Direct from Korean news and other sources
A month and a half after its release, Stray Kids’ latest album is climbing back up the Billboard 200! On January 6 local time, Billboard revealed that Stray Kids’ latest album “DO IT” had re-entered the top 20 of its Top 200 Albums Chart, which ranks the most popular albums in the United States. In… The post appeared first on .
Stray Kids, BLACKPINK’s Jennie, and KATSEYE will all be taking the stage at this year’s Governors Ball! On January 6 local time, the annual New York music festival officially announced its lineup for 2026, which will feature Stray Kids, Lorde, and A$AP Rocky as headliners. Jennie and KATSEYE will also be performing at this year’s… The post appeared first on .
Both Stray Kids and BIGBANG’s G-Dragon are returning to the Gala des Pièces Jaunes in Paris this year! On January 6 local time, the annual French charity concert officially announced that both Stray Kids and G-Dragon would be performing at the 2026 show later this month, joining a star-studded lineup that also includes Christina Aguilera,… The post appeared first on .
Circle Chart (formerly known as Gaon Chart) has revealed its chart rankings for the week of December 21 to 27! Album Chart CORTIS topped this week’s physical album chart with their debut EP “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” which re-entered the chart at No. 1. KATSEYE’s latest EP “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” also re-entered the album chart at… The post appeared first on .
The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of various rookie idol groups, using big data collected from December 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. TWS topped this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 1,073,422, marking a 55.78 percent increase in their score… The post appeared first on .
Cautious talk of possibly easing China's unofficial restrictions on Korean pop culture resurfaced this week following a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but government officials and industry insiders alike cautioned that any tangible change would likely be slow and limited. The two leaders held talks in Beijing on Monday, marking Lee's first official visit to China since taking office in June 2025. In a briefing afterward, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the leaders agreed to gradually expand cultural exchanges, starting with relatively less politically sensitive fields, including sports. However, Wi stressed that China still does not officially acknowledge the existence of the so-called “hallyu ban,” a tacit restriction that has limited the activities of Korean entertainers in China since Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) deployment in 2016. “China maintains that it does not recognize the policy as formally existing,” Wi told reporters about the hallyu ban. “In today's dialogue, there were comments questioning
During BTS’ extended hiatus, K-pop retained its global visibility but struggled to sustain the momentum it once commanded at the center of the international music conversation. While major acts such as Stray Kids, Blackpink, Twice and Seventeen filled the commercial vacuum left by BTS, none emerged as a singular symbolic force capable of defining the genre on a global scale. Newer-generation acts have been praised for polished performances and striking visuals, but critics and industry observers
BTS on Monday began promotions for its full-group comeback, unveiling a large outdoor installation in central Seoul ahead of the release of its fifth full-length album in March. The group’s name, logo and album release date are now displayed across the central staircase of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts near Gwanghwamun Square. The installation marks the first public offline promotion tied to BTS’ return as a complete group in nearly four years. The Sejong Center, one of South Korea’s
DK and Seungkwan of Seventeen uploaded the tracklist for “Serenade” via agency Pledis Entertainment on Monday. The two main vocalists of the 13-member group are set to release their first EP on Jan. 12. The mini album will comprise six tracks, including lead track “Blue,” as well as solo efforts. DK and Seungkwan also co-wrote the lyrics for the EP's last song, “Prelude of love.” Last week, the pair gave fans a taste with snippets of the songs. On Wednesday, an episode of the group’s original sh
Nearly four years after its release, BTS’s “Run BTS” is back on top of Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart! On January 6 local time, Billboard announced that BTS’s 2022 track “Run BTS”—a B-side from their anthology album “Proof”—had re-entered its World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 1. Last week, ARMY (BTS’s fandom) sent… The post appeared first on .
KATSEYE has hit a new all-time high on Billboard’s Hot 100! On January 6 local time, Billboard revealed that KATSEYE’s hit single “Gabriela” had jumped to a new peak of No. 22 in its 24th week on the Hot 100, which ranks the most popular songs in the United States. Meanwhile, the group’s previous single… The post appeared first on .
ENA’s “IDOL I” has shared new stills ahead of its upcoming episode! “IDOL I” is a mystery courtroom romance drama starring Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung as Maeng Se Na, a star lawyer and devoted fan who takes on the case of her favorite idol Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae Yeong) after he is accused of murder.… The post appeared first on .
Kevin of K-pop group The Boyz will resume activities after a temporary break due to health reasons, his agency said. OneHundred said on Jan. 6 that Kevin “has recovered his condition through sufficient rest and stability and will return to activities starting in January.” His first official team schedule following his recovery will be the “THE BOYZ CHINA FANMEETING in Shanghai,” scheduled for Jan. 24-25 (local time). Through the agency, Kevin said, “I would like to thank everyone who supports The Boyz. I spent the year-end with my family for the first time in a while, recharged my energy and returned.” He added, “Happy New Year, and I hope to meet fans more often this year with an even brighter spirit.” Kevin suspended activities in November last year after experiencing health and psychological difficulties. He focused on recovery through sufficient rest and confirmed his return at the start of the new year. With his comeback, The Boyz is expected to gain new momentum. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generat
Jinhwan of iKON, also known as Jay, will be performing in Seoul on Feb. 7, his agency 143 Entertainment said on Tuesday. The show will be the finale of his Jay 207 solo tour, which traveled to two cities in Japan as well as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Japan concerts were his first in the country as a solo act. The Seoul concert also falls on the musician’s birthday, so that he can spend the day with his fans. Kim released his first solo album “207” in July last year, about two years
Yuna of Itzy is poised to bring out her first solo album in March, according to a local media report on Tuesday. Following the report, label JYP Entertainment acknowledged that she is preparing for a solo endeavor, but said that the release date is yet to be decided. Yuna will be the second member of the quintet to drop a solo set, following leader Yeji. Yeji’s album “Air” came out in March last year, and the title track made “The 30 best K-pop tracks of 2025” list by UK magazine Dazed. Itzy wil
Jungkook of BTS amassed 100 million plays on YouTube with the audio clip of his solo single “Seven (feat. Latto).” The clean version of the song achieved the feat, as did the explicit version and four more songs -- “Standing Next to You,” “Still With You,” “Euphoria” and “Dreamers” -- making him the first-ever Asian artist to have six clips to do so. The music video for “Seven” surpassed 575 million hits while the single garnered more than 2.7 billion streams on Spotify. The 2023 release is stil
The following timeline traces how each BTS member continued their musical careers over nearly four years since the group announced a break in 2022 to complete their military service. -- Ed. June 2022 — BTS announces hiatus to focus on solo projects, just days after releasing its first anthology album, “Proof.” July 2022 — J-Hope releases his first full-length solo album, “Jack in the Box,” and becomes the first Korean artist to headline Lollapalooza’s main stage. Oct. 2022 — Jin releases solo si
USPEER has officially parted ways with WM Entertainment. On January 6, WM Entertainment released an official statement announcing that its exclusive contract with USPEER ended on December 31, 2025. Below is the full official statement from WM Entertainment: Hello, this is WM Entertainment. First, we would like to sincerely thank all the fans who have… The post appeared first on .
Lovelyz’s Lee Mijoo has unveiled a fresh set of profile photos following her signing with AOMG! In November 2025, Lee Mijoo officially joined AOMG after parting ways with her former agency Antenna, marking a new chapter in her career. On January 6, AOMG released Lee Mijoo’s newly updated profile photos, showcasing her versatility and charm.… The post appeared first on .
Dasom has shared more insights into her role in the upcoming drama “Positively Yours”! Based on a popular webtoon, “Positively Yours” is a romantic comedy that follows the unexpected consequences of a one-night stand between a man and a woman who have both sworn off marriage. Choi Jin Hyuk plays Kang Du Jun, the CEO… The post appeared first on .
Park Min Young and BTOB’s Yook Sungjae may be teaming up for a new romance drama! On January 6, MyDaily reported that Park Min Young and Yook Sungjae have been cast as the leads of the upcoming drama “Nine to Six” (literal title). In response to the report, representatives from both sides stated that their… The post appeared first on .
Yuna will be the next ITZY member to make her official solo debut! On January 6, Sports Kyunghyang reported that Yuna will be making her official debut as a solo artist with her first solo album scheduled for release in March. She has reportedly already begun filming the music video. In response to the report,… The post appeared first on .
NCT WISH will star in a travel variety show! On January 6, Mnet Plus announced the launch of its new original travel variety show, “ON THE MAP,” and released the main poster. The show features NCT WISH, who have won over global fans with their refreshing charm. “ON THE MAP” is a K-pop idol global… The post appeared first on .
Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon has achieved another impressive YouTube milestone! On January 6 at approximately 3 a.m. KST, the music video for her solo song “Fine” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, meaning that it took approximately eight years, 10 months, eight days, and 15 hours to achieve the feat. Furthermore, this is Taeyeon’s second solo… The post appeared first on .
