K-pop becomes protest anthem in rallies against Yoon

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - K-pop songs have emerged as the new soundtrack of protest in South Korea since President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration, with their stimulating tempo, dynamic beats and catchy hooks energizing young participants at rallies. Girls' Generation's 2007 debut song "Into the New World" has become a rallying cry at candlelight protests across Seoul, where demonstrators are calling for Yoon's resignation and impeachment.

December 12, 2024

​​​​​​​K-pop training goes global: World K-pop Center plans 32-nation girl group project

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) -- "K-pop stands at the heart of Korean culture today. We aim to create a true cultural exchange by bringing together girl groups from 32 different nations," says Park Sung-jin, CEO of World K-pop Center. Speaking at the launch of news platform AJP at Seoul's FKI Tower on Tuesday, Park detailed his organization's vision for globalizing K-pop education through a U.N.-inspired strategy. Park emphasized that while famous K-pop artists have p

December 4, 2024

BTS' Jungkook nominated for multiple Billboard Music Awards

SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Jungkook, a member of boy band BTS, is vying for awards at this year's Billboard Music Awards to be held in the U.S. in December. According to a list of finalists released by Billboard on Monday, Jungkook received nominations in five categories — Top Song Sales Artist, Top Global K-Pop Artist, Top K-Pop Album, Top Selling Song, and Top Global K-Pop Song — making him the most-nominated South Korean artist this year. Other South Korean nom

November 26, 2024

ATEEZ's latest album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - K-pop boy band ATEEZ topped the Billboard 200 albums chart with their latest album, the U.S. music chart said on Sunday. Their 11th mini-album "Golden Hour: Part.2" took the top spot for the week ending on Nov. 21, with over 179,000 copies sold in its first week of release. The album is "the 26th mostly non-English-language album to hit No. 1, and the third of 2024," Billboard said. The album explores themes of love and self-disco

November 25, 2024

Allegations of workplace bullying involving NewJeans' Hanni dismissed

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Claims of workplace bullying raised by Hanni about a couple of months ago, a member of K-pop girl band NewJeans was dismissed, in a decision made by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday. The ministry said that she cannot be regarded as a typical employee under South Korean labor laws where workers are entitled to certain protections, so it decided to close the case. The ministry explained, "Hanni cannot be classified as a waged worker,

November 20, 2024

Singer Kim Ho-joong gets prison term in hit-and-run case

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Singer Kim Ho-joong was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Wednesday for a hit-and-run accident early this year. He rammed into a taxi while driving under the influence and fled the scene in Gangnam, southern Seoul in May. Kim initially denied driving under the influence, but after CCTV footage and other evidence emerged, he was forced to admit it about 10 days later. The Seoul Central District Court reprimanded Kim for his reckless drivi

November 13, 2024

Test-takers advised to avoid 'distracting' songs ahead of exam

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Over half a million South Korean students will sit for a crucial university entrance exam on Thursday, prompting authorities to implement extraordinary measures to ensure optimal testing conditions. To minimize distractions during the English listening section, flights nationwide will be grounded for approximately 30 minutes in the afternoon. Additionally, drivers have been urged to refrain from honking their horns. In a unique cultural phenom

November 13, 2024

K-pop band with hearing impairment to showcase AI-powered music at int'l event

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - Big Ocean, a Korean boy band whose members have hearing impairments, has been invited to showcase how artificial intelligence can transform lives through music at a major international AI event in Geneva next year. The three-member group, which uses AI-powered voice conversion technology to produce its songs, will perform at the AI for Good Global Summit in July 2025. The meeting, organized by the International Telecommunication Union, brings together AI

November 8, 2024

'APT.' by Rosé and Bruno Mars hits No. 2 on UK chart

SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - BLACKPINK's Rosé has achieved the highest-charting single by a female K-pop singer on the U.K. Official Singles Chart, with her collaboration with Bruno Mars, "APT.," reaching No. 2 Friday. The song, which debuted at No. 4 on Oct. 25, climbed two spots, trailing only Gigi Perez's "Sailor Song." PSY's 2012 hit "Gangnam Style" remains the only K-pop song to have topped the U.K. chart. "APT.," dropp

November 3, 2024

Gang Dong-won embraces maturity after action-packed Netflix film

SEOUL, November 1 (AJP) - Actor Gang Dong-won's first Netflix film, "Uprising," has captured global attention since its release on Netflix early last month. Available on the U.S. streaming platform starting from Oct. 11, the film ranked among the top 10 in over 70 countries, amassing an impressive 17.6 million viewing hours in its first three weeks. Expressing his excitement over the film's simultaneous reach to viewers across the world, Gang said in a recent in

November 1, 2024