The hallyu wave has made Korea one of Asia’s biggest entertainment powerhouses. Famous for K-pop and “Gangnam Style,” Korea’s entertainment industry is setting its sights on captivating new audiences, and new consumers.　Most recently riding the wave of success in China, the future expansion and growth of hallyu -- or Korean cultural content -- is seeking new export outlets.　The industry that was once all about penetrating the Japanese market has shifted its focus. While the exportation of Korean

K-pop girl group Twice (JYP Entertainment)Despite having only debuted one year ago, the ladies of Twice have already become the fastest selling girl group ever on both the Gaon and Hanteo music charts. 　Twice’s latest EP, “TWICEcoaster: Lane 1” released Oct. 24 and in less than two months the album has sold more than 220,000 copies, making it the fastest selling album by a girl group in Korea. 　The EP features the lead single “TT,” and the “TT” music video went on to become the fastest K-pop vid

K-pop group EXO (S.M. Entertainment)The K-pop megastars of EXO are in the spotlight again this holiday season, dropping their new winter EP “For Life” on Monday. 　The five-track album, with its eponymous lead single, was released in both Korean and Chinese. It features both upbeat pop and soulful ballads as well as Christmas-inspired tracks including “Winter Heat,” “What I Want for Christmas” and “Falling for You.”　Along with the album release, EXO unveiled the Korean and Chinese music videos fo

BEIJING (Yonhap) -- China has become hostile toward South Korea’s entertainment content, but is welcoming to cultural products from Japan despite its strained political ties with both countries, sources close to the matter said Sunday.Relations between China and South Korea took a hit earlier this year after Seoul announced the deployment of an advanced US anti-missile system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on its soil. While South Korea and the US argued the system would only be used

 KBS 2TV series "Descendants of the Sun" received the top prize at the 21st Asian Television Awards (ATA), the network said Saturday. The mega hit drama was named Best Drama Series at the award ceremony that took place at the Suntec Convention Center in Singapore on Friday evening. The 16-episode drama was sensationally popular not only in Korea but also around Asia, especially in China. At one point, its viewership hit 38.8 percent on its home turf.  (KBS)Its popularity made Song Joong-ki and S

South Korean idol groups Bangtan Boys (BTS), EXO and TWICE took top awards at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) at AsiaWorld-Expo Arena in Hong Kong.K-pop boy band BTS of modest-sized Big Hit Entertainment won the Artist of the Year title, one of the event's three big honors, along with Album of the Year and Song of the Year awards, on Friday night. The band also snatched the best dance performance award for male group artists.   Bangtan Boys wins the Artist of the Year award at the 2016 M

YG Entertainment released a statement on Friday that announced that girl group 2NE1 has disbanded.Back in May, 2NE1‘s contract with YG ended and Gong Minzy left the group. The fate of the other members was uncertain and after much deliberation, it was decided that the group will no longer continue. In the official statement, YG said, “Rather than investing in a team that is uncertain of a comeback, we have decided to invest our efforts in the members’ solo careers.”CL and Sandara Park have renew

South Korean girl group Twice released the music video for “TT,” the title track of its new album, sparking interest and excitement among K-pop fans around the world. But the overly sexual references have left some viewers confused as it doesn’t fit the group’s pure, innocent image. The third EP from the nine-member girl group sounds as expected, but few viewers were prepared for the abrupt sexual symbolism that is jarringly out of sync with the group’s otherwise convincing music track.(JYP Ente

To commemorate its 10th debut anniversary, iconic K-pop group Big Bang partnered with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund for the organization’s Special Days Campaign, according to the group’s management agency YG Entertainment on Tuesday. 　“Big Bang has been doing its part in various charity campaigns to celebrate its anniversary every year,” said YG Entertainment in a press release. “This project with UNICEF is a way to show appreciation for all of the support from fans over the past

Five-member K-pop girl group Spica is gearing up for its comeback.　Returning to the spotlight since the release of its digital track “Ghost” in 2014, Spica will unveil its new single “Secret Time” on Aug. 25, according to the group’s management agency B2M Entertainment on Tuesday. “Prepared tirelessly throughout the group’s hiatus, the song will present a concept unparalleled to what Spica has shown in the past,” said B2M Entertainment in a press release.  During the group’s temporary break, the

What started out as a hobby for Kim Seung-min in 2015 has grown into a YouTube channel with 1.6 million subscribers and total views of 1 billion for more than 600 videos. Kim’s channel Toy Monster focuses on children aged between 3 and 10. It introduces colorful toys and materials as well as how to play with them in videos that range from five to eight minutes. It ranks 21st on a list of top 30 most-viewed YouTube channels for kids’ education globally, according to Socialblade, a YouTube statist