BLACKPINK

As BTS prepares to kick off its world tour with a three-day concert run from Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at Goyang Stadium, the choice of venue may prompt a certain question among some — why not Seoul? For an act long associated with landmark stages in the Korean capital, performing outside city limits can seem unexpected. The decision, however, points to a broader shift in Korea's concert landscape, where the stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, has emerged as one of the few venues capable of meeting the scale of K-pop today. Goyang Stadium, located in the mid-sized city 20 kilometers northwest of Seoul, has become the default home of large-scale live music in the Seoul metropolitan area, a transformation that has unfolded quickly and largely out of necessity. In 2025 alone, the stadium hosted 18 major concerts, drawing 700,000 attendees and generating roughly 10.9 billion won ($8.2 million) in revenue. The roster includes G-Dragon, who launched his first solo tour in eight years there in March, followed by British rock band Coldplay in April. K-pop girl group BLACKPINK opened its

BLACKPINK member Jisoo is drawing attention after giving high-end luxury gifts to employees at her agency, in a move that contrasts with ongoing workplace controversy in the entertainment industry. Jisoo, who runs her own agency, Blissoo, recently presented staff with designer bags worth several million won each. The gifts were revealed through employees’ social media posts. Photos shared online showed Dior bags alongside messages such as “I love you, CEO,” “Jisoo is the best,” and “Thank you, boss,” offering a glimpse into the company’s internal atmosphere. The scale of the gifts also stood out. Jisoo, a global ambassador for Dior, personally selected and handed out the luxury items, with multiple bags appearing in the images. Her gesture comes at a time when the Korean entertainment industry is facing a series of allegations involving abuse of power and unfair treatment within management structures. Against that backdrop, Jisoo’s actions are being seen by some as a notable contrast, highlighting a different approach to leadership and workplace culture. Alongside her mus

The global expansion of Korean entertainment is shifting from selling shows abroad to sending creators into global productions. As the film industry grows more globally connected, collaborations merging Korean directors and actors backed by foreign capital and international crews are reshaping Hollywood filmmaking. Director Yoon Je-kyun, known for the Korean box office hits "Ode to My Father" and "Haeundae," is entering Hollywood with the Taekwondo-themed action film "Belladonna." The project is bringing together Korean and American producers. Ahn Chang-beom, CEO of K-Tigers, and Red Packet Media led by "Rush Hour 3" producer Mike Leeder, serve as co-producers. The film features music producers who previously worked on the Netflix animated hit, "KPop Demon Hunters," as well as with K-pop icons BLACKPINK and BTS. "KPop Demon Hunters" demonstrated how merging Korean cultural symbols and K-pop with a global production system captures worldwide attention. This structural shift traces its roots to director Bong Joon-ho, who pushed the boundaries of international co-production with "Snowpierc