HYBE is debuting multinational teen girl group Tuide next week through a new girl-group label, ABD, led by veteran producer Han Sung-soo; Tuide has already hit 1 million TikTok followers and over 5 million YouTube views. ABD says the independent structure aims to build a distinct identity and experimental production system separate from HYBE’s existing label
Major 2026 MTV VMA nominations underline K-pop’s global reach: BTS, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, CORTIS, LE SSERAFIM, KATSEYE and HUNTR/X earned nominations — BTS’s “SWIM” scored two nods including Song of the Year while Lisa received four solo nods for “Dream.” HYBE created a new label, ABD, to debut multinational teen girl group Tuide next week after strong pre-debut traction (Korea Times 9796). Other top stories: BTS’s Jimin surprised a pediatric cancer patient during a Make-A-Wish outing (Korea Times 9781); the Grammys signaled a possible revision to the controversial Best Asian Pop Music Performance category after BTS refused to submit (Korea Times 9767). SHINee’s Minho will release his second solo EP Make it hot on Sept. 7 featuring six tracks including the title song; the release follows his solo single "Tempo" roughly nine months earlier (Korea Herald 9832).
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Top Korean stars are increasingly choosing global streaming platforms for post-military comebacks rather than traditional TV: actors including Song Kang, Nam Joo‑hyuk and Lee Do‑hyun are returning via Netflix projects, and BTS streamed their full‑group ARIRANG comeback globally on Netflix
BTS’s Jimin stepped offstage at the Arirang tour stop in Arlington, Texas, approached pediatric cancer patient Olivya, handed her a key chain, patted her head, hugged her and kissed her on the cheek — prompting her to exclaim, “I got a kiss!” Heroes for Children shared the encounter on social media, said the outing was arranged through Make‑A‑Wish, and videos of the moment quickly went viral with fans sending well‑wishes for her recovery
Massive Attack’s Pentaport cover of Seo Taiji’s “Regret of the Times” reignited debate that K-pop has shifted from political resistance to a heavily commercialized industry. The Korea Times argues that this commercialization limits artists’ creative agency, citing BTS’s documentary tensions and aespa’s Karina dating apology as examples
Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. signaled the Recording Academy may revise the new "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category after BTS publicly refused to submit their music, citing concerns the category could segregate Asian pop from the General Field. It remains unclear what changes, if any, will be made
CORTIS celebrates their one-year anniversary after their second EP GREENGREEN spent 13 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and their 14-track catalog surpassed 1.1 billion Spotify streams; the five-member group wrapped a sold-out North American tour and will hold anniversary concerts in Seoul on Aug. 22–23
SHINee's Minho will drop his second solo mini-album Make it hot on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. KST, featuring six tracks including a title lead single — his first major musical return in nine months and a showcase of a grittier, more mature solo sound. His agency unveiled a teaser schedule and summery concept images on Aug. 18 ahead of the comeback, and Korea Times reports physical and digital pre-orders are already open
San’s brief but powerful moment in ATEEZ’s “Bad” MV has gone viral, driving millions of fancam views and renewed attention for the group after the June release of their 14th EP, Golden Hour: Part. 5; fans have dubbed him the “southern duke” amid the clip’s spread on short-form platforms
Big Bang will stage a 20th-anniversary fan event along Seoul's Han River with drone shows, fireworks, LED screens and a Coupang Play livestream; the trio also teased a digital single, “Biig,” ahead of the single drop and a 19-city world tour starting this week
Cortis celebrated their first debut anniversary after a breakout year: their second EP GreenGreen debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and has charted 13 weeks, lead single RedRed topped major music charts, the group surpassed 1.1 billion Spotify streams, wrapped a sold-out North American tour and will hold anniversary concerts at Korea University
BB Girls' Yuna served as a one-day weathercaster on JTBC's Morning & to promote the group's new single "Body Wave," then delivered forecasts warning of continued rain in the Yeongnam region and along the southern coast and Jeju
Jin of BTS surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams with his solo single "Don't Say You Love Me," the lead track from his May 2025 EP Echo — his first solo song to hit the milestone — which also reached the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 90 and strong global streaming chart positions
LE SSERAFIM’s B-side “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s wife” hit 300 million Spotify streams, becoming the group’s eighth track to reach that mark; the song — a B-side from their first studio album Unforgiven — also spawned an English rearrangement translated by Heo Yunjin
BTS, BLACKPINK, CORTIS, LE SSERAFIM, KATSEYE and HUNTR/X earned nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs; BTS’s “SWIM” scored two nods including Song of the Year while BLACKPINK’s Lisa received four solo nominations for “Dream.”
Karina said aespa’s Lollapalooza 2026 set in Chicago was a carefully prepared festival performance, describing stage nervousness as an emotion that makes her feel “alive,” and added she’s excited to explore cities during aespa’s 2026–27 world tour
Netflix’s new variety show Take A Hike! reunites Car, the garden, DAY6’s Dowoon, Lee Chae Min, and Tarzzan as four inexperienced hikers who tackle Korea’s harsh snow-covered mountains, forging fast friendships amid breathtaking winter scenery; the show is now streaming on Netflix
Jang Gyuri (fromis_9) says she practiced viola and immersed herself in classical music to portray warm-hearted violist Hong Jae In in the upcoming drama Four Hands, Two Sonatas, which premieres Aug. 29 at 9:10 p.m. KST
Beautiful Life in Seoul Festival will pair daytime beauty, cosmetics, fashion and running events with K-pop and hip-hop performances at night, showcasing Seoul’s lifestyle scene across day and evening programming
NMIXX unveiled a teaser poster on August 18 for Version 2 of their official light stick, with the poster hinting the whale motif from the original design will return
Chungha announced her comeback single “México,” unveiling a teaser on Aug. 18 and confirming the digital single will be released Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. KST, marking her return about seven months after “Save me.”
