BTS unveils track list for new album with single ‘Swim’

BTS on Wedneday unveiled the full track list for its fifth studio album, “Arirang,” with the lead single “Swim” anchoring the 14-song record ahead of the group’s highly anticipated comeback. The track list, released through the group’s official social media channels, also includes “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “Aliens,” “FYA,” “2.0,” “No. 29,” “Merry Go Round,” “Normal,” “Like Animals,” “They Don’t Know ’Bout Us,” “One More Night,” “Please” and “Into the Sun.” The album reflects BTS’ identity and

March 4, 2026

Big Bang to launch world tour for 20th anniversary, YG confirms

Big Bang will embark on a global tour this year to mark the 20th anniversary of its debut, YG Entertainment announced Wednesday. The tour will feature three members — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung. The announcement was made at the end of a video posted by YG Entertainment, in which founder and executive producer Yang Hyun-suk confirmed that the group had agreed to hold a series of concerts to celebrate the milestone. “I think the reason people miss Big Bang and wait for their concerts is because

March 4, 2026

YG Entertainment to debut new boy group this fall

YG Entertainment said Wednesday it is preparing to debut a new boy group this fall, marking the agency’s first launch of a male idol act since Treasure six years ago. The company revealed the plan through its official blog, stating that it is “preparing a new boy group, targeting fall 2026.” Yang Hyun-suk, YG Entertainment founder and executive producer, hinted at the project last year, saying the agency had been closely evaluating a team of male trainees being considered for debut. “We have bee

March 4, 2026

Baby Dont Cry to unveil 1st EP

Baby Dont Cry's agency P Nation announced Wednesday that the girl group will bring out its first EP “After Cry” on March 24. The agency uploaded a teaser trailer, dubbed “The Story Begins Here,” which hinted that the new album may be followed by two sets: “We Bloom” and “Beyond the Limit.” The upcoming mini album is the quartet’s first release since the digital single “I Don’t Care” in November. The single entered Melon’s Hot 100 chart. The group debuted last June with the digital single “F Girl

March 4, 2026

Seventeen’s S.Coups, Mingyu reclaim Oricon chart

S.Coups and Mingyu of Seventeen notched No. 1 spot on Oricon’s Daily Album Ranking as a subunit, said agency Pledis Entertainment citing the latest chart. The duo’s first EP “Hype Vibes” returned to the top of the chart after five months, possibly gaining momentum from the success of its ongoing tour “Double Up — Live Party.” The mini album rolled out in September last year and landed atop the daily chart, spending three days at No. 1, before scoring chart-topping debut on its Weekly and Weekly

March 4, 2026

Mamamoo’s Moonbyul to drop solo single

Moonbyul of Mamamoo will release a third single, “Rev,” on March 25, her agency RBW Entertainment announced Wednesday. The single comes about four months after her last solo effort, the digital single “S.O.S,” which was followed by her solo concert tour in Asia, “Museum: village of eternal glow.” She kicked it off in Seoul in November and visited five cities in the region: Singapore, Macao, Kaohsiung, Tokyo and Taipei, concluding it in Hong Kong in February. In June, Mamamoo will release a full-

March 4, 2026

Illit sets streams record in Japan with debut single

Illit garnered 300 million streams in Japan with its debut song “Magnetic,” according to Oricon on Wednesday. The group reached the milestone on Sunday, 101 weeks after the single entered Oricon’s Weekly Streaming Ranking. The chart said it was the shortest time for an international female artist. “Magnetic” was released in March 2024 as the lead single from the group's first EP, “Super Real Me.” It exceeded 100 million plays on Oricon’s weekly tally in the shortest time for a female group ever.

March 4, 2026

Park Bom alleges she was scapegoated in bandmate’s drug case

Park Bom of K-pop group 2NE1 said Tuesday that she had been used as a scapegoat to cover up a fellow bandmate’s alleged drug scandal, sharing a handwritten letter on social media that quickly sparked controversy. However, a close associate told local media that the post appeared to stem from the singer’s unstable condition. In the note, Park said she suffers from attention deficit disorder, stressing her lack of illegal drug use. She then alleged that she had been falsely labeled a “drug addict”

March 3, 2026

Rookie group Tunexx launches ‘Set By Us Only’ with message of self-identity

Rookie boy group Tunexx has officially stepped into the spotlight with its debut mini album "Set By Us Only," breaking away from fixed standards and moving with its own frequency. “Like our slogan ‘Tune in to our frequency,’ we want to grow by matching our wavelength with fans,” member Donggyu said during a media showcase held at Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul on Tuesday. Fronting the mini album with a hip-hop-based sound, the main track "Evidence I'm Alive" delivers a bold message of self-definition

March 3, 2026

How Blackpink weaves Korean heritage in 'Go'

With the release of Blackpink's long-awaited EP "Deadline," attention has shifted not only to the group's new music, but also to traditional Korean cultural elements woven into the music video for lead track "Go." Viewers quickly began dissecting the video's visual motifs, noting that several aspects appeared to draw heavily from traditional Korean aesthetics. The music video for "Go" includes ornamental patterns such as the "sujamun" — a stylized rendering of the hanja character for "su" — that

March 3, 2026

[Exclusive] T.O.P to make solo comeback independently

T.O.P is preparing for his long-awaited solo comeback, with plans to release a new album under his own label, Topspot Pictures, according to industry sources Tuesday. Kang Jung-woo, CEO of Hiin Entertainment, is expected to oversee T.O.P's promotional activities. Kang is a former executive of BH Entertainment, the agency founded by actor Lee Byung-hun, who starred alongside T.O.P in "Squid Game." "T.O.P decided to release the new album under his own label, Topspot Pictures," a source told The Ko

March 3, 2026

Lotte Cinema to screen NCT Dream's world tour finale live

Lotte Cinema will exclusively screen two performances from NCT Dream's ongoing world tour, the multiplex chain said Tuesday. Available at 18 Lotte Cinema locations nationwide, the screenings will cover the March 21 and 28 gigs of "The Dream Show 4: Future the Dream Finale," the closing leg of the group's fourth concert tour. Both take place at the KSPO Dome in Seoul's Olympic Park, as part of a six-show run spread across two weekends, March 20-22 and March 27-29. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at

March 3, 2026

Ive’s prerelease sits atop all K-charts despite lagging album sales

Ive has dominated all music charts at home for two weeks in a row with “Bang Bang,” its agency Starship Entertainment said Tuesday. The single, dropped last month ahead of the release of Ive's second LP “Revive+,” swept all charts in Korea, a first for a song released this year, and is maintaining the top spot for another week. The electronic dance tune has earned the six-member group four trophies from music chart shows. The 12-track set, however, did not meet sales expectations. It sold less t

March 3, 2026

BTS concert prompts closure of Gyeongbokgung, museums and theaters

Less than three weeks before BTS takes the stage at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, the city is preparing for large crowds, with authorities announcing safety measures and temporary closures of nearby historic sites and cultural venues. The Korea Heritage Service said Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of Joseon (1392-1910) in Gwanghwamun, will be closed, with its parking lot shuttered and public access restricted. Officials said an emergency task force for palaces would be activated to conduc

March 3, 2026

Unis to host fan meetup in Japan

Girl group Unis will meet and greet fans in Japan later this month at a fan meeting in Tokyo, agency F&F Entertainment announced Tuesday. The multinational group of eight will be returning to the Japanese capital about nine months after its Asian fan concert tour. Under the title “Moshi Moshi This is Unis!” the octet will take the stage twice on March 29. The event is named after the digital single it dropped in the country last year between the releases of “Shaking My Head” and “Mwah….” The Tok

March 3, 2026