Author: Rahul M

After twenty-two years in the industry, TVXQ’s U-Know has finally unveiled his first full-length solo album. This project was preceded by Body Language, a track I found disappointing in almost every regard. Thankfully, title track Stretch feels much more aligned with U-Know’s incredible legacy. It’ll never not be weird to hear a TVXQ release minus producer Yoo Youngjin, but Stretch‘s prickly production delivers flashes of the dramatic weirdness I associate with the group. It’s the latest in a long line of K-pop tracks that are mostly “talking over a club beat,” but the song’s production adds a bit more heft…

It’s hard to believe Sunmi has never released a full-length album until now. If we count her time with Wonder Girls, she’s been an active idol for eighteen years and a soloist for twelve. It’s a shame this album couldn’t have emerged when she was knocking out back-to-back classics like Heroine and Siren, but it’s still a long overdue project. Sadly, Sunmi’s work hasn’t hit strongly with me in years. She’s been on a more downtempo kick since 2022, switching producers for music that’s lacked the thrilling spark of her best work. To borrow the title of this new single,…

The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for variety shows! The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, interaction, media coverage, community awareness, and viewership indexes of 50 popular variety programs, using big data collected from October 2 to November 2. “Home Alone” (“I Live Alone”) held onto its spot at the top of the list this month with a brand reputation index of 6,890,742, marking a 13.60 percent increase in its score since October. High-ranking phrases in the show’s keyword analysis included “Jun Hyun Moo,” “running,” and “sports day,” while its…

The upcoming film “Love Barista” has unveiled new stills of Eum Moon Suk! “Love Barista” follows Kang Jun Woo (Lee Kwang Soo), Asia’s biggest star who finds himself stranded in Vietnam without his manager, passport, or even a single penny. Eum Moon Suk plays Jung Han Cheol, Kang Jun Woo’s loyal best friend and manager. Having stood by Jun Woo since his rookie days, Han Cheol is a steadfast supporter who often bickers with Jun Woo on the surface but genuinely cares for him like family. The newly released stills capture Han Cheol in a frenzy as he scours the…

&TEAM has won their second music show trophy for “Back to Life”! On the November 5 episode of “Show Champion,” the candidates for first place were &TEAM’s “Back to Life,” NEXZ’s “Beat-Boxer,” NMIXX’s “Blue Valentine,” Davichi’s “TIME CAPSULE,” and MAMAMOO’s Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye.” The trophy ultimately went to &TEAM. Congratulations to &TEAM! Watch the winner announcement and encore below: Performers on today’s show included &TEAM, NEXZ, xikers, TEMPEST, 82MAJOR, DKZ, WEi, Gyubin, AxMxP, ARrC, Kik5o, and NEWBEAT. Check out their performances below! &TEAM – “Lunatic” and “Back to Life” NEXZ – “Beat-Boxer” and “I’m Him” xikers – “SUPERPOWER (Peak)” TEMPEST –…

A new cross-cultural music variety show is on the way! “Change Street” is a Korea–Japan joint project celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The program aims to showcase the rich cultural diversity and musical identity of both nations while fostering genuine connection through music. The show will feature top artists from both countries as they step into each other’s worlds—busking on unfamiliar streets, exploring local culture, and sharing their experiences through intimate studio talks. On November 5, ENA unveiled the first artist lineup: KARA’s Hur Youngji, ASTRO’s Yoon San Ha, PENTAGON’s Hui, and HYNN. “Change…

Sunmi’s first full-length studio album is out! On November 5 at 6 p.m. KST, Sunmi released her first full-length studio album “HEART MAID” along with the music video for the title track “CYNICAL.” The title track “CYNICAL” is characterized by electronic synth riffs and a catchy chorus that amplify Sunmi’s signature wit and mysterious allure. Watch the music video below:

Im Se Mi and Japanese actress Ayaka Miyoshi have been confirmed as the female leads of the upcoming film “Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub” (tentative title)! On November 4, distributor CJ ENM announced that the two actresses will be joining the next installment of the hit “Tazza” series. Returning with a new chapter after six years, “Tazza 4” is set in the early 2000s and follows two high school best friends, Jang Tae Young (Byun Yo Han) and Park Tae Young (Roh Jae Won), who enter KAIST together. When Jang Tae Young’s life crumbles after Park Tae Young’s betrayal,…

Actress Jeon Jong Seo will star in the upcoming Hollywood film “Highlander” alongside Henry Cavill! On November 5, Jeon Jong Seo’s agency ANDMARQ shared, “Jeon Jong Seo will appear in the film ‘Highlander,’ which begins filming next year, as a member of the secret organization known as the ‘Watchers.’” A remake of 1986 fantasy film, “Highlander” depicts battles among immortal warriors spanning the centuries as they try to eliminate one another. Filming was originally scheduled to begin this fall but was postponed to early next year due to lead actor Henry Cavill’s injury. This will mark Jeon Jong Seo’s second…

Black always matches black, and it’s always in fashion. It never shows wear or stains, and it just looks good! If you’re looking to mix up your style but not your color of choice, here are some fashion tips straight from your favorite idols. 1. BLACKPINK’s Jisoo For everyday wear, black is just the best! Even for a casual look, an all-black outfit always seems chic. BLACKPINK’s Jisoo keeps her outfit eye-catching by opting for a cropped graphic tee and baggy-fit jeans. The shape highlights her slim waist and keeps the fit from feeling too monotonous. An adventurous green bag…