K-pop girl group Illit’s song “Magnetic,” the featured track of its debut album “Super Real Me,” was Spotify's most streamed K-pop track outside of Korea in the first half of this year. Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming platform, unveiled its Global Impact List in South Korea consisting of 30 K-pop tracks that were streamed the most overseas in the first half of 2024. Illit’s “Magnetic” released on March 25 recorded 300 m

K-pop July 25, 2024

The feud between Hybe and Ador CEO Min Hee-jin shows no signs of abating as Min filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Hybe’s CEO Park Ji-won, Outside Director Lim Soo-hyon, Chief Legal Officer Jung Jin-soo, Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-jun and Chief Communications Officer Park Tae-hee for obstruction of business, detection of content such as electronic records and defamation. Min claims the five Hybe officers have repeatedly illegally acquired messenger conversations between individual

K-pop July 24, 2024

Hybe subsidiary Source Music and Ador CEO Min Hee-jin are taking legal action against each other for purportedly spreading false information regarding the launch of K-pop girl group NewJeans. Source Music took to social media platform X on Tuesday to post: “Min Hee-jin’s claim that Source Music copied her (girl group) launching strategy is false.” “We did not copy the launching strategy she presented when she was the then-chief business officer at Source Music,” Sou

K-pop July 24, 2024

K-pop label Ador’s CEO Min Hee-jin denied allegations that she "stole" some of the bandmates who would form NewJeans from Source Music. On Tuesday, local entertainment media outlet Dispatch reported that Min took Minji, Hanni, Danielle and Haerin of NewJeans from Source Music, where they were being trained to become K-pop artists. According to the report, these four of the five-member group were part of a project group being called “N team” training under Source Music

K-pop July 23, 2024

K-pop rookie group Riize is making its official debut in Japan. The six-member boy group is releasing its first-ever Japanese single album “Lucky” on Sept. 5, according to SM Entertainment. Riize is promoting its upcoming Japanese single album by unveiling the B-side track in advance on July 29. The group is also embarking on a fan concert tour in Japan titled “Riizing Day” which kicks off July 30 in Kanagawa, Japan. The tour consists of 15 shows in nine cities in Japan i

K-pop July 23, 2024

Cube Entertainment, the agency behind K-pop girl group (G)I-dle, has apologized for using the Red Cross emblem on the group members' stage costumes. “We recognize that the stage costume had an issue. We contacted the Korean Red Cross to apologize and to actively discuss follow-up measures to prevent reoccurrences. We apologize once again to those concerned,” said Cube Entertainment on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday. (G)I-dle wore a lifeguard-themed stage costume that included a

K-pop July 23, 2024

진행자: 홍유, Elise Youn Extortion of YouTuber Tzuyang highlights 'cyber wrecker' issues in S. Korea 기사요약: 쯔양 사태를 계기로 사이버 렉카 유튜버들을 플랫폼 차원에서 규제가 필요하다는 목소리가 나오고 있다. [1] Following YouTuber Tzuyang's recent revelation about her being assaulted and financially exploited by her former boyfriend for four years, a group of YouTubers were suspected to have blackmailed her for money in exchange for keeping quiet about her past. *revelation: 폭로(된 사실) *exploit: 착취하다 *in exchange for: ~대신의, 교

Podcast July 23, 2024

Jimin of the K-pop group BTS is thriving with his second solo album “Muse” released on Friday. “Who,” the lead track of Jimin’s second solo album, landed at No. 3 on Spotify’s Daily Top Song Global chart dated July 19 after accumulating a staggering 7,901,507 streams. All of the seven tracks in his new album made it to Spotify’s Daily Top Song Global chart, with the Side-B tracks “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)” and “Closer

K-pop July 21, 2024

The plagiarism dispute between K-pop girl group NewJeans and British band Shakatak looks likely to become drawn out. Shakatak posted to its official account on social platform X on Friday that it has hired a musicologist to analyze the similarities between its song “Easier Said Than Done,” released in 1981, and NewJeans’ latest hit, “Bubble Gum.” “To all our fans and friends in Korea, thank you for all your comments about the usage of ‘Easier Said Than D

K-pop July 21, 2024

진행자: 홍유, Elise Youn Trump shot in ear at campaign rally 기사요약: 11월 미국 대선을 3개월여 앞둔 13일 공화당 대선 후보인 도널드 트럼프 전 대통령의 야외 유세 도중에 그를 겨냥한 총격 사건이 발생했다. [1] Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a Saturday campaign rally, in an attack that left the Republican presidential candidate's face streaked with blood and prompting his security agents to swarm him, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, mouthing the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!" *prompt: 즉각적인, 지체 없는 *swarm: 떼[무리]를 지어

Podcast July 19, 2024

Legendary K-pop girl group Kara dropped a new song, “Hello,” on Tuesday. The song is a Side-B track from its upcoming digital single album, “I Do I Do,” set for release on July 24. “Hello” is a ballad number that sings about the happiness people experience when meeting new someone new and the sadness of bidding farewell. “This song was supposed to be included in the group’s fourth LP, ‘Full Bloom,’ released in September 2013. But we are

K-pop July 16, 2024

Legendary trot singer Hyun Cheol who enjoyed remarkable popularity in the 1980s and 1990s with hit songs such as “Garden Balsam Love” and “Not Anymore,” passed away at the age of 82 on Monday. According to industry sources, Hyun Cheol died of a chronic illness at a hospital in Seoul. Born in Busan, Hyun Cheol was enrolled in Dong-a University when he debuted in 1969 with “My Heartless Love." In 1970, he joined a band -- Hyun Chul & Bees -- but failed to mak

People July 16, 2024

The Hallyu market formed with Korean Wave-influenced products and services is forecast to grow to $143 billion in the US, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam by 2030 with additional unrealized headroom of $55 billion, according to TikTok. The forecast represents an 87 percent growth from the current $76 billion spent on Korean products and services in those four countries. TikTok Korea held a press conference Monday in Seoul to review its white paper entitled “Hallyu in the Digital Age: Short

K-pop July 15, 2024

BBC is airing the entertainment series “Made in Korea: The K-pop Experience” this summer, encapsulating the process of launching a British K-pop boy group under the K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment. SM Entertainment partnered with the British entertainment company Moon&Back to launch the upcoming five-member boy group. The six-episode series follows the members being brought together by Moon&Back and the K-pop training they underwent with SM Entertainment. SM Entertainment a

K-pop July 12, 2024

K-pop girl group Unis is making a comeback in August. According to F&F Entertainment, Unis is introducing its new single “Curious” on Aug. 6. Unis is a K-pop girl group comprising eight finalists from the SBS audition program “Universe Ticket” that debuted with its first mini album “We Unis” in March. The album sold more than 55,000 copies just within five days of its release. Unis recently won the Asia Star Award at the 2024 Korea Best Brand Awards held i

K-pop July 12, 2024