Today in K-Pop

Singer-producer MC Mong has strongly denied allegations of an extramarital affair with Cha Ga-won, chair of the P_Arc Group and CEO of One Hundred, calling them false claims that surfaced amid an internal management dispute involving Big Planet Made, a music label under the One Hundred umbrella. During a TikTok livestream Wednesday, MC Mong said Big Planet Made was a company he founded and later expanded with outside investment. “After parting ways with the first investor, I met Cha as the secon

MBC announced Wednesday that its flagship music program “Show! Music Core in Macau” will take place on Feb. 7-8, but the national broadcaster has yet to secure a concert venue or finalize the artist lineup, according to an industry source familiar with the matter on Friday. The broadcaster also said that details regarding the venue and participating artists would be announced at a later date. However, multiple industry insiders say event preparations remain incomplete. According to the source, M

The Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association has urged reporters to refrain from using terms related to the so-called “Hallyu ban,” referring to China’s long-standing restrictions on Korean cultural content, citing Beijing’s sensitivity toward the wording. The request came after KEPA announced Monday that its flagship K-pop event, “Dream Concert,” scheduled to be held at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong in February, will be broadcast nationwide in China via Hunan Broadcasting System. The announcem

Hwang Minhyun is planning to meet and greet fans in Seoul and Tokyo, agency Pledis Entertainment announced Thursday. He is set to host six fan meet events, three each in Seoul in February and in Tokyo the following month. The two-city fan meetings will be held under the title “Dohwawon,” or peach blossom paradise, reuniting Hwang and his fandom community, Hwangdo. The singer and actor completed his mandatory military duty as a social service agent and was discharged from the military last week.

Minhyun

Rock band Chrocktikal is set to debut on Jan. 15, adding another co-ed group to the Korean music scene. Siyeon, the main vocalist of Dreamcatcher, will join the lineup as she embarks on a new artistic journey. The four-member band, consisting of bassist Lee Jun-young, drummer Je Gwan-woo and producer Lee Won-seok as members, is set to make their official debut with its first EP, “We Break, You Awake.” The band’s name combines three words: the sharpness behind the word “Chrome,” the explosive ene

SiyeonDreamcatcher

Seventeen dominated the 2025 Billboard K-pop Artist 100 published Saturday in the US. Its 13 members took the top 13 spots on the list compiled with Billboard Korea. “The No. 1 spot goes to Seventeen and its 13 members, with consistent performance in the US, global and Korean markets. Seventeen’s decade-long career reached new heights this year, cementing its status as one of the most powerful K-pop groups,” Billboard Korea wrote. The band enjoyed chart success not only as a team with its 12th E

Seventeen

NewJeans’ long-running contract dispute with its label Ador — once seen as one of the biggest internal conflicts in K-pop’s recent history — has entered a new phase in 2025, raising questions over whether the group can rebuild its image and resume activities after more than a year of silence. In October, the group lost the first trial in a lawsuit seeking confirmation of contract invalidity, after which all members expressed their intention to return to Ador. Meanwhile, former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who had been at the center of the conflict, launched a new agency called OK Records, formally severing ties with the group that had been closely associated with her since their debut. NewJeans has remained inactive since releasing “Supernatural” in June last year, marking a hiatus of about one year and six months. While some critics said the group had become one that “appears on nostalgia programs rather than music shows,” signs of dispute resolution have fueled expectations among fans that the members may eventually return to the stage. Industry officials say attention is now

NewJeans

The year 2025 proved to be an emotional whirlwind for the Korean entertainment industry, marked by moments of joy, grief and shock. The industry saw news that ranged from long-awaited marriages to sudden deaths and controversies that stirred intense public reaction. From longtime bachelors finally tying the knot to heartbreaking losses that left fans in mourning, the year’s defining moments underscored how love and loss, celebration and sorrow, continue to coexist in the world of K-pop. The year also marked the return of major stars, a wave of wedding announcements and a series of incidents that sparked debate across entertainment circles and social media, reflecting just how closely the public follows the personal lives of its favorite artists. BTS members return from military service All members of BTS completed their mandatory military service in June, officially ending the group’s long “hiatus.” Jin completed his service in June last year, followed by J-Hope in October. RM and V were discharged on June 10, with Jimin and Jung Kook finishing the following day. Suga, who serve

Jinj-hopeRM

Winter of aespa drew attention at a major end-of-year K-pop event after appearing on the red carpet with her arm tattoo seemingly concealed with makeup. The tattoo had previously fueled dating rumors involving BTS member Jung Kook. The moment sparked online debate, as fans speculated whether the singer had intentionally covered what many believe to be a matching couple tattoo. Winter attended the 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon at Inspire Arena in Incheon, where the show reflected on the past year of K-pop under the theme “Golden Loop.” The annual program, hosted by IVE’s Ahn Yu-jin, DAY6’s Young K and NCT’s Jaemin, featured more than thirty performing teams from major fourth-generation groups, highlighting the scale and competitiveness of Korea’s idol music industry for viewers around the world. On the red carpet, Winter wore a light blue-gray dress that exposed her shoulders and arms, drawing attention to the area where fans had previously spotted a small dog-shaped tattoo. In photos from the event, however, the marking appeared to be almost fully concealed, as if covered by makeup

WinterJaeminAespa

From global streaming phenomenon to historic firsts on Broadway and classical music stages, 2025 was a year of both expansion and reckoning for Korean culture. K-pop continued to redefine its reach across music, animation and tours, while "KPop Demon Hunters" reshaped how K-pop and Korean heritage are consumed globally. Korean musical theater broke new ground with a Tony Award win, while the domestic film industry confronted challenges amid changing audience trends. Major transitions — from BTS completing military service to the "Squid Game" saga coming to an end — highlighted both the expanding influence of Korean culture and the new challenges it faces on the global stage. 'KPop Demon Hunters,' where K-pop becomes global cultural language One of this year’s most unexpected global cultural breakouts is the movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” Since its release on June 20, the supernatural action-comedy animation has amassed well over 500 million views as of December, becoming the most-watched film in Netflix’s history. Its popularity expanded beyond the streaming platform, sparking s

BTS