Posts tagged with "South Korea"

Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in nyc.

GENESIS MOTOR – WINTER LIGHTS

Winter Lights, a presentation by the High Line and luxury automaker Genesis, was a fantasy illumination. It has been one of the first auto activations on the tracks. They unveiled one of their newest models in tandem with some of the most acclaimed car enthusiasts as well as world-class media. At its climax, esteemed guests retired to an open-air market, Genesis House. It was there, where participants could look closely at some of the newly introduced capitals of art, including the most talked-about electric vehicles. In true Korean style, the multi-purpose space was an opportunity for us to engage and explore in an interlaced design kingdom. A Michelin-winning culinary team produced a menu of small bites and artisanal cocktails that we took from the geometric seaside establishment.

“It is a pleasure to partner with the Friends of the High Line and create an immersive experience for people to see as they walk through such a beautiful park,” said Claudia Marquez, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. “The first year of Genesis House has been filled with many amazing memories. We are proud to be celebrating a year within this vibrant community and look forward to the future.”

Additionally, today, Genesis through its corporate social responsibility initiative, Genesis Gives, announced the continued partnership with New York City based Girls Who Code. The brand is donating $50,000 to support women and nonbinary individuals in STEM education by equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to succeed in computer science.

“Seeing the Winter Lights installation light up the High Line is the perfect way to kick off this festive season,” said Joshua David, Friends of the High Line co-founder and interim executive director. “With many shared sustainability goals and a deep passion for community, Genesis is the perfect partner for the High Line. We are excited to see what the future holds.”

The Winter Lights Powered by Genesis installation will be open to the public from Nov. 30 through Jan. 2 and can be found on the High Line between 15th and 16th Streets in the Chelsea Market Passage. Visitors can enter the High Line via stairs at 16th Street or via stairs or elevator at 14th Street to access the installation.

Genesis Motor North America

Genesis is a global automotive brand that delivers the highest standards of performance, design, safety, and innovation while looking towards a more sustainable future. Genesis designs customer experiences that go beyond products, embodying audacious, forward-thinking, and distinctly Korean characteristics within its unique Athletic Elegance design identity. With a growing range of award-winning models — including the 2023 MotorTrend Car of the Year G90 along with G70, G80, GV60, GV70, and GV80 — Genesis aims to lead the age of electrification with battery EVs, starting with its Electrified G80, GV60, and Electrified GV70 models. Genesis has stated its commitment to becoming an all-electric vehicle brand by 2030 and to pursuing carbon neutrality by 2035.

Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in nyc.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis House is located in NYC’s Meatpacking District.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Michelin culinary team at GENESIS HOUSE.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Genesis Motor and High Line Winter Lights presentation via 360 MAGAZINE in NYC.
Black Pink announces Pink Venom via 360 MAGAZINE

BLACKPINK – PINK VENOM

BLACKPINK unveils their new single “Pink Venom” via YG Entertainment / Interscope Records. Euphoric and empowering, “Pink Venom” is the lead single from JisooJennieRosé, and Lisa’s highly anticipated sophomore album, BORN PINK, due September 16. Pre-order HERE. The single and album will be supported by a world tour which will touch down on four continents. 

“Pink Venom” (YG Entertainment / Interscope Records) is available at all digital retailers HERE

In celebration of BLACKPINK’s long-awaited comeback, they are lit up the globe from New York to London, Rio, and beyond as part of the “LIGHT UP THE PINK” campaign. Across five continents, landmarks were lit pink and digital projections are being displayed on iconic monuments including the Brooklyn Bridge, London’s Marble Arch, the Tokyo Tower and more starting at 8pm local time on Thursday and Friday night. Interscope Records has teamed up with a platform called LANDMRK to create a mobile experience. The platform contains a custom branded map containing 500 hotspots that superfan BLINKs can physically access to unlock exclusive digital content from the band. To complement the LIGHT UP THE PINK physical activation and celebrate the release of ‘Pink Venom’, the locations of the landmarks and billboards will be highlighted on a digital map as the structures are lit up. The experience is available in both English and Korean and accessible here.

Anticipation has been building for “Pink Venom” since BLACKPINK shared a series of visual teasers and a poster, which finds the K-pop icons staring through a pane of broken glass. The record will be followed by the arrival of BLACKPINK’s 2nd full album, BORN PINK, on September 16. Pre-order HERE. After that, the most popular girl group on the planet will hit the road on a world tour predicted to be attended by more than 1.5 million people. It kicks off in Seoul, South Korea, on October 15th and then visits the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, among others, before landing in New Zealand on June 21, 2023. A full list of dates is linked HERE and listed below. 

After releasing global hits like “How You Like That” and their collaboration with Selena Gomez, “Ice Cream,” BLACKPINK released THE ALBUM in 2020 to universal acclaim. The captivating project debuted at #2 on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and UK Official Chart, and sold more than 1.4 million copies worldwide, making BLACKPINK the first K-pop girl group to sell over a million units. With “Pink Venom” and BORN PINK, they are set to rewrite the record books all over again. 

ne of the most massively successful K-pop groups in music history, BLACKPINK have redefined the global pop landscape since first bursting onto the scene in 2016. Along with boasting the #1 most-subscribed artist channel on YouTube, the South Korean quartet has achieved such boundary-defying milestones as scoring the highest-charting album by a female group in over a decade and becoming the first K-pop girl group ever to perform at Coachella (the largest music festival in the U.S.). Comprised of JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ and LISA—all immensely charismatic vocalists, dancers, and fast-rising fashion icons—BLACKPINK began their meteoric rise with their 2016 debut “SQUARE ONE” and further proved their crossover power with “SQUARE UP” (a 2018 release that quickly cracked the Billboard 200). 

Soon after signing with Interscope Records through a global partnership with YG Entertainment, the group made their full-length debut with 2020’s immediately iconic THE ALBUM. THE ALBUM shot to #2 on the Billboard 200 and landed three singles on the Billboard Hot 100: “How You Like That” (the iconic single that shattered several YouTube records, including fastest video to cross 150 million views), “Ice Cream” (a collaboration with Selena Gomez that broke the record for highest-charting female K-pop group on the Hot 100), and “Lovesick Girls” (a track that’s sold over 1.4 million copies worldwide, making BLACKPINK the first K-pop girl group to sell over a million units). Through the years, BLACKPINK have also garnered a number of major awards (including an MTV Video Music Award for Song of the Summer as well as three E! People’s Choice Awards), collaborated with superstars like Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga, performed on “The Tonight Show,” and starred in BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky (a 2020 film hailed by the New York Times as an “endearing documentary that emphasizes each member’s individuality”). With over 6.3 billion career Spotify streams to date, BLACKPINK are now set to deliver their wildly anticipated sophomore album BORN PINK (due out September 16). Less than a month after BORN PINK arrives, the group will hit the road for their 2022/2023 world tour kicking off on October 15 in Seoul, South Korea.

BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” eSingle

Retail: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom

Amazon: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/amazonmusic

Apple Music: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/applemusic

Deezer: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/deezer

iTunes: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/itunes

Pandora: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/pandora

Spotify: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/spotify

Tidal: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/tidal

YouTube Music: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenom/youtubemusic

Official Video: https://BLACKPINK.lnk.to/PinkVenomVid

[Instagram | Twitter | YouTube]

Photo: YG Entertainment

BLACKPINK Album "Born Pink" Cover Art via U Music Group for use by 360 MAGAZINE

BLACKPINK – BORN PINK

Global phenomenon BLACKPINK has announced via social media their second album, BORN PINK will release on Friday, September 16th. Last week, an official visual teaser revealed the first single titled “Pink Venom” will be available next Friday, August 19th. Pre-save the track HERE

The group’s long-awaited return was announced earlier this summer in an official statement from YG Entertainment noting the upcoming new music would kick off “a continuous large-scale project [that] extends through the second half of the year”. Yesterday, the large-scale project was revealed as BLACKPINK’s 2022 / 2023 world tour, set to kick off on October 15th in Seoul, South Korea. Additional information on the tour will be available in early September. Full list of dates linked HERE and listed below. 

Prior to the release of their first full album ‘THE ALBUM’ in 2020, BLACKPINK gained steady popularity with their pre-release single “How You Like That” and their special collaboration with Selena GomezIce Cream”. Despite the restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, BLACKPINK drew a record-breaking explosive response from global fans with only their music. ‘THE ALBUM’, which catapulted to number 2 on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and UK Official Chart, also featured standout track “Lovesick Girls”, which sold over 1.4 million copies worldwide, making BLACKPINK the first K-pop girl group to sell over a million units. 

BORN PINK TOUR DATES: 

October 15th – 16th  – Seoul, South Korea 

October 25th – Dallas, TX 

October 29th – Houston, TX 

November 2nd – Atlanta, GA 

November 6th – 7th – Hamilton, GA 

November 10th – 11th – Chicago, IL 

November 14th – 15th – Newark, NJ 

November 19th – Los Angeles, CA 

November 30th – London, UK 

December 1st – London, UK 

December 5th – Barcelona, Spain 

December 8th – Cologne, Germany  

December 11th. – 12th – Paris, France 

December 18th – Berlin, Germany 

December 22nd – Amsterdam, Netherlands 

January 7th – 8th – Bangkok 

January 13th – 14th – Hong Kong, China 

January 20th – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 

January 28th – Abu Dhabi, UAE  

March 4th – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  

March 11th – Jakarta, Indonesia  

March 18th – Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

March 25th – Manila, Philippines 

May 13th – Singapore 

June 10th – 11th – Melbourne, Australia 

June 16th – 17th – Sydney, Australia 

June 21st – Auckland, New Zealand 

Japanese Breakfast Jubilee album art via Peter Ash Lee for use by 360 MAGAZINE

Japanese Breakfast

Tuesday, January 18, indie pop act Japanese Breakfast performed “Slide Tackle,” a track from their GRAMMY-nominated album, Jubilee, on The Late Show with James Corden. Michelle Zauner, applauded founder, did a ‘Bar Chat interview where she talked about these recent nominations and more. Watch Japanese Breakfast’s performance on The Late Show with James Corden HERE.

Jubilee released last June as one of the years leading, critically acclaimed albums. The album stole spots on Best Of lists for 2021 from Rolling Stone, People Magazine, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, NPR, Wall Street Journal, The Ringer, SPIN, Esquire, Vulture, The AV Club, Paste, Cosmopolitan, UPROXX, Consequence of Sound, Slant and Hypebeast. The album gained so much attention that it was even voted the #1 album of the year on NPR’s Listener’s Poll and #1 on UPROXX’s Critics Poll.

If that wasn’t enough success for one year, Zauner, too, published her New York Times Best Seller, Crying in H Mart, which is now being reworked for MGM’s Orion Pictures. The book is a moving memoir that captures Zauner’s experiences growing up Korean American, the struggles she went through with the death of her mother and how she navigated discovering her own identity.

About Michelle Zauner

The Korean American musician and author Michelle Zauner is renowned for her sonic demeanor. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Zauner grew up in Eugene, Oregon for most of her adolescence. Zauner took to music instantly, beginning to learn to play the piano at 5, later moving to the guitar at age 15. Her mother’s passing in 2014 lead to her starting Japanese Breakfast. She tells Teen Vogue, “I moved back to Oregon to care for her, and I kind of put the band on indefinite hiatus. Unfortunately, she passed away, and while I was in Oregon, helping take care of the house and being a support system for my dad, the only way that I could have something for myself was if I made my own record. So I kind of carved out some time to do that.” Japanese Breakfast’s debut came in 2016 with the hit album Psychopomp. Through the album, Zauner revealed the intense period that followed her mother’s death. Zauner’s unique perspective amongst mainstream pop music sets her apart from other artists, and she’s one you’ll want to take a listen to.

SEVENTEEN via Pledis Entertainment for use by 360 Magazine

A Year in Review : SEVENTEEN

2021 saw SEVENTEEN take the global music scene by storm. They kicked the year off with their U.S. TV debut performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, released two EPs Your Choice (lead single “Ready to love“) and Attacca (lead single “Rock with you“) as well as their first-ever all English song “2 MINUS 1,” received nominations at multiple U.S. award shows including the Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards, and were just named MTV’s Global PUSH artist for the month of December, marking the first time a K-pop group has ever received this honor.

2022 will see SEVENTEEN return with new music and more surprises throughout the course of the year.

SEVENTEEN‘s EPs, Your Choice and Attacca, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. They are the first group to have two No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart in 2021. Your Choice and Attacca landed at No. 15 and No. 13 on the Billboard 200, respectively. Both sold more than 1 million copies worldwide, earning SEVENTEEN the “quintuple million sellers” title as several other of their albums also sold over 1 million copies each.

They have received critical praise. The Rolling Stone stated, “SEVENTEEN are quickly conquering the U.S. market”. Esquire stated, “SEVENTEEN has emerged as one of the top groups of the pop culture phenomenon and for good reason. Their incredible talent and charm, specialized sub-groups, and active role in all aspects of production all combine to produce K-pop magic”

About Seventeen

Racking up 2 billion streams and selling 10 million albums, SEVENTEEN, comprised of S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINO has rocketed to the forefront of the music scene fueled by a fiercely independent spirit and a nonpareil in-house creative ecosystem. The group’s innovative structure hinges on the interplay of three units: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. Living up to the title of “musical all-stars,” SEVENTEEN has unassumingly made history and become one of the biggest groups ever due to their world-class synchronization, jaw-dropping choreography, and tight teamwork.

Rita Azar for use by 360 Magazine

ENHYPEN × DIMENSION : ANSWER

Breakout K-pop destination ENHYPEN is set to release their first Studio Repackage Album DIMENSION : ANSWER on January 10, 2022. Announced recently on the official social media accounts of ENHYPEN along with the global fan platform Weverse, the announcement of the new album follows their popular first Studio Album DIMENSION : DILEMMA.

ENHYPEN consists of the artists JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI. The name of the boyband found muse from the ‘hypen(-),’ essentially sporting the meaning of seven individual boys coming together to discover and grow collectively. Taking off from their first debut album BORDER : DAY ONE, they took the “Rookie of The Year” title at four separate Korean award shows within only two months of their unveiling.

Continuing their achievements, ENHYPEN truly marked their territory in the realm of K-pop when their first Studio Album DIMENSION : DILEMMA released in October 2021. The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 810,000 in the first week of its release. This was the largest first week sale among K-pop’s 4th generation boybands, and they rightfully earned the “Million-Seller” title surpassing 1.1M copies corresponding with South Korea’s Gaon October Monthly Album Chart.

K-pop continues to be transformed through the work of the record-breaking ENHYPEN, and it is only expected that great work will continue to come from their first studio repackage album of DIMENSION : ANSWER.

willow smith and harry hudson image via x8 for use by 360 magazine

Willow Smith and Harry Hudson – X8 Eyewear

Gen Z Icons Willow Smith and Harry Hudson Unveil an Eyewear Collection – the First Project of X8

X8 is a new venture company building a creative hub for artists and avatars who will meet In Real Life (IRL) and The Metaverse.

Gen Z stars Willow Smith and Harry Hudson are the faces of X8 Eyewear, the brainchild of X8, a paradigm shifting, creative projects platform, and seed-stage venture fund based in New York, Seoul, and Singapore.

X8 Eyewear draws its inspiration from psychoanalyst Carl Jung‘s Animus and Anima, a theory in analytical psychology that describes the feminine and masculine duality of our unconscious minds.

X8 created a 23-piece collection that transcends gender labels with fluid cool oversize shapes and architectural flourishes.

“I was honored to join the X8 Anima/Animus campaign because I loved the messaging of gender fluidity and the duality of masculine and feminine energies that I believe exists inside every one of us. I had so much fun shooting this concept with my dear friend, Harry,” said Smith, who is an actress, singer-songwriter, and talk show host known for her progressive personal style.

“I was inspired by X8’s creative vision of two forces working together in harmony with one another. A lot of my music has been about balancing the light, dark and the masculine, feminine energy of life, so that idea of true duality really spoke to me and made me want to be a part of this campaign. Also, shooting with my friend and genius Willow was too much fun,” said Hudson, 21, a singer-songwriter famous for documenting his battle with cancer on social media.

While this is Smith and Hudson’s first foray into working with eyewear, it isn’t for X8, which was recently co-founded by Won Lee, the former CEO and CCO of Gentle Monster USA—the South Korean eyewear company—overseeing its rapid rise as one of the biggest eyewear brands in the world.

ABOUT X8
X8 is at the nexus of all things creative (fashion, art, entertainment, technology) and the future. It is Co-founded by Won Lee from South Korea who, outside of his tenure at Gentle Monster, has had an eclectically creative background developing hospitality projects with mega real estate groups such as CBRE, Prodigy and Soho House, as well as a $50M Media/Light Art project in Jeju Island, South Korea, and Nikhil ‘Ra’ Sharma, an Indian entrepreneur, producer and creative projects specialist who has also had a diverse background working with brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel Beauté, producing shows with talents such as David Bowie and Prince, Executive Producing a film by Oscar nominated director Fernando Meirelles, and working on projects with personalities such as Silicon Valley icon Sean Parker (Napster, Facebook, Spotify) to Fashion photography legend, Ellen von Unwerth.

Lee (Creative Director, Real World) and Ra (Creative Director, Metaverse) will be working as brothers in arms to morph the present into the future; the real with the virtual. They will oversee two core teams—an artistic, creative, manufacturing team in South Korea; and the Metaverse, NFT, Gaming, AI, Future Tech Studios in India.

X8 is actively developing the X8 Neo-Circus (X8NC), a members-only creative hub/platform for artists, celebrities and influencers in Jeju, and Decentraland: the first decentralized metaverse. This will go hand in hand with a secret character-based NFT project driving the platform. All X8 products will be showcased and sold in X8NC—in both physical and digital forms.

X8 has collaborated with Xelpmoc Design & Technology, a BSE/NSE listed company (XELP:IN). They will join X8 to build X8M (X8 Metaverse) in India to develop and invest in technologies to scale the X8 proposition globally. The core team of X8M are Sandipan Chattopadhyay, Suman Bose and Monce C. Abraham. Sandipan is the founder and MD of Xelpmoc; the co-founder of MoneyControl; and the ex-CTO of Just Dial. Suman Bose—Director and Chief Evangelist at Xelpmoc—was the former Managing Director of Siemens Industry Software. Sandipan and Suman will spearhead the tech and investment strategies for X8M. Monce C. Abraham—Director at THEV—will be focusing on operations and growth strategies for X8M. Abraham, at 24 years of age, was the youngest individual ever to head Marketing and Research at IVCA (Indian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association).

X8’s mission is to empower those who dare to dismantle the past, unsettle the present, and create a new and more exciting world for all. “We do not think in boxes,” say Lee and Ra. The founders see a world which will be driven by cross-industry innovation where an electric car can be built from the ground-up. Such a universe brings together fashion/textiles design, digital art, sustainable materials science, AI tech, rocket science and automotive engineering and Metaverse gaming. “We are driven by a passion to discover the unknown and see the world through the eyes of the new generation and beyond. Today, we may be considered a special projects and venture capital company. Yet our vision is set on tomorrow. The future will define us.

X8’s venture fund is led by Lee-Woong Yeol, Honorable Chairman of Kolon Group, South Korea. A visionary, Lee has invested in a wide array of businesses and ideas with an intent to create a think-tank. He coalesces solutions, services and products of the future.

Other X8 ventures include the following: 1) SLFF Kaimin—a brand by the New York designer Kaimin—whose futuristic cyber goddess looks have been worn by some of the most outlandish women in entertainment including Björk and Lady Gaga. 2) KLAW—a new sneakers collection for the “universal activity of walking”. 3) 1PEACE—a conscientious fashion and textiles brand that upcycles deadstock for new use.

Bts illustration by Kaelen Felix for 360 magazine.

All You Need To Know K-POP

By: Conan Zhang, Elle Grant × Kai Yeo

Korean pop music, known as K-Pop is becoming a global force. With forceful sounds, charismatic performances, and colorful concepts, it is a maximalist’s dream perception of music. The fans are dedicated, if not overwhelming in their dedication to their favorite artists. Recently, the political successes of K-pop fans are making just as many headlines: fans crashed Donald Trump’s Tulsa rally and have been at the forefront of vocalizing issues related to Black Lives Matter. Who are the artists that inspire such loyalty and such action? Read into 360’s introduction to some of the twenty-first century mainstays below.

Seo Taiji And Boys

Debuted in 1992, Seo Taiji and Boys were and influential 3-member band and are known as the first “boy group” in K-pop industry consisting of Seo Taiji himself, alongside fellow members Yang Hyun Suk and Lee Juno. Their debut single, “Nan Arayo (I Know),” was an instantly catchy hit that topped the charts for a record-breaking, seventeen consecutive weeks and propelled the group to pop mega-stardom.

In April 2017 it was announced that Seo Taiji was assembling a group of modern K-Pop acts to cover songs from his past to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut with Seo Taiji and Boys. The first act announced for the project was BTS,  with other acts including Urban Zakapa and Younha. The first single from this project, a cover of “Come Back Home” (from Seo Taiji and Boys IV) recorded by BTS, was released with a music video on July 5, 2017.

In case you’re new to K-pop, it might be helpful to add that BTS was also invited by Seo Taiji to perform their rendition of Come Back Home and other acts at their 25th anniversary concert.

PSY

Heard of Gangnam Style? Born Park Jae-sang on December 31 1977, he is better known as the artist PSY. He is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. PSY is famous in Korea for his funny videos and stage performances. After releasing Gangnam Style on 15 July 2012, the video crossed over 2 billion views in less than two years (so many that it broke YouTube). This song can also arguably be named the first breakout Korean hit to become popular in the West. The song’s refrain was entered into The Yale Book of Quotations as one of the most famous quotations of 2012.

Since his international success, PSY has gone on to found his own record company P NATION and currently mentoring other artists.

Big Bang

No introduction needed, Big Bang is a South Korean boy band under YG Entertainment. The group consists of four members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung; They are named as “Kings of K-pop,” Bigbang have greatly helped spread the Korean Wave internationally. A fifth member, Seungri, left the group and the industry in disgrace following an the Burning Sun sex scandal, of which he was an organizer, a moment that blighted K-pop’s reputation at home.

Eighteen of Big Bang’s singles have been number one hits in South Korea and have remained atop the Melon charts for a record 51 weeks. The group has sold over 150 million records globally, which rank them among the best-selling boy bands in the world. Forbes Korea ranked them as one of the most powerful celebrities in South Korea from 2009 to 2016 (placing 2nd in 2009, 2012 and 2014, and they were the first Korean artists to be included on the Forbes Celebrity 100 and 30 Under 30 list of most influential musicians in the world (2017).

Currently with 4 members discharged from military service, fans are eagerly waiting to see what happens next.

CL 

Lee Chae-rin, better known by her stage name CL, rose to fame as girl group 2NE1’s leader in 2009, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. As a solo artist, CL made her debut with “The Baddest Female” in 2013 and has continued to pursue her own career following the group’s hiatus in 2015. The release “Hello Bitches” (2015) led CL to become the first female Korean solo artist to place onto the Billboard Hot 100, and the third Korean artist to do so overall.

In November 2016, YG announced the disbandment of 2NE1 after nearly two years of hiatus, and CL subsequently remained under the label. Shortly after leaving YG in December 2019, she released her solo EP project In the Name of Love (2019), consisting of six tracks written during the three years since her previous single “Lifted.” Her debut studio album, Alpha, was released in October 2021.

BTS

BTS, an abbreviation for Bangtan Boys, was formed in 2010 while the group debuted in 2013. The team is made up of seven members including Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The members co-write and co-produce almost every song that they perform, marking a shift in the K-Pop industry to including artists in the songs they sing and promote.

Originally intended to be a Korean hip-hop group, they are now producing music in a wide range of genres. Their songs often focused on personal and social hot topics, mentioning mental health, troubles of school-age teenagers.

Having sold over 20 million albums on the Gaon Music Chart, BTS is now the best-selling artist in South Korean history and holds the best-selling album in South Korea with the work Map of the Soul: 7. The group’s numerous accolades include six American Music Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, 24 Golden Disc Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and a Brit Award. They are undoubtedly the current Kinds of K-Pop and have broken through to Western popularity unlike any other artist.

BLACKPINK

Blackpink is a girl group formed by YG Entertainment, featuring four team members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. In August 2016, they debuted with their single album Square One, which is features the extremely popular songs “Whistle” and “Boombayah.”

Blackpink is ranked as the highest-charting female Korean act on the Billboard Hot 100 and they broke a huge number of online records since they released “Kill This Love” (2019) and “How You Like That” (2020), each become the most-viewed music video within the first 24 hours of release. Though this record was eventually broken by BTS, it is nonetheless just one of many examples proving the quartet’s impact on society.

IU

Lee Ji-eun is well known as IU. She is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. The name IU is a combination of the letters ‘I’ and ‘you’ which means “you and I become one through music.” She debuted as a singer when she was fifteen with her first mini album Lost and Found (2008). Her work “Good Day” won her five consecutive weeks at the top position of South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart. In the year of 2019, “Good Day” was ranked number one on Billboard’s “100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s” list.

NCT

NCT are a K-pop group created by SM Entertainment. NCT stands for Neo Culture Technology, and the idea is that they’re a group of infinite members who are constantly shifting into different sub-units in different cities around the world. Currently consisting of 5 sub-units – NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, NCT 2018, WayV.

Currently, NCT is made up of 21 members – we know, it’s a handful! The members are: Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Lucas, Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, Jisung, Xiao Jun, Yang Yang, and Hendery.

After debuting in 2016, they have won 7 awards from 19 nominations and are continuing their stardom today. Pionerring the “noise music” trend and have so far been the only ones that do it well – “Simon Says.” Find out more information about them through their show NCT Life streaming on YouTube for free.

TWICE

Like many of today’s K-pop acts, Twice originated from a reality competition show. The 2015 series Sixteen involved that many JYP entertainment “trainees” – the term used for aspiring idols-in-training, preparing for a potential debut. After a series of challenges and fighting for a place in the final lineup, the remaining nine formed a new ensemble, also known as Twice.

After the announcement of the label’s new girl group, founder and CEO of JYP explained that Twice refers to the act of making an impact “once through the ears and once through the eyes.” As so, the group’s fame has been propelled by hit after hit of vibrant sound through bright and colorful music videos. Their unique sound can be heard especially in “TT” and “Cheer Up.”

More on K-pop

These men and women are just of a few forcing open the door to K-Pop in the west after being mainstays in South Korean and Asian popular culture for years. This list features artists from the first to third generation of K-Pop stars, known as the generations to push international boundaries of popularity. In this new decade of the twenty-first century, K-Pop is more popular than ever. Stars of the fourth generation, coinciding with the Gen Z age group, are achieving international successes early on in their forebearers above could only dream of just years ago. A great deal of this success is owed to the listed artists, who have collectively decades breaking barriers and sharing music. New groups like ITZY, TXT, Ateez and Enhypen are achieving new heights, learning from the elders while paving the way for the future.

LALISA image by YG Entertainment for use by 360 Magazine

LALISA

BLACKPINK’S LISA LAUNCHES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SOLO DEBUT WITH SINGLE ALBUM ‘LALISA’ TODAY

After releasing multiple video teasers, singer, rapper, dancer, and the most-followed K-Pop Idol on social media Lisa of BLACKPINK releases her debut solo album ‘LALISA’ today via YG Entertainment/Interscope Records. Another song titled “Money” as well as instrumental versions are also included in the release. Watch the music video here.

To celebrate the track, she makes her solo late-night television debut with the first performance of LALISA on NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this evening. Be sure to tune in!

LALISA OFFICIAL TRACKLIST

  1. LALISA
  2. MONEY

Beyond amassing billions of streams and views in BLACKPINK, Lisa has asserted herself as a global superstar in her own right. She holds the distinction of being both “the most-followed K-Pop star on Instagram” with over 58 million followers and “most-subscribed K-Pop female artist on YouTube” with over 8 million subscribers on her channel Lili’s Film. She even notably spawned the “Did it work?” meme challenge after a scene from one of her performances exploded virally. Now, audiences will get to know her like never before with LALISA and much more to come.

photo by Spire Entertainment for use by 360 Magazine

OMEGA X – VAMOS

OMEGA X THRILLS WITH DEBUT MINI ALBUM VAMOS AND MUSIC VIDEO FOR TITLE TRACK

“The 11 of us are thrilled about the release of Vamos, our new start, and meeting the fans. We poured our hearts into this album, and now we’re ready to share that energy with our fans. Thanks for your attention and support for our first album.” – Omega X’s Jaehan

Omega X have made their official debut with their five-track Mini Album Vamos, along with a music video for their title track.

Omega X’s first mini album Vamos means ‘let’s go’ in Spanish. The album starts with the instrumental ‘OX Win Ha!’ which introduces our worldview. Then there’s the title track ‘Vamos,’ full of strong beats and hip-hop elements, followed by the charming and kitschy ‘Ice Tag’ and EDM track ‘Omega X.’ The last track ‘Younger’ is dedicated to our fans.” – Omega X’s Hangyeom

Introduced by Spire Entertainment as the “Avenger-class” boy group, the 11 members are excited for the second chance in their careers, as all of them have been a part of groups that are now inactive or disbanded. Their music video for Vamos features powerful beats and high-energy choreography. This Mini Album expresses the members’ excitement for a new beginning and their love, gratitude, and wishes for the fans to follow them on this new adventure.

ABOUT OMEGA X

Omega X is an 11 member K-Pop group signed with Spire Entertainment. Omega (Ω), the last letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolizes the end, while the letter X denotes the unknown with infinite possibilities. Combined, Omega X symbolizes constant change and growth.

All the members of Omega X have previously appeared on reality TV audition programs or debuted with other K-Pop acts. Now they are getting a fresh start and have re-introduced themselves to their fans through Spire Entertainment’s reality show, Loading – One More ChanX, ahead of their official debut in June 2021

The members and their agency believe that liking someone and becoming a fan is not simply a process of sharing the artist’s musical inspiration with their fans. Human empathy plays a big part in this. All the Omega X members have their own special stories, and through those stories, they hope that fans can relate and resonate with each member’s personality and music.