Seoul Travel Searches Surge 155% Following BTS’s Full-Lineup Return
Within 48 hours of the announcement that BTS would return in their full lineup after approximately four years, search volumes for trips to Seoul from abroad surged by 155%.…
NMIXX Unveils “TIC TIC” at Brazilian Carnival, Captivating 2 Million Viewers
NMIXX will release its new song “TIC TIC” on February 26 (noon) featuring Brazilian artist Pablo Vita. This marks their second collaboration six months after releasing the joint track “MEXE” in August of last year.
HYBE AMERICA Renames BMLG as Blue Highway Records
HYBE AMERICA has carried out a major restructuring of music labels in the Nashville area. The existing BMLG (Big Machine Label Group) was rebranded as Blue Highway Records, with industry veteran Basden appointed as the n…
Jo Jun-young Says His SM Trainee Experience Was a “Weapon, Not Regret”—He Still Keeps in Touch with RIIZE Occasionally
Actor Jo Jun-young revealed that he was once an idol trainee at SM Entertainment and reflected on that period of his life.…
K-Pop’s Big Three Accelerate Global Star Hunt... YG, SM, and HYBE Launch New Talent Scouting Strategies
Following the success of BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids, major entertainment companies have stepped up efforts to discover the next generation of K-pop global stars.…
Hearts2Hearts Claims 9 New Artist Awards, Setting a Record for Most Wins in 2025 Debutants
The group Hearts2Hearts has achieved 9 wins in the new artist category. Following 7 new artist trophies won at various music awards last year, SM Entertainment added more wins in the new artist category at the recently h…
Former BTS Members Complete Military Service; New Album “ARIRANG” to Be Released in March Amid Largest Tour Yet
All seven former members of BTS have finished their military service. HYBE has positioned this as its top priority for 2026, with BTS set to release its fifth studio album, “ARIRANG,” on March 20.
BTS to Release Fifth Studio Album “Arirang” on March 20, Holding Comeback Concert at Gwanghwamun Plaza
BTS will release its fifth studio album, “Arirang,” on March 20, with all seven members who have completed their military service participating.…
NewJeans’ Minzy’s London Sighting Spreads Online
Recent posts on the social media platform Threads and various online communities have shared sightings of two Korean women encountered in London.…
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ITZY Holds Third World Tour Concert in Seoul to Mark 7th Debut Anniversary
ITZY held its third world tour “TUNNEL VISION” solo concert from the 13th to the 15th at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul.…
SM’s 30th Anniversary SMTOWN LIVE Closes Global Tour in Bangkok
SM Entertainment’s global concert brand ‘SMTOWN LIVE’ came to a spectacular close in Bangkok, Thailand. To mark its 30th anniversary last year, SM organized the ‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025-26’ global tour, which began in Seoul in…
BTS and BLACKPINK Strengthen K-pop’s Global Influence Through Cultural Heritage
The two K-pop giants BTS and BLACKPINK are simultaneously launching large-scale projects centered on Korean cultural heritage.…
How Second-Hand Trading Platforms Are Shaping K-Pop Fan Culture – What Agencies Are Missing
The cultural and economic activities of K-Pop fandoms are expanding to new levels through second-hand trading platforms.…
ATEEZ Wins Four Awards at the 33rd Hanteo Music Awards
The group ATEEZ received four awards, including Artist of the Year/Daesang, at the “33rd Hanteo Music Awards 2025 (HMA 2025)” held on the afternoon of February 15 at the KSPO Dome in Seoul Olympic Park.…
Netflix Animation “KPop Demon Hunters” OST Remains Successful on British Charts as Composer Lee Jae Wins Grammy
The original soundtrack for Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” continues to perform strongly on British music charts. Three tracks from the OST have made it into the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100.
BLACKPINK Makes First National Museum Collaboration in K-Pop History ... From Pink Lighting to Audio Guides
BLACKPINK is undertaking the first large-scale official collaboration with a national museum as a K-pop idol group.…
BTS Returns in Full Formation with “ARIRANG” After 3 Years and 9 Months
BTS is set to make a comeback in its full lineup of seven members for the first time in 3 years and 9 months. The group will release its fifth studio album, “ARIRANG,” on March 20, followed by a free reunion concert at G…
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J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” Achieves Best New Release Performance in 11 Months; Bad Bunny Capitalizes on Super Bowl Success as K-Pop Groups Also Make Top 10 Debut
The U.S. Billboard 200 chart saw intense competition across various genres this week. The best performance by a new R&B/hip-hop release, a new record for Latin pop, and debuts by K-pop groups all occurred simultaneously.
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ENHYPEN Shares Seollal Greetings in Hanbok, Releases Music Videos for Three Tracks
The group ENHYPEN released a 2026 Seollal greeting video to express their bond with fans, known as ENGEN. Their agency, Billliephub, posted the video at noon on February 15 across ENHYPEN’s official social media platform…
SM Trainees SMTR25 Participate in Mnet Variety Show Featuring Generation Comparisons from 1990s to 2010s
The 15 trainees from SM Entertainment who are set to make their Debut, known as SMTR25, appeared on Mnet’s variety show “Reply High School.” The program showcased decades of cultural differences between the 1990s and 201…
CORTIS Makes NBA All-Star Debut, Seonghwa Participates as Torch Bearer for 2026 Winter Olympics…Further Boosting K-pop’s Global Presence
K-pop’s global influence is expanding into the realm of sports. The boy band CORTIS, under Big Hit Music, performed on the halftime stage of the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Califo…
K-POP Drives Shift in Valentine’s Day Culture, Redefining It Around Self-Love and Friendship
K-POP has emerged as the dominant cultural force behind this year’s Valentine’s Day. Moving beyond simple romantic relationships between lovers, Korean idols are shaping this day for global fans by emphasizing the value…
Photo The White House / Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
New and Established Girl Groups Compete After Spring Festival Break … Hearts2Hearts, IVE, and BLACKPINK Return One After Another
With the end of the Spring Festival holiday, a series of comeback releases from various girl groups are set to take place.…
EXO’s Third Seoul Concert Showcases Full Sell-Outs as “REVERXE” Dominates Charts in 47 Global Regions
As EXO continues to dominate the global music market with their eighth studio album “REVERXE,” released on January 19, all tickets for their sixth solo concert in Seoul have been sold out.
BTS Begins Intensive Studio Work in Los Angeles After Completing Military Service
The seven members of BTS moved to Los Angeles shortly after finishing their military service in mid-2025 and began living together in one house to start new music projects.…