ATEEZ to drop new Japanese EP next week K-pop boy troup ATEEZ / Courtesy of KQ Entertainment K-pop boy group ATEEZ will release a new Japanese-language EP next week, according to its management agency.The octet will drop its second Japanese EP "Beyond: Zero" next Wednesday, KQ Entertainment said, adding it will be the band's first release in Japan since its single "Dreamers" in July last year.The EP will have seven tracks, including the lead off track "Rocky" and "The King."Ahead of the album's release, ATEEZ unveiled a music video for "Rocky."The group is set to hold its first-ever concerts before Japanese fans this summer. The shows titled "The Fellowship: Beginning of the End in Japan" will take place in Yokohama from July 16 to 18.Meanwhile, Hongjoong will temporarily stay away from the group as he tested positive for COVID-19, Tuesday, after returning home from the band's European tour, the agency said.He is currently treating himself at home with no special symptoms, and all other members tested negMay 18, 2022
PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up' Members of K-pop boy group TNX pose during a media event in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of P NationLead single 'Move' created by 'Gangnam Style' composer By Dong Sun-hwaWill rookie boy group TNX follow in the footsteps of PSY ― the CEO of its record label P Nation ― and etch their name in K-pop history? The six-piece act, which is the first boy group launched by “Gangnam Style” (2012) star PSY, made its debut, Tuesday, with its first mini-album, “Way Up” amid high expectations. It consists of six winners from SBS' survival show, “Loud” (2021), who were handpicked by PSY after winning multiple rounds of the competition.In the program, PSY appeared as a judge along with Park Jin-young, the founder and producer of K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment.Asked how TNX is distinctive from other K-pop newcomers, member Sungjun said all members are armed with a burning passion for performance. “Since we are part of P Nation, home to some of the most celebrated performers in the K-pop scene like Jessi and HyunA, our passion for performances is peerless,&rdquMay 18, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface By Dong Sun-hwaKim Ga-ram of K-pop girl group Le Sserafim / Courtesy of Source MusicThe bullying allegations against Kim Ga-ram, a member of rookie K-pop girl group Le Sserafim, have resurfaced, after a photo believed to be of a school document, identifying her as the perpetrator of violence, was revealed online. An internet user, whose identity has been withheld, shared a document titled, “Notice of results by the committee for countermeasures against school violence,” Sunday.“We notify the measures to be taken based on Articles 16 and 17 of the Act on the Prevention and Countermeasures of School Violence,” reads the document. In the document, Kim Ga-ram is stated as the perpetrator, whereas the name of the victim has been concealed. Local media outlet Money Today contacted Kim's middle school to find out whether it is a forged document, but the school reportedly said that it could not answer. Kim's management company, Source Music ― a label under K-pop powerhouse HYBE ― said its stance has not changed since it released its first statement denying the allegatMay 17, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
P1Harmony, Pink Sweat$ to release collaborative song May 26 K-pop group P1Harmony and U.S. singer-songwriter Pink Sweat$ will drop a collaborated song, “Gotta Get Back,” May 26. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment By Kim RahnK-pop boy band P1Harmony has collaborated with U.S. singer-songwriter Pink Sweat$, the band's agency FNC Entertainment said, Tuesday.The two will release the digital single “Gotta Get Back” at 6 p.m. on May 26 (KST).“Gotta Get Back” is an R&B song merging groovy bass and rhythmical brass instruments, with Pink Sweat$ composing and Intak and Jongseob from P1Harmony writing the lyrics. It has a mild and cheerful tune and concept, different from the group's previous songs that touched on social issues and tried to deliver courage to the listeners, according to the agency.The relations between the K-pop group and the U.S. artist began earlier this year when P1Harmony made a cover video of Pink Sweat$'s “At My Worst.” Jiung also wrote on Twitter that he likes his songs.Additionally, at the boy band's March 11 conceMay 17, 2022By Kim Rahn
How did TikTok become main marketing tool for K-pop? K-pop boy group Treasure / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaThese days, almost all K-pop singers have their own channels on TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing platform that has some 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. After rapper Zico's “Any Song” conquered a number of music streaming charts with the help of TikTok in 2019, a wave of other stars have also flocked to this easy-to-use platform. Just like Zico, they started a “dance challenge” by uploading a short clip featuring some iconic yet easy-to-follow dance movements from their new song. Then, the platform users would imitate the singers' moves in their own ways and share their videos with others, naturally leading the new tune to go viral. This has helped TikTok become a crucial marketing tool for K-pop acts, many of which even give a taste of their new songs on TikTok prior to their official release, such as girl group STAYC. But this is not the end ― lately, K-pop fans are starting dance challenges on their own, promoting the lesser-known songs by their favorite stars in an unprecedented May 16, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award K-pop boy group BTS / AFP-YonhapKorean boy group BTS has won three prizes at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), one of the three biggest pop music honors in the United States, Billboard said.The septet won top duo or group, top song sales artist and top selling song (for its 2021 smash hit "Butter"), marking its sixth consecutive year to win at least one award at the BBMAs, the U.S. music magazine said Sunday (U.S. time), ahead of the awards show that begins at 9 p.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.BTS was nominated for seven awards in six categories with two songs, including "Permission to Dance," nominated in the top selling song section.In the top duo or group category, the K-pop supergroup clinched the trophy, beating out two strong competitors, such as Silk Sonic, the American RB duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak that won four honors from the 64th Grammy Awards, and British rock band Glass Animals. It marks BTS' third time to win top duo or group at the BBMAs following 2019 and 2021.BTS also proved its strong presence by winning top song sales artist for theMay 16, 2022
What do Hong Kong students think of Korea? A drawing by Wong Hin Ching, the Korean Culture Center's drawing competition's grand prize awardee, shows various elements of the country, including Gyeongbok Palace, Korean grilled meat and K-pop. Courtesy of Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (KCC)Green glass bottle makes frequent appearance in drawings by teens in city By Kim Bo-eunHONG KONG ― Korea's pickled cabbage side dish kimchi, the country's traditional attire hanbok and surprisingly ― the distilled liquor soju ― are some of the things Hong Kong teens widely associate with Korea, a recent event revealed. These were visible elements in pictures drawn by middle and high school students in Hong Kong, in a drawing contest hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the city.Other elements in the drawings included characters from “Squid Game,” as well as chimaek ― a Korean term referring to the pairing of fried chicken and beer.A member of a Korean girl group exclaims “Oppa,” in this drawing by Leung Ching Ki. Courtesy of KCCKorean TV shows have served as a key means of learning about the country for the stuMay 15, 2022By Kim Bo-eun
'Oddinary' becomes Stray Kids' 2nd million-seller album K-pop boy group Stray Kids / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaStray Kids have again sold more than 1 million copies of one of its albums. Korea's album sales tracker Gaon Chart said Thursday that the group's March release, “Oddinary,” reached the milestone of 1 million sales. Its first million-seller album was “Noeasy,” which dropped last year.In 2021, the eight-piece group became the first JYP Entertainment act to sell more than 1 million copies of an album with its second full-length album, “Noeasy.” Founded by Park Jin-young in 1997, JYP is home to K-pop VIPs like Twice and Itzy. “Oddinary,” with its first single “Maniac,” racked up 1.3 million pre-orders and sold more than 850,000 copies during the first week of its release. It also reigned atop the Billboard main albums chart upon its release, leading Stray Kids to become the third K-pop act to achieve the feat, following BTS and SuperM. Stray Kids ― consisting of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N ― made their official debutMay 13, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop girl act aespa picked as one of Next Generation Leaders by Time magazine K-pop girl group aespa performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, California, U.S., April 23. The girl act was listed as Next Generation Leaders by Time magazine. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Kim RahnK-pop girl group aespa has been named as one of the Next Generation Leaders by Time magazine.The four-member act was the only K-pop offering to be listed this year, according to its agency, SM Entertainment, Friday. It is also the first time for a K-pop girl group to be on the list, while boy group BTS was named on the list in 2018.Published by the U.S. magazine every year, the Next Generation Leaders theme is a list of trendsetters and pioneers in various fields.About aespa that consists of four human members and their digital avatars and debuted as the unique concept of a “girl act in the metaverse,” Time said, “Aespa is an experiment, but it may also be the inevitable next step for the music industry: a fresh way to bridge the virtual and the real.”It said although aespa has released only several singles and one EP, the EP landed highest on theMay 13, 2022By Kim Rahn
Why are some BTS fans boycotting upcoming album? K-pop act BTS / Capture from BTS' TwitterBy Dong Sun-hwaSome fans of K-pop juggernaut BTS are boycotting the group's upcoming anthology album “Proof,” as it includes a song written by Bobby Chung, who is suspected of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend and filming an illegal sex video of her. Chung, whose real name is Chung Dae-wook, is one of the composers behind “Filter,” a Latin-style solo track by BTS member Jimin that dropped in 2020. The singer-songwriter, who also is credited on other BTS songs such as “Love Maze” (2018), is currently on trial after his ex-girlfriend, surnamed Song, filed a complaint against him for sexually assaulting her and filming an illegal sex video. Song is known to have taken her own life in 2020 after making the accusation. Regarding this situation, quite a few fans are pointing out that it is not appropriate to include “Filter” on BTS' upcoming release, which will hit shelves on June 10. Since BTS has been relaying anti-violence and anti-discrimination messages for many years through its music and conMay 12, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
