K-Pop news feed

Korea Herald spotlights three rookie acts that shaped the first half of 2026: boy group Cortis, SM's Hearts2Hearts and girl group Rescene, noting chart runs, viral moments and expanding live plans that have boosted each group's momentum

Mnet’s M Countdown is broadening beyond idol comeback stages by booking musical theater actors, fictional TV bands and viral creators to combat declining TV ratings and boost cross‑platform engagement, drawing theater and drama fans while keeping music central

K-pop singer Aoora won 'Iconic Spiritual Song of the Year' at the Mid-Day Showbiz Icons Awards in Mumbai for his February single 'Shiva Shivam'; the music video has over 14.35 million views and Aoora says Indian fans inspired the song

Tomorrow X Together will release their fifth Japanese single, "Setsuna Hanabi," on Aug. 19; the four-track single includes three new Japanese songs and a rearranged title, and the group will hold a live showcase in Tokyo on release day

Le Sserafim, Illit and Katseye’s collaboration “Iconic by Mistake” spent its second week on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 43 while charting No. 23 on the Global 200 and rising to No. 21 on Spotify’s global weekly songs chart; Le Sserafim’s “Celebration” was used in the Korean release of the Supergirl film

BTS member V’s solo single “Winter Ahead” (with Park Hyo‑shin) has surpassed 700 million Spotify streams — his second solo track to do so — and charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Official Singles Chart despite no active promotion during his enlistment

TripleS member Yubin will suspend activities and rest after fainting during a K-pop festival, agency Modhaus said; doctors advised she avoid pushing herself. The group's recent EP Love & Pop pt.1 sold over 560,000 copies in its first week

BTS’s Arirang stayed at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 while lead single “Swim” landed at No. 63 on the Hot 100; Hybe artists including Le Sserafim, Illit, Katseye, rookie Cortis and BLACKPINK’s Jennie also scored multiple entries across Billboard charts

BTS's fifth album ARIRANG held at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and its lead single "Swim" charted at No. 63 on the Hot 100. HYBE acts including Le Sserafim, Illit, Katseye and rookie Cortis placed multiple entries, while BLACKPINK's Jennie climbed to No. 10 with "Dracula."

Seventeen subunit V8 (Vernon and The8) will open a pop-up at Hybe headquarters in Seoul from July 4–9 to showcase their debut EP Singasong with an MV projection, props, listening spots and photo opportunities; standalone shows are set for July in Gyeonggi and Hong Kong

Hybe says its ECO Village project has planted 462,160 mangrove trees in Bangladesh since 2023 and aims for 100,000 trees yearly, estimating the restored forest will absorb ~426,000 metric tons of carbon over 20 years; the report also highlights eco-friendly packaging and a recycled-material BTS light stick