BLACKPINK to drop new album in NovemberGirl group BLACKPINK will return with a new album featuring all four members in November, the head producer of the group's agency said Monday. It would mark the band's first album in three years and two months since its second full-length album "Born Pink" in September 2022. "(BLACKPINK) members and their producers are working hard on the album," Yang Hyun-suk, founder and executive producer of YG Entertainment, said in a video posted on the company's official blog. "We will do our best to release the album in November," he added. The K-pop quartet is on a new world tour, titled "Deadline," which began in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, last month. On Friday and Saturday, the group performed at London's Wembley Stadium, a venue often called the "dream stage" by many pop artists, for the first time among K-pop girl groups. Yang also shared release plans for other YG artists such as TREASURE and Babymonster. Boy group TREASURE will release its third EP, "Love Pulse," on Sept. 1 and rookie girl group Babymonster will release a new EP on Oct. 10, according to him. "The TREASURE members, who werAug 18, 2025By Yonhap
From Billboard to Lollapalooza: What KATSEYE's success means for future of K-popKATSEYE, the first global girl group jointly launched by HYBE and Geffen Records, is proving that K-pop’s next frontier may not be in Seoul but in the world’s major markets. Backed by what HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk has called the “K-pop methodology,” the group’s achievements suggest a new growth path for an industry that some say has reached saturation. KATSEYE was formed through the audition program “The Debut: Dream Academy” and officially launched in June 2023 with the single “Debut.” The “K-pop methodology” at the heart of their creation refers to exporting Korea’s production system abroad, keeping the DNA of K-pop while tailoring it to local music markets. It was proposed as an answer to concerns that K-pop’s explosive growth would inevitably slow. As the first experiment in this strategy, KATSEYE’s trajectory has been closely watched. Their results are increasingly being seen as proof of concept. From Billboard to Lollapalooza In just over a year, KATSEYE has built an impressive track record. Its debut EP “SIS” entered the Billboard 200, while songs sAug 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
K-pop legend Lee Hyun-do to revive Deux’s Kim Sung-jae with AIK-pop pioneer Lee Hyun-do, one half of the iconic 1990s hip-hop duo Deux, will release new music featuring the voice of his late partner Kim Sung-jae using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, according to Yonhap News Agency. Lee said he aims to release a fourth full-length album of the duo band by the end of 2025. "I hope to get a reaction from the younger generation who don't know Deux, something like, 'I don't know who this is, but it's cool,'" he was quoted as saying by the local news agency on Saturday. Lee explained his plan to use AI to extract and synthesize Kim's voice from Deux's existing discography. He will then combine it with his own vocals to create new songs. He also mentioned that he is preparing a music video to accompany the new releases. Formed in 1993, Deux pioneered new jack swing in Korea, blending hip-hop, funk, pop and R&B. They quickly rose to fame with hit songs like "Look Back at Me" (1993), "In Summer" (1994) and “Break off the Yoke” (1994). In 1995, the band announced its disbandment, and fans were left in shock when Kim, who made a solo debut with aAug 17, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
BLACKPINK’s Lisa releases romantic short film scenes with Japanese actor Kentaro SakaguchiBLACKPINK’s Lisa is giving fans a new reason to swoon — and it’s not just about the music. The K-pop superstar has shared a series of photos and video clips with Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, offering a dreamy preview of their collaboration in the short film for “Dream,” a track from her debut solo album “Alter Ego.” Posted on Aug. 15 with the caption “Still dreaming,” Lisa’s images capture warm, romantic moments between the two stars. They smile and joke in casual scenes, share an affectionate embrace in a black-and-white still, and even appear brushing their teeth side by side — adding a touch of playful intimacy to the project. Lisa also turned photographer, snapping candid shots of Sakaguchi during filming. In the short film, Sakaguchi plays Lisa’s former lover, and their easy chemistry makes the fictional relationship feel strikingly real. Known for his roles in popular Japanese dramas and films, Sakaguchi brings a quiet charm that perfectly matches Lisa’s understated yet magnetic presence. The “Alter Ego” short film is part of Lisa’s vision to fAug 16, 2025By Xportsnews
Singer Insooni selected for Woman of Influence awardKorean singer Insooni has been selected as the 2025 Woman of Influence Award honoree for her humanitarian activities supporting young people of mixed race and multicultural backgrounds, Pearl S. Buck International said Friday. The 68-year-old has become the first Korean to receive the honor from the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization since late first lady Lee Hee-ho in 2000. Insooni founded and operates Haemil School, a tuition-free residential alternative school in Hongcheon, about 350 kilometers east of Seoul, for multiethnic and biracial students. Born to a Korean mother and an African American father after the Korean War, she received assistance from the organization's child sponsorship program while being raised by her mother. She now serves as a board member for Pearl S. Buck Foundation Korea, an affiliate of the organization. "In addition to her longstanding first-hand connection to the work and mission of Pearl S. Buck International, Insooni also embodies the humanitarian, cross-cultural, and advocacy legacy of Pearl S. Buck," Pearl S. Buck International said in its website.Aug 15, 2025By Yonhap
Are K-pop's audition show-formed project groups headed for longer runs?For years, project groups born from K-pop audition shows have followed an all-too-predictable script — they enjoy a burst of fame, then vanish into thin air once their short-term contracts run out. These acts, made up of trainees from multiple different agencies, were rarely meant to last. While some members went on to relaunch careers elsewhere, the group’s popularity often faded as quickly as it had arrived. That narrative, however, is apparently beginning to crack. Just last year, most members of girl group Kep1er, formed through the 2021 audition show "Girls Planet 999," renewed their contracts, becoming the first project act to break the industry's unwritten rule. More recently, boy band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) has confirmed that talks are underway to extend its activities beyond its original end date, fueling speculation that the short-lived model for such groups could be changing. On Tuesday, ZB1's agency, WAKEONE, told multiple local media outlets that it "highly values the group's potential and growth prospects" and has been in "serious talks" with each member's agency since earlyAug 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Young Posse channels 'Growing Pain' into fierce, hip-hop driven new EPIn a scene where girl groups dedicated to true hip-hop are a rarity, K-pop act Young Posse has doubled down on what they do best. The five-member group drops its fourth EP, "Growing Pain pt.1 : FREE," Thursday at 6 p.m., delivering a fresh round of hard-hitting hip-hop. The new project arrives five months after the group — Sunhye, Yeonjung, Jiana, Doeun and Jieun — released its special album, "COLD." According to the group's agency, DSP Media, the record explores the "growing pains" that come with searching for one's true self, a theme reflected in its title. To mark the release, the members hosted a media event at YES24 Wanderloch Hall in Seoul's Seodaemun District, just a few hours before the actual release. Rather than presenting a conventional comeback showcase, the band branded the gathering a "Media Mini Festival." True to its reputation for dynamic live performances, the group opened the event with their signature hits "XXL" and "ATE THAT" before launching straight into the new title track with unrelenting energy. Since debuting in 2023, the five Young Posse members have consiAug 14, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Rookie K-pop girl group AtHeart enters scene with big name-backing, global rootsGlobal K-pop startup TITAN CONTENT officially introduced its first girl group, AtHeart, Wednesday, marking the seven-member act's debut with the release of its first EP, "Plot Twist." The rookie group — Michi from Hawaii, Katelyn from the Philippines and Korean members Arin, Bome, Seohyeon and Nahyun — held a media showcase at Blue Square's SOL Travel Hall in Seoul, just hours before the 6 p.m. release of their debut EP. "I've waited so long for this, and it's such an honor," Nahyun said. "I'm happy to finally be on stage, and I'll work hard so people can watch me grow." Japanese member Aurora, currently recovering from health issues, was not able to join the event, with the group performing as a six-piece for now. Bome added, "Aurora is diligent and hardworking. I know she'll show something great when she joins us in our next album." The group's label, TITAN CONTENT, may be young, but its leadership team includes some of the most influential names in the field — chairperson Han Se-min, former CEO of SM Entertainment; CEO Katie Kang, former SM casting director; chief performance offAug 13, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Seventeen donates $250,000 to UNESCO on Int'l Youth DayK-pop boy group Seventeen has donated $250,000 to UNESCO to mark International Youth Day, the group's agency said Wednesday. According to Pledis Entertainment, the money was given to the U.N. agency Tuesday after being raised through the group's "Joopiter presents: sacai x Seventeen" charity auction. It will be used to reinforce the Global Youth Grant Scheme that the group has organized together with UNESCO. Seventeen currently serves as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador for youth. In 2023, the 13-member group addressed and performed at the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum, a biennial event held alongside the UNESCO General Assembly in Paris. It became the first K-pop act to address an entire session at a major UNESCO meeting. Following its appointment last year as the organization's first goodwill ambassador for youth, the band donated $1 million to create a global youth support program in partnership with UNESCO. The fund is now being used to support 100 teams of young people around the world in carrying out their self-initiated projects for a better future. "From our debut until now, we have grown bAug 13, 2025By Yonhap
G-Dragon, YG’s Yang Hyun-suk under investigation over copyright infringement claimsPolice are investigating singer G-Dragon and Yang Hyun-suk, executive producer and head of YG Entertainment, over allegations of copyright infringement. The Seoul Mapo Police Station launched the probe after receiving a complaint in November from composer A, who claimed the two had unlawfully copied his song. YG Entertainment denied the allegation, saying the album was not illegally reproduced. A YG official told the Hankook Ilbo on Wednesday that the incident occurred during G-Dragon’s 2009 solo concert, when two identically titled songs were listed on the setlist, and was not an unauthorized album copy. Investigators have questioned those involved and conducted two raids on YG Entertainment’s headquarters. A police official said, “The investigation is ongoing.” This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.Aug 13, 2025By Hankookilbo
