Author: Rahul M

Over the years, Stray Kids have grown into one of K-pop’s premiere groups. In fact, their popularity is so global that it almost feels as if they’ve transcended the industry altogether. Once upon a time, they also topped my year-end singles chart. Gosh, that seems like lifetimes ago. The group is back today with their fourth Korean full-length album and the appropriately-titled Ceremony. After all, this feels very much like a victory lap. Yes, it’s another K-pop song about how great and popular its performers. By now, you all know how tired and unappealing I find this lyrical trope, but…

SBS’s upcoming drama “Queen Mantis” has unveiled a new glimpse of Lee El and Jo Sung Ha in character! A remake of the French series “La Mante,” “Queen Mantis” is a crime thriller starring Go Hyun Jung as Jung Yi Shin, a famous serial killer nicknamed “The Mantis” who brutally murdered five men 20 years ago and has been imprisoned ever since. When a new serial killer emerges, copying The Mantis’s distinctive style, the police approach Jung Yi Shin for her assistance in solving the case. Jang Dong Yoon will star as Jung Yi Shin’s estranged son Cha Soo Yeol,…

JTBC’s upcoming drama “My Youth” has shared a sneak peek of Song Joong Ki and Chun Woo Hee’s past and present! “My Youth” is a romance drama starring Song Joong Ki as Sunwoo Hae, a man who begins living an ordinary life later than most people, and Chun Woo Hee as Sung Je Yeon, a woman who must shatter the peace of her first love for her own success. Newly released stills from the upcoming drama capture the young Sunwoo Hae (Nam Da Reum) and Sung Je Yeon (Jeon So Young) in their teenage years, back when they were each…

K-pop collaborations with global artists have become much more common over the years and exist across a wide spectrum. For every Rosalía and Megan Thee Stallion there’s a Maroon 5 and Alex Warren. NMIXX have already experimented with their music in many ways, so you’d expect them to choose an interesting collaborator as well. For new single MEXE, they’ve paired with Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar. It’s not the first time a K-pop artist has worked with the drag community, but it’s certainly the highest profile collaboration yet. Brazil is also a powerhouse market for K-pop, making MEXE‘s commercial prospects…

KBS 2TV’s “My Girlfriend is the Man!” is winding to a close next week. On August 21, the romantic comedy—which has just two episodes left to go—saw a slight decrease in viewership ahead of the final week of its run. According to Nielsen Korea, the latest episode of “My Girlfriend is the Man!” scored an average nationwide rating of 0.5 percent. Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, “My Girlfriend is the Man!” is a romantic comedy about a college student whose girlfriend unexpectedly transforms into a man. ASTRO’s Yoon San Ha stars as Park Yoon Jae, an…

KBS 2TV’s upcoming drama “Walking on Thin Ice” has unveiled a glimpse of the catastrophe looming over Lee Young Ae’s once happy family. “Walking on Thin Ice” will tell the story of the dangerous partnership between Kang Eun Soo (Lee Young Ae), a mother desperate to protect her family, and Lee Kyung (Kim Young Kwang), a teacher who secretly leads a double life. After marrying Park Do Jin (Bae Soo Bin), with whom she used to work at the same bank, Kang Eun Soo lives a modest but happy life with her husband and their daughter Park Soo Ah (Kim…

Han Suk Kyu has shared his thoughts on his upcoming drama “Shin’s Project”! tvN’s “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. Explaining why he chose to star in “Shin’s Project,” Han Suk Kyu recalled, “The moment I read the script, it touched my heart. It wasn’t…

“BOYS II PLANET” has aired the first part of the Position Battle! After eliminating 32 contestants at the first Survivor Announcement Ceremony, the remaining 48 contestants formed teams for the Position Battle, where the performances are focused on either Rap, Vocal, or Dance. Of the 12 teams, performances for three of the teams were unveiled on the August 21 episode. Based on the rankings of on-site votes, the contestants’ levels within each team were re-adjusted to THREE STAR or ALL STAR. Watch the performances below: Dance – “XXL” (YOUNG POSSE) Sun Jia Yang, Peng Jin Yu, Na Yun Seo, Arctic Individual…

EXO’s Chanyeol is slated for another solo album soon, and today he’s teasing us with pre-release Happy Accident. Alongside female vocalist Sole, he’s delivered a vibey slow burn guaranteed to take the edge off any feelings you may be having today. Chanyeol’s singing voice has a very calming quality and works well within this sonic realm, but I can’t muster much excitement for Happy Accident. To me, this type of song feels functional — a calming balm rather than an interesting piece of music on its own. As a b-side, I appreciate the texture and tone this may lend the…

For the first time in years, I listened to Teen Top’s first full album No.1 yesterday. Apart from some classic singles, the album itself is just okay, but it opens with a hilariously overblown intro that made me miss some 2013-era K-pop’s inherent silliness. Teen Top are one of a few second-gen groups who still pop up with new music from time to time, but these songs usually exist in the shadow of their greatest hits. I’m sure there are logistical issues at play, but I can’t understand why beloved older-gen groups can’t return with their usual collaborators in tow.…