Entertainment - The Korea Times

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-specif

May 26, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

[INTERVIEW] Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag

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 201

May 25, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense'

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

Singer Kang Daniel returns to cheerful music with first full-length album

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

Girl group NiziU to begin 1st Japanese tour

By Dong Sun-hwa The poster for NiziU's upcoming tour, “NiziU Live with U 2022 'Light it Up'” / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment's all-Japanese girl group NiziU will embark on its Japanese tour for the first time since its 2020 debut, the company said, Monday. “The nine-piece act will kick off its NiziU Live with U 2022 'Light it Up' tour on July 23 and stage 15 concerts in seven cities,” JYP said in a statement. “The first leg of the tour will take place at the World Memorial Hall in Kobe.”NiziU is also set to perform in Tokyo and Osaka, among others, and wrap up its tour in Tokoname, Sept. 18. This is NiziU's first time to play a series of solo concerts in front of a live audience. “Everyone has been looking forward to our tour,” NiziU said through JYP. “We are so glad that we can finally begin it this summer. We cannot wait to see our fans.” NiziU is made up of nine winners from “Nizi Project,” an audition show launched by JYP and Jap

May 23, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

Girl group NiziU to begin 1st Japanese tour

K-pop act Monsta X embarks on first US tour in 3 years

K-pop boy group Monsta X / Courtesy of Starship EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop act Monsta X kicked off its U.S. tour, Saturday (local time), about three years after its last world tour. “Monsta X is scheduled to stage 10 concerts in nine U.S. cities, as part of its '2022 Monsta X No Limit US Tour Presented by Lexus,'” the group's management company, Starship Entertainment, said in a statement, adding that the first concert will be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The K-pop stars will continue their tour in Detroit and Chicago, among others, and wrap it up in Los Angeles, June 11. “Monsta X's U.S. tour was supposed to take place earlier, but we had to push back the date following the COVID-19 pandemic,” Starship explained. “So this time, the members will put forth some fantastic performances for the fans in the U.S., who have waited them for a long time.” Monsta X, consisting of Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney and I.M., debuted with the album, “Tresspass,” in 2015 has dropped many popular songs like, “

May 22, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop act Monsta X embarks on first US tour in 3 years

Why does it take so long for K-pop group members to go solo?

By Dong Sun-hwaNayeon of K-pop girl group TWICE / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentThe news that Nayeon of K-pop girl group TWICE will make her solo debut with the EP, “IM NAYEON,” on June 24, electrified her fans worldwide. But at the same time, many wondered why it has taken nearly seven years for this talented singer to go solo after she debuted as part of TWICE in 2015. Nayeon is not alone in this trend of seemingly belated solo debuts. D.O. of K-pop titan EXO rolled out his first solo mini-album, “Empathy,” in 2021, about nine years after his group debut in 2012, while his bandmates, Kai and Baekhyun, went solo in 2020 and in 2019, respectively. Some stars embarked on solo careers after quitting their group activities, as evidenced by the cases of GFriend's Yerin and Lovelyz's Baby Soul, who is now known as Lee Su-jeong. It took seven to eight years for both of them to debut as soloists. Fans are eager to see their singers pursuing a soloist career, as they often bring their unexplored sides to the forefront and take a more experimental route in their solo re

May 22, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

Why does it take so long for K-pop group members to go solo?

TWICE's Nayeon to make debut as solo artist next month

Nayeon of k-pop girl group TWICE / Korea Times file Nayeon of girl group TWICE will release "Im Nayeon," her first solo album, next month, her agency said Thursday.JYP Entertainment also unveiled a promotional poster for the upcoming album on social media. Nayeon will drop the work at 1 p.m. Friday, June 24, in Korea, which is midnight in the U.S. (EST), apparently with that music market in mind. The Friday release is because the Billboard charts are compiled from that day until the following Thursday according to the U.S. eastern time zone.The album's title has a double meaning, which is the singer's full name and her confident declaration that "I'm Nayeon," according to the agency.The 26-year-old singer debuted as a member of TWICE that churned out many hit songs, such as "OOH-AHH," "Cheer Up" and "Likey." (Yonhap)

May 19, 2022

TWICE's Nayeon to make debut as solo artist next month

Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria'

Singer-actress Yerin poses during a press conference in central Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SublimeBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop act GFriend was famed for its powerful vocal delivery and precise choreography. But its former member, Yerin, who dropped her first solo EP, “Aria,” Wednesday, has opted to showcase something different as a soloist.“I feel like I am starting everything over,” the 25-year-old, who also has been forging an acting career, said during a press conference at the World K-pop Center in central Seoul. “When I was part of GFriend, I tried to engage in synchronized choreography, but as a soloist, I focused more on crafting dance moves that best visualize the lyrics of my track using different gestures.”As she said, when the singer performed “Aria” ― the lead single of her first solo release ― in front of reporters, she used her velvety voice more and displayed soft and slow dance moves in an attempt to maximize the song's spring vibe. Clad in a red-and-white floral dress, she took the stage confidently and with a beaming smile.

May 19, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop