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BoA sets up own agency
BoA established her own management company, BApal Entertainment, the agency said Tuesday. “BoA went for a new structure to better realize her musical direction,” added the newly established company. BoA parted ways with SM Entertainment in December after 25 years. She debuted in 2000 at the age of 14 and led the first wave of Korean culture across Asia, paving the way for K-pop artists abroad. She was a breakout hit in Japan in particular and has two million-selling albums tallied by the Oricon
March 3, 2026 -
Itzy’s Yuna to roll out 1st solo album
Yuna of Itzy will release her first solo EP “Ice Cream” on March 23, her label JYP Entertainment announced Monday. In the teaser video for the upcoming endeavor, Yuna showed her range, transforming from pure and innocent to hip and chic, before taking over the screen in a white dress. Yuna is the youngest member of Itzy and will be the second to release a solo album. The physical album in the US will hit the stores on March 27, along with a remix version of the main track. Separately, Itzy will
March 3, 2026 -
Jungkook’s late-night livestream raises questions about pressure, fame and BTS’ future
BTS member Jungkook has ignited controversy after appearing in a late-night livestream in which he used profanity and voiced frustration with his agency, Hybe, only to later post a selfie promising to “work really hard” for the group’s upcoming comeback. The abrupt shift in tone has left fans divided and raised broader questions about the pressures facing one of K-pop’s biggest global stars. On Feb. 26, Jungkook broadcast live for about 90 minutes on Weverse, Hybe’s fan platform, while drinking
March 2, 2026 -
G-Dragon’s ‘Lunar New Year’ greeting at Dubai concert sparks controversy among Chinese fans
K-pop idols often find themselves at the center of controversies they did not necessarily intend to ignite. For global icons such as G-Dragon, even a brief remark onstage can reverberate far beyond its original context. During the Krazy Super Concert held Feb. 17 at Dubai Media City Amphitheater in the United Arab Emirates, G-Dragon greeted fans by saying “Lunar New Year” — a phrase that later drew backlash from some Chinese fans. The date coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday and G-Dragon u
March 2, 2026 -
Kim Sungkyu steps ‘Off the Map’ with gratitude, grit and a louder future in mind
For Infinite leader Kim Sungkyu, the tagline of his upcoming album, is not about dramatic reinvention. Instead the phrase — “Off the map. Onto my path” — reflects where he stands now: A veteran K-pop artist returning after three years away, guided by his own creative choices and a renewed sense of gratitude. Kim’s sixth EP, “Off the Map,” arrives Monday. Since his last solo release in 2023, he has remained active through Infinite’s 15th anniversary promotions, group concerts, musicals and appear
March 2, 2026 -
Rose becomes first K-pop artist to win at Brit Awards with 'APT.'
Rose, a member of K-pop group Blackpink, on Saturday (British time) won International Song of the Year for "APT.," her collaborative hit with Bruno Mars, at the 2026 Brit Awards. It marks the first time a K-pop act has ever received an honor at the prestigious British music ceremony, held this year in Manchester. "APT.," a pre-release single from her first studio album "rosie," became a global sensation following its release in October 2024. The track pairs bright pop harmonies with an addictive
March 1, 2026 -
BTS' Gwanghwamun concert to run for around 1 hour over safety concerns
A free concert by K-pop group BTS at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square scheduled for next month will run for around an hour due to safety and operational considerations, its organizer said Saturday. "The performance time has been set at an appropriate duration to ensure safe and smooth operations," Hybe said in a release. "The Gwanghwamun concert is being held in a unique setting at a public outdoor venue rather than a conventional concert hall," the company said. "Accordingly, we have set the performa
Feb. 28, 2026 -
Blackpink's new EP 'Deadline' nears 1.5 million sales on 1st day
Blackpink, a major K-pop girl group, saw sales of its third EP, "Deadline," reach nearly 1.5 million on the first day of its release, its agency said Saturday. According to YG Entertainment, sales of the new album came to 1.46 million Friday. "The record not only marks (Blackpink's) highest first-day sales but also sets a new high for any K-pop girl group," the agency said. The new album marks the group's return as a full group for the first time in more than three years amid strong anticipation
Feb. 28, 2026 -
Seoul to install 900 toilets for BTS comeback crowd
Nearly 900 public and temporary toilets will be installed near Gwanghwamun Square, as more than 260,000 visitors are expected to be in the area for the March 21 comeback concert of BTS, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday. The plan includes measures to secure additional women-only facilities, reflecting the high proportion of female ticket holders, which is reportedly twice that of male ticket holders. The city said it will deploy crowd control staff at major bottlenecks to manage stag
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Blackpink fans flock to National Museum of Korea for 'Deadline' release
Lee Ju-young, 25, has visited the National Museum of Korea several times before. Friday, she returned with a specific purpose: to celebrate the comeback of Blackpink. "It's a place I visit often, but today it feels completely different," she said, with the museum's interior bathed in pink as part of a collaboration with the global girl group. "The collaboration between the museum and Blackpink feels symbolic. I really wanted to experience it in person." Lee was among hundreds of visitors who beg
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Riize tour finale to hit more cinema screens
Riize added more cinemas to broadcast live the last concert of its first international tour, label SM Entertainment said Friday. The boy band is will play three dates in Seoul from March 6-8, to finish off their tour “Riizing Loud.” The second day’s show will be available for live viewing in movie theaters in 10 countries, including Korea. Tickets for the chance to watch the six members hit the stage in real-time sold out fast and more venues are added in Taiwan, Indonesia and Korea. The shows o
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Red Velvet’s Irene to release 1st solo LP: report
Irene of Red Velvet will make a comeback as a solo singer in late March, according to a local media report Friday. She is preparing to roll out her first solo full-length album, more than a year after her first solo endeavor, “Like A Flower.” The eight-track album sold over 250,000 copies on the day of release and topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 23 regions. As a member of Red Velvet, she participated in label SM Entertainment’s all-star show, SM Town Live 2025-26, in Bangkok earlier this m
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Aespa teams up with Anderson Paak on movie soundtrack
Aespa is dropping a single Friday for which it joined forces with US singer and songwriter Anderson Paak, said label SM Entertainment. Their collaboration “Keychain” is a hip-hop, R&B and funk tune mixing Paak’s soulful vibe with Aespa’s edgy sophistication. It will be part of the soundtrack of movie “K-Pops!” a comedy film directed and produced by Paak. The film will come to cinemas in North America on Friday and will be the directorial debut of the Grammy-winning musician. Separately, the quar
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Le Sserafim secures 2nd double platinum status in Japan
Le Sserafim’s first English-language single “Perfect Night” earned double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, according to the organization Friday. The single generated 200 million streams as of January and became the group’s second song to do so, after “Antifragile,” the title track from the group's second EP. The quintet dropped the song in 2023 as a digital single and Heo Yunjin participated in writing the lyrics. Meanwhile, the group’s first single album
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Blackpink returns after 3 years with “Deadline”
Blackpink is set to return as a full group with its third EP “Deadline” on Friday afternoon, marking its first all-member release in three years and five months since the LP “Born Pink.” Centered on what the group describes as its “irreversible best moments,” the new EP captures Blackpink at its current peak. Spanning five tracks, the project moves across diverse styles and genres, highlighting the quartet’s musical versatility. The main track, “Go,” delivers bold, confident energy, pairing powe
Feb. 27, 2026