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BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'

K-pop supergroup BTS will release the new digital single "Come Over" on Thursday, the group's agency BigHit Music said. The track was previously included on the deluxe vinyl edition of the band's fifth studio album, "Arirang," released last month. The song will be made available on streaming platforms at 1 p.m. as part of the group's annual "BTS Festa" event marking its debut anniversary. "Come Over" was produced by member Suga, with RM and J-Hope also credited on the track. The song combines elements of pop and stadium anthems, featuring synthesizer-driven instrumentation and layered vocals. According to the agency, the lyrics describe a journey of returning to a significant person despite periods of uncertainty, a theme that also reflects the group's relationship with its fan base, known as ARMY. The song was performed earlier as part of the set list at select concerts during the group's ongoing "Arirang" world tour, where it was introduced to audiences ahead of its official release. Separately, BTS will release a new vinyl edition, "Arirang (613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl)," on

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BTS

BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup BTS will release the new digital sin

BTS

BTS in Busan: City guide for visiting fans

BUSAN — The large LED screen on the outer wall of the Grand Josun Busan hotel has been playing the music video of "SWIM," the title track of BTS' latest album, every 30 minutes since last Friday. Standing in front of it, fans from all around the globe were glued to the display, with phones raised and the Haeundae seafront glistening in front of them. It was a scene that would have been unimaginable years ago — but then, a lot has changed since BTS last performed in Busan. The group returns to Busan Asiad Main Stadium Friday and Saturday for two concerts as part of its "ARIRANG" world tour. Scheduled to span 34 cities and 85 dates, the tour is BTS' first as a group after the members' return from mandatory military service, a nearly four-year absence that only seemed to sharpen the appetite of the fandom. The show on Saturday also will fall on the group's 13th debut anniversary, adding a layer of meaning that has not been lost on organizers. That performance will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide. For the city itself, the concerts are the centerpiece of "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN

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'Golden' artist Ejae to perform at World Cup opening ceremony

Ejae, the singer-songwriter behind the global breakout hit "Golden" from Netflix's animated "KPop Demon Hunters," will perform the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem "DNA" at the tournament's opening ceremony Thursday in Mexico City, soccer's governing body FIFA said. Ejae is one of four guests featured in "DNA" alongside Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, French DJ and producer David Guetta and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The four artists will perform the anthem live for the first time as

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Aespa's 2nd LP 'Lemonade' becomes 8th million-seller

Aespa's second full-length album, "Lemonade," had sold over 1.03 million copies as of Thursday, the group's agency SM Entertainment said, citing a local tally. The album marks the K-pop girl group's eighth million-seller, according to the data from Circle Chart. Aespa's second LP entered the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart at No. 9 early this month. It was also ranked at the top in the United World Charts, an album sales tracking site owned by Media Traffic. Since its debut in 2020, the group has been known for its unique multiverse story. The second LP revolves around a multiverse called "Complaexity" and cracks in a parallel universe. Aespa will kick off its world tour, "SYNK : COMPLaeXITY," in August in Seoul, followed by stops in North America, South America and Europe

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KATSEYE reflects on AMA wins as group prepares new release

Girl group KATSEYE is having its moment. It recently swept all three of its nominations at the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs) on May 25: New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for "Gnarly" and Breakthrough Pop Artist. "We never expected to go home with all three awards that night," Sophia said in a written interview with The Korea Times. For a group that debuted less than two years ago, the achievement marks an important milestone in the group's rapid rise. KATSEYE was formed through the 2023 competition reality show "The Debut: Dream Academy," and the members went through the K-pop trainee system, involving months of vocal and dance training under a survival format. Signed jointly under HYBE Labels and Geffen Records, the group debuted in August 2024 with its first EP "SIS (Soft Is Strong)," positioning itself as a bridge between the K-pop world and Western pop audiences. While KATSEYE was conceived as a global pop act, its connection to Korea remains strong. Korea is often among the first stops on the group's promotional schedule, and its members credit the country's music industry

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Aespa's 2nd LP 'Lemonade' becomes 8th million-seller

SEOUL, June, 11 (Yonhap) -- Aespa's second full-length album, "Lemonade," had so

Aespa

BTS took a bold but necessary gamble with 'Swim,' Karlsson says

Swedish songwriter and producer Alex Karlsson has spent more than a decade helping shape the sound of K-pop from behind the scenes. Since beginning his collaboration with SM Entertainment in 2013, Karlsson has infused elements of Swedish pop songwriting into numerous K-pop releases. His credits span some of the industry's biggest acts, including BTS' "We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal," SuperM's "Tiger Inside," Enhypen's "Fever," Tomorrow X Together's "Loser=Lover" and Ateez's "Bouncy (K-Hot Chill

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Busan probes lodging operator after Japanese BTS fan alleges abusive response

Busan city officials have launched an inquiry into a lodging operator after a Japanese BTS fan alleged that the business responded with abusive language when asked about a reservation ahead of the group’s upcoming concerts in the city. According to a social media post uploaded on Wednesday, the fan said she had contacted a Busan accommodation provider to ask about check-in procedures, elevator access and whether her reservation could be canceled automatically. Instead of answering the questions,

BTS

Big Bang unveils first world tour in nine years

Big Bang has unveiled plans for a world tour to mark its 20th anniversary, with performances scheduled from August to early next year. YG Entertainment released a poster promoting the group’s world tour via its official social media channels on Thursday. The tour is set to begin in Korea in August before continuing through February 2027. According to the agency, Big Bang is currently scheduled to perform 31 shows across 18 cities, starting with three concerts in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The to

Big Bang

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

Singer-songwriter EJAE — best-known for co-writing and performing the theme song "Golden" for animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" — is set to take the stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Thursday (local time). FIFA announced that she will join a star-studded lineup for a special show ahead of the tournament's kickoff match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. She will join legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli and a lineup of special guest singers to debut the official theme song for the tournament, "DNA." "Being a part of the official FIFA World Cup anthem means so much to me. It's especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song — representing Korea on this stage is such an honor," EJAE said via FIFA. "One of my favorite childhood memories is being in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup, and seeing the city unite. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing strangers on the street hug each other and celebrate. To me, that feeling of togetherness is what the World Cup means, and I'm grateful to be a part of it

BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniversary

Veteran K-pop group BIGBANG on Thursday unveiled dates and venues for its upcoming world tour to mark its 20th anniversary. According to a tour poster released on its agency YG Entertainment's official social media, the tour will begin in South Korea's Goyang in August and continue across North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia through February 2027. It will comprise 31 shows in 18 cities, including Oakland, Paris, London, Taipei, Singapore, Hanoi, Sydney, Bangkok and Tokyo. Planned venues include large-capacity stadiums and dome arenas, such as Goyang Stadium, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Stade de France in Paris, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome Osaka. The upcoming tour has generated much anticipation from fans, as it will be BIGBANG's first world tour in about nine years, following its "Last Dance" tour in 2017. YG said additional tour dates and locations will be announced later. BIGBANG debuted in August 2006 and is marking its 20th anniversary this year. The group has released numerous hit songs, including "Haru Haru," "Fantastic Baby," "Bang Bang Ban

Big Bang

Aespa’s 2nd LP its 8th consecutive million-seller

The second studio album from Aespa had sold some 1.03 million copies as of Thursday, becoming its eighth million-selling set, SM Entertainment announced, citing a local tally. LP "Lemonade" extends the sales streak the quartet began with second EP "Girls" through subsequent mini albums — "My World," Drama," "Whiplash" and "Rich Man" — and first LP "Armageddon," as well as the single "Dirty Work." The latest album dropped on May 29, hitting the Billboard 200 at No. 9 with the titular track enteri

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BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniv

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Veteran K-pop group BIGBANG on Thursday unveiled date

Big Bang

Cortis logs 10m views with ‘Acai’ music video, adds date to tour

Cortis garnered 10 million plays on YouTube with the music video for “Acai” as of Wednesday, said label Big Hit Music. The video reached the milestone in a month and is the second music video off the group's second EP “Greengreen,” after the main track “Redred.” “Acai” is a B-side from the set, and all members participated in writing the song inspired by one of their favorite foods. They also came up with the storyboard for the music video. In July, the rookie boy group is set to launch its firs

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Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'

Stray Kids' Han will release a solo digital single titled "back to life" on Thursday, the singer's agency JYP Entertainment said. The track, due out at 6 p.m., was written and composed by Han and carries lyrics about a resolve to maintain one's sense of self. It features a sound that blends rough intensity with lyrical sensitivity. The song has been released as part of the group's in-house content series "Skz-Player," which, along with "Skz-Record," allows members to share self-produced material with fans. In "Skz-Player," members take part not only in songwriting but also in the planning and direction of music videos, highlighting their creative abilities. Stray Kids performed as a headliner at the Governors Ball music festival in New York on June 6 (U.S. time) and are scheduled to appear at Brazil's Rock in Rio in September. The band is also set to launch a new music festival, "Straycity," in Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. Earlier this year, in March and April, the group held its sixth "meet and greet" session for its domestic fans at Inspire Arena in Incheon, some 30 kilometers west o

Stray Kids

Red Velvet to return in August: report

Red Velvet is preparing an album that will be released in August, according to a local media report on Thursday. The group will make a full group comeback for the first time in over two years, after EP “Cosmic,” with which the group celebrated their decadelong career. The mini album topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 50 regions. The title track was chosen as one of “25 Best K-pop Songs in 2024” by NME. The upcoming set also marks the first all-member effort since Wendy and Yeri left label SM

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Red Velvet

Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Stray Kids' Han will release a solo digital single ti

Stray Kids

BTS tops record 900m streams in Japan with ‘Dynamite’

BTS hit the 900 million streams mark for the first time for an international artist in Japan with “Dynamite,” said label Big Hit Music on Wednesday, citing Oricon’s streaming data. The 2020 megahit is the ninth song to achieve the feat in Oricon’s chart history, and BTS is the sixth artist overall to do so. The disco pop tune released during the COVID-19 pandemic was the first English-language song from the group and made a hotshot debut on Billboard’s Hot 100, a first ever for a K-pop artist. T

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Walk in the footsteps of BTS: 5 spots Army should visit this weekend

BTS returns to Busan this weekend to celebrate its 13th debut anniversary and for its "BTS World Tour Arirang" concert, but the venue's significance goes beyond being another stop on the group’s world tour. The Friday and Saturday concerts at Busan Asiad Main Stadium mark BTS’ first performance in the city since the 2022 “Yet To Come in Busan” concert, widely regarded as the group’s final major full-group performance before members began their military service. Busan itself has embraced the occa

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BTS’s “Black Swan” Becomes Their 15th Group MV To Hit 600 Million Views

BTS’s “Black Swan” is their latest music video to reach 600 million views! On the morning of June 12 KST, BTS’s music video for their 2020 hit “Black Swan” surpassed 600 million views on YouTube. “Black Swan” is BTS’s 15th full-group music video to reach the milestone, following “DNA,” “Fire,” “Fake Love,” “MIC Drop (Steve

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Watch: TREASURE Takes 1st Win For “IF I” On “M Countdown”; Performances By LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, KATSEYE, And More

TREASURE has won their first music show trophy for their new title track “IF I”! On the June 11 episode of “M Countdown,” the candidates for first place were aespa’s “LEMONADE” and TREASURE’s “IF I.” TREASURE ultimately took the prize with a total of 6,328 points. Congratulations to TREASURE! Watch the winner announcement and full encore

Red Velvet Confirmed To Make August Full-Group Comeback

Red Velvet is officially gearing up for a full-group comeback! On June 11, Sports Chosun reported that Red Velvet is currently preparing a new album with the goal of making their comeback in August. SM Entertainment confirmed the news, stating, “Red Velvet is preparing for a full-group comeback with the aim of returning in August.”

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U-KISS’s Eli Announces Marriage

U-KISS’s Eli has shared news of his marriage! On June 11, Eli took to Instagram to reveal his remarriage and share wedding photos. Read his Instagram post below and check out the wedding photos he shared: Eli debuted in 2008 as a member of U-KISS. In November 2014, he married Ji Yeon Soo, a former

EVAN (Heeseung) Announces Solo Debut With Teasers For “RIDE OR DIE”

Updated June 14 KST: Evan (Heeseung) has unveiled Version 1 concept photos for his solo debut with “RIDE OR DIE”! Original Article: EVAN (Heeseung), formerly of the group ENHYPEN, is gearing up for his solo debut! On June 11, concept posters were revealed for EVAN’s first solo digital single “RIDE OR DIE.” “RIDE OR DIE”

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BIGBANG Announces Stops For 2026 World Tour

It’s official—BIGBANG is going on tour! On June 11, YG Entertainment announced BIGBANG’s 2026 World Tour. According to the tour poster, BIGBANG will kick-off their tour from August 21 to 23 at Goyang Stadium in South Korea. The group will then visit Oakland, East Rutherford, Paris, London, Taipei, Singapore, Hanoi, Sydney, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Osaka,

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