Rihanna to visit Korea this week to promote new album

Pop singer Rihanna is set to visit Korea for the first time this week to promote her latest album "Rated R", according to Universal Music Korea.

The global record label announced last week that the Barbados-born singer will be flying into Seoul on Wednesday and meeting with Korean fans and the media during her three-day stay.

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday at Seoul's COEX Mall, followed by an autograph signing session for a select number of fans who have been chosen for the event in advance.

Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was discovered by a music industry executive in Barbados and later moved to the U.S. to pursue a music career.

She released her debut album "Music of the Sun" in 2005 and became a global superstar with the success of her third album "Good Girl Gone Bad", which produced several international hits including "Umbrella" and "Don't Stop the Music".

She made headlines last year however, after she was assaulted by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown, also a popular singer. Both singers, who split up shortly after, have since released new albums and resumed their music careers.

"Rated R," released in November 2009, has spawned three hit singles -- title track "Russian Roulette", "Hard" and "Rude Boy".

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr