Boy group Astro to drop 3rd studio album next month K-pop boy group Astro /Korea Times fileK-pop boy group Astro will return with its third full-length album next month, the group's management agency said Tuesday. The six-member group will drop the album titled "Drive to the Starry Road," May 16, Fantagio said.It will be the band's first studio album since "All Yours" was released almost a year ago.The band, which consists of members MJ, JinJin, Moonbin, Rocky, Sanha and Cha Eun-woo, debuted in 2016 with the EP "Spring Up." It has since released hit songs, such as "Crazy Sexy Cool," "Baby" and "Confession."The group is set to hold back-to-back concerts Thursday and Friday in Seoul. The shows will also be streamed live online, according to the agency. (Yonhap)Apr 26, 2022
INTERVIEW 'My Name': Lee Su-jeong embarks on new journey to explore herself K-pop singer Lee Su-jeong poses during a recent interview at the headquarters of Woollim Entertainment in Mapo District, Seoul. Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentLovelyz leader to show a different side in solo EPBy Dong Sun-hwaFor the past eight years, Lee Su-jeong has lived a glamorous life as Baby Soul, the leader of popular K-pop act Lovelyz. Nonetheless, at the same time, the 29-year-old could not live as Lee Su-jeong, having no time to muse on who she is and what she likes.However, Lee has recently taken her first baby steps to delve deeper into her inner world. After the seven members of Lovelyz, who had dropped a series of hits like "Ah-Choo" (2015) since their debut in 2014, terminated their contracts last year with their management company, Woollim Entertainment, Lee ― the only member who renewed her contract ― spent most of her time exploring herself and searching for the missing pieces of her puzzle.“I was not aware of this in the past, but in hindsight, I tried so hard to live as Baby Soul instead of Lee Su-jeong,” she said in a recent media interview at the heApr 26, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
INTERVIEW Former IZ*ONE member Kwon Eun-bi talks about 'Glitch' The teaser for Kwon Eun-bi's new EP, “Color” / Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaKwon Eun-bi, a former member of now-defunct project girl group IZ*ONE, immediately fell under the spell of her new song, “Glitch,” when she first heard it. Its dreamy sound was a gem, but what also mesmerized her was its lyrics, which seemed to be reflective of herself.“Whenever I have to appear on screen, I always feel I have too many shortcomings,” Kwon told The Korea Times through MJ Tonz Entertainment, a global promotion and marketing agency. “I have too many thoughts and worries, but I still strive to act confidently in front of cameras. This is who I am and my new release, 'Glitch,' shows this.”“Glitch” is the lead single off her second EP, “Color” that hit shelves on April 4. Characterized by the elements of UK garage ― an electronic dance music genre that originated in England ― the track was written by producers TAK and Corbin, who attempted to bring life to Kwon's inner world in their creation. Prior to the reApr 24, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BLACKPINK's 'Boombayah' video passes 1.4 billion YouTube views BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG Entertainment The music video for K-pop act BLACKPINK's "Boombayah" passed 1.4 billion views on YouTube, Saturday, according to its management agency.The video for the lead track off its debut album released in August 2016 reached the milestone at 5:56 a.m., YG Entertainment said.It became the female band's third music video to break the 1.4 billion mark on the global music sharing site, following "Ddu-du Ddu-du" and "Kill This Love."The four-piece group has 32 music videos with more than 100 million YouTube views, including six with more than 1 billion views.The video for "Ddu-du Ddu-du" has reached 1.85 billion views, the highest among K-pop music videos. (Yonhap)Apr 23, 2022
iKON, TXT: K-pop big shots gear up for May releases By Dong Sun-hwaMay is just around the corner and so are new K-pop releases. A bunch of K-pop stars, including iKON, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) and ONEUS, are planning to put out some new songs that people can add to their spring playlists.1. iKON (May 3)K-pop boy group iKON / Courtesy of YG Entertainment“Flashback,” the fourth EP by K-pop act iKON will be released on May 3, according to the group's record label YG Entertainment. It has taken more than a year for the boy group to return with a new offering, since the release of their digital single, “Why Why Why,” last March. Fronted by the lead single, “But You,” “Flashback” will offer a glimpse into iKON's new musical style, YG said. “All six members took a more experimental route this time,” the company said in a statement. YG unveiled a teaser on the group's Twitter account, which features the black-clad members gazing into the camera. iKON, consisting of Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne and Chan, made their debut in 2015 with the tune, “My Type” and rose to stardomApr 22, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
'Boy With Luv' becomes first BTS video to surpass 1.5 billion YouTube views K-pop boy group BTS / AP-Yonhap The music video for K-pop superstars BTS' 2019 hit song "Boy With Luv" has become the group's first video to exceed 1.5 billion views on YouTube.The song hit the milestone at about 5 p.m. Thursday, five months after surpassing 1.4 billion views in November, according to the group's agency Big Hit Music.The upbeat track, featuring American singer-songwriter Halsey, was released in April 2019 from the band's sixth album "Map of the Soul: Persona." After debuting at No. 8 on Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart upon its release, the song was on the chart for eight consecutive weeks.Including "Boy With Luv," the K-pop septet now has a total of 36 music videos that have garnered more than 100 million views. (Yonhap)Apr 22, 2022
Seventeen to drop fourth full-length album next month K-pop boy group Seventeen / Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment K-pop boy group Seventeen will release its fourth full-length album "Face the Sun," May 27, the group's agency, Pledis Entertainment, said Friday.The band unveiled a teaser poster featuring various objects that hint at the concept of the highly anticipated album, such as stairs, ropes, the sun and an old map on Twitter.A week ago, Seventeen pre-released its first English-language song, "Darl+ling."The track from the upcoming album topped iTunes charts in 34 regions around the world, including Singapore, the Philippines, Egypt and Indonesia, upon its release.Debuting in May 2015, the 13-member ensemble has grown to be one of the top K-pop idol groups.Last year, it produced two consecutive million sellers with its eighth EP, "Your Choice," and ninth EP, "Attacca." The upcoming album will mark the band's first studio album since "An Ode," which dropped in September 2019. (Yonhap)Apr 22, 2022
INTERVIEW EPEX speaks for MZ generation with new song 'Anthem of Teen Spirit' K-pop boy group EPEX reacts during an interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Guro District, southwestern Seoul, April 6. Korea Times photo by Yun Da-beenRookie boy band hopes to explore various sides of dancing, performanceBy Dong Sun-hwaThe MZ generation ― a term referring to Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1995) and Generation Z (born between 1996 and 2005) ― is the target audience of most K-pop acts these days, and this fact is no exception for boy band EPEX. Surviving in the star-studded K-pop industry is like fighting an uphill battle, but EPEX, which burst onto the music scene last year, believes it can gain the upper hand, as all members are part of the MZ generation who can best represent their peers. “All eight of us were born after 2000, so we can understand and sympathize with the people of our age, unfolding their real-life stories with our voices,” red-haired member MU told The Korea Times in a recent interview at a studio in Guro District in southwestern Seoul. The interview took place a few days ahead of the release of the octet's third EP, Apr 20, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop legend Cho Yong-pil working on comeback album: sources Korean singer, Cho Yong-pil / Courtesy of YPC Production Cho Yong-pil, a living legend on the Korean pop scene, will likely make a comeback with his first new album in nine years, sources in the music industry said Wednesday.The sources said the 72-year-old singer has recently begun working on a new album in earnest."Cho is working on the new album faster than before," an aide to Cho told Yonhap News Agency. "(He's) working with the goal of releasing a new album within this year."The singer reportedly is considering including various songs on the album without limiting them to a certain genre or concept.If the album rolls out within this year, it would be the first since his 19th full-length album "Hello" was released in 2013. Although not much is known about the new release, if it is a full-length album, it will be Cho's 20th.Cho debuted as a member of the rock band Atkins in 1968. After working for a decade in several bands, including the Kim Trio, he debuted as aApr 20, 2022
Girl group aespa to perform at Coachella music festival Korean girl group aespa / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentKorean girl group aespa will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the largest outdoor music festival in the United States, the group's agency said Tuesday. The quartet will make its Coachella debut Saturday (local time) during the second week of the festival, SM Entertainment said.Since the festival's lineup did not include the name, the group is expected to appear as a surprise guest.The group will be the first K-pop girl group to perform on Coachella's main stage, with its hit singles such as "Savage," "Next Level" and "Black Mamba" as well as an unreleased song, SM said.In 2019, BLACKPINK became the first Korean girl group to perform at Coachella but on a sub-main stage.Last October, aespa hit the Billboard main albums chart for the first time, as its first EP "Savage" debuted at No. 20. It became the highest-charting first album by a K-pop girl group.Coachella 2022 will feature about 120 artists, including big names such as Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Conan Gray and Pink Sweat$.Aespa's upcoming sApr 19, 2022
