今日のK-POP

Zerobaseone's Kim Jiwoong will hold a solo fan meetup in Seoul on June 20-21, according to his agency Nest Entertainment on Friday. He will have a candid chat with his fans at the event, which, as the name “Take 1: Unique Story” suggests, will underline his two-track career as a member of the boy group and as an actor. Kim debuted as an actor in 2021, appearing in the web drama “The Sweet Blood,” and joined project team Zerobaseone through an audition show that aired in 2023. With five members,

Kim JiwoongZEROBASEONE

Across the K-pop industry, established groups are increasingly turning to subunits as both a creative experiment and a business strategy, forming smaller lineups that can explore sounds, concepts and audiences beyond the parent group. The trend has only accelerated this year. In the first five months of 2026 alone, K-pop boy band Seventeen's vocal duo DK x Seungkwan debuted with the mini-album "Serenade" in January, while NCT's duo unit JNJM released its first EP "Both Sides" in February. Most recently, boy band DRIPPIN's trio ChaDongHyeop unveiled its debut single in May. Together, the releases suggest something more deliberate than occasional side projects. In today's K-pop industry, the subunit projects have evolved into structural tools. Avoiding uncertainty For entertainment agencies, the logic is relatively simple. Launching a new idol group requires years of trainee development, financial investment and no guarantee of success. A subunit avoids much of that uncertainty. It arrives with an existing fanbase, brand recognition and promotional infrastructure already in place, while all

SeungkwanSeventeenNCT

Tomorrow X Together cinched platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan with its eighth EP “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns,” label Big Hit Music said Friday. This is the ninth release from the group to certify platinum in Japan, surpassing 250,000 shipments in the country. The mini album has topped Oricon’s Daily, Weekly and Weekly Combined Album Rankings. On the last chart, TXT tied the record for the most albums to do so, at 14. Meanwhile, the fivesom

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Before BTS, Stray Kids and NCT, there was an era when Korean entertainment media was ruled by “kkonminam” stars — literally, “handsome flower boys.” Long before the word K-pop became a global shorthand, these soft-featured, camera-ready celebrities carried the kind of visual appeal and star power now associated with today’s idols. Years have passed since then. For fans who still remember their heyday, there is an inevitable question: Where are they now? And perhaps a more honest, slightly appearance-obsessed one: How do they look now? A recent wave of public appearances by stars from that era has given curious fans their answer. One of the biggest names to earn the “kkonminam” label was Nichkhun of 2PM. From the moment he debuted, Nichkhun stood out for his striking looks, quickly earning the nickname “Thai Prince.” His polished image helped raise 2PM’s profile and made him one of the defining faces of the era. So when Nichkhun appeared in a recent YouTube video centered on 2PM, fans did a double take — not only because it was a relatively rare appearance, but also

BTSStray KidsNCT

BTS is once again partnering with Las Vegas to launch a citywide experience tied to the group’s ongoing "Arirang" world tour. BTS on Thursday released additional details for "BTS The City Arirang — Las Vegas" through Hybe’s global fan platform Weverse. The project marks the launch of “Global The City 2.0,” an expanded version of the group’s urban collaboration campaign connecting concerts with experiences across major cities worldwide. In collaboration with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors

BTS

V of BTS drew more than 100 million hits with a reel on TikTok, cementing his strong presence on the platform. He posted a video of him practicing a handshake ritual with Jungkook backstage on May 9, which exceeded the 100 million mark in four days, becoming his second to do so on TikTok. His account is the only one in Korea to achieve the feat this year. V opened his in March and amassed 10 million followers in 19 days, which has since grown to more than 15 million. Separately, label Big Hit Mu

JungkookBTS

Woodz has spent a total of 70 weeks in the top 10 on Melon’s Top 100 chart with “Drowning,” the longest run in the chart's history, his agency Edam Entertainment said Friday. “Drowning,” a track from his fifth EP “Oo-li,” climbed back into the top 10 on the day to hit the threshold. The musician co-wrote both the words and lyrics of the song from the 2023 mini album. It went viral after he sang it on a television show in 2024 and it went on to top the year-end tally on Melon, the largest music p