Author: Rahul M

Both SBS’s “Would You Marry Me” and MBC’s “Moon River” hit all-time highs in viewership last night! On November 14, the penultimate episode of “Would You Marry Me” earned the drama’s highest viewership ratings to date. According to Nielsen Korea, the romantic comedy scored a nationwide average of 7.9 percent for the night. Meanwhile, “Moon River”—which airs in the same time slot—jumped nearly two full percentage points for its third episode. The new fantasy romance drama earned an average nationwide rating of 5.6 percent, marking a personal record for the show. Congratulations to the casts and crews of both dramas!…

It’s that time of year again! While December is filled with year-end countdowns, I like to take a look back at some of K-pop’s biggest agencies during November. Before reading (especially if you’re new to the blog), it’s helpful to know that my grading focuses most heavily on music releases and how comebacks are managed and delivered to fans. Scandals and non-musical factors can certainly impact an agency’s grade, but the biggest criteria will always be the music itself. Following SM Entertainment and HYBE‘s analysis, it’s time to dive into YG Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts below are my own…

A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. For awhile now, I’ve preferred most of ITZY’s b-sides to their title tracks. It feels that the agency is choosing title tracks because of their message/concept or producer rather than the actual quality of the music. This has resulted in far more adventurous material being shoved to the back side of…

Back in the mid-2010s, there was a micro-trend of big, brassy girl group tracks — no doubt inspired by global megahits like Jessie J’s Bang Bang. I didn’t appreciate this sound as much as I should have in the moment, but looking back it was a great opportunity for K-pop’s girl groups to bring the bombast — especially when it comes to vocals. KIIRAS debuted early this year on the back of a current global trend: country music. The balance of that song felt off to me, but the group showed potential that more fully blooms on Bang Bang!. Most…

AHOF has won their third music show trophy for their new title track “Pinocchio”! On the November 14 episode of KBS 2TV’s “Music Bank,” the candidates for first place were AHOF’s “Pinocchio” and i-dle’s Miyeon’s “Say My Name.” AHOF ultimately took the prize with a total of 8,538 points. Congratulations to AHOF! Watch the winner announcement and encore below: Performers on today’s show included AHOF, i-dle’s Miyeon, THE BOYZ Special Unit, ITZY, Sunmi, TVXQ’s Yunho, Hearts2Hearts, CLOSE YOUR EYES, CRAVITY, NEXZ, xikers, 82MAJOR, RESCENE, ARrC, XODIAC, NEWBEAT, KIIRAS, Kim Jang Hoon, and Kim Dong Hyun. Check out their performances below! AHOF…

A tense encounter unfolds between Kang Tae Oh and Hong Su Zu in “Moon River.” “Moon River” is a fantasy romance drama that follows Crown Prince Lee Gang (Kang Tae Oh), a man who has lost his smile, and Park Dal I (Kim Se Jeong), a traveling merchant who has lost her memory. When their souls mysteriously switch, they are forced to live each other’s lives while concealing their secret. Spoilers Since the death of the crown princess, Crown Prince Lee Gang has remained alone in the palace. Although a marriage ban has been issued, the ministers continue pressuring him…

Namkoong Min will make a special appearance in “Dynamite Kiss”! On November 14, Xportsnews reported that the actor will make a cameo in the new SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama. SBS confirmed the news, sharing, “Namkoong Min will be making a special appearance in ‘Dynamite Kiss.’ He gladly agreed out of loyalty to director Kim Jae Hyun.” “Dynamite Kiss” is a romantic comedy that follows Go Da Rim (Ahn Eun Jin), a single woman who disguises herself as a married mother to land a job, and Gong Ji Hyeok (Jang Ki Yong), her team leader who falls for her. The drama is…

SBS’s “Would You Marry Me” has shared a glimpse of what will happen in its final two episodes! “Would You Marry Me” is a romantic comedy about a man and a woman who enter a high-stakes, 90-day fake marriage in order to win a luxurious newlywed home. Choi Woo Shik stars as Kim Woo Joo, the heir to South Korea’s oldest bakery, while Jung So Min plays Yoo Mary, a small business owner who needs his cooperation in order to claim the prize she won in a newlywed home lottery. Spoilers In episode 10, the misdeeds of Kim Woo Joo’s (Choi Woo Shik) uncle-in-law…

ADOR’s response is still up in the air. 14 hours ago On November 12, KST, all NJZ (NewJeans) members expressed their willingness to return to ADOR, but the company only acknowledged the return of Haerin and Hyein. For the remaining members, it was stated that they had to make their intentions public through the media without the label’s acknowledgement, as they were still in talks. NewJeans (NJZ) | ADOR Amid this situation, industry insiders are predicting that ADOR may choose not to take Minji, Danielle, and Hanni back. Legal experts opined that ADOR has enough legal grounds to terminate its…

Yoon Kye Sang will team up with fellow “Heroes Next Door” following the explosion that shakes up their neighborhood! “Heroes Next Door” follows the thrilling and comedic story of former special forces soldiers who reunite—not to protect the nation or fight for world peace—but to defend their families and their neighborhood. The newly released stills highlight key scenes from the upcoming Episodes 1 and 2. The stills capture the chaotic aftermath of an explosion that disrupts the quiet neighborhood of Changri. In one image, youth association leader Kwak Byung Nam (Jin Sun Kyu) assesses the situation beside an injured resident—hinting…