Astro dropped its eighth EP “Switch On” Monday and hosted an online media conference to introduce its latest release to fans and local media. 　 It has been only four months since the release of the group’s second studio album “All Yours” and the bandmates said that they came back with new music quickly in response to the popularity of the album. 　 The new EP contains the past, present and future of the band who has been together for six years. 　 “We’

Soloist Jeon Somi is returning with her new single “Dumb Dumb” on Monday. The comeback follows a yearlong break since her latest release “What You Waiting For” dropped July 2020. “I’m really excited to finally go on the stage. I’ve been preparing hard, and I feel both thrilled and nervous right now,” the 20-year-old singer said in a video released to the media by her agency The Black Label on Monday. With a sparkly black dress and hair dyed bri

Five-piece girl group Red Velvet will release a new EP in mid-August, the first new album in nearly two years, its management agency said Monday. The group's upcoming album "Queendom," which carries six tracks, will drop globally at 6 p.m. on Aug. 16, according to SM Entertainment. In line with the release, Red Velvet will host a virtual fan meet the following day. The physical album will hit shelves the same day, with preorders set to start this week. The upcoming album is the grou

SHANGHAI -- Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu, a former member of the K-pop boy band EXO, has been detained in China over suspicions of rape. Police in Beijing said in a posting on the Chinese social media platform Weibo late Saturday that they took the 30-year-old, whose legal Chinese name is Wu Yi Fan, into criminal custody on rape charges after looking into allegations that he seduced and had sex with female minors multiple times. Police did not give further details on the rape charges. Th

K-pop girl group Dreamcatcher is set to release a new summer special EP, “Summer Holiday,” Friday evening. Fronted by lead track “BEcause,” the six-song package aims to alleviate music lovers’ pandemic fatigue and, most importantly, to bring the septet closer to the public, its members said during an online media showcase. 　 “We’ve prepared several songs to let InSomnias all over the world feel the summer breeze just by listening to them,” said

In the highly competitive K-pop scene, it’s hard for rookies to rise above the crowd and make a splash. Despite the global lockdown during the ongoing pandemic era, EPEX is off to a good start. Hailed as a super-rookie band, the eight-piece group under C9 Entertainment released its first EP, “Bipolar Pt. 1: Prelude of Anxiety,” June 8 and achieved the highest first-week sales for a debut album among newcomers this year: a total of 33,353 copies sold on the Hanteo chart. Wit

Girl group Dreamcatcher held an online media showcase Friday to promote its latest EP, “Summer Holiday.”  　 It has been six months since the band wrapped up its “Dystopia” series with “Dystopia: Road to Utopia,” and the musicians are enjoying a breather before they embark on a new narrative. 　 “We’ve prepared special new songs to let InSomnias all over the world feel cool just by listening to them,” said Gahyun, referring to the band&

A handful of K-pop acts are vying to control domestic music charts during the sweatiest season. From rookies to heavyweights, many artists are gearing up for a spin next month. Following is a list of singers who are ready to showcase their new summer anthems that will allow music lovers to unplug from pandemic-triggered fatigue.  Astro Astro is ready to switch on the summer button with the release of its eighth EP, “Switch On.” The sextet revealed a snippet of their album

All bandmates of Girls’ Generation will appear in a variety show in time for the group’s 14th anniversary, according to media reports Wednesday. 　 It has been four years since they were seen on an entertainment program although they have been seen together on each other’s social media and YouTube channels. 　 Producers of “You Quiz on the Block,” a show hosted by veteran comedian/emcee Yoo Jae-seok, confirmed their appearance saying that they are discussing the ti

South Korean superband BTS appeared on a BBC radio show on Tuesday to perform two of its biggest hits, as well as a cover of the Billboard-topping hit "I'll be Missing You." The seven-piece act sang "Dynamite" -- the group's first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard's main singles chart -- and its latest single "Permission to Dance," which topped the music chart last week, on BBC Radio 1's "Live Lounge." In addition to the group's own songs, BTS also pe

The first solo album of EXO’s D.O. hit No. 1 on iTunes top albums chart in 59 regions.   　 The album came out Monday and swept all major music charts in Korea as well.   　 The eight-track album marks the debut of the veteran idol as a solo vocalist after almost 10 years of providing the main vocals of EXO.   　 It also is the first release since he returned after completing his mandatory military service in January, besides the band’s special album that came out in

South Korean supergroup BTS sat atop the Billboard's main singles chart for the ninth consecutive week as its hit single "Butter" returned to the throne after briefly giving way to its own latest single. "'Butter' officially returns to No. 1 on this week's #Hot100 chart for an eighth total week," Billboard said on its Twitter account Monday (US time). The song had reigned on the singles chart for seven straight weeks before giving way to the septet's latest single, "Pe

D.O. of EXO discussed his first solo album, “Empathy,” which came out Monday. 　 “This is quite a new frame of mind,” he confided through a Q&A statement through his label SM Entertainment. Singing alone was difficult in a way but was a different and fun experience, said the performer, wondering how listeners would find the eight tracks from the album. 　 As for naming the album “Empathy,” he explained that he realized the sheer energy of the word, after

Sibling duo AKMU is ready to take the music scene by storm. The duet is opening a new chapter in their music career with new collaboration album “Next Episode,” releasing Monday evening. The seven-song package provides support and comfort to people when they hit rock bottom in their lives, brother and songwriter Lee Chan-hyuk and sister Lee Su-Hyun said during an online press conference. Fronted by lead track “Fall,” featuring singer and actress IU, the latest print

BTS member V's message supporting self-proclaimed BTS fan and teenage ping pong sensation Shin Yu-bin has gone viral. Shin Yu-bin, the youngest member of the South Korean women's table tennis team at 17, is a fan of the South Korean supergroup. Shin, who beat Luxembourg's Xia Lian Ni, a 58-year-old veteran athlete, at the Tokyo Olympics Women's Singles Round 2 on Sunday, has often mentioned how she is a huge fan of the septet. Previous interviews showed her carrying photos of BTS members in he