Direct from Korean news and other sources
CORTIS has won their fourth music show trophy for “REDRED”! On the May 14 episode of the Mnet music show, the candidates for first place were BABYMONSTER’s “CHOOM” and CORTIS’s “REDRED.” CORTIS ultimately took the prize with a total of 10,160 points. This is the third time that “REDRED” has taken first place on “M… The post appeared first on .
Propelled by the back-to-back viral hits of its social media dance challenges, K-pop boy band TWS has hit a career peak amid a period of sustained growth. TWS first drew widespread attention with its debut song "Plot Twist," which helped shake up the fifth-generation boy group market. Since its "Angtal" dance challenge went viral last year, the six-member group has gained momentum with its new "Ddarum" challenge, linking online traction to album sales, larger concert venues and an established musical identity. The group is now trying to prove that its appeal reaches beyond short-lived online trends. Its fifth mini-album, "NO TRAGEDY," became its first million-selling album, giving the group a major milestone. According to local album sales tracker Hanteo Chart, "NO TRAGEDY" sold 1,112,770 copies in its first week, setting a record for TWS. The number marks a sharp rise from its debut mini-album, "Sparkling Blue," which opened with about 260,000 copies in first week sales. Sales of subsequent releases "SUMMER BEAT!," "TRY WITH US" and "play hard" rose steadily before crossing the 1 milli
BTS will perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, becoming one of the headline acts for the tournament’s first-ever halftime performance. Global Citizen and FIFA announced on Thursday that BTS will co-headline the show alongside Madonna and Shakira at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, known locally as MetLife Stadium, on July 19. Global Citizen is an international advocacy organization that campaigns to end extreme poverty through music, activism and public campaigns. It marks the first time a h
Get ready to see BTS at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show! On May 14, FIFA World Cup announced that BTS, along with global stars Madonna and Shakira, will co-headline at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Half Time Show, which will take place on July 19 at the New York New Jersey… The post appeared first on .
NEW YORK — BTS, Madonna and Shakira will headline a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, organizers said Thursday. Coldplay's Chris Martin is curating the show, which is a first for a football World Cup final.
Boy group Close Your Eyes is releasing a Spanish-language version of “Pose” on Friday, according to agency Uncore on Thursday. The hip-hop number is the lead track from the group’s digital single “Overexposed,” which came out last month, in time for its first debut anniversary. Jang Yeojun and Jeon Minwook participated in writing the lyrics of the original track, which includes the Spanish phrase “Uno, dos, tres and pose.” Meanwhile, the group is set to resume the overseas concert series “Beyond
Netflix is releasing its highly anticipated series "The Wonderfools" on Friday, but a tax evasion scandal involving one of its stars, Cha Eun-woo, threatens to overshadow the project. The series previously stood as a guaranteed hit, marking the highly anticipated return of actress Park Eun-bin. Now, the production faces a critical test to determine whether the show's inherent quality can survive immense public scrutiny and reputational risk. The narrative follows a group of eccentric townspeople — or misfits — who accidentally acquire superpowers in 1999 and unite to fight a villain. The comic adventure generated significant early attention because it reunites Park with director Yoo In-sik. The duo previously collaborated on the massive global hit "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." Cha's casting also generated significant initial interest. Leveraging a loyal fandom and an ability to consistently generate online buzz, Cha established a solid track record of lead roles. "The Wonderfools" was considered a crucial turning point for the actor as he sought to broaden his acting range beyond hi
Global girl group KATSEYE announced Wednesday a 27-city arena tour across Europe and North America this fall, a significant expansion from its sold-out run last year. "THE WILDWORLD TOUR," produced by Live Nation, kicks off Sept. 1 in Dublin before running through an eight-city European leg that includes London, Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne and Antwerp, wrapping Sept. 17 in Copenhagen. The North American leg begins Oct. 13 in Miami and visits major markets across the United States and Canada, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Montreal, before the tour closes Nov. 27 in Mexico City. The tour supports the group's upcoming third EP, "WILD," set for release on Aug. 14 via HYBE and Geffen Records. HYBE told The Korea Times that the five-member photo on the tour poster was taken during promotions for the group's recent single "PINKY UP," and that it remains unclear whether member Manon will participate in the tour as she is currently on hiatus. The announcement represents a significant step up from KATSEYE's previous run. The group sold out all 16 dates of its 2025 No
BTS member Jung Kook is once again drawing attention for his love of motorcycles after revealing what appears to be a newly delivered bike. On Wednesday, Jung Kook posted a photo of a bright red motorcycle on social media alongside the short caption, “It’s here.” Fans quickly interpreted the post as the arrival of a motorcycle he had recently ordered, sparking excitement online among followers who are already familiar with the singer’s longtime interest in bikes. Jung Kook has previously shown his enthusiasm for motorcycles through BTS content and television appearances. Last month, he also fueled buzz with a viral bike-themed challenge video set to “Hooligan,” a track from BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG.” In the video, Jung Kook rides through the streets on a motorcycle while “Hooligan” plays in the background. The clip gained high viewership online for its cinematic speed sequences and stylish atmosphere, with many fans praising the “cool” and “free-spirited” vibe. The post comes as BTS continues its “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN NORTH AMERICA,
2PM member Nichkhun is drawing attention online after fans noticed a noticeably different look in a newly released group video. A recent video uploaded to 2PM’s YouTube channel, titled “Three 2PM members living together under one roof,” followed members Nichkhun, Jang Wooyoung and Jun. K during a three-day group stay reminiscent of their trainee and dormitory days. The three idols shared a room with bunk beds, cooked meals together and spent time walking along the Han River, giving fans a glimpse into their offstage chemistry and longtime friendship. The casual reality-style content quickly gained attention among fans nostalgic for second-generation K-pop groups, but much of the online discussion centered on Nichkhun’s appearance. Nichkhun, a Thai American singer who debuted with 2PM in 2008, became one of the most recognizable foreign K-pop idols of his generation thanks to his polished visuals and carefully maintained image. At the height of 2PM’s popularity, he was widely nicknamed the “Thai Prince” by fans and Korean media. In the newly released video, Nichkhun appeared
Le Sserafim uploaded its third batch of teaser content for its second album “Pureflow pt. 1,” agency Source Music announced Thursday. The five members recalled their childhood memories, putting on nail polish and braiding each other's hair in the video clip titled “Peony Room.” The 11-track album is slated for a May 22 release, and will be fronted by the single “Boompala.” The album will convey the quintet’s determination to overcome fear. It incorporates reinterpretations of “Frankenstein,” a c
Cortis claimed the top spot on Melon’s Top 100 with “Redred,” label Big Hit Music announced Thursday, citing the latest chart. “Our first time at No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100, we really are grateful,” said Seonghyeon, sharing his response in a note posted on a fan platform upon hearing the news. The single was released April 20, two weeks ahead of the group's second EP “Greengreen.” It scored Cortis its first entry on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart, where it has remained for three weeks. The
Latin American fans are powering a surge in global streams of K-pop supergroup BTS' latest album, with Brazil and Mexico surpassing Korea in the album's first-week streaming figures, U.S. music industry data showed. BTS' fifth studio album, "Arirang," released March 20, recorded 739.1 million streams worldwide in its first week, according to the data released Wednesday (U.S. time) by entertainment data tracker Luminate. The figure marks the highest first-week total for any album released this year, and the biggest since Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" logged 1.3 billion streams in October last year, Luminate said. The United States led first-week streams with 115 million, followed by Brazil with 78.6 million and Mexico with 75.9 million. Korea ranked fourth with 58.3 million, underscoring the growing weight of Latin American audiences in the global K-pop market. Japan came in fifth with 48.2 million streams. YouTube data reflected a similar trend. Between April 6 and May 3, Brazil and Mexico ranked third and fourth, respectively, in viewership of BTS-related videos, joined by Arg
Upcoming BL drama “Love Class 3” has released a new teaser! The third installment of the BL campus romance series “Love Class,” “Love Class 3″ tells the story of Hyun Jae (Saebyeol), Soo An (Seo Ihan), Jae Min (Lee Woo Jin), and Khun (Panutuch Saelee) as they navigate between their K-pop dreams and romance. The… The post appeared first on .
Ateez will release its fifth Japanese single on July 29 and hold a showcase event in Tokyo a day before the release, its agency KQ Entertainment announced Thursday. The boy group released its second Japanese full-length album, "Ashes to Light," in October, marking its first Japanese studio album in approximately four years and six months. The album recorded Ateez’s highest first-week sales in Japan to date and topped major Oricon charts. In the same month, Ateez launched the Japan leg of its "In
Rain revealed that he nearly underwent cosmetic surgery before debuting, but said a plastic surgeon ultimately advised against it, calling his facial features “worth a million dollars.” The singer and actor shared the story during a recent appearance on the SBS radio program “Cultwo Show.” During the broadcast, listeners submitted playful rankings for things that suited the male singer best. One listener mentioned sleeveless shirts, while guest DJ Hwang Chi-yeul joked that Rain ranked No. 1 among male singers who would look good with double eyelid surgery. Rain surprised the hosts by revealing that he had actually considered the procedure early in his career. “I really was going to get double eyelid surgery back then,” he said. According to Rain, J.Y. Park, founder of JYP Entertainment, once suggested surgery before his debut because his eyes appeared swollen. Rain also said he was advised to consider ear surgery to make his ears lie flatter. Rain said he eventually visited a plastic surgery clinic, but the doctor refused to operate. “The doctor said, ‘This kid should not ge
Katseye will be embarking on an international tour across Europe and North America on Sept. 1, label Hybe X Geffen announced Wednesday. The group will visit 27 cities in 10 countries. Beginning in Dublin, the tour stops by seven other cities in Europe before heading over to North America in October. The upcoming trip will be preceded by the release of the group's third EP on Aug. 14. “Wild” comes over a year after the previous mini album “Beautiful Chaos,” which has spent 41 consecutive weeks on
Latin American fans are powering a surge in global streams of K-pop supergroup BTS' latest album, with Brazil and Mexico surpassing South Korea in the album's first-week streaming figures, US music industry data showed. BTS' fifth studio album, "Arirang," released March 20, recorded 739.1 million streams worldwide in its first week, according to the data released Wednesday (US time) by entertainment data tracker Luminate. The figure marks the highest first-week total for any album released this
VIXX’s Leo has joined a new agency! On May 14, SUBLIME officially announced that Leo had signed an exclusive contract with the company. “Jung Taek Woon [Leo’s given name] has established his own unique style through his music, performances, and acting,” said SUBLIME. “We will be unsparing in our support and become a trusty partner… The post appeared first on .
Lee Min Ki and MONSTA X’s Hyungwon will star in the upcoming multi-format project “The Grim Reaper Life Extension Project” (literal title)! “The Grim Reaper Life Extension Project” is a human black comedy about a principled rookie Grim Reaper and a veteran Grim Reaper supervisor who is a professional rule-breaker. The two become involved in… The post appeared first on .
Upcoming film “The Shrine” has released new stills ahead of its premiere! “The Shrine” tells the story of three college students who mysteriously disappear during an expedition to an abandoned shrine in Kobe, Japan, and the journey of a shaman and his college friend as they uncover the identity of the evil spirit behind the… The post appeared first on .
