Articles by Hong Yoo
Hong Yoo
yoohong@heraldcorp.com-
[Herald Interview] Evnne shows off vulnerabilities as 'rascals' in 'Un: SEEN’
Behind every stage beaming with blinding lights are hours spent in the dark, getting ready for that moment in the limelight. The road to debuting as a K-pop artist is likewise a difficult and exacting one. It is a journey that Evnne sings about in its second EP, “Un: SEEN,” released Monday. “We tried to talk about our hidden scars in this album. Such scars represent the difficult journey we’ve been through trying to debut as a K-pop act. As you know, our group consist
K-pop Jan. 22, 2024
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IU renames new single ‘Love Wins All’ in response to queerbaiting allegations
K-pop artist IU has changed the title of her upcoming single from “Love Wins” to “Love Wins All” after a backlash from sexual minorities and fans alleging queerbaiting. “We recognized that the original title of the single could blur the message of the song. We would like to respect and support everyone who loves and lives in various ways,” said Edam Entertainment, the agency representing IU, in a press release on Friday. The agency revealed on Thursday the IU&
K-pop Jan. 21, 2024
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Le Sserafim, Ateez to perform at Coachella
K-pop groups Le Sserafim and Ateez will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year. Le Sserafim will take the stage on April 13 and April 20, while Ateez will perform on April 12 and April 19. The festival will take place on April 12-21 at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, according to the festival’s promoter Goldenvoice, Tuesday. Le Sserafim is the only K-pop girl group in the lineup for Coachella this year. The group’s performance at Coachella com
K-pop Jan. 17, 2024
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Hui of Pentagon sets off solo on ‘Whu Is Me: Complex’
Hui of K-pop boy band Pentagon has now begun his solo career, releasing his first official solo album, “Whu Is Me: Complex,” on Tuesday. The artist opted for a self-explanatory title for his first EP. “I asked myself ‘Who am I?’ while working on this album. I concluded that Hui is just who I am, me. I added the word ‘complex’ because it was my complex that led me to work hard on overcoming the things that I do not like about myself,” Hui said durin
K-pop Jan. 17, 2024
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FT Island to go on Asia tour
FT Island is embarking on an Asia tour, “2024 FT Island Live ‘Hey Day’ in Asia,” this month to meet with its fans abroad. The band’s first stop is Macao on Jan. 27, followed by Bangkok on Feb. 3, Taipei on Feb. 18, Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 24, Hong Kong on March 2, Jakarta on March 16 and Singapore on March 22, according to FNC Entertainment. Tickets to the shows in Taipei and Kuala Lumpur are already sold out. FT Island is preparing a setlist that includes a solo drum
K-pop Jan. 16, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Sistar19 shows maturity in new single 'No More (Ma Boy)'
Sistar19, the unit from the now-defunct girl group Sistar, is back with a new single album “No More (Ma Boy).” This is the duo's first new single album in 11 years. Hyolyn and Bora of Sistar19 show what it is to sing and dance in a relaxed and composed manner, a change that comes from years in the K-pop scene. “We released our first digital single as Sistar19 just three years after our debut so we were really tense when performing. But with this new album, we wanted to sho
K-pop Jan. 16, 2024
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Nmixx returns with new EP, 'Fe304: BREAK,' to break social prejudice
K-pop girl group Nmixx hopes to break prejudice and create a society in which everyone can be equally loved, which is a message the group hopes to portray through its new EP, “Fe304: BREAK.” Donning strange but cute hats, the group held a press conference Monday to introduce its new album, the first in six months. “Today we are dressed in red and black. We hoped to represent prisoners who want to break free from the hardships they face in the real world and head toward a utopia
K-pop Jan. 16, 2024
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Jungkook nominated in 4 categories at People’s Choice Awards
BTS’ Jungkook has been nominated in four categories at this year's People’s Choice Awards, a record-breaking feat for a K-pop soloist. The list of nominees for the 2024 People’s Choice Awards unveiled on Thursday showed Jungkook was nominated for the Male Artist of the Year, the Pop Artist of the Year, the New Artist of the Year and the Collaboration Song of the Year awards. The People’s Choice Awards is a US awards show that began in 1975 to recognize people in the
K-pop Jan. 12, 2024
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Monsta X’s I.M to return with new digital single this month
I.M of boy band Monsta X is releasing a new digital single, his first in seven months. The artist is set to drop a digital single on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m., according to Sony Music Entertainment Korea. I.M announced his comeback on his official Instagram account Friday by dropping two teaser images of his upcoming digital single. The teaser images show I.M dressed in a white knit sweater standing in front of a window. The details of his comeback are yet to be unveiled. I.M made his solo debut with &l
K-pop Jan. 12, 2024
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Aespa opens pop-up store to promote upcoming movie
K-pop girl group aespa is celebrating its third debut anniversary with its fans by opening a pop-up store and through the release of a special movie on the group's story in February. The pop-up store which opened Friday at the Lotte World Mall in Seoul, is decorated around the group’s key color, “aurora,” which is light pink and sky blue. The store offers diverse and interactive content, including photo booths and a message zone where the visitors can leave messages for th
K-pop Jan. 12, 2024
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KCON to kick off in Hong Kong this year
South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM is holding its largest Korean culture and music celebration, KCON, in Hong Kong for the first time this year. KCON will kick off in Hong Kong, the sixth-biggest K-pop album importer, on March 30-31, organizer announced Thursday. KCON Hong Kong 2024 is to be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, one of the two major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong capable of accommodating up to 10,000 visitors. Previously, the MAMA Awards were held at this venue fro
K-pop Jan. 11, 2024
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Stray Kids land at No. 52 on SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, breaking record
K-pop boy group Stray Kids landed at No. 52 on the French music industry association SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, a record-breaking feat for a K-pop artist. According to SNEP’s 2023 Top 200 Albums chart, Stray Kids landed at No. 52 with its third studio album, “Five-Star,” and at No. 135 with its eighth EP, “Rock-Star.” The group made their career debut on the French annual album chart with these two albums, which were the top two most successful K-pop al
K-pop Jan. 11, 2024
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Hybe takes measures against illegal use of BTS name, images
Hybe, the K-pop agency whose sub-label Big Hit Music, represents BTS, is taking action against the illegal use of its intellectual property, including the use of BTS' name, logo and related pictures. “We will strengthen monitoring and take stern measures for acts that violate the rights of our company and artists to make commercial use of them,” an official from Hybe told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. The agency noted that Busan’s Nam-gu district office is using BTS&rsquo
K-pop Jan. 10, 2024
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Jennie of Blackpink No. 69 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Jungkook on Billboard 200 for longest among K-pop soloists
Jennie of Blackpink landed at No. 69 on Billboard’s Hot 100, breaking a record for a female K-pop solo artist. The K-pop star made the Jan. 13 chart with “One of the Girls,” from the original soundtrack of HBO series “The Idol,” in which she also stars. Previously, Rose of Blackpink was the female K-pop solo artist with the highest ranking, landing at No. 70 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with her single “On the Ground,” followed by Lisa of Blackpink at No
K-pop Jan. 10, 2024
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Riize named by Apple Music as artist to watch in 2024
The year 2024 will be a big year for K-pop rookie group Riize, according to Apple Music's prediction. Riize was the only K-pop act among the five artists named on Apple Music’s 2024 Artists to Watch list, announced on Monday. Bloody Civilian, Flyana Boss, Kenya Grace and The Last Dinner Party are the other artists named on the list. Riize’s latest single, “Love 119,” was also included among 50 singles chosen for the “Shazam: 2024 Trend Playlist" announced
K-pop Jan. 9, 2024
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