Girl band 2NE1 to reunite to celebrate 15th anniversary

SEOUL, July 23 (AJU PRESS) - 2NE1, one of the most popular girl groups of the early 2000s, will reunite this fall to mark the 15th anniversary of their debut, their agency YG Entertainment said Monday. The agency also released a couple of nostalgic teaser posters reminiscent of their heyday to build excitement among fans for their upcoming return. The quartet will kick off their reunion with concerts in Seoul in early October, followed by performances in Osaka and Tokyo th

July 23, 2024

NewJeans' latest song accused of plagiarism

SEOUL, July 19 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop sensation NewJeans' latest hit song has been accused of plagiarizing a track by the British long-running pop group Shakatak. Shakatak raised suspicions that NewJeans' song "Bubble Gum" plagiarized their 1981 song, "Easier Said Than Done," in a letter sent to the quintet's agency ADOR last month, according to multiple industry sources. The mixed-gender group reportedly claimed that the two songs are very similar in

July 19, 2024

JYP Entertainment to make foray into Latin America

SEOUL, July 19 (AJU PRESS) - JYP Entertainment is set to venture into Latin America, riding the waves of K-pop's growing popularity across the globe. "We plan to establish a subsidiary in Latin America in the third quarter of this year," it said Thursday. The exact location of the subsidiary was not revealed yet, but it apparently aims to make its presence in the Spanish-language market, starting with its global audition project called "L2K," which

July 19, 2024

K-pop impresario aims to captivate global fans with 200-member mega band

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - A unique scene unfolded last month when a unit of rookie K-pop girl band BlingOne consisting entirely of non-Koreans, held their debut showcase in central Seoul. While foreign members in Korea's music scene are common, they are the first-ever K-pop girl band from South America incubated in Korea, aiming for global audiences. The three Peruvian members – Abigali, Kenny and Ruby -- were selected from dozens of contestants who participated in the

July 18, 2024

R-rated stand-up show to debut at Sejong Center in Seoul next month

SEOUL, July 16 (AJU PRESS) - A stand-up comedy will be staged at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul next month, offering Seoulites a refreshing escape from the sweltering summer heat, Meta Comedy said Monday. According to the Korea's independent comedy label which boasts 741,000 subscribers, the R-rated show, called "Comedy Assemble," features explicit subjects including jokes about sex, religion, and political satire. The show, scheduled for three

July 16, 2024

BTS' Jin carries Olympic torch in Paris

SEOUL, July 15 (AJU PRESS) - With the Paris Olympics just two weeks away, Jin, the eldest member of global K-pop sensation BTS carried the Olympic flame in the host city in France on Sunday. He appeared at about 8:00 p.m. in central Paris to serve as a touch bearer, while thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of their idol. Jin in a white jersey carried the flame for 200 meters from the Rue de Rivoli to the Louvre Pyramid where he handed over the torch to French skier Sandra

July 15, 2024

Hong Sang-soo's latest movie invited to Locarno Film Festival

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Director Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been invited to the Locarno Film Festival to be held in Switzerland next month. "By the Stream," also known as "Suyoocheon" in Korean, will compete at the international section of the festival along with 16 other films, the festival's organizers said Thursday. The film is about a university lecturer asking her unemployed uncle to direct a skit. The film is Hong's 32nd feature and

July 12, 2024

NewJeans to promote tourism to Korea

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop girl band NewJeans will promote Korea overseas, the Korea Tourism Organization said Thursday. The five members of the band were appointed as promotional ambassadors for Korean tourism at an event held at Grand Hyatt Seoul in the capital. At the event which drew a huge crowd eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars, the KTO also unveiled a video clip featuring them, aimed at promoting tourism to Korea. It hopes to capitalize on their burg

July 11, 2024

K-pop star couple to tie the knot this fall

SEOUL, July 9 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop star couple HyunA and Yong Jun-hyung will get married this fall. The news came just a few months after they admitted their romantic relationship early this year. According to their respective agencies, the two plan a private wedding in Seoul with only close family members and friends in attendance on Oct. 11. Debuted as a member of girl band Wonder Girls in 2007 before joining the now-disbanded girl group 4minute, HyunA has often sparked mixed

July 9, 2024

Virtual artist Suvi's sporty-themed photos unveiled ahead of next week's debut

SEOUL, July 5 (AJU PRESS) - Studio Meta-K, the agency behind virtual artist Suvi, released her photos on Friday, showcasing a sporty theme for her upcoming debut single "Suncream." The four photos unveiled on social media capture the vibrant energy of summer, the Korean tech startup said. The 22-year-old virtual singer is scheduled to debut next Thursday with the dance track. In the song, Suvi tells the tale of a mermaid emerging from the sea in search of love, only to

July 5, 2024