Author: Rahul M

In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in what’s new in J-pop. With that in mind, here’s where you come in: I’m one person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed any other new J-pop tracks you’ve enjoyed in the comments so we can get a fuller spectrum each week. *And…

It’s always nice to hear from an old friend. Nana has a special place in my heart for several reasons. First, she was a member of the fantastic After School and their quirky sub-unit Orange Caramel. She also co-starred in the first full Korean variety show I ever watched: 2014’s Roommate. So, seeing her name pop up on the list of September comebacks was a blast of nostalgia. Nana’s never released a solo album of any kind, choosing instead to focus on acting. This makes me wonder how much great music we could have been treated to in an alternate…

Get ready for the premeire of tvN’s upcoming drama “Shin’s Project”! “Shin’s Project” is a new drama starring Han Suk Kyu as Mr. Shin, a former legendary negotiator who now runs a modest chicken restaurant while hiding a mysterious secret. A neighborhood hero who takes it upon himself to mediate conflicts and assist people through seemingly unwinnable situations, Mr. Shin willingly jumps into other people’s conflicts to settle their problems and deliver justice. Ahead of the premiere, “Shin’s Project” shared three reasons to tune in to the drama!  1. Chemistry between the leads Han Suk Kyu is expected to charm with his…

KBS2’s “Our Golden Days” has unveiled a preview of the upcoming episode! “Our Golden Days” is a generational family drama based on the idea that everyone experiences their own “glory days”—whether in the present, the past, or the future still to come. Previously, Ji Hyuk (Jung Il Woo) and Ji Eun Oh (Jung In Sun) continued their partnership smoothly. However, Ji Eun Oh was hurt when her younger brother Ji Kang Oh (Yang Hyuk) found out she was adopted and lashed out at her in anger. To support her, Ji Hyuk raised the promised contract deposit by putting up his…

Shin Ye Eun will step up for Kim Da Mi in her time of need on the next episode of “A Hundred Memories”! Set in the 1980s, JTBC’s “A Hundred Memories” is a nostalgic coming-of-age romance drama about the friendship between two young bus attendants, Go Young Rye (Kim Da Mi) and Seo Jong Hee (Shin Ye Eun), and their shared first love Han Jae Pil (Heo Nam Jun). Spoilers On the first episode of “A Hundred Memories,” Go Young Rye and Seo Jong Hee became fast friends while working together as bus attendants. During their first meeting, Young Rye…

The writer and director of ENA’s “Ms. Incognito” have shared their insights on the upcoming drama! “Ms. Incognito” is a romance crime drama starring Jeon Yeo Been as Kim Young Ran, a female bodyguard who enters a contract marriage with a terminally ill chaebol chairman in the hopes of turning her life around. But when those eyeing the chairman’s vast fortune close in on her, she is forced to live under the new identity of Boo Se Mi for three months—setting the stage for dangerous twists and turns. Writer Hyun Gyu Ri revealed the inspiration for the story, saying, “I…

Park Hee Soon is unrecognizable in stills from the next episode of “Confidence Queen”! A new adaptation of the 2018 Japanese drama “The Confidence Man JP,” “Confidence Queen” tells the story of three talented con artists who pull off elaborate scams targeting villains from all walks of life. Park Min Young stars in the drama as team leader Yoon Yi Rang, a genius con artist with an IQ of 165. Park Hee Soon plays James, a charming master of disguise, while Joo Jong Hyuk plays Myung Gu Ho, the youngest member of the team. Spoilers On the previous episode of…

Disaster will strike on the next episode of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty”! Based on a popular web novel, tvN’s “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” is a fantasy romance drama starring Girls’ Generation’s Lim Yoona as Yeon Ji Young, an award-winning French chef who winds up traveling 500 years back into the past. There, she meets despotic king Lee Heon (Lee Chae Min), who is known as the worst of tyrants—and who also happens to be a discerning gourmet. Spoilers Previously on “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,” Lee Heon agreed to the Ming envoy’s proposal of a cooking competition, forcing Yeon Ji Young…

Both SBS’s “Queen Mantis” and tvN’s “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” remain on the rise! On September 13, “Queen Mantis” wrapped up the first half of its run on its highest viewership ratings yet. According to Nielsen Korea, the new crime thriller climbed to an average nationwide rating of 7.5 percent for its latest episode, marking a personal record for the show. Meanwhile, “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” kicked off the second half of its run on its highest ratings to date for a Saturday (when its ratings have typically been lower compared to Sundays). The latest episode of the fantasy romance…

ZEROBASEONE has won a fifth music show trophy for their new title track “ICONIK”! On the September 13 episode of MBC’s “Music Core,” the candidates for first place were IVE’s “XOXZ,” Lim Young Woong’s “Eternal Moment,” and ZEROBASEONE’s “ICONIK.” ZEROBASEONE ultimately took the win with a total of 7,007 points. Congratulations to ZEROBASEONE! Watch their performance, win, and full encore below: Other performers on today’s show included TWICE’s Chaeyoung, NCT’s Haechan, Red Velvet’s Wendy, WJSN’s Dayoung, MOMOLAND, NCT WISH, TREASURE, CORTIS, MONSTA X, CIX, Lim Young Woong, ALL(H)OURS, AxMxP, Gavy NJ, and A.C.E’s Junhee. Check out their performances below! TWICE’s…