Korea Observer

K-pop performance powerhouse Seventeen appears on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ : Seventeen (Pledis Entertainment) K-pop boy band Seventeen made their US debut performance of the song “Left & Right” on the Daytime Emmy award-winning “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on Jan. 13. “My next guest has sold over six million albums and have had their songs streamed more than two billi

Angry fans slam, curse Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano for using BTS for politics : Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (left) and BTS (Photos: Rep. Cayetano’s Facebook page and Twitter)  Angry fans slammed and cursed Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano for using K-pop superstars BTS for political stunt. Cayetano is reportedly launching a political bloc in the House

President Moon Jae-in cites BTS, BLACKPINK for promoting Korea’s image abroad : (Top) South Korean President Moon Jae-in with BTS at the 1st Youth Day celebration on Sept. 19, 2020 and BLACKPINK (Cheong Wa Dae, Instagram) South Korean President Moon Jae-in has cited K-pop groups BTS and BLACKPINK, and the Oscar-winning film “Parasite” for promoting the image of South Korea a

GOT7 members declare #GOT7FOREVER as they attend last official event together : GOT7 uploaded their group photo on Instagram (left) and showed solidarity at the 35th Golden Disc Awards on Jan. 10 (Instagram, screenshot from GDA video on YouTube)  Members of K-pop boy band GOT7 declared “#GOT7FOREVER” following a news report stating they have decided to leave their agency and

IU leads winners in Digital Song Division on first day of 35th Golden Disc Awards : (Clockwise from top left) IU, BTS, BLACKPINK, Mamamoo, Oh My Girl, ITZY, Hwasa, Zico and Red Velvet (JTBC Awards, GDA, Twitter)  K-pop princess IU led the winners on the first day of the 35th Golden Disc Awards (GDA) held on Jan. 9 and hosted by actor Lee Seung-gi and actress Park So-dam. The

BTS, NCT 127 top physical album sales in US in 2020: MRC Data year-end report : BTS (top) and NCT 127 (Twitter) K-pop boy bands BTS grabbed the top spot and NCT 127 placed sixth in the top 10 physical album sales in the US in 2020. MRC Data, formerly Nielsen Music, released the “Year-End Report: US 2020” that was presented in collaboration with Billboard covering the peri

Can GOT7 members surpass the ‘7-year jinx’? : GOT7 (Twitter) The news that K-pop boy band GOT7 member Yugyeom is planning to leave JYP Entertainment and join Jay Park’s AOMG label has made fans worry: Will the group disband or go beyond the so-called “7-year jinx”? For K-pop idols like GOT7, the 7-year jinx refers to the expiration of con

GOT7’s Yugyeom leaving JYP Entertainment for AOMG label: report : GOT7’s Yugyeom (Instagram) K-pop boy band GOT7 member Yugyeom will be leaving his agency, JYP Entertainment, after his contract expires this month. Korean media outlet SpoTV News published an exclusive report on Jan. 6 and stated that Yugyeom is planning to sign up with hip-hop label AOMG foun

K-pop band NU’EST member Aron goes on hiatus due to anxiety, to undergo treatment : Aron (2nd from left) with fellow NU’EST members at the 2021 New Year’s Eve Live concert on Dec. 31 (Twitter)  K-pop boy band NU’EST member Aron, 27, has taken a break from his official activities due to anxiety. Pledis Entertainment, NU’EST’s agency, announced on Jan. 2 that Aron was diagnose

Son Ye-jin declares: ‘I am thankful for meeting Hyun Bin’ : Korean actress Son Ye-jin personally acknowledged that she is in a relationship with actor Hyun Bin following the publication of a dating news report about them and confirmation from their respective agencies. In an Instagram post on Jan. 1, Son Ye-jin admitted that she is dating Hyun Bin, her c