Today in K-Pop

BTS will mark its return as a full group after a three-year and nine-month hiatus with a historic performance at Gwanghwamun Square, potentially entering the stage via Seoul’s royal ceremonial path. The K-pop juggernaut is scheduled to hold "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG" at 8 p.m. on March 21 to celebrate the release of the group's new studio album, "Arirang." It will be the first solo concert by a pop act in the history of the square, a space traditionally reserved for political or national events. BigHit Music said the location was chosen to reflect the album’s themes. "The new album 'Arirang' captures BTS' origins, identity and the emotions they wish to convey right now," the agency said in a statement. "Given the symbolism of the word 'Arirang,' we wanted to stage their first postmilitary performance in the space that best represents Korea." The group is currently negotiating a dramatic entrance with the National Heritage Administration and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. According to the permit application, members would process through the "King’s Road" — moving from Geunj

BTS

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 host the live viewing events, with ticket reservations starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25. The shows mark the start of what BigHit described as the biggest world tour ever by a K-pop act, spanning 82 concerts in 34 cities. Tickets for 41 shows in North America and Europe have already sold out, including those in Goyang. BTS will also become the first Korean act to hold standalone concerts at major global stadiums, including Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Stanford Stadium in California, AT&T Stadium in Arlington and Allianz Arena in Munich. The group already achieved record attendance at London's Tottenh

BTS

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,

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

ALPHA DRIVE ONE

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,

ATEEZ

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

BTS

On the first day of the year, thousands of BTS fans around the world received a letter. It was a postcard with New Year’s messages from the seven members of K-pop's biggest band. Printed just behind the paper, in an eye-catching shade of red, were three dots and a date — “2026.03.20.” The delivery was enough to send an estimated 78 million of BTS’ most ardent followers into chaos. Thousands of posts circulated online, all speculating about the meaning behind the message. Even international news outlets like CNN joined in on the conversation. Joyce Wong, a 43-year-old marketer from Hong Kong, who has been part of the BTS fandom — known as ARMY —for seven years, was among the lucky ones who received the coveted letter, which first revealed the date of the group's highly anticipated comeback. The letter was sent to fans of the band who subscribed to a membership service within a set period of time. Upon hearing the news, Wong immediately got to work. She booked her flights to Seoul for March, chose a hotel in the tourist district of Myeong-dong and was set for the experience

BTS

K-pop juggernaut BTS is preparing to return as a full group with a large-scale free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square next month, transforming one of the capital’s most symbolic public spaces into a rare open-air performance venue. As anticipation builds around the group’s first complete lineup concert since October 2022 — nearly three years and four months ago — official announcements and industry sources are offering a clearer picture of what fans can expect from the upcoming comeback event. Titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” the Gwanghwamun concert will take place March 21 at 8 p.m., a day after the release of the group's fifth studio album, “Arirang.” The concert will serve as the live launch for the new record. According to HYBE Labels, the group's agency, the show will run for roughly an hour, presenting a compact stage centered on the new work alongside several of the group’s well-known hits. Rooted in Korean heritage The staging concept of the show draws directly from Korea’s cultural legacy, combining historical symbolism with large-scale contempor

BTS

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

Twice

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

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