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ILLIT’s techno transformation signals broader musical ambitions

ILLIT is no longer relying solely on a cute image. The five-member girl group has stepped away from the bright and bubbly concept it carried since debut and instead made a bold turn in the opposite direction, using its latest release to expand its musical identity. Through “It’s Me,” the lead track of fourth mini album “MAMIHLAPINATAPAI,” ILLIT has embraced a techno sound inspired by 1990s dance music and showcased a broader musical spectrum. Since debuting with “Magnetic,” the group had built its identity around playful and youthful tracks such as “Cherish,” “Do the Dance” and “Not Cute Anymore,” making the latest transformation stand out even more. Initial reactions to the new concept were mixed. Some listeners said the song felt unfamiliar because it replaced the group’s previous girlish image with heavy beats, fast-paced progression and dynamic performances. But the experiment ultimately paid off. Fueled by an addictive melody, powerful “dopamine techno” sound and eye-catching choreography, “It’s Me” quickly gained momentum through word of mouth

ILLIT

Santos Bravos wins first trophy at Spotify Podcast Awards

Hybe's Latin pop boy group Santos Bravos earned its first award at the Spotify Podcast Awards, signaling the group's growing influence and rising popularity in Latin America. The five-member group — Drew, Alejandro, Kaue, Gabi and Kenneth — won the Breakthrough Podcast award at the Spotify Podcast Awards held Wednesday in Mexico City. The category recognizes emerging podcasts based on Spotify podcast data and cultural impact over the past year, with winners ultimately decided through fan votes.

Drew

Santos Bravos

Zerobaseone’s Kim Jiwoong to host solo fan meeting

Zerobaseone's Kim Jiwoong will hold a solo fan meetup in Seoul on June 20-21, according to his agency Nest Entertainment on Friday. He will have a candid chat with his fans at the event, which, as the name “Take 1: Unique Story” suggests, will underline his two-track career as a member of the boy group and as an actor. Kim debuted as an actor in 2021, appearing in the web drama “The Sweet Blood,” and joined project team Zerobaseone through an audition show that aired in 2023. With five members,

Kim Jiwoong

ZEROBASEONE

Why K-pop groups turn to subunits for new creative chemistry

Across the K-pop industry, established groups are increasingly turning to subunits as both a creative experiment and a business strategy, forming smaller lineups that can explore sounds, concepts and audiences beyond the parent group. The trend has only accelerated this year. In the first five months of 2026 alone, K-pop boy band Seventeen's vocal duo DK x Seungkwan debuted with the mini-album "Serenade" in January, while NCT's duo unit JNJM released its first EP "Both Sides" in February. Most recently, boy band DRIPPIN's trio ChaDongHyeop unveiled its debut single in May. Together, the releases suggest something more deliberate than occasional side projects. In today's K-pop industry, the subunit projects have evolved into structural tools. Avoiding uncertainty For entertainment agencies, the logic is relatively simple. Launching a new idol group requires years of trainee development, financial investment and no guarantee of success. A subunit avoids much of that uncertainty. It arrives with an existing fanbase, brand recognition and promotional infrastructure already in place, while all

Seungkwan

Seventeen

NCT

TXT goes platinum in Japan with 8th EP

Tomorrow X Together cinched platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan with its eighth EP “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns,” label Big Hit Music said Friday. This is the ninth release from the group to certify platinum in Japan, surpassing 250,000 shipments in the country. The mini album has topped Oricon’s Daily, Weekly and Weekly Combined Album Rankings. On the last chart, TXT tied the record for the most albums to do so, at 14. Meanwhile, the fivesom

TXT

From I.O.I to Cannes: K-pop idol Kim Do-yeon’s rise as an actress

Kim Do-yeon is steadily establishing herself as one of Korea’s rising young actors, moving from a Blue Dragon Film Award win to a Cannes Film Festival invitation in less than a year. “This award will become a great source of strength for my acting,” Kim said while accepting the Best New Actress trophy at the Blue Dragon Film Awards last November. “I want to become an actor who continues to think and reflect more deeply, but never hesitates.” Six months later, the former I.O.I member is now heading to Cannes Film Festival. Kim stars in “Dora,” which was invited to the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, opening May 12. It marks the first Korean film invited to the section in three years since director Hong Sang-soo’s “In Our Day” in 2023. “Dora” tells the story of a family that leaves Seoul for a seaside villa during midsummer, where a young woman named Dora, who suffers from an unknown illness, experiences love for the first time, gradually unsettling everyone around her. The film is the third feature by director July Jung, known for

I.O.I

Where are K-pop’s original ‘Flower Boys’ now?

Before BTS, Stray Kids and NCT, there was an era when Korean entertainment media was ruled by “kkonminam” stars — literally, “handsome flower boys.” Long before the word K-pop became a global shorthand, these soft-featured, camera-ready celebrities carried the kind of visual appeal and star power now associated with today’s idols. Years have passed since then. For fans who still remember their heyday, there is an inevitable question: Where are they now? And perhaps a more honest, slightly appearance-obsessed one: How do they look now? A recent wave of public appearances by stars from that era has given curious fans their answer. One of the biggest names to earn the “kkonminam” label was Nichkhun of 2PM. From the moment he debuted, Nichkhun stood out for his striking looks, quickly earning the nickname “Thai Prince.” His polished image helped raise 2PM’s profile and made him one of the defining faces of the era. So when Nichkhun appeared in a recent YouTube video centered on 2PM, fans did a double take — not only because it was a relatively rare appearance, but also

BTS

Stray Kids

NCT

2PM

Watch: CORTIS Takes 5th Win For “REDRED” On “Music Bank”; Performances By BOYNEXTDOOR, FLARE U, And More

CORTIS has won their fifth music show trophy for “REDRED”! On the May 15 episode of “Music Bank,” the candidates for first place were CORTIS’s “REDRED” and ILLIT’s “It’s Me.” CORTIS ultimately took the prize with a total of 12,244 points. Congratulations to CORTIS! Watch the winner announcement and full encore below! Performers on today’s show included… The post appeared first on .

IU Points Her Rifle At Noh Sang Hyun In “Perfect Crown”

MBC’s “Perfect Crown” has released new stills capturing a tense confrontation between IU and Noh Sang Hyun! 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… The post appeared first on .

Hyun

BTS is taking over Las Vegas — again

BTS is once again partnering with Las Vegas to launch a citywide experience tied to the group’s ongoing "Arirang" world tour. BTS on Thursday released additional details for "BTS The City Arirang — Las Vegas" through Hybe’s global fan platform Weverse. The project marks the launch of “Global The City 2.0,” an expanded version of the group’s urban collaboration campaign connecting concerts with experiences across major cities worldwide. In collaboration with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors

BTS

BTS’ V now has 2 TikTok posts with 100m views

V of BTS drew more than 100 million hits with a reel on TikTok, cementing his strong presence on the platform. He posted a video of him practicing a handshake ritual with Jungkook backstage on May 9, which exceeded the 100 million mark in four days, becoming his second to do so on TikTok. His account is the only one in Korea to achieve the feat this year. V opened his in March and amassed 10 million followers in 19 days, which has since grown to more than 15 million. Separately, label Big Hit Mu

Jungkook

BTS

Woodz sets record on Melon chart

Woodz has spent a total of 70 weeks in the top 10 on Melon’s Top 100 chart with “Drowning,” the longest run in the chart's history, his agency Edam Entertainment said Friday. “Drowning,” a track from his fifth EP “Oo-li,” climbed back into the top 10 on the day to hit the threshold. The musician co-wrote both the words and lyrics of the song from the 2023 mini album. It went viral after he sang it on a television show in 2024 and it went on to top the year-end tally on Melon, the largest music p

7 K-Pop Tracks That Turn It Up With A Hyperpop-Inspired Beat

You might not think that you’ve heard hyperpop before. After all, it’s got a pretty wild name! Believe it or not though, the hyperpop sound has been a staple in K-pop for years. If you’re already a fan of hyperpop-inspired tracks and looking for new song recs or just want to learn more about the… The post appeared first on .