INTERVIEW P1Harmony: how a team of talented individuals creates synergy Members of K-pop boy band P1Harmony speak during an interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, July 16. Korea Times photo by Yun Da-beenP1Harmony returns with feel-good song 'Doom Du Doom'By Dong Sun-hwaWhat does a rookie K-pop group need for survival? A gifted vocalist, a dancer and a rapper are a must, but they may not be enough. Nowadays, a new K-pop act also needs a member who can produce distinctive music for their team, as well as an English speaker who can communicate fluently with international fans and media outlets.In this sense, boy band P1Harmony is all set. The sextet dropped its fourth mini-album, “HARMONY: ZERO IN,” on July 20, which is fronted by the lead single, “Doom Du Doom.” Members Intak and Jongseob participated in penning the lyrics of all songs, with Keeho and Jiung taking part in composing one of the tunes ― “Different Song For Me.” Since debuting in 2020, all P1Harmony members have been involved in the creative processes for putting together their albums. In April, they even started a nJul 29, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
IU to hold concerts at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in September A promotional poster for singer-actress IU's upcoming concerts "The Golden Hour" in Seoul / Courtesy of EDAM EntertainmentK-pop diva IU, the star of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's first Korean-language film "Broker," will return as a singer this fall.She will hold "The Golden Hour" concerts on Sept. 17 and 18 at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul, her agency, EDAM Entertainment said Thursday. It marks her first concerts in three years since the "Love, Poem" shows held in four South Korean cities and six other Asian countries in 2019.She will be the first female K-pop singer to hold a concert at the stadium, the agency added.With a capacity to house up to 100,000 spectators, including standing seats, the stadium is considered "a stage of dreams" for many K-pop artists. Most recently, globally renowned stars such as BTS and Psy had concerts there. (Yonhap)Jul 28, 2022
EXO's Sehun to star in new Tving series 'All That We Loved' From left are EXO's Sehun, actor Jo Joon-young and actress Jang Yeo-bin, the cast members of the upcoming Tving series, “All That We Loved.” Courtesy of SM Entertainment, Secret Ent.By Dong Sun-hwaSehun of K-pop boy group EXO will star in Tving's upcoming teen romance series tentatively titled, “All That We Loved,” the streaming platform said Wednesday. The SM Entertainment singer will play the role of Go Yoo, an 18-year-old basketball genius who donates a kidney to his best friend, Go Joon-hee. After receiving his kidney through a transplant operation, Joon-hee, a top student at his school, experiences “cellular memory” syndrome. According to the theory of cellular memory, memories and personal traits can be stored in organs other than the brain, so they can be inherited through organ donation.“All That We Loved” will touch on a love triangle between the two friends and a mysterious girl named Han So-yeon, a new student who does not try to mingle with her schoolmates. Actor Jo Joon-young, who appeared in the 2020 JTBC drama “LiveJul 27, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS nominated in 4 categories at MTV Video Music Awards K-pop boy group BTS / Courtesy of Bighit MusicKorean superband BTS has won four nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, the U.S. TV station said Tuesday (U.S. time).The septet was nominated in the categories of Best K-pop, Best Choreography, Best Metaverse Performance and Best Visual Effects.The band has been awarded at the MTV awards ceremony for the past three years. It won two titles in 2019 and took home four prizes in 2020. Last year, it won three trophies, including Group of the Year.For the Best K-pop category, BTS' "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)," the lead single from their first anthology album "Proof" (2022), will compete with five other Korean acts including ITZY, Lisa, Seventeen and TWICE."Permission to Dance," the group's third English-language single, is one of the six candidates for the Best Choreography prize including "Woman" by Doja Cat and "Tears In The Club" by FKA twigs ft. The Weeknd, "As It Was" by Harry Styles.In the Best Visual Effects category, "My Universe," BTS' collaborative single with British rock band Cold Play, is listed with "HapJul 27, 2022
Girls' Generation to release comeback album on Aug. 8 This photo provided by SM Entertainment shows a teaser image for "Forever 1," the seventh full-length album from Girls' Generation, set to be out on Aug. 8. YonhapK-pop group Girls' Generation will make a comeback with "Forever 1," its seventh full-length album, on Aug. 8, the group's agency said Monday.The 10-track album marks the band's 15th anniversary and first release since its sixth LP, "Holiday Night," in August 2017, SM Entertainment said.The octet also unveiled a teaser image for the upcoming album on social media earlier in the day.The agency has said the band will return with all eight members for the album.Debuting in 2007, the group churned out hit after hit, such as "Girls' Generation," "Gee," "Genie" and "Lion Heart," during its prime. It has not been active as a group since the album "Holiday Night." (Yonhap)Jul 25, 2022
Rookie girl group Ive to return with new single next month K-pop girl group Ive / Courtesy of Starship EntertainmentNew K-pop girl group Ive will put out a new single next month, the group's management agency said Monday.Starship Entertainment unveiled a teaser image for the group's third single, "After Like," announcing the band will return on Aug. 22."After Like" will be band's first release since its second single, "Love Dive," in April.The six-piece group debuted in April last year, composed of former IZ*ONE member An Yu-jin, and her fellow ex-IZ*ONE member Jang Won-young, along with members Gaeul, Liz, Rei and Leeseo.It is now considered one of the leading fourth-generation K-pop girl groups, with two straight hit songs, "Eleven" and "Love Dive."The latest single "Love Dive" rose to No. 15 on the Billboard 200 Global chart with its music video garnering over 100 million views on YouTube. (Yonhap)Jul 25, 2022
'Attention': Hybe's girl group NewJeans arrives on K-pop scene Members of rookie K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADORNewJeans' 'Attention' music video surpasses 1.3 million hitsBy Dong Sun-hwaThe competition among K-pop girl groups will get into full swing following the arrival of much-anticipated rookie act NewJeans, Friday (KST). Its debut album will hit multiple streaming platforms on Aug. 1, and hit store shelves on Aug. 8. NewJeans is a group launched by All Doors One Room (ADOR), a label under Hybe that represents K-pop titan BTS. It released the music video of its track “Attention” at midnight early Friday, and it has already exceeded 1.3 million views on YouTube as of 3 p.m. The average age of the five members ― Minji (18), Hanni (18), Danielle (17), Haerin (16) and Hyein (14) ― is 16.6. Although more details about them have not been disclosed, Hanni is reportedly Vietnamese and Danielle was born to an Australian father and a Korean mother. The quintet was formed by Min Hee-jin, the CEO of ADOR who joined Hybe in 2019. Prior to joining Hybe, she worked as a creative director at SM Entertainment ― another major K-pop rJul 22, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
'Test Me': Xdinary Heroes speak for Generation Z with music Members of band Xdinary Heroes perform their new song, “Test Me,” during a press event held at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentJYP's new act drops 1st mini-album 'Hello, world!'By Dong Sun-hwaThere are many characteristics defining Generation Z ― which refers to those born between 1996 and 2005 ― but in the eyes of rookie band Xdinary Heroes, their most typical feature is outspokenness. To highlight this and help them get their emotions off their chest, the group said it used playful yet straightforward language in the lyrics of its new songs. Xdinary Heroes dropped its first mini-album, “Hello, world!” on Wednesday afternoon. The six-piece act ― comprising drummer Gunil, keyboardists Jungsu and O.de, guitarists Gaon and Junhan, and bassist Jooyeon ― is the first band formed by K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment since its launch of DAY6 in 2015. JYP is home to a number of high-profile stars, including TWICE and Stray Kids. “Young people in the past often remained silent even if they had something to sJul 22, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS members to release collaborative single with US artists BTS perform during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. April 3. Reuters-YonhapFour BTS members ― Jin, Jimin, V and Jungkook ― will drop a collaboration project with U.S. producer-singer-songwriter Benny Blanco and rapper Snoop Dogg next month, the K-pop group's agency said Thursday.The song "Bad Decisions" will come out Aug. 5 and will be included on Blanco's third full-length album set for release later in the year, Big Hit Music said."The collaboration was accomplished as Blanco offered to do so," the agency said. "Jin, Jimin, V and Jungkook will show a new side that has not been shown before, as well as their unique vocal skills through the special collaboration project."Blanco also teased the track through a video posted on his Twitter account Wednesday.In the video, the BTS members answered "no" in unison when the American musician told the members that he wants to be in the band during a video call. And then when Jimin said, "But we can make a song together," Blanco joyfully responded, "Let's make the best song in the entire world. Let's go!" (Yonhap)Jul 21, 2022
Kim Ga-ram removed from Le Sserafim following bullying accusations Kim Ga-ram, a former member of K-pop girl group Le Sserafim / Courtesy of Source MusicBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop girl group Le Sserafim has kicked out its member Kim Ga-ram after she was accused of bullying other students while in middle school. Le Sserafim's management company, Source Music ― a label under Hybe that represents K-pop megastars BTS ― announced Wednesday that it terminated its exclusive contract with Kim.“We offer our sincere apology for causing inconvenience to the group's fans and many other people due to the controversy surrounding Kim,” the company said in a statement. “From now on, Le Sserafim will continue its musical activity as a five-member group (comprising Kim Chae-won, Sakura, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha and Hong Eun-chae). We will give our utmost support to the quintet so that it can take a leap forward in its career.”Shortly before Le Sserafim's debut in May, some internet users raised the bullying allegations against the 16-year-old singer, but Source Music denied the accusations, insisting she was actually a victim of bullying. The allegationsJul 20, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
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