Articles by Choi Ji-won
Choi Ji-won
jwc@heraldcorp.com-
BTS company Hybe heading to Latin America
Hybe, the company behind K-pop phenomenon boy band BTS, has announced its foray into the Latin American music market. The company has established the local subsidiary, Hybe Latin America, in Mexico, the firm said Monday. “We aim to extend our reach into Latin America, one of the fastest-expanding music markets in the world,” Hybe said in a statement Monday, adding the regional division will serve as its local office for the artists of Hybe Labels, the management arm of the multilabel
K-pop Nov. 13, 2023
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Jungkook's 'Golden' hits No. 2 on Billboard 200 with biggest-ever sales for a Korean soloist
Jungkook of BTS has made his solo arrival on the Billboard 200, with "Golden" reaching No. 2. On Sunday, US music publication Billboard previewed the album chart for this week, showing "Golden" behind only Taylor Swift's "1989 (Taylor's Version)." "Golden" recorded 212,000 equivalent album units, the chart's highest-ever weekly sales by a K-pop solo singer. Equivalent album units comprise physical and digital album sales, as well as streamin
K-pop Nov. 13, 2023
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Billboard-topping boy band Stray Kids returns to 'rock'
Three-time Billboard 200 chart-topper Stray Kids made a grand comeback Friday, this time as rock stars. Marking the eight-member group's return after five months is EP "Rock-Star," which continues from the past album, "Five-Star," a mega-hit album that had landmark successes, including its third-straight Billboard 200 No. 1 hit. It was a highly anticipated return, and the eight men were overflowing with renewed charisma as they went in front of the press on Friday mornin
K-pop Nov. 10, 2023
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YG's new group Babymonster to debut on Nov. 27
Babymonster of YG Entertainment is set to debut on Nov. 27. The agency on Friday released a poster showing the message, "Babymonster 2023.11.27 0AM KST," on a black backdrop, with a red V-shaped mark pointing downward. Shooting for the group's music video, which began at the end of last month, has been completed, YG said. "Babymonster members will (unveil) not only their own talents, but the identity of the team (through the video). To do this, YG mustered all the company
K-pop Nov. 10, 2023
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'Omega X will not give up': Boy band returns to share message of hope
Overwhelming emotions must have hit Omega X members as they spoke to the local media in Seoul on Tuesday, taking the spotlight for the first time in a year since they announced the termination of their contracts with Spire Entertainment, under which they reportedly suffered abuse. Despite appearing in overly bright smiles, as if to assure the public that they were okay, their voices trembled several times as they responded to questions throughout the hour-long event, held in celebration of the
K-pop Nov. 8, 2023
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Mama Awards stays in Japan for 2nd straight year
Despite its global aspirations, the renewed Mama Awards by Mnet is set to take place in Japan for the second straight year. Although at a more sluggish pace than expected, the world's biggest K-pop festival said it is inching toward its goal of being held outside Asia, with this year's event taking place at the Tokyo Dome, Japan's top concert venue, for the first time. With 20 days left until the festival on Nov. 28-29, producers of organizer CJ ENM, and this year's host, Jeo
K-pop Nov. 8, 2023
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Kard signs with Cardi B, Post Malone's agency
Co-ed K-pop quartet Kard is set to expand its scope in the US after signing with the United Talent Agency, the American company representing global pop star Post Malone. DSP Media and its parent company RBW on Tuesday announced Kard has signed an exclusive contract with the California-based talent agency, whose roster of artists include some of the world's most celebrated musicians, including the likes of Cardi B, Jason Derulo, Rosalia and The Kid Laroi. "Kard is set to extend its glob
K-pop Nov. 7, 2023
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'Justice will prevail': G-Dragon insists no drug use, tests negative
K-pop singer Kwon Ji-yong, more known by his moniker G-Dragon, maintained confidence following the first session of police questioning over alleged illegal drug use on Monday. "Justice will prevail," he posted on his Instagram account through an image on Monday night, following the police questioning session that afternoon. Below the four-letter Korean idiom, he marked in bold, "Everything will go in its right way in the end." The Instagram post came a few hours after Kwon le
K-pop Nov. 7, 2023
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Zerobaseone reaches 'Melting Point' with 2nd EP
Million-seller rookie group Zerobaseone is taking the next step in its youthful journey with its second EP, "Melting Point." The new album came out Monday afternoon, marking the group's swift return to the K-pop scene four months after making its debut in July. In their last album, "Youth in the Shade," the boys sang about how the uncertainties in their endeavors made their youth shine. In the new album, the boys overcome ambivalence and gain confidence in themselves.
K-pop Nov. 6, 2023
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Enhypen's new album to be led by 'Sweet Venom'
Enhypen will continue its serenade of love with "Sweet Venom," the track leading the group's new EP, "Orange Blood." The boy band's agency Belift Lab on Monday released the track list for the upcoming album. "Sweet Venom" picks up the story from the band's previous title song, "Bite Me," which fronted the EP, "Dark Blood." The song tells of a boy's promise of love, which is so strong that not even the lethal poison seeping thr
K-pop Nov. 6, 2023
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Jungkook on top: BTS singer racks up more landmark feats with 'Golden'
Jungkook of BTS continues his record-setting streak as a K-pop solo artist with his first album, "Golden." According to Spotify on Saturday, local time, the 11-song album racked up 39,653,740 streams in total with release on Friday, logging the highest first-day stream counts by a K-pop solo artist's album on the platform. Jungkook's songs dominated Spotify's Daily Top Song Global chart, with pre-released "Seven" reclaiming the top spot, while the newly unveile
K-pop Nov. 5, 2023
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Le Sserafim lands on UK, US charts with 'Perfect Night'
K-pop girl group Le Sserafim's English song "Perfect Night" debuted on several music charts in the US and UK. Following its release last Friday, "Perfect Night" entered three charts run by Official Charts, the UK's biggest song data provider. It made its first appearance on the singles download chart at No. 44, and tallied No. 12 on the independent singles breakers chart and No. 52 on the single sales chart, topping its own records on the latter two charts. On Spoti
K-pop Nov. 5, 2023
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Jungkook, Red Velvet, Stray Kids, new YG girl group among year-end lineup
The year-end is set to be filled by some of the biggest and most-anticipated names from K-pop, including those from the nation's top powerhouses SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, YG Entertainment and Hybe. Topping the list, which is full of over a dozen names, is BTS's Jungkook, who will drop his first solo album, "Golden," on Friday. The album will be fronted by "Standing Next You," another gem produced by Andrew Watt and Cirkut, the producers behind Jungkook&
K-pop Nov. 2, 2023
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J.Y. Park and Kim Wan-sun to collaborate on new song
K-pop legends J.Y. Park and Kim Wan-sun are collaborating on a new song, "Changed Man," set for release on Nov. 20, according to JYP Entertainment on Thursday. The song, which brings back the synth pop sounds of the 1980s -- a perfect fit for Kim, who was one of the era's most celebrated stars. Kim debuted in 1986 and reigned in the 1980s and 1990s with her sensational concept and charismatic performances. Her biggest hit was "Pierrot Smiles at Us," which was released in
K-pop Nov. 2, 2023
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Dreamcatcher to present new album 'VillanS' on Nov. 22
Girl group Dreamcatcher is returning. The band's label Dreamcatcher Company on Wednesday announced the septet will drop a new album on Nov. 22. The ninth EP from the group, "VillainS" will be Dreamcatcher's first release since "From Us" in May. The promotions scheduler for the album released by the company showed it would release content ranging from individual teaser videos and images to lyrics spoiler clips and a dance preview in the lead-up to the release. Consis
K-pop Nov. 1, 2023
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