Beyond the release of their unit's second EP “Love Me,” Monsta X members Shownu and Hyungwon are reflecting on what it means to continue performing together 11 years into their career. The release arrives as Monsta X marks its 11th anniversary this year, with the group preparing to continue its world tour, “The X: Nexus." Looking back, both members said their approach to music and performance has naturally changed over time. “Sometimes I feel more relaxed than before when it comes to performing

A 16-year-old girl from a small town in Toyama, Japan, is preparing to step onto the global stage after beating odds of 14,000-to-1 through Hybe and Geffen Records’ audition program “World Scout: The Final Piece.” Sakura Tobi, who was selected as the final member of the upcoming four-member girl group Saint Satine, is set to debut later this year alongside Emily, Lexie and Samara — trainees previously introduced through “The Debut: Dream Academy,” the audition program that produced global girl g

BTS’ upcoming Busan concert will be broadcast live in movie theaters around the world through a global live viewing event on June 13, Big Hit Music announced Thursday. According to the group’s agency, the second day of BTS’ “Arirang” performances in Busan will be livestreamed, allowing fans around the world to experience the performance in real time through large cinema screens and immersive sound systems. The live viewing event will take place in some 3,800 theaters across more than 80 countrie

Chris Appelhans, co-director of Netflix's hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," is revealing the creative process behind the movie's characters. He will appear MBC every1's travel reality show "Welcome, First Time in Korea?" which will air Thursday evening, marking his first appearance on a Korean entertainment program. Appelhans made his directorial debut with the 2021 animated film "Wish Dragon." The box office success raised his profile, earning him the backing of Sony Pictures to produce any project he desired. To build the narrative and emotional depth of "KPop Demon Hunters," Appelhans analyzed hit Korean dramas including "Boys Over Flowers," "Vincenzo" and "Crash Landing on You." He said he specifically referenced actor Song Joong-ki's facial expressions in "Vincenzo" to design Jinu, a member of the demon boy band Saja Boys. "KPop Demon Hunters" follows Rumi, Mira and Zoey, members of the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, who perform as artists during the day and fight world-ending evil spirits at night. The movie won the two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Or

Hyojung of Oh My Girl is releasing her first solo single album “Purple Note” on Thursday, her agency WM Entertainment announced. The digital single will contain three songs: the main single “Dear My Little Youth” and its instrumental version, as well as “Look Around.” As hinted in the teaser video, Hyojung conveys hope and courage with her clear and upbeat voice in the pop-rock tune. The single album is her first solo endeavor in almost 1 1/2 years, after the special single “Christmas Night Trai

BoyNextDoor will demonstrate the musical capabilities of its members through its first studio album “Home,” according to its agency KOZ Entertainment on Thursday. All six bandmates participated in writing the songs for the upcoming album, the list of which was revealed on Thursday. The album will consist of nine tracks, including the main track “Viral.” Singer-songwriter and executive producer Zico co-wrote the single's lyrics and melody along with Myung Jaehyun and Woonhak. The two members part

BTS is set to return to the American Music Awards (AMA) for the first time in four years, as the group competes once again for the ceremony's top honor. According to the AMAs on Wednesday, BTS will attend the awards ceremony scheduled for May 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The boy group has been nominated for artist of the year, competing against global pop stars including Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. BTS became the first Korean act to win the category i

The second mini album from Cortis generated 100 million plays on Spotify in 15 days, its label Big Hit Music said Thursday. EP “Greengreen” accomplished the feat Tuesday, less than half the time it took the previous EP “Color Outside The Lines,” which marked its debut in September last year. The boy group currently has over 11 million monthly listeners on the platform. The rookie quartet’s latest effort landed on Billboard 200 at No. 3, a leap from the debut EP which peaked at No. 15 on the main

K-pop sensation BTS will broadcast a Busan concert from its ongoing "Arirang" world tour live in movie theaters worldwide next month, its agency said Thursday. BigHit Music said the second of the two-night concerts, scheduled for June 12 and 13, will be streamed live from Busan Asiad Main Stadium in the city located about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The live viewing event will take place in more than 3,800 theaters across over 80 countries and regions, offering fans a shared concert experience beyond geographical limits. Due to time zone differences, audiences in North America, South America and Europe will have access to delayed screenings within one to two days after the concert. In South Korea, the event will be available at major multiplex chains, including CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox. BTS previously held a large-scale performance at the same venue in Busan in October 2022 in support of the city's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The group, which marks the 12th anniversary of its debut on June 13, launched the "Arirang" world tour last month in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- K-pop sensation BTS will broadcast a Busan concert fro...

Ive surprised fans dropping the title track from its fourth EP in Japan, “Lucid Dream,” on Wednesday via its agency Starship Entertainment. The dreamy tune was released one week ahead of the full album release. As the title suggests, the single is about a dream in which the members face their inner selves and express their feelings rather than running away from reality, conveying hope and positive energy. The upcoming mini album also includes Japanese-language versions of “Rebel Heart” and “Atti

K-pop supergroup BTS will make a special appearance at this year's American Music Awards (AMAs), organizers said, marking its first in-person participation at the ceremony in nearly five years. The group is set to attend the 52nd awards show on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, according to an announcement released by the AMAs on Wednesday (U.S. time). BTS has been nominated in three categories, including the top prize of Artist of the Year, as well as Song of the Summer and Best Male K-Pop Artist. The AMAs hold particular significance for the group. In 2017, BTS made its U.S. television debut at the ceremony with a performance of "DNA," becoming the first Korean act to perform on the show since its launch in 1974. BTS has since won a total of 12 AMA trophies both as a group and individually. In 2021, BTS became the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year. This year, the South Korean group will compete in the top category with global stars, including Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. BTS' latest hit "Swim," the lead single from its fifth studio album "A

K-pop supergroup BTS will make a special appearance at this year's American Music Awards, organizers said, marking its first in-person participation at the ceremony in nearly five years. The group is set to attend the 52nd awards show on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, according to an announcement released by the AMAs on Wednesday (US time). BTS has been nominated in three categories, including the top prize of Artist of the Year, as well as Song of the Summer and Best Male K-

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup BTS will make a special appearance at...

Nearly three years after debuting as Monsta X’s first unit, Shownu X Hyungwon are returning with a fuller, more layered take on love. The duo’s second EP, “Love Me,” marks its first release since “The Unseen” in July 2023. Led by “Do You Love Me,” the seven-track album explores different shades of love, from attraction and uncertainty to emptiness and emotional collapse near the end of a relationship. The EP also highlights the duo’s creative involvement, with Hyungwon credited for producing fou

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- Shownu X Hyungwon, a unit of veteran K-pop boy group M...

Thirty-four months is a long time in the K-pop realm. Trends shift, rosters change and the industry moves fast enough to leave even established acts behind. For Shownu and Hyungwon of boy band MONSTA X, however, the wait seems to have only sharpened their focus. The duo returns Thursday with "LOVE ME," their second mini-album as a unit, nearly two years and ten months after their 2023 debut. The album arrives at a real momentum for MONSTA X, who recently sold out the KSPO Dome in Seoul's Songpa District as part of the group's ongoing world tour "THE X : NEXUS." MONSTA X debuted in 2015 under Starship Entertainment — home to major global acts like WJSN, Cravity and IVE — and has since built a dedicated global fanbase known as Monbebe. Shownu X Hyungwon first came together as the group's inaugural subunit in July 2023, releasing their debut mini-album "THE UNSEEN" before Hyungwon's mandatory military service put the project on hold. For Shownu X Hyungwon, "LOVE ME" is less of a comeback and more of a declaration. "I wanted to show my natural self, with whatever maturity time has given m

From an early age, Ahn Hyo-seop always had a burning passion for music. After school, he would always talk about music and would even produce tracks with his friends for fun. This passion led him to train under JYP Entertainment with the hopes of becoming a K-pop idol. However, Ahn decided to follow a different career path as an actor and became a household name with performances in "Dr. Romantic" (2016) and "Business Proposal" (2022). After starring in movies and shows for over ten years, Ahn recently surprised fans as he announced his solo music debut in a collaboration with U.S. R&B star Khalid. The unexpected duo will release "Something Special" on May 22, a cross-cultural track which blends K-pop and U.S. R&B seamlessly with a summer-infused sound. “Music has been a hidden passion for me for a long time. This project came to me very naturally. It was a good opportunity to be part of a fun project with a very creative team. And of course, Khalid, I’ve been listening to his music for a very long time. To be able to make music was a great honor,” said Ahn. Ahn has previously perfo