As Seventeen and NCT enter military hiatus, who will lead the next wave of K-pop boy bands?With major third-generation K-pop groups like Seventeen and NCT beginning their military service, the K-pop industry is bracing for another shake-up in the boy group landscape. As these long-standing chart-toppers take a step back, the spotlight turns to younger groups from the fourth and fifth generations to carry the torch. Military service is an inevitable chapter for nearly every K-pop boy group. While foreign members are exempt, it is rare for a group to consist entirely of non-Korean artists. As a result, mandatory enlistment often brings a temporary pause in group activities — a period fans have come to call the "military hiatus." Though fans may be saddened by the absence of their favorite idols, industry insiders see this as enabling healthier growth and balance in the K-pop ecosystem. When top-tier groups pause activities, emerging acts gain room to grow, reach new audiences and build lasting legacies of their own. A notable example is BTS. Before enlisting, the group held a dominant position in both domestic and international markets. Their massive fan base and unrivaled poJul 26, 2025By Hankookilbo
Stray Kids to release new album 'Karma' in AugustK-pop boy group Stray Kids will release their fourth full-length album, "Karma," next month, JYP Entertainment said Friday. The album, set for a 1 p.m. release on Aug. 22, marks their first full-length project since the chart-topping "5-Star" in June 2023. To build anticipation, the agency unveiled a futuristic trailer set in the year 2081, which shows the members competing in a virtual sports game. The announcement comes as the group prepares to conclude their "dominATE" world tour on July 30, which spanned 34 spots around the globe.Jul 25, 2025By Yonhap
From stage to courtroom: NewJeans meets 3rd anniversary in legal standoffK-pop girl group NewJeans marked the third anniversary of its debut this week, but instead of a celebration, the milestone arrived under the shadow of an unresolved legal dispute with its agency, Ador. Two days after marking its third debut anniversary, NewJeans underwent a third court hearing Thursday at 4 p.m., in a lawsuit filed by Ador seeking to confirm the validity of the group's exclusive contracts — a case that has kept the group embroiled in legal trouble for months. With the hearing falling so close to the anniversary date, fans gathered outside the Seoul Central District Court in hopes of seeing the five members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — but the group did not appear in person for the proceedings. The legal conflict between NewJeans and the HYBE subsidiary began back in November 2024, when the members held an emergency press conference and declared their intention to terminate their contracts with the agency citing that the trust between them had broken down. Soon after, the group revealed a new name, NJZ, via a new social media account and began prepaJul 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
LUN8 takes Popular Rising Star title at Asia Top Awards 2025K-pop boy group LUN8 has been named Popular Rising Star at the Asia Top Awards 2025, a pan-Asian ceremony honoring up-and-coming artists across the region. The group received the award during a recent ceremony held at the Phenix Grand Ballroom in Bangkok, Thailand. Organized to spotlight emerging talent and influential content across Asia, the Asia Top Awards is gaining traction as a key regional recognition event. “It’s such an honor to receive this meaningful award under the name LUN8,” the group said through their agency, Fantagio, Wednesday. “We will continue to work hard so that the name LUN8 can earn even more meaningful awards in the future.” The members also expressed gratitude to their fans, known as LUV8, saying, “Thank you for always standing beside us and cheering us on.” Since their debut with “Wild Heart,” LUN8 has built momentum with singles like “Pastel,” “Super Power” and “WHIP,” showcasing unique concepts and fresh appeal. Their February release “NABI” blended traditional Eastern motifs with hip-hop, earning praise for its distinctive aJul 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
CJ ENM establishes Saudi Arabia base, accelerating K-culture pushCJ ENM has established a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia, underscoring its commitment to expanding K-culture in the region, the leading Korean entertainment company said Wednesday. The company said it recently set up its wholly-owned subsidiary CJ ENM Middle East in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, making it the first Korean entertainment company to do so in the Middle East. "This move is a significant step in the company’s declaration of 2025 — CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary year — as the ‘First Official Year of Global Expansion,’” Yoon Sang-hyun, CEO of CJ ENM said in a statement. "Establishing a presence in Saudi Arabia allows us to engage in emerging global markets and strengthen our global competitiveness.” Positioning the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as a strategic growth engine, CJ ENM will integrate its expertise in content creation, production and distribution to fully leverage the region’s expanding entertainment infrastructure and culture market. Through this subsidiary, CJ ENM also plans to pursue collaborations across music, television, film and live entertaiJul 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
WOODZ returns from military service, promises active second half of 2025WOODZ is back and ready to take on the stage again, declaring he will live as if he has "twelve bodies" to meet the demands of a packed schedule. Shortly after completing his mandatory military service on Monday, the singer held a livestream to reconnect with his official fanbase, MOODZ. Before the livestream began, WOODZ posted his first post-discharge selfie on the "To. MOODZ" board, writing, “Hi, it’s WOODZ. See you soon! Heart pounding.” Once live, he engaged directly with fans by answering questions and reading real-time comments, creating a lively and intimate atmosphere. Appearing in uniform, WOODZ said, “This is my first time using a fan community platform, and I’m thrilled to be able to communicate so closely with global MOODZ. I plan to do more livestreams and share lots of memories with MOODZ.” Reflecting on his first day after discharge, he added, “The happiest moment of my day was seeing MOODZ. I read all the posts you wrote, and it made for a joyful day.” Known for his standout producing, songwriting and composing skills, WOODZ has built a unique musical idenJul 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
STAYC pre-releases music video for summer anthem ‘I Want It’K-pop girl group STAYC has unveiled the music video for its new title track “I WANT IT” ahead of the single’s official release on Wednesday evening. The video, released on the group’s official YouTube channel, offers a first glimpse of the title track from their upcoming special single of the same name. In the music video, STAYC showcases its signature cool and confident attitude while shifting seamlessly between two contrasting summer moods. On a sun-drenched beach, the group radiates vibrant energy, while under neon-lit city skies at night, they channel a hip and edgy vibe. The visual contrast enhances the overall summer aesthetic of the track. Catchy lyrics such as “Good thing's we ok,” “I WANT IT,” and “Whatever, just go” pair with an addictive hook to amplify the song’s playful energy. The choreography, which features arm-extended movements and rhythm-driven steps, evokes a fun and spontaneous summer performance that viewers may want to dance along to. Carefully designed formations and camera angles also highlight each of the six members’ distinctive dance stylJul 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
G-Dragon appointed honorary ambassador for Gyeongju APEC summitK-pop star G-Dragon has been appointed honorary ambassador for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju in October, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday. Kim announced the appointment on his Facebook page, describing G-Dragon as South Korea's "leading artist" who has "continuously demonstrated creativity and innovation," including by transmitting his music into space. "With 100 days to go until the summit, please watch the synergy between G-Dragon and the APEC summit!" he wrote. The prime minister serves as head of the summit preparation committee. G-Dragon's global influence makes him an ideal figure to powerfully convey APEC's values of connectivity and sustainability both at home and abroad, the foreign ministry said in a separate release. As the APEC ambassador, he will participate in promoting the key messages of the APEC summit to the world, including appearing in promotional videos. The ministry said Shin Woo-seok, creative director and head of the production company Dolphiners Films, will lead the production of APEC promotional materials. TheJul 23, 2025By Yonhap
H.O.T. to reunite as full group after 6 years for Hanteo Music FestivalIconic first-generation K-pop group H.O.T. is reuniting as a full group for the first time in six years, marking a major milestone ahead of their 30th debut anniversary. Hanteo Global announced on Wednesday that H.O.T. will perform as the headliner for the inaugural Hanteo Music Festival, set to take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 6 and 7. As headliners, the group is scheduled to deliver a solo-style performance lasting over 60 minutes. This marks their first complete group performance since 2019 and comes at a significant time, with their 30th anniversary just around the corner. Notably, Sept. 7 will also mark exactly 29 years since their debut, making the moment even more symbolic. The Hanteo Music Festival, being held for the first time this year, is expected to be a historic celebration of Korean music. According to Hanteo Global, the lineup will span K-pop acts from the first to fifth generation, offering a panoramic view of the genre’s evolution. Hanteo Global, the organizer of the event, has operated the real-time Hanteo Chart for the past 33 years and has played a cenJul 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
1VERSE debuts as truly global K-pop groupK-pop boy group 1Verse officially debuted with its first single album, "The 1st Verse," and a press showcase last week. For Seok, one of the five members and a North Korean defector, the moment still feels surreal. "I still can't believe I've debuted as an idol," Seok said with a quiet laugh during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at his agency's studio in Seoul on Tuesday. "It feels like things have gotten a lot busier since then, with many interviews being scheduled. From now on, I want to try to live and work harder with just one word in mind — beginner's mindset." The group has drawn wide media attention even before its debut due to the remarkable backstory of its members: two of the members, Seok and Hyuk, are North Korean defectors, though not the first to debut in a K-pop group. Formed by the independent label Singing Beetle, 1Verse's lineup is as diverse as the members' stories. Alongside Hyuk and Seok from North Korea are Nathan, an American with Lao and Thai heritage, Aito from Japan, and Kenny, a Chinese American raised in Los Angeles. Both Seok and Hyuk were born in 2000Jul 22, 2025By Yonhap
