Gentry Humphrey, a longtime Nike/Jordan Brand designer, has launched his CODE by Gentry footwear brand in Korea with actor Kim Seung-soo leading local business, noting K-pop styling’s global fashion influence and plans to create collaborations between K-pop and American artists
A major legal development: HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk and four others were referred to prosecutors on suspicion of fraudulent unfair trading tied to Big Hit/HYBE's 2020 IPO, with alleged improper gains of 263.1 billion won. SM Entertainment is facing backlash after a jacket worn by former NCT member Taeil — who is imprisoned on rape convictions — was sold at an NCT 10th‑anniversary charity flea market; SM apologized, refunded the buyer, and said it is investigating how the item was included. EXO members Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend their exclusive contracts with INB100 amid unpaid‑settlement claims. Former ENHYPEN member Heeseung has re‑debuted as soloist Evan with an eight‑track EP Death of Me that he largely wrote and co‑produced; Korea Times reports Evan apologized to fans over his exit from ENHYPEN and revealed he battled malignant lymphoma as a child. ENHYPEN's mini album THE SIN : BLISS topped Billboard's World Albums chart and became the group's first to top the Billboard 200. Weverse also confirmed a data breach affecting 422,584 user accounts and has reported the incident to KISA and tightened API access controls.
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Jay Park dropped a surprise single titled "Daddy" at 6 p.m., his first solo release in about 15 months; produced by Ben10k, the track leans into Park’s signature sultry R&B and will be staged on the upcoming legs of his Serenades & Body Rolls world tour
Soyeon of I‑dle returns as a soloist with her first full-length album What a Wonderful Life, led by the single “I’m Quitting” (narration by webtoonist Kian84); MV teasers show an office resignation and 2000s K‑drama–style romance, and she wrote and composed every track
Sung Han-bin of ZEROBASEONE will make his solo debut on Oct. 12, his agency The Live Label announced, marking the leader’s first formal solo release. The project arrives as he expands beyond the profile he built as the runner-up on Mnet’s Boys Planet and amid ZEROBASEONE’s busy run — which recently included the group's sixth EP Ascend- led by single “TOP 5” and a Japan follow-up that topped Oricon’s weekly album chart
Soyeon of (G)I-DLE will release her first full-length solo album What a Wonderful Life at 6 p.m., featuring an eight-track set she co-wrote and co-composed and a lead single roughly titled “I’m Quitting My Job” that includes narration by cartoonist Kian84
HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk — the composer-turned-executive who founded Big Hit and helped launch BTS — was spotted in Beverly Hills with livestreamer Seyeon in August 2024; HYBE says he was assisting Seyeon and her sister with impersonation issues and local arrangements
EVAN — formerly Heeseung of ENHYPEN — released his first solo mini album DEATH OF ME, which he produced and says centers on his fear of being forgotten; he apologized to fans over his exit from ENHYPEN and revealed he battled malignant lymphoma as a child
Former V.R.P member Pleum posted a photo with BLACKPINK’s Lisa, showing the two smiling together as Lisa wears a red crop top; the piece also highlights Lisa’s new documentary Always Lalisa and her remarks about hiding relationships under K-pop dating rules
![[COVER STORY] HYBE chairman case reaches prosecutors: What's next for him?](https://newsimg.koreatimes.co.kr/2026/09/06/59143116-4209-463f-99dc-f2b319a4b24d.jpeg)
HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk was referred to prosecutors on suspicion of fraudulent unfair trading tied to alleged improper gains of 263.1 billion won; prosecutors will now review the file and decide whether to indict, seek more investigation, or drop charges
tripleS and agency Modhaus set S-section tickets at 30,000 won for the Seoul dates of their ANDLESS world tour, a deliberate move to make concerts more accessible amid rising K-pop ticket prices
HYBE chairman Bang Si‑hyuk and four others were referred to prosecutors on suspicion of fraudulent unfair trading over alleged improper gains of 263.1 billion won tied to Big Hit/HYBE’s 2020 IPO; prosecutors will now decide whether to indict, seek further investigation, or drop the charge
Former ENHYPEN member Heeseung has re-debuted as soloist Evan with his eight-track EP Death of Me, led by the title track and prerelease single "Ride or Die." Evan says he wrote and co-produced nearly all tracks and aims to repay fans with sincere music after leaving the group
Ateez and Enhypen have both leaned into Brazilian funk this year — Ateez’s lead single "Bad" and Enhypen’s "Bloody Paradise" helped their albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — while earlier experiments from NewJeans and NMIXX show favela/baile funk’s growing fit with K-pop’s choreography- and social-media-driven sound
NCT WISH will return with a mini album in October, about six months after their studio album Ode to Love; that LP was their third consecutive million-seller (around 1.8M first-week sales) and the subunit recently earned a platinum certification in Japan
SM Entertainment is facing backlash after a jacket worn by former NCT member Taeil — who is imprisoned on rape convictions — was sold at an NCT 10th-anniversary charity flea market; SM apologized, refunded the buyer, and said it is investigating how the item was included
Sung Hanbin of Zerobaseone will release his first solo album on Oct. 12, The Live Label confirmed, making him the first ZB1 member to debut solo. The article also notes Zerobaseone’s Japan EP Love recently topped Oricon’s Weekly Combined Album Ranking
Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin of EXO (subunit CBX) filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend their exclusive contracts with INB100, citing unpaid settlements; a Seoul district court held a hearing as the agency had been absorbed into One Hundred Label
Xdinary Heroes will return with new music in October, JYP Entertainment confirmed, and the band is scheduled to hold a concert in mid-November. This comeback will be their first as a five-member group following Gun-il’s departure last month
CLOSE YOUR EYES will return with their fourth mini album, 256th Note, releasing on September 30 at 6 p.m. KST after the group dropped the first comeback teaser on September 7
NCT’s Jisung sprinted to secure the most hints and teamed up with fellow NCT member Johnny as they face off with Super Junior’s Leeteuk and Shindong in the final battle for the ‘prince’ title on ALL or NOTHING’s Giftun Island finale, airing Sept. 7 at 11:15 p.m. KST
WJSN's Bona (Kim Ji Yeon) stars as Yoon Ha Na in the fantasy romance Dive Into You, which previews Jang Se Hyuk’s Yoon Ha Ru traveling to the past and risking his fame and future to try to save his close friend
Kian84’s Netflix variety Kian’s Bizarre B&B revealed teasers and individual posters for Season 2, confirming that former volleyball star Kim Yeon Koung will join Kian84 alongside K-pop idols 2PM’s Lee Junho and LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha; the 10-episode season begins Sept. 22, released over three weeks
Weverse confirmed a data breach affecting 422,584 user accounts and says the exposed information was internal identifier values rather than names or contact details; the company has reported the incident to KISA, tightened API access controls, and pledged further security measures
ATEEZ’s San will guest on a "Duke of the North"-themed episode of Running Man airing Sept 13 at 6:10 p.m. KST, where he performs ATEEZ’s "BAD" choreography and appears alongside actress Han Ji Eun in the show's new preview
ENHYPEN's mini album THE SIN : BLISS debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart and became the group's first album to top the Billboard 200. Stray Kids, CORTIS, ATEEZ, BTS, LE SSERAFIM, aespa, ILLIT, NewJeans and TXT's Yeonjun also placed on the latest World Albums chart
NiziU announced their Korean comeback: they’ll release their first Korean mini album Sour Grapes on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. KST and have shared an intense prologue film revealing the comeback details
KickFlip announced the comeback schedule for their fifth mini album KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1 — the first MV arrives Sept. 28 and the second MV plus the album drops Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. KST — and revealed plans for their first-ever tour, "ROCK OFF THE WALL."
