BTS, TWICE and BLACKPINK return: K-pop’s biggest names set for major comebackSome of K-pop’s most iconic acts are gearing up for long-awaited comebacks, drawing intense global attention from fans across the world. First up is BTS, whose members are nearing the end of their mandatory military service. RM and V will be discharged on Tuesday, followed by Jimin and Jungkook on Wednesday. Suga, who has been serving as a public service worker, will complete his alternative service on June 21. This marks the official end of the group’s military hiatus. The oldest member, Jin, completed his service in December 2022, and J-Hope followed suit last year. With all members set to reunite this month, industry watchers anticipate a full group comeback either by the end of this year or early next year. Both Jin and J-Hope have been actively pursuing solo projects — from albums and tours to variety show appearances — maintaining their popularity and presence. Now, with BTS preparing to return as a full group, attention is building around what’s next for the global superstars. TWICE, now performing at stadium-scale venues, is also set to return on July 11. While the grouJun 5, 2025By Xportsnews
K-pop eyes China market as Lee's election raises hopes for end of Hallyu banPresident Lee Jae-myung’s pledge to boost Korea’s cultural industry has sparked renewed optimism in the K-pop sector, with many seeing it as a possible signal that the long-standing "hanhanryeong" — China’s unofficial ban on Korean entertainment, or hallyu — may soon be lifted. “K-culture is economy and national competitiveness. I will further grow Korea’s cultural industry,” Lee said during his inauguration speech on Wednesday, promising to make Korea a country where culture thrives. By emphasizing culture as a driver of economic growth and international competitiveness, Lee’s remarks, combined with his focus on pragmatic diplomacy, have raised expectations of improved Seoul-Beijing ties, potentially reopening a Chinese market that has remained largely closed to K-pop since 2016 under the hallyu ban. China-facing strategies Some K-pop agencies have already begun preparing. On April 2, HYBE established a local subsidiary, HYBE China, in Beijing — its fourth overseas branch following those in Japan, the U.S. and Latin America. While HYBE said that it currently has no imJun 5, 2025By Hankookilbo
Girl group USPEER debuts with bold ambition: ‘Our goal is Coachella’USPEER, the first new girl group from WM Entertainment in 10 years, officially made their debut on Wednesday with a media showcase held at SBS Prism Tower in Seoul to celebrate the release of their debut single, “SPEED ZONE.” The group name, a blend of “US” (representing unity) and “PEER” (meaning to look or inquire), symbolizes the group’s mission to seek truth, understand the essence of the world and build a better future together. Through their music, USPEER aims to communicate with global fans and form a shared connection. Their debut single “SPEED ZONE” uses speed as a metaphor for the group’s energy and vitality, capturing the journey of seven girls — Soee, Chaena, Daon, Sian, Seoyou, Roa, and Yeowon — as they step onto the starting line and begin to move forward at their own pace. The album reflects themes of self-assurance, growth and a positive, driven identity. Carrying torch from Oh My Girl As WM Entertainment’s first girl group since Oh My Girl debuted a decade ago, USPEER faces high expectations, but the members are determined to focus on showing thJun 5, 2025By Hankookilbo
EXO’s Baekhyun proves global power with Billboard success and sold-out solo tourEXO’s Baekhyun has once again demonstrated his global influence, landing on four major Billboard charts with his latest release and selling out venues for his first solo world tour. According to his agency INB100, Baekhyun’s fifth mini album, "Essence of Reverie," released on May 19, has achieved significant milestones on the Billboard charts dated Saturday. He ranked No. 1 on the Emerging Artists chart, No. 4 on Top Album Sales, No. 35 on Billboard Artists and made his debut on the Billboard 200 at No. 121, a notable feat for a solo K-pop act. Upon release, the album topped iTunes Top Albums charts in 24 regions, while its title track “Elevator” ranked No. 1 on the Top Songs chart in 14 regions. The album also surpassed 1 million copies in initial sales within just three days. Baekhyun’s first solo world tour, Reverie, marking the 13th year since his debut, is also gaining momentum. His Sao Paulo concert in Brazil sold out quickly, prompting the addition of a second show. With more cities yet to begin ticket sales, the scale of the tour is expected to grow further. The ReverieJun 5, 2025By Hankookilbo
YouTuber ordered to pay $36,000 to IVE agency over Jang Won-young defamationA Seoul court has ruled in favor of Starship Entertainment, the agency behind K-pop girl group IVE, in a defamation lawsuit against the operator of the controversial YouTube channel Sojang. The court ordered the defendant to pay 50 million won ($36,000) in damages. Judge Choi Mi-young of the Seoul Central District Court’s civil division ruled on Wednesday that the channel operator, identified by the surname Park, must compensate Starship for spreading false and defamatory content about IVE member Jang Won-young between April 2021 and June 2023. The court also ruled that Park must pay interest of 5 percent annually from Aug. 12, 2023, to June 4, 2024, and 12 percent annually from the following day until the full amount is paid. Starship filed the lawsuit in November 2022, initially seeking 100 million won in damages, claiming that Park had posted malicious rumors targeting Jang. Separately, Jang also filed her own lawsuit against Park in October 2023, seeking 100 million won in damages for the posting of defamatory and false content on Sojang channel. In January, the appeals court ruled pJun 5, 2025By Hankookilbo
Xdinary Heroes to hold summer special concert in July at Olympic Handball GymnasiumRising rock band Xdinary Heroes is set to take the stage at Seoul’s Olympic Handball Gymnasium for the first time with their summer special concert series, “The Xcape,” scheduled to run from July 4 to 6. JYP Entertainment announced the event Tuesday via the band’s official social media channels, unveiling a poster for the upcoming three-day performance in the gymnasium in Songpa District, Seoul. Xdinary Heroes has rapidly emerged as a powerhouse in live rock performance, following a successful North American showcase tour and their “2024 Xperiment Project” concert series “Closed beta.” Last year, the band sold out six consecutive concerts in Korea and kicked off their 2025 world tour with another sold-out show in Seoul, underscoring their growing popularity. This year, the group is expanding its global footprint with a new world tour and appearances at major U.S. music festivals. Their current world tour, “Beautiful Mind,” began with a three-day run at Olympic Hall in Seoul in early May and is continuing with solo concerts across various regions. Xdinary Heroes will makJun 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
ITZY heats up comeback anticipation with teaser for ‘Girls Will Be Girls’K-pop girl group ITZY has ramped up excitement for their first comeback in eight months by unveiling the music video teaser and concept photos for their new title track, “Girls Will Be Girls.” The five-member group is set to drop their new mini album, also titled “Girls Will Be Girls,” on Monday at 6 p.m. Leading up to the release, ITZY has been unveiling a variety of teaser content — including a trailer, promotional scheduler, concept photos and tracklist — through JYP Entertainment’s official social media channels. At midnight on Wednesday, the music video teaser and new stills were revealed for the first time. The teaser features cinematic visuals paired with a narration by member Lia: “Somebody said ‘Be yourselves.’ So that’s what we did." It follows the members as they confront unknown dangers in dramatic fashion: Lia runs through a mysterious location, Yuna appears with a scar under one eye, Ryujin shows a solemn gaze, Yeji performs in a high-octane car chase and Chaeryeong draws a crossbow. The scenes hint at a bold and suspenseful storyline, sparking curiosityJun 4, 2025By Hankookilbo
Nah Sang-hyun reverses stance on sexual misconduct, denies allegationNah Sang-hyun, front man of the indie act Band Nah, is at the center of growing controversy after his agency, January, issued a statement Monday contradicting Nah’s earlier public apology over allegations of sexual misconduct. Last week, Nah, 30, released an apology via social media in response to an online post that accused him of touching a woman’s thigh during a drinking session years ago. “Though I was under the influence and don’t clearly remember the specifics, I now realize my actions caused harm,” Nah wrote in his statement, implicitly acknowledging the accusation. He also expressed regret for not apologizing at the time and said he had been working to correct his behavior over the past few years. However, his agency has now taken a different stance, claiming no misconduct occurred. “We apologize for the confusion and discomfort caused by the expose-style post targeting Nah Sang-hyun,” January said in its official statement. “We also regret the delay in issuing our position, which was due to internal shortcomings in our response system.” According to the agency,Jun 3, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Oshikatsu’ boom reshapes Japan’s youth economy and idol fandomRising incomes and shifting social behaviors among Japan’s young consumers are fueling a surge in fandom-driven consumption, known as "oshikatsu," which has become a major cultural and economic force. “I can finally spend more on my favorite idols now that I’m no longer a student,” said 23-year-old office worker Moriyama Yua (alias), who lives in Tokyo. Speaking at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba Prefecture on May 11 during “CJ KCON Japan 2025,” Moriyama said she had been looking forward to splurging on merchandise for her favorite K-pop group TWS. Within an hour of arriving, she spent over 10,000 yen (about $94) on goods adorned with the members’ photos — and did so happily, without financial stress. “Thanks to TWS, I enjoy working. They give me the motivation to keep going,” she said. In Japan, this kind of spending is called oshikatsu, a term that combines "oshi," meaning a favorite person or thing, and "katsudo," meaning activity. Once considered a niche or even obsessive pastime similar to otaku culture, oshikatsu has now become a mainstream driver oJun 3, 2025By Hankookilbo
Still soaring: N.Flying marks 10 years with 'Everlasting' returnAfter nearly two years of performing as a duo due to members' military enlistments, Korean rock band N.Flying is back as a five-member act — just in time to mark its 10th anniversary with a fresh full-length album. N.Flying debuted in 2015 under FNC Entertainment, home to iconic Korean rock acts FTISLAND and CNBLUE. The band has since undergone multiple lineup changes, navigating its fair share of turbulence while keeping the flame of band music alive in the K-pop scene. The band's breakthrough came with "Rooftop," a 2019 release that unexpectedly went viral years later, earning the band recognition well beyond its core fan base. Now the group is back with "Everlasting," its second full-length album, released May 28. It's both a fresh start and a message to fans that they intend to stay by their side "everlastingly." In an interview Monday with The Korea Times at their agency's headquarters in southern Seoul, members Seunghyub, Hun, Jaehyun, Hweseung and Dongsung opened up about the long-awaited return to full strength and the excitement of releasing new music together again. During theJun 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
