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Rain or shine, Army gathers in Goyang ahead of BTS’ long-awaited return

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — Hours before BTS took the stage for its world tour “Arirang,” its first concert in four years, thousands of fans had already gathered outside Goyang Stadium, filling the rainy grounds with anticipation. By early Thursday afternoon, the area surrounding the venue was lined with Army — many dressed in purple rain jackets and holding Army Bomb light sticks — posing for photos in front of a towering world tour poster. Despite the cold drizzle, the mood remained upbeat, wi

BTS

NCT to mark 10th anniv. with albums, tours, pop-ups

K-pop supergroup NCT will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year with a series of albums, tours and pop-up events under a new project, its agency SM Entertainment said Thursday. The multi-unit group — which includes acts such as NCT 127 and NCT Dream — made its debut on April 9, 2016, when its first sub-unit NCT U released the debut single "The 7th Sense." SM said the anniversary project, titled "NCT 2026" and promoted with the slogan "Everything, All At Once, Neo," will bring together the group's 10-year narrative while setting the direction for its next phase. NCT unveiled a commemorative logo and launched a promotional website for the project on its official social media accounts. Under the plan released Thursday, NCT 127 will release an album and embark on a tour in the third quarter, while NCT Dream will hold a meet-and-greet event for fans in the third quarter before dropping a new album in the fourth. WayV plans an album and tour in the third quarter, and NCT Wish will start the year with its first studio album on April 20, followed by a Japanese single and another album lat

NCT

Xdinary Heroes Announces Stops For Special Live “The New Xcene” In Europe

Xdinary Heroes will be greeting fans in Europe! On April 9, Xdinary Heroes dropped dates for their special live “The New Xcene” in Eruope and the United Kingdom. After visiting Manchester on May 31, Xdinary Heroes will also visit London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan. Check out the dates and venues below! Currently, Xdinary Heroes is… The post appeared first on .

Xdinary Heroes

After $9.6 mil. tax payment, Cha Eun-woo faces new petition seeking military role review

Singer-actor Cha Eun-woo is facing renewed scrutiny even after paying a large tax bill and issuing a public apology, with a new petition calling for a review of his military assignment. A petitioner identified as A said Thursday they had filed a follow-up complaint with the Ministry of National Defense, requesting a reassessment of Cha’s position in the military band. The move comes a day after Cha confirmed he had fully paid 13 billion won ($9.6 million) in personal income tax following a high-profile tax investigation. Cha had reportedly been notified of a tax reassessment exceeding 20 billion won during an intensive audit by the Seoul Regional Tax Office last year. However, overlapping taxes — including corporate and value-added taxes already paid — were subject to refund procedures. In a statement, the singer-actor addressed the controversy directly. “As someone who has received a great deal of love and support, I take this matter very seriously,” he said. “If there were areas I failed to fully review, the responsibility lies entirely with me. I will not avoid it by saying

Girl group Nmixx throws ceremonial pitch at MLB game with Lee Jung-hoo

SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- K-pop girl group Nmixx took part in a Major League Ba...

NMIXX

Enhypen’s Seoul show sells out

Tickets for Enhypen’s Seoul concert sold out through an exclusive offering to fans, agency Belift Lab said Thursday. The group is slated to go live for three shows next month, which will kick off world tour “Blood Saga.” It will be livestreamed as well for those who could not secure tickets for the shows. The forthcoming concert trip will have 30 shows spread across 21 cities. It will mark the group's first standalone shows in Latin America, held in Sao Paulo, Lima and Mexico City, followed by v

ENHYPEN

ENHYPEN’s Heeseung rebrands as EVAN after exit, unveils raw new identity

Former ENHYPEN member Heeseung has taken a striking turn in his career, reintroducing himself as a solo artist under a new name — EVAN. The artist opened official social media channels Wednesday and revealed his first profile photos, signaling a fresh start following his departure from the group. In the images, EVAN appears with loosely styled hair and minimal makeup, presenting what his agency described as an “unfiltered” and “pure” version of himself. Stripped of flashy styling or heavy concepts, the photos focus on a natural, almost undefined identity — a version of the artist before being shaped or labeled by the industry. Belift Lab, his and his former group's agency, said the concept reflects EVAN in his “most essential form,” before any external interpretation is added. Heeseung debuted with ENHYPEN in 2020 and quickly gained attention for his versatile talents, including his vocal ability, rap technique and stage performance. He also built a reputation as a singer-songwriter, contributing to tracks such as “Highway 1009” and “Dial Tragedy,” showcasing skil

Heeseung

ENHYPEN

Watch: BTS Takes 11th Win For “SWIM” And Triple Crown On “M Countdown”; Performances By Hwasa, Dayoung, And More

BTS has won their eleventh music show trophy for “SWIM”! On the April 9 episode of the Mnet music show, the candidates for first place were BTS’s “SWIM” and Kep1er’s “KILLA (Face the other me).” BTS ultimately took the prize with a total of 10,052 points. This is the third time that “SWIM” has taken… The post appeared first on .

BTS

CLOSE YOUR EYES Announces Comeback With Digital Single “OVEREXPOSED”

CLOSE YOUR EYES is returning with a new single! On April 9, a teaser was released announcing the group’s upcoming digital single “OVEREXPOSED.” With the title track named “POSE,” the single is set to be released on April 21 at 6 p.m. KST. Stay tuned for updates! While waiting, watch the group’s creation on “PROJECT… The post appeared first on .

CLOSE YOUR EYES

[Exclusive] Katseye’s Manon to miss Coachella, Hybe confirms

Katseye's Manon will not join the group’s performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, Friday, Hybe America confirmed to The Korea Herald. “Manon remains on hiatus,” Hybe America, which manages Katseye’s promotional activities in the US, said Thursday in response to an inquiry about her participation. The Swiss bandmate has been on a temporary hiatus since February to “focus on her health and well-being,” according to a Feb. 5 statement from Hybe and Geffen R

Manon

Katseye

NCT to mark 10th anniv. with albums, tours, pop-ups

SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup NCT will celebrate its 10th annivers...

NCT

Heeseung begins solo chapter as ‘Evan’ following Enhypen exit

Heeseung, who recently left boy band Enhypen, is set to embark on a new chapter as a solo artist under the name Evan, with Belift Lab unveiling a set of profile images Thursday. According to Belift Lab, the goal was to showcase a concept that focuses on simplicity, featuring minimal styling and a natural look. With understated hair and makeup, the profile highlights a raw, unembellished side of the artist, emphasizing what the agency described as his “most unfiltered and authentic form,” before

Heeseung

ENHYPEN

Cha Eun-woo pays full tax bill, reported at W13b

Cha Eun-woo, a member of the boy group Astro and one of South Korea’s most sought-after endorsers, has fully settled a tax dispute with the National Tax Service, paying about 13 billion won ($8.7 million), according to local media reports. The singer and actor said in a statement posted Wednesday on social media that he “respects the procedures and results of the National Tax Service” and had paid all related taxes to prevent further confusion. He added that he would “faithfully cooperate with a

Astro

Girl group NMIXX throws ceremonial pitch at MLB game with Lee Jung-hoo

K-pop girl group NMIXX took part in a Major League Baseball game in San Francisco, performing and throwing the ceremonial first pitch, alongside Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants. JYP Entertainment, the group's agency, said Thursday that the six-member group performed its latest hit song "Blue Valentine" before the Giants faced the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park on April 6 (U.S. time). Member Sullyoon represented the group as the pitcher, while Lee caught the ceremonial toss. NMIXX is currently on the North American leg of its first world tour, titled "Episode 1: Zero Frontier," and will begin its Asia tour in June with stops in Bangkok, Singapore, Kaohsiung of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Sullyoon

NMIXX

Cravity to release 8th EP

Cravity will bring out its eighth EP, “Redefine,” on April 29, agency Starship Entertainment announced Thursday. A teaser clip of mysterious illustrations featuring what appears to be the ouroboros, or a tail-devouring serpent, which symbolizes eternal cycles. This is the group's first release in almost six months, after “Dare to Crave: Epilogue,” a reissue of the second studio album “Dare to Crave.” Focus track from the second LP, “Set Net Go?,” earned the nonet two trophies from television mus

CRAVITY

Kim Jaehwan to drop single

Kim Jaehwan will return on April 22 with the digital single “I’ll Be There,” according to WakeOne Entertainment on Thursday. It will mark his first new song in almost two years, since his seventh EP “I Adore,” which was released in May 2024. He had paused his career to serve his mandatory military duty as a member of the Army marching band. The singer is set to resume his career in two tracks. He reunited with members of Wanna One and greeted fans at a meetup in Seoul on Monday. The event was he

Wanna One

Nam Tae Hyun Sentenced To 1 Year In Prison In First Trial For Drunk Driving

Nam Tae Hyun has received his sentence at his first trial. On April 9, the Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 11 held the first trial sentencing hearing for Nam Tae Hyun, who was indicted on charges including violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving). The court sentenced him to one year in prison along… The post appeared first on .

Hyun

Fantagio Releases Apology Over Recent Tax Controversies

Fantagio has released a formal statement and apology over recent tax controversies. On April 9, Fantagio posted the apology on its official website. Their statement is as follows: This is Fantagio. We sincerely apologize for causing concern due to the recent tax-related controversy involving our artists. We view the matter not as an isolated incident… The post appeared first on .

Kim

Watch: Park Ji Hoon Rises From A Lowly Private To A Legendary Army Cook In “The Legend Of Kitchen Soldier” Teaser

TVING’s upcoming drama “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” has unveiled a new teaser! Based on a popular web novel and webtoon, “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” is a military fantasy-comedy drama that tells the story of army cook Kang Sung Jae (Park Ji Hoon). When a mysterious quest window pops up in front of him… The post appeared first on .

BLACKPINK Becomes 1st K-Pop Artist In History To Hit 2.2 Billion Views With 2 MVs

BLACKPINK continues to make history on YouTube! On the morning of April 9 KST, BLACKPINK’s music video for their 2019 hit “Kill This Love” surpassed 2.2 billion views on YouTube. “Kill This Love” is only the second K-pop group music video ever to hit the 2.2 billion mark on the platform, following BLACKPINK’s own “DDU-DU… The post appeared first on .

BLACKPINK

WINNER ex-member Nam Tae-hyun sentenced to prison for drunk driving

Former WINNER member Nam Tae-hyun has been sentenced to prison for drunk driving after traveling at more than double the speed limit in a high-risk incident. Seoul Western District Court on April 9 sentenced Nam to one year in prison and fined him 1 million won ($740) for violations of the Road Traffic Act and related charges. “The level of danger posed under the Road Traffic Act was extremely high, making strict punishment necessary,” the court said in explaining its ruling. However, the court did not issue a detention warrant, saying there was no risk of evidence destruction or flight. Nam avoided immediate detention in court but was unable to escape a custodial sentence. While the court took into account his admission of guilt and apparent remorse, it placed significant weight on the severity of the offense — particularly the extreme speeding involved. According to the ruling, Nam was driving at 182 kilometers per hour on a road with a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour, exceeding the limit by 102 kilometers per hour at the time of the crash. The incident occurred at around 4:1

Winner

(LEAD) BTS promises new stage experience with 'Arirang' world tour

SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup BTS said Thursday it is determined t...

BTS

BTS launches 'ARIRANG' world tour in Goyang, kicking off record-breaking global run

BTS will open its world tour at Goyang Stadium on Thursday, with additional shows scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, marking the start of what the group's label described as the largest concert tour by a Korean act. The tour, which supports the group's fifth studio album "ARIRANG," is set to span 85 shows across 34 cities, including stops in Tokyo, North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Additional dates in Japan and the Middle East are being planned, according to group's label, BigHit Music. All 46 shows, including those in Goyang and stops in Tokyo, North America and Europe, have sold out. The concerts will feature a 360-degree stage format, with no designated front-facing section. Members cited the configuration as both a creative challenge and a highlight, saying it allows the group to engage with audiences in all directions simultaneously. Speaking ahead of the tour through BigHit Music, the members shared their anticipation for their return to the concert stage after an extended hiatus due to mandatory military service. "I still can't quite believe it," said BTS leader RM. "T

BTS

AI glasses, robot concerts: Galaxy Corp.’s K-pop experiment

Galaxy Corp., best known as G-Dragon's agency, hopes to introduce what it calls the first K-pop-dedicated AI glasses by the end of this year, alongside a robot-based concert venue in Seoul, according to founder Choi Yong-ho. Choi on Wednesday outlined the company’s broader ambition to position itself as an “entertainment technology” firm through a slate of new initiatives. “To demonstrate that we are an enter-tech company, we will introduce AI glasses in collaboration with artists,” Choi said du

What to know about Goyang Stadium — and why K-pop acts love it

As BTS prepares to kick off its world tour with a three-day concert run from Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at Goyang Stadium, the choice of venue may prompt a certain question among some — why not Seoul? For an act long associated with landmark stages in the Korean capital, performing outside city limits can seem unexpected. The decision, however, points to a broader shift in Korea's concert landscape, where the stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, has emerged as one of the few venues capable of meeting the scale of K-pop today. Goyang Stadium, located in the mid-sized city 20 kilometers northwest of Seoul, has become the default home of large-scale live music in the Seoul metropolitan area, a transformation that has unfolded quickly and largely out of necessity. In 2025 alone, the stadium hosted 18 major concerts, drawing 700,000 attendees and generating roughly 10.9 billion won ($8.2 million) in revenue. The roster includes G-Dragon, who launched his first solo tour in eight years there in March, followed by British rock band Coldplay in April. K-pop girl group BLACKPINK opened its

G-Dragon

BTS

BLACKPINK

ALD1 member Geonwoo halts activities over hot mic controversy

ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1) member Kim Geonwoo is suspending group activities indefinitely following a predebut hot mic incident, according to his agency, WakeOne. WakeOne issued a formal apology on Wednesday in a statement addressing the incident. The agency expressed regret for its delayed public response and took full responsibility for failing to properly manage the artist's professional standards. The controversy centers on an incident at a video shoot prior to the group's debut. The agency said Kim used inappropriate language to express dissatisfaction, unaware that his microphone was on. "The relevant remark was not a criticism or personal attack directed at a specific person, and it came out in the form of muttering to himself," the agency said. "However, this was an inappropriate remark in any case. We once again deeply apologize to the staff on site who may have been offended. Also, we are sincerely sorry for causing concern among fans." Kim apologized directly to the production team immediately following the incident. WakeOne said it initially remained silent to avoid causing furth

ALPHA DRIVE ONE

Alpha Drive One’s Geonwoo apologizes, suspends activities

Geonwoo of Alpha Drive One will put all activities on hold for the time being and reflect on his mistakes, his agency WakeOne Entertainment said Wednesday. The performer issued an apology through the company, saying he was sorry for disappointing fans with his immature behavior. Previously, rumors had circulated online that he had verbally abused a writer on a variety show. His management company underlined that it was a single incident before his debut, when he, unaware that his mic was on, exp

Geonwoo

ALPHA DRIVE ONE