Psy to release new studio album this month Psy / Courtesy of P NationPsy will drop his ninth full-length album this month, his management agency said Tuesday, with this year marking the 10th anniversary of his global hit single "Gangnam Style."It will be the first release from the singer-rapper since his eighth album in May 2017."Gangnam Style" made him the first K-pop act to spend seven weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart following its release in 2012.The song's music video featuring a trademark “horse-riding dance” became the first video to exceed YouTube's view limit when it surpassed 2 billion views, prompting the service to upgrade its counter.The video had attracted more than 4.38 billion views as of Tuesday.Debuting in 2001, Psy is also known for such hit songs as "Bird," "Champion," "Gentleman" and "Right Now."He founded P Nation, a K-pop agency, in 2019, which currently is behind pop artists such as Jessi, HyunA, Dawn, Heize and Swings. (Yonhap)Apr 12, 2022
Parties discuss need for swift review of bill on alternative military duty for BTS BTS perform during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. April 3. Reuters-Yonhap The ruling and opposition parties have discussed the need for a swift review of a bill that will allow K-pop superstar BTS and other prominent pop celebrities to substitute their mandatory military service with other public service, a lawmaker said Tuesday.Rep. Sung Il-jong of the People Power Party, who serves as executive secretary for the National Assembly Defense Committee, told MBC radio that he and his Democratic Party of Korea counterpart recently discussed the need to swiftly review the bill pending in the National Assembly. "Since it is a matter related to fairness and the national interest, I don't think there will be any disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties," Sung said.His remarks suggested that the two main parties have a positive stance on the bill.All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to carry Apr 12, 2022
SHINee leader Onew says 'diversity' is keyword for his new EP Onew, leader and lead vocalist of K-pop group SHINee, poses during an online press conference, April 11. YonhapOnew, leader and lead vocalist of popular K-pop group SHINee, said Monday that "diversity" is the keyword that best represents his latest album to be released after more than three years of hiatus as an individual artist."I wanted to show that Onew is a person who can do not only calm songs, such as ballads or drama soundtracks, but also can dance and try something new," he said during an online press conference to promote the new EP "Dice." "In a word, it is 'diversity.'"It marks the first release from the artist following his first individual EP "Voice" in December 2018. The album consists of six tracks, including "Sunshine," a cheerful electronic pop song; "On the Way" featuring a combination of dreamlike sounds and guitar ad-libs; "Love Phobia," which depicts contradictory feelings of wanting eternal love; and "In the Whale," in which Onew was listed as a lyricist. The title track "Dice" is a pop song that features a combination of rhythmical flux guitar and refreshing sApr 11, 2022
BTS lights up Las Vegas, plays concert for 50,000 fans Members of K-pop boy group BTS perform during their concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday (local time.) Courtesy of Big Hit MusicBy Dong Sun-hwaLAS VEGAS ― Just before staging a concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday (local time), RM of K-pop titan BTS told reporters that the group would perform with an overwhelming burst of energy to fit the vibe of Las Vegas, a city often dubbed the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” Likening the city to an amusement park that gives him thrills and spills, the BTS front man added that he will do his best to make sure everyone in the audience enjoys the upcoming shows to the fullest. The BTS members had a short meeting with reporters a few minutes before starting their Saturday concert. Courtesy of Big Hit MusicRM and BTS delivered on that promise.The second leg of the “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage ― Las Vegas” show was a big party for some 50,000 concertgoers, who flocked to the city from all over the world to witness the event. Chelsea, a BTS fan from the Philippines, holds a panel that rApr 10, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
HYBE's 'The City' project aims to connect K-pop to major cities HYBE officials speak during a press conference at MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Saturday (local time). Courtesy of HYBEBy Dong Sun-hwaLAS VEGAS ― K-pop behemoth BTS, which is playing a series of sold-out concerts in Las Vegas, has turned the whole city into a “BTS-themed park” where fans can enjoy the septet's concerts, stay at BTS-themed hotels, visit its photo exhibition and try the members' favorite dishes. And this is only the beginning of a project called “The City” that turns entire metropolises into K-pop playgrounds, according to officials at HYBE, the management company of BTS. “All artists under the roof of HYBE will be part of 'The City' project, although the scale and the content might vary depending on the singers,” Kim Tae-ho, the chief operations officer of HYBE, said during a press conference held at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Saturday (local time). “We plan to run our project in other cities in Korea and Asia too. We will consider the popularity and the influence of our artists in different regions to make our decisionApr 10, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS dyes Las Vegas purple, turns city into playground Several buildings in Las Vegas have lit up their billboards in purple with the phrase, “Borahaegas,” a combination of “Borahae” and (Las Ve)gas, for K-pop band BTS' concerts there. For BTS and its fans, “Borahae” means “I will love you till the end.” Courtesy of HYBEBy Dong Sun-hwaLAS VEGAS ― Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the arena where K-pop titan BTS is staging a series of concerts that began Friday (local time), is the largest in Nevada and can accommodate an audience of 65,000. But it seems the seven superstars and their management company HYBE thought the facility was not big enough for the group and its fans ― hence, for the first time in K-pop history, they turned the entire city of Las Vegas into a BTS playground to ensure fans got the fullest experience.BTS-related items in Las Vegas' BTS-themed hotels / Courtesy of HYBEWhen they arrive at a BTS-themed hotel in Las Vegas ― which includes the MGM Grand, Bellagio and Excalibur ― fans will find several photos featuring members of the band on their beds, as well as a welcoming mApr 9, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS to begin four live concerts in Las Vegas, Saturday Fans pose in front of a large pop-up store selling official BTS merchandise near the band's concert venue in Las Vegas, April 6. Yonhap Las Vegas is going to turn into “BTS city” with the start of the K-pop supergroup's four sold-out concerts this weekend.The septet will hold four "Permission to Dance on Stage ― Las Vegas" shows Friday and Saturday, and April 15 and 16 (local time) at Allegiant Stadium, about a month after it held its first live concerts before an audience in Seoul since 2019.The upcoming concerts will focus on the reunion between the BTS members and their fans as the Seoul shows did, according to the band's agency Big Hit Music.For this, a massive LED screen will be installed on the stage as in the group's latest concerts in Los Angeles and Seoul, so the audience can get better views of the artists dancing and singing, even at a distance. BTS is expected to perform its hit singles "Butter," "Dynamite," "Permission to Dance" and "On."The four concerApr 8, 2022
BTS show not being planned for Yoon's inauguration ceremony: transition committee K-pop boy band BTS / AFP-YonhapA performance by K-pop sensation BTS is not being planned for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration ceremony next month, the presidential transition committee said Wednesday, denying an earlier remark by an ex-lawmaker involved in the ceremony preparation. "We have made no proposal or contact with BTS' agency in relation to the inaugural ceremony," the public relations office of the transition committee said in a message to the media. It added the remarks from the inauguration preparation committee reported by the media "are not the official position of the transition committee."In a follow-up message, the office further added the inaugural ceremony committee did "review presenting a BTS invitation show during discussions" but said the matter was not confirmed.The office said details of the inauguration ceremony remained under discussion and the committee plans to announce it as soon as they are confirmed. Park Joo-sun, chief of Yoon's inaugural ceremony committee, told KBS radio Tuesday the committee is "discussing the possibility" when asked whApr 6, 2022
IVE aims to solidify presence with new release 'Love Dive' Members of K-pop girl group IVE pose during an online press conference, Tuesday. Starship EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaRookie girl group IVE seeks to solidify its presence as the next leader of K-pop, rolling out its new EP, “Love Dive,” only about four months after making its debut last year.The six-piece act, which burst onto the K-pop scene in December with the tune, “Eleven,” has been basking in early success from the outset. With “Eleven,” the Starship Entertainment act nabbed the No. 1 spot on Korean music shows 13 times and reigned atop multiple music streaming charts including Bugs and Flo, positioning itself as a super rookie group. Its music video has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube as of Wednesday, too. The sextet aims to extend its winning streak with its fresh EP, “Love Dive,” that dropped Tuesday afternoon. According to the members, their new lead track is a modern pop song with a catchy chorus and energetic melodies, which highlights their confidence. Through the lyrics, the singers tell people to dive into love if Apr 6, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
HYBE denies school bullying rumor involving Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram of Le Sserafim / Courtesy of Source MusicBy Kim RahnHYBE has denied the rumor that Kim Ga-ram, a member of its soon-to-debut girl group Le Sserafim, was a school bully, saying it would take legal action against those spreading groundless suspicions.The company and Source Music, a label under HYBE that works as an entertainment agency for BTS, said Wednesday that they checked the facts about the rumor which had been spreading online since Tuesday after their announcement of Kim joining the new idol group.“We believe the rumor was spread with malicious intent to defame the artist ahead of her debut. Source Music has launched legal responses against falsified claims and suspicions regarding her,” they said in a statement. The companies said the school bullying rumor was a fabrication based on some problems she had had with friends during her early middle school days, adding that they confirmed, through third parties, that Kim was a victim of school bullying herself. “The suspicions are insulting to Kim who is still underage. We'll take stern legal actions agApr 6, 2022By Kim Rahn
