Rapper’s new song latest tussle in South Korean gender war

Students in Korea who were born in the year 2000 took the national collge entrance exam Thursday, and several pop stars were among them. On the morning of the test day, reporters spotted several teenage stars headed to their assigned test sites.  Kim Chae-won (Yonhap) Kang Hye-won, Kim Chae-won and Sakura Miyawaki (Yonhap)IZ*ONE’s Kim Chae-won went to a high school in Songpa-gu, Seoul, flanked by her bandmates Kang Hye-won and Sakura Miyawaki who walked her to the gates in support.  Choi Bo-min

South Korean hip-hop icon Drunken Tiger's new song featuring BTS leader RM debuted at No. 1 on the US iTunes' hip-hop chart, its agency said Friday."Timeless" from Drunken Tiger's 10th full-length album topped the hip-hop/rap songs chart, the K-pop chart and the music video chart of the US iTunes upon its release, according to Feel Ghood Music. The piece also ranked high on the main pop chart while topping iTunes' song charts of 26 countries, including Sweden, Egypt, Romania, Israel, Finland, Sa

The main track of boy band Wanna One’s first full album was leaked four days ahead of its official release, sources in the K-pop scene said Thursday.They said a music file and lyrics for “Spring Breeze” from the album titled “1¹¹=1 (Power of Destiny)” have spread quickly across social media since Wednesday. Wanna One (Yonhap)This is not the first time that the band has experienced an illegal leaking of its material. In March, files for “Boomerang” and “Gold,” both on the band’s second EP, “0+1=1

It’s that time of year again, when around 600,000 Korean students go through one of the most nervous and significant moments of their lives by sitting the nationwide college entrance exam. And with Suneung, Korea’s annual college entrance exam, taking place on Thursday, BTS Suga’s recollection on Twitter of that nerve-wracking day has resurfaced across social media, which fans called as super down-to-earth. His tweet, dated November 2015, read, “Hi this is Suga. Today is the college entrance exa

Renowned Korean boy band BTS has successfully finished its two concerts in Tokyo, drawing a total of 100,000 fans, the group's management agency said Thursday.BTS performed live about 30 songs, including the Japanese version of "I Need You," "Run" and "DNA," during the "Love Yourself" concerts at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Yonhap)The group received an enthusiastic response from the fans for performing "Fake Love," the title track off its latest Japanese single album "Fake Love/Air

E’Dawn from boy band Pentagon is leaving Cube Entertainment.The singer, who was mired in controversy after going public with his relationship with fellow singer HyunA, will no longer be at Cube Entertainment as of Wednesday, the agency confirmed in a statement.“Cube Entertainment agreed with E’Dawn to end his contract on the 14th,” the statement read. (E'Dawn's Instagram)The decision comes nearly a month after the agency cut ties with female solo artist HyunA, who remains romantically connected

“POP/STARS” by virtual K-pop girl group “K/DA,” composed of game characters from online multiplayer arena game “League of Legends,” has made it to the top of the US iTunes’ K-pop and Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales charts, following its release on Nov. 3.“K/DA Ahri, K/DA Evelynn, K/DA Kai’Sa, and K/DA Akali take the world stage with their debut single,” reads the description of the song’s music video on YouTube, which had garnered nearly 55 million views as of Wednesday. (Billboard)On Billb

South Korean music label JYP Entertainment has seen a strong quarter on the strength of its veteran players and newcomer acts, along with steady overseas market expansion, a brokerage said Tuesday. “JYP Entertainment has shown a solid third-quarter performance due to the increase in overseas revenue of the major lineup (of artists such as GOT7, Twice) and the rapid growth of the newcomer lineup (Stray Kids),” NH Investment & Securities said in a report.  (JYP Entertainment)The music label’s oper

BTS' agency Big Hit Entertainment has issued a statement over the recent controversies surrounding its artists' wardrobe choices."We don't condone any activities of war or the use of atomic weapons. ... We had no intention to hurt victims of the dropping of atomic bombs," it said Tuesday night, referring to the controversy regarding BTS member Jimin's T-shirt that had an image of an atomic bomb.(Big Hit Entertainment)It was the company's first public statement on the issue since Japanese music p

A member of a popular South Korean boy band in the 1990s has been sued by his own fans over fraud and embezzlement, court officials here said Tuesday. Kang Sung-hoon, the main vocalist of the boy band Sechs Kies, and his fan club, "Hoony World," are facing investigation from legal authorities after 70 of the band's fans lodged a complaint with Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office claiming that the two misappropriated fan donations, according to the officials. The fans said that Hoony World

Jennie’s first solo single, “Solo,” topped both the Korean and global charts upon its release Monday evening. Representing the act, YG Entertainment said Tuesday that the Black Pink artist’s first solo track has landed atop eight local music-streaming charts including Melon, Bugs, Mnet and Genie. The song has also shot to No. 1 on iTunes charts in 49 countries including Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland and Spain. (YG Entertainment)Written

Singer Psy is planning to entertain fans with another installment of the “All Night Stand” concerts at the end of 2018. “All Night Stand” will be held at the KSPO Dome at Olympic Park in Seoul from Dec. 21-24. (Instagram)Psy notified fans of the upcoming shows via his social media account on Monday, posting a couple of playful tips, such as “Although it’s winter outside, where you’ll be with me is going to be summer. Wear mid-summer clothing inside your mid-winter jackets.”“All Night Stand” star

Politicians weigh in on the latest pop culture controversy involving a boy band and a certain T-shirt

Winner successfully wrapped up its first solo concert “Winner 2018 [Everywhere] Tour in Manila” in the Philippines on Saturday. Local fans threw special events for the group as gifts.  (Winner performs at “Winner 2018 [Everywhere] Tour in Manila” on Nov.10. / YG Entertainment)Fans flocked to the airport to welcome Winner by passionately singing “Everyday.” Banners showing images of each member adorned street lamps around the concert hall. The unique fashion donned by fans also grabbed attention,