All 5 NewJeans members to return to AdorAll five members of K-pop girl group NewJeans — Minji, Danielle, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein — have expressed their desire to resume activities under Ador. Following Haerin and Hyein's confirmed return to the music label, the other three members released a statement Wednesday evening expressing their desire to return to their old agency. "After careful discussions, we have decided to return to Ador. One of our members is currently in Antarctica, so the communication was delayed and since Ador has not yet responded, we had no choice but to share our position separately," a statement released by Minji, Danielle and Hanni said. In response, Ador said it is “in the process of verifying the authenticity” of the three members’ decision. Earlier this afternoon, the HYBE subsidiary released a statement announcing the return of the two members. "Haerin and Hyein have expressed their intention to continue working with Ador," the label said in an official statement. "After careful consideration with their families and sufficient discussions with the agency, they decided to respect the court'sNov 12, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ReviewCan ITZY find focus with 'TUNNEL VISION'?"Know yourself, know your enemy," wrote Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu. The advice still fits modern K-pop, where a group's self-defined image and confidence can determine whether it survives in the cutthroat scene. For girl group ITZY, a team built on unapologetic self-belief, the saying feels more timely than ever. The five-member act under JYP Entertainment returned Monday with "TUNNEL VISION," its 11th mini-album and first since June's "Girls Will Be Girls." It also marks their first project since renewing their contracts with the label, creating an opportunity to showcase their artistic evolution. For years, ITZY has embodied confidence. From the bold announcement of "DALLA DALLA" (2019) to the glossy self-assurance of "WANNABE" (2020), the group became a symbol of fearless energy. But after defining its early years with empowering hits, ITZY has struggled to recapture that spark. Recent projects like "GOLD" and "Girls Will Be Girls" leaned too much on the same formula, with bold declarations and chant-heavy hooks, but lacking impact. Unfortunately, "TUNNEL VISION" arrives in the shadoNov 12, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ZE:A members to reunite as 4-member unit for December fan meeting in TokyoFormer members of the boy group ZE:A are reuniting on stage, giving longtime fans a reason to celebrate. Kevin, Heecheol, Minwoo and Taeheon will hold the “2025 ZE:A Unit Fanmeeting ‘Back to You’” in Tokyo this December, meeting Japanese fans for the first time in years. The event will take place on Dec. 13 and 14 at DDD Aoyama Cross Theater, with four sessions scheduled over two days. Ticket reservations opened on Monday and have already drawn strong interest. In a message to the Hankook Ilbo, the members said, “We finished shooting the poster last weekend. It feels emotional to think about standing on the same stage again and meeting fans after such a long time.” ZE:A, which debuted on Jan. 15, 2010, is a nine-member group known for hits such as “Mazeltov,” “All Day Long” and “Ghost of the Wind.” After group activities slowed, the members pursued careers in acting, entertainment and music. Taeheon recently shared updates through his YouTube channel “Next Taeheon,” showing affection for the members. Kim, who recently obtained a taxi driver’s license, said heNov 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
Will K-pop break ‘Grammy fortress’ at last? Record nominations fuels hopesFor years, the Grammy Awards have remained a fortress that K-pop could not break through, but that wall finally shows cracks. With several K-pop acts landing major nominations at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, global attention is now focused on whether this could mark a turning point for the genre. On Friday (local time), the Recording Academy announced its final list of nominees for the ceremony, which will take place in February at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Even before the announcement, Rose’s “APT.” and “Golden,” a song from the soundtrack for the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” were widely expected to be strong contenders. Both songs secured nominations in major categories. “APT.,” Rose’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, earned nods for song of the year, record of the year and best pop duo or group performance. “Golden,” from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack, picked up five nominations including song of the year. It is the first time a K-pop track has been nominated for song of the year or record of the year, categories known as the GeNov 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
2025 MAMA Awards returns to Hong Kong, brings K-pop spirit to global stageThe 2025 MAMA Awards is set to return to Hong Kong later this month, staged at the city's new cultural landmark, Kai Tak Stadium. The event aims to spotlight both the growing global influence of K-pop and the awards' decades-long legacy. Launched in 1999 by Mnet, a music channel under CJ ENM, the MAMA Awards have evolved alongside K-pop as it rises in global recognition. Since its first overseas edition in Macau in 2010, the ceremony has become a traveling showcase, held in cities such as Singapore, Tokyo and Los Angeles. This year's two-day event, set for Nov. 28 and 29, marks MAMA's return to Hong Kong after seven years. The city hosted the event from 2012 to 2018, serving as one of its longest-running international venues. "In 2018, we held the show in a 10,000-seat venue," said Park Chan-uk, head of live entertainment at CJ ENM's music content division, during a press premiere event at CJ ENM headquarters in Seoul's Mapo District, Tuesday. "This year, we're hosting it at Hong Kong's new landmark, the Kai Tak Stadium, with over 70,000 seats, across two days." Park described the upcomiNov 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Golden' remains No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100"Golden," a hit song from the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," held steady at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, Billboard said Monday (U.S. time). The track remained in second place for the third straight week, following eight non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart. Taylor Swift's latest single, "The Fate of Ophelia," continued its reign at No. 1 for the fifth consecutive week. Michael Jackson's iconic hit "Thriller" reentered the Hot 100 at No. 10 as the song's popularity surged during the Halloween week. The achievement makes Jackson the first artist to reach the chart's Top 10 in six different decades — the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States across all genres, combining data from streaming, radio airplay and sales.Nov 11, 2025By Yonhap
Jennie to headline Spain’s 2026 Mad Cool Festival as only K-pop act in lineupBLACKPINK’s Jennie has been named a headliner for Spain’s major music festival, the 2026 Mad Cool Festival, becoming the only K-pop artist included in next year’s lineup. According to the lineup released on Monday local time, Jennie will headline the July 9 show of the four-day festival, which takes place from July 8 to 11 in Madrid next year. She will share the top tier of the bill with global acts Foo Fighters, Florence & the Machine, Twenty One Pilots and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Jennie is the sole K-pop performer invited to the 2026 edition of the festival. Mad Cool Festival, launched in 2016, is one of Europe’s major summer music events, featuring leading artists across rock, indie, alternative, pop and electronic genres. Past performers include Muse, Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzo. Jennie previously made waves in April when she became the first K-pop solo artist to perform on Coachella’s Outdoor Theatre, one of the festival’s largest stages, earning global attention for her commanding performance. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of TNov 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
Virtual boy band PLAVE returns with playful new album 'PLBBUU'Virtual boy band PLAVE is returning to the K-pop scene with its second single album "PLBBUU," out Monday. The release comes about nine months after its third mini-album "Caligo Pt.1," trading the group's previous intensity for color and playfulness. The new project, according to VLAST, PLAVE's management label, marks a collaboration with Sanrio Korea, bringing together PLAVE's animated universe and the Japanese character brand's signature cuteness. The three-track album features the title song "BBUU!" alongside "Hide and Seek" and "Bongsoonga." "BBUU!" blends a breezy R&B rhythm with upbeat lyrics, its title drawn from an onomatopoeia that mimics puckered lips. Its music video reportedly shows PLAVE's members turning into dolls who meet Sanrio characters, a crossover that highlights the song's whimsical charm. Meanwhile, "Hide and Seek" offers an emotional contrast, showcasing PLAVE's signature band-driven sound. The track is the Korean version of the group’s Japanese debut single "Kakurenbo," preserving the original’s gentle sentiment while reinterpreting it through Korean lyrics.Nov 10, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Is HyunA's collapse during Macau show from rapid weight loss?Singer HyunA collapsed during a performance in Macau, prompting an immediate halt to the show. She later took to social media to ease fans’ concerns. HyunA fainted on Sunday while performing “Bubble Pop” at the Waterbomb 2025 Macau music festival. Videos circulating online show dancers rushing to support her as she lost consciousness, and a security guard carrying her offstage. Fans have since expressed concern about her health. She recently revealed that she had lost 10 kilograms in just 1 month, following rumors of weight gain and a possible pregnancy. Fans worried because she has a history of vasovagal fainting, resulting from sudden drops in heart rate or blood pressure, as well as other health issues. HyunA has previously said that her stamina drops sharply and she collapses when her weight falls below 45 kilograms. HyunA wrote on her social media, “I’m really sorry. It was a short break between performances, but I wanted to show you my best. I don’t remember anything that happened, and I feel like I wasn’t professional.” She apologized again and added, “I’ll tryNov 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
Park Bom says she is 'completely fine,' pushes back against agency’s claim about her healthPark Bom of 2NE1 has directly denied her agency’s explanation that she is taking time off due to health issues, adding another twist to the ongoing dispute. Park wrote on social media Saturday, “I’ve always been completely fine. Don’t worry, everyone.” The post was an edited version of a message she uploaded a day earlier that included the hashtag #parkbomelizabeth along with recent photos. The update drew attention as it came around two weeks after she publicly criticized Yang Hyun-suk, chief producer of YG Entertainment. On Oct. 22, Park said she planned to file charges of fraud and embezzlement against Yang and YG Entertainment. She claimed revenue from both 2NE1 and her solo activities had not been properly settled and that no transparent record had been provided. Her current agency, D-Nation Entertainment, responded that accounting for 2NE1 activities had already been completed and said Park had “halted all activities to focus on treatment and recovery.” Park rejected that explanation and continued raising complaints about her former label, saying YG never paid for plasNov 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
