Direct from Korean news and other sources
Various artists have gathered for KBS’s annual year-end music celebration! Hosted by Jang Do Yeon, Moon Sang Min, and ILLIT’s Minju, the 2025 KBS Song Festival Global Festival was broadcast live from Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon on December 19. Check out all of the performances below! CLOSE YOUR EYES and AHOF – “FIRE” (BTS) AHOF… The post appeared first on .
ATEEZ has hit the 100 million mark with another music video! On December 19 at approximately 11:47 a.m. KST, ATEEZ’s music video for “Answer” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. This is about five years, 11 months, and 12 days since the music video’s release on January 6, 2020 at 6 p.m. KST. This marks ATEEZ’s… The post appeared first on .
Min Hee-jin, former Ador CEO and the head of newly founded agency OOAK Records, has publicly addressed her next move in the K-pop industry, confirming plans to launch a boy band while firmly rejecting any notion of creating a rival to NewJeans. Appearing live on YTN Radio’s program “Kim Jun-woo’s News Head-On” on Friday, Min spoke openly about her future plans and responded directly to questions surrounding her departure from Ador and her association with NewJeans, the globally popular girl group she previously produced. Min founded OOAK Records in October last year and has since completed corporate registration. Recently, the agency drew attention after opening applications for a closed, in-person audition in partnership with a well-known dance academy — a move that quickly sparked speculation and online buzz about the kind of group she might be preparing. When the host asked whether the new label was preparing to debut a boy group, Min answered candidly. “There’s no reason for me to create a rival to NewJeans,” she said. “If you look at my creative style and the flow
Cha Eun-woo may be serving in the military, but his star power — and looks — remain very much intact. The ASTRO member and actor drew fresh attention this week after veteran vocalist Sohyang shared photos of a surprise meeting with him during an official Ministry of National Defense event, quickly sparking buzz across social media. On Thursday, Sohyang posted several photos on her personal social media account with the caption, “Went to a Ministry of National Defense performance… yay!!” The images show Sohyang standing beside Cha, both smiling brightly in a relaxed and warm atmosphere that fans found instantly heartwarming. Cha appeared with a short military haircut and a neat suit, a look that many fans joked was “too polished for the barracks.” Despite being in active service, his appearance quickly became a talking point online, with fans saying the military “still can’t hide his looks.” The post gained further traction when comedian Jo Hye-ryun left a comment saying “Amazing,” amplifying the moment’s virality among fans and fellow entertainers. The meeting r
The end of the year offers a lot of excitement for K-pop fans: holiday remixes, end-of-year concerts hosted by their favorite artists, and year-end K-pop music shows featuring unique concepts and star-studded lineups. Such programs show K-pop artists from different agencies interacting with one another, often through collaborative performances — a rare sight outside such programs. This year, the festivities kick off with the “KBS Song Festival” on Friday, and on Saturday, 2025's stand-out artist
ALLDAY PROJECT has won their second music show trophy for their new single “ONE MORE TIME”! KBS 2TV’s “Music Bank” did not air a new episode on December 19 due to the broadcast of the 2025 KBS Song Festival, but the music show still announced this week’s winner on its official website. ALLDAY PROJECT took… The post appeared first on .
The legal dispute between former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin and Hybe, Ador’s parent company, is expected to stretch into next year, even as the involvement of girl group NewJeans — once at the heart of the conflict — has largely come to an end. The standoff began in April last year, when Hybe accused Min of attempting to seize control of Ador and its flagship act, NewJeans. The dispute quickly escalated after Min held an emergency press conference later that month, publicly criticizing Hybe and its af
Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin is set to appear on a live YTN Radio program Friday to address allegations raised in the recent US court filings that link TAG PR, a former Hybe subsidiary, to an alleged coordinated online smear campaign targeting her. Min, who is currently engaged in a 26 billion won ($17.6 million) put option lawsuit against Hybe, is expected to comment publicly for the first time on claims outlined in an amended complaint filed in a New York state court on Dec. 8. The lawsuit, ini
Two of K-pop’s most enduring second-generation girl groups are on the brink of a milestone many fans once thought distant: the arrival of their first married members. Apink’s Yoon Bomi and singer-producer Rado are set to marry in May next year, making Yoon the first married member of her girl group. The announcement, made directly to fans, was quickly amplified as similar news surfaced involving Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany. On Dec. 18, Bomi shared the wedding news through a handwritten letter posted on Apink’s official fan cafe. In the letter, she reflected on her life journey and her decision to marry. “After my teens and twenties, I’ve now become 33-year-old Yoon Bomi, and I decided to spend my future with someone who has shared everyday life with me for a long time, through joyful moments and moments of uncertainty,” she said. “Just as I always have, I will continue to live responsibly and become even stronger.” Both Bomi and Rado’s agencies released a joint statement the same day, asking fans for warm support and saying the couple would remain active in their re
Le Sserafim is set to go live in Seoul on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with tickets selling out within 10 minutes, according to agency Source Music Friday. Tickets for the shows went on sale Thursday. The upcoming gig is an encore concert for the group’s first international tour, “Easy Crazy Hot." The tour took the five members to 19 cities for 29 shows and was listed by Billboard as the eighth-highest grossing K-pop tour of the year, and the highest for a girl group. A separate encore show in Japan, held
Vixx is eyeing a comeback as a full group soon, according to a local media report on Friday. Hyuk, the youngest of the four, is set to be discharged next month. He is currently serving his mandatory military duty as a social service agent. Upon being discharged, the bandmates will start preparing for all-member activities. Their last official group endeavor was a fan meeting held in May last year, but Hyuk, already enlisted, was absent. The band’s latest album was fifth EP “Continuum” from 2023
82Major will meet and greet fans at its first Japan fan meeting in Tokyo on Sunday, agency Great M Entertainment announced Friday. The event will mark the birth of its official Japanese fan club, with the group scheduled to put on an exclusive performance. The tracklist includes “Trophy,” the title track of 82Major's fourth EP. Next month, the group will hold a concert in Seoul, titled “Be the Tiger.” The performance will showcase how the 2-year-old group, known for its on-stage prowess, evolved
Illit brings holiday cheer to its recent single “Not Cute Anymore” with remixes released Friday, its agency Belift Lab announced. The title track from the group’s first single album will be offered in six different arrangements, including an upbeat holiday party remix and a dreamy holiday night edit. Illit released the single last month, claiming first place on TV music chart shows twice with the title track. The single ranked No. 3 on Oricon’s Daily Single Ranking chart, while the music video t
A popular mukbang YouTuber, known as Short Mouth Sun, has admitted to illegally receiving medical services and announced she will suspend all broadcasting activities. In a post on her YouTube channel Friday, the YouTuber, whose real name is Kim Mi-kyung, apologized for "causing concern" and said she decided to "drop out of the programs and suspend activities." Her announcement came a day after reports surfaced suggesting she was involved in the illegal medical service controversy surrounding comedian Park Na-rae and SHINee's Key, both of whom admitted to receiving medical service from an unlicensed practitioner known as "injection aunt." The YouTuber runs a mukbang channel, with more than 1.75 million subscribers, showing her eat large quantities of food while interacting with audiences through a camera. She has starred on tvN's "Amazing Saturday" since 2018, alongside Park and Key.
Another BLACKPINK music video has reached 300 million views! On December 19 at around 5:45 p.m. KST, BLACKPINK’s music video for “JUMP” surpassed 300 million views on YouTube—making it their 13th music video to achieve the feat after “BOOMBAYAH,” “As If It’s Your Last,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “Playing With Fire,” “Whistle,” “Kill This Love,” “How You… The post appeared first on .
Kim Se Jeong, Lee Shin Young, and Kwon Ju Seok will embark on a covert mission in tonight’s episode of “Moon River”! “Moon River” is a fantasy romance drama that follows Crown Prince Lee Gang (Kang Tae Oh), a man who has lost his smile, and Park Dal I (Kim Se Jeong), a traveling merchant… The post appeared first on .
The upcoming comedy film “HEARTMAN” has unveiled new stills of Block B’s P.O in character! “HEARTMAN” follows the story of Seung Min (Kwon Sang Woo), a man who returns after years away and finds himself face-to-face with his first love once again. Determined not to lose her again, he throws himself into winning her back—only… The post appeared first on .
ENA’s upcoming drama “IDOL I” has shared a sneak peek of its first episode! “IDOL I” is a mystery courtroom romance drama starring Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung as Maeng Se Na, a star lawyer and devoted fan who takes on the case of her favorite idol Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae Yeong) after he is accused… The post appeared first on .
YouTuber Lickerish Hatnim has halted all activities and released a statement responding to her “injection aunt” controversy. Earlier this week, both Park Na Rae and SHINee’s Key stepped down from all programs after being swept up in allegations of receiving illegal medical services, such as proxy prescriptions and an IV drip categorized as prescription drugs,… The post appeared first on .
