Today in K-Pop

BTS member Jung Kook has reassured fans about his upcoming album and group comeback while addressing a controversy from a late-night livestream that spread widely online. On Feb. 26, Jung Kook posted a selfie on fan platform Weverse and wrote, “The album is really not far away. Please wait just a little longer,” adding, “When I come back, I’ll really work hard,” followed by heart emojis. The message heightened anticipation for BTS’ full-group return, while also signaling his own renewed focus after recent dating rumors and backlash from a personal broadcast earlier that day. Around 3:30 a.m., Jung Kook went live for about 90 minutes while drinking with his older brother and acquaintances. During the livestream, he said he had smoked heavily but quit, and joked that mentioning it would cause trouble with his agency. As he spoke candidly about wanting to be honest with fans, he used profanity and made an obscene hand gesture, which some viewers criticized. When fans asked him to end the broadcast, he replied, “Why would I turn it off? Please don’t tell me what to do.” Clip

BTS

The older brother of late f(x) member and actress Sulli has released a previously unseen video of the star, following earlier posts of childhood photos that moved fans. On Feb. 28, Choi Geon-hee uploaded a clip to his personal channel with the caption “gift.” The video shows Sulli outdoors on a sidewalk, wearing a pale pink silk top, black pants and flip-flops, with her long hair down. She performs a playful stretch-like pose, lifting one leg to touch her arm. Days earlier, he had posted a childhood photo of Sulli with the caption, “Why do you cry so sadly with a smiling face,” drawing emotional responses from fans who said they missed her and thanked him for sharing memories. Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, died on Oct. 14, 2019, at age 25. She started her career as a child actor in the 2005 SBS drama “Ballad of Seodong” and debuted in f(x) in 2009, later pursuing both music and acting. Her brother drew attention last year with claims related to her appearance in the film “Real,” keeping public discussion around her career and legacy active among fans. This article from Xportsne

K-pop idols often find themselves at the center of controversies they did not necessarily intend to ignite. For global icons such as G-Dragon, even a brief remark onstage can reverberate far beyond its original context. During the Krazy Super Concert held Feb. 17 at Dubai Media City Amphitheater in the United Arab Emirates, G-Dragon greeted fans by saying “Lunar New Year” — a phrase that later drew backlash from some Chinese fans. The date coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday and G-Dragon u

Danielle, the former NewJeans member embroiled in a contract dispute with her agency, has been spotted in public overseas for the first time in weeks, prompting an outpouring of fan support online. A short video posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on March 1 showed Danielle at the Tokyo Marathon venue in Japan. The poster said the woman in a white cap and sunglasses was Danielle, while the man beside her in a green jacket was actor Lee Si-woo. Danielle holds a South Korean flag in one hand and a white banner in the other while looking toward the camera. She is known for her enthusiasm for running and has previously participated in the celebrity running crew “Unknown” alongside singer Sean. She reportedly attended the event to cheer on runners, including Sean. Fans reacted warmly, writing comments such as “We support you,” “So happy to see her smiling,” and “Hope she returns soon.” Danielle was removed from NewJeans in December after agency ADOR terminated her exclusive contract and filed a 43.1 billion won ($32.3 million) damages and penalty lawsuit again

NewJeans

Images claiming to show Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany Young and actor Byun Yo-han’s wedding shoot spread rapidly online — before being confirmed as artificial intelligence (AI)-generated fakes. The couple recently registered their marriage, making them legally married, when alleged wedding photos began circulating across social media and online communities under the title “Tiffany–Byun Yo-han wedding photos.” The images depicted Tiffany in a pink-toned wedding dress and Byun in a pink suit, posing with Girls’ Generation members as if in an official wedding shoot. Some viewers said the photos looked like “movie stills,” while others questioned whether they were AI composites. Xportsnews reporting confirmed the images were created using artificial intelligence and were not based on any real photo shoot. No official wedding pictorial involving the couple and other Girls’ Generation members has taken place. The case highlights growing concern over hyperrealistic AI imagery spreading online, particularly around high-interest topics such as celebrity relationships and marri

Tiffany

For Infinite leader Kim Sungkyu, the tagline of his upcoming album, is not about dramatic reinvention. Instead the phrase — “Off the map. Onto my path” — reflects where he stands now: A veteran K-pop artist returning after three years away, guided by his own creative choices and a renewed sense of gratitude. Kim’s sixth EP, “Off the Map,” arrives Monday. Since his last solo release in 2023, he has remained active through Infinite’s 15th anniversary promotions, group concerts, musicals and appear