Blackpink will not leave label YG Entertainment, the management firm announced Friday, denying a report by the Korea Herald that it will join The Black Label. The report said the foursome would sign with The Black Label, a YG affiliate headed by producer Teddy who has been a main force behind the group since its debut, after its contract with YG Entertainment comes to and end next year. It added that Blackpink had already completed discussing the terms with the Black Label. Se

This year has opened up a new chapter for K-pop. Novel names have dominated the scene, with long-loved veterans venturing out on a path never walked by others. Groups released new records, with the overall market growing annually to see the highest physical album sales this year. But with the ups come the downs, and 2022 brought to light many problems -- old and new -- inside the industry. While some were mild hiccups, many have shocked society and remain unresolved. With only a few days left th

This year has opened up a new chapter for K-pop. Rookies have stepped up, with girl groups excelling beyond all. BTS ended the long discussion on the seven members' conscription with Jin's December enlistment. Long-awaited comebacks came as the end of the prolonged virus pandemic nears, with some surprise returns making a splash. The K-pop market itself is expanding fast. The top 400 albums sold 74 million copies as of last week, up 30 percent from 2021, Circle Chart (previously, Gaon

K-pop boy band iKON is leaving its current agency YG Entertainment as its exclusive contract has come to an end. According to industry sources, the members of iKON -- Song, Jay, Ju-ne, Chan, Bobby and DK -- decided to not renew their contracts with YGt. This comes seven years after their debut in September 2015. The iKON members are currently looking for new agencies and at the same time are considering the option of forming an agency themselves to continue their careers together as a band. Prev

Blackpink will change its management to The Black Label, an affiliate of YG Entertainment, according to industry sources. On Friday, an industry insider told The Korea Herald that the four-piece girl group would leave YG to join The Black Label, and that discussions over the contracts were completed early this year. The Black Label is headed by Teddy, a creative director and songwriter who has worked with Blackpink since the group’s debut. Formerly an in-house producer for YG, Teddy co-fou

TV personality Jeon Hyun-moo wrapped up the year in triumph, winning the grand prize at the MBC Entertainment Awards on Thursday. Recognized for his performances on smash-hit TV shows -- “I Live Alone” and “The Manager: Revel My Star’s Life,” widely known as its Korean title “Omniscient Interfering View,” the 45-year-old show host was awarded the top prize at MBC headquarters in Mapo-gu, western Seoul. Jeon won his second grand prize in MBC Entertainme

“Gentleman” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 28 Crime/Action Directed by Kim Kyung-won Private detective Ji Hyun-soo (Ju Ji-hoon) pretends to be a prosecutor in order to find his missing client, fight evil crimes and track down outlaws masterminded by Kwon Do-hoon (Park Sung-woong), the head of a large law firm. Together with merciless prosecutor Kim Hwa-jin (Choi Sung-eun), Ji works on solving a murder case to prove his innocence after he is falsely accused of being the killer. Hero (Sou

Jungkook of BTS surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify with solo work “Dreamers” on Thursday. It is from the original soundtrack for 2022 FIFA World Cup and reached the milestone in 35 days, record time for a K-pop solo artist. The single debuted on the music platform’s global chart at No. 2, the highest spot for a solo musician from Asia. “Dreamers” landed atop the iTunes top albums chart in 102 regions and Billboard’s digital song sales chart. Pictures of

Filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, who directed the first Korean zombie-thriller to attract more than 10 million viewers at local cinemas, is returning with the new sci-fi film “Jung_E.” Yeon’s new dystopian action thriller is set in the 22nd century, when humans and AI robots exist only in outer space due to climate change. After a civil war breaks out in the post-apocalyptic era, humans at an AI research lab endeavor to develop the warrior AI robot Jung_E and clone its brain to win the

Singer and rapper Jay Park hosts first quarter of the new show

As most of the world returns to pre-pandemic normalcy, the coming year is expected to bring in worldwide talents and provide many occasions to showcase collaboration between Korean musicians and renowned orchestras. As early as March, the 475-year-old German orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden, with its principal guest conductor Chung Myung-whun, will hit the stage of the Seoul Art Center. On March 5, featuring Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin, the orchestra will perform a Tchaikovsky piano concerto a

Six out of 10 Netflix subscribers globally watched at least one Korean title on the streaming platform this year, Netflix said Thursday. "The K-Wave is bigger than ever," Netflix said in a release posted on its global newsroom. "Sixty percent of our members watched a Korean title and Netflix had six of the Top 10 most searched K-Dramas in Korea." The zombie thriller "All Of Us Are Dead" and the legal drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" were two of Netflix&#

Treasure will tour seven cities in Asia from March next year, announced label YG Entertainment on Wednesday. It will be the boy band’s first tour in the regions since its debut in 2020. The band will begin its itinerary in Taipei on March 4 before going live twice each in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia in following weeks. The next month, it will hop around Bangkok, Singapore and the Philippine capital of Manila before wrapping up in Macau. The ten members have been touring

Yugyeom, a member of K-pop boy band GOT7, is making a comeback on Jan. 2 next year with his new digital single “Ponytail,” announced agency AOMG with concept photos on Thursday. The photos depict Yugyeom slumped against an obstacle in jet-black outfits with silver accessories. He is also sporting a charismatic expression, covering part of his face with his hand. The new digital single “Ponytail” comes 10 months after Yugyeom dropped his digital single “Take You Down

From rom-com to suspense thrillers, Korean broadcasters gear up for next ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ and ‘Reborn Rich’