RESCENE bottles up berry scent on new mini-album 'lip bomb'K-pop girl group RESCENE is extending its signature scent-themed identity with the arrival of third mini-album "lip bomb," released Tuesday. The five-member act is continuing the fragrance-inspired aesthetic that has shaped its career since debut, but with a concept that blends softness with impact. Since launching in 2024, Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena have built their sonic identity by connecting each release to a scent. The team's February track, "Glow Up," introduced a soap-fresh charm, followed by the summery grass aroma referenced in July's "Dearest." The new record pushes the concept forward with a playful twist. The title "lip bomb" blends the softness of lip balm with the idea of a fragrance bursting open, symbolizing both a berry-sweet linger and the signature charm RESCENE aims to leave behind. "Our music is meant to wrap around listeners gently like berry-scented lip balm," leader Woni said during a media showcase held hours before the official album drop. "We wanted to sweeten someone's day the moment they hear our songs." The mini album features five tracks, led by the douNov 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
EXO marches toward six-member comeback, leaving CBX stuck on sidelinesEXO is moving ahead with a six-member comeback even as controversy continues over whether Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin — collectively known as CBX — will rejoin the group for future activities. Coupang Play’s variety show “Sister Salon” teased the group’s appearance at the end of its Nov. 23 episode, announcing that Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay will be featured in the Nov. 29 broadcast. The lineup reflects the current six-member configuration of EXO’s group promotions. EXO previously told fans that it is preparing its eighth studio album for release in the first quarter of 2026. The announcement drew attention for confirming that only six members — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay — would participate. CBX, active under independent label INB100, is excluded. The six-member fan meeting “EXO’verse” will take place twice on Dec. 14 at Inspire Arena in Incheon, marking the group’s first large-scale fan event in about a year, and eight months since their 12th anniversary gathering. The event will feature hit songs including their winter classic “FiNov 25, 2025By Xportsnews
Min Hee-jin posts photo of Nobel novel about ‘lost honor’ as NewJeans move back to AdorMin Hee-jin, the former chief of Ador and the creative figure widely associated with the rise of NewJeans, has sparked fresh attention after uploading a cryptic image referencing a classic novel about media-driven character destruction. The timing has drawn notice, coming just as all five NewJeans members prepare to return to Ador following months of legal conflict. Min uploaded a single photo to her social media page on Monday without any caption. The image showed the cover of “The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum,” a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Heinrich Böll. Its subtitle — “How violence develops and where it can lead” — directly encapsulates the book’s theme. The novel follows 27-year-old Katharina Blum, whose life is dismantled by sensationalist media and public judgment. Although the story centers on her killing of a tabloid journalist, Böll stresses that the true destruction of her honor stems not from the crime itself but from the press manipulation surrounding it. For many online, the implication of Min’s post was clear. Fans on social media say the timing aNov 25, 2025By Xportsnews
K-pop thrives overseas but struggles at homeK-pop continues to draw massive global audiences, but its presence in the domestic music market appears to be weakening. Even as major entertainment companies post record concert revenue from world tours, industry figures say the Korean market is undergoing a structural shift in the wake of the pandemic. Some observers stop short of calling it a “crisis,” but agree that the domestic landscape is changing while international K-pop projects, including the animated Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters” and various localized groups, enjoy explosive popularity abroad. Album sales, one of the clearest indicators of the industry’s health, show the contrast. K-pop album sales climbed steeply after 2014 and topped 100 million units in 2023, a record high. The market correction that followed the pandemic pushed sales down for the first time in a decade, and the decline is expected to continue this year. “Cumulative sales stood in the low 80 million range as of October, so the full-year total will likely match or fall slightly below last year’s level,” music data journalist Kim Jin-wooNov 25, 2025By Hankookilbo
'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack stays strong on Billboard chartsThe original soundtrack for Netflix's hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has maintained its position within the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard charts. Billboard said Monday (U.S. time) that the film's track "Golden" remained at No. 2 on the Hot 100 singles chart for a second week, while the full soundtrack dropped two spots to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Pop superstar Taylor Swift continued her chart dominance as her latest album "The Life of a Showgirl" and the lead track "The Fate of Ophelia" both retained the top spots on the albums and singles charts for the seventh consecutive week. Billboard noted Swift is the first artist to debut simultaneously at No. 1 on both charts and keep that record unbroken for seven weeks. Mariah Carey's holiday classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You" climbed to No. 8 on the singles chart as the Christmas season approaches. Released in 1994, the track has become a perennial holiday favorite. It had spent a cumulative 18 weeks atop the Hot 100 through last year after first reaching No. 1 in 2019.Nov 25, 2025By Yonhap
TripleS returns with full 24-member lineup in unit-driven album 'Beyond Beauty'With a record-breaking lineup of 24 members, K-pop girl group tripleS returned to the scene Monday with its new album, "Beyond Beauty," introducing four new subunits into the spotlight at once. The units, themed around the "powers of the universe" — Moon, Sun, Neptune and Zenith — pursue four distinct sounds and concepts within a single release. The group's defining system remains unchanged: Global fans determine both the member lineup for each promotion cycle and lead tracks for albums by voting on the group's exclusive COSMO app. Depending on the results, only a handful of members or the entire roster may take the stage, turning the group's massive size into a flexible format. This time, voters selected an all-member promotion under the name tripleS msnz, reflecting their intro track, "Magic Shine New Zone." Within that umbrella, each six-member subunit will run its own track and concept in parallel. Moon brings together Sullin, Jiyeon, Sohyun, Kaede, Shion and Lynn; and the Sun unit consists of Xinyu, Yooyeon, Mayu, Chaewon, Chaeyeon and Hyerin. Neptune includes Seoyeon, Dahyun,Nov 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
NCT Dream hits 10th consecutive million-seller with 'Beat It Up'Boy group NCT Dream has scored its 10th consecutive million-selling album with its latest EP, "Beat It Up," its agency SM Entertainment said Monday. According to data from Hanteo Chart, a local album sales tracker, the album, released last Monday, had sold around 1.06 million copies until Sunday. The achievement extends the group's record of million-selling albums, which began with its first full-length release "Hot Sauce" in 2021. "Beat It Up" marks NCT Dream's sixth EP and features six tracks, including the title song of the same name.Nov 24, 2025By Yonhap
Can GIRLSET's rebrand succeed where VCHA stalled?When JYP Entertainment announced that its first American-market girl group VCHA would return under a new identity in August, some saw it as a second chance, while others saw it as a final gamble. Now operating as GIRLSET, the group has reentered the competitive pop arena with a tightened four-member lineup and a new single, "Little Miss," raising the question that lingered quietly even before the girl group's rebrand: Can this team finally achieve the breakthrough that once seemed within reach? GIRLSET's path has been anything but linear. Formed through the 2023 survival program "A2K" as a joint project between JYP and Republic Records, the group debuted in January 2024 with considerable expectations and just as many doubts. The label positioned them as the earliest proof that the K-pop training model could be relocated and replicated overseas — with international members for an international market — but the discipline and polish of a Korean idol system. But the group's momentum stalled almost as quickly as it began. Member Kaylee paused activities for health reasons in March 2024, fNov 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Stray Kids' 'Do It' becomes million-seller, ranks No. 11 on Spotify global chartBoy band Stray Kids has become a million-seller with its latest album, "Do It," topping domestic charts and achieving new milestones on global streaming platforms, its agency, JYP Entertainment, said Monday. The album's title track, "Do It," had scored more than 3.33 million streams on Spotify as of Friday, ranking 11th on the platform's Daily Top Songs Global chart — the group's highest position yet. In the United States, the track reached No. 13 on the U.S. Daily Top Songs chart, surpassing the group's previous peak of No. 49 set by "Ceremony." "Do It" also topped iTunes Top Songs charts in 20 countries and regions, including Brazil, Sweden and Thailand, as well as the Worldwide and European iTunes charts. The album itself ranked No. 1 on iTunes Top Albums charts in 37 countries and regions, such as Singapore, Canada and France. According to Hanteo Chart data, the album sold about 1.49 million copies on Friday alone, its debut day, becoming an immediate million-seller. The record also led Hanteo's weekly physical albums chart and Circle Chart's weekly retail album list. Stray Kids isNov 24, 2025By Yonhap
RIIZE drops new single 'Fame,' showcasing bold new styleK-pop boy group RIIZE released its new single album "Fame" on Monday, six months after its first full-length album, "Odyssey," was released in May. The single features three tracks spanning diverse styles, including the title track, "Fame," an R&B pop song called "Something's in the Water" and "Sticky Like," a pop rock dance number that portrays pure love. "Fame" marks RIIZE's first venture into the rage hip-hop genre, a subgenre of hip-hop that incorporates electronic music elements for a powerful, energetic sound. The group delivers explosive choreography alongside lyrics that emphasize a message about valuing shared love over fame. "This style is something RIIZE has never done before, so it feels fresh," member Shotaro said in a release. "We hope people enjoy the cool and free vibe." Fellow member Eunseok added: "The song gave me a dark yet powerful first impression. I hope listeners reflect on what matters most to them."Nov 24, 2025By Yonhap
