The Korea Herald

2NE1's new album sweeps charts

Feb 27, 2014

K-pop group 2NE1 released its long-anticipated second full-length album Thursday, nabbing the top spot on numerous music charts in a matter of hours.Soon after its release on online music services at midnight, "Comeback Home," the main track on the album "Crush," topped real-time charts of 10 services, including Melon, Mnet, Olleh Music, Naver Music, Daum Music and Bugs.Another major piece, "Gotta Be You," came next on those charts while most of the remaining tracks also placed high."Crush" has
Actress Choi Ji-woo joins YG Entertainment

Feb 27, 2014

Top actress Choi Ji-woo has signed a contract with YG Entertainment, the agency announced on Wednesday. 　“Choi Ji-woo will continue her acting career under YG’s systematic and globalized management,” an official from YG Entertainment said. 　The veteran actress, who recently made a comeback with the drama “Suspicious Housekeeper,” is set to re-solidify her status as a queen of the Korean culture boom in Asia. 　YG Entertainment recently scouted top actor Cha Seung-won and a few other stars, a rare
2 outgoing KARA members to start anew

Feb 26, 2014

The K-pop girl group KARA has already lost one member, Nicole, and is soon to lose a second, Ji-young. (Captured from Nicole's instagram)Nicole went to the U.S. to study right after her contract with her management company, DSP Media, recently ended. She is currently considering a solo career and will return to South Korea at the end of March.She is reportedly planning to open a bakery in Shibuya, Tokyo. (Osen)The plans of Ji-young, another departing member, are also drawing attention in online
'Mr. Mr.' of Girls' Generation sweeps music charts

Feb 25, 2014

K-pop group Girls' Generation swept local music charts with its new song "Mr. Mr." Tuesday, a day after it was uploaded on online music services at home and abroad.The group's fourth mini-album of the same title was uploaded on iTunes and local music services such as Melon and Naver Music at 5 p.m. on Monday. It has six songs of different genres of pop music, including the title track "Mr. Mr" by famous American music production duo The Underdogs.As of Tuesday morning, the track sat atop real-ti
Ok Taec-yeon to play troubled bodyguard

Feb 18, 2014

2PM member stars in new KBS weekend drama
2NE1 to release new album this month

Feb 13, 2014

South Korean girl group 2NE1 will release a new album this month, the group's management agency said Thursday."We will upload the group's second full-length album, 'Crush,' on major online music services at midnight on Feb. 24," Yang Hyun-suk, chief of YG Entertainment, said in a posting on the company's official blog. The album will hit the shelves of local record stores a week later, he added."2NE1 released its first full-length album in September 2010, made by simply adding a few new songs to
K-pop artists bask in different popularity by region

Jan 26, 2014

North America votes most for EXO, Japan for Kim Hyun-joong, Europe for SHINee
What makes Kim Soo-hyun so popular in China?

Jan 22, 2014

Asian viewers have their eyes on South Korean dramas and actors. Kim Soo-hyun, in particular, hero of the hit drama “Man from the Stars,” is gaining explosive popularity in China, topping the “Today’s Actor” chart on China’s largest search engine Baidu on Jan. 14. “Kim Soo-hyun is handsome, and many girls would want to approach him,” said Connie Pang, 33, a big fan of Korean dramas who lives in Hong Kong. 　The 27-year-old heartthrob has been well-regarded for his acting, too. “Kim Soo-hyun is on
Crazed fan attempts to sell EXO member’s underwear

Jan 21, 2014

Controversy over obsessed fans is firing up again after a netizen posted an online ad Monday, advertising a pair of underwear for sale, supposedly belonging to D.O., a member of K-pop group EXO.　On Jan. 20, a photo of men’s underwear was posted on social network service Kakao Story with the caption, “Do Gyung-soo’s (D.O.) underwear for sale.”　The poster, who is believed to be a “sasaeng fan,” offered to sell the underwear for 100,000 won ($94), writing that she had taken the item from his dorm h
K-pop hologram theater opens in Dongdaemun shopping mall

Jan 17, 2014

Fans of such K-pop stars as rapper Psy, BigBang and 2NE1 will be able to see their idols whenever they want in hologram form.The government, telecom giant KT and YG Entertainment jointly opened a hologram performance venue for K-pop stars on Friday in a shopping mall in the Dongdaemun Market area, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.Located inside the Lotte Fitin shopping mall, the "Klive" theater has a hologram concert hall with a floor space of 1,650 square meters and variou
EXO chosen by Billboard among artists to watch for in 2014

Jan 16, 2014

South Korean boy group EXO has been chosen as one of the rising artists worth noticing in 2014 by the U.S. Billboard magazine. EXO is the only Asian group mentioned in the magazine's article, "14 Artists to Watch in 2014," which was posted on its website on Monday (U.S. Eastern time). The list also includes British soul musician John Newman, U.S. pop duo Holychild and U.S. R&B singer Banks. "EXO looks positioned to be K-pop's next crossover phenom with an American fan base brewing for the
[Graphic News] K-pop fans around the world

Jan 12, 2014

The number of K-pop fans around the world surpassed 9 million last year, according to a recent report by the Korea Foundation. The number stood at 9.28 million, up 2.58 million from 2012. Fan clubs came in at 987, up 204 from a year ago. By region, the Asia-Pacific had the greatest number of K-pop-loving fans at 6.8 million, while Africa and the Middle East together reported the most significant surge. The combined number of fans in Africa and the Middle East tripled to 60,000, with countries li
[Photo News] Suzy on hand for Eom Ki-Joon‘s musical ’Werther‘

Jan 6, 2014

Actor Eom Ki-joon posted a photo with Suzy of Miss A, who had come to watch the musical “Werther” on Twitter Sunday. The 39-year-old actor and the K-pop girl group member starred together on the KBS drama “Dream High” in 2011 as a teacher and student. Eom said he would perform on stage four more times before “Werther” end its run on Jan. 12. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)
[Photo News] G-Dragon’s fashionable father garners attention

Jan 5, 2014

Idol singer and style icon G-Dragon posted a photo of his father on Twitter Sunday morning with the title “Father and I in Sapporo for Big Bang Japan Dome tour 2014.”The photo shows the idol star taking a picture of his father sitting on a sofa dressed in black from head to toe, wearing a pair of matching black sneakers with a trendy muffler and fedora. The photo went viral among Twitter fans in Korea and abroad, receiving comments that his extraordinary fashion sense seems to come from his fath
[Photo News] 2PM's Nichkhun being kissed on the cheek by his sister

Dec 26, 2013

2PM’s Nichkhun shared a photo on Twitter of him being kissed on the cheek by his sister Cherreen.“Look at what I got this Christmas,” the idol star wrote o n Wednesday. 　Nickhun looked sulky in the photo despite the hearty kiss from his sister.　Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)