
Pledis has opened a montly audition program since March in search of a new star.
Each month Pledis New Star will open a new audition for aspiring singers all over the world.
On March participants had to make a cover of NU'EST's "Hello", Son Dam Bi's "Pouring Down" or Orange Caramel's "Lipstick". Last month they could pick between NU'EST's "Introduce Me to your Noona" or Hello Venus' "What Are You Doing Today?".
Once again the monthly auditions have been opened and all you have to do is check the following instructions.
Songs: (Pick 1)
- After School's "Because of You"
- NU'EST's "FACE".
Who can participate? Anyone (Age, Nationality or Sex don't matter)
How to Apply? Send a mail to pledissong@hanmail.net with the following information
- Name, date of birth, age, height, weight, nationality and contact number.
- Attach a file (mp3 or video) of you singing one of the songs plus brief introduction of yourself.
Application Period:
- 1st Step: From May 2nd to May 31st
- Announcement from 1st Step: June 4th
Benefits
- Those who pass the the 1st step will get a chance for a 1:1 Audition with Pledis Casting Team. Each participant will be notified individually.
- Those who pass 1:1 Audition with Pledis Casting Team will get a chance to train at Pledis.
The contest will last until June so make sure you don't miss your chance!

On 25th April, Jeff Benjamin published an article titled "K-Pop Equations: Adding Up The American Influences In K-Pop" on the official website of Radio.com. In his article, Benjamin not only mentions the growing popularity of K-pop since PSY's "Gangnam Style"-records, but also explores the K-pop world and compares its characteristics to Western music.
He explains the genre of K-pop saying, "K-pop is a combination of different genres popular Western music. Everything from electro-pop to R&B to piano ballads to hip-hop to soul music can be heard in K-pop hits. But a major specialty of K-pop is in its ability to blend these into hybrid, pop confections completely in their own league."
Furthermore, he depicts the characteristics of K-pop by showing Girls' Generation, BIGBANG, Girl's Day, After School and Brown Eyed Girls as examples for the K-pop industry.
Check out what he has to say about K-pop and these bands, reading "K-Pop Equations: Adding Up The American Influences In K-Pop" on Radio.com!

If you thought we forgot about the Black Day Playlist don't worry because it is finally here.
During the year we have already celebrated Valentines Day with a Playlist in charge of the girls while White Day featured male singers. Now that Black Day has arrived it is time to combine both forces and share the best songs for singles out there who are looking for love or maybe just want to remain singles and have a great time with their friends or on their own.
Check our our new playlist on our full article and stay tuned for more surprises soon!

After School released their official Japanese smart phone app. Fans can stay up-to-date and watch music videos through the app.
Unfortunately, the app can only be installed by smart phones located in Japan. Plans for a universal app are unknown.

Will K-pop girl groups like Girls' Generation, SISTAR, Brown Eyed Girls, After School and many more stay always the same?
Starting on March 22nd, a new law, the so-called "overexposure law", will take place in South Korea. After a recent meeting with the president Park Geun Hye's first Cabinet, the law has been approved. The new law states that people deemed to be "overexposed" in public will be subject to a fine of 50,000 KRW (US$45).
Nowadays, in the K-pop industry, we get to see many girl group going from wearing pants to very short skirts, leggings, stockings or mini shorts. They have reached a very sexy image, which has even caused their music videos to have viewing restrictions of only 19+.
After hearing the news, some celebrities who are known for their sexy image, for example Lee Hyori tweeted, "Is the overexposure fine for real? I'm so dead."
Many netizens have drawn comparisons to similar restrictions imposed by Park Chung Hee, the current president's father, who headed the country from 1963 to 1979. Back in the 1970s, skirts that ended 20 centimeters above the knee or higher were prohibited in South Korea.
Is South Korea returning to its days of over-the-top censorship? What are your thoughts on this new law? Most of all, what do you think K-pop girl groups will do now considering their dress style?
Source: www.cnn.com

Korean portal nate mentioned that Kahi plans to make a solo comeback. She plans to return with a powerful hip hop concept. The former leader of After School can be expected to return the first half of 2013. Insiders say that June is the most likely time fans can expect her.
This is not her first solo project. During her After School years, Kahi had already released the solo mini album Come back you bad person.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of our lovable readers! As every year, we - your GoKpop crew - put together a special playlist on this very special occasion, so that you will enjoy this day even more.
This year we decided to include only songs by girlbands or female soloist on our Valentine's Day playlist, so it's a "girls edition" this time. The playlist contain songs by 2NE1, Hello Venus, Girls' Generation, Lee Hi, Hyuna and many more.
If you want to listen to our Valentine's Day playlist, check the full article! Enjoy!

After School has been as active as usual in informing their fans about their activities. Let's see what pictures they have been sharing with their PlayGirlz the last three days:
First Raina tweets a picture of herself:

Former leader Kahi says on instagram that she's going to make good music:

It's the end of the year and that means it's time for Gayo Daejun! Watch SBS Gayo Daejun Live now (18.20 - 20.00 Korean time). Like always, it's going to be spectacular!
Also check out the official set list.

See the second part of the set list in the full article...

Orange Caramel plans to release four different versions of its 2nd Japanese Single Lipstick / Lum no Lipstick on December 12 (12/12/12).
The song "Lamu no Love Song" is a cover of the opening theme for the popular anime series "Urusei Yatsura". This series is credited for introducing the format of using pop songs as opening and ending themes in anime. Also, the series is credited with pioneering work in the "magical girlfriend" genre.
Read more to check out the details.

After School's popularity has reached a new height now that the girl group has gained the attention of two manga artists who have made an After School Manga Parody.
Vee, a former freelance cartoonist who became an After School fan in 2010, has self-published ("dōjinshi") 35 strips so far in just a few months time, while artist ETC has created illustrations and short writings for the parody. The parody started when Vee came up with the project earlier this year when she wondered "What if I make a comic parody for After School?"
The unofficial manga parody covers After School's current events and other stories. After School fans can also send in their ideas to the artists for stories they would like to see.
Check out some of the strips below.



Read more...

Pop Dust is currently holding a survey to discover "The Greatest K-Pop Song of All Time"!.
The competition includes some of the hottest k-pop idols who have been able to take their tracks to the top of the charts on the past years.
During the first round idols are divided in 4 categories, girl groups, boy bands, female solo and male solo, and they compete who passes to the next stage. So far they are still on the first round so it is the moment to vote for your favorite song of all times according to pop dust.
The list includes the following idols:
Go now and VOTE before the 1st round ends on October 24th.

You might already know MBC's drama Rascal Sons, which is currently airing on weekends. As reported on Joy News 24, After School's Lizzy will soon join the cast of the drama.
A representative for Rascal Sons revealed, "She was chosen over many strong applicants, and successfully completed her first filming last week."
After having her acting debut with the sitcom All My Love last year, her role in Rascal Sons, alongside Ryu Soo Young and Seo In Guk, will be Lizzy's first role in a drama. Beside that, it was reported that her role will be quite interesting and she will contribute to the three-way relationship between the main characters of the drama.
Rascal Sons is broadcasted every Saturday and Sunday at 8.40 p.m. (KST) on MBC.

As we previously informed there were rumors around hinting a possible k-pop concert in Chile and we finally have a confirmation.
NoiX Producciones, which previously presented JYJ and Junsu's concerts in Chile has a new surprise for k-pop fans with the announcement of the first Music Bank Festival on the region. The event will include the presence of Super Junior, MBLAQ, After School, Davichi, C.N. Blue and Rania and is scheduled for November 2nd at the Quinta Vergara in Viña del Mar, which is one of the main music stages on the region.
The ticketing information will be released soon for local fans as well as those outside the country who would like to be part of this moment in k-pop history.
Stay tuned to GoKpop for more details soon and also do not forget to follow NoiX on Facebook and Twitter as well as the official page of the event.

Orange Caramel, After School's first sub-unit, recently discussed their latest music video "Lipstick" and their ambitions for the near and more distant future in SportsSeoul.
Lizzy mentioned about the Lipstick music video that her "… table tennis skill is all CG (computer graphics) power". She said she was embarrassed of all the strikes she got while actually playing the game. About the concept for Lipstick, Nana confessed "Honestly, at first I felt awkward. Stage costumes… the song, the choreography, too …But now I’m relaxed and I’m glad."
Because of the success of Orange Caramel’s fist Japanese single "My Sweet Devil", the group will follow up with more promotions in Japan this November. They will release a second Japanese single.
Reasons for Orange Caramel's success are the group member's...

Orange Carmel recently had an interview with SportsChosun about charisma and positivity.
They released their first full length album "Lipstick" on September 13th. A surprise was Lizzy's emotional ballad "Clara's Dream" and Raina's upbeat solo "Superwoman", showcasing her rap skills.
SportsChosun asked about the different concepts of After School (sexy) and Orange Caramel (cute). Raina revealed "…songs, choreography, and facial expression changed a lot… I once went to an event with After School… after a while I came right back out wearing different clothes with Orange Caramel on the same stage". While laughing she stated "… I am more adapted now."
Lizzy had a harder time exaggerating her expressions on stage: "At first I was ashamed of...

After School's former leader Kahi talked about her first impression of her best friend Son Dam Bi.
The two had tea together in the August 31st episode of KBS 2’s Star Life Theater. In this show celebrities show their daily lives.
Kahi and Son Dam Bi have become best friends as they trained together for years at Pledis Entertainment. Recalling memories, Kahi talked about her first impression on Son Dam Bi. She said, "I entered my current agency as a trainee, and I met Dam Bi there. She was very pretty and had these coy, round eyes. She gave me a sneaky look."
Son Dam Bi put on a sneaky face and shrugged jokingly.
Kahi continued, "Then Son asked me, ‘When did you start dancing?’" and Son added, "That kid was very bold," inspiring laughter.
The show featured a surprise appearance of Yoon Jin, a former member of S-Blush. Kahi and Son Dam Bi were members of this group in the past.

Summer is almost over but that doesn’t mean we need to be sad.
We wanted to share some happiness with you during this season of change so the GoKpop staff picked the best summer tracks to let you remember those good moments under the sun.
Also the second part of this special playlist includes some tracks that we think are suitable to accompany you during the rainy season.
Let's say bye bye summer and welcome autumn remembering those good moments we spent together and looking forward to a new future!
Check our full article for this wonderful double playlist and we hope you enjoy it!

"Las 40 Principales" is one of the biggest and most important radio station in Latin America and now they have started to give hints about a possible k-pop festival in Chile.
The radio station is known for supporting k-pop in Chile, Argentina, Colombia and other countries and they recently hold an interview with JYJ's Junsu who was in Chile in order to hold a concert as part of his global tour.
Some local k-pop fans have reported that during one of its programs on September 12th it was mentioned that there are 4 k-pop groups that might be able to attend a k-pop festival in the country that is supposed to happen in November. So far there aren't many details or official announcements so fans in the region are hunting for every piece of information.
The groups supposed to visit the country include MBLAQ, Super Junior, C.N. Blue and After School. All of them have a lot of popularity in the region and wouldn't be a surprise to see at least one of them holding a concert, specially after the visits of JYJ, Junsu, BEAST, 4minute and Big Bang to the region.
Stay tuned for more details soon!

After School’s sub-unit, Orange Caramel, will be making a comeback in the local music scene with its first full-length album ‘Lipstick’. Ahead of the release, a special video teaser has been unveiled, showing the group’s upcoming concept.
Earlier today, After School’s official Facebook page released Orange Caramel’s music video sketch, showing the members’ chic charms with an old fashion concept. All three members are wearing similar attires consisting of a one-piece orange dress jerseys and holding an orange ping-pong racket.
Check-out their special teaser below:


cool like like like
..cool
Wish I can sing but I can't. ):