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BTS unveils name of new album: 'Arirang'

K-pop megastar BTS' upcoming full-length album will be titled "Arirang," named after Korea's most famous folk song, the group's label BigHit Music said Friday. "Arirang" is scheduled to be out March 20 as the group's fifth studio album and first since the 2022 anthology album "Proof." The new record will include 14 tracks. BigHit said the album captures BTS' identity as a group that began in Korea, along with "the longing and deep love that lie within their hearts." The label described the word "Arirang" as a symbolic expression of the emotions the group seeks to portray. "As BTS prepares for its long-awaited return, it naturally looked back on its roots, beginnings and inner stories," BigHit said in a statement, adding that the album explores universal emotions expected to resonate globally. After the release, BTS is set to embark on a world tour April 9, starting at Goyang Sports Complex near Seoul. The tour will span 34 cities and 79 shows — the largest in K-pop history — and will feature a 360-degree stage design.

BTS

Enhypen opens new career phase with 'The Sin: Vanish'

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy group Enhypen is launching a new chapter of...

ENHYPEN

Enhypen doubles down on storytelling with new EP

After ending last year with three grand prizes at year-end music awards, Enhypen is returning with a tightly structured seventh EP that reinforces what the group sees as its defining strength — long-form storytelling rooted in a vampire narrative that the group has carried since debut. “The Sin: Vanish,” set for release Friday, ends a seven-month break for the group. The album is not simply a collection of songs, but a fully realized conceptual work in which narrative, lyrics and instrumentation

ENHYPEN

K-pop album exports top US$300 mln in 2025 for 1st time

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of K-pop albums exceeded US$300...

ENHYPEN expands vampire saga with new mini album 'THE SIN : VANISH'

Six years after debuting through "I-LAND," a global audition program that put competitors' fate in the hands of viewers around the world, K-pop boy band ENHYPEN finds itself at a turning point. What began as a survival show experiment has grown into a tightly bonded team with its own mythology, international reach and a string of milestones, including a sweep of major year-end awards in 2025. That growth feeds directly into the group's seventh mini album, "THE SIN : VANISH," set for release Friday. The record continues ENHYPEN's long-running "vampire narrative" through a story of forbidden love between a vampire and a human. "For us, every comeback means trying something new," Jay said during an interview with The Korea Times at a small cafe in Mapo District, Seoul, Wednesday. "This time, from the prerelease promotions to the way the album is structured as a story, we really tried to make everything feel fresh." At the center of "THE SIN : VANISH" is its title track "Knife," a hip-hop-driven song built on trap beats and sharp synths that frame a message of resolve. While familiar to the

Jay

ENHYPEN

BTS unveils name of new album: 'Arirang'

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- K-pop megastar BTS' upcoming full-length album will b...

BTS

Hip-hop survival program 'Show Me the Money' returns with star producers, global contestants

Mnet's "Show Me the Money" franchise is returning with its 12th edition after years of hiatus, with a renewed focus on music, high-profile lineup and expanded pool of contestants. Launched in 2012, "Show Me the Money" is widely credited with cementing hip-hop as a mainstream music genre in Korea after producing numerous hit rappers and songs over the years. Its latest season marks the show's first new installment in over three years and is expected to once again energize the local hip-hop scene. A press conference for the new season was held Thursday morning at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District. Attendees included chief producer Choi Hyo-jin and this season's star producers — Zico, Crush, GRAY, Loco, J-Tong, Hukky Shibaseki, Lil Moshpit and Jay Park — who will be divided into four teams to judge and mentor contestants. Park is returning to the program for the first time in nine years, while Loco previously won the competition as a contestant. Choi explained that the production team spent considerable time rethinking the program's structure ahead of its return. "Because it's been a l

Zico

Crush

Loco

Blackpink to return with 3rd EP 'Deadline' on Feb. 27

Blackpink is set to make its long-awaited return to the K-pop scene with a third EP, titled “Deadline,” on Feb. 27, according to YG Entertainment on Thursday. The agency announced the release through a teaser video on its official social media channels, unveiling a motion graphic teaser that featured a burst of neon-pink light slicing through a black screen — both signature colors of the group — to signal the group’s return. The upcoming album shares its name with Blackpink’s world tour that beg

BLACKPINK

K-pop pioneer BoA at crossroads

K-pop pioneer BoA has officially ended her 25-year relationship with SM Entertainment, setting off intense speculation about whether she is preparing for retirement — or a dramatic reunion with SM founder Lee Soo-man. SM confirmed Monday that BoA’s exclusive contract had expired and would not be renewed. Industry watchers had expected a renewal, making the sudden “clean break” all the more surprising. In its farewell statement, SM praised BoA as “the icon of overseas expansion” and “the star of Asia,” saying, “Although our exclusive contract has ended, we sincerely support BoA as she begins new challenges and continues to shine as Asia’s star.” The company also released a tribute video on BoA’s YouTube channel, chronicling her journey from her debut at age 13 in 2000 to today. The video closed with the message, “We sincerely support every moment of BoA, who will forever shine as No.1.” BoA responded with her own message, saying, “As much as we gave to each other, I am leaving without regret. Thank you for the time we shared, and I will continue to support th

BoA

China signals end to hallyu ban as K-pop prepares for return

For nearly a decade, Korea’s entertainment industry has faced a long, dark tunnel when it comes to China. Now, however, a faint light appears to be emerging at the far end. China’s long-standing restrictions on Korean pop culture — commonly referred to as the hallyu or Korean wave, ban— are showing signs of gradually easing. At Chinese music retailers, K-pop albums have returned to store shelves and are once again displayed prominently. On Chinese streaming platforms, a local remake of the Korean drama “My Mister” has been unveiled. The shift in atmosphere is even fueling cautious optimism about the possibility of a government-level K-pop concert backed by the Korean government in China — something that had previously failed to materialize. The Hallyu ban effectively took hold in 2016, following Korea’s deployment of the U.S.-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, which Beijing viewed as a threat to its security interests. Although the Chinese government never formally announced the measure, it functioned as a sweeping, unofficial ban

Former NewJeans member Danielle opens Chinese social media as lawsuit looms

Danielle, who was removed from K-pop girl group NewJeans amid a contract dispute, is expanding her online footprint just as her legal battle with her former agency intensifies — fueling speculation that she may be preparing for overseas activities. The singer recently opened an account on Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, one of China’s most influential lifestyle and social media platforms often described as the country’s version of Instagram. Although Danielle has yet to post any content, her follower count has already surpassed 10,000, highlighting continued fan interest despite her ongoing controversy. Her older sister, Olivia Marsh, who also operates a RedNote account, followed Danielle on the site, further confirming the authenticity of the newly created profile. The move comes just days after Danielle opened an Instagram account on Monday and hosted her first live broadcast at 7 p.m. the same day. It marked her first official appearance since Ador notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract. At the time, the law firm representing Danielle said the livestream w

Danielle

NewJeans

Lightsum’s 1st subunit drops digital single

Girl group Lightsum is rolling out a digital single from its first subunit on Thursday, according to Cube Entertainment. Sangah, Chowon and Juhyeon have formed a trio and unveiled their retake on BTOB’s 2018 single “Beautiful Pain.” They shared their thoughts on the endeavor via the agency. "We are truly happy to be the first subunit and are excited to be able to show our different sides," said Chowon. Juhyeon added that the three have performed together often since their trainee days, and the s

Katseye among top 10 bestselling artists in US in 2025

Katseye’s second EP was the seventh bestselling album in the US last year, according to a year-end report published by entertainment data firm Luminate on Thursday. “Beautiful Chaos” tallied 186,000 CD sales, as the only girl group in the top ten. The mini album was released in June 2025 and hit No. 4 on Billboard 200. It has stayed on the chart for 28 weeks straight, ranking No. 32 on the latest chart. The six-member multinational group debuted in 2024 in the US and has three songs on Billboard

Katseye

G-Dragon to headline K-pop fest in Malaysia

G-Dragon is invited to headline a major K-pop festival in Kuala Lumpur, the event organizer announced Thursday. He is set to launch “K-Spark Malaysia 2026,” which will be held at a landmark stadium in the Malaysian capital city on Jan. 31. It will be the third time in a row he is joining the lineup for the music event, which this year also includes Itzy and Hwasa. His Malaysian fans will be welcoming the artist back about six months since his solo world tour “Ubermensch” stopped there. The 39-sh

G-Dragon

Hwasa

ITZY

Kang Daniel to enlist next month before Wanna One comeback

Kang Daniel will begin his mandatory military service on Feb. 9, his agency ARA announced on Thursday. He will serve in the army after the basic training camp, it added. The singer has been preparing to put his career on hold. At a June media conference held to introduce his sixth EP “Pulsephase,” he promised to show as much as he can as a singer before his enlistment. Kang also held a fan concert in December to bid fans a temporary farewell. His absence will especially be felt in Wanna One, whi

Wanna One

BLACKPINK to return with new EP 'Deadline' on Feb. 27

Girl group BLACKPINK will release its third EP, "Deadline," on Feb. 27, the group's label, YG Entertainment, said Thursday. YG unveiled a video announcing the K-pop quartet's comeback on its official blog. "Deadline" will mark the first album from the group in three years and five months since "Born Pink" in September 2022. The group released the digital single "Jump" in July but showcased its distinctive musical colors more through active solo projects during the group's break. YG said the album's title, "Deadline," is the same as that of BLACKPINK's latest world tour, which began in July in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul. It added the comeback will serve as a grand finale to the tour. While the group had already completed major work on the album, including the filming of a music video, the release was postponed from last year to this year to further enhance its quality. "We sincerely thank fans for their patience over the long wait," YG said. "We plan to repay their support with highly refined music and ask for continued interest." BLACKPINK will wrap up its world tour with concerts at T

BLACKPINK

BTS Announces 5th Full Album “ARIRANG” + Reveals Physical Album Details

BTS has announced details for their upcoming comeback! On January 16, it was revealed that their upcoming full album is titled “ARIRANG.” The physical album will be released in the following 16 versions: Pre-orders will open on January 16 at 11 a.m. KST, and the album will be released on March 20 at 1 p.m.… The post appeared first on .

BTS

Watch: WHIB Announces Comeback Date With “ROCK THE NATION” Scheduler

WHIB is gearing up for their return! On January 16, a comeback scheduler was revealed for WHIB’s first mini album “ROCK THE NATION,” which is set to be released on January 29 at 6 p.m. KST. Check out the scheduler below: While waiting, watch Kim Junmin, Leejeong, and Wonjun on “BOYS II PLANET”: The post appeared first on .

Watch: Apink Takes 1st Win For “Love Me More” On “M Countdown”; Performances By SEVENTEEN’s DxS, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, And More

Apink has won their first music show trophy for “Love Me More”! On the January 15 episode of M Countdown, the candidates for first place were Apink’s “Love Me More” and Zico and Lilas (YOASOBI’s ikura)’s “DUET.” Apink ultimately took the prize with a total of 7,567 points. Congratulations to Apink! Watch the winner announcement and encore below!… The post appeared first on .

Lee Si Woo And TWICE’s Dahyun Share Quiet Domestic Moments As They Begin Living Together In “Love Me”

“Love Me” has unveiled new stills of Lee Si Woo and TWICE’s Dahyun ahead of its upcoming episodes! A remake of a Swedish series by Josephine Bornebusch, “Love Me” tells the story of a somewhat selfish but relatable family where each member begins their own journey of love and personal growth. Spoilers In the previous… The post appeared first on .

Dahyun

Twice

FIFTY FIFTY’s Agency ATTRAKT Partially Wins Damage Lawsuit Against The Givers

FIFTY FIFTY’s agency ATTRAKT has partially won a damages lawsuit filed against The Givers. On January 15, the 33rd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Choi Jong Jin) ruled partially in favor of ATTRAKT in the lawsuit seeking approximately 2 billion won (approximately $1.36 million) in damages against The Givers, CEO… The post appeared first on .

Fifty Fifty

“Show Me The Money 12” Producers Talk International Contestants, Public’s Perception Of Hip Hop, And More At Press Conference

On January 15, a press conference was held for the premiere of “Show Me The Money 12” with producers Zico, Crush, Jay Park, Lil Moshpit, Loco, GRAY, Hukky Shibaseki, and J-Tong along with CP (chief producer) Choi Hyo Jin in attendance. “Show Me The Money” is a hip hop survival program that first premiered in… The post appeared first on .

IST Entertainment To Debut New Boy Group TUNEXX With “BOYS II PLANET” Contestants

It’s official: IST Entertainment will be launching a new boy group this March! On January 15, IST Entertainment announced, “We have recently finalized the team name and lineup for our new boy group, which includes Park Dong Gyu, Kim Si Hwan, Arctic, and newly added member Kim In Hu—all of whom participated in Mnet’s survival… The post appeared first on .

Hearts2Hearts Unveils In-Depth Look At Official Lightstick

Hearts2Hearts has shared a closer look at their official fanlight! Earlier on January 14, Hearts2Hearts unveiled a poster for their official fanlight, teasing its upcoming release. The following day, Hearts2Hearts dropped a new video, sharing a closer look at the Hearts2Hearts fanlight. In addition to sporting white and light blue colors, the adorable fanlight takes… The post appeared first on .

Hearts2Hearts

Lee Jong Won, Shin Ye Eun, And BOYNEXTDOOR’s Jaehyun Confirmed As MCs For 2026 D Awards

The hosts for the 2026 D Awards have been announced! On January 15, the ceremony confirmed that actors Lee Jong Won and Shin Ye Eun, along with BOYNEXTDOOR’s Jaehyun, will serve as the ceremony’s hosts. Shin Ye Eun will represent the “Muse,” Lee Jong Won the “Guardian,” and Jaehyun the “Frontman.” Lee Jong Won will… The post appeared first on .

BOYNEXTDOOR

Jaehyun

Shin

Dowoon, Lee Chae Min, Car, the garden, And Tarzzan Confirmed For New Variety Show “Take A Hike” By Na Young Suk’s Team

Upcoming variety show “Take A Hike” by PD (producing director) Na Young Suk’s team has confirmed its cast lineup! Netflix’s new variety program “Take A Hike” follows four “involuntary hikers” who have never cared about hiking as they embark on their first-ever midwinter expedition across snow-covered peaks. Having never hiked by choice, the cast takes… The post appeared first on .

Min