK will perform at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards in the United States, according to the group's agency Tuesday.YG Entertainment said the quartet is preparing a special performance at the annual event slated for Aug. 28 (local time) in the U.S.BLACKPINK will be the first K-pop girl group to hit the stage at the American music awards show, it added.The group will release a new song, "Pink Venom," this Friday, before dropping its second studio album titled "Born Pink" on Sept. 16.After the new release, BLACKPINK will depart on a massive world tour in October, starting with Seoul and continuing in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania until June next year. (Yonhap)Aug 16, 2022
NewJeans sets record with debut album K-pop group NewJeans made approximately 311,000 sales of its first mini album “New Jeans" in the first week since its Aug. 8 release. Courtesy of ADOR By Lee Gyu-leeThe rookie K-pop act NewJeans, housed by HYBE's label, All Doors One Room (ADOR), has achieved the highest first-week album sales for a newly-debuted girl group with its first mini album “New Jeans,” which hit the shelves on Aug. 8. According to album tracker Hanteo Chart, Monday, the group recorded over 311,000 album sales in the first week of its release, setting the highest number of opening week sales for a girl group's debut album. It surpassed the previous record ― about 307,000 albums ― set by another HYBE label Source Music's group Le Sserafim with its debut album “Fearless” in May.The “New Jeans” album, which was released on a streaming site on Aug. 1 before the hard copy version, comprises four tracks including three title tracks "Attention,” “Hype Boy” and “Cookie.” The lead track “Attention” Aug 15, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design The 15th anniversary emblem of Tokyo DisneySea, left, and the one shown in Girls' Generation's new music video / Captured from TwitterBy Kim RahnThe director of the music video for K-pop girl group Girls' Generation's new song, “Forever 1,” has acknowledged and apologized for plagiarizing a set design.Allegations emerged after the Aug. 5 release of the music video of the group's new song from its seventh full-length namesake album, which was released in line with the group's 15th anniversary.Some Japanese online users raised the suspicion of the illegal design use, saying an emblem showing the group's 15th anniversary in the music video is very similar to the one used by Tokyo DisneySea when the theme park celebrated its 15th year.As the allegation grew, the director, Shin Hee-won, admitted to copying the DisneySea design and apologized.“I am ashamed of using the design without permission. I apologize for it,” Shin wrote on her Instagram, Sunday.Shin, who was in charge of the entire music video production process from planning and directing to deciding on minoAug 15, 2022By Kim Rahn
Jungkook, first runner of BTS' photo album project This photo shows a teaser image for Jungkook's upcoming photo project. Courtesy of Big Hit MusicK-pop superband BTS will begin a relay photo album project with the youngest member Jungkook next month, the group's agency said Friday.Earlier in the day, Jungkook unveiled a surprise teaser image titled, "Me, Myself, and Jungkook" for the upcoming "Photo Folio" project, on social media. In the blurry photo, he is seen staring straight at the camera with red eyes and reddish lips, giving out the vibes of a vampire.The image heralds the start of a new project from the group, in which all members will drop their photo albums in turn, Big Hit Music said in a release.Jungkook participated in the whole process of the album's production ranging from the initial concept design, to styling and props. Other members will do the same to contain their own colors in each album, according to the agency.Jungkook's photo album will come out Sept. 1. (Yonhap)Aug 12, 2022
Top girl groups to heat up August chart race Korean girl group Girls' Generation /Courtesy of SM EntertainmentThe K-pop industry is bracing for a heated chart competition as some of the top girl groups are ready to throw their hats in the ring with new albums this month. Girls' Generation, the longest-running K-pop girl group, was the first to enter the ring. The octet made a comeback after a five-year hiatus last Friday, digitally releasing its seventh studio album "Forever 1" in celebration of the 15th anniversary since its debut. It marked the band's first release involving all eight members since "Holiday Night," its sixth full-length album put out in 2017. "Forever 1" topped iTunes top albums charts of 31 countries or regions, including Sweden, Finland, Singapore, Brazil and Chile, upon its release, proving the group's strong presence in the music industry.K-pop girl group BLACKPINK /Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBLACKPINK, which is now the most-followed musical act on YouTube, will return with a new single titled "Pink Venom" next Friday at 1 p.m., making it the band's first group project with all four members in one year aAug 12, 2022
BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' choreography video tops 1.2 bil. views BLACKPINK /Courtesy of YG EntertainmentThe choreography video for "How You Like That," a 2020 hit single by K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has surpassed 1.2 billion views on YouTube.The group's agency YG Entertainment said Friday the video hit the milestone earlier in the day, becoming the quartet's fourth video with more than 1.2 billion views.The number is the largest for a K-pop choreography video, YG said, adding it took two years and a month for the video to pass the threshold. The song's official music video had garnered 1.1 billion streams as of 8 a.m.Including the two videos, a total of 32 YouTube videos from BLACKPINK have collected more than 100 million views.BLACKPINK has recently extended its lead as the most-followed musical act on YouTube after hitting 76.2 million subscribers. (Yonhap)Aug 12, 2022
BLACKPINK's second LP to be made with eco-friendly substances K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentK-pop girl group BLACKPINK's upcoming second studio album will be created with eco-friendly substances, such as low-carbon paper and ink made from soybean oil, the group's agency said Thursday.The kit version of the album titled "Born Pink," which does not contain CDs, will be made of biodegradable plastic, YG Entertainment said, adding that extracted material from cornstarch will be used for the wrapping paper and plastic wrap.YG unveiled the information as reservations for the new album set for physical release on Sept. 16 opened earlier in the day.It marks the group's first full-group release in a year and 10 months. The last release by the entire group was in October 2020 with the band's first full-length album, "The Album." (Yonhap)Aug 11, 2022
aespa's 'Girls' becomes top-selling girl group album K-pop girl group aespa / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentRookie girl group aespa's latest EP "Girls" sold more than 1.64 million copies last month, setting a record as the most-sold album by any K-pop girl group, the band's agency said Thursday.Released on July 8, "Girls" topped the monthly album sales chart of Korea's benchmark Circle Chart for July by selling 1,645,255 copies.It marks the largest monthly and accumulated album sales that have been achieved by any K-pop girl group, according to SM Entertainment.The album was also received well in overseas markets, including the United States where it reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. (Yonhap)Aug 11, 2022
From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month K-pop boy group P1Harmony / Courtesy of FNC EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaMore than 10 K-pop stars are slated to perform at the HYPEROUND K-FEST in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sept. 10. Included in the lineup are rapper Zico, boy group P1Harmony and hip-hop music producer Woogie. Jay B, a member of K-pop act GOT7, soloist Paul Kim and singer-songwriter DVWN will also take the stage. Rapper Zico / Courtesy of Koz EntertainmentThese artists will perform at the Etihad Arena, which is known as one of the most iconic music and entertainment venues in the UAE. Concert production company Hyperound Events is organizing the upcoming event in cooperation with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Yas Island, a popular leisure island located in the capital city of the UAE. “The upcoming one-day festival is anticipated to become an annual calendar event at the Etihad Arena,” Hyperround Events said in a statement. Aidana, the managing director of Hyperound Events, added, “This milestone concert is evidence of the growing popularity of East Asian artiAug 11, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
