The Boyz' Juhaknyeon to take break for personal reasonsJuhaknyeon, a member of the K-pop boy band The Boyz, will temporarily halt all activities due to personal reasons, the group's agency said Monday. "We inform you that The Boyz member Juhaknyeon will be suspending his activities due to personal circumstances," One Hundred Label said in a statement. "We apologize for causing concern among the fans with this sudden news and ask for your generous understanding." The agency did not disclose further details regarding the nature or duration of the hiatus. Juhaknyeon debuted with The Boyz in 2017. The 11-member group has built a sizable fan base both in South Korea and internationally with chart-topping tracks, including "Thrill Ride" and "Maverick." The group joined One Hundred Label in December after parting ways with IST Entertainment.Jun 16, 2025By Yonhap
ReviewIrene & Seulgi's first solo concert proves Red Velvet's legacy transcends lineupRed Velvet's iconic duo, Irene & Seulgi, proved over the weekend that the group's signature elegance and performance power remain unshaken, even as its members move forward on different paths. The two held their first standalone unit concert, "2025 IRENE & SEULGI Concert Tour 'BALANCE,'" at Seoul's Olympic Hall over the weekend, marking the opening of the duo's Asia tour and their first full concert since debuting as a Red Velvet subunit five years ago. The event came on the heels of April's bittersweet announcement that only Irene, Joy and Seulgi had renewed their contracts with SM Entertainment, while Wendy and Yeri had joined other agencies. Though SM emphasized that Red Velvet was not disbanding, the news left many fans grieving the uncertain future of the group. On social media, some even described the group's most recent track, "Cosmic" — with its emotional lyrics, delicate bridge and soaring climax — as the most perfect "disbandment song." But the Irene & Seulgi concert sent a different message: that Red Velvet's artistry would persist, regardless of its current form. The 4,000Jun 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Brand behind BTS member Jungkook’s controversial hat denies political messageThe fashion brand behind a hat worn by BTS member Jungkook has apologized for sparking controversy but denied any political intent in the design. The backlash erupted after Jungkook was spotted wearing a cap bearing the phrase “MAKE TOKYO GREAT AGAIN” during a rehearsal for J-Hope’s solo world tour encore concert held at Goyang Stadium on Friday. The phrase, adapted from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, has been frequently used by Japanese far-right figures, drawing criticism over its perceived nationalist connotations. Following the incident, Japanese streetwear brand BASICKS issued a statement on social media on Saturday. “We sincerely apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable,” the brand said, while maintaining that the design was not intended to convey any political stance. “We believe in the freedom to express ideas through fashion," it said. "The design was not meant to convey any political stance, rather it was an iconic way to express our hopes for a thriving Tokyo fashion scene.” Jungkook, who was discharged from mandatoJun 16, 2025By Hankookilbo
ENHYPEN's new album debuts at No. 3 on Billboard 200K-pop boy group ENHYPEN has debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the main albums chart in the United States, with its latest release. According to a chart preview published by Billboard on Sunday (local time), ENHYPEN 's "Desire: Unleash" ranked third behind U.S. pop stars Morgan Wallen and Lil Wayne. It marks the group's fifth entry into the chart's top 10 — a notable achievement that underscores its growing international presence. ENHYPEN has placed every one of its five most recent albums within the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Its highest ranking to date was No. 2, achieved with its previous release, the second full-length album "Romance: Untold." The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical album sales, track equivalent albums and streaming equivalent albums. Enhypen earned 100,000 album units, including 95,000 from physical album sales, during the latest chart tracking week.Jun 16, 2025By Yonhap
Singer Yoon Ddan Ddan denies ex-wife’s abuse claims, admits emotional affairSinger-songwriter Yoon Ddan Ddan has broken his silence and issued a statement denying allegations of domestic abuse and infidelity made by his ex-wife, singer Eunjong, earlier this week. In a post shared on his social media on Saturday, Yoon responded to the claims that sparked widespread criticism online after Eunjong publicly accused him of violence and cheating during their marriage. “There were times when our disagreements escalated into verbal and physical altercations. I acknowledge that I resorted to physical force, but it was in response to repeated verbal and physical abuse from her as well,” he wrote. Yoon also addressed financial matters in the marriage, claiming he was the sole breadwinner. “Despite receiving a salary and over 5 million won ($3,600) a month for personal expenses, my ex-wife often said it wasn’t enough,” he said. “She frequently demanded a divorce, but I tried to hold on because it was my choice to marry and I wanted to protect our family.” Regarding the accusation of infidelity, Yoon admitted to having emotionally engaged with another person.Jun 16, 2025By Hankookilbo
NCT’s Doyoung wraps Seoul solo concert, opens new chapter with ‘Doors’NCT’s Doyoung concluded the Seoul leg of his second solo concert series “Doors” on Sunday, opening a new chapter in his growing musical identity and reaffirming his bond with fans through powerful performances and heartfelt reflection. Held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium from Friday to Sunday, the three-night concert marked the start of Doyoung’s second Asia tour. The event sold out all seats, including limited-view tickets, with a total of 18,000 fans attending over three days. Emerging from a stage shaped like a door — the concert’s central motif — Doyoung opened the show with “Wake from the Dark,” followed by rich performances of “Dallas Love Field,” “From Little Wave” and “Firefly.” He introduced the concert as a symbolic journey of memories and emotions unlocked by passing through the “doors of remembrance.” “I wasn’t sure this day would come, but it’s the final show,” he said, describing the concert as a return to his happiest memories, symbolized by opening with “Dallas Love Field” in the encore. “Even though this is a Doyoung concert, itJun 16, 2025By Hankookilbo
Underdog boy bands eye redemption through 'BOYS II PLANET'In the glittering world of K-pop, not every idol gets their moment in the spotlight. This July, members of underdog boy groups, including VERIVERY, WEi, DKB and DRIPPIN, will compete for a second shot at stardom in Mnet's upcoming survival show "BOYS II PLANET." The new program follows contestants from two symbolic "planets" — "K" for Korea and "C" for China. Finalists from each side will ultimately unite on "BOYS II PLANET," where they will vie for a spot in a new global boy band. Produced by Mnet, the network behind popular audition shows that launched groups like I.O.I, IZ*ONE, Wanna One and ZeroBaseOne, the new series has also drawn a diverse pool of contestants that includes active idol group members alongside rookie trainees. Among the familiar names are Dongheon, Gyehyeon and Kangmin of VERIVERY, a seven-member group that debuted in 2018. Though the group previously reached the finals of Mnet's "Road to Kingdom" in 2020, the group struggled to maintain momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim Jun-seo of six-member boy band WEi is returning to the survival show scene as well. HJun 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
524,000 fans attend BTS J-Hope's world tour: agencyAround 54,000 fans attended BTS member J-Hope's recent two-day Seoul encore concert of his world tour, "Hope on the Stage," bringing total attendance for his world tour to over 520,000, his agency said Sunday. J-Hope held the two-day concert at the main arena of Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province on Friday and Saturday, marking the final leg of his world tour that began in February with a concert at an Olympic Park arena in eastern Seoul. Jin and Jungkook appeared onstage as guest artists on Friday, while the other members — RM, Suga, Jimin and V — watched from the audience. During his four-month world tour, J-Hope held 33 concerts in 16 cities across the world, drawing a total of 524,000 fans, BigHit Music said. BTS is preparing to return to the music scene with all seven members following a nearly three-year hiatus, as Suga is set to complete his military service on June 21, making him the last member to do so.Jun 15, 2025By Yonhap
BTS' J-Hope tops iTunes chart in 61 countries with 'Killin' It Girl'J-Hope of K-pop boy group BTS reached No. 1 on the iTunes top song chart in over 60 nations with his new single "Killin' It Girl" (feat. GloRilla), BigHit Music said Saturday. The single, released Friday, topped the category in 61 nations, including Australia, Brazil, Denmark and France, as well as the worldwide and the European iTunes song charts. A solo version of the song ranked second on the worldwide and European iTunes charts. The song's music video also reached YouTube Trending Music Videos' top 10 chart in 38 countries, including the United States and Britain. BigHit has described the single, which features American rapper and singer GloRilla, as a hip-hop song with an addictive hook that candidly captures the thrill of falling in love.Jun 14, 2025By Yonhap
Woman arrested for defacing over 10 Seoul sites with graffiti insulting BoAA woman in her 30s has been detained by police for defacing public property across Seoul with graffiti insulting K-pop singer BoA. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station said on Friday that it brought the suspect in for questioning around 10:30 p.m. the previous day on charges of property damage and defamation. According to police, the woman is accused of leaving offensive messages alongside BoA’s name at more than 10 locations, including public transportation stops, media poles and utility boxes in the districts of Gangnam, Gwangjin and Gangdong. The case gained public attention after multiple eyewitness reports and photos of the graffiti surfaced on online communities starting June 10. SM Entertainment, BoA’s agency, filed a formal complaint with police, citing property damage and defamation. “We plan to question the suspect about the motive and circumstances of the offense,” a police official said. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.Jun 13, 2025By Hankookilbo
