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‘Not first class?’ Idol Annie draws buzz for economy flight

K-pop fans are reacting with surprise after Annie, known for her family's ownership of one of Korea's largest conglomerates, shared a glimpse of herself flying economy class while studying for finals. The idol, a member of ALLDAY PROJECT, uploaded a photo through a fan communication platform on Tuesday, writing, “I’m on a plane going on a trip with my friend.” In the photo, Annie is seen sitting in a standard airplane seat, wearing headphones and focusing on a notebook. She said she was studying for final exams during the flight. “My friend secretly took this photo,” Annie said. “I thought Day One fans would like it, so I decided to post it.” What caught people's attention online was not just the casual snapshot, but the fact that Annie appeared to be flying economy instead of first or business class. Annie is the eldest daughter of Chung Yoo-kyung, president of Korean retail giant Shinsegae, and the granddaughter of Lee Myung-hee, chair of the Shinsegae Group. In Korea, descendants of powerful family-run conglomerates — commonly called “chaebol” — are often associat

ALLDAY PROJECT

Why university festivals matter more than ever in K-pop

Every May, the roars echoing across Korea's university campuses signal something far larger than a typical school celebration. What began as a student-centered tradition has evolved into one of K-pop's most closely watched live stages, a real-time test of an artist's public appeal in front of thousands of young spectators. For idols and entertainment agencies alike, the university festival season in May and Spetember each year has become an unofficial barometer of public sentiment. Unlike music shows or fandom-driven concerts, campus stages place artists directly before a broader, less filtered audience. That is why the period is widely perceived as a fierce competition among universities to secure top-tier performers and among agencies to maximize visibility during the packed spring circuit. This year is no exception. From May 6 to 8, festivals at the University of Incheon and Jeonbuk National University featured lineups including RIIZE, fromis_9, WINNER, KISS OF LIFE, FTISLAND and Jay Park, while festivals at Hoseo University and Dankook University Cheonan Campus also brought acts suc

RIIZE

fromis_9

Kiss Of Life

BOYNEXTDOOR Announces Comeback Date With Teaser For 1st Studio Album “HOME”

BOYNEXTDOOR’s comeback date has been revealed! On May 8, a teaser was revealed announcing the group’s upcoming first studio album “HOME.” The album is set to be released on June 8 at 6 p.m. KST. Check out the teaser image below: Stay tuned for more updates on BOYNEXTDOOR’s comeback! The post appeared first on .

BOYNEXTDOOR

Roh Jeong Eui, Kasamatsu Sho, ITZY’s Ryujin, And More Confront Trauma In New Horror-Thriller Film

The upcoming horror-thriller film “Shaving” (literal title) has unveiled its first stills! On May 8, production company Star Platinum Co., Ltd. announced, “The film ‘Shaving’ completed filming this past March and has now entered post-production. We are currently preparing for a theatrical release in the second half of this year,” while also unveiling new stills… The post appeared first on .

ITZY

Ryujin

From opera to gugak, K-pop companies bid for new IP across genres

As K-pop evolves into a global entertainment system rather than a single genre, styles that once existed only as occasional influences within idol music are beginning to emerge as standalone businesses backed by major entertainment labels. From classical music and gugak to live bands and electronic dance music, Korea's entertainment giants are increasingly expanding beyond K-pop's boundaries, building a new slate of genre-based intellectual property. The clearest recent example comes from SM Entertainment, which surprised the music industry last month by announcing an exclusive recording partnership with world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo through its classical and jazz label SM Classics. Jo became the first recording-exclusive artist signed under the label, linking one of Korea's most globally recognized classical musicians with the company that helped systemize modern K-pop. At a press conference held Wednesday to celebrate the partnership, SM Chief A&R Officer Lee Sung-su described Jo as someone who globalized Korean music long before K-pop's worldwide boom. "K-pop was able to expand global

Aespa to prerelease ‘WDA’ featuring G-Dragon ahead of second LP ‘Lemonade’

Aespa will release a prerelease single featuring G-Dragon ahead of the group’s upcoming second LP, “Lemonade.” According to SM Entertainment, Aespa will unveil the prerelease track “WDA (Whole Different Animal” on May 11 at 6 p.m., ahead of the release of “Lemonade” on May 29 at 1 p.m. The upcoming song is a hip-hop based dance track that will combine heavy synth bass and powerful hooks, while lyrics reflecting the group’s growth are expected to introduce a new chapter in Aespa’s expanding ficti

G-Dragon

Aespa

Aespa to collaborate with G-Dragon on new single ahead of 2nd album

In a rare cross-generational bridge between K-pop eras, the veteran rapper and producer G-Dragon will feature on "WDA (Whole Different Animal)," the upcoming prerelease single from the girl group aespa, according to their agency, SM Entertainment, Friday. The track, scheduled for release on Monday at 6 p.m., serves as a high-profile introduction to aespa’s second full-length album, "LEMONADE," which is set to arrive on May 29. The 10-track collection is being framed by the agency as a pivot toward a "more mature" musical direction, marking a departure from the group’s earlier experimental themes. The collaboration represents a significant milestone for aespa, making them the first fourth-generation girl group to officially feature the BIGBANG leader on a studio recording. While the pairing is a first for their discography, the artists have maintained a visible professional proximity. Karina, a member of aespa, previously appeared in the music video for "TOO BAD," the lead single from G-Dragon’s third studio album released in February 2025. The group also appeared on the MBC varie

Aespa

Big Bang

SF9’s Zuho Announces Military Enlistment

SF9 member and actor Zuho will enlist in the military this month! On May 8, Zuho’s agency Haewadal Entertainment announced that Zuho will enter the Nonsan Army Training Center on May 11 to complete his basic military training before serving as an active-duty soldier in the army. Through his agency, Zuho shared, “Although I am… The post appeared first on .

Girls’ Generation's Tiffany marks 10th year as solo singer with single

Tiffany Young of Girls’ Generation will drop a solo single on Friday, said agency Pacific Music Group. Single “Summer’s Not Over” is a prerelease from her upcoming solo studio album, and comes ten years after her first solo set in Korea, EP “I Just Wanna Dance.” Her latest solo work overall is digital single “Run For Your Life” which came out in the US in 2019. The new single is the beginning of the project that marks her decadelong solo career. It also is the first step she is taking since she

Tiffany

Korea post service to issue Blackpink stamps

South Korea’s national postal service will launch a series of commemorative stamps featuring Blackpink next month, it announced Thursday. Korea Post will issue ten stamps in time for the group’s 10th anniversary. It will be the first time special stamps have featured female K-pop stars. Album jackets the quartet has released over the past decade will be used for the stamps while the faces of the four and iconic moments of their performances will be contained in the packet which will be available

BLACKPINK

Cortis’ 2nd EP sells 2m copies in 4 days

The second mini album from Cortis stormed past 2 million sales mark in four days, label Big Hit Music said Friday. EP “Greengreen” was released Monday and was an instant million-seller, and exceeded 2 million as of Thursday. The rookie boy group’s debut set, “Color Outside the Lines,” reached 1 million in accumulated sales in three months, and 2 million in six months. Main track “Redred” rose to No. 3 on Melon’s Top 100 and earned the fivesome its first and second trophies on television music ch

CORTIS

HYBE launches new label ABD with planned girl group debut in 2nd half

K-pop powerhouse HYBE said Friday it has established a new label specializing in producing girl groups, with plans to debut its first act later this year. The label is named ABD, short for its brand slogan, "A Bold Dream," and reflects an approach that seeks to "imagine D instead of C after A and B," the company said in a statement. The label will be led by No Ji-won, head of artist planning at HYBE subsidiary Pledis Entertainment. Pledis' veteran producer Han Sung-soo, who has previously worked on artists including Seventeen, After School, IZ*ONE and TWS, will lead production for the new girl group, HYBE said. The planned debut will add to HYBE's roster of girl groups, which includes Le Sserafim under Source Music, NewJeans under ADOR, ILLIT under Belift Lab and Katseye under HYBE Labels.

TWS

Watch: TWS Takes 1st Win For “You, You” On “Music Bank”; Performances By Billlie, CORTIS, And More

TWS has won their first music show trophy for “You, You“! On the May 8 episode of “Music Bank,” the candidates for first place were NEXZ’s “Mmchk” and TWS’s “You, You.” TWS ultimately took the prize with a total of 9,538 points. Congratulations to TWS! Watch the winner announcement below! Performers on today’s show included TWS, CORTIS,… The post appeared first on .

TWS

KiiiKiii’s Kya To Sit Out Today’s Festival Schedule Due To Health

Kya will not be participating in KiiiKiii’s scheduled appearance at the Chosun University Daedong Festival today due to health concerns. On May 8, KiiiKiii’s agency STARSHIP Entertainment shared the following statement: Hello, this is STARSHIP Entertainment. KiiiKiii member Kya visited the hospital today due to worsening health conditions and was diagnosed with acute gastritis. Following… The post appeared first on .

KiiiKiii

Kya

J-pop gains traction among young Korean listeners

When Japanese girl group Cutie Street appeared on Mnet’s music program “M Countdown” in March, performing its viral song “Can’t We Just be Cute?” the response was immediate. While appearances by Japanese artists on Korean music programs are no longer unusual, the eight-member group drew particular attention for its unapologetically cute concept, complete with pastel-colored outfits, bubbly choreography and exaggerated styling. The performance video has since surpassed 11 million views on YouTube

CUTIE STREET

Meovv signals comeback

Girl group Meovv signaled its return with a teaser clip uploaded through agency The Black Label on Friday. A mood board of images surrounding its signature cat, from gleaming cat’s eye to paw prints and scratch marks piqued interests of fans. The idols graced the cover of W Korea’s May issue, as announced last month, churning up speculations that they are gearing up for a comeback. The five-member group’s last endeavor was digital single “Burning Up” in October last year. The single, Meovv's thi

MEOVV

Hybe launches new girl group label ABD

Hybe has launched a new label specializing in girl groups, further expanding its multi-label system as the company prepares to debut another rookie act later this year. On Friday, the company announced that it established a new label called ABD. The name stands for “A Bold Dream,” reflecting the label’s goal of pursuing creative ideas that go beyond conventional boundaries while expanding new areas of K-pop through music-focused content and artist development. The label will be led by Noh Ji-won

AHOF Confirms Plans For June Comeback

It’s officially: AHOF is finally making their return! On May 7, F&F Entertainment confirmed that AHOF was preparing to release new music in June, marking their first comeback in approximately seven months. Notably, AHOF will be premiering two new songs ahead of their release by performing them for the first time at their upcoming concerts… The post appeared first on .

AHOF

HYBE bets big on new girl group label ABD

HYBE, the Korean powerhouse behind global K-pop juggernauts like BTS, is sharpening its focus on the competitive girl-group market. The company announced Friday the launch of ABD, a subsidiary label dedicated exclusively to the development of female K-pop acts. The move marks a significant deepening of HYBE’s multilabel architecture, a decentralized strategy designed to foster creative independence while leveraging the parent company’s massive infrastructure. ABD — an acronym for “A Bold Dream” — is slated to debut its first rookie ensemble in the second half of this year. According to the company, the label’s mission is to pursue "unconventional ideas" and push the stylistic boundaries of the genre through "artist-focused production." Observers view the expansion as an attempt to diversify HYBE’s intellectual property and reduce its historic reliance on a handful of flagship acts. By positioning ABD as a specialized creative hub, HYBE aims to cultivate a distinct brand identity that can compete in an increasingly crowded global music landscape. "The launch is part of a

BTS

Hybe launches new label ABD with planned girl group debut in 2nd half

SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- K-pop powerhouse Hybe said Friday it has established a ...

82MAJOR’s Cho Seongil Sustains Ankle Injury + To Adjust Activities During Album Promotions

82MAJOR’s Cho Seongil has sustained an ankle injury. On May 8, 82MAJOR’s agency Great M Entertainment released the following statement: Hello, this is Great M Entertainment. We would like to provide an update regarding 82MAJOR member Cho Seongil’s ankle injury. Earlier today, Cho Seongil injured his ankle during rehearsal and was taken to the hospital… The post appeared first on .

Seongil

82MAJOR

HYBE Launches New Label ABD For Girl Group That Will Debut This Year

HYBE has established a brand-new label and is planning to debut a new girl group this year! On May 8, HYBE announced that it was launching a new label called “ABD” specializing in the production of girl groups. “ABD,” which stands for “A Bold Dream,” represents the “pursuit of a creative approach characterized by a… The post appeared first on .