H.O.T. News

Only 3.55% of K-pop groups ever sell 300,000 albums and just 42 groups cleared that industry break-even mark, a study of 1,182 debuting acts from 1996–2025 found. Nearly half of idol groups disappear within three years, and only eight acts have exceeded 10 million cumulative sales

Rescene unexpectedly topped a chart with “Love Attack” while ATEEZ finally cracked South Korea’s charts with “Bad” eight years into their career, highlighting a study that finds the average idol group survives just 4.12 years and prompting new government support for smaller agencies

BigHit Music's boy group CORTIS has drawn cross-generational attention by foregrounding member-driven songwriting, spontaneous behind-the-scenes content and a laid-back image; their leader Martin is credited with songwriting work and even Prime Minister Han Sung-sook quoted their lyrics while pledging change

The Korea Herald says nostalgia-driven demand is fueling a K-pop reunion wave, highlighting recent returns from I.O.I, Secret and SeeYa and reunion activities from acts including Wanna One, Baby V.O.X, S.E.S. and H.O.T. industry sources link the trend to older fans' greater purchasing power

The comedy Wild Sing, directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo and Park Ji-hyun, recreates late-90s/early-2000s K-pop through the fictional idol trio Triangle while paying homage to first-generation groups such as H.O.T. and Shinhwa