BTS arrives in Washington for meeting with Biden Members of South Korean boy group BTS leave Washington's Dulles International Airport via a VIP pass after arriving on May 29, for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden later in the week. YonhapKorean boy group BTS arrived in Washington on Sunday for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden for discussions on ways to address anti-Asian hate crimes.Six members of the septet arrived at the Dulles International Airport where dozens of fans waited to welcome them on what will be their first-ever visit to the White House on Tuesday.The six were, however, ushered out of the airport via a special exit by airport authorities due to safety concerns, according to informed sources. One of the group's seven members, Jungkook, reportedly arrived in the U.S. on Saturday.The White House said the global K-pop phenomenon will join Biden to discuss "Asian inclusion and representation, and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years."The U.S. has seen a sharp increase in hate crimes targeting Asian American communities since the start ofMay 30, 2022
BTS members depart for US to visit White House K-pop boy group BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit MusicMembers of Korean boy group BTS left for the United States, Sunday, to visit the White House for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss ways of dealing with rising anti-Asian hate crimes.The White House has announced that BTS will meet with Biden, Tuesday, to "discuss Asian inclusion and representation and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination, which have become more prominent issues in recent years."On Sunday, six members of the septet headed to the U.S. as Jungkook had left a day earlier. After arriving at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport around 9:30 a.m., they waved to fans and reporters before heading to board their flight. (Yonhap)May 29, 2022
How did BTS become beacon of diversity and inclusion? K-pop boy band BTS spoke at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September of last year. Courtesy of Big Hit MusicK-pop icons to meet US President Joe Biden to discuss Asian inclusionBy Dong Sun-hwa“All sorts of things are happening in my life,” said RM of K-pop phenomenon BTS, Thursday, a few hours after reports that BTS would meet U.S. President Joe Biden next week to discuss Asian inclusion and representation. The Grammy-nominated septet and Biden will also address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination, as well as BTS' platform as youth ambassador, spreading a message of hope and positivity, on May 31 (local time), according to the White House. BTS' management company, Big Hit Music, revealed Friday that Biden invited the group in celebration of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which was started in 1977 to “pay tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history.” “It is a great honor to receive an invitation from Biden,” BMay 27, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
From BTS to TWICE's Nayeon, K-pop hotshots prepare June releases By Dong Sun-hwaSome of the hottest K-pop stars are gearing up to release their new music offerings next month, seeking to keep their fans cool with their summer bangers amid the rising temperatures. Included in the star-studded roster are boy band BTS, Nayeon of girl group TWICE and Jo Yu-ri of now-defunct project group IZ*ONE. 1. Jo Yu-ri (June 2)The teaser for Jo Yu-ri's upcoming mini-album / Courtesy of Wake One Entertainment“Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major,” the first EP by Jo Yu-ri, will arrive on June 2. Leading the mini-album is “Love Shhh!” ― a summer song with a refreshing vibe. It also offers four more tunes: “Round and Around,” “Rolla Skates,” “This Time” and “Opening.” According to Jo's management company, Wake One Entertainment, “Opening” is Jo's self-written track.“'Opening' is the last song on the track list,” Wake One said in a statement. “Its core message is that Jo will open a new chapter in her career after the release of 'Op.22 Y-Waltz,' which will shed light on her musiMay 27, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Seventeen donates for children's education to mark debut anniversary K-pop act Seventeen / Courtesy of Pledis EntertainmentBy Kim RahnK-pop boy band Seventeen has made a donation for educationally marginalized children across the world, according to the Korean National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Thursday. The donation was made on the group's seventh anniversary of its debut and a day before the release of its new album.The fund donated by the 13-member act will be used for the Korean commission's program to help underprivileged children in Asia and Africa get a better education. The group has continued donations for various activities supporting children, and this time its contribution will be especially focused on education for them, according to the commission.It did not disclose how much the band had donated.“In this global situation in which nearly 1 billion people are illiterate, Seventeen made a significant donation for education. We express our appreciation to the group and its agency,” commission Secretary-General Han Kyung-koo said in a release. “We'll spend the May 26, 2022By Kim Rahn
INTERVIEW Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag By Dong Sun-hwaLee Gyu-tag, an associate professor of cultural studies at George Mason University Korea / Courtesy of Lee Gyu-tagWith President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol set to take office on May 10, a K-pop expert and associate professor of cultural studies at George Mason University Korea, is calling on the new administration to build more small and mid-sized concert venues for various pop singers and create more platforms where they can meet the audience.“We do need big arenas that can accommodate up to 50,000 people, but we should also set up more small-sized venues with about 5,000-10,000 seats,” Lee said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “As of now, most singers throw their shows at sports stadiums like the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park located in Seoul's Songpa District, but they often do not have good acoustics, as they were not built for concerts. A lot of seats have a limited view, too.” In fact, the market size of the live performance industry in Korea is relatively small. Despite being the birthplace of K-pop, Korea does not have any concert-specifMay 26, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense' K-pop star Yuju released a song for the new Disney+ drama series “Kiss Sixth Sense.” Courtesy of Arc Media, Hi-HatBy Dong Sun-hwaYuju, a former member of K-pop act GFriend, has released “My Americano,” a song included in the soundtrack of the new Disney+ series “Kiss Sixth Sense.”Characterized by upbeat tropical sounds and Yuju's velvety voice, “My Americano” hit multiple streaming platforms on Wednesday afternoon. Based on the webnovel of the same name, “Kiss Sixth Sense” is a romance story starring Seo Ji-hye and Yoon Kye-sang. Seo plays Ye-sool, a woman who can see the future of a person who she kisses, while Yoon takes the role of Min-hoo, a man with “overdeveloped” five senses. The drama is directed by Nam Ki-hoon, who took the helm of the 2018 series “Beauty Inside.” It is penned by Jeon Yoo-ri, the writer behind the success of the 2018 drama “Radio Romance.” The first episode of “Kiss Sixth Sense” was also released on Wednesday afternoon. Yuju debuted with GFriend in 201May 25, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Singer Kang Daniel returns to cheerful music with first full-length album K-pop singer Kang Daniel poses during a press conference in Seoul, May 24. YonhapKang Daniel, who debuted as a member of the now-defunct project boy group Wanna One, made a comeback with cheerful songs Tuesday after a nearly three-year journey to find his true musical colors as a solo artist.He is set to drop "The Story," his first full-length album, at 6 p.m. ― his last release, the EP "Color on Me," was released in July 2019."This album depicted my own journey to find my true colors," the singer said during a press conference held at a Seoul hotel to promote the album. "I wanted to create music that can be healing to others."The upcoming album consists of 10 songs, including the lead single "Upside Down," "Don Tell" and "Mad." The main track is one fully charged with Kang's own positive energy.The 25-year-old singer confided that after his single "Yellow," depicting a dark side of his inner mind, was released last year, he experienced hard times during promotional activities for the song."Looking back on my memories to figure out what song I enjoyed performing the most, I realized May 24, 2022
BLACKPINK on cover of Rolling Stone K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG Entertainment Korea's K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has appeared on the front of the latest issue of the U.S. music magazine Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone revealed the cover of its June issue Monday (local time), describing the girl group as a "pop supernova."It marks the first time any girl group has appeared on the magazine's cover since Destiny's Child of the United States in 2001 and BLACKPINK also is the second all-Asian act to appear on its cover, according to the magazine."BLACKPINK are one of the most popular artists to ever come out of Korea," it said in a separate feature story released the same day. "Their massive success is part of the Korean Wave, which refers loosely to the global popularity of Korea's cultural industry." It also said the group's music projects are "an explosive, larger-than-life force that's both invigorating and addictive. ... They make serious bangers, mixing powerful hip-hop beats with house,May 24, 2022
'GOT7 has not disbanded' Members of K-pop boy group GOT7 pose during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Warner Music KoreaBoy band releases new EP after leaving JYPBy Dong Sun-hwaLast year, all seven members of K-pop act GOT7 terminated their contracts with JYP Entertainment, the K-pop powerhouse that debuted the group in 2014. But this was not the end of GOT7 ― instead, it was a new beginning. GOT7, consisting of Mark, Jay B, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam and Yugyeom, put out its self-titled mini-album on Monday, more than a year after the release of its last EP, “Encore.” “Through our new release, we want to let people know that GOT7 has not disbanded,” member BamBam said during a press conference at the voco Seoul Gangnam, Monday. “It is also a testament to our promise that we would soon reunite and meet our fans.” Frontman Jay B added, “I am so relieved that we can release an EP as a septet. We told each other that all seven of us should be part of our new mini-album, but it is still surreal to see that we have actually made this happen. I am May 23, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
