Twice - South China Morning Post

2016 trends, from Pokemon Go to poke bowls, as looking back 10 years goes viral in 2026

SCMP Reporters — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:15:07 +0000

Nostalgia for 2016 has been circulating on the internet over the last few weeks. People welcomed the new year by reminiscing 10 years into the past, sharing decade-old photos of themselves online. There is even a Wikipedia page for “2026 is the new 2016”. Of course, 2016 was before the Covid-19 pandemic rocked the world and the widespread use of generative AI (artificial intelligence) made us question what on our feeds was real and fake. Back then, people used social media mostly to stay...

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium lifts city’s status as a major sports and entertainment venue

Cheryl Arcibal — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:30:08 +0000

The 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium is transforming Hong Kong into a major sports and events destination, as it drives repeat tourism, supports retailers and helps prop up the city’s retail property landlords, according to experts. It served as the venue for British rock band Coldplay’s four-night concert in April and K-pop girl group Twice’s first-ever shows in the city earlier this month. A three-night gig by K-pop sensation Blackpink will also be held there next month. The stadium had been ranked...

Michelle Yeoh, Stray Kids among star line-up for 2025 MAMA Awards in Hong Kong

Lo Hoi-ying — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:15:09 +0000

Fans attending Asia’s biggest K-pop awards show to be held at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium in November can expect to see Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, the global debut of a new song by South Korean boy band Stray Kids and a special collaboration with Netflix animated series KPop Demon Hunters. The event organisers on Wednesday announced the highlights of the 2025 MAMA Awards, featuring performances by more than 25 acts, ranging from rookie groups to K-pop veterans. The award show,...

12 highlights from the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, from Twice to sports stars

Gloria Tso — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:41:56 +0000

With blowout performances and a star-studded runway, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show remains one of the fashion calendar’s biggest events every year. Controversy surrounding size inclusivity and concerns over declining ratings led to the show’s initial cancellation in 2019, but the brand made a comeback last year and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. This year’s diverse runway line-up included Olympic champion gymnast Sunisa Lee and WNBA star Angel Reese, as well as long-time...

Meet fashion designer Kim Shui, who crafts looks for Twice, Blackpink, Dua Lipa and Cardi B: the Chinese-American grew up in Italy and Kylie Jenner sat front row at her first show

Maggie Yeung — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 01:00:12 +0000

Earlier this week on Instagram, fashion designer Kim Shui gave Twice fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her process when it came to designing nine bespoke looks for the K-pop girl group’s world tour. Known for her signature cultural fusion looks, Shui told her 260,000 Instagram followers she had just three weeks to source the fabrics and submit her designs for approval to the group’s stylist, but added that it was “super exciting to see each of these pieces on stage and I loved dressing such a...

Twice singer Dahyun on bringing joy in her acting debut in You Are the Apple of My Eye

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:15:07 +0000

By Baek Byung-yeul Dahyun, best known as a vibrant member of the K-pop band Twice, has taken a leap into the world of acting, making her debut in recently released teen romance film You Are the Apple of My Eye. Revealing her goal as an actress, she expressed her desire to bring joy and comfort to audiences, adding that she will continue to keep balancing acting and singing. “I always like to watch dramas and movies and have received great energy from actors’ performances. Like these great actors...

K-pop releases in January 2023: Twice’s new single, mini-album by GOT the Beat and more to come from a host of girl groups and solo acts

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 03:15:15 +0000

By Dong Sun-hwa The K-pop music scene in 2022 was filled with female acts and girl groups, and their dominance is likely to continue as a number of A-list stars prepare to drop new music this year. GOT the Beat, a project group made up of seven female singers under K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment, put out their first mini-album, Stamp On It, on January 16. Stamp On It, fronted by a lead single of the same name, features six songs that touch on diverse topics. “Alter Ego”, for instance,...

5 challenges Twice’s Nayeon faced before her solo debut, chart-topping ‘Im Nayeon’: a K-pop bullying scandal, an Instagram ‘ban’ … but did JYP really force her to sing all the high notes?

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 09:11:38 +0000

Nayeon is officially the first member of beloved nine-piece K-pop group Twice to drop a solo release, unveiling the eponymous “Im Nayeon” EP on June 24. The music video for catchy lead single Pop! amassed 16.6 million views in 24 hours, and had passed 57 million views on YouTube at the time of writing. But she didn’t do it alone – many K-pop celebrities are taking part in the #PopPopPop challenge on Instagram to promote her song. The drop has made history, with “Im Nayeon” named on July 3 as the...

Why K-pop stars like Twice’s Nayeon, Exo’s D.O. and GFriend’s Yerin must wait so long for solo careers - but not Blackpink’s Jennie

Mon, 23 May 2022 23:15:15 +0000

By Dong Sun-hwa While fans of Nayeon worldwide were electrified by the news that the member of K-pop girl group Twice was making her solo debut on June 24 with EP IM Nayeon, many wondered why it had taken nearly seven years for her to go solo, after her group debut in 2015. Nayeon is not alone in having a belated solo debut. D.O. of boy band Exo rolled out his mini-album Empathy in 2021, nine years after his group debut in 2012, while two of his bandmates, Kai and Baekhyun, went solo in 2020 and...

K-pop girl group Twice’s sell-out shows in Los Angeles shows how girl groups can hold successful world tours beyond Asia

Wed, 18 May 2022 08:45:12 +0000

Twice’s recent two-night concert in the US proves that K-pop girl groups can hold a sell-out solo stadium show in America just like the boys. On May 14 and 15, the nine-member team performed for over 20,000 fans each night at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on the country’s west coast. While all-male K-pop groups have in recent years become mainstays on the US touring circuit, girl groups and female soloists do not appear as frequently, if at all. Marketing, promoting, releases –...

Stylist’s revenge? 5 worst dressed K-pop group members, from Blackpink’s Lisa and Twice’s Jeongyeon, to Red Velvet’s Yeri and Aespa’s Giselle

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:58:30 +0000

K-pop idols never hold back with their style, whether for music videos, performances or even just Instagram posts. But with every hit comes a few misses, so it’s no surprise that our favourite stars have donned their fair share of unsavory fits too. But sometimes fans notice a pattern where one member in a group consistently gets the worst outfits, leading to backlash against their stylists. So, which idols do fans believe are their stylists’ least favourite? 1. Twice’s Jeongyeon After hiatuses...

End of the line: 6 K-pop group contracts ending in 2022, from Twice and Monsta X to CLC and Day6 – who will disband and who will continue into a new era?

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 02:54:22 +0000

Every year, the K-pop world sees countless new debuts and more fans, but some unfortunate disbandments too. Most idols have a seven-year contract with their company, which has led to what fans call the “seven year curse” – where bands tend to disband or see certain members leaving the group after seven years. So, who are the K-pop idols whose contracts are ending in 2022? Which groups are likely staying together, and which groups might disband? 1. Twice The beloved nine-member group, formed...

K-pop group Twice cancel Christmas concert amid Covid-19 curbs in South Korea, other events postponed or in doubt – including world tours – amid Omicron variant’s spread

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:15:10 +0000

By Dong Sun-hwa Some year-end concerts have been called off or postponed following the South Korean government’s announcement of stricter Covid-19 restrictions that took effect on December 18. According to the new social distancing measures, which will be in effect until January 2, a 9 pm curfew will be applied to indoor sports facilities, where most major concerts in South Korea take place. In the case of other concert venues, they will face a 10pm curfew. This led K-pop girl group Twice to...

K-pop idols who almost didn’t debut at all, from BTS’ Jimin and Twice’s Tzuyu and Momo, to Red Velvet’s Seulgi, Super Junior’s Heechul and Got7’s BamBam

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 02:46:56 +0000

Could you ever imagine BTS without Jimin? What about Twice without Momo? You may be shocked to learn that these members almost did not debut with their groups at all. The K-pop industry is a competitive one to say the least, and would-be idols aren’t guaranteed a spot in the final group line-up despite years of training. The decision behind an idol’s debut ultimately lies with the entertainment agency, and many world-famous stars were once at risk of being removed from the equation...

Viviz, IVE, NCT Hollywood – K-pop’s next generation is about to make some noise

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 11:15:15 +0000

Some prominent K-pop groups may have said “farewell” in 2021, but a lot of new faces are set to make their debuts before the end of the year and at the start of 2022, with big South Korean entertainment companies announcing launch plans for upcoming idol groups. November has seen several K-pop labels solidify arrangements for their latest acts and begin to unveil them. On November 7, JYP Entertainment, home to popular K-pop groups including Twice and Stray Kids, announced the upcoming debut of...

TikTok’s biggest K-pop acts: BTS, Blackpink and Tomorrow X Together, with NCT, Twice and Enhypen also popular

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 14:15:14 +0000

If you’re a TikTok user, you’ve probably come across some K-pop – over the past two years, music coming out of South Korea has more than tripled in popularity on the social media platform. The biggest K-pop groups on the short-form video social media platform are currently BTS, Blackpink, and Tomorrow X Together (TXT) according to data provided by TikTok and the data-tracking firm Kpop Radar from their “2021 Kpop Radar TikTok” conference on November 17. In 2019, there were 33.5 million...

As Twice announce 2022 US tour dates, their new K-pop album Formula of Love: O+T=＜3 investigates love and celebrates their fans

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 13:15:12 +0000

When K-pop girl group Twice debuted in 2015, they shot to fame right away. Now in 2021, after years of hits, they’ve released their third LP, Formula of Love: O+T=<3, which offers a snapshot of where they are in their career. With a title referring to how their career has been bolstered by their bond with their fandom Once, and can be read as “Formula of Love: Once plus Twice equals love”, the 16-track release explores a variety of dance-pop styles as Twice sing about different elements of...

5 K-pop idols who were victims of sasaeng fans: Blackpink’s Jennie got a billboard ad asking her for a date, while Twice’s Nayeon has been stalked by ‘Josh1994’ since 2019

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 05:53:45 +0000

K-pop idols often have a strong connection with their fans, with apps like LYSN and Weverse existing specifically for idol-fan interaction. Fans can get a glimpse into their idols’ lives offstage, establishing a parasocial relationship. 5 Korean stars who gained weight for TV and film roles But this means that, all too often, fans cross lines and act inappropriately, invading their idols’ privacy in a disturbingly large variety of ways. These fans are known as sasaeng fans – with the term coming...

The Twice factor: how the K-pop queens are raking in millions off brand endorsements, from Estée Lauder and Nintendo to Pocari Sweat (and don’t forget those school uniforms for Skoolooks)

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 02:30:13 +0000

Good news, K-pop fans – Twice is making new music. The nine-member girl band – comprised of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu – released their very first English single The Feels in October and teased their third album, “Formula of Love: O+T=<3” for a November 12 release – that’s today! 5 Korean stars who gained weight for TV and film roles But, like most of today’s pop stars, their earnings don’t just come from their music. The supergroup has also landed...

Success of K-pop group Twice’s single in English, The Feels, set to be followed by release of their album Formula of Love: O+T=<3

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 14:15:17 +0000

K-pop group Twice have entered a new phase of their career with the release of recent single The Feels, and are set to continue the momentum with their upcoming third LP, Formula of Love: O+T=<3. The group’s first formal English-language single, The Feels, which dropped on October 1, is also their first to enter the Top 100 of US Billboard’s main singles chart, debuting at No. 83, and the UK’s Official Singles chart, debuting at No. 80. The US and UK are, respectively, the biggest and fourth...

Best of K-pop in September 2021: Coldplay X BTS, Lisa from Blackpink, NCT 127, Itzy, Key from Shinee and CL from 2NE1

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 14:15:13 +0000

Every year, September marks the start of high season for K-pop releases as groups and artists prepare for the end-of-year festivities, and September 2021 didn’t disappoint. With record-making and historic releases from the likes of NCT 127, BTS and Coldplay, Blackpink’s Lisa and many other acts, the start of autumn let a refreshing breeze into the K-pop scene. StayC Stereotype (September 6) The follow-up to their earlier 2021 hit ASAP and their 2020 debut single So Bad, StayC’s Stereotype...

K-pop releases in October 2021 to look out for: Twice’s single The Feels, new Seventeen album, Aespa’s first EP and more

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:15:12 +0000

October is looking to be full of high-profile releases from some of the biggest names in the K-pop industry. The month will kick off in a big way for girl groups when Twice’s first official English-language single The Feels lands on October 1. Days later comes the highly anticipated release of Savage, rising rookie girl group Aespa’s first EP, to follow up on the success of their massive hit single Next Level earlier this year. aespa to bring the ‘Savage’ syndrome this time! A trap song that...

How much is K-pop going to be hurt by China’s crackdown on entertainment? The impact is already being felt

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 20:15:07 +0000

“As we are writing this, we are sorry to inform you that we may not be able to order as many copies as we had expected,” reads a tweet posted on August 31. “As some of you may know, we have run into unexpected obstacles with tightened restrictions on fan clubs.” The post was shared by the account @LISABar_CN, or Lisa Bar, the first and largest fan club in China dedicated to Blackpink’s Lisa, ahead of the release of her first single album, Lalisa, on September 10. The message reflects growing...

Which K-pop songs have been played at the Tokyo Olympics? BTS fan Kang Chae-young got Blackpink’s Boombayah instead – but Butter and Dynamite are on the pump-up playlist

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 05:49:25 +0000

K-pop anthems have made a notable presence at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with a plethora of Korean bangers being played during the games to pump up the mood – despite the lack of live spectators. More than 10 K-pop acts – including BTS, Blackpink, Exo, NCT 127, Seventeen, Ateez, Itzy and Oh My Girl – have been heard during the world’s biggest sporting event since its opening on July 23, furthering the international K-pop invasion and helping Korea boost its global soft power. Global sensation...

How BTS, Blackpink, Twice and more K-pop idols struggled as trainees: RM had nine roommates, Rosé remembers a roach-infested flat and Jimin would practise til 4am

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 04:00:17 +0000

Becoming a huge K-pop idol doesn’t happen in a day – it takes years of training and thousands of hours of practice. Even record-breaking bands like BTS speak of their harsh trainee days when they were squeezed together into a tiny shared flat, a far cry from the enormous and lavish homes they now live in. Today we look back at some bitter, old memories that idols can now recall with a laugh. Is K-pop’s ‘dormitory culture’ healthy for idols? RM used to share a room with nine other trainees In a...

Best K-pop albums of 2021 so far: Twice, Exo, Tomorrow x Together and others fly the flag for South Korea’s idol scene

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 14:15:00 +0000

Every year brings new K-pop hits, and albums, and so far South Korea’s idol scene has stayed strong in 2021, with many popular names releasing new albums that explore their artistry and viewpoints and make for all-around engaging listening experiences. Ranging from comeback albums to musical autobiographies, here are 10 of the best K-pop albums of 2021 so far. I Burn by (G)I-dle (January 11) Short and sweet, not even 20 minutes long, (G)I-dle’s “I Burn” is an intense, impassioned show of the...

New K-pop releases in June 2021: Twice, Seventeen, Exo, NCT 127, Monsta X, Loona and more to unveil albums, EPs and singles

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:15:07 +0000

As the year moves on, so does the K-pop industry. This month, many of its biggest names will have major releases that are sure to heat up the summer. B.I – Waterfall LP (June 1) The soloist, formerly of boy band iKon, kicks the month off with his highly awaited first studio album, Waterfall, which features 12 tracks, including the single illa illa. He shared a performance film featuring the song Waterfall in mid-May, giving a first taste of the album. Monsta X – One of a Kind EP (June 1) The...

5 K-pop idols who grew up rich before finding fame, from Twice’s Tzuyu and Mina to Enhypen’s Jake and Gfriend’s Umji

Fri, 28 May 2021 01:00:10 +0000

Sure, being a K-pop idol guarantees that you’ll live in the lap of luxury – if you can make it, that is. But that’s a very big “if”. Many trainees practise their youth away without a day of rest, and some even drop out and end up with massive debts to their agencies. While some idols come from modest backgrounds, these five singers gave up cushy, privileged lifestyles to slog away at chasing their showbiz dreams. IU, Hyeri and Chungha all paid off their families’ debts Twice’s Tzuyu Hailing...

With mini-album Advice, Shinee’s Taemin leaves K-pop – for now – as he prepares to enlist in South Korean military

Thu, 20 May 2021 14:15:08 +0000

Taemin of the K-pop group Shinee will enlist in South Korea’s military at the end of May to begin his compulsory national service, but ahead of his musical hiatus, the singer this week released the EP “Advice”. The title track is a slick trap and R&B dance production that provides a platform for the charismatic performer to explore his creativity and androgynous aesthetic, which are front and centre in the music video for Advice, released alongside the album. Aside from the single, the EP...

K-pop stars before the fame: the adorable BTS boys as babies, Blackpink’s diverse backgrounds, Twice’s early audition videos and why Chungha almost gave up

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 04:00:13 +0000

This was the year that Korean pop music made it big around the world, making the members of groups like BTS and Blackpink recognisable far beyond the towns and cities they grew up in. So it made us wonder – how did it all begin? And how did they go from there to here? Read on for four of our favourite K-pop “before the fame” profiles of 2020. Blackpink before the fame: what Jennie, Rosé, Lisa and Jisoo were like before they became K-pop idols Our four beloved Blackpink idols had a surprisingly...

SNSD’s Jessica and F(x)’s Krystal Jung aren’t the only famous Korean siblings – think NCT’s Doyoung and Gong Myung, Twice’s Jeongyeon and Gong Seung-yeon and K-pop duo AKMU

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:06:34 +0000

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, the saying states – and when it comes to Korean idols, that goes for singing and dancing skills as well as good looks. But even though they’re celebrities, the sibling dynamics of famous brothers and sisters are just like ours – they bicker and tease, but also support each other. Read on to find out more about these sibling stars in the world of K-pop and K-drama. Covid-19 and K-pop: 7 idols who tested positive NCT’s Doyoung and Gong...

Twice members before the fame: how Jihyo, Nayeon, Sana, Tzuyu and the other Korean and Japanese idols made it into K-pop’s favourite nine-piece girl band

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 04:06:19 +0000

K-pop girl group Twice made a glamorous return to the public eye this year with a new album “Eyes Wide Open” – an extra special moment marking the group’s fifth anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, we take a look at Twice before they grabbed the public’s love with catchy songs like TT and Likey, and recall the unlikely circumstances which formed the group and set them on their road to fame. IU, the K-pop millionaire who gives much of her fortune away They were discovered at a young...

BTS, Twice and Seventeen are set to appear at MAMA 2020, moved online due to Covid-19 and hosted by Descendants of the Sun’s Song Joong-ki – here’s what we know so far

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 00:00:24 +0000

It’s that time of year again! No, we aren’t talking about Christmas – the Mnet Asian Music Awards (aka MAMA), one of the most anticipated annual events for K-pop fans, is quickly approaching. Here’s what we know about MAMA 2020 so far. #BoycottSM: why are K-pop fans calling out SM Entertainment? It’s going online this year This year’s MAMA is special not only because Covid-19 is forcing the event online, but because they will be held in Korea for the first time in 11 years. With the theme...

K-pop trainee rules: no dating, no phones, weekly weight checks – Blackpink, Twice and BTS members reveal what Korea’s entertainment agencies really demand of their idols

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:21:02 +0000

Spoiler alert: K-pop stars weren’t born perfect. They didn’t always look all that great, dress that glam or move so effortlessly. Before graduating to idol-dom, would-be Korean stars go through a rigorous training system that can take up a decade or more of their lives with no end in sight, and which trainees will ever get to debut in the public eye remains ever-uncertain. Exhibit A: Jihyo trained for 10 years before starting her idol career as a member of Twice. And while the routines and...

IU gave generous gifts to fellow K-pop stars G-Dragon, Twice and Lee Hyori – Gucci rings, Chanel shoes, iPhones for all and Victoria’s Secret lingerie, for a start

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:09:36 +0000

With Christmas just around the corner, meet the K-pop world’s very own Santa Claus – IU. Not only is she well-known for receiving plenty of presents from her fans, she’s also very generous with them herself, showering both her fans and her fellow idols with gifts. Here are just a few of the most luxurious and surprising presents IU has given to other K-pop stars over the years. To Twice: iPhones, Gucci rings and Chanel shoes IU’s love for her juniors in the industry is apparently endless....

Twice aim to match BTS and Blackpink, and break US market with new album Eyes Wide Open

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 14:15:12 +0000

Twice, the popular K-pop group known for their catchy lyrics and colourful aesthetics, invite listeners to explore the band’s more daring side on their second full album. The all-female group made their debut in 2015 and have achieved success in both South Korea and Japan. “Eyes Wide Open” was released on Monday and features 13 songs, including the lead single, I Can’t Stop Me. The members hope to follow in the footsteps of breakout K-pop acts BTS and Blackpink by cracking the US market and...

BTS, CL, The Boyz, Mino from Winner: this week’s K-pop news round-up

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:15:05 +0000

There’s never a dull moment in the world of K-pop and this week was no exception. The final week of October was a momentous one with new releases from Twice, CL, TXT and Winner’s Mino, plus the announcement of SM Entertainment’s new girl group Aespa. It also saw some groups, including WayV, having Halloween fun, and the BTS members connecting with their Army fans via virtual postcards. Here’s a round-up of this week’s big K-pop news. CL is back The Baddest Female made her return with two...

Five K-pop songs to help you through coronavirus: lyrics from BTS members, Taehyun of TXT, Twice, and others

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 04:46:45 +0000

Our lives may have been turned upside down this year because of the global Covid-19 pandemic, but K-pop stars have kept releasing new material, including songs that touch on living in the coronavirus era. From BTS to Twice and SuperM, here’s a look at some of the K-pop songs that deal with the strange state of life in 2020. 1. Tomorrow X Together: We Lost the Summer In this sprightly tune from TXT’s latest EP, “Minisode1: Blue Hour”, out this week, the members sing about the lost summer of 2020,...

Blackpink x Selena Gomez, Twice’s Beyond Live virtual concert and Wonho’s solo debut: this week’s essential K-pop news wrapped

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 07:15:14 +0000

The world might still be at a standstill, but fortunately for us, the music world is slowly picking up. Some of our favourite K-pop stars and bands are back to work, ensuring we’re entertained through the year that is 2020. Here’s some of this week’s biggest K-pop headlines. Covid-19 forced K-pop concerts online – are in-person gigs over? Former Monsta X star Wonho teases solo debut Wonho, a former member of boy band Monsta X, has unveiled a teaser video of a track from his solo debut...

Blackpink's Lisa, Exo’s Lay Zhang, Twice's Momo and 13 more K-pop stars that aren’t Korean – but from Japan, China, Thailand and more

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 03:00:13 +0000

Korea's music industry has long been aggressive in finding talent overseas, scouting the best from the US, China, Japan and many more locations. As K-pop continues to dominate the world, more and more non-Korean members are slowly sharing in the hallyu spotlight, most often standing shoulder to shoulder with bandmates in border-strafing band line-ups. Not convinced? Here are a few of those who’ve made their mark in Korea and the rest of the world. When K-pop fans become ‘sasaeng’ fans – and...

5 things about Twice’s Dahyun, K-pop star and South Korea’s most quirky darling

Wed, 27 May 2020 10:00:14 +0000

Twice's lead rapper and vocalist Dahyun turns 22 on May 28 and we’re celebrating the artist known for her bright smile and quirky personality. Here are five things to know about the K-pop star. Why doesn’t K-pop star Taeyang have any friends? She was chosen by JYP because of her charm In reality show competition Sixteen, Dahyun was picked as the third member to debut in Twice. While pointing out Dahyun had a lot to improve on, JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young said: “The reason why I picked...

Why K-pop girl groups like Twice, Blackpink and Red Velvet are game-changers in a boy band-led industry

Thu, 21 May 2020 14:00:24 +0000

By Dong Sun-hwa K-pop record labels have long been thought to see boy bands as more lucrative than girl groups because they often attract loyal female followers eager to open their wallets for concert tickets and albums. In terms of global appeal, phenomenal boy band BTS’ 2019 “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” world tour played to a total audience of more than 2 million, while heavyweight girl group Blackpink’s “Kill This Love” world tour drew around 260,000 concertgoers. Billboard reported that...

Chaeyoung of Twice: the singer, dancer, rapper, artist and poet who doesn’t act like an idol and wants to inspire others

Sat, 16 May 2020 14:00:12 +0000

The K-pop industry is often accused of mass producing generic idols, but some South Korean stars manage to stand out from the crowd with their big personalities and musical talent. Known for her paintings and poetry, as well as her skills as a rapper, Chaeyoung from popular girl group Twice is one K-pop star whose creativity is driven by her own ideas of what music should express. Twice’s “music representative” is not only well versed in rapping, her main role in the group, but also singing and...

Blackpink vs Twice: K-pop’s top girl bands set for a glamorous battle this summer

Thu, 07 May 2020 07:00:14 +0000

The K-pop world is bracing for one of the highest-profile K-pop matches this coming summer that will pit the two top girl bands, Twice and Blackpink, against each other. In the five years since their debuts in 2015 and 2016, respectively, Twice and Blackpink played key roles in broadening the global appeal of K-pop and Korean female musicians, to become internationally recognised pop icons. The two heavyweight female groups are on course to return with new music releases this summer, staging a...

Twice members: Jeongyeon, the K-pop girl band’s humble lead singer – her human touch always shines through and she puts family and bandmates first

Wed, 06 May 2020 14:00:09 +0000

First impressions are important in K-pop. All the members of girl group Twice have captivated K-pop fans and the Korean general public since their debut single Like Ooh Ahh in 2015, but band member Jeongyeon stood out visually early on with her shorter hairstyle. Audiences quickly learned that the starlet has much more to offer than cool haircuts. She is now known as one of the scene’s most affectionate and sensitive individuals. That strong sense of care was instilled in Jeongyeon from a young...

Voice coach for BTS, Twice and Kang Daniel on how she trained Jin, Jungkook and V

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 14:00:20 +0000

By Dong Sun-hwa Various K-pop idols may have attained unprecedented international fame in the past few years, but many so-called “K-pop makers” have received far less attention than they deserve, despite their contributions to the birth of these megastars. Vocal trainer Kim Sung-eun, who has taught big-name artists such as members of BTS and Twice, and solo star Kang Daniel, is one such behind-the-scenes figure. “In the past, I felt like an empty shell or an outsider – I couldn’t be judged by...

Dahyun of Twice: lead rapper and vocalist puts success down to her mental strength and fortitude

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 14:00:17 +0000

K-pop girl group Twice have enjoyed phenomenal success around the world since their debut in 2016. Their music videos have received millions of views on YouTube and the girl band’s releases have soared on global sales charts. Although their “Twicelights” tour has been cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, Twice recently released a repackaged album which include Swings, a J-pop-style track on which Dahyun, one of the group’s main rappers, features prominently. Here’s a look at Dahyun’s life so...

BTS cancelled all gigs, now Twice drop April concerts as coronavirus pandemic continues to hit K-pop

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 18:30:15 +0000

K-pop girl group Twice have cancelled two Japanese concerts, originally scheduled for mid-April, amid the global coronavirus outbreak. The news comes a week after K-pop superstars BTS postponed all shows scheduled for the US this year due to the pandemic. An announcement on the band’s official Japanese website said “Twice World Tour 2019 ‘Twicelights’ in Japan”, scheduled to be held at Tokyo Dome on April 15 and 16, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. “In light of the situation...

Coronavirus in Korea: how K-pop stars from Twice to NCT are coping with social distancing

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 14:10:09 +0000

From delayed comebacks to cancelled shows and postponed productions, the coronavirus pandemic is taking a serious toll on the Korean entertainment industry. New cases may have dropped significantly in South Korea since infection rates peaked four weeks ago, but fears of the virus have sent much of the showbiz industry into shutdown mode – forcing K-pop artists to free up their tightly packed schedules and stay at home in the interests of social isolation. Although this gives them a well-deserved...

Mina from Twice isn’t afraid to speak out about mental health, and K-pop star knows a thing or two about hard work

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 14:00:05 +0000

Natalie Portman’s character in the award-winning film Black Swan has taught us that performers can feel all sorts of psychological and physical pressures in their pursuit of perfection. While K-pop star Mina’s life is not anything like that of the psychological thriller, the member of girl band Twice knows all about the commitment needed to succeed in the worlds of dance and music – and how that can affect an artist. Here’s why Mina is helping inspire new conversations among K-pop stars. Her...