Latest News

BoA is Back with Korean Album

The Korean pop star BoA hopes to return to her home country on Aug. 25, the release date of her first new Korean-language album in five years.

Former 2PM Leader Park Jae Bum's Contract Terminated

Popular Korean boy band 2PM's management agency JYP Entertainment has confirmed that former band leader Park Jae-Bum's contract has been terminated and that he will not be returning to the group.

K-Pop Band Donate $10,000 to Phnom Penh Orphanage

South Korean boy band Shinee performed a concert at Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, wrapping up a six-day visit that included a donation of US$10,000 to the Cambodia Children's Fund.

Epik High Chats with CNN

Fresh from their K-Pop Night showcase at MIDEM 2010 in Cannes, France, Korean hip-hoppers Epik High took time to chat with CNN Talk Asia.

TVXQ's 'Break Out' Certified Platinum in Japan

Five-member Korean boy band TVXQ continues to dominate the Japanese market as their 29th single, "Break Out," has now officially reached platinum status.

Wonder Girls Cancel Tour After Sun Mi Announces Departure

The Korean pop group Wonder Girls have cancelled their headlining. Tour of the United States, which was supposed to start at the end of February.

Wonder Girls to Appear in American Hit Reality Show

The Wonder Girls will appear on the hit reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" Dec. 9 as guests, according to the girl group's agency JYP Entertainment.

Epik High, f(x) to Perform at Cannes Music Showcase

Korean hip-hop group Epik High and girl band f(x) will be performing at a music showcase in Cannes, according to a press release by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA).

Super Junior-M Wraps Up Fan Meeting in Taiwan

Korean pop group Super Junior-M successfully wrapped up their first fan meeting in Taiwan over the weekend, according to their agency on Monday.

Six-member 2PM Tops Korean Music Charts

Korean boy band 2PM topped Korea's music charts with their new single "HeartBeat" over the weekend.

Rap-fueled Takeover of Lotte World, Seoul

Korean Hip-hop impresario Tiger JK of Drunken Tiger will lead The Movement crew to a rap-fueled hostile take over of Lotte World next month for a pair of concerts.

Super Junior-M Tops Music Charts in Asia

Korean boy band Super Junior-M has topped various music charts across Asia, according to their agency on Wednesday.

K-Pop Stars Head to Shanghai for Concert

K-pop stars Wheesung, f(x), 2PM, 2AM, U-Kiss and 4Minute will be heading to Shanghai this week for a concert and fashion show.

Korean Band FT Island Returns to Singapore in December

South Korean rock group FT Island played to a full house during their first mini concert showcase on our little island in June this year.

Super Scalper Stoppers

Korean boy band Super Junior has announced it will hold its first-ever Taiwan concert in Taipei Feb. 20, which falls during the auspicious Chinese New Year celebration period.

New 'Ninja Assassin' Clip: No Comics Connection, But Still Awesome

Much like yesterday's "Clash of the Titans" trailer, this new "Ninja Assassin" clip has nothing to do with comics—though I'm sure I could find a connection if I really tried. What it does have, however, is a bunch of bad-ass ninja-on-ninja action.

Mighty Mouth to Release Album with Thai's Golf-Mike

Korean hip-hop duo Mighty Mouth will release a project album with popular Thai idol group Golf-Mike, according to Mighty Mouth's agency on Thursday.

Rain in Vegas

Korean pop superstar Rain has announced he will play his first American concerts in three years when he headlines The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Dec. 24-25.

Girls' Generation to Embark on Asia Tour Next Month

Korean pop group Girls' Generation is set to go on their first Asian tour next month, according to their agency on Wednesday.

Rain's Ninja Role Draws Inspiration from Lee, Chan

South Korean pop star Rain says he drew inspiration from fellow Asian stars who successfully crossed over to Hollywood when he prepared for his first leading role in an American film.

Wonder Girls, Park Jin-young to Appear on "Golden Fishery"

Korean pop sensation the Wonder Girls and their producer Park Jin-young are set to appear on MBC's talkshow "Golden Fishery" this week, according to the broadcaster on Monday.

f(x) to Release First Single Album "Chu~♡" Next Month

Korean girl band f(x) is set to release their first single album "Chu~♡" on November 9, according to their agency on Thursday.

TVXQ to Resume Careers in Japan

Korean boy-band TVXQ will visit Japan in autumn in an attempt to resume their music careers after being mired by a legal battle with their management agency.

Se7en to Release New Album Next Year

Popular singer Se7en has begun recording his new song, which is expected to be released next year.

Super Junior Member Heechul to Release Single on OST

Korean boy band Super Junior member Heechul is set to release his first solo single on a TV drama soundtrack, according to his agency on Friday.

SHINee's New Album Racks Up Advance Orders

Korean boy band SHINee is racking up advance orders for their new album "2009, Year Of Us", according to their agency on Friday.

Wonder Girls Reach No. 76 on Billboard Chart

Korean pop group Wonder Girls have become the first Korean artists to enter the Billboard singles chart, according to their agency JYP Entertainment on Thursday.

Kim Tae-woo Tops Music Chart for Third Week

Korean singer Kim Tae-woo took the No.1 spot on KBS Music Bank for the third week in-a-row.

Girls' Generation Tops Philippines Music Chart

K-pop idol group Girls' Generation has topped the music chart in the Philippines with their new album, according to their agency on Thursday.

Kang Hye-jung, Tablo to Wed on Oct. 26

Actress Kang Hye-jung will tie the knot with singer Tablo, the leader of Korean hip hop group Epik High, at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26, Tablo's management agency Map the Soul announced on Saturday.

Rain Wows Fans in "Legend of Rainism"

Korean pop star Rain has been busy with his own clothing line and a Hollywood film produced by the Wachowski brothers. But he didn't forget his roots as a singer, gratifying local fans at his Seoul concert "Legend of Rainism" held at the Gymnastic Stadium, Olympic Park, Friday.

At 43, Pop Icon Still Has Major Staying Power

Lee Seung-chul is undoubtedly a heavyweight in the Korean pop music industry.

Singer's Journey of Self-Reflection Leads to Sixth Album

It would be hard to find another Korean singer with a voice as mesmerizing as Park Hyo-shin's.

Ask Korean Pop Star Rain Your Questions

He's gone from being a backup dancer to the biggest thing in Asian pop culture, an actor and singer who has sold millions of albums.

4minute Tops SBS Music Chart

Korean pop group 4minute took the top Mutizen Song prize on the SBS music show "Inkigayo" over the weekend.

Korean group Epik High reaches Top 100 on iTunes

Korean hip-hop group Epik High has entered the iTunes Top 100 chart with their sixth album, according to a press release.

Rain Joins F1 Rocks Concert in Singapore

Korean pop star Rain has filmed a segment for the F1 Rocks show, the only officially F1 endorsed concert during the Grand Prix week in Singapore.

Wheesung Signs with UMG for U.S. Debut

Korean singer Wheesung has joined Universal Music Group (UMG) and famous American producer Rodney Jerkins to take off his career in the United States, according to his agency on Wednesday.

K-Pop Boom in Asia Sheds Light on Korea's Unique Talent Search

Approximately 23,000 aspiring singers from elementary school students to those in their early 20s flocked to the JYP Entertainment's talent search held in Seoul last month.

Singer Lee Discussing U.S. Debut with Lady Gaga

Korean singer and actress Lee Jung-hyun is in discussions with Lady Gaga about debuting in the United States, according to her agency on Monday.

K-Pop Stars Steal Spotlight at Asia Song Festival

Pop stars from Asia gathered once again in Seoul for the 6th Asia Song Festival (ASF) Saturday evening, but Korean pop groups stole the spotlight.

2 TVXQ Members to Release Project Single in Japan

Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun of Korean boy band TVXQ will release a project single album in Japan, according to their agency on Friday.

Rain's Agency to Fight Back Against Lawsuit

Korean pop sensation Rain's agency J.Tune Entertainment issued a statement on Thursday, saying it will take strong measures against a lawsuit filed against its company.

Billboard and ViewLife Join Forces to Launch Billboard Korea

Billboard - the world's most trusted music brand - today announced that it is expanding its global franchise into South Korea with ViewLife, Inc. - a top Korean media company with online and mobile businesses, portals, digital content services and music licenses.

G-Dragon Tops Korean Music Chart Again

Korean pop idol G-Dragon won the Mutizen Song award on SBS' music show for the second consecutive week.

Come back, Jaebeom

About 20,000 fans of the Korean pop group 2PM yesterday hold signs calling for the return of Jaebeom in a silent protest at the group's management agency, JYP Entertainment, in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul.

Super Junior-M Releases Teaser Video for Mini-Album

Korean boy band Super Junior-M is set to release a teaser video for their new mini-album throughout Asia today, their agency announced in a press release.

S.Korean Pop Star Contracts Swine Flu

Kim Hyun-joong, the lead singer of boy-band SS501 and a member of the TV show "Boys over Flowers," was diagnosed with the (A)H1N1 flu virus and hospitalized in Yokohama, Japan, the group's agency DSP Media said on Tuesday.

Wonder Girls' Sunye Throws Ball in MLB

Sunye, a member of the South Korean pop group Wonder Girls, Sunday threw the ceremonial first pitch during a Major League baseball game.

Tablo, Kang to Tie Knot in Oct.

Hip-hop group Epik High leader Tablo and actress Kang Hye-jung will get married in October.

'Ninja Assassin' Star Rain Answers Your Questions

MTV debuted the first full clip from the much-anticipated Joel Silver-produced action flick "Ninja Assassin" on Friday night (September 4) on "Behind the Screen," and for anyone who saw it, you can't say the film won't live up to its title. Swordplay and stunts galore, even in the heat of oncoming traffic — this one's got the goods. And at the center of it all, a man who needs just one name: Rain.

"Ninja Assassin" Exclusive Clip

Raizo (Rain) attempts to evade a cascading number of black-clad warriors.

Girls' Generation to Publicize Digital Era

Girls' Generation, one of South Korea's top pop idol groups, has been named an envoy to publicize the transfer of South Korean television broadcasting to digital technology.

BoA Releases Repackaged Album

Korean singer BoA is releasing a repackaged version of her debut album in the United States this month.

Rain Starts Asian Tour in Japan

Korean singer and actor Rain kicked off his Asian tour, "Legend of Rainism," at the Saitama Super Arena, Japan, Saturday and Sunday.

Rain Forecast for This Weekend

Korean pop star Rain will be kicking off his Asian tour this weekend in Japan.

Girl Bands Flourish on S. Korean Pop Music Scene, Groomed for More Than Singing

They are young, leggy and attractive, their music light and perky, and their dance moves easy to learn. What's more, there are enough of them to please any picky fan.

Rain Gets Own Channel

An exclusive IPTV channel dedicated to Korean pop star Rain is bringing new meaning to the concept of star-centric television - which, up until now, has generally presented itself in the form of reality shows. With a fashion brand and two Wachowski Brothers' films under his belt - one set for release in November - and an Asian tour on the horizon, it seemed that the market for Jung Ji-hoon a.k.a. Rain had reached its saturation point. The only medium left, it appeared, was in the world of publishing - the highly successful star has yet to write an autobiography.

Interview: Tablo Talks Digital Music in South Korea

Korean hip-hop artist Tablo has been one of the more forward-thinking artists when it comes to digital. We fired some questions at him to find out more for our South Korea profile in this week's Music Ally Report, but we thought his answers deserved a wider airing.

Rain to Awaken the Dragon?

About two years ago this month, the trades reported that Warner Independent Pictures has set "The Shield" exec producer Kurt Sutter to write and make his feature directing debut on "Awaken the Dragon".

Crazy for K-Pop

The world has gone crazy over Korean pop. Very popular right now are boy bands and girl groups with members who harmonize beautifully and showcase well-choreographed dance steps. Good-looking, stylish, entertaining and hotter than kimchi, these are some of Korea's most in-demand groups.

'Ninja Assassin' Exclusive Trailer Debut Filled With Badass Displays Of Real Ultimate Power

"Ninja Assassin" is just about everything I want in a movie. The title makes it sound like a 70s martial arts throwback, the sort that Wu-Tang Clan's RZA is likely to lift samples from. It is in fact a slick-looking action flick produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski Brothers, and directed by "V for Vendetta" helmer James McTeigue. It stars Rain ("Speed Racer") as Raizo, the world's deadliest assassin, and this exclusive debut trailer shows us why.

Rain Takes on Soccer Star

Korean pop star Rain faced off Thursday against Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung in what was billed as a 'dream match' in Seoul.

BoA, 'Energetic': Korean Pop Superstar Debuts Exclusive Video

We've been posting quite a lot about our friends from the other East coast in the past month. From Megan Fox having the hots for South Korean actor/singer Rain to the Wonder Girls and their tour with the Jonas Brothers — as well as their English rendition of mega-hit "Nobody," now sold on iTunes. Today, we keep chugging along on the Asian-Pop Express with an exclusive premiere of BoA's new video, "Energetic," and a Q&A with its star.

BoA Takes Part in Akon's Japan Album

BoA, a South Korean pop diva who is now active in the United States, has been offered to take part in "Freedom+2," an album Akon, one of the world's top pop stars, plans to release in Japan early next month.

Will Korean Singers Appeal to American Audience?

Initiated by Rain's world tour concert in 2005, Korean pop singers are trying to break the U.S. entertainment industry. But it remains yet to be seen whether Korean pop stars will be able to be as successful as they are in Korea.

The Next 'Korean Wave' Washes Ashore

Last weekend, the cities of Guangzhou, China, and Tokyo, Japan, were abuzz over the appearance of young celebrities from Korea. Hordes of ardent Chinese fans came out on Saturday to see two stars of a wildly popular Korean TV drama series, which made its debut in mainland China yesterday. At the same time, Korean pop group Dong Bang Shin Gi (TVXQ) captured the eyes and ears of nearly 50,000 spectators at the Tokyo Dome -- a dream stage for every Japanese musician. By all accounts, it appears as though the next Korean wave is sweeping over Asia. Korean dramas and music groups are drawing legions of fans in the region, further spreading the country's culture beyond the Korean Peninsula.

TVXQ Performs at Tokyo Dome

Dong Bang Shin Gi, one of South Korea's top pop groups, also known as TVXQ, has achieved its dream of performing at the Tokyo Dome.

Rain Not Falling for Hot Fox

Hollywood Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen actress Megan Fox recently openly expressed her interest in Korean star Rain and also a desire to date the latter, who replied plainly to her invite, "I'm not interested."

'We're Not About Looks'

The band only made its debut two years ago. And all its members are aged between 16 and 19. But when Korean male quintet FT Island - which stands for Five Treasure Island - performed at Mandopop lounge Dragonfly last Saturday afternoon, nearly all 800 tickets were sold.

'Genie' Mired in Plagiarism Dispute

"Genie," a new song released by Girls' Generation last week, has been embroiled in a plagiarism dispute.

TVXQ Single Shoots to 2nd in Japan

"Stand by U," the 28th single by Dong Bang Shin Gi, one of South Korea's top pop idol groups and also known as TVXQ, shot to second in the single daily table of Japan's Oricon Charts, following Arashi's 27th single, "Everything."

Wonder Girls Hit iTunes with 'Nobody'

This year, two Korean pop superstars, Se7en and BoA, attempted to launch their American careers -- and barely made it to lift-off. Can the Wonder Girls avoid their fate of soaring into obscurity?