Veteran balladeer Park Hyo-shin will return with the new wintry single “Winter Sound,” according to his agency Glove Entertainment. The agency said Thursday that Park’s upcoming new single, penned and composed by the singer himself, marks his first release since “I am a Dreamer” in October last year. Park is said to have recorded the song while recalling the person he missed most and focusing on the sound of winter. The release date for “Winter Sound” is yet to be revealed. The seasoned singer,

Black Eyed Pilseung, a prominent K-pop producer duo, will kick-start its K-pop management agency by holding nationwide auditions in January next year. In June, Rado and Choi Kyu-sung joined forces with CJ E&M to establish their own K-pop agency called High-up Entertainment.  Black Eyed Pilseung (High-up Entertainment)On Thursday, Black Eyed Pilseung announced the official launch of the agency, along with a plan to hold auditions in eight cities, including Gwangju, Busan and Seoul, in January nex

K-pop group MissA will be ending its seven-year career, its agency JYP entertainment said Wednesday. The announcement did not come as a surprise, as the originally four-piece group only consisted of Suzy and Fei, who renewed their contracts with JYP in August this year and May last year, respectively. (JYP Entertainment)Industry insiders had also anticipated that MissA’s disbandment was only a matter of time, with the group taking a long break since the release of its EP “Colors” in 2015. Former

Gaon Music Chart on Tuesday announced its decision to accept albums and EPs released in USB form as physical albums, reversing its previous position. Gaon said in a statement Tuesday that it is changing its definition of “album” from an offline record to a music product sold in a bundle. The chart tallies online and offline sales of music released in Korea.  G-Dragon (YG Entertainment)“As a result, G-Dragon’s USB EP will be included on Gaon’s chart from next year. In addition, we expect various

[Next Wave] Watching her bandmates, also her longtime friends, walk out of the band over the past few years has been painful. But the vein of optimism still runs through Dalchong, who declared she would become the one and only vocalist of band Cheeze in January this year. “Looking back, I was full of concerns when I stood solo earlier this year. Standing alone was tough, but I remember that my New Year’s resolution for 2017 was, ‘Let me do whatever I can do as much as I can.’ Come to think of it

K-pop sensation BTS again proved its power, as it was ranked the highest among K-pop acts on Japan’s annual Oricon singles chart, according to the group’s agency Big Hit Entertainment Sunday.“Mic Drop/DNA/Crystal Snow,” the band’s eighth Japanese single album, secured its spot at No. 13 on the Japanese chart for 2017. “Blood Sweat & Tears,” its seventh Japanese single, ranked No. 22. BTS‘ “Mic Drop/DNA/Crystal Snow” (Big Hit Entertainment)The two single albums marked the highest and second-highe

K-pop sensation BTS has come in at No. 13 with “Mic Drop/DNA/Crystal Snow” on Japan’s annual Oricon single ranking, according to Oricon. BTS performs “DNA” at the American Music Awards held Nov.19 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (AP-Yonhap)　It marked the highest ranking by a South Korean band, said the Japanese music statistics-tracking company.　The boy band‘s “Blood Sweat & Tears” took the 22nd spot, said Oricon.　On Friday, the global K-pop sensation performed on Japanese broadcaster TV As

Kim sets out on four-year journey of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas

K-pop act Infinite will roll out the album “Top Seed” on Jan. 8, according to the group’s agency Woolim Entertainment.   A teaser photo for Infinite’s upcoming album “Top Seed” (Woolim Entertainment)At midnight on Thursday, the agency heralded Infinite’s return by dropping a teaser image for “Top Seed,” which marks the group’s third album. Fronted by the lead track “Top Seed,” the album will be the group’s first release in more than a year after “Infinite Only.”The teaser photo showed the member

Following Jonghyun’s untimely death that spread grief around the globe, an Indonesial female fan’s recent suicide attempt has sparked a possible copycat suicide alert. According to Indonesian media reports Thursday, the fan was found unconscious from an overdose and hospitalized in an apparent suicide attempt. On Monday she left suicidal posts on her Twitter account, the day Jonghyun passed away. She wrote, “I can‘t endure it anymore. Mom, dad, Jonghyun oppa, we’ll meet really soon” in both Kore

IU has been chosen as the top singer of the year in an annual poll.Gallup Korea canvassed 4,200 people aged 13 to 59 across the country from July 6-26, Sept. 1-29 and Nov. 8-28, and the singer took the top spot, racking up 15.2 percent of total votes. Having debuted in 2008, IU released many chart-sweeping songs, including “Good Day,” “You & I” and “The Red Shoes.” In 2014, the singer was named best singer of the year in the survey as her cover album “A Flower Bookmark” gained popularity among a

SHINee members, K-pop stars and fans gathered at Jonghyun’s funeral at Seoul Asan Hospital on Thursday morning to bid the late singer farewell. Hundreds of fans from across the country watched as the casket of Jonghyun -- whose real name is Kim Jong-hyun -- was carried out. Onew, Key, Taemin and members of Super Junior were pallbearers, while Minho and Jonghyun’s sister walked ahead of the procession holding his photo.  Members of SHINee and Super Junior carry Jonghyun’s coffin at Seoul Asan Hos

For decades, K-pop stars have been the envy of teenagers here due to the seemingly glamorous and lucrative lifestyle show business has to offer. But a note written by the main vocalist of SHINee, who took his life Monday, showed the depth of their struggles and lives in the public eye, shedding a critical spotlight on the multibillion-won industry where some artists are crushed under depression. In his letter, Jonghyun wrote, “I’m broken from the inside. The depression that has slowly eaten away

K-pop stars delayed, downscaled and even canceled promotional activities in the wake of the unexpected death of SHINee lead singer Jonghyun. EXO, signed under the same label as SHINee, announced Tuesday it would postpone the release of its winter album “Universe” to Dec. 26 from the originally slated Thursday. Twice also delayed the release of the music video for “Merry & Happy” from Thursday to Friday, it announced via Twitter on Tuesday. Kim’s burial service is to be held Thursday. Seventeen c

K-pop agency system comes under fire in wake of Jonghyun’s death