G-Dragon teases Tokyo Dome return with serene photos ahead of Asian tourG-Dragon is set to make his long-awaited return to Japan’s Tokyo Dome, and his excitement is quietly reflected in a series of relaxed, personal photos. On May 9, multiple photos of the singer were shared through a social media account known to be managed by his team. The post came without captions, but the images spoke volumes. In the photos, G-Dragon is seen unwinding at a hotel with a sweeping view of Tokyo. Dressed in a white robe, he lounges on a bed and reclines on a sofa, looking calm and content. With a bare face free of makeup, he radiates a boyish charm that recalls his early debut days — fresh, effortless, and undeniably magnetic. This appearance comes just ahead of his much-anticipated solo concerts in Tokyo, marking his first performance there in eight years. The concert will also kick off the Asian leg of his third world tour, "Übermensch," which began in March with a high-profile show at Goyang Sports Complex. Starting in Tokyo on May 10 and 11, the tour will take G-Dragon across eight major Asian cities, including Bulacan, Osaka, Macau, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta,May 10, 2025By KTimes
Court rules against FIFTY FIFTY over 'Cupid' ownership; ATTRAKT vows to appealThe copyright to K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY's breakout hit "Cupid" has been recognized as belonging to The Givers, a production company previously accused of attempting to poach the group's members from their agency, ATTRAKT. The Givers announced the ruling Thursday, saying the Seoul Central District Court had dismissed ATTRAKT's lawsuit seeking to claim copyright ownership of the song. "The court ruled that 'the plaintiff's claims are without merit and are therefore all dismissed,'" the company said in a statement. Released in 2023, FIFTY FIFTY's "Cupid" became a viral sensation on short-form video platforms and soared to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 25 weeks. ATTRAKT responded later that day, saying it was preparing to appeal the decision. "We are currently reviewing the case legally and preparing an appeal," the agency said. "We will provide further updates once the legal schedule is confirmed." The copyright case is part of a wider legal dispute between the two companies that began in June 2023, when all four original members of FIFTY FIFTY — Saena, SMay 9, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK's Rose releases original soundtrack for Brad Pitt's new movieRose of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK released "Messy," an original soundtrack for the new Hollywood sports action drama film "F1," on Friday, aiming for another success following her global hit single "APT." Scheduled for release next month, "F1" tells the story of veteran driver Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt) who teams up with rookie racer Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris) in a bid to lead a struggling F1 team to victory. "Messy" will also be included in the film's soundtrack album, which is set to be released on June 27. The album will feature 17 tracks, including contributions from Korean DJ Peggy Gou, global pop star Ed Sheeran, rapper Don Toliver and more.May 9, 2025By Yonhap
Bop or flop? KATSEYE's 'Gnarly' dispels first-listen doubts"You're not gonna get the song the first time you hear it." That quote from Nicki Minaj, lip-synced by KATSEYE member Megan in the group's official TikTok post, felt more like an actual disclaimer than a simple joke. It turns out, it was both. A prerelease to the band's upcoming album, "Beautiful Chaos," scheduled to drop on June 27, "Gnarly" marks a vast stylistic departure for KATSEYE, the six-piece U.S.-based girl group. Co-written by hyperpop pioneer Alice Longyu Gao, the track was described by HYBE Labels — who co-manage the group with the American record label Geffen Records — as a "sharp turn" from its previous sound. In reality, "Gnarly" wasn't just a sharp turn — it was a full-power jolt that hurled K-pop listeners into unfamiliar territory. Compared to "Touch," the lead single from KATSEYE's 2024 album "SIS (Soft Is Strong)" which embraced soft, girly pop sounds, "Gnarly" offers just over two minutes of complete sonic intensity. The track layers metallic synths, clashing sound effects and bursts of giggles from the girls, all building up to an aggressive, almost chaotic chMay 9, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Former WINNER member Nam Tae-hyun booked for drunk driving during probationSinger Nam Tae-hyun, 31, a former member of K-pop group WINNER, is under police investigation for drunk driving while serving a suspended sentence for a drug conviction, police said Thursday. The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul booked Nam on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act after he caused a crash while driving under the influence. The incident occurred around 4:10 a.m. on April 27 near the Dongjak Bridge in the Ilsan-bound lane of Gangbyeonbuk-ro. He struck a median while trying to overtake another vehicle. No injuries were reported. Nam’s blood alcohol level at the time exceeded 0.08 percent — the legal threshold for license cancellation in Korea. He is currently serving a two-year suspended sentence following a one-year prison sentence handed down in January 2023 for methamphetamine use. He was convicted of using 0.5 grams of meth mixed with alcohol alongside TV personality Seo Min-jae, 32, in 2022. The case came to light after Seo posted about the drug use on social media, prompting a police investigation. Nam was also fined 6 million won for drunk driving in March 2023May 8, 2025By KTimes
InterviewFrom London to Seoul: How dearALICE is redefining K-pop boy bandsLONDON — Just two years ago, Olly, Dexter and Blaise knew little about K-pop beyond its biggest names. Now, they are preparing to step onto the SMTOWN LIVE London stage as members of dearALICE, the first-ever British K-pop boy band. Born out of a BBC reality show and trained under K-pop giant SM Entertainment, the band now stands at the forefront of K-pop’s ambitious global expansion, blending Korean perfectionism with distinctly British charm. Sitting down at the Korean Cultural Centre UK near Trafalgar Square on April 24, three of the quintet's members reflected on their journey. Members James and Reese were not able to attend the interview. “It was quite secretive at the start. You didn’t really know what you were walking into,” Dexter said, recalling the early audition process. “It was just an audition to be in a boy band. We showed up not knowing much. But then once we found out the opportunity to go to Korea to train with SM, all of us realized it was quite a big opportunity, not something you’d ever want to miss. I’m so happy we made it." Formed through the BBC reaMay 8, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo
BLACKPINK's Jennie opens up about burnout: 'I was mentally exhausted'Jennie of BLACKPINK has candidly spoken about her past struggles with burnout, revealing that her physical and emotional health deteriorated during the height of her early career. On the Wednesday episode of the tvN talk show “You Quiz on the Block,” Jennie appeared as a guest and reflected on the toll her intense schedule once took on her health. Just three years after their debut, BLACKPINK launched a world tour and performed at major festivals around the globe. Jennie said her schedule doubled after releasing her first solo single, leaving her no time to take care of herself. “I lost a lot of weight, I kept injuring my ankles and my health was declining,” she said. “After debuting, I was just constantly running forward. I barely went out, and that made things mentally difficult. Even though I was hearing good things on broadcasts, I couldn’t have the kinds of conversations I love with the people I love. That made me feel like I wasn’t doing my job properly.” Jennie recalled a particularly dark time. “I started to see everything negatively. One day, I just hit zero eneMay 8, 2025By KTimes
J-Hope to close out solo world tour in Korea on BTS' debut anniversaryJ-Hope of K-pop megastar band BTS will bring his solo world tour to a close with an encore concert in Korea, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the group's debut. BigHit Music, BTS' agency, announced Wednesday that the rapper is set to hold the "HOPE ON THE STAGE FINAL" two-day concert on June 13 and 14 at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province. The show marks the final stop of his solo world tour, which began on Feb. 28 at the KSPO Dome in Seoul's Songpa District. Over the course of the tour, J-Hope has performed 31 shows in 15 cities, including Brooklyn, Chicago, Mexico City, Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, Saitama and Osaka. As the concert falls on June 13, BTS' debut date, J-Hope aims to present a meaningful stage for the group's official fandom, ARMY, his agency said. "We're preparing the show to vividly capture J-Hope's signature energy and immersive performances," BigHit Music said in a press release. Ticket sales will begin Monday with a presale for official fan club members, followed by general sales on Tuesday. Fans unable to attend in person wMay 8, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Day6 tops local charts with new single ‘Maybe Tomorrow’K-pop band Day6 has soared to the top of Korean music charts with their new single, “Maybe Tomorrow,” marking a powerful return to the scene. Released at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the digital single’s title track reached No. 1 on Melon’s Hot 100 and real-time charts, as well as Bugs’ real-time chart by 8 a.m. the following day. The song’s B-side, “Game Over,” also ranked on the charts, showcasing the group’s strong digital performance. To thank fans for their support, JYP Entertainment released behind-the-scenes photos from the music video shoot, featuring members Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon. The images juxtapose the song’s wistful tone with the band’s lighthearted poses. The four members also hosted a countdown livestream on their official YouTube channel to celebrate with fans. “This is a song we truly love, and it’s been a while since we released a single,” Day6 said. “We’ve wanted to share ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ with the world for a long time. We hope it brings comfort and reminds everyone to live with hope.” “Maybe Tomorrow” delivers Day6’s siMay 8, 2025By KTimes
Fifty Fifty’s Keena halts activities due to health issuesKeena, a member of the K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, has temporarily suspended all activities due to health concerns, her agency said Wednesday. In a statement posted to the group’s official fan community, agency Attrakt announced that Keena would not be joining promotional activities for the group’s latest album. “Keena’s health has recently declined, and after thorough discussions with her, we’ve decided she will step back to focus on rest and recovery,” the agency said. The company emphasized that the decision was made with great care, especially considering the significance of the group’s latest comeback. “We kindly ask for fans’ understanding, as this was a carefully deliberated matter made with the artist’s well-being as the top priority.” Attrakt added that it will provide full support to ensure Keena can return in good health. “We are committed to helping her recover and come back to fans as soon as possible with renewed energy,” it said. Fifty Fifty released their third mini-album, “Day & Night,” on April 29. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sMay 8, 2025By KTimes
