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Friday, May 1, 2026
May is K-pop's biggest month for girl groups' releases in years
May 1, 20269:02 AM
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May is K-pop's biggest month for girl groups' releases in years

A crowded slate of K-pop girl group releases is set to define May, with BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM and aespa all returning within weeks of one another. Adding to the momentum is a long-awaited reunion by I.O.I, nearly a decade after its disbandment, setting up one of the most competitive release windows. YG Entertainment's youngest act BABYMONSTER opens the month May 4 with its third mini-album, "CHOOM." Positioned as an heir to the company's girl group lineage that includes BLACKPINK and 2NE1, the group has similarly built global attention since debut through performance-focused releases. According to YG, the new album spans hip-hop, dance and R&B, with the lead track and B-sides “MOON,” “I LIKE IT” and “LOCKED IN” aimed at showcasing the group's range. Girl group NMIXX under JYP Entertainment follows May 11 with its fifth mini-album, "Heavy Serenade." The title track was reportedly co-written by singer-songwriter Hanroro, known for sentimental hits "0+0," "1111" and "Let Me Love My Youth." After debuting with its self-described "MIXX-pop" genre in 2022 to mixed r

BABY MONSTERBABY MONSTERNMIXXNMIXXITZYITZYLE SSERAFIMLE SSERAFIMAespaAespaI.O.II.O.I
May 1, 20269:51 AM
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Watch: NCT WISH Takes 1st Win For “Ode to Love” On “Music Bank”; Performances By TWS, ILLIT, CRAVITY, And More

NCT WISH has taken their first win for “Ode to Love”! On the May 1 episode of “Music Bank,” NCT WISH’s “Ode to Love” was announced as the winner with 11,578 points over 3,059 points for AKMU’s “Joy, Sorry, A Beautiful Heart.” Congratulations to NCT WISH! This week’s “Music Bank” featured performances by &TEAM, 82MAJOR,… The post appeared first on .

NCT WISHNCT WISHTWSTWSILLITILLITCRAVITYCRAVITYAKMUAKMU&Team&Team
She looks healthier — TWICE’s Nayeon draws praise as fans push back on ‘bone-thin’ trend
May 1, 20265:32 AM
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She looks healthier — TWICE’s Nayeon draws praise as fans push back on ‘bone-thin’ trend

Nayeon of TWICE is gaining attention online for looking slightly fuller than before — an unexpected shift that fans are celebrating amid growing concerns over the K-pop industry’s so-called “bone-thin” beauty trend. Clips from TWICE’s recent overseas tour, including fan-shot videos and official appearances, have been rapidly spreading across social media and online communities. In the footage, Nayeon appears a bit less slender compared to her past image, though she still maintains a slim figure overall. Rather than criticism, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many fans said the subtle change enhances her signature bright, “juicy” charm — a popular Korean term used to describe a fresh, lively and youthful appeal. On stage, her more energetic performance has also drawn praise, reinforcing the idea that the change reflects improved health rather than weight gain alone. Online reactions highlight the shift in sentiment. “She looks like a bunny raised with lots of love,” one user said. Others commented, “She’s so cute,” “She looks even prettier,” an

NayeonNayeonTwiceTwice
May 1, 20261:08 AM
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Watch: CORTIS Takes 1st-Ever Win On “M Countdown” With “REDRED”; Performances By ILLIT, KATSEYE, And More

CORTIS has won the first music show trophy of their career! On the April 30 episode of the Mnet music show, the candidates for first place were NCT WISH’s “Ode to Love” and CORTIS’s “REDRED.” CORTIS ultimately took the prize with a total of 8,902 points, marking their first-ever win on a music show. Congratulations… The post appeared first on .

CORTISCORTISILLITILLITKatseyeKatseyeNCT WISHNCT WISHSoyouSoyou82MAJOR82MAJOR
May 1, 202612:37 AM
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Watch: &TEAM Takes 1st Win For “We On Fire” On “Show Champion”; Performances By Xdinary Heroes, CLOSE YOUR EYES, And More

&TEAM has won their first music show trophy for “We on Fire”! On the April 30 episode of “Show Champion,” the candidates for first place were &TEAM’s “We on Fire (Korean ver.),” AKMU’s “Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart,” EVNNE’s “Backtalk,” NCT WISH’s “Ode to Love,” and Xdinary Heroes’ “Voyager.” The trophy ultimately went to &TEAM!… The post appeared first on .

&Team&TeamXdinary HeroesXdinary HeroesCLOSE YOUR EYESCLOSE YOUR EYESAKMUAKMUEVNNEEVNNENCT WISHNCT WISH
YG bets on next BLACKPINK and BIGBANG? New boy group and ‘Next Monster’ rollout signals bold two-track push
May 1, 20265:42 AM
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YG bets on next BLACKPINK and BIGBANG? New boy group and ‘Next Monster’ rollout signals bold two-track push

YG Entertainment is ramping up its next-generation idol strategy with a rare double launch — preparing a new boy group for September while simultaneously unveiling members of its upcoming girl group, tentatively branded “Next Monster.” On April 30, the agency confirmed that a five-member boy group will debut in September, marking YG’s first new male act in six years since TREASURE. The announcement has quickly gained traction among K-pop fans, as YG is known for launching fewer but highly distinctive groups compared to its competitors. Executive producer Yang Hyun-suk said, "We previously mentioned plans to launch a new boy group this fall, and we are currently aiming to introduce them in September. Many are curious about the number of members, so it will be five." At the same time, YG continues to build anticipation for its new girl group project, widely referred to as “Next Monster,” which follows BABYMONSTER. On the same day, the company revealed its third member, Kayci, after previously introducing members Evelli and Chanya. Kayci, described as a Korean-Chinese mixed-heri

BLACKPINKBLACKPINKBig BangBig BangBABY MONSTERBABY MONSTER
May 1, 20262:46 AM
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TWS Officially Becomes Million Sellers For 1st Time With “NO TRAGEDY”

TWS has officially joined the “million seller” club! Earlier this week, TWS made their comeback with their latest mini album “NO TRAGEDY” on April 27. Hanteo Chart has now reported that as of April 30, “NO TRAGEDY” had already sold a total of 1,003,844 copies, making it TWS’s first album ever to surpass 1 million… The post appeared first on .

TWSTWS
May is K-pop's biggest girl group month in years
May 1, 20268:47 AM
Source

May is K-pop's biggest girl group month in years

A crowded slate of K-pop girl group releases is set to define May, with BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM and aespa all returning within weeks of one another. Adding to the momentum is a long-awaited reunion by I.O.I, nearly a decade after its disbandment, setting up one of the most competitive release windows. YG Entertainment's youngest act BABYMONSTER opens the month May 4 with its third mini-album, "CHOOM." Positioned as an heir to the company's girl group lineage that includes BLACKPINK and 2NE1, the group has similarly built global attention since debut through performance-focused releases. According to YG, the new album spans hip-hop, dance and R&B, with the lead track and B-sides “MOON,” “I LIKE IT” and “LOCKED IN” aimed at showcasing the group's range. Girl group NMIXX under JYP Entertainment follows May 11 with its fifth mini-album, "Heavy Serenade." The title track was reportedly co-written by singer-songwriter Hanroro, known for sentimental hits "0+0," "1111" and "Let Me Love My Youth." After debuting with its self-described "MIXX-pop" genre in 2022 to mixed r

BABY MONSTERBABY MONSTERNMIXXNMIXXITZYITZYLE SSERAFIMLE SSERAFIMAespaAespaI.O.II.O.I
May's K-pop calendar belongs to girl groups
May 1, 20268:37 AM
Source

May's K-pop calendar belongs to girl groups

A crowded slate of K-pop girl group releases is set to define May, with BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM and aespa all returning within weeks of one another. Adding to the momentum is a long-awaited reunion by I.O.I, nearly a decade after its disbandment, setting up one of the most competitive release windows. YG Entertainment's youngest act BABYMONSTER opens the month May 4 with its third mini-album, "CHOOM." Positioned as an heir to the company's girl group lineage that includes BLACKPINK and 2NE1, the group has similarly built global attention since debut through performance-focused releases. According to YG, the new album spans hip-hop, dance and R&B, with the lead track and B-sides “MOON,” “I LIKE IT” and “LOCKED IN” aimed at showcasing the group's range. Girl group NMIXX under JYP Entertainment follows May 11 with its fifth mini-album, "Heavy Serenade." The title track was reportedly co-written by singer-songwriter Hanroro, known for sentimental hits "0+0," "1111" and "Let Me Love My Youth." After debuting with its self-described "MIXX-pop" genre to mixed reactions

BABY MONSTERBABY MONSTERNMIXXNMIXXITZYITZYLE SSERAFIMLE SSERAFIMAespaAespaI.O.II.O.I
SM launches 1st official K-pop merch store in China amid thaw signals
May 1, 20262:27 AM
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SM launches 1st official K-pop merch store in China amid thaw signals

SM Entertainment opened its first official merchandise store in China, marking a notable step in the K-pop powerhouse's push into a market where cultural ties with Seoul have long been strained. The company launched SMTOWN STORE Shanghai, Wednesday, at Xinliubai YOUNG in Shanghai’s Xujiahui District, as part of a broader effort to expand its global retail footprint. Spanning about 335 square meters, the store offers official merchandise from SM artists — aespa, the NCT subunits, RIIZE, Girls' Generation, Red Velvet and more — alongside a light stick display zone, album photo walls and large multimedia screens, positioning the space as more than a conventional retail outlet. Located near the city's Xujiahui Station, which serves subway lines 1, 9 and 11, the site benefits from steady foot traffic and proximity to major universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University, drawing a young, trend-driven consumer base. According to an SM press release, interest was strong ahead of the opening, fueled by social media buzz. A themed pop-up tied to the label's boy band

AespaAespaNCTNCTRIIZERIIZEGirls' Generation (SNSD)Girls' Generation (SNSD)Red VelvetRed Velvet
May 1, 20267:59 AM
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Exclusive: PLAVE Gets Candid About Their Success As A Virtual Group, Member Strengths, ‘Caligo’ Series, And More

PLAVE has joined Soompi for an exclusive interview! Having recently made a successful comeback with their fourth mini album ‘Caligo Pt.2,’ PLAVE sat down with Soompi to share insight into the new music, their creative process, the path they are taking as a virtual group, and more. Read the full interview below: Why was “HMPH!… The post appeared first on .

PlavePlave
May 1, 20263:01 AM
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KATSEYE Cancels “Music Bank” Appearance At Last Minute

KATSEYE will no longer be performing on today’s episode of “Music Bank.” On May 1, KATSEYE’s agency announced that the group would not be able to appear on “Music Bank” during their time in Korea “due to scheduling commitments.” The full English announcement is as follows: Hello,This is KATSEYE Weverse. Due to scheduling commitments, KATSEYE… The post appeared first on .

KatseyeKatseye
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo stuns Cannes again as fans focus on her ‘princess’ look
May 1, 20265:22 AM
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BLACKPINK’s Jisoo stuns Cannes again as fans focus on her ‘princess’ look

Jisoo of BLACKPINK is trending again after sharing a new update from France’s Cannes — her first post in 20 days — prompting fans to gush over her “princess-like” visuals while revisiting her recent international award win. On April 30, Jisoo uploaded photos taken during the Cannes festival to her social media account, along with a message of gratitude following her award. The post marks her first update since April 10, when she last shared photos from a fashion brand event she participated in, adding to the buzz among fans who closely track her activity. In the photos, Jisoo poses in a soft pink dress reminiscent of a fairytale princess, standing against the breezy backdrop of Cannes. The flowing lace details extending from the waist add a dreamy quality, further highlighting her polished, elegant image — an aesthetic that quickly gained traction across online communities and social media. Her post comes shortly after she attended the Cannes International Series Festival in France, where she received the “Madame Figaro Rising Star Award,” April 23. The festival, often d

BLACKPINKBLACKPINK
May 1, 202612:01 AM
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Watch: “GIRLS PLANET 2” To Air In 2027; Opens Global Audition To Applicants All Over The World

Get ready for the next installment in Mnet’s “PLANET” audition series! On May 1 KST, Mnet officially announced that “GIRLS PLANET 2” was set to air in 2027. The network also announced, “Starting today, we are beginning the recruitment of participants from all over the world.” “GIRLS PLANET 2” is the latest installment in the… The post appeared first on .