Idntt launches first unit Unevermet, sets sights on BillboardK-pop’s newest large-scale boy group project Idntt has officially entered the market with the debut of its first unit, Unevermet. Unevermet held a media showcase for its self-titled debut album “Unevermet” on Monday at Blue Square SOL Travel Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Following the format of the 24-member girl group tripleS, Idntt will consist of 24 members split into three units — Unevermet, Yesweare and Itsnotover. Each unit will debut with eight new members, gradually assembling the full group before all 24 perform together under the name Itsnotover. Unevermet’s concept centers on portraying the “raw identity” of youth, steering away from conventional boy band formats to tell authentic stories. “We all worked really hard for this moment. I’m nervous and happy, and I hope many will look forward to our performances,” member Nam Ji-woon said. As the first unit to debut, the members admitted to feeling pressure. “There was a burden because we were told to pave the way until the next unit comes out,” Choi Tae-in said. Still, they cited their ability to show both honAug 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
DAY6 makes Korean band history with sold-out Goyang concertsK-pop band DAY6 has made history in the Korean band scene by selling out all seats for their upcoming solo concerts at Goyang Stadium. The group will kick off its 10th anniversary tour, “DAY6 10th Anniversary Tour ‘The DECADE’,” with two concerts at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 30 and 31. Ticket sales opened with fan club presales on Aug. 8 and general sales on Aug. 11, with both dates selling out completely shortly after the general release. The four piece band — Sungjin on guitar and vocals, Young K on bass, guitar and vocals, Wonpil on keyboard and vocals and Dowoon on drums and vocals — will be the first Korean band to headline a solo concert at Goyang Stadium, promising fans a performance with expansive space and an open-air atmosphere. Since debuting in 2015 with shows at Yes24 Muv Hall, DAY6 has steadily expanded its concert scale — from the 34,000-seat Jamsil Indoor Stadium in April last year, to the 40,000-seat Inspire Arena in September, and the 38,000-seat Gocheok Sky Dome in December, becoming the first K-pop band to perform there. Their KAug 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Golden’ from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ tops Billboard Hot 100“Golden,” a song on the soundtrack from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” has reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, becoming the first K-pop song performed by female vocalists to achieve the feat. It is also the first to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart. Billboard said in its Feb. 11 preview article that “Golden” rose one spot from the previous week to overtake Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” for the top position. “‘Golden’ is the ninth song associated with Korean pop to top the Hot 100, and the first performed by female vocalists,” the magazine said. The Hot 100 is Billboard’s flagship chart, calculated by combining U.S. streaming data, radio airplay and sales figures. During the latest tracking week, “Golden” recorded 31.7 million streams, up 9 percent from the previous week, 8.4 million in radio audience, up 71 percent, and 7,000 in sales, up 35 percent. It entered the Hot 100 at No. 81 in early January and reached the top in its seventh week. To date, only BTS, with six songs, and its membeAug 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
SHINee's Key embraces urban legends, darker sound on 'HUNTER'SHINee's Key is diving into the horror realm with "HUNTER," his third full-length solo album released Monday. Drawing on the eerie allure of urban legends, the 10-track project pairs dark, theatrical imagery with his years of K-pop experience. The new release marks Key's first studio album in three years, following "Gasoline" in August 2022. SM Entertainment, the SHINee singer's longtime label, described it as "an album that weaves a variety of stories about the self," blending multiple genres and anchored by its eponymous title track. Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Seoul’s Gwangjin District just hours before the release, Key said he built the album with the stage in mind. "I chose the title track and the B-sides while picturing myself performing," he said. "It's an album that's really just fun to hear from the opening track straight through." Its lead single, "HUNTER," pairs a deep bassline and kick drums with deepening guitar riffs, while its lyrics explore the uneasy thrill of a painful relationship. The song was crafted with longtime SHINee collaborator KENZIE, who has writtenAug 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
THE BOYZ push past bomb threat, member scandals to launch new world tourK-pop group The Boyz launched its fourth world tour over the weekend with a three-night run in Seoul, overcoming a fake bomb threat that delayed the final performance and a string of controversies surrounding members' private lives. The 10-member group opened their world tour, titled "THE BLAZE," from last Friday to Sunday at KSPO Dome in Songpa District of southeastern Seoul. The final show on Sunday was initially set to begin at 4 p.m., but at around 1:50 p.m., police received a report claiming explosives had been planted inside the arena. The report prompted an evacuation of the audience and a full security sweep. Authorities searched the venue for about two hours before confirming the threat was false. According to a press release from the group's agency, One Hundred, police, fire officials and venue staff "convened a joint safety review after the search and determined the concert could proceed." Audience entry resumed at 4:45 p.m. and the performance started at 6 p.m. Once onstage, The Boyz performed a mix of tracks including "Stylish," the title track of the band's latest album relAug 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop’s premature disbandments rise among smaller labelsSeveral K-pop groups managed by relatively smaller entertainment agencies have disbanded or announced indefinite suspensions of activities in recent months, all without completing the industry-standard seven-year exclusive contracts. This trend of early breakups has not only sparked disappointment among fans, but also reignited debate over whether only major K-pop companies can sustain a band's ultimate success. On Aug. 4, RBW, the agency behind six-member girl group PURPLE KISS, issued a statement announcing the group will conclude activities in November. “The company and the members engaged in long and sincere discussions about how to move forward. Ultimately, we reached a conclusion based on mutual respect for each other’s opinions and with the desire to support each member’s individual dreams,” the agency said. RBW added that although the group will officially end activities, all scheduled events will proceed as planned — beginning with the release of an English-language album at the end of this month, followed by promotions in Japan and a tour in the Americas. Since debutinAug 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Jeon Somi finds 'herself' amid chaos, confusionK-pop singer Jeon Somi says her second EP, "Chaotic & Confused," due out Monday, was born from the paradox of being both an industry veteran and just 24 years old. "I've been working for 10 years, but I'm also a 24-year-old girl and person," she said in a group media interview held at a cafe in Seoul on Thursday. "There was a sense of chaos in that gap. I worried a lot about what kind of new image I could show now." She added that her limited life experience as a person sometimes makes it harder to fully express herself in her music. When IU's 2015 hit "Twenty-three" was mentioned during the interview, she nodded in agreement. "I think I know what it is — being in the middle of not being a girl and not being a fully mature woman," she said. "I started my career early, and I know so much, but I spent my time not knowing anything about myself." Just like IU, who debuted at age 15, Jeon was only 15 when she first rose to fame in 2016 after winning the Mnet survival program "Produce 101." She debuted with the project group I.O.I the same year before launching her solo career in 2019. The neAug 11, 2025By Yonhap
10CM to host new season of KBS music talk show 'The Seasons' in SeptemberSinger 10CM (Kwon Jung-yeol) will take the helm as the eighth host of KBS2’s late-night music talk show “The Seasons,” succeeding actor Park Bo-gum. The announcement came during the encore stage of 10CM’s solo concert “5.0” at Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul, Sunday. “I am the next MC of ‘The Seasons,’ following ‘Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile,’” 10CM told the audience, drawing loud cheers. “I am nervous but excited to take on this role under my own name. The show will air every Friday starting in September,” he said. Since its launch in 2023, “The Seasons” has featured a rotating lineup of top Korean artists as MCs, including Jay Park, Choi Jung-hoon of Jannabi, AKMU, Lee Hyo-ri, Zico, Lee Young-ji and Park Bo-gum. 10CM holds the record for most appearances across “Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” and “The Seasons” series, and his turn as host is expected to carry on the program’s tradition as a leading music talk show. The indie act made history as the first to hold a solo concert at the KSPO Dome, formerly the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, and has releaAug 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
Shinhwa’s Lee Min-woo to marry third-generation Korean-Japanese single motherLee Min-woo of K-pop group Shinhwa has shared his thoughts for the first time since announcing his upcoming marriage to a third-generation Korean-Japanese single mother raising a six-year-old daughter. The singer’s love story was revealed on the Aug. 9 episode of KBS2’s reality show “Mr. House Husband" Season 2. Lee, who contacted the production team to say he had something to share, said, “I am getting married,” during a meeting with them. He said, “I met her through an acquaintance after finishing my Japan tour in 2013. The last time I saw her was in 2018. When we got back in touch after a long time, I learned she had been through a difficult period — she had a six-year-old daughter and had gone through a divorce. Three months after we reunited, we went on a trip to Yangyang together, and she became pregnant. The baby’s nickname is Yangyang.” The program showed Lee spending time like family with his fiancee and her daughter, with viewers noting her resemblance to model Shiho Yano and actress Lee Min-jung. Lee’s parents expressed mixed emotions upon learning of his eAug 11, 2025By Hankookilbo
K-pop’s harsh truth: Only big-label groups survive — PURPLE KISS announces disbandmentGirl group PURPLE KISS has announced its disbandment just three weeks after releasing a new single, adding to the growing list of K-pop groups unable to reach the industry’s symbolic seven-year mark. On Aug. 4, their agency RBW announced on its official website that PURPLE KISS will officially end group activities in November. The group, which debuted in 2021, is disbanding after four years. Despite the disbandment, the members will remain active until November, with a slate of final activities that include an English-language album, promotions in Japan, a North American tour, and a concert in Korea. For fans, the announcement offers a small silver lining: a grace period to say goodbye to their idols. The news came as a shock to many, as PURPLE KISS had just released their second album July 16 and had been actively promoting it. Over the years, the group built a distinctive identity with tracks like "Zombie" and "Nerdy," showcasing a wide range of concepts and artistic growth. The fact that their journey ends before reaching the seven-year milestone has left fans disappointed. PURPLE KAug 9, 2025By Xportsnews
