Four crossover groups mesmerized fans with fresh, intense music, presenting a bold mixture of genres. "The Masterpiece," a concert featuring the crossover groups Fortena, Crezl, RabidAnce, and Liberante — formed through seasons 3 and 4 of JTBC's audition program Phantom Singer — was held over the weekend at Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo. The concert began with Fortena, a group of four tenors. The quartet opened the show with "Neapolis," which the group perform

Performance Aug. 12, 2024

After a lengthy hiatus, the former members of the disbanded group B.A.P have reunited and made their much-anticipated return to the stage, now performing under a new name. Debuting in 2012, the iconic boy band quickly rose to fame with their versatile sound, delivering powerful hip-hop anthems like “No Mercy” and “One Shot,” alongside lighter, more playful tracks such as “Stop It” and “Crash.” The band was disbanded in 2019, following the expiratio

K-pop Aug. 11, 2024

On Aug. 15, 1945, Korea achieved independence after 35 years of Japanese colonial rule. Many fought for the country’s liberation from the Japanese Empire, with many losing their lives. August seems to be a perfect time to reflect on the stories of those who endured tremendous hardships and their legacies in Korean music today. "Women’s March" sung by Ahn Ye-eun In 1919, after the nationwide March 1st Independence Movement, seven female independence activists — Yu Gwan

Performance Aug. 10, 2024

Fluffy happiness In the bustling streets of the Hongdae area, there is a must-visit spot for dog lovers. At the special cafe named Winter’s Village, visitors can meet 11 Samoyeds and one Malamute spread across two floors, all enjoying their free time. While animal welfare is a common concern with pet-related businesses, this cafe is run by the owner who personally raises all the dogs. They limit the number of customers to prevent overcrowding and provide regular breaks for the dogs. To dis

Culture Aug. 9, 2024

Yoon San-ha of the boy band Astro set off on a journey as a soloist with his first mini album "Dusk." The singer debuted as the youngest member of Astro in 2016. The album's title symbolizes the transition from being an Astro member to his new solo artist identity. “When I started preparing the album, I pondered what kind of music I could make and my unique color. Then I decided to incorporate those struggles into the album,” said the singer at a press conference held

K-pop Aug. 7, 2024

Kim Sung-kyu, the leader of veteran boy band Infinite, thrilled fans with a stand-alone concert last weekend, his first in 18 months. The singer's “LV3: Let's Vacay” concert took place over the weekend at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul. Following 2022's "LV1 : Light & Voice" and last year's "LV2: Like Your Vibes," the third iteration of the singer's branded concerts embraced the theme of summer vacation in steaming heat, subtitled &

Performance Aug. 5, 2024

In the latter half of this year, the K-pop scene will witness several high-profile solo debuts of K-pop artists. Yoon San-ha of Astro releases his debut solo mini-album "Dusk" on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in his eight-year career. The album features six tracks, each designed to signify the stages of dusk, from the setting sun to the deep night. San-ha, who debuted as the youngest member of Astro in 2016, has been steadily building his solo musicality, contributing to the

Performance Aug. 3, 2024

K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment introduced their first British K-pop boy band “Dear Alice” on Thursday at the Soho Hotel in London, the agency said Friday. The group is a collaborative effort between SM Entertainment, the North American corporation of Kakao Entertainment, and the British entertainment company Moon & Back. The British company handled casting in the UK, while SM Entertainment provided K-pop expertise in music, vocals and choreography. "Training at SM has bee

Performance Aug. 2, 2024

FT Island is gearing up for a tour of Asia, FNC Entertainment announced Friday. The tour, under the banner of "Pulse in Asia," kicks off in the Philippines' capital Manila on Sept. 14, followed by performances in Hong Kong on Sept. 28, Kaohsiung in Taiwan on Oct. 26 and Macao on Nov. 10. As implied by the tour's name, FT Island plans to deliver live performances filled with intense musical energy, reminiscent of a beating heart. The band recently held a concert in Seoul, also

Performance Aug. 2, 2024

K-pop icon G-Dragon is preparing for a long-awaited comeback after securing the trademark rights to his stage name from his former agency, YG Entertainment. G-Dragon has taken a significant step towards his future activities by acquiring the trademark rights to his name. His former agency extended a favor by transferring the rights to “G-Dragon” and “GD” to his current agency, Galaxy Corporation, without any compensation. “Thanks to the generosity of Chief Executive

K-pop Aug. 2, 2024

Female K-pop artists are returning to earn the title of summer queens. Hyolyn, known for her energetic and summer-ready image since her time as a member of the girl band Sistar and as a solo artist, is making a comeback. Her new single "Wait," set to be released on Aug. 12, is an Afrobeat track featuring addictive beats and lyrics celebrating freedom. Concept photos and teaser videos show Hyolyn with tanned skin, wandering through streets and lush forests. Hyolyn showcased the performa

K-pop Aug. 1, 2024

K-pop boy group TXT has announced its first virtual reality concert. From July 31 to Aug. 27, TXT is presenting its first VR concert, “Hyperfocus: Tomorrow X Together VR Concert,” at Megabox Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This VR concert will feature prefilmed performances of hit songs such as “Sugar Rush Ride” and “Deja Vu,” and run for approximately 60 minutes. For the virtual concert experience, the audience will wear VR headsets, immersing themselves in perfor

Performance July 31, 2024

Singer-actor Kim Chang-wan, also a legendary radio DJ known for his warm, comforting messages, has returned to radio four months after stepping down from a show he had hosted for 23 years. Kim and SBS radio program producer Jung Han-sung held a press conference at the SBS headquarters to celebrate the launch of their new radio program, "6 O’clock Evening Breeze, Kim Chang-wan Ibnida" on July 22. After an emotional farewell shared during the last broadcast of his long-running morn

Culture July 30, 2024

Blackswan, the first K-pop girl group consisting of all members who are not from South Korea, is set to make a comeback. The group will return with new album "Roll Up" on July 31 at 6 p.m. This EP is the group's first release since single album "That Karma" released in May last year, and includes a total of four tracks, with title song "Roll Up." The title track boasts an impressive lineup of producers, including: Rob Grimaldi, Alina Smith, Lauren Dyson, A Wrig

K-pop July 29, 2024

A small office filled with albums, books and LPs, a singer performing in a modest setup without any special effects or lighting — these are the images that come to mind when thinking of "Tiny Desk Concerts." "Tiny Desk Concerts," adapted from a popular National Public Radio segment in the United States that began in 2008, strives to capture the essence of music across genres and generations. Kang So-yeon and Kim Hee-won, project managers at South Korea's telecommun

Performance July 29, 2024