Kpop Visage
Today in K-Pop
Direct from Korean news and other sources
Apr 16, 20262:54 AM
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Watch: Park Ji Hoon Wins Hearts With His Cooking In “The Legend Of Kitchen Soldier” Teaser
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 one… The post appeared first on .
Apr 16, 202612:54 PM
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Santos Bravos showcases live vocals on Korean radio debut
Santos Bravos, a Latin boy group launched under Hybe, made a strong impression with its live performance on "Bae Cheol Soo's Music Camp," marking the start of its promotional activities in Korea. The group appeared on the long-running radio program hosted by Bae Chul-soo on Wednesday, following its arrival in South Korea on April 4. Santos Bravos opened the show with "Velocidade," one of the double main tracks from its first EP "Dual." The group also performed the emotional ballad "FE," an acous
Apr 16, 202612:01 PM
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Aespa’s 'Dirty Work' wins Red Dot Design Award
Aespa’s physical single “Dirty Work” has won a Red Dot award in the product design category at the 2026 Red Dot Design Award, one of the world’s top three design competitions. Organized by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, the Red Dot Design Award is considered one of the prestigious global design honors, alongside the iF Design Award and the IDEA. The Red Dot distinction is given to projects that demonstrate outstanding design quality based on criteria such as form, function an
Apr 16, 20267:38 AM
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Big 4 K-pop agencies pushing for joint venture to launch global festival
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top four K-pop agencies -- Hybe, YG En...
Apr 16, 20265:42 AM
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BTS’ Jin explains absence from ‘ARIRANG’ credits, says 'it was the best choice'
BTS member Jin has addressed why his name was missing from the songwriting credits of the group’s latest full-length album “ARIRANG,” saying scheduling conflicts made it the “best choice” at the time. In an interview video released Wednesday with U.S. music publication Rolling Stone, Jin shared behind-the-scenes details about the album and clarified speculation that had circulated among fans following its release. “I haven’t talked about this anywhere else, but the truth is I didn’t write any of the songs,” he said, drawing attention to the fact that his name was absent from the album’s credits — a point that had sparked questions online. At the time of the comeback, BTS members had explained during a livestream that Jin joined the U.S.-based songwriting sessions later than the others due to his solo tour schedule. Still, various theories continued to emerge among fans. Jin said, “I was still on my solo tour at the time. When I arrived at the studio, there were a hundred-something songs already made. So then I test recorded the best of them. And that took about se
Apr 16, 20264:25 AM
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Riize powers through festival run across Japan, Korea, Thailand
Riize wrapped a busy run of festival appearances across Japan, Korea and Thailand this month, delivering high-energy sets and drawing strong audience responses at each stop. The group performed at the Performance festival, held at K-Arena Yokohama, April 10–11. Their set featured Japanese releases including “Lucky,” “All of You” and “Flashlight,” along with a joint stage of “Boom Boom Bass” with the Japanese boy band The Rampage. In Seoul, Riize took the stage at the Lovesome Festival at Yonsei
Apr 16, 202612:55 PM
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Yena sells out Macau concert
Yena has sold out her upcoming concert in Macau, underscoring her growing global reach. Her agency YH Entertainment said Thursday that all tickets for the “2026 Yena Live Tour ‘So Near Yet So Far, Another Wo2ld!’ In Macau’,” scheduled for April 25, have been sold out. The concert marks the second chapter of Yena’s solo concert series, following her first solo show, “Travelling to the World!” held last year. She previously completed a successful run in Seoul in January 2025. Yena has built a dist
Apr 16, 202611:54 AM
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Katseye to release third EP ‘Wild’ in August
Katseye will release its third EP “Wild” on Aug. 14, its agency Hybe and Geffen Records said Thursday. The upcoming release marks the group’s first project in about 14 months, following its second EP “Beautiful Chaos,” which dropped in June. Katseye has been rapidly expanding its global fan base, driven by its commanding stage presence and high-energy performances. The group’s streaming performance has been particularly notable. According to Spotify data compiled from March 17 to Monday, Katseye
Apr 16, 20268:07 AM
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Big 4 K-pop agencies pushing for joint venture to launch global festival
Korea's top four K-pop agencies — Hybe, YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment — are working to establish a joint venture, seen as a move toward creating a global music festival involving their artists. The four agencies, which participate in the music division of the Presidential Committee for Popular Culture Exchange, said Thursday they are "preparing to set up a corporation to advance a 'Fanomenon' event." JYP founder Park Jin-young, the committee's co-chair, introduced the "Fanomenon" initiative in October at the committee's inauguration ceremony in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, explaining that the name combines the words "fan" and "phenomenon." Park also outlined a vision to launch the massive Korean music festival under that name by December 2027, which could rival the U.S.-based Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The agencies described the joint venture as a "model for collaboration designed to explore new possibilities for Korean culture's expansion, including K-pop, in global markets." They said procedures to establish the corporate body are currently
Apr 16, 20266:18 AM
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From lore to real life: K-pop’s concept shift
The way K-pop is consumed has continued to evolve in distinct ways, often shaped by its core audience of young, highly engaged fans. Industry insiders say boy groups, which once leaned heavily on elaborate fictional universes to build fan engagement, are now shifting toward more grounded and relatable concepts. Acts such as BTS, Seventeen and Tomorrow X Together have long incorporated overarching narratives into their releases, encouraging fans to piece together clues across extended videos and
Apr 16, 20265:02 AM
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One Hundred Label faces new legal battle over The Boyz concert
K-pop agency One Hundred Label is embroiled in a new legal battle over online broadcasting rights just two weeks before K-pop boy band The Boyz' upcoming Seoul concert, adding to the agency's existing contract dispute with the group's members. The Boyz is scheduled to hold its "INTER-ZECTION" concert at the KSPO Dome in Seoul from April 24-26. Online streaming ticket sales opened Tuesday. Streaming platform Knowmerce alleged the same day that it holds the exclusive broadcasting contract and had already paid the agency. Knowmerce said One Hundred Label breached the contract and opened ticket sales with a rival firm. To prevent fan confusion, Knowmerce announced it is halting its sales and issuing full refunds to those who already bought streaming tickets. The K-pop label swiftly denied the accusations. Hyun Dong-yeop, an attorney representing One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won, said the agency switched providers because Knowmerce failed to fulfill its contract and had a history of technical instability and poor communication. The agency said the change was necessary to ensure fans receive
Apr 16, 20264:52 AM
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BLACKPINK's 'Ice Cream' music video surpasses 1 bil. YouTube views
The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's 2020 single "Ice Cream" topped 1 billion views on YouTube on Thursday, its management agency said. "Ice Cream," featuring Selena Gomez, is a bubblegum pop track off "The Album," the group's first studio album. It debuted at No. 13 on Billboard's main singles chart upon its release. The video became the group's 10th with more than 1 billion views, the most for a K-pop act.
Apr 16, 202611:07 PM
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Xdinary Heroes turns goodbyes into new beginnings on 'DEAD AND'
What does it mean to say goodbye? For Xdinary Heroes, a six-member band under JYP Entertainment, a goodbye is not the end of the story. It's where the story gets interesting. That idea sits at the core of "DEAD AND," the band's eighth mini-album set for release Friday. The wordplay of the title doubles as a thesis — for the band, a dead end can still become a door to a new start. "An end of a certain chapter may feel literally like a dead end," leader Gunil said during an interview with The Korea Times on Wednesday at a cafe in Seoul's Seongdong District. "But for us, the idea also signals a new beginning." Rather than starting with that phrase, the band built its way toward it. "We worked around the overarching theme of 'farewell,' and once the tracklist was finalized, we chose a title that fit," Gunil said. That theme finds its clearest expression in the album's lead single, "Voyager," selected through an internal vote. Musically, it balances the band's signature intensity with a more accessible structure. "'Voyager' has a sound that fans who like our signature hard style will enjoy, b
Apr 16, 202611:00 PM
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Xdinary Heroes turn endings into new beginnings with ‘Dead And’
Boy band Xdinary Heroes is set to return with its eighth EP, “Dead And,” continuing its streak of genre-blending releases while expanding its narrative of what it means to be a “hero.” Ahead of the album’s release on Friday, the group sat down for a round interview on Wednesday at a cafe in Seongdong-gu, eastern Seoul. “Since this marks our first release of the year, we feel especially excited,” said leader and drummer Gunil. “There are a lot of songs in this album that we really love, and track
Apr 16, 20265:02 AM
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Kiss of Life defends 'neck strangling' choreography in new song as artistic expression
K-pop girl group Kiss of Life defended its latest choreography featuring a neck-grabbing move amid controversy that it is overly sexual. During a recent live stream on fan communication platform Bubble, members Julie and Belle said the moves aim to show a bold side of the group, defending it as part of the group’s artistic expression. “We’re always taking on new challenges, and we try to show a bold and confident side of ourselves. We know not everyone will see it positively, but I think it’s am
Apr 16, 20262:57 AM
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BLACKPINK's Jennie named among Time's 100 most influential people
Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has been listed among U.S. Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the Year," becoming the only Korean included. The singer was named in the Artists category of the Time 100 announced Wednesday (U.S. time), joining global figures across politics, culture and sports. Jennie made history last year when her solo album, "Ruby," saw three tracks enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously, a first for a K-pop female solo artist. Grammy-nominated American musician Gracie Abrams introduced Jennie in Time, calling her "a star" and praising "the magic at her core" that draws audiences whether on stage, on screen or behind the scenes. "What makes Jennie a true star is that even in her quiet moments, she possesses the same kind of undeniable presence that cuts through all the noise, and she carries that with kindness and warmth," Abrams wrote. Among the Korean Americans on the 2026 list are musician Anderson .Paak and snowboarder Chloe Kim, who drew praise for competing through an injury at this year's Winter Olympics despite falling short of her thi
Apr 16, 20262:53 AM
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Monsta X’s 3rd US LP lands on Billboard 200 at No. 41
The third full-length album Monsta X put out in the US charted No. 41 on Billboard 200, agency Starship Entertainment said Thursday. All three studio albums the group released in the country made the main albums chart: “All About Luv” from 2020 ranked No. 5 and “The Dreaming” from 2021, No. 21. With the new LP “Unfold,” the six-member act became the first K-pop group with three LPs published in the US. From Oct. 3, it will begin the US leg of tour “The X: Nexus,” visiting nine cities in the US a
Apr 16, 20262:19 AM
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Park Jihoon to host fan concerts in Seoul, Tokyo
Park Jihoon is planning to hold shows in Seoul and Tokyo next month, announced agency YY Entertainment Thursday. He will go live in Tokyo on May 23 and in Seoul on May 30-31, with "fan concerts" under the title “Re:flect.” The fan concerts — a type of show that blends elements of fan meetings and regular concerts — are named after his single set to be released on April 29, making his comeback as a singer in about three years. Before the album drop, the singer and actor will meet and greet fans i
Apr 16, 20262:15 AM
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Blackpink's 'Ice Cream' music video hits 1b views
Blackpink exceeded 1 billion hits on YouTube with the music video of “Ice Cream” as of Wednesday, YG Entertainment said Thursday. It is the group’s 10th video to reach the milestone, the most for a K-pop artist. “Ice Cream” features US pop star Selena Gomez and when it was released in 2020, debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 13, the highest spot for a K-pop girl group at the time. It is part of the quintet’s first full album, “The Album,” which reached No. 2 on both Billboard 200 and UK’s Off
Apr 16, 202610:42 PM
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AMPERS&ONE Breaks Their 1st-Week Sales Record With “DEFINITION”
AMPERS&ONE’s latest comeback is off to a promising start! Last week, the FNC Entertainment boy group returned with their fourth mini album “DEFINITION” and its title track “GOD” on April 8. According to Hanteo Chart, AMPERS&ONE achieved their highest first-week sales yet with the new mini album. In the first week of its release (April… The post appeared first on .
Apr 16, 20268:33 AM
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Hybe, JYP, SM, YG to form joint venture for ‘Korean Coachella’
Four major K-pop agencies are joining forces to establish a joint venture to launch a large-scale music festival that could rival global events such as Coachella. According to local media reports Thursday, Hybe, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment recently submitted a business combination report to the Fair Trade Commission as part of plans to establish a joint venture focused on concert planning. The filing is required, as Hybe is classified as a large conglomerate with ass
Apr 16, 20264:37 AM
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KISS OF LIFE responds to ‘provocative choreography’ backlash: ‘What’s the right answer?’
K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE is once again at the center of online debate, as members directly addressed criticism over what some viewers called provocative choreography. The controversy began after the group uploaded a dance challenge video for their new single “Who Is She” on its official YouTube channel. In the clip, a move in which members face each other and appear to grab each other’s necks — combined with hip movements — was highlighted more prominently than in the original stage performance. The video quickly spread across online communities and social media, where some users criticized the choreography as overly suggestive, while others defended it as artistic expression. The debate has since gained traction among younger, online-savvy audiences, amplifying the issue. Members Belle and Julie addressed the backlash during a recent livestream, acknowledging the divided reactions. “We always try to show something new — something confident and bold,” the members said. “We know not everyone sees it positively, but we think it’s cool to keep challenging ourselves.
Apr 16, 20262:32 AM
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'Where is Minji?' Fans ask as NewJeans prepares for return, Danielle faces suit
As eyewitness accounts of NewJeans members being spotted abroad spread on social media, and former member Danielle signaling a solo career through a new demo release, attention is now shifting to Minji, who has remained largely out of the public eye. The group's label, ADOR, said the two sides are still in talks. Eyewitness accounts began circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo after Haerin, Hyein and Hanni were reportedly spotted in Copenhagen, Denmark, prompting their agency to confirm to Xportnews on Tuesday that “the members were in Denmark with the staff.” The NewJeans members had lost a lawsuit filed by ADOR challenging the validity of their termination of their exclusive contracts last October. Some of the members — Haerin and Hyein first, followed by Hanni — later announced their return to the label. The sighting of the three members on what appeared to be an overseas schedule stirred excitement and anticipation among NewJeans fans, who have long awaited the group’s comeback after a protracted legal dispute. Yet one member was notably absent from the develop
Apr 16, 20261:49 AM
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BTS glides past 100m views with ‘Swim’ music video
BTS' music video for “Swim” garnered 100 million views on YouTube as of Wednesday. The video, filmed in Lisbon, features the seven members navigating the sea. “Swim,” which RM helped write, is the main track from the group's fifth studio album, “Arirang,” released last month. The alternative pop tune debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100, going on to spend two more weeks among the top five. The album has spent three consecutive weeks atop Billboard 200. It surpassed 1 million units sold in the US, be
Apr 16, 202612:21 PM
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Watch: KISS OF LIFE Takes 1st Win For “Who is she” On “M Countdown”; Performances By TXT, MODYSSEY, And More
KISS OF LIFE has won their first music show trophy for “Who is she”! On the April 16 episode of the Mnet music show, the candidates for first place were AKMU’s “Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart” and KISS OF LIFE’s “Who is she.” KISS OF LIFE ultimately took the prize with a total of 8,884… The post appeared first on .
