Entertainment

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  Big Hit and CJ ENM join hands to look for next BTS through audition show SEOUL -- Big Hit Entertainment, the agency of K-pop band BTS, and South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM have joined hands to launch a cable TV audition show in an effort to find the next K-pop sensation that would capture the hearts of global music fans. Mnet, a music cable TV channel operated by CJ ENM, unveiled a teaser video for "I-LAND," the audition show that would have BTS' creators as producers, on Thursday. In the video, popular ac 2020-05-15
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  MAMAMOO's Moonbyul to hold first solo concert online SEOUL -- Moonbyul, a member of popular K-pop girl band MAMAMOO, will hold her very first solo concert on South Korean social media service later this month. RBW Entertainment said on Thursday that the 27-year-old rapper will hold a live online concert on Naver V Live, a video-sharing social media serviced by the country's largest web portal Naver, at 7:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) on May 30. Tickets will be available at Naver V Live's online store at 2:0 2020-05-14
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  BTS to visit homes of global fans through 90-minute online live concert in June SEOUL -- K-pop band BTS, which has been credited with creating a new world music trend, will push for a pay-per-view concert to bring an alternative source of entertainment to the global concert and performance industry that sank deep into a depression due to a COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns in many countries. Big Hit Entertainment, the seven-member band's agency, said in a statement uploaded onto WeVerse, BTS' official smartphone fan co 2020-05-14
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  CJ ENM to hold nonstop online Korean culture concert on YouTube SEOUL -- CJ ENM, the entertainment wing of South Korean conglomerate CJ Group, has designed a rare method to let global fans enjoy Hallyu (Korean cultural wave) through a nonstop online Korean culture convention that will be broadcast on YouTube for seven days in a row. KCON (Korean Convention), a massive annual Korean culture convention hosted by CJ ENM, was to be held in New York in June this year. However, CJ ENM made a decision in March to call it off due t 2020-05-14
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  ​YG apologizes for rapper Song Mino's improvised club performance SEOUL -- YG Entertainment apologized over a careless behavior by Song Mino, a 27-year-old rapper who came under fire over his improvised performance at a dance club. Dispatch, a South Korean entertainment media, reported that Song made an unscheduled performance at a dance club in Yangyang County some 162 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Seoul on May 3. The rapper and many fans did not wear masks. "We found that Song Mi 2020-05-12
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  ​YG's new boy band TREASURE to officially hit K-pop scene in July SEOUL -- TREASURE, a new boy band formed by YG Entertainment through an audition survival show, will finally hit the thriving K-pop scene in July. Exact dates would be disclosed later. YG Entertainment, an entertainment powerhouse in South Korea, uploaded a teaser video titled "TREASURE - DEBUT COMING SOON," onto its official blog. The video briefly introduces all 12 members of the group which will debut in July. "Along with the come 2020-05-12
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  K-pop band BTS to release hit song-themed collaborated products this week SEOUL -- K-pop band BTS has prepared collaborated products featuring symbolic images and colors from the seven-member band's hit song as a special treat for fans who were disappointed at the suspension of this year's world tour due to a coronavirus pandemic. Handsome, the fashion subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai department store group, said in a statement on Tuesday that the company has collaborated with BTS to create some 20 kinds of clothing an 2020-05-12
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  Former KARA member Gyuri apologizes for visiting club in gay district SEOUL -- It's no easy matter, but Park Gyuri, a member of South Korea's inactive girl band KARA, made a public confession and apology for joining a dance party at a club in the epicenter of gay nightlife in Seoul. She was able to avoid infection in an initial coronavirus test but placed herself into obligatory quarantine at least for two weeks. The 31-year-old singer and actress, better known by the mononym Gyuri, made a voluntary visit to a COV 2020-05-12
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  S. Korean moviegoers express excitement over sci-fi film starring Song Joong-ki SEOUL -- South Korean fans expressed excitement over the preview trailer of "Space Sweepers," a science fiction film directed by Jo Sung-hee, that stars Song Joong-ki, a top actor who is popular in Asia for his appearance in the 2016 TV series "Descendants of the Sun." Hollywood blockbusters such as "Interstellar" and "Prometheus" that depict space traveling and the encounter with unknown alien species have 2020-05-07
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  EXO member Suho to begin mandatory military service this month SEOUL -- Boy band EXO leader Suho will begin his mandatory military service on May 14, the 28-year-old's agency said. "I am to start my mandatory military service as of May 14. I think I will really miss you EXO-L guys," Suho said in a handwritten letter uploaded onto his online fan community on Monday. He will enter an army boot camp on May 14. After a four-week basic military training, Suho will be assigned as a public service worker. Norma 2020-05-04
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  Singer Bolbbalgan4 collaborates with EXO member Baekhyun to release new song next month SEOUL -- Singer Bolbbalgan4 has collaborated with boy band EXO member Baekhyun to release a new song next month. Shofar Music said in a statement on Friday that Bolbbalgan4 will release "Butterfly and Cat," a collaborated work between Bolbbalgan4 member Ahn Ji-young and 27-year-old EXO member, as a pre-release song on May 7. The song is included in Bolbbalgan4's new album "Puberty Book II," scheduled for release on May 13. Bolb 2020-04-29
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  S. Korean rapper collaborates with British hip-hop artist Stomrzy to release remake song SEOUL -- South Korean rapper Changmo has collaborated with Stormzy, a British hip-hop artist, to remake "Own It", the 26-year-old British rapper's song released last year. Warner Music Korea said in a statement on Friday that the collaborated work between the 25-year-old South Korean rapper and Stormzy will be released on May 6. The original song featuring British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and Nigerian singer Burna Boy was released 2020-04-29
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  BTS suspends this year's world concert schedule until global COVID-19 pandemic is controlled SEOUL -- In an effort to prevent cross-contamination of band members, staff and fans at concert venues, K-pop band BTS has suspended this year's world tour schedule. The seven-member band will announce a new tour schedule when the global COVID-19 pandemic situation is controlled. "The decision has been made to completely reschedule BTS MAP OF THE SOUL TOUR, originally scheduled to begin in April, 2020," Big Hit Entert 2020-04-29
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  K-pop band TXT to release new mini album next month SEOUL -- K-pop band TXT (TOMORROW X TOGETHER), also known as the brother band of world-popular K-pop group BTS, will come back to the music scene with a new mini-album in May. Big Hit Entertainment, the five-member band's agency, said in a statement on Tuesday that "THE DREAM CHAPTER : MAGIC," TXT's second mini-album, will be released at 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) on May 18. TXT and BTS share a similar concept of storytelling to crea 2020-04-28
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  K-pop boy band NCT 127 to release repackaged album in May SEOUL -- NCT 127, a unit band of K-pop boy group NCT, will release a repackaged album containing a new song in May, according to the 10-member band's agency. SM Entertainment said that NCT 127 will release "NCT #127 Neo Zone: The Final Round," including three new songs -- "Punch," "Nonstop" and "Make Your Day." A repackaged album contains remade or modified versions of hit songs. The new album will consist of 2020-04-27
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  Singer Chungha to pre-release new song ahead of album release SEOUL -- Singer-dancer Chungha will pre-release "Stay Tonight," a song included in the 24-year-old's upcoming official album. "This song was spoken at a different temperature from Chugha's other songs so that fans would be able to meet Chungha's ego that has become stronger," MNH Entertainment, the singer's agency, said in a statement. The release of Stay Tonight is set for 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Monday. MNH di 2020-04-27
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  LG Arts Center to deliver world-class performances to global audience through online show This file image shows a screenshot captured from New Adventures' 'Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake' webpage. SEOUL -- LG Arts Center, operated by South Korean conglomerate LG Group's cultural wing, will deliver breathtaking performances of world-class artists through online shows for global art enthusiasts who stay at home to keep their social distance from one another. The modern arts center in southern Seoul said in a statement on Monday 2020-04-27
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  Singer IU collaborates with BTS' Suga to release new song in May SEOUL -- Singer-actress IU, one of the most popular female artists in South Korea's entertainment scene, has collaborated with BTS member Suga to release a new song next month. "The two have shared their opinions based on their sympathy as musicians of the same age and incorporated their own synergy into the music," EDAM Entertainment, the 26-year-old singer's agency, said in a statement on Monday. IU will release a new digital single and a musi 2020-04-27
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  K-pop artists Zico and Kang Daniel collaborate with Steve Aoki to release song to express beauty of South Korea SEOUL -- In a musical project involving various K-pop artists to engage in the creation of songs of different genres, rapper Zico and K-pop idol Kang Daniel collaborated with American DJ Steve Aoki to release a song that expresses the beauty of South Korea. Starship Entertainment, a South Korean entertainment agency, said in a statement that "Refresh," the collaborated work between the two popular South Korean artists and Aoki, 2020-04-23
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  Mamamoo's Solar spits out herself and passion through solo debut album SEOUL -- "I spit out myself in the song and lyrics," said Solar, the leading vocalist of South Korea's talented K-pop girl group Mamamoo, ahead of her solo debut with a single album titled "Spit it out" through which she expresses her own words and actions without hesitation. The album is to be released at 6:00 p.m. on April 23. "Spit it out" is a song with trans sounds added to the energetic beat, and the top line 2020-04-23