Today in K-Pop

Mark of K-pop boy band NCT will terminate his contract with SM Entertainment and leave the group, the agency said Friday. The decision, effective next Wednesday, was made "after sufficient and deep discussions with Mark for a long time," the company said. The artist made his debut in 2016 as part of NCT and has actively performed across the group's sub-units, including NCT 127 and NCT Dream. In April last year, he also made his mark as a solo artist with his album "The Firstfruit." "Mark has been a remarkable artist over the last 10 years, demonstrating outstanding abilities both as a group member and as a solo artist," SM said, adding it wishes the artist well on his new journey.

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After BTS, one of the biggest names in K-pop, returned last month with its fifth studio album wrapped in Korean cultural symbols, one detail drew particular attention beyond the music — how much of the songs were sung, partly if not entirely, in English? The group's latest release, "ARIRANG," takes its title from Korea's best-known folk song and threads Korean identity through its visuals, sonic references and even its recent comeback stage at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. But behind the scenes, the album reflected a tension that is becoming increasingly visible across the K-pop industry. In a recently unveiled Netflix documentary tied to the project, BTS' leader RM was seen raising concerns about the album's heavy use of English lyrics, questioning whether a project centered on Korean identity could remain "authentic" if much of it was not in Korean. Fellow member Suga also suggested increasing the number of Korean lines. Their label executives, however, emphasized a different priority — global reach. That exchange landed at a moment when English has become more prominent tha

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Mark, a Korean Canadian member of NCT under SM Entertainment, will leave both the group and the agency after deciding not to renew his exclusive contract, the company said Friday. The announcement came as a surprise to fans, as the details of Mark’s contract period had not been publicly disclosed and there had been no prior indication of his departure. “After a long period of careful and thoughtful discussion with Mark regarding his future activities, we have mutually agreed to conclude his excl

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SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Mark of K-pop boy band NCT will terminate his contrac...

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Santos Bravos, a Latin pop boy group under Hybe, is set to make its first appearance on Korean music shows since its debut. According to Hybe Latin America, the group will arrive in Korea on Friday and stay for about three weeks to carry out various promotional activities, including performances on local music programs. “Promoting in Korea, the birthplace of K-pop, is a meaningful challenge for us,” Santos Bravos said. “We want to present great performances with respect while proudly showcasing

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BTS will drop a new single, "Come Over," as part of an LP version of their "Arirang" album, BigHit Music said Friday. The new vinyl record will feature all 14 songs from the fifth studio album, along with the new song dedicated to their fans, ARMY, which will be available exclusively on the LP, according to the company. Member Suga participated in producing the song, with RM and J-hope contributing to the songwriting. Meanwhile, the group will embark on the "BTS World Tour Arirang" in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on April 11 and continue in major cities around the world through 2027.

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SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Mark of K-pop boy band NCT will terminate his contrac...

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Tomorrow X Together uploaded a trailer for its upcoming eighth EP “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns,” on Friday. Dubbed “A Thorn: Untold Stories,” the teaser clip set in a dystopian background captures the five members in the calm before a storm. The mini album is slated to be released on April 13, but the fivesome unveiled all six tracks to the audience at a listening party it held in Seoul on March 31. Taehyun and Huening Kai surprised fans at the event, making an appearance witho

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V of BTS reached 10 million followers on TikTok in the shortest time for a Korean entertainer. He was found to have opened an account on March 13, when Jungkook chose to unfollow all but three people: BTS, J-Hope and an account that turned out to be V’s. V’s account surpassed 1 million followers that day and 10 million on April 1. The artist uploaded his first video on March 24 showing himself, J-Hope and Jungkook, dancing to Bxndz’s “Bunny Girl Hoodtrap,” drawing 1 million views in less than ha

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SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Singer-actor T.O.P, a former member of boy group BIGB...

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SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- BTS will drop a new single, "Come Over," as part of a...

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Singer-actor T.O.P, a former member of boy group BIGBANG, is set to release his first solo studio album, "Another Dimension," his agency said Friday. The 11-track album, set to be released at 6 p.m., features double lead singles "Studio54" and "Desperado." It marks his first full-length solo album since his debut in 2006, according to Topspot Pictures. T.O.P oversaw production of the entire album alongside acclaimed Italian music producer and sound engineer IRKO, with "Squid Game" art director Chae Kyoung-sun also participating in the project. In a recent interview with GQ magazine in Hong Kong, T.O.P said he has focused on creating music over the past decade, describing the time "extremely constructive." As an actor, his most recent appearance was as Thanos in Season 2 of Netflix's hit series "Squid Game."

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BTS will drop a new single, "Come Over," as part of an LP version of their "Arirang" album, BigHit Music said Friday. The new vinyl record will feature all 14 songs from the fifth studio album, along with the new song dedicated to their fans, ARMY, which will be available exclusively on the LP, according to the company. Member Suga participated in producing the song, with RM and J-hope contributing to the songwriting. Meanwhile, the group will embark on the "BTS World Tour Arirang" in Goyang, no

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T.O.P has made a long-awaited return with his first full-length album, released Friday. It marks his first solo release in 13 years since “Doom Dada.” The rapper released “Another Dimension” along with the music video for one of its two main tracks, “Desperado.” “Desperado” delivers a candid and direct portrayal of love, with a minimalist music video that focuses on the track’s intense mood and T.O.P’s nuanced emotional expression. “For almost 10 years, I focused solely on making music,” T.O.P s

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Mamamoo announced the destinations for its international tour, which will begin in June, via agency RBW Entertainment Friday. The group of four will kick off the tour with three shows in Seoul starting June 19. It will be followed by four stops in Southeast Asia, and then the US leg, which includes seven cities. In October, the quartet will resume the tour in Hong Kong and more shows will be added later. The tour is part of its plans to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Mamamoo's debut. Before l

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NewJeans achieved 900 million plays on Spotify with its 2022 hit “Ditto,” said agency Ador Friday. It's the group’s second song to pass the milestone, after “OMG.” “Ditto” is a B-side track from its single album “OMG,” which was released in December 2022. The dance tune landed its first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK’s Official Singles Top 100, ranking No. 82 and No. 95, respectively. The quintet made the Hot 100 in the fastest time for a Korean artist -- six months after its debut --

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Eunhyuk, a member of K-pop boy band Super Junior, has donated a combined 200 million won ($133,000) to medical research and child welfare causes, marking his birthday with twin contributions announced Friday. He gave 100 million won to Samsung Medical Center to support research into severe and intractable lung diseases, the hospital said. The funds will be used to advance treatment methods and drug development. In a statement, Eunhyuk said he hoped the donation would offer “even a small help” to

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