Latest news with #Highlight
Korea Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Highlight to host Seoul concert in July
Highlight will hold three shows in Seoul from July 13, agency Around Us announced Tuesday. The band will be hosting the stand-alone concert 'Ride or Die' about a year after 'Lights Go On, Again.' The concert title comes from the lyrics of 'Chains,' which fronted Highlight's sixth EP, 'From Real to Surreal.' With the single co-written by Lee Gikwang, the foursome came in first place on a television music chart show. The mini album consists of four tracks, including the prerelease 'Endless Ending.' The band decided to drop it under its previous team name Beast, rights to which it earned back after nine years. The Seoul show will kick off an Asia tour of six cities in the region: Taipei, Macao, Manila, Tokyo, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BTS' Jin and Cha Eun Woo upstaged by THIS 2nd-gen star in May's male K-pop rankings; find out who
May brought more than just blooming flowers and comeback buzz — it brought fierce competition. And in the world of male K-pop idols, few things are as closely watched or hotly debated as the monthly brand reputation rankings. Fans were sure they knew how this one would play out. BTS' Jin, recently back and already radiating post-military charm, took 2nd place. Cha Eun Woo took 3rd place. But rankings have a way of surprising audiences, especially when someone from K-pop's golden era steps in and turns the tables without warning. With no new release or viral moment in sight, it wasn't hype that did it — it was legacy. A quiet storm from the 2nd generation was brewing. And when the results dropped, it wasn't just fans who were stunned — the industry felt the shift too. Who says second-gen idols are done? G-Dragon just reminded everyone — the legends never really leave the stage. They just wait for the perfect moment to strike. For the third straight month, G-Dragon tops the list, proving that real impact doesn't need a constant spotlight — just a legacy and a name that still echoes across generations. With a whopping 4,679,825 brand points, he didn't just rank; he dominated. Over a month, from April 17 to May 17 KST, the Korea Brand Reputation Index analyzed extensive data on 755 male K-pop idols, tracking their influence across fan engagement, media exposure, communication, and community activities. Let's look at how the top ranks shaped up May month: Top 30 Male K-Pop Idols in Brand Value – May 2025 G-Dragon (BIGBANG) Jin (BTS) Cha Eun Woo (ASTRO) Jimin (BTS) Jungkook (BTS) Park Ji Hoon V (BTS) SUGA (BTS) Kang Daniel Yoon Doojoon (Highlight) j-hope (BTS) Wonbin (RIIZE) Heechul (Super Junior) Sung Hanbin (ZEROBASEONE) Yang Yoseob (Highlight) RM (BTS) Hwang Min Hyun Baekhyun (EXO) Key (SHINee) Lee Gikwang (Highlight) Sohee (RIIZE) Kyuhyun (Super Junior) Juyeon (THE BOYZ) Jun (SEVENTEEN) Taeyang (BIGBANG) Sungchan (RIIZE) Kai (EXO) Daesung (BIGBANG) San (ATEEZ) Taemin (SHINee) BTS' Jin secured the second spot with an impressive 4,419,595 points, closely followed by ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo, who claimed third place with a total of 4,343,362 points. Congratulations GD.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
HyunA compares her ‘controversial' husband to Park Bo Gum's character; fans disgusted: ‘Can she just stop bringing him up?'
HyunA married Yong Jung Hyun in October 2024 and faced a lot of backlash due to the former Highlight member's involvement in the Burning Sun scandal. Now, months after her controversial wedding and fans' disappointment, she is back in the spotlight, happy and open about her personal life. On May 14, she appeared on a YouTube talk show with comedian Lee Yong Jin called Yongtarot, where she opened up about her tattoo removal process and how her insomnia is improving. The singer recently made her comeback with 'Mrs. Nail,' and fans noticed her sudden weight gain, with many suspecting she might be pregnant. HyunA revealed it is because she is happy in her marriage and even called her husband a real life 'Yang Gwan Sik'. Speaking to Lee, HyunA explained that she feels a sense of 'stability' in her life for the first time. The singer was previously dating Dawn, with whom she was in a six-year relationship, and fans hailed them as a power couple. But everything fell apart after the breakup, and fans' sentiment turned against HyunA. In her new interview, the former 4Minute star joked that she barely argues with Yong Jung Hyun because he 'wins every argument,' adding that 'all of his words have good intentions,' and he always guides her toward improving the situation. However, before she could explain further, the host stopped her midway and asked which K-drama character best reflects Yong Jung Hyun's personality. Without hesitation, she compared him to Park Bo Gum's 'Gwan Sik' from When Life Gives You Tangerines — the same K-drama that made waves globally and praised the character as a walking green forest. But HyunA's comparison didn't sit well with fans, who vented their anger and asked her to stop. Also read: HyunA and Dawn call off engagement; says they have decided to be 'good friends and colleagues' A fan wrote, 'Can she just not bring him up? Sure, being happily married might be good and meaningful for her personally, but talking about him like he's a good person isn't respectful to the victims.' Another added, 'Can she please stop praising him every time? The world saw what he did.' A third quipped, 'Leaving Dawn was her worst decision.' 'Now, I don't even want to see or hear about HyunA anymore…' The singer revealed on the talk show, 'It's been about a year since I started removing my tattoos.' She added that it was her mother's suggestion to start with a clean slate this time. 'But it's incredibly painful. I've gone through four sessions and am currently taking a break,' she said. The host then joked about the Trouble Maker crooner dropping the 'marriage bomb' suddenly, just days after confirming her relationship with Jong Hyun, and quipped, 'You dropped the 'I got married' news when we were only meeting for the third time. It's a bit one-sided, don't you think?' (translated via All Kpop). To which she replied, 'I was so nervous I had to take medication to calm myself down before coming.' When pressed about her married life and how her husband is treating her, she revealed, 'It's been wonderful. I used to struggle with insomnia before, but now I sleep soundly. Just being in the same space brings me peace.' Yong Jung Hyun debuted with the boy band Xing in 2007. Later, he joined Cube Entertainment, where he was relaunched as a member of the boy band Beast in 2009. In 2010, he collaborated with HyunA for the first time on her debut single Change, and in 2012, he released his first solo track, Living Without You. In 2016, Beast ended their contract with Cube and formed their own band called Highlight. Following this, Yong Jung Hyun released his first solo album and took a K-drama role in Coffee, Do Me a Favor. Also read: After Kim Soo Hyun, Burning Sun scandal reporter slaps YouTuber with lawsuit over 'fake' Kim Sae Ron recording However, his career was marred by allegations, and he was forced to take a hiatus between 2019 and 2021 due to his alleged involvement in South Korea's biggest sex scandal, Burning Sun, which derailed many A-listers' careers, including K-pop artists and K-drama stars. He left Highlight in 2019 after admitting to having an explicit video of Jung Joon Young with a woman that was shared with him and filmed with consent; however, he admitted the video was shared without consent. In 2022, he resumed his solo activities.
Korea Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
HyunA returns with new single ‘Mrs. Nail' after marriage and yearlong hiatus
HyunA returned with a new single Tuesday, marking her first release in a year since her ninth EP 'Attitude' was unveiled last year, according to her agency, At Area. 'Mrs. Nail,' released on major online music platforms at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, is an alternative pop dance song characterized by bold rhythms and striking visuals. With 'Mrs. Nail,' HyunA aims to once again showcase her signature blend of unapologetic lyricism and fluid performance, further solidifying her status as a 'solo queen' in the K-pop scene. Ahead of the release, the singer unveiled a teaser for the song's music video on Tuesday, hinting at a bold visual transformation with hot pink hair and giving fans a preview of the addictive beat and choreography for 'Mrs. Nail.' HyunA's return is also drawing attention as it marks her first music release since marrying Yong Jun-hyung, a former member of boy band Highlight (also known as Beast). The couple tied the knot in October, six months after going public with their relationship. The two previously worked under the same label, Cube Entertainment, as members of 4Minute and Beast, respectively. In 2010, Yong featured on HyunA's debut solo track 'Change.' HyunA, known for a string of hit singles including 'Bubble Pop!,' 'Red' and 'Lip & Hip,' has cemented her reputation as one of K-pop's leading solo acts. Her concept-driven artistry and unmatched presence have helped define a distinct musical genre all her own.
Korea Herald
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Highlight celebrates 17 years with a return to the name Beast
Using the old team name Beast after 9 years, the veteran group reflects on its 17-year-long journey This year marks a milestone for the long-running boy group Highlight. Not only is the group celebrating its 17th year, it has also released new music under its original name, Beast, for the first time in nine years. The four-member group dropped its sixth EP "Real to Surreal" on Monday, its first release in over a year. Prior to the album's launch, the group released the prerelease track "Endless Ending" under the name Beast on April 16. Since leaving its former agency Cube Entertainment in 2017 without securing the trademark rights to the name Beast, the group had promoted as Highlight under agency Around Us Entertainment. While the members plan to continue using the name Highlight to avoid confusion, simply being able to use the name Beast again holds deep meaning for the group's longtime fans. "Just hearing the name Beast still brings tears to my eyes," said Yang Yo-seob during a press conference Monday. "I'm so happy we can preserve the memories we've built with our fans. Cube Entertainment was very cooperative in the discussions and the members' strong will helped create great synergy." The new mini album includes four tracks: the prerelease song "Endless Ending," the main track "Chains," and B-sides "Good Day to You" and "Follow Me." The main track "Chains" is a hip-hop song that starts with a clarinet riff and flows with a minimalistic yet addictive sound, depicting a story of a maddening love one cannot escape from. Lee Gi-kwang, who participated in writing and composing the main track, emphasized, "We've never explored this kind of sound or genre before, either as Beast or Highlight." He added that they worked hard to showcase a fresh new style both musically and choreographically. Speaking further about the choreography, Lee explained, "When syncing with the dancers, we incorporated formations we hadn't tried before." Son Dong-woon, who debuted as the group's youngest member while still in high school and is now in his mid-30s, pointed out that "Real to Surreal" marks the group's 20th physical album release. When asked about the secret behind staying together for 17 years, Lee replied, "I believe people and groups grow only when they keep moving forward. If you stay stagnant, you'll eventually rot. We want to continue improving and to deliver great music." Leader Yoon Doo-joon said, "If even a small part of our efforts to move forward can inspire someone, especially the next generation of K-pop idols on the frontlines, it might help K-pop continue to thrive for a long time. We feel a strong sense of responsibility and will keep working hard with that in mind."
