Today in K-Pop

Boy group And2ble uploaded its first batch of photographs as a team, agency YH Entertainment announced Tuesday. The five members — Zhang Hao, Yoo Seungeon, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin — are slated to begin activities as the new group on May 26. Yoo had debuted as part of Evnne, a seven-member group formed through the audition show Boys Planet, in 2023. He left the project group in January, teaming up with former Zerobaseone members to form And2ble. Zerobaseone, comprising nine members, was a

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For Dayoung, her new solo EP “What’s a girl to do” is more than just a comeback. It’s shaped by the music style she practiced with during her trainee years and the kind of artist she wants to become. Set for release on Tuesday, Dayoung’s second EP, “What’s a girl to do,” marks a stylistic shift from her previous EP “Gonna love me, right?” drawing more heavily on early-2000s R&B and dance-pop influences. “I have a lot of nostalgia for that era,” said Dayoung during a round table interview in sout

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An accident at a K-pop group Super Junior concert sparked concern after several fans fell from the stands, while member Ryeowook drew praise for staying with injured concert attendees. The incident occurred on April 5, the final day of the group’s three-day encore concert for its 20th anniversary tour “Super Show 10,” held at the KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Olympic Park. According to reports, the accident happened toward the end of the show, when band members moved closer to the audience. As Ryeowook approached the stands and reached out, a temporary safety fence collapsed, causing three fans to fall. Footage and eyewitness accounts captured the moment, with Ryeowook seen clutching his head in shock. Fans at the venue said Ryeowook quickly called for safety staff and later accompanied the injured fans to the hospital. One of the fans involved shared an update on social media, saying, “Thank you to everyone who was concerned. Thankfully, X-rays and CT scans showed no serious injuries.” The fan added, “Only two guardians were allowed into the examination room, so I thought the members

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"I really thought only my mom and I would buy my album." It's a blunt admission from Dayoung, the youngest member of K-pop girl group WJSN, but one that frames the unlikely path she’s taken over the past year. When the singer quietly made her solo debut last September with "gonna love me right?" and its viral lead single, "body," she wasn’t thinking about chart success or viral traction. If anything, she was bracing for the worst. "I didn’t have enough confidence," she said during an interview with The Korea Times at Starship Entertainment headquarters, the singer's management label, Thursday. "I was worried if I release physical albums, they would just sit in storage. I didn’t want to get heartbroken by that." Instead, "body" did the exact opposite. The track began to pick up momentum as listeners responded to both its energy and her raw delivery. What started as a cautious solo experiment quickly turned into a defining moment. "I didn’t expect that kind of love at all," the singer said. "But because of that, I got the chance to release another album. That’s something I’m r

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After making a striking solo debut with “Body” in September, girl group WJSN’s Dayoung is returning with a follow-up that aims not to repeat that success, but to move in a different direction. Dayoung’s second solo EP, “What’s a Girl To Do,” released Tuesday, follows the strong performance of her first solo, which marked a breakout moment and helped establish her as an act distinct from her image in WJSN. With the new EP, Dayoung further expands her role as a solo artist, taking part in writing

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Wanna One marked the launch of its reality show, “Wanna One Go: Back to Base,” in a meet-and-greet event with fans in Seoul on Monday. Nine members of the 11-piece act assembled for the “opening ceremony” at the exact venue they used to exchange greetings with fans when they participated in the second season of K-pop competition “Produce 101,” donning gray uniforms that hark back to the 2017 show. Kang Daniel and Lai Kuanlin were absent — the former as he has enlisted for his mandatory military

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Monsta X shared plans for the North American leg of its “The X: Nexus” tour via agency Starship Entertainment on Tuesday. The group will visit 10 cities in the US and Canada, starting in Fairfax, Virginia, on Oct. 3. Tour stops include New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as Toronto. The group of six kicked off the tour with three shows in Seoul in January. On the last day of the Seoul show, I.M cut his hair on stage. He enlisted the following month. The remaining bandmates a

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With 200,000 followers on TikTok under the account @dancingbora, Lee Chae-hyun is widely recognized by BTS fans. As a remarkable dancer, ARMYs from around the world seek her classes to learn the moves to the globally famous idol group's songs. Without talent, she would not have made it this far, but there was one other key element. "If it is anything that can promote BTS, I will do it," Lee said without hesitation, when contacted for a visit to her studio for an interview. Her sincerity for the seven-member group is behind the studio’s name Dancing Bora. “Bora” means purple in Korean, a reference to the official color of BTS’ fandom. For Lee, becoming a fan of BTS changed the course of her life. Having majored in musical theater, she performed for a while but found it wasn't right for her and moved on to run a small restaurant with her mom. But then she encountered BTS in 2017. With a passion for dancing, she began uploading her cover dance videos in 2018 to BTS fan communities, back when it was known BTS members kept an eye on these sites. Fans started requesting she teach them,

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A taxi driver who attempted to overcharge a member of K-pop group TXT has been suspended from operating, after the incident sparked backlash both in South Korea and the Philippines. According to a report aired Monday on JTBC’s “Chief Investigator,” member Soobin was targeted in a taxi fare scam while traveling in Cebu, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines. The incident was originally revealed through the group’s official YouTube channel, where Soobin shared footage of a trip to Cebu with a friend. After arriving at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the two took a taxi to their accommodation. Before boarding, Soobin had checked that the expected fare was around 300 pesos ($5.30). However, the driver initially demanded 500 pesos, then raised the price mid-ride, claiming fuel costs were high and asking for 1,000 pesos. The driver continued to push for a higher fare, but after a tense exchange, Soobin ultimately agreed to pay 500 pesos — still significantly above the expected price. The video quickly spread online, drawing criticism not only from fans but also from loca

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A growing crisis at K-pop agency One Hundred Label and its subsidiary Big Planet Made Entertainment is triggering a wave of artist departures, with singer-actor Lee Seung-gi becoming the latest to terminate his contract. On Monday, Lee’s legal representative said that he notified the agency of contract termination in late March, citing violations of the exclusive agreement. The contract has been “lawfully terminated,” his side said. Big Planet Made said it is “doing its best to normalize management as quickly as possible” and added that it is continuing discussions to resolve the matter amicably. At the center of Lee’s departure are allegations of unpaid staff costs. According to his side, “Despite various issues surrounding the agency and some unpaid settlement amounts, we tried to maintain trust. However, problems arose in supporting entertainment activities and paying staff and external vendors.” Lee is not alone. Several artists have either left or are seeking to leave the agency, fueling what fans are calling a “mass exodus.” K-pop boy band The Boyz is currently d

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"Swim," the lead track from BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang," has slipped one spot to No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard's main singles chart. The upbeat alternative pop track came in behind chart-topper Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of April 11, according to a Billboard preview released Monday (U.S. time). Meanwhile, the 14-track album ruled the Billboard 200 albums chart for two consecutive weeks, making history for a K-pop act to achieve the feat. "Arirang" explores the identity of BTS as a group that began in Korea and the universal emotions its members have encountered throughout their lives. "Swim" is an upbeat alternative pop song about navigating life's challenges, with lyrics co-written by the group's front man, RM.

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SEOUL. April 7 (Yonhap) -- "Swim," the lead track from BTS' fifth studio album "...

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The lives of veteran K-pop group Shinhwa members and their families have suddenly become a hot topic online, as a series of updates — from a wedding to personal struggles — spark widespread attention. The buzz began with member Lee Min-woo, who married his partner Lee A-mi on March 29. The wedding drew congratulations from fans, especially as Lee had already become a father of two after welcoming a daughter last year. Most Shinhwa members attended the ceremony, with Jun Jin and Andy Lee taking on hosting duties. However, the absence of Shin Hye-sung quickly became a talking point. Shin has largely stayed out of the public eye since his 2022 drunk driving case. He has since halted outside activities. Adding to the attention, a group photo from the wedding featuring members and their spouses spread across social media. Eric Mun, Kim Dong-wan, Andy Lee and Jun Jin appeared alongside their wives, including actress Na Hye-mi and Ryu Yi-seo. Eric, who has not appeared in a drama for six years, drew particular attention for his noticeably fuller appearance while holding his child, with fans

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In its second week on Billboard’s Hot 100, BTS lead single “Swim” backstroked down a rung to No. 2, according to the chart preview published Monday in the US. The single made a chart-topping debut on the main songs chart the previous week and has since maintained the top spot in terms of digital sales. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” returned to the top spot of the Hot 100 for a fifth week since it was released in February. “Swim” is the main track from the band’s fifth studio album “Arirang,” w

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"Swim," the lead track from BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang," has slipped one spot to No. 2 on the US Billboard's main singles chart. The upbeat alternative pop track came in behind chart-topper Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of April 11, according to a Billboard preview released Monday (US time). Meanwhile, the 14-track album ruled the Billboard 200 albums chart for two consecutive weeks, making history for a K-pop act to achieve the feat. "Arirang" explo

BTS