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[K-pop Report Card] From meme hooks to industrial pop, here's what defined K-pop's wildest 2 months

For K-pop, May and June were gloriously messy. Over the past two months, artists bounced between internet memes and club sounds, nostalgia and reinvention, minimalist production and maximalist spectacle. Veteran acts proved they could still evolve without losing themselves, while younger groups continued searching for sounds they could truly call their own. Some experiments paid off. Others raised more questions than answers. Here's what stood out, or fell flat, in K-pop's latest wave of releases. BABYMONSTER, "CHOOM" EP — title track "CHOOM," released May 4 Verdict: Nearly there BABYMONSTER deserves some credit for refusing to chase trends. The track is unmistakably YG: a throwback packed with production choices that recall the label's glory days, when BLACKPINK, or even 2NE1 before them, defined its identity. The instrumental, in particular, feels lifted from that era, and there's certainly an audience still hungry for that sound. The question is whether nostalgia is the right strategy for one of K-pop's youngest groups. A familiar formula can keep longtime YG fans happy, but whether i

Seventeen’s V8 embraces challenge, growth on debut EP ‘V8’

Seventeen’s new unit V8 — consisting of The8 and Vernon — embarks on a new musical journey with the release of its self-titled EP on Monday. According to Pledis Entertainment, the album follows a theme of youth shaped by uncertainty, weaving together moments of wandering, confusion, recovery and growth. The eight-track release is led by the lead track “Singasong,” which the bandmates took the lead in producing alongside global producers Pharrell Williams, Mechatok, Kirara and Dylan Brady. The al

TWS

Are Hybe’s artist controversies really a company problem?

Hybe has found itself at the center of a string of artist-related controversies in recent months, prompting renewed questions over whether the company's multilabel structure is beginning to show cracks or whether the world's largest K-pop agency is simply experiencing industry-wide issues on a more visible scale. Katseye member Manon has remained on hiatus since announcing an indefinite break in February, fueling speculation over her future with the group. Former Enhypen member Heeseung's sudden

Biggest-ever Seoul concerts just the beginning for TWS

Boy group TWS took another major step in its rise as one of K-pop’s leading fifth-generation boy groups, holding its first solo concert at Kspo Dome just over two years after its debut. The six-member group held its “24/7:For:You” concert on Saturday and Sunday at Kspo Dome in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, drawing a combined audience of 18,000 across two sold-out shows. The concerts marked TWS’ largest solo performances to date and the opening stop of the group’s first Asia tour. For many K-pop act

BoyNextDoor hits career-best with 1st LP

BoyNextDoor has wrapped up promotions for the group's first studio album, “Home,” as of Sunday. The LP was released on June 8, preceded by prerelease “Ddok Ddok Ddok,” and debuted on Billboard 200 at the group's highest-ever No. 16. The eight-track set landed atop Oricon’s Daily, Weekly and Weekly Combined Album Rankings as well as a series of major music charts at home and abroad. The LP sold over 1 million copies in the first week, becoming the six-piece act’s fourth consecutive million-seller

BTS to take 'The City' project to London

K-pop supergroup BTS' large-scale cultural program "The City" will be held in London next month to celebrate the group's stop there for its ongoing world tour, the group's agency said Monday. The band will stage the offline event, titled "BTS The City Arirang London," alongside its "Arirang" world tour concerts scheduled for July 6-7 (local time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, according to the agency, BitHit Music. The main events of "The City" will kick off on July 6, the first day of the London shows, starting with lighting installations. The London Eye, one of the city's most iconic landmarks, will be illuminated in a vivid red, the key color of the "Arirang" tour. On the same day, a large floating boat carrying a sculpture featuring the "Arirang" logo will appear on the River Thames. From July 8 to 10, a special BTS-themed media art exhibition will be held at Outernet London, a public entertainment space focused on the arts, music and culture. The venue's massive digital LED canvases will be filled with visuals from "Arirang," offering an immersive audiovisual experience. Ad

BTS

BTS to take 'The City' project to London

SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup BTS' large-scale cultural program "T

Jungkook

BTS

Babymonster to release ‘I Like It’ music video

Babymonster will release a music video for “I Like It” on July 6, label YG Entertainment announced Monday. Yang Hyun-suk, founder and executive producer of the label, promised the third music video from the group following the videos for “Choom” and “Sugar Honey Ice Tea,” both of which generated 100 million views on YouTube. “I Like It” is a B-side track from the seven-member act’s third EP “Choom.” The group performed the dance tune on stage for the first time at its Seoul concerts held from Fr

BABY MONSTER

CORTIS

BTS

BTS' Suga reportedly invested in Elon Musk's SpaceX before IPO

Suga of BTS invested in Elon Musk's SpaceX years before its June 12 stock market debut, according to a report published Monday by the South Korean news outlet Edaily. Citing unnamed investment banking sources, Edaily reported that Suga invested through Link Asset Partners, a South Korean venture capital firm invested in the US aerospace company SpaceX. The report said the investment was made sometime before 2022, though it did not disclose the amount. SpaceX's enterprise value was estimated at a

SUGA

BTS

ZB1 Seok Matthew named new face of 'Visit Seoul' campaign

Zerobaseone member Seok Matthew has been named the ambassador for Visit Seoul, the Seoul Tourism Organization announced Monday. The tourism promotion division under Seoul city said it has appointed Seok to showcase the city's charms through the Met U in Seoul campaign. The campaign's name is a play on Matthew's name and "meet you." "As a member of Zerobaseone, one of the leading K-pop groups driving the Korean Wave around the world, Seok Matthew's positive energy will create strong synergy with

Cortis garners 200m Spotify streams with ‘Go!’

Big Hit Music on Sunday announced that Cortis hit 200 million streams on Spotify with “Go!” This is the first song from the rookie boy band to achieve the feat. “Go!” is a B-side track from the group's debut EP “Color Outside the Lines,” which rolled out in September last year. It was dropped ahead of the full album release, debuting on Melon’s Top 100 at No. 98 and on its Daily Songs Chart at No. 95. It was one of the best K-pop songs of the year selected by Billboard magazine and Spotify. The

CORTIS

Big Bang

TVXQ's U-Know Yunho to release new single next month

U-Know Yunho of K-pop duo TVXQ will release a new single, "Time's Tickin," on July 20, his agency SM Entertainment said Monday. The release marks his first new release in eight months, following his first full-length album "I-Know," which came out in November. The upcoming single will feature two tracks: the title track "Time's Tickin" and a B-side titled "An Ordinary Story." It will be released in both digital and physical formats, according to the agency

U-Know

TVXQ

U-Know Yunho to release new single next month

SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- U-Know Yunho of K-pop duo TVXQ will release a new sin

U-Know

TVXQ

THE BOYZ’s Q, Hwang Ji Ah, And More Showcase Seamless Chemistry At “My Idol, My Debut” Script Reading

“My Idol, My Debut” has shared a glimpse of its first script reading! “My Idol, My Debut” is a time-slip coming-of-age drama about a devoted fan who travels eight years into the past to prevent a tragic accident. In an effort to change fate, she winds up becoming an idol trainee. The script reading was

TREASURE’s Junkyu To Temporarily Halt Activities Due To Health + Shares Heartfelt Letter To Fans

TREASURE’s Junkyu will be temporarily halting his activities to focus on his health. On June 29, YG Entertainment announced that Junkyu will be taking a temporary break after experiencing health issues. The agency explained that although TREASURE recently wrapped up promotions for their latest mini album “NEW WAV,” Junkyu had continued participating in activities despite

Kim Junkyu

KISS OF LIFE Confirmed To Make August Comeback

KISS OF LIFE is gearing up for a comeback! On June 29, STARNEWS reported that KISS OF LIFE will make their return in August. Shortly after the report, the group’s official X (formerly Twitter) account reposted the article, confirming the news. The upcoming release will mark KISS OF LIFE’s first comeback in approximately four months

Kiss Of Life

BIGHIT MUSIC Provides Update On Legal Measures To Protect CORTIS’s Rights And Privacy

The HYBE labels have provided updates on legal measures taken to protect their artists from malicious activities. On June 29, the labels shared the following updates on the progress of legal proceedings against malicious activities violating the rights of HYBE artists—including BTS, TXT, CORTIS, TWS, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, ILLIT, BOYNEXTDOOR, &TEAM, and Zico—via each artist’s official Weverse. SEVENTEEN also released an official statement providing

BTS

Watch: Leeteuk, Shindong, DAWN, Kim Yo Han, Johnny, And Jisung Battle For Luxury In Travel Variety Show “All Or Nothing” Teaser

Upcoming travel survival variety show “All or Nothing” has shared its first teaser! “All or Nothing” is a winner-take-all travel variety series set in Egypt in which the cast competes over seven days and six nights across Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada for the title of “prince.” The show features SUPER JUNIOR members Leeteuk and Shindong,

Hyolyn Announces Summer Comeback

Hyolyn is gearing up to make a comeback this summer! According to her agency ReH Entertainment, Hyolyn has confirmed the release of her fourth mini album on July 22. Her agency stated, “As Hyolyn returns as the ‘original queen’ this summer, we expect her to once again captivate listeners’ playlists with music that features her

Hyolyn