Kpop Visage
Today in K-Pop
Direct from Korean news and other sources
Jan 1, 20267:52 AM
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K-pop’s next generation: Which rookie groups will debut in 2026?
A new wave of K-pop rookie groups is lining up to enter the spotlight through 2026, as major agencies and audition programs prepare fresh act aimed at shaping the next generation of K-pop — even as the industry’s biggest names gear up for high-profile comebacks in the background. Among the earliest debuts is ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1), an eight-member boy group formed through Mnet’s 2025 audition program “Boys II Planet.” Managed by WAKEONE, the eight-member boy group consists of Junseo, Arno, Leo, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin and Sanghyeon. The group is scheduled to debut on Jan. 12 with its first album, “EUPHORIA.” The group has already gained early exposure. In December, ALD1 opened the 2025 Melon Music Awards with a performance of its prerelease single, “FORMULA,” marking its first appearance on a major awards stage. With senior labelmate ZEROBASEONE nearing the end of its contract period, ALD1 is expected to continue the lineage of male idols produced through the “Boys Planet” franchise. MORE VISION, the agency led by singer and producer Jay Park, is also prep
Jan 1, 20263:42 AM
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BTS announces March 20 comeback, ending nearly 4-year hiatus
K-pop juggernaut BTS announced its long-awaited comeback with a new album slated for March 20, BigHit Music confirmed Thursday. The release marks the band’s first album as a complete seven-member lineup after three years and nine months, following its anthology album “Proof” in June 2022. BTS has been on hiatus as a group while its members fulfilled Korea’s mandatory military service and pursued solo projects. All seven have now completed their service, with Suga the last to be discharged on June 21, 2025. In celebration of the new year, the group sent printed copies of handwritten letters to members of its fan base, ARMY, as a gift to those who have maintained a Weverse membership for the last three years. The letters included the date “March 20, 2026,” effectively revealing the timing of the return, alongside messages of gratitude to fans. Shortly after fans received the letters, BigHit released a statement Thursday morning, officially confirming the album’s release date. In his letter, leader RM wrote that he had been “waiting for (this comeback) more than anyone else,
Jan 1, 202610:59 PM
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YOUNG POSSE Announces January Comeback Date
YOUNG POSSE is kicking off the new year with a comeback! On January 2, the girl group’s agency officially announced, “YOUNG POSSE is making a comeback on January 27 with a single album. They recently completed filming the music video for their new song.” YOUNG POSSE’s upcoming return will mark their first comeback in approximately… The post appeared first on .
Jan 1, 20263:50 PM
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ITZY Announces First Stops For “TUNNEL VISION” World Tour
ITZY has revealed the first set of stops for their upcoming world tour “TUNNEL VISION”! In addition to the previously announced Seoul concerts to kick off the tour in February, ITZY is set to visit various cities in Oceania and Asia from April through July. Check out the stops below: Stay tuned for more cities,… The post appeared first on .
Jan 1, 202611:06 AM
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Watch: T.O.P Announces Long-Awaited Music Comeback With New Solo Album
T.O.P is officially returning to music with a brand-new solo album! On January 1, T.O.P took to his personal Instagram to announce the news, sharing a video alongside the message, “A new album is on the way. TOP SPOT – ANOTHER DIMENSION.” In the video, T.O.P writes “ANOTHER DIMENSION” by hand on a blank white… The post appeared first on .
Jan 1, 20264:14 AM
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BTS Officially Announces March Comeback Date + New World Tour
BTS has officially confirmed their long-awaited comeback date! On January 1, BIGHIT MUSIC announced via press release that BTS will return with a new album on March 20. This marks the group’s first full-group album release in approximately three years and nine months, following their anthology album “Proof,” which was released in June 2022. The… The post appeared first on .
Jan 1, 202611:22 PM
Former BIGBANG member T.O.P to return as solo artist
T.O.P, a former member of popular K-pop group BIGBANG, will make a comeback as a solo artist this year, marking the 20th anniversary of his debut. The rapper announced the comeback on social media Thursday, telling fans that "A new album is on the way." A short video released alongside the post showed him writing the phrase "Another Dimension" both in Korean and English on a white sheet of paper, hinting that it may be the title of his upcoming album. The release date has not yet been announced. The release would be his first in 13 years since the digital single "Doom Dada" in 2013 and his first musical project since officially departing from BIGBANG in 2023. T.O.P debuted as a member of BIGBANG in 2006 and rose to prominence as both a rapper and actor. However, he suspended entertainment activities after becoming embroiled in a drug scandal in 2017. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for marijuana use. Last year, he returned as an actor, appearing in Netflix's "Squid Game" Season 2, which was released in December 2024. In an interview for the series last Janu
Jan 1, 20267:21 AM
BTS to make full-group comeback with new album in March after nearly 4 years
K-pop sensation BTS will release a new album featuring all seven members on March 20, marking its first full-group comeback in nearly four years, the band's agency said Thursday. The album will be the group's first release since the anthology album "Proof" in June 2022, according to BigHit Music. BTS also released a handwritten New Year's letter thanking fans for their support and saying they missed them. RM, the group's leader, wrote that he had "waited more desperately than anyone else" for th
Jan 1, 20262:42 AM
BTS return and Na Hong-jin’s $77 mil. epic signal K-culture revival in 2026
After a year in which expansion and slowdown coexisted across Korean pop culture, 2026 is shaping up to be a potential rebound period for K-culture. While the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” helped push K-pop further into everyday life beyond fan communities, album sales declined for a second consecutive year, fueling a sense of crisis. In broadcasting, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” and “Squid Game" Season 3 drew major attention, but the growing dominance of Netflix further weakened terrestrial networks. Korean cinema endured one of its toughest years, with only one film — “My Daughter Is a Zombie” — surpassing 5 million moviegoers. As the Year of the Red Horse begins, anticipation is rising that blockbuster projects across K-pop, television, and film may breathe fresh energy into the industry. From the long-awaited comeback of BTS and BLACKPINK to large-scale film productions such as “Hope,” which has a total budget of 100 billion won ($77 million), key figures seen as drivers of a K-culture resurgence are preparing to step forward. The biggest storyline in
Jan 1, 20262:27 AM
BTS announces March comeback, ending nearly 4-year hiatus
K-pop juggernaut BTS has announced its long-awaited comeback with a new album slated for March 20, BigHit Music announced Thursday. The release marks the group’s first album as a complete seven-member lineup after three years and nine months, following its anthology album “Proof” in June 2022. BTS has been on hiatus while its members fulfilled Korea’s mandatory military service. All seven members have completed their service, with Suga the last to be discharged on June 21, 2025. In celebration of the new year, the group has mailed prints of handwritten letters to its fan base, ARMY. The letters included the date “March 20, 2026,” effectively confirming the timing of the comeback, alongside messages of gratitude. The label is expected to unveil additional details about the album and promotional activities in the coming weeks.
Jan 1, 20261:57 AM
BTS announces March comeback, ending nearly four-year hiatus
K-pop juggernaut BTS has announced its long-awaited comeback with a new album slated for March 20, according to BigHit Music, Thursday. The release marks the group’s first album as a complete seven-member lineup after three years and nine months, following its anthology album “Proof” in June 2022. BTS has been on hiatus while its members fulfilled Korea’s mandatory military service. All seven have completed their service, with Suga the last to be discharged on June 21, 2025. In celebration of the New Year, the group has mailed prints of handwritten letters to its fan base, ARMY. The letters included the date “March 20, 2026,” effectively confirming the timing of the comeback, alongside messages of gratitude. The label is expected to unveil additional details about the album and promotional activities in the coming weeks.
Jan 1, 20261:47 AM
BTS sets March 20 comeback, handwritten letters spark global buzz
BTS is officially returning on March 20, marking their first full-member comeback since all seven members completed their mandatory military service and their first group album release in nearly four years. The comeback announcement has already generated major buzz worldwide, fueled by the group’s handwritten New Year letters sent directly to fans’ homes. BigHit Music confirmed the March 20 comeback, marking BTS’ first full-team album since the anthology Proof, released in June 2022. The return holds special significance for fans, coming after the group’s extended “military hiatus,” during which all members completed their mandatory service. The comeback date was first hinted at in handwritten letters members sent to ARMY, the group’s global fanbase, for the New Year. Fans received the letters by mail, which contained messages of gratitude — and the date “2026.03.20,” interpreted by many as a quiet but emotional hint of the upcoming comeback. Members expressed their excitement and anticipation through personal notes. RM wrote, “I waited more desperately than anyone
Jan 1, 202611:39 PM
KCM Welcomes His Third Child 6 Weeks Earlier Than Expected
KCM and his wife have welcomed their third child! On January 2, KCM’s agency A2Z Entertainment announced that the singer and his wife had welcomed a baby boy on December 20. However, because the baby arrived six weeks earlier than expected and required a period of observation in the hospital, the agency explained that they… The post appeared first on .
Jan 1, 202610:38 PM
January Individual Rookie Idol Brand Reputation Rankings Announced
The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for individual rookie idols! The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of various rookie idols, using big data collected from December 2, 2025 to January 2, 2026. ILLIT’s Wonhee topped this month’s… The post appeared first on .
Jan 1, 20262:49 AM
Watch: Wanna One Hints At New Content With Mysterious “COMING SOON” Teaser
Wanna One may be reuniting for new content this year! On January 1, Mnet’s content platform Mnet Plus unveiled a teaser clip titled “2026 COMING SOON” and featuring Wanna One’s signature tape imagery. The video includes “See you again,” which are lyrics from Wanna One’s “Spring Breeze,” as well as the text “we GO again.”… The post appeared first on .
