Today in K-Pop

Spotify will host an exclusive live event featuring Le Sserafim on May 21, a day ahead of the release of the group’s second LP, the music streaming service announced Monday. Titled “Pure Flowers Live,” the event will celebrate the release of Le Sserafim’s upcoming album “Pureflow Pt. 1,” set to drop May 22, while offering fans an early preview of the group’s new music. The event is part of Spotify’s broader campaign to connect global audiences with major artists through exclusive live experience

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K-pop boy band CORTIS released its second mini-album, "GREENGREEN," Monday, marking the group's most expansive statement yet on its creative identity. The five-member act — comprising Martin, James, Ju-hoon, Seong-hyeon and Keon-ho — anchors the six-track EP with the lead single "REDRED." The album is rounded out by "TNT," "ACAI," "YOUNGCREATORCREW," "Wassup" and "Blue Lips." Each of the group’s five members share credit for the music, choreography and video content, a move that reinforces the collective creative ethos established in their debut EP, "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES." The members frame the album as a departure from traditional concepts, opting instead for a raw subjectivity guided by a chromatic logic — green for the goals they pursue and red for the ideas they pointedly distance themselves from. "TNT" channels the group's explosive energy through an addictive track, accompanied by a music video released simultaneously with the album. The group plans to release music videos for five of the six tracks. "ACAI," inspired by the members' favorite food, and "YOUNGCREATORCREW,"

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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

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Rock band DAY6's Wonpil held a concert bearing the same name as his March album "Unpiltered" last weekend, living up to its title with a performance that left nothing hidden. From reinventing himself as a dancer to showcasing delicate piano skills, the singer filled his second solo concert, "WONPIL SOLO CONCERT 'Unpiltered,'" with a charm that swung between extremes at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in southeastern Seoul. The Sunday show marked the final night of a three-day run that began Friday, and came roughly four years after his first solo concert in March 2022. A few minutes past 5 p.m., the singer opened the evening with high energy solo tracks "Toxic Love" and "Already Grown Up." Having fully displayed his credentials as DAY6's keyboardist and vocalist, he closed the opening set with a promise to show fans who he is — unfiltered. "You'll be seeing a lot of new sides of me tonight," he said. "What 'My Day' (DAY6's official fandom) knows of me isn't the whole picture." He drew laughter from the crowd as he added, "I'm actually a pretty rough person. I'm not someone who's always smiling o

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Day6's Wonpil returned to the solo stage with a concert that felt less like a dramatic reinvention than a careful unveiling of who he has become as both an artist and individual. Held from Friday to Sunday at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in southern Seoul, Wonpil’s “Unpiltered” marked his first solo show in more than four years, following his 2022 concert “Pilmography.” The final show opened with “Toxic Love” and “Already Grown Up,” immediately setting the tone for a performance centered on honesty. Ra

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TWS sold more than 1.11 million copies of its fifth EP in one week, hitting a career high, according to agency Pledis Entertainment on Monday. The EP “No Tragedy” was released on April 27 and sold over 830,000 units on the day of release, surpassing those of TWS' previous endeavors. The mini album reached the 1 million units threshold in four days, becoming the two-year-old group’s first million-selling set. The main track “You, You” entered all major music charts at home, and the supporting mus

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Sandara Park’s latest social media post celebrating 2NE1 is drawing attention not only because of nostalgia, as fans notice a missing member. On May 3, Sandara Park uploaded two selfies featuring fellow members CL and Minzy, captioned "I ♥ 2NE1." The trio posed closely together, showcasing coordinated black-and-white outfits accented with bold silver accessories, a style long associated with the group’s signature image. Park wore a black vest paired with a white skirt, creating a refined look, while CL opted for a white shirt with black detailing that added a chic edge. Minzy, sporting a short blonde hairstyle, completed the trio’s striking visual with a black-and-white ensemble highlighting her individuality. While the photos captured a warm, friendly moment among the three members, fans quickly pointed out the absence of Park Bom. Park Bom has paused activities due to health concerns, but her absence has taken on added significance amid ongoing online speculation about her relationship with Sandara Park. The post comes after reports that the two singers had unfollowed each othe

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A Japanese idol trainee who disappeared just months before debut is now being tracked by Korean police, with investigators imposing a travel ban as suspicions of repeated “double contracting” surface. According to Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul placed the trainee, identified only as A, under a travel ban on fraud charges while attempting to locate him after receiving a complaint from a K-pop agency. An exit ban is a measure applied to foreign nationals to prevent them from leaving the country. The case has drawn attention online for its unusual timing. A had been preparing to debut as part of a six-member boy group, but abruptly vanished in December last year, about two months before the group’s launch. He reportedly left behind a message saying that “trust had been broken,” before cutting off contact. At the time, the group had already completed a music video shoot, and its songs and members’ faces had been revealed to the public. Following A’s disappearance, the group proceeded to debut as a five-member act and has continued promot

Park Jinyoung of GOT7 is set to release his second solo set, “Said & Done,” on May 13, his agency BH Entertainment said Monday. The EP will consist of five tracks, including the main track “Everlove,” for which he wrote the lyrics. Jinyoung also co-authored the lyrics of the B-side "17" with singer-songwriter Wonpil of Day6. The upcoming mini album comes more than three years after his previous EP “Chapter 0: With." He was the male lead in the 10-part series “Shining,” starring opposite Kim Minj

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BTS extended its stay on Billboard 200 to a sixth week, ranking No. 5 on the chart dated May 9, according to the ranking preview on Sunday in the US. Its fifth studio project “Arirang” slid down a rung from the previous week, preceded by a three-week run atop the main albums chart, a record for a K-pop endeavor. Meanwhile, the album is spending its sixth frame on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Global at No. 2, while all 14 tracks made the chart on its Weekly Top Songs Global, with the main track “S

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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

K-pop star G-Dragon’s agency apologized Monday after a stage outfit he wore at a concert in Macao drew criticism over Dutch phrases carrying racial and sexual connotations. According to music industry officials, G-Dragon wore the shirt during his appearance at the "K-Spark" concert in Macao on Saturday. The outfit sparked criticism from international fans, who said one of the phrases included an anti-Black slur, along with wording that carried sexual connotations. As criticism grew online, Galax

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K-pop icon G-Dragon's agency issued an apology Monday, following criticism over a stage outfit featuring a racist slur that the singer wore during a recent performance. While performing at the K-SPARK music concert in Macau on Saturday, G-Dragon wore a T-shirt bearing an inappropriate phrase in Dutch, drawing criticism from global fans. In a statement, the singer's agency, Galaxy Corporation, said it sincerely apologizes over the outfit featuring an "inappropriate phrase in a social and cultural context." The company said it has recognized the importance of reviewing matters with cultural sensitivity and responsibility through this incident, and vowed to revamp its internal review procedures. "We will thoroughly review and improve our overall internal assessment and verification procedures, including in the area of styling, and operate under more prudent standards," the agency said.

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SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- K-pop icon G-Dragon's agency issued an apology Monday, ...

G-Dragon

Shinji of veteran K-pop group Koyote has officially begun a new chapter, marrying singer Moon Won in a lavish wedding that drew some of Korea’s biggest entertainment names — and appeared to silence earlier skepticism surrounding the couple. The pair exchanged vows Saturday in a romantic outdoor ceremony, celebrating their union in front of family, friends and a long list of celebrity guests. The event quickly became a talking point online, with photos and guest accounts spreading across social media. The wedding doubled as a high-profile reunion and showcase. Television personality Boom and comedian Moon Se-yoon hosted the ceremony, while singers Baek Ji-young and Ailee delivered congratulatory performances. Baek Ji-young, in particular, drew attention after becoming emotional while singing Sung Si-kyung’s “Two People.” Koyote’s full lineup also reunited for the occasion — a meaningful moment for fans of the long-running coed group, which debuted in 1998 and remains one of Korea’s most recognizable mixed-gender acts. Members Kim Jong-min and Bbaek Ga offered heartfelt sp

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Rock band DAY6's Wonpil held a concert bearing the same name as his March album "Unpiltered" last weekend, living up to its title with a performance that left nothing hidden. From reinventing himself as a dancer to showcasing delicate piano skills, the singer filled his second solo concert, "WONPIL SOLO CONCERT 'Unpiltered,'" with a charm that swung between extremes at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in southeastern Seoul. The Sunday show marked the final night of a three-day run that began Friday, and came roughly four years after his first solo concert in March 2022. A few minutes past 5 p.m., the singer opened the evening with high energy solo tracks "Toxic Love" and "Already Grown Up." Having fully displayed his credentials as DAY6's keyboardist and vocalist, he closed the opening set with a promise to show fans who he is — unfiltered. "You'll be seeing a lot of new sides of me tonight," he said. "What 'My Day' (DAY6's official fandom) knows of me isn't the whole picture." He drew laughter from the crowd as he added, "I'm actually a pretty rough person. I'm not someone who's always smiling o

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Le Sserafim is marking four years since the group's debut with a bevy of new content, according to Source Music on Sunday. The five bandmates began the celebration with a group photo in which they re-created moments from their own childhoods, fit for the theme of a "'Fim'ily Party." They also uploaded playful selfie visuals for "Celebration," a single they dropped last month. On Saturday, the bandmates took to a livestream and shared episodes with fans, saying, "This is just the beginning of Le

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K-pop megastars BTS remained in the top ranks of the Billboard 200 for the sixth consecutive week with the group's latest album, "Arirang." The group's fifth studio album placed at No. 5 with 56,000 equivalent album units in the latest tracking week, down one spot from the previous week, Billboard said in a chart preview Sunday (U.S. time). "Arirang" previously made history as the first album by a K-pop act to spend three weeks at No. 1 following its release in March. Led by the lead single "Swim," the 14-track album marks the band's first release after a four-year hiatus caused by its members' mandatory military service. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical and digital sales, as well as streaming and digital track downloads converted into album sales.

BTS

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- K-pop megastars BTS remained in the top ranks of the Bi...

BTS