K-Pop Journalist. Online Editor.
Winner’s Mino has been criticised for breaking the country’s social distancing rules after reportedly performing at a club in Yangyang County, Gangwon, on May 3. Korean media outlet ‘Dispatch’ reported that the K-Pop artist surprised clubgoers, whom have allegedly lowered their masks after entering the …
K-Pop stars Taeyeon and IU both showed their local popularity last week by topping the UAE iTunes Top Songs chart with new music, proving their star power and existing loyal fan base. On May 4, the Girls’ Generation member continued her winning streak on the …
EXO’s Suho, BTOB’s Hyunsik and Sungjae, Block B’s U-Kwon and Pentagon’s Jinho will bid a temporary farewell to fans as they will all be carrying out their mandatory military service this month.
Last week, the K-Pop idols — and their labels — shared the news, confirming dates without disclosing details on specific times and locations of their enlistment as they wish to enter the military quietly.
The BTOB members first dropped the unexpected news on their respective Instagram accounts with a heartfelt post, revealing that they will temporarily leave the band to fulfil their duties on May 11.
Fellow member Eunkwang was recently discharged in April — and is preparing to release a new solo album in June — wile Changsub and Minhyuk are currently serving as an active-duty soldier and a conscripted policeman, respectively.
Much like the pair, Pentagon’s Jinho will be enlisting on the same day and will serve his military term as an active-duty soldier once he completes basic training, making him the first member to fulfil mandatory duty to his country. His bandmates will continue participating on Mnet’s competition show ‘Road to Kingdom’.
Three days later, Suho, the leader and lead vocalist of EXO, will be also joining his bandmates, Xiumin and D.O., in the military.
Following the release of his successful solo debut with album ‘Self Portrait’, the EXO member — whose real name is Kim Jun-myeon — announced the news to the group’s EXO-L fan base in a handwritten letter posted on fan community application, Lysn, confirming that he will be enlisting on May 14. Suho went on to thank fans for the support and wished them to remain healthy.
On May 18, U-Kwon will become the fourth member — after Jaehyo, Taeil and B-Bomb — of Block B to enlist in the military.
On Friday, his label KQ Entertainment confirmed that the singer will fulfil his service as an active-duty soldier after his basic training.
A number of K-Pop artists have already enlisted in the army this year as all able-bodied men must serve the country’s military for a period of around two years, according to the South Korean law.
Client: Gulf News tabloid!
Yubin may be facing a stiff competition with a star-studded comeback line-up this month. The former Wonder Girls rapper is confirmed to be preparing new music since establishing her own label, rrr Entertainment. Although there are no details on the release date, the concept and …
K-Pop idol Lisa’s legs is the latest quarantine meme to hit the internet. The BlackPink member accidentally started a whole new internet ‘Did it Work?’ meme, crediting her thigh-high leather boots featured in a sultry dance cover of 6lack and Quin’s 2019 single ‘Mushroom Chocolate’ …
K-Pop groups Astro, B.I.G, IMFACT, April, Dongkiz, and D-Crunch sent messages of support and wished local fans a Ramadan Kareem.
On April 28, the Korean Cultural Center in the UAE (KCC) began releasing personal videos of each K-Pop group relaying positivity and warm wishes during the holy month of Ramadan amid the global pandemic.
“After long consideration, we have planned to share a positive message with K-Pop groups to overcome this difficult time together with the spirit of solidarity and tolerance,” Nam Chan-woo, Director at KCC told Gulf News.
Some of the bands like B.I.G, IMFACT and D-Crunch are no strangers to the UAE as they’ve previously greeted fans and held performances in the country on separate occasions last year.
“The artists cherished and remembered the stage they had in the UAE, and they were willing to share the meaning of Ramadan and send messages of support to overcome Corona.”
IN2IT’s member Isaac and South Korean rapper Tiger JK have also tweeted to their global fans a Ramadan Kareem.
The Coronavirus outbreak has certainly taken a tumultuous hit on the K-Pop music industry at large, with most events now taking place online. K-Pop concerts like ‘Music Bank in Dubai’ and ‘K-Pop Super Concert’ were also forced into postponement.
“Korea’s pop culture and arts community are also suffering from the cancellation of all performances and events due to COVID-19, and we are also grateful that the groups were pleased to join our Ramadan message initiatives,” he said.
However, Nam shared that the KCC and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Arab Emirates are planning to hold in the second half of 2020 a variety of events, of which includes a K-Pop festival that is expected to take place between November 4 and 7 at Etihad Arena and Yas Mall. However, there are no confirmed dates as of yet due to the current situation of the global pandemic.
Client: Gulf News tabloid!
EXO’s Chen welcomed his first child with his wife at a hospital in Seoul’s Gangnam district on April 29. His label SM Entertainment confirmed media reports, stating that the 27-year-old is now a father to a healthy daughter. Chen — whose real name is Kim …
NCT Dream is ‘Ridin’ on a new path with comeback EP ‘Reload’. On April 29, SM Entertainment’s teenage boy band made their much-awaited last comeback as a six-member group. Fronted by the energetic, urban-trap track, ‘Ridin’, with a message of determination and passion, the EP …
Red Velvet’s Irene and Seulgi are all set to release music as subunit for the first time.
SM Entertainment reportedly confirmed the news, revealing the preparation of their debut unit album while a release date is yet to be revealed once the album is finalised.
The duo are the first Red Velvet members to join as a subunit during their six-year career run.
Before formally launching as members of the K-Pop girl group, the duo worked together as a pair when they were introduced with a video performance of S.E.S’s ‘Be Natural’ together through the company’s pre-debut training team, ‘SM Rookies’ under the name SR14G .
Signed under SM Entertainment, Seulgi and Irene have been Red Velvet members since 2014.
Client: Gulf News tabloid!
GOT7 charted high on the UAE iTunes chart with their latest comeback once again. Last Monday, JYP Entertainment’s talented septet hit the music scene with brand new EP, ‘Dye’, showcasing a whole new style with their romanticism, medieval ballad concept. As expected, it took local …