Direct from Korean news and other sources
TWS has set a personal record with their latest comeback! Last week, TWS returned with their new mini album “NO TRAGEDY” and its title track “You, You” on April 27. Within four days, “NO TRAGEDY” had already sold over 1 million copies, making it TWS’s first album ever to reach the milestone. Hanteo Chart has… The post appeared first on .
BTS’s “ARIRANG” continues to hold steady in the top five of the Billboard 200! On May 3 local time, Billboard announced that BTS’s latest album “ARIRANG” was now spending its sixth consecutive week on the Top 200 Albums chart, which ranks the most popular albums in the United States, at No. 5. After debuting at… The post appeared first on .
CORTIS has shared a sneak peek of the music video that will accompany their comeback! On May 3, CORTIS released a music video teaser for “TNT,” one of the B-sides from their upcoming mini album “GREENGREEN.” The title track of the EP, “REDRED,” was pre-released two weeks ago. According to BIGHIT MUSIC, “TNT” is a… The post appeared first on .
Koyote member Shinji and singer MoonOne have tied the knot! Earlier on May 2, the two celebrities held their wedding ceremony with close friends and family in attendance. Following the wedding ceremony, Shinji took to Instagram to share photos from the wedding as well as the following message: Yesterday, thanks to so many people who… The post appeared first on .
The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for all idol groups! The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of various idol groups, using big data collected from March 16 to April 16. BTS continued their reign at the top… The post appeared first on .
![[K-pop Report Card] Highs, lows, hard passes of crowded March–April release calendar](https://newsimg.koreatimes.co.kr/2026/05/03/c2fb388b-d0c6-47dd-a013-6488f5a6dc46.jpg)
March and April arrived with an unusually wide spread, spanning solo debuts, long-awaited comebacks, rookie bets, unexpected bops and a handful that somehow felt like contractual obligations. More volume does not always mean more substance. This edition tries to figure out which ones were worth the noise. As always, strong reactions in either direction are welcome. Your taste is entirely valid, even if this review just happens to disagree. Yena — "Catch Catch" from "LOVE CATCHER," released March 11 Verdict: Worth replaying If you grew up on Orange Caramel or T-ara, "Catch Catch" will feel like running into an old friend. The electronic beat at the song's core is about as far from current K-pop trends as it can get, and that is precisely the point. In a landscape where groups are rushing toward house, then EDM, then whatever the next cycle demands, Yena has quietly built something that belongs only to her. Leaning into retro as a deliberate identity is harder to pull off than it looks. Here, it works smartly. ITZY's Yuna — "Ice Cream" from eponymous solo debut album, released March 23 Ve
NCT’s Jaehyun is back from the army! On May 3, Jaehyun was officially discharged from the military after completing his mandatory service. The singer enlisted in November 2024 and carried out his service as a member of the army band. Jungwoo, who is also currently serving in the army band, was one of the soldiers… The post appeared first on .
There is a particular kind of calm that comes from having already been through it. Walking into a room with NAZE, the seven-member K-pop boy group set to make its official Korean debut on Monday, that calm is the first thing you notice. These are not nervous trainees counting down the moments before their debut — they are young men who have already stood on stages in Japan, filmed a primetime TBS drama, recorded four original soundtracks and gone on a showcase tour before most Korean fans even knew their names. "We've already experienced music shows, morning live broadcasts, variety programs and meeting fans in person," said Ato, one of the group's Korean members during a predebut interview at The Korea Times headquarters in central Seoul, April 16. "So compared to a group debuting out of nowhere, we have a certain level of experience. There's a natural ease that comes through, and a comfort with cameras. That's what sets us apart," he said. NAZE, formerly known as C9ROOKIES during its predebut rollout, is the first new boy band from C9 Entertainment in five years, following labelmates
Preorders for Cortis' second EP “Greengreen” were approaching 2.4 million copies as the group released teaser content shortly before its Monday release. According to distributors YG Plus and Universal Records, the album recorded 2.39 preorders as of April 30, raising expectations that the group will achieve its second consecutive double-million seller following its debut release. Ahead of the album’s release, Cortis unveiled four teaser videos of tracks from “Greengreen” — “TNT,” “Acai,” “Wassup
Enhypen opened its new world tour “Blood Saga” with immersive, narrative-driven concerts at Kspo Dome in southern Seoul over the weekend, marking its first major performance as a six-member group. Held from Friday to Sunday, the group’s Seoul concerts drew a total of 32,250 fans, setting the stage for a global tour spanning 21 cities. The performances carried added weight as the group’s first since Heeseung’s departure in March. From the outset, Enhypen leaned fully into its signature vampire lo
A K-pop group's main vocalist typically carries outsized weight. The role shapes not only the quality of the music, but also the level of satisfaction a live performance delivers. When that pillar disappears, a group's stage presence, as expected, tends to take a hit. That was the biggest concern on this reporter's mind heading into ENHYPEN's Saturday concert in Seoul. On March 10, the group faced a major rupture when main vocalist Heeseung announced his departure, revealing plans to pursue a new musical path. His exit, from a position central to both ENHYPEN's sonic identity and its long-running vampire lore, sent shockwaves through the group's global fandom. Staged from Friday to Sunday at KSPO DOME in Seoul's Olympic Park, "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'BLOOD SAGA'" marked the group's first large-scale homecoming performance after the shake-up. It also served as a litmus test of whether ENHYPEN could hold its ground without one of its defining members. On the Seoul leg's second day, fans in coordinated black-and-red dress code filled the arena, while members of the press gathered as the group s
XngHan has set a new personal record with his first-ever comeback as XngHan&Xoul! Last week, XngHan&Xoul returned with the mini album “Glow” and its title track of the same name on April 27. According to Hanteo Chart, “Glow” has now become XngHan&Xoul’s first album to surpass 100,000 first-week sales. The mini album sold an impressive… The post appeared first on .
Billboard has published its World Albums chart for the week ending on May 2! TXT’s latest mini album “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns” took No. 1 on this week’s World Albums chart, in addition to debuting at No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart and No. 3 on the Billboard… The post appeared first on .
NEXZ has hit a new career high with their latest release! Last week, NEXZ made their comeback with the new single album “Mmchk” and its title track of the same name on April 27. According to Hanteo Chart, “Mmchk” sold a total of 444,730 copies in the first week of its release (April 27 to… The post appeared first on .
NCT WISH has snagged a third music show trophy for “Ode to Love”! On the May 3 episode of SBS’s “Inkigayo,” the candidates for first place were AKMU’s “Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart,” AKMU’s “Paradise of Rumors,” and NCT WISH’s “Ode to Love.” NCT WISH ultimately took the win with a total of 5,456 points,… The post appeared first on .
NCT WISH’s “Ode to Love” debuts all the way at No. 1 this week. Congratulations to NCT WISH! “Ode to Love” is the title song from NCT WISH’s first full-length album of the same name. The dance pop track reinterprets the iconic humming motif from The Cranberries’ “Ode To My Family.” Moving up one spot… The post appeared first on .
Almost two years after its initial release, KATSEYE’s “Touch” is on the rise in the United Kingdom! Last week, KATSEYE’s debut-era song “Touch” belatedly entered the United Kingdom’s Official Singles Chart (widely regarded as the U.K. equivalent to Billboard’s Hot 100 in the United States) for the first time at No. 88. This week, “Touch”… The post appeared first on .
Seoul police have imposed an exit ban on a Japanese K-pop trainee accused of fraud after he allegedly disappeared just months before his group’s debut. According to local news reports on Sunday, the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station is investigating the trainee following a complaint filed by his agency. The trainee went missing in December, about two months before he was set to debut as part of a six-member boy group. He reportedly left behind a message saying, “Trust has been broken,” before cu
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Police have placed a travel ban on a Japanese trainee o...
BIGBANG’s G-Dragon’s agency has issued a formal apology for the controversial shirt he wore at a recent event. On May 2, G-Dragon performed at K-SPARK in Macau while wearing a shirt emblazoned with a Dutch racial slur on the back. After the singer came under fire for the offensive language imprinted on the shirt, G-Dragon’s… The post appeared first on .
