Direct from Korean news and other sources
A number of stars celebrated Children’s Day—a national holiday observed in Korea on May 5—with meaningful donations! IU donated a total of 100 million won (approximately $68,145) under the name “IUAENA” (a combination of “IU” and “UAENA,” the name of her official fan club). The star donated 50 million won each to both the Korea… The post appeared first on .
Just one day into their comeback, CORTIS’s new EP is already a “million-seller”! On May 4, CORTIS returned with their second EP “GREENGREEN.” (In what marked the first comeback of their career, the group pre-released the EP’s title track “REDRED” two weeks in advance.) According to Hanteo Chart, “GREENGREEN” sold an impressive total of 1,196,961… The post appeared first on .
Singer Eric Nam is opening up about a painful chapter behind his career pivot, revealing that severe health issues — including suffering from panic disorder and temporary paralysis — played a key role in his decision to step back from Korean broadcast activities. In a YouTube video uploaded in March on creator Jaykeeout’s channel, the singer-actor appeared as a guest in a street-interview-style segment titled “Running into Eric Nam and suddenly busking.” The casual encounter turned into a candid conversation about the toll his earlier career in Korea took on him. Reflecting on his time promoting in the country, Nam said, “To be honest, there were a lot of things that were really hard while living in Korea. My mental health got worse, and overall my physical health declined too.” When the host expressed surprise — noting his consistently upbeat on-screen image — Nam pointed to that very contrast as part of the problem. “That was the hardest part,” he said. “On screen, I looked positive, bright, kind and fun. But inside, I was really struggling. Even just sitting do
The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) has announced its latest batch of official certifications! BTS’s new Korean album “ARIRANG” earned an official triple platinum certification for over 750,000 units shipped in Japan. According to the RIAJ’s certification thresholds, albums are certified gold at 100,000 units shipped and platinum at 250,000. Meanwhile, both ATEEZ’s latest… The post appeared first on .
ITZY’s Yeji will be unable to fully participate in the group’s concerts this weekend due to health concerns. On May 5, JYP Entertainment announced that Yeji had been diagnosed with a herniated disc after recently visiting the hospital due to lower back pain. Because she was advised to “minimize back-straining movements,” Yeji will be limiting… The post appeared first on .
K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty will return this summer — but not as a full lineup. One member will sit out the promotions to focus on recovery, the group’s agency confirmed. In a notice released on Monday, agency Attrakt said member Hana has been on hiatus since March due to health issues and is currently concentrating on her recovery. “After discussions with the members and Hana herself, it was decided that this album’s promotions will proceed with a four-member system,” the company said. The group is preparing a new release slated for early June, marking its first comeback in about seven months. Fifty Fifty last released the digital single “Too Much Part 1” in November. Prior to that, the group drew attention with its third mini album title track “Pookie,” which saw a surprise resurgence on music charts — a phenomenon often referred to in Korea as a “reverse run,” where a song climbs back up rankings after its initial release. The upcoming comeback is expected to test whether the group can sustain that momentum, particularly as it returns without one of its members
Circle Chart (formerly known as Gaon Chart) has revealed its chart rankings for the week of April 19 to 25! Album Chart NCT WISH claimed two of the top five spots on this week’s physical album chart with their first full-length album “Ode to Love.” The regular version of the album debuted at No. 1,… The post appeared first on .
LE SSERAFIM has revealed what fans can look forward to in the weeks leading up to their comeback! On May 6 at midnight KST, LE SSERAFIM released a detailed promotion schedule outlining the teasers they have in store for their upcoming full-length album “PUREFLOW” pt.1 and its title track “BOOMPALA.” After pre-releasing their lead single… The post appeared first on .
The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for individual idols! The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of 1,730 idols, using big data collected from March 23 to April 23. Wanna One’s Park Ji Hoon continued his reign at… The post appeared first on .
MBC’s “Perfect Crown” has shared behind-the-scenes photos personally taken by IU and Byeon Woo Seok! Set in an alternate universe where modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy, “Perfect Crown” tells the love story of Seong Hui Ju (IU), a chaebol heiress who has everything but is only a commoner in status, and Grand Prince Ian… The post appeared first on .
BUSAN — Public-run accommodations for foreign visitors in Busan have nearly been fully booked ahead of K-pop group BTS' concert in the southeastern port city in June. BTS is set to perform at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12-13 as part of its "Arirang" world tour, which kicked off in Goyang last month. Tickets for the Busan concerts sold out during presales. With throngs of BTS fans expected to visit the city, the municipal government in Busan has arranged affordable lodging for foreign tourists at Naewonjeong Temple and two youth centers in the city. The Busan city government started offering reservations for 400 foreigners on April 27 through the Nol Universe travel platform. As of Tuesday, reservations at two youth centers were nearly fully booked except for eight-person rooms, while the Naewonjeong Temple had availability only in 12-person rooms. The reservation rate was in the mid-80 percent range for June 11-12 and 99.56 percent for June 12-13, according to the city government. The K-pop septet returned to the stage in March after a near four-year hiatus as members completed Sou
A lighthearted social media clip turned into a flashpoint over online toxicity this week, as singer and musical actor Ivy fired back at rude comments about her looks — the latest in a string of incidents targeting female celebrities in Korea. On Saturday, Ivy uploaded a short video to her personal account, calling it a "legendary moment." In the clip, she jokes about loud construction noise when a U.S. creator suddenly pops into frame and teases her in Korean, saying, "You’re louder." Ivy laughs and responds playfully, keeping the tone upbeat. The video quickly drew attention online for its humor and cross-cultural banter. But amid the buzz, a wave of comments shifted the focus to Ivy’s appearance. Some users wrote remarks such as "I guess even Ivy can’t escape aging" and "Time is scary," while one commenter bluntly asked, "What happened to your face?" Ivy chose not to ignore it. "Because I got older," she replied directly, a response that many fans praised as both honest and composed. Supportive comments soon flooded in. "She’s still beautiful — we all age naturally," one use
Once defined largely by the success of girl group Mamamoo, RBW is showing renewed momentum — and industry watchers are asking whether it is evolving into K-pop’s next major force. The company has recently expanded its artist lineup at a faster pace, signing emerging global act XLOV and recruiting soloist Kwon Eun-bi, who has built a solid presence in the solo market. Combined with previously acquired labels such as WM Entertainment and DSP Media, RBW is now operating as a multilabel system rather than as a single agency. The shift marks a notable turnaround. After a period in which ambitious rookie launches failed to deliver expected impact, RBW has restructured its portfolio through mergers, acquisitions and selective expansion. The strategy appears to be paying off: The company has recently returned to profitability after several years of losses, signaling both financial recovery and a broader strategic reset. Industry analysts say RBW’s recent decisions go beyond simple expansion. The core change lies in its investment approach. In the past, the company focused on producing mult
ASTRO’s Yoon San Ha is gearing up for a solo comeback! On May 4, Yoon San Ha officially announced his plans to make a comeback later this month. The singer will be returning with his third solo mini album “NO REASON” and its title track “IDK ME” on May 20 at 6 p.m. KST. Check… The post appeared first on .
Mark your calendars for MONSTA X’s Shownu X Hyungwon’s return! On May 4, Shownu X Hyungwon officially announced the date and details of their first-ever unit comeback. The duo, who first debuted as a unit in 2023, will be returning with their new EP “LOVE ME” on May 21 at 6 p.m. KST. Check out… The post appeared first on .
BABYMONSTER’s latest comeback is off to a promising start! On May 4, BABYMONSTER made their highly-anticipated return with their new mini album “CHOOM” and its title track of the same name. According to Hanteo Chart, “CHOOM” sold an impressive total of 387,871 copies on its first day of sales alone, breaking BABYMONSTER’s previous first-day sales… The post appeared first on .
