Pop-locking dance machine and R&B vocalist Taeyang from leading K-pop boy band Big Bang has made his solo return with the unveiling of his second full studio solo album “Rise” on Tuesday. Coming nearly four years since the release of debut studio album “Solar,” Taeyang’s new album features nine tracks that were composed in collaboration with YG Entertainment’s go-to producers Teddy and DEE.P, as well as fellow label mates G-Dragon and Tablo of Epik High. Taeyang himself also took part in the alb

As K-pop’s popularity surged at home and abroad in past years, a unique fan culture of buying luxurious gifts for favored stars took root. The culture, however, is now evolving into helping society, rather than just the stars.Not so long ago, it was traditionally the norm for K-pop fans to shower stars with expensive gifts, but the trend is often frowned upon when it goes to the extreme. Avid fans of K-pop boy band Super Junior, for example, were not afraid to spend $100,000 (about 100 million w

On the eve of Wednesday’s local elections, attention is turning to K-pop stars who may cast their first ever vote in the upcoming polls.Those eligible to vote must have been born before June 5, 1995, as South Korea’s legal voting age has dropped to 19.Miss A’s Suzy, f(x)’s Sulli and Krystal, 2NE1’s Minzy, Girls’ Day’s Hyeri, A pink’s Naeun and Namjoo, Tiny-G’s Dohee, AOA’s Seolhyun and former member of KARA Kang Ji-young are just a few of the K-pop singers who will have a chance to vote for the

JYP Entertainment, one of the largest K-pop management companies, announced its plan to hold a third “JYP Nation” concert, to be called “One Mic.”“JYP Nation” features all the artists under the management giant.“Following our 2010 JYP Nation ‘Teamplay’ concert and second of its kind in 2012, we will hold ‘2014 JYP Nation – One Mic’ to showcase our artists,” the agency announced.This upcoming concert will start off in Seoul on Aug. 9. Following the first performance, the group of K-pop stars will

“Mr. Mr.” by K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation was picked as one of the 25 best songs of the year, the only one by an Asian group to make the list, the TIME magazine said Tuesday. It is only halfway through the year, but “it‘s never too early to start rounding up the strongest tracks of 2014,” the magazine noted.“Fans of K-pop juggernaut Girls‘ Generation won’t be disappointed by their latest dance-friendly single, and the addition of a scratchy electronic bass line and a hint of darkness shoul

Actress Shin Min-ah boasted a floral look at a film preview event for her movie “Gyeongju.” (Yonhap)The two-piece had fancy decorations of various colors, stressing a feminine look. She minimized all other accessories to emphasize the outfit.  (Yonhap)The two-piece is reportedly from the Dolce & Gabbana Spring Summer 2014 collection. “Gyeongju,” a comedy-melodrama directed by Jang Ryul, tells the story of a man looking for a woman he met seven years ago in the city of Gyeongju.The film stars Shi

Pitching styles of Korean female celebrities on the baseball field are drawing more and more attention not only from baseball fans but also ordinary citizens.In an effort to bolster fan service, baseball teams are eager to invite mainly female celebrities to throw an opening pitch.The invited female stars have exercised their pitching forms before taking the mound, astonishing baseball fans with various styles and fashion. This year, female idol group Crayon Pop became the pitchers for the game

Girls’ Generation’s Yuri on Tuesday released a selfie taken with Tiffany and a dog on Instragram.  (Yuri's Instagram)Titled “Hani time w. Prince‘s mom,” two members posed with light-hearted facial expressions. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

T-Ara member Hyomin’s teaser image for “Nice Body” was released this week. Hyomin is well known for her fashion sense and managed to once again look great by wearing a black dress with a matching white top and snapback. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: Core Contents Media)

Sandara Park and CL, members of K-pop girl group 2NE1, disclosed a photo taken after appearing on a KBS radio program hosted by actress Yoo In-na on Saturday. “DJ Dara and guest CL..... I would like to invite all our members to the program to make it crazy if given a second chance. Twen-night,” Sandara wrote alongside the photo on her Instagram account. Sandara Park served as a special DJ on the KBS radio program “Yoo In-na’s Volume Up” from May 26 to June 1. 　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

SISTAR member Hyorin recently adopted a new kitten and showed off the newest addition to her family on Twitter Monday.“I have adopted a pretty kitten! She is 3 months old and youngest in this house. She knows how to look at the camera! I will make you happy, CHU,” she wrote with the picture.(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

(SM Entertainment)K-pop sensation SHINee once again electrified fans on Sunday at a concert held in Shanghai, China, the fifth country the idol group visited on its concert tour “SHINee WORLD Ⅲ.” At the group’s first solo concert in China’s richest city, SHINee performed 27 songs including a host of hits such as “Ring Ding Dong,” “Dream Girl,” “Sherlock,” and “Lucifer.”Local fans started to queue up in the early hours of the morning, even in rain, and added special touches to the show, such as s

Taeyang (left), G-DragonTaeyang, a member of the K-pop group Big Bang, said Monday that there is no rivalry between him and fellow member G-Dragon. “Jiyong (G-Dragon) is amazing, but I don’t feel the way many people do about him as I am always by his side. I thought I wanted to produce an album that does not lag behind his, but there is no competition between us,” he said at a press conference in Seoul.  G-Dragon and Taeyang have been at the forefront in terms of solo activities among the group

Hitmen make good subject matter for films, catching the eyes of moviegoers for years and spawning diverse characters.While foreign films have created a spate of famous assassins such as Leon, Nikita and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Korean films have their hitmen too. Actor Jung Woo-sung bossed an international gang while playing a hitman in 2013 film “Cold Eyes.” A group of four hitmen, two played by top stars Won Bin and Shin Ha-kyun, was comically portrayed in “Guns and Talks” directed by Jang Jin in 2

A picture supposedly of popular K-pop couple Nichkhun from 2PM and Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany in Malibu has gone viral on the Internet.An Internet user uploaded a photo titled, “Nichkhun-Tiffany’s secret trip to Malibu” on an online community based in South Korea on Sunday, attracting many users’ attention.In the photograph, a man in sunglasses, allegedly identified as Nichkhun, and a woman in sleeveless dress, allegedly Tiffany, order at a restaurant located in the vacation spot.The duo has be