Seventeen to host immersive citywide event for fans in LAK-pop boy group Seventeen will host a citywide immersive fan event in Los Angeles next month to coincide with the U.S. leg of its world tour, the band's agency, Pledis Entertainment, said Wednesday. The event, "Seventeen The City LA," will run from Oct. 11 to 19 and feature a series of experiences themed on the band across the city, including pop-up stores, and food and beverage partnership events. According to Pledis, the event is a follow-up to a similar project held in the U.S. last year. This year's event is expanding with a new partnership with Airbnb, which will offer fans hands-on experiences, like K-pop dance classes, K-beauty tutorials and a DJ party featuring Seventeen's songs. The program also includes opportunities for fans to record their own songs, learn DJing and remixing, and participate in pottery painting and cake decorating workshops. The area around BMO Stadium, where the group's concerts will be held, will be designated as a meeting hub for "Carat," the group's official fan club. The city will be a backdrop for the event, with "Seventeen The City LA" posters displayeSep 24, 2025By Yonhap
Boy group Cortis debuts at No. 15 on Billboard 200Cortis, the new boy band from BigHit Music, debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart at No. 15 with its first EP, "Color Outside the Lines," according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time). It is the second-highest position ever for a debut album by a K-pop act and the highest for a group not formed with members of established acts, BigHit said. Among K-pop boy bands that have debuted in the past four years, Cortis is the first to reach the top 20, it added. The five-member group composed of Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho is the first new boy band from BigHit, the label behind BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT), in six years, following TXT's debut in 2019. The agency described Cortis as a "young creator crew" who make their own music, choreography and videos "with a completely new and original sensibility." Released Sept. 8, the album features five tracks led by "What You Want," a song in which the members sing about pursuing their desires with confidence and without hesitation.Sep 24, 2025By Yonhap
KickFlip leans into first-love pop-punk on 'My First Flip'K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment's newest boy band KickFlip released its third mini album "My First Flip," Monday, extending the group's rapid global rise by bottling the butterflies and jitters of first love. The record and its lead single "My First Love Song" drops as the group presses ahead with only six members, as Amaru temporarily suspended activities just days earlier due to anxiety symptoms. Despite the sudden lineup change, the group projected confidence at their Monday morning showcase at Seoul's YES24 Live Hall, delivering the same high-energy spirit they displayed when they met The Korea Times backstage at Lollapalooza Chicago in August. "It's such a shame not being able to promote with Amaru," Donghyeon said. "We and the fans are waiting for him to come back healthy. We'll fill the void with as much energy as we can." That energy carries into "My First Love Song," a new pop-punk track built on punchy synths and guitar riffs that frame the nerve-racking rush of a romantic confession. "Through this song's performance, I wanted to share the thrill of first love with everyone,"Sep 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Can NewJeans reclaim their place in a changing K-pop market?It has been six months since K-pop girl group NewJeans last made an official move, and more than a year since the group released new music. As their contract dispute with label Ador drags on, the group’s absence shows no sign of ending. When NewJeans debuted in 2022, such a long hiatus seemed unthinkable. Their first single, “Attention,” quickly became a cultural phenomenon, propelling them into stardom. Follow-up hits including “Hype Boy,” “Ditto,” “OMG,” “Super Shy,” “ETA” and “How Sweet” cemented their reputation as not only the leading act of the fourth-generation girl group scene, but also one of K-pop’s top groups overall. The turning point came in April last year, when the conflict between former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin and parent company HYBE surfaced. What began as a management dispute soon escalated into a protracted legal battle. NewJeans, often referred to as “Min’s daughters,” sided with Min and declared they would terminate their exclusive contract with Ador. Despite repeated settlement offers, the group rejected the idea of returning, lauSep 22, 2025By Hankookilbo
ITZY secures full-group contract renewal, strengthens global ambitionsHigh-energy performances and unapologetic confidence have carried K-pop girl group ITZY through six years of global recognition. Now, as their contracts reach the K-pop industry's critical seven-year threshold, the five members — Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna — have chosen to stay with JYP Entertainment by renewing their exclusive contracts with the label. JYP confirmed the renewal in a press release Saturday, describing the deal as the product of "mutual trust" with a group celebrated for its "commanding performances and international reach." The agency also pledged full support for ITZY's future as a world-class girl group and said it would continue securing platforms for the members to highlight their individual strengths. The announcement came first from the stage at the group's fourth official fan meeting, "ON AIR," at the KBS Arena in western Seoul, Saturday. According to the agency, the group thanked MIDZY, its official fandom, for sustained support and promised to move forward together toward "a brighter tomorrow." ITZY debuted in February 2019 under JYP, a companySep 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
IU donates $146,000 on debut anniversarySinger and actor IU marked her debut anniversary by donating 200 million won ($146,000), once again carrying out her philanthropy under both her own name and that of her fan club. Her agency EDAM Entertainment said Thursday that IU contributed the funds under the name “IUaena," her longtime fan club. The donation will go toward supporting children with rare diseases, people with disabilities, young adults preparing for independent living and elderly people living alone. IU has made it a tradition to give back on meaningful occasions such as her debut anniversary, birthday and year-end holidays. In March, she donated 200 million won to aid victims of wildfires in Korea’s southeast region and to improve working conditions for firefighters. Earlier this month, IU held a two-day fan meetup titled “Bye, Summer," creating memorable moments with her fans. During the encore, she approached audience members in wheelchair seats, singing to them and holding their hands, a gesture widely praised as a reflection of her deep affection for fans. Her new single “Bye, Summer,” which she releaseSep 19, 2025By Hankookilbo
7 K-pop songs that use pets as musical musesPets aren’t just companions. In K-pop world, they are now used as vivid symbols of comfort, loyalty and even shifting power dynamics in love. Through playful metaphors and heartfelt confessions, K-pop artists use animals to explore emotions that range from solace to devotion. Here are seven standout tracks that bring pets into the K-pop conversation in creative ways. 1. “Pet” by 10cm This gentle indie-pop track flips the usual perspective, stepping inside the quiet world of a pet waiting at home for its owner. The lyrics paint intimate, everyday scenes — a dog perched by the door, ears twitching at each sound, tail wagging at the faintest hope of a return. Lines like “I’m waiting for you, all day long” distill a devotion so constant it feels almost invisible. Free of melodrama, the song lingers on repetition, small joys and longing, inviting listeners to feel the stillness of a pet’s routine and recognize how much its life revolves around us. 2. “Your Dog Loves You” by Colde (feat. Crush) Colde, who owns a dog named Samna, wrote this track entirely from his pet’s poiSep 19, 2025By Youn Ye-jin and Inna Christine Cabel
Stray Kids celebrate Billboard success with $740,000 gold gift from JYP founderJYP Entertainment founder and producer Park Jin-young celebrated Stray Kids’ recent success with a lavish gift of pure gold. The group revealed the present on its official account, posting photos with the caption: “Thank you, PD-nim #JYP #SKZ.” In the images, the eight members of Stray Kids hold framed gold plaques while smiling alongside Park. One photo shows the plaque engraved with the words, “In commemoration of the 7th consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 album, ‘Karma.” Park reportedly presented each member with a plaque containing 75 grams of gold. With eight plaques in total, the gift was valued at over 100 million won ($740,000). The grand gesture underscored Stray Kids’ milestone achievement. The group recently topped the Billboard 200 record chart with its latest studio release, "Karma." Park, meanwhile, has been named co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on Cultural Exchange. This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.Sep 18, 2025By Xportsnews
Rose's 'APT.,' fastest K-pop video to top 2 bil. YouTube viewsThe music video for "APT.," BLACKPINK member Rose's hit collaborative single with Bruno Mars, has surpassed 2 billion views on YouTube. The video hit the milestone Wednesday, 335 days after it was uploaded Oct. 18, 2024, making it the fastest K-pop video to reach 2 billion views, according to her agency, The Black Label. Rose had earlier surpassed 2 billion views with BLACKPINK's "Ddu-du Ddu-du" and "Kill This Love." The latest milestone makes her the first K-pop artist whose music videos have topped 2 billion views both as part of a group and as a soloist. "APT.," a track from Rose's first full-length album, "rosie," enjoyed global popularity, dominating major music charts in South Korea and abroad after its release. On Sept. 7 (U.S. time), Rose won Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards in the United States for "APT."Sep 18, 2025By Yonhap
IU donates 200 mil. won to mark debut anniversarySinger-actor IU has donated 200 million won ($144,393) in total to charities to mark the 17th year since her debut Thursday, her agency said. Edam Entertainment said the donation was made in the name of her fandom "Uaena" and will be used to support vulnerable groups, including children with incurable diseases, people with disabilities, young adults preparing for independence, and elderly citizens living alone. Fifty million won was sent to each of several charities, including the Korea Foundation for Persons with Disabilities, according to the agency. The 32-year-old has regularly made donations in her fandom's name on special occasions, such as her debut anniversary, birthday and year-end holidays. In March, she donated 200 million won to support victims of the large-scale wildfires in the Gyeongsang region. On Children's Day in May, she donated 150 million won to programs for children and youths. She also marked her birthday that month with another 200 million won donation to help vulnerable groups.Sep 18, 2025By Yonhap
