Hybe on Monday denied involvement in a rare US Embassy letter reportedly sent to Korean police, seeking to lift a travel ban on Chairman Bang Si-hyuk. The ban has been in place since August amid a Capital Markets Act probe. Hybe's denial followed reports by local Korean media that said the US Embassy had sent a letter to the National Korean Police Agency earlier this month, requesting that the law enforcement agency allow Bang and other Hybe executives to travel to the US. The embassy reportedly

Rookie K-pop boy band CORTIS is betting on a more defined sense of identity with its latest release, "REDRED," leaning into what the group describes as an "honest reflection" of its creative direction. The five-member group — Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho — dropped "REDRED" on Monday as the prerelease track from its second EP "GREENGREEN," due May 4. The group debuted last August under BigHit Music, the HYBE Labels subsidiary managing BTS, with "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES," quickly gaining traction for its hip-hop-driven sound that drew comparisons to artists like Travis Scott and Playboi Carti. The approach proved effective particularly among younger listeners, as tracks like "FaSHioN" and "GO!" spread across short-form media platforms. "REDRED" continues that trajectory, but with a conceptual frame. The track uses the colors green and red to draw a line between what the group embraces and what it rejects. "It's about what we pursue and what we stay wary of," Juhoon said during a media showcase held at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District on Monday, just a few ho

K-pop group BIGBANG said it has completed work on a new album marking its 20th anniversary and will begin a world tour in August. "BIGBANG has reached its 20th anniversary. It's a restart. BIGBANG will continue," leader G-Dragon told the audience during the trio's performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on Sunday. "We have completed preparations for a new album and will begin a world tour in August." The announcement marks the first official confirmation of both the album and tour plans. BIGBANG has not held a standalone concert tour since 2017. During its second Coachella set, following the first a week ago, the group performed hits including "Bang Bang Bang," "Fantastic Baby," "Sober," "Stupid Liar" and "Loser," along with "Haru Haru" and "Lies." Solo stages featured Taeyang's "Ringa Linga," G-Dragon's "Power" and Daesung's "Look at Me, Gwisun," before the set closed with BIGBANG's last group release, "Still Life."

SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- K-pop group BIGBANG said it has completed work on a ...

Big Bang is set to launch a global tour in August to mark its 20th debut anniversary, the group revealed during its performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The group took the stage at Coachella’s Outdoor Theatre in Indio, California, marking its second appearance at this year’s festival following its earlier set on April 12. As the members exchanged ending remarks with the audience, G-Dragon announced the upcoming tour. “Big Bang’s 20th anniversary world tour will begin this

SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- Rising K-pop rookie Cortis returned Monday with a ne...