
Lim Young-woong to drop second LP in August
Singer Lim Young-woong is set to make his return with a new full-length album, marking his first in over three years.
On Thursday, his agency Mulgogi Music announced via Lim's official social media channels that his second full album "Im Hero 2" will be released on Aug. 29. This marks the singer's first full-length album since "IM Hero," which was released in May 2022.
Lim rose to national fame in 2020 after winning the first season of TV Choson's trot audition program "Mr. Trot."
Since then, he has expanded beyond trot as an artist by exploring a wide range of genres, including ballad, jazz, rock and hip-hop. His upcoming album is expected to continue this trend, featuring a rich mix of musical styles.
Alongside the album announcement, a teaser video was also released. Featuring a soft sky-blue background, a pentagon-shaped logo, cloud in the shape of hearts, vibrantly colored flowers and gently falling petals, the video creates a whimsical and heartwarming atmosphere reminiscent of a fairy tale.

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Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
When K-pop stays abroad: The rise of export-oriented idol groups
Idol groups turn to overseas markets as saturation in Korea makes domestic success harder to achieve, say critics In the age of global K-pop, not all idol groups shine equally at home and abroad. Fans and insiders are describing a growing number of acts as 'export-oriented idols' — groups who debut in Korea but quickly shift focus to international activities due to lackluster local reception. While some idols still enjoy popularity across the board — such as BTS and Blackpink, who command massive fan bases both in Korea and worldwide — others are far more prominent overseas than they are domestically. Groups like Dreamcatcher, ARTMS, Kep1er and Enhypen have built their careers largely through global tours and overseas fandoms, with limited exposure or fanfare within Korea. Even Stray Kids and Ateez — among the most visible K-pop groups in the US and Europe — perform primarily in overseas stadiums while maintaining a relatively smaller presence locally. The disconnect has sparked questions about why some idol groups appear to "skip" Korea entirely, despite being products of its music system. According to music critic Lim Hee-yun, the divide is rooted in how the industry has evolved. 'The overseas K-pop market has grown dramatically, while the domestic one is shrinking,' Lim said, Friday. 'In Korea, competition is too fierce. New idol groups debut constantly and general interest in idols has declined.' Lim points to shifts in listening habits as part of the problem. 'Unless you're in the top five, it's hard to chart or create buzz. Fans are more likely to stick with artists they already follow or stream songs recommended by algorithms. The days when a new idol group could instantly become a public sensation are gone.' This saturation has made the Korean market harder to penetrate, particularly for mid-tier or rookie groups. 'Some major agencies have idols whose overseas revenue accounts for 70 percent of their total,' Lim said. 'Naturally, those groups prioritize international tours and promotions.' An executive at an indie K-pop agency who spoke on condition of anonymity echoed this view, adding that the marketing strategy varies by company size. 'For major K-pop agencies (like SM, JYP and YG Entertainment), the model is to build a strong local fan base, then expand to Asia and beyond,' he said. 'But for smaller agencies, it's often more effective to aim directly at overseas audiences.' The executive cited Ateez of KQ Entertainment as a clear example. 'They're not from a major company, but by targeting global fans from the start, they built a sustainable fandom abroad. Now they're doing world tours with far more impact than their domestic engagements.' Girl group Fifty Fifty's breakout hit 'Cupid' wasn't initially designed for the Korean market, the insider said. 'We saw that overseas fans responded well to a track from its first EP ... So we used that as a reference and deliberately created a song targeting American teens. That's how 'Cupid' came about — with support from Warner Music to push it globally.' Still, the divide between domestic and overseas success raises questions about the long-term sustainability of this model. 'The K-pop industry is in an oversupply crisis,' Lim said. 'Too many acts, too few consumers. If the bubble bursts, and it might, only groups with solid backing or loyal fan bases will endure.'


Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
Lim Young-woong to drop second LP in August
Megahit trot singer to return with new album delving into diverse genres Singer Lim Young-woong is set to make his return with a new full-length album, marking his first in over three years. On Thursday, his agency Mulgogi Music announced via Lim's official social media channels that his second full album "Im Hero 2" will be released on Aug. 29. This marks the singer's first full-length album since "IM Hero," which was released in May 2022. Lim rose to national fame in 2020 after winning the first season of TV Choson's trot audition program "Mr. Trot." Since then, he has expanded beyond trot as an artist by exploring a wide range of genres, including ballad, jazz, rock and hip-hop. His upcoming album is expected to continue this trend, featuring a rich mix of musical styles. Alongside the album announcement, a teaser video was also released. Featuring a soft sky-blue background, a pentagon-shaped logo, cloud in the shape of hearts, vibrantly colored flowers and gently falling petals, the video creates a whimsical and heartwarming atmosphere reminiscent of a fairy tale.


Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
H.O.T. to reunite after 6 years at the Hanteo Music Festival
First-generation K-pop icons to headline Hanteo Music Festival at Seoul World Cup Stadium in September First-generation K-pop group H.O.T will reunite for the first time in six years on its 29th debut anniversary. According to Hanteo Global on Wednesday, H.O.T. will headline the upcoming Hanteo Music Festival held on Sept. 6–7 at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The Hanteo Music Festival, hosted by South Korea's leading music chart and album sales tracker Hanteo Global, is a newly launched event that aims to bring together K-pop groups from all generations. The venue, Seoul World Cup Stadium, which seats approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people, also holds significance as it has only been reserved in the past by megastars such as IU, Seventeen and Lim Young-woong. H.O.T. is scheduled to perform a 60-minute set, almost like a stand-alone concert, marking its first full-group performance since 2019. Hanteo Global stated: 'Sept. 7, the second day of the festival, holds special meaning as it marks the 29th anniversary of H.O.T.'s debut and the start of their 30th year. This performance was made possible based on a longstanding trust built over Hanteo's 33-year history.' The further lineup will be announced gradually. Debuting in 1996 under SM Entertainment, H.O.T. consists of Moon Hee-jun, Jang Woo-hyuk, Tony An, Kangta and Lee Jae-won. The group is considered the prototype for modern K-pop idols. As the name 'High-five of Teenagers' suggests, the quintet gained explosive popularity among teens in the late 1990s. The debut album "We Hate All Kinds Of Violence" became the first K-pop idol album to sell over 2 million copies. With hits like 'Warrior's Descendant,' 'Candy,' 'Happiness' and 'We Are the Future,' H.O.T. enjoyed success not only in Korea but abroad as well, holding a solo concert in Beijing in 2000. However, the group abruptly disbanded in 2001. It took 17 years for fans to see all five members on stage again, when they held a concert at Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium in 2018, followed by another performance at Gocheok Sky Dome the next year.