Direct from Korean news and other sources
Stray Kids’ I.N celebrated his birthday in a meaningful way! On February 8, I.N donated 100 million won (approximately $68,300) to the National Cancer Center as a way of giving back for the love he received from fans. The donation will be used to cover medical expenses for underprivileged cancer patients receiving treatment at the… The post appeared first on .
MONSTA X member I.M began his mandatory military service on Monday, marking the final enlistment among the group’s members and triggering a temporary halt to full-group activities. I.M entered the Army Training Center, where he will complete basic military training before being assigned to an active-duty unit. With his enlistment, MONSTA X now has all members either currently enlisted or having completed South Korea’s compulsory military service requirement for able-bodied men. In a message to the group's fans, collectively known as Monbebe, I.M said he felt grateful to have shared meaningful moments before leaving. “I was so happy to greet Monbebe more closely as we recently started our world tour, and I feel relieved that I was able to make good memories before enlisting,” he said. “I will take good care of my health, complete my military service well and return safely. Until we meet again, I hope Monbebe also stays healthy in both body and mind, and continues to support the members’ activities. I love you, Monbebe.” I.M is the youngest member of MONSTA X and the last to
Matthew and Gunwook of Zerobaseone signed with WakeOne Entertainment, the management company said Monday. The two parted ways with MNH Entertainment and Jellyfish Entertainment, respectively, to join WakeOne. The agency has been overseeing the activities of Zerobaseone, a project group set to disband in March. Member Taerae is already signed to WakeOne. Four members told fans in January that they are preparing for the next chapter through agency YH Entertainment, confirming the group's disbandme
Jisoo of Blackpink reached the milestone of 100 million views on YouTube with the music video for "Earthquake" as of Saturday, according to her agency Blissoo. The video for the focus track from her first solo EP, "Amortage," was released in February last year. The single ranked No. 47 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and No. 22 on the Global 200 Excl. US chart. It topped Billboard's World Digital Song Sales Chart. The four-track set debuted atop iTunes albums charts in 45 regions and sold more
ENHYPEN’s Jungwon is celebrating his birthday by giving back the love he has received in a meaningful way! On February 9, the Community Chest of Korea announced that ENHYPEN leader Jungwon pledged a donation of 100 million won (approximately $68,481) and joined the Honor Society, the Community Chest of Korea’s high-value individual donor club, as… The post appeared first on .
Police said Monday they will deploy counter-terrorism special forces in preparation for K-pop supergroup BTS' Seoul concert, slated for March 21, expecting a crowd of up to 260,000 would gather at Gwanghwamun Square, the venue for the concert, and its surrounding areas. Park Jeong-bo, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said his agency will form a special task force led by the public safety deputy commissioner to ensure that the concert would proceed safely through the preparation of all functions. Police estimate that the maximum number of 260,000 people will gather in areas from the concert stage at the northern starting point of Gwanghwamun Square to Sungnyemun gate, including 230,000 expected between the square and Daehanmun, the main gate of Deoksu Palace. "While we don't know for sure if the estimate will actually come true, we'll be prepared for as many people as possible to gather," Park said in a media briefing. Police plan to manage crowd flow and safety conditions by dividing the venue into four zones based on crowd density — core zone, hot zone, warm zone
The "kings" of K-pop are back. Third-generation boy groups, who laid the global foundation for the genre, are returning with ferocious momentum, putting their fourth and fifth generation successors on high alert. The wave began with Monsta X last September. With all members except the youngest, I.M — who recently enlisted — having completed their military service, the group released their first full-group album, "The X." They proved their staying power by hitting major global charts, including the Billboard 200. The group followed this by touring the U.S. with "iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025," the largest year-end festival in America, hitting four major cities, including a kickoff at Madison Square Garden last December. The boy band's world tour, "The X: NEXUS," which kicked off last month, is also cruising smoothly. EXO followed suit, releasing its album "EXIST" last month. Fresh off an explosive "MMA 2025" stage, it achieved a "Grand Slam" with five music show wins for "Crown," the album's title track. The group is preparing for its first solo tour in six years, "EXO PLANET #6 – E
BTS unveiled ticketing details for their highly anticipated comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul — the group’s first live appearance in more than three years. On Monday, Big Hit Music announced through global fan platform Weverse that BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang will take place at 8 p.m. on March 21. The seven-member group will perform fan-favorites as well as new songs from their upcoming fifth album, “Arirang,” which will be released a day earlier on March 20. The con
TWS is dropping digital single "Nice to See You Again" on Monday, as the boy band shared its happiness over the release through agency Pledis Entertainment. Youngjae explained that many of the group's fans loved the Japanese debut single regardless of the language barrier, and the band wanted the Korean-language version to be a gift to them. "This song is full of clean and fresh charms," said Dohoon, underlining that it will refresh "mushy" memories of meeting someone special for the first time.
Girl group H1-Key will release its fifth mini album, "Love Chapter," on March 5, Choi Creative Lab announced Monday. The upcoming EP will be its first new release in about nine months, coming on the heels of the previous EP "Lovestruck." The last release might have been slow in terms of album sales, but focus track "Summer Was You" made a series of best songs lists, ranking No. 6 on NME's "The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2025" and No. 10 on Billboard's ranking. "Coupled with a soaring and infectious
Ticketing details have been released for K-pop powerhouse BTS' long-awaited comeback concert at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, as the group prepares to reunite as a full septet for the first time in nearly four years. The free outdoor show, titled "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE : ARIRANG," will be open to the public through two channels — general ticket reservations and a separate Weverse-based global fan lottery — according to global fan platform Weverse, Monday. General tickets will be available from 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 through NOL Ticket, the Korean ticketing service handling the event. The service offers both Korean and international interfaces — the latter known as NOL World — and accepts major international credit cards, allowing overseas visitors to participate in the booking process. Full booking instructions will be released at noon on Feb. 20 via Weverse and NOL Ticket. In parallel, a Weverse Global raffle will be held exclusively for membership holders of BTS' official fandom, ARMY, who purchase BTS' upcoming album during the designated entry period. Winners will be selected by lot
K-pop icon G-Dragon made it official that his group BIGBANG will make a comeback later this year, marking the band's 20th anniversary since its debut, his agency said Monday. According to Galaxy Corp., the singer-songwriter made the announcement during his fan meet-and-greet event over the weekend at the KSPO Dome in Seoul. "This year, BIGBANG will come back to coincide with our 20th debut anniversary," he said. "As a member as well as a fan myself, I am looking forward to it, and so are the other members." "As spring is around the corner, please wait a bit more while taking a short rest along the flower road," he said, alluding to the lyrics of the group's song, "Flower Road." Meanwhile, the singer is set to perform at "Krazy Super Concert," which will be held at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre in the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 17.
ZEROBASEONE’s Seok Matthew and Park Gun Wook will be continuing their journey with WAKEONE! On February 9, WAKEONE announced through an official statement that ZEROBASEONE members Seok Matthew and Park Gun Wook signed exclusive contracts with WAKEONE. Read the full statement in English below: Previously, Seok Matthew was under MNH Entertainment, while Park Gun Wook… The post appeared first on .
As BTS prepares to release its highly anticipated new album “Arirang” on March 20, other K-pop acts planning comebacks around the same period are recalibrating their schedules to navigate the ripple effects of the group’s return. Within Hybe, which houses BTS’ agency Big Hit Music, affiliated labels are moving in strategic alignment with the comeback. Rather than avoiding the period altogether, some groups are timing their releases to benefit from heightened attention on K-pop as a whole — a so-
As K-pop continues to move away from maximalist, drop-driven electronic dance music (EDM), house music is reasserting itself as an identity-shaping aesthetic and sound. The shift has become more visible in recent months as rookie acts KiiiKiii and Hearts2Hearts, both of which debuted early last year, placed house at the center of their musical direction. Their releases have fueled renewed discussion among industry watchers that house is once again gaining momentum in K-pop, not as a novelty, but as a familiar and adaptable framework. House music emerged from Chicago’s club scene in the 1980s and is defined by a steady four-on-the-floor kick drum, repetitive rhythmic patterns and restrained melodic structures. Rather than relying on dramatic drops, the genre prioritizes groove and continuity, often producing a sleek, urban atmosphere. These qualities have long made house well suited to K-pop, a form that depends on the close integration of music, choreography and visual concept. In recent years, house’s presence within K-pop has become both more visible and flexible. Variations often
After six weeks of romance and mystery, Girls Generation’s Sooyoung and Kim Jae Yeong‘s “IDOL I” has finally come to an end on a high note. The drama captivated viewers with its unique blend of heartfelt romance, intriguing mystery, and a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of the K-pop industry. While it’s not easy… The post appeared first on .
Kang Daniel has shared a glimpse of his brand-new haircut as he officially begins his military service. On February 9, Kang Daniel entered the army training center to begin basic training before serving as an active duty soldier. Prior to his enlistment, he took to Instagram to reveal his freshly shaved buzz cut, writing, “I… The post appeared first on .
MONSTA X’s I.M has enlisted in the military! On the evening of February 8, the day before his enlistment, I.M took to Instagram to post a photo of his new buzz cut, along with heartwarming photos with MONSTA X members Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, and Joohoney. The following day on February 9, MONSTA X shared… The post appeared first on .
Nana will appear in T.O.P’s new solo track music video! On February 9, a media outlet reported that Nana will star in T.O.P’s upcoming music video. In response to the report, both T.O.P’s and Nana’s agencies confirmed, “It is true that Nana will appear in the music video for T.O.P’s solo track.” Nana and T.O.P… The post appeared first on .
DRIPPIN’s Joo Changuk will be enlisting in the military. On February 9, DRIPPIN’s agency Woollim Entertainment announced that Joo Changuk will enlist as a public service worker on February 19. The agency shared the following official statement via Weverse: Hello,This is Woollim Entertainment. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all fans who… The post appeared first on .
BLACKPINK’s Lisa has been announced as a new global ambassador for SHISEIDO! On February 9, SHISEIDO revealed Lisa as their brand’s newest global ambassador, debuting her first campaign for SHISEIDO’s ULTIMUNE serum. Check out photos and videos from the campaign below! Recently, it was announced that Lisa will also be starring in Netflix’s new “Notting… The post appeared first on .
Ong Seong Wu has chosen to remain with his longtime agency Fantagio. On February 9, Fantagio officially announced that MJ had renewed his exclusive contract with the company. “After in-depth discussions, we have renewed our contract with actor Ong Seong Wu based on a foundation of trust and confidence,” said Fantagio. “We will be unsparing… The post appeared first on .
BOYNEXTDOOR is officially the new face of the Buldak ramen brand! On February 9, Samyang Foods officially announced that BOYNEXTDOOR had been chosen as the models for Buldak’s new global campaign “Hotter Than My EX.” Samyang Foods remarked, “BOYNEXTDOOR is currently receiving lots of love for the way they express honest, unfiltered emotions and everyday… The post appeared first on .
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo has hit the 100 million mark with her “earthquake” music video! On February 7 KST at around 3:30 p.m. KST, Jisoo’s music video for “earthquake,” the title track of her solo mini album “AMORTAGE,” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. Jisoo originally released the music video for “earthquake” on February 14, 2025 at… The post appeared first on .
