BTS graces GQ magazine cover in 15 markets ahead of new album release

K-pop group BTS has graced the cover of GQ magazine's latest edition in 15 international markets ahead of the release of its fifth full-length album next month, its agency said Saturday. According to BigHit Music, BTS has been selected as the cover model for the March issue of the men's fashion magazine in 15 countries and regions, including South Korea, the United States, Britain, Japan, Mexico, Germany and Thailand. The agency said it marked the first time a Korean artist has simultaneously ap

Feb. 14, 2026

After put option dispute win, Min Hee-jin’s leverage grows in W43b damages dispute

After winning the put option dispute with Hybe, Min Hee-jin may face legal consequences that extend beyond the 25.5 billion won ($17.6 million) payout now owed to her, with another major lawsuit between the two parties still under review. On Thursday, the Seoul Central District Court sided with Min, former Ador CEO and current head of Ooak Records, ruling that Hybe must honor the shareholder agreement and buy back Min’s 20 percent stake in Ador. Hybe is the parente company of Ador. In doing so,

Feb. 13, 2026

Twice tops 100m views with ‘This Is For’ music video

Twice reached 100 million views on YouTube with the music video for “This Is For,” according to label JYP Entertainment on Friday. The group now has 26 videos with over 100 million views, extending its record as the female group with the most music videos at that level worldwide. “This Is For” is the main track from the eponymous fourth studio album, released in July last year. The LP entered Billboard 200 at No. 6, becoming the nine-member group’s seventh consecutive album to reach the top 10 o

Feb. 13, 2026

Riize to livestream Seoul show in cinemas

The final concert of Riize’s first international tour will be available for viewing in cinemas, label SM Entertainment said Friday. The six-member act is set to go live in Seoul on March 6-8, concluding the tour “Riizing Loud,” and the second night of the sold-out run will be livestreamed in 32 theaters nationwide. The three-night run will wrap up the tour that began in Seoul last year and took the bandmates to 21 cities around the world. On Feb. 21-23, the group will give an encore show in Japa

Feb. 13, 2026

Alpha Drive One hits high on Oricon chart

Boy band Alpha Drive One ranked No. 4 on Oricon’s Monthly Album Ranking with its debut album “Euphoria,” according to agency WakeOne Entertainment on Friday. It debuted on Oricon’s Weekly and Weekly Combined Album Rankings at No. 3, and spent another week on both at No. 4. The first EP from the rookie group was unveiled in January and sold more than 1.44 million units in a week, setting a record as the second-best-selling debut album from a K-pop group, while all six tracks from the album made M

Feb. 13, 2026

Ateez sells 1.5m copies of 13th EP

The 13th EP from Ateez sold more than 1.5 million copies in its first week, said agency KQ Entertainment Friday. The EP “Golden Hour: Part 4” was released last Friday and became the group's sixth million-selling album. It debuted atop a series of music charts at home and abroad, including the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 31 regions. The focus track “Adrenaline” topped the Top Songs Chart in 21 regions, and earned first place on a television music chart show at home on Wednesday. Earlier this week,

Feb. 13, 2026

BTS to stream new world tour shows in cinemas worldwide

K-pop giant BTS will livestream the opening shows of its new world tour "Arirang" in cinemas across South Korea and around the world, its agency BigHit Music said Friday. The screenings will feature the band's concerts in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, on April 11 and in Tokyo on April 18 at more than 3,500 theaters in 75 countries. Some regions will show delayed broadcasts due to time differences, the company said. In South Korea, leading multiplex chains CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox will ho

Feb. 13, 2026

National Museum of Korea goes pink for Blackpink's comeback

Blackpink is expanding beyond music into cultural heritage to mark the Feb. 27 release of its third EP “Deadline,” becoming the first K-pop act to carry out an official large-scale collaboration with the National Museum of Korea. According to YG Entertainment on Thursday, “National Museum of Korea x Blackpink” rolls out from Feb. 26 to March. 8, in partnership with the museum and global audio streaming platform, Spotify. During the project, the museum’s exterior will be illuminated in pink as pa

Feb. 12, 2026

Culture minister says lifting of China’s Hallyu ban remains fragile

Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said Thursday that progress toward easing China’s so-called “Hallyu ban” remains uncertain, cautioning against overly optimistic expectations within the entertainment industry. Speaking at a press briefing in Seoul, Chae acknowledged that while parts of the industry anticipate a gradual lifting of restrictions on Korean cultural content in China, there has been little tangible advancement so far. China informally restricted Korean cultural imports in 2016 followin

Feb. 12, 2026

Court orders Hybe to pay W25.5b to ex-Ador CEO Min Hee-jin

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday sided with former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin in her put option dispute with Hybe, ordering the K-pop agency to fork over 25.5 billion won ($17.6 million). The ruling which validates Min's contractual right to sell a portion of her Ador shares back to Hybe, also ordered the company to pay a combined 3.1 billion won to two other former Ador executives, surnamed Shin and Kim, who like Min exercised put options. Expressing disappointment, Hybe said it was weigh

Feb. 12, 2026

TVXQ marks 20 years in Japan with movie

TVXQ thrilled fans in Japan with the release of a new single Thursday, said label SM Entertainment. The veteran duo will mark its 20-year career in the country with a movie release on Feb. 20. The single of the same title, released ahead of the movie, will also be part of the film's soundtrack. The movie will also include live performances and candid interviews. The final celebration comes in the form of two shows at Nissan Stadium in April. “Red Ocean” will be the duo's third performance at the

Feb. 12, 2026

BTS’ V scores 2.5b plays on Spotify with solo set

V of BTS exceeded 2.5 billion plays on Spotify with his first solo album, “Layover,” according to Big Hit Music on Thursday. The album rolled out in September 2023 and reached the milestone on Wednesday, nearly 2 1/2 years later. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 2 and all six of its tracks made the Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts, in a first for a K-pop solo endeavor. Each track garnered more than 100 million streams on Spotify, another first for such a release. The mini album

Feb. 12, 2026

Twice reaches 900m views for 1st time with ‘What is Love?’ video

Twice's music video for “What is Love?” has passed 900 million views on YouTube, a first for the group, label JYP Entertainment said Thursday. The video was released in April 2018 for the title track from the group's fifth EP. In it, each of the nine members becomes a character from a well-known movie and visualizes their ideas of love. The six-track EP sold over 100,000 copies in the first week, the fourth-most for a K-pop girl group at the time. Twice is in the middle of the North American leg

Feb. 12, 2026

Zerobaseone reshuffles into quintet

Zerobaseone will begin a new chapter as a five-member act, agency WakeOne Entertainment announced Thursday. Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae and Park Gunwook have decided to continue as a team while Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin chose to leave after the project band disbands as expected. Seok and Park signed with WakeOne on Monday, joining Kim Taerae, raising hopes among fans for the group to continue its career. The nonet formed through audition show “Boys Planet”

Feb. 12, 2026

Nmixx becomes first K-pop act to perform at Brazilian Carnival in Sao Paulo

Nmixx is set to become the first-ever K-pop artist to perform at the Brazilian Carnival, one of the world’s largest and most iconic festivals. According to JYP Entertainment, Nmixx will take the stage at the Brazilian Carnival Sao Paulo, scheduled for Feb. 14 to 18. The group will appear as a special guest on Feb. 16 at a block party hosted by Brazilian pop star Pabllo Vittar — one of the main carnival festivities. The term “block party” refers to large-scale street celebrations that are a hallm

Feb. 11, 2026