The Korea Herald

Girls' Generation member quizzed by police over alleged assault

Apr 1, 2014

Hyo-yeon, a member of K-pop group Girls' Generation, has undergone questioning by police on suspicion of hitting a male acquaintance after a practical joke went awry, police said Tuesday.Seoul's Yongsan Police Station called in Hyo-yeon for questioning after the man, whose identity was withheld, filed a report accusing the singer of striking him in the face at a mutual acquaintance's home on Sunday."The man did not sustain any injury," said a police officer close to the investigation, adding tha
Wheesung to come back with new EP

Apr 1, 2014

Wheesung (YMC Entertainment)Veteran singer-songwriter Wheesung is slated to make a comeback with a new album next month, marking his official return to the music scene since completing military duty last year.Wheesung is working on a new EP to be released in early May, his agency YMC Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album will be the singer’s first official EP release in more than two years. His last EP, “They Are Coming,” dropped in 2011. Since completing his military duty last August, W
Boy band EXO to return this month with showcase, EP

Apr 1, 2014

EXO, one of the nation’s most popular K-pop acts, is returning to the music scene with “EXO Comeback Show” at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium on April 15 as well as the release of its latest EP. Although the group will promote its new album separately in Korea and China through the subunit groups EXO-K and EXO-M, the upcoming showcase will combine the two to feature all 12 members. The group’s upcoming promotions will be done in collaboration with Samsung, and the showcase will be streamed live throug
BoA stars in Hollywood dance flick

Apr 1, 2014

BoA has taken her dance moves to Hollywood, becoming the leading lady in the independent dance flick “Make Your Move.” The movie is a Romeo and Juliet-inspired dance film directed by Hollywood filmmaker Duane Alder, who was also behind the scripts for box office smashes “Save the Last Dance” and “Step Up.”Starring alongside American dancer, choreographer and five-time “Dancing with the Stars” winner Derek Hough, BoA plays Aya, a dancer from Japan who leads the “Cobu” hip-hop dance crew in New Yo
Akdong Musician to debut next week

Mar 31, 2014

The winning duo from ‘K-pop Star 2’ to showcase new, self-composed album
[Herald Interview] Lee Michelle talks empowerment and breaking down stereotypes

Mar 31, 2014

K-pop Star contestant releases debut single album ‘Without You’
Crayon Pop returns with red headscarves and ‘Uh-ee’

Mar 30, 2014

The playful members of Crayon Pop are leaving their signature helmets behind and returning with a new dance and their fifth single “Uh-ee.”Crayon Pop, which shot to stardom thanks to the surprise hit single “Bar Bar Bar” and the trademark “straight-five engine dance,” unveiled its latest single at a showcase held at the Olleh Square in central Seoul on Friday. The ladies sauntered out onto the stage dressed like a pack of little red riding hoods and revealed that their latest costumes concept wa
[Band Uprising] Yellow Monsters encourage listeners to riot and rise against

Mar 30, 2014

Punk rock band as ‘crazy’ and energetic as they come
Korean pop singers Rain, G-Dragon win Chinese music awards

Mar 28, 2014

Two K-pop artists have won prizes at a music awards ceremony hosted by a Chinese online music service, their management agencies said Friday.Pop singer and actor Rain and G-Dragon, leader of the boy band BigBang, won awards for most influential overseas artist and for most popular artist from South Korea or Japan, respectively, at China's "QQ Music Awards," Cube Entertainment and YG Entertainment said. Rain performed some of his latest hit songs during the awards show held in the southern Chines
Alt-rock band Nell to showcase new album

Mar 27, 2014

Signature South Korean alt-rock band Nell is scheduled to hold a series of concerts next month, showcasing its new studio album “Newton’s Apple.”Nell will stage five live performances titled “Nell’s Season 2014 ― Newton’s Apple” at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Seoul from April 3-6.The four-member band, composed of vocalist and leader Kim Jong-wan, guitarist Lee Jae-kyung, bassist Lee Jung-hoon and drummer Chung Jae-won, entered the local music scene in 2001 with the indie album “Reflecti
Actors’ military enlistment may put a brake on K-drama production

Mar 27, 2014

In South Korea, all able-bodied Korean men 19 or older are obliged to serve in the military for two years. Even the hottest stars like Kim Soo-hyun and Lee Min-ho can’t avoid enlistment.South Korean drama production companies and broadcasters are expected to face obstacles in casting A-list actors as many are preparing to enter military service as early as this year. “The stars who are preparing for military enlistment from this year and next are unexpectedly the most wanted actors for upcoming
[Uniquely Korean] K-pop trainees’ hard-knock life

Mar 26, 2014

It is certainly no secret in Korea that the training process to debut as a K-pop star is no quick or simple venture. Often referred to as music “boot camp,” K-pop training among some of the nation’s biggest talent agencies is intense, to say the least. And with only a fraction of trainees able to become K-pop stars, the atmosphere among trainees can be fiercely competitive and cutthroat. Although other nations’ talent agencies play a role in “grooming” acts to make it big in the entertainment in
‘Married ladies’ group challenges girls’ dominance

Mar 25, 2014

Fighting against all odds and the stereotype that girls wishing to debut in the K-pop industry have to be young and single, the new group Girl Hood is looking to break down those barriers. The quartet is making a splash in the K-pop world because the ladies are not in their teens, or even in their early 20s. The average age of a Girl Hood member is 34, with the ages ranging from 28 to 35. Also, it is not just their ages that makes them stand out from other groups: All four are married and three
Shinhwa marks 16th anniversary

Mar 24, 2014

Shinhwa, the longest-running boy band in South Korea, on Sunday returned to the stage with a show at the Olympic Gymnastics Hall, where they held their first-ever concert in 2001. Entitled “Here,” the show celebrated their 16 years as a band with the fans who have stood by them through the ups and downs. In the dimly lit concert hall, thousands of orange glowsticks welcomed five of the six members of Shinhwa ― Eric, Hye-sung, Min-woo, Dong-wan and Jun-jin. Andy did not show up, in accordance wit
Superstar K ballad singer puts on dancing shoes for first time

Mar 21, 2014

After playing on the streets of Hongdae for spare change as a struggling troubadour looking to help his single mother and himself make ends meet, former Superstar K4 contestant Hong Dae-kwang is rapidly putting his tough past behind him and looking toward a bright future as a singer.Hong released the second half of his “Silver Lining” album, “The Silver Lining ― Part 2,” on Friday. The new EP features the lead track “Thank You My Love,” and despite being relatively slow-paced, it has the most up