Court's decision to ban independent activities by NewJeans finalizedThe court injunction banning members of K-pop girl group NewJeans from independent activities outside their management company was confirmed Wednesday as they failed to make an appeal to the Supreme Court by the previous day. Earlier on June 17, the Seoul High Court upheld a district court's decision to accept the injunction sought by the group's agency, ADOR, to prevent the five members from independently signing advertising contracts and pursuing separate music activities, as part of a legal dispute between the two parties. Under current law, any appeal to the Supreme Court must be made within one week of an appellate court's ruling. The court's decision to ban the group's independent activities was finalized Wednesday as it did not file an appeal by the previous day. NewJeans, which rebranded as NJZ in February, began pursuing independent activities after accusing ADOR in November last year of violating the terms of their exclusive contract.Jun 25, 2025By Yonhap
Girl group Ive to perform halftime show at Newcastle United's preseason matchK-pop girl group Ive will perform during the halftime of an upcoming exhibition football match featuring Newcastle United, match organizers announced Wednesday. Coupang Play, a Korean streaming platform, announced the six-piece girl group as the halftime performer for the first match of the annual Coupang Play series between Newcastle and Team K League at 8 p.m. on July 30 at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Ive has been one of the most successful K-pop girl groups since its debut in 2021. Earlier this year, Ive had its fifth million seller with the EP "Ive Empathy." Newcastle, the reigning English Football League Cup champions, will also take on Tottenham Hotspur, captained by Korean star Son Heung-min, at 8 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Team K League will feature a starting lineup of players voted on by fans, plus one player under the age of 22. Fan voting will go on until next Monday at Coupang Play's official social media pages. Tickets to both matches are available only on Coupang Play's official app. The priority presale for the firstJun 25, 2025By Yonhap
Rose extends record as longest-charting K-pop soloist on Hot 100Rose of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has broken her own record as the longest-charting K-pop solo artist on the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 for her latest solo single "APT." The single featuring global pop icon Bruno Mars placed 25th in its 35th week on the Hot 100, slipping one spot from the previous week, according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time). It marks the longest run ever for a K-pop soloist. Released in October last year, "APT." previously surpassed the record held by Jimin of K-pop supergroup BTS, whose solo track "Who" remained on the chart for 33 weeks. BTS' J-Hope debuted at No. 40 this week with his latest single, "Killin' It Girl (feat. GloRilla)." The track marked his eighth to enter the Hot 100 -- the most among all K-pop soloists. It also represents the highest-charting solo track of his career, surpassing his previous best of No. 60 with the 2023 single "on the street (with J. Cole)." With "Killin' It Girl," J-Hope has now placed all three of his solo releases this year on the Hot 100. "Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)" peaked at No. 66, while "Mona Lisa" reached NJun 25, 2025By Yonhap
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKWhat 'KPop Demon Hunters' gets right, wrong about K-pop industryAfter spending a few years covering the fast-paced, high-gloss K-pop industry, a reporter inevitably starts to see through the glitter. You get familiar with the ins and outs — from the hot "tea" fans usually crave to the industry's darkest lore you wish you never knew. Yet, in fan-driven fiction and spin-offs made to celebrate the K-pop fantasy, those insider truths rarely surface. The industry's smallest details often remain a secret, carefully concealed under K-pop's golden rule: Faults and fears must never be seen. If that phrase rings a bell, you might already be on your way to becoming a K-pop trendsetter yourself. This is the exact mantra followed by Huntrix, the fictional K-pop girl group at the center of "KPop Demon Hunters," the new animated film that dropped last Friday on Netflix. The movie — the first internationally produced animated feature to focus on K-pop — reimagines K-pop stars as demon slayers. Huntrix's trio of members — Rumi, the leader and main vocalist; Mira, the main dancer; and Zoey, the rapper and lyricist — use the power of K-pop to fight evil spiritJun 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS fans join Suga in funding autism treatment center for childrenFollowing BTS member Suga's donation of 5 billion won ($3.62 million) to help build a treatment center for children with autism, fans around the world have responded with an outpouring of support, hospital officials said Tuesday. Severance Hospital in Seoul announced that public donations for the planned Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center exceeded 200 million won as of 9 a.m., just one day after news of Suga's donation was made public. A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility named after Suga's real name, Min Yoon-gi was held Monday at the hospital. The new facility, set to open in September, will offer mental health care and therapy for young people with autism spectrum disorder. The center will provide language, psychological and behavioral therapy, and run programs that combine clinical treatment and research. In addition to his donation, Suga has collaborated with Cheon Keun-ah, a child psychiatry expert at Severance Hospital, to create a music-based therapy program designed to help children with autism develop social skills since last November. He also volunteered on weekends from MarchJun 24, 2025By Yonhap
Korea's first chaebol heiress idol Annie stuns in white at debut eventAnnie, the daughter of Shinsegae Chairwoman Chung Yoo-kyung and a member of the new co-ed K-pop group Allday Project, captivated onlookers with her striking appearance at the group’s debut event. On Monday, a photo shoot was held at the LG Uplus pop-up space in Gangnam, Seoul, to mark the opening of a debut-themed pop-up store for Allday Project. Annie appeared in a white mini dress, paired with long, sleek hair. The turtleneck and loose silhouette accentuated her slender frame. The understated ensemble was elevated by a pair of black knee-high boots that served as a focal point of her look. The satin fabric had a subtle sheen that added a touch of luxury, harmonizing with Annie’s natural elegance to create a sense of polished refinement. Her look was completed with carefully chosen accessories. The result resembled a high-fashion model, not just a stage outfit. Annie, whose Korean name is Moon Seo-yoon, drew attention even before her debut due to her background as the eldest daughter of Chung Yoo-kyung, chairwoman of retail giant Shinsegae. Her entry into K-pop has earned her the niJun 24, 2025By Xportsnews
BLACKPINK to debut new song at Goyang kickoff for ‘DEADLINE’ world tourBLACKPINK will unveil a brand-new song for the first time in nearly two years and eight months during the opening concerts of their upcoming world tour “DEADLINE,” taking place July 5 and 6 at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. Their agency YG Entertainment announced Monday that the long-anticipated comeback performance will mark a symbolic starting point for the group to reconnect with fans. “There were extensive discussions on how to present the new song,” YG said in a statement. “We decided that debuting it in Goyang — the launch of the ‘DEADLINE’ tour — would be the most meaningful. Details about the official release date will be announced soon.” While the song itself remains under wraps, anticipation has reached a fever pitch following executive producer Yang Hyun-suk’s earlier confirmation of BLACKPINK’s full-group return. The group recently completed filming the new music video in Korea, adding fuel to fans’ excitement. This marks BLACKPINK’s first release since the 2022 studio album “BORN PINK,” aside from the original soundtrack “The GirlsJun 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
Ateez debuts on Billboard's Hot 100 with 'Lemon Drop'K-pop boy group Ateez has entered the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main songs chart for the first time in its career. The eight-member group landed at No. 69 on this week's chart with "Lemon Drop," the lead track of its 12th EP released earlier this month, Billboard said in a chart preview Monday (U.S. time). The Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs of the week in the United States, measured by all-genre streaming, radio airplay and sales. It marks the group's first appearance on the chart and makes it the third K-pop boy group to achieve the feat. The band also placed second on this week's Billboard 200 albums chart with the EP "Golden Hour: Part. 3," marking its seventh album to break into the chart's top 10. Ateez is set to kick off its 2025 world tour, "In Your Fantasy," in Incheon on July 5-6. The tour will then continue in several U.S. cities, including Atlanta, New York, San Jose, and Los Angeles, before heading to Mexico City on Aug. 23.Jun 24, 2025By Yonhap
Koyote's Shinji to marry singer Moon Won, seven years her juniorShinji, member of the long-running K-pop group Koyote, is set to get married next year to fellow singer Moon Won, who is seven years her junior. Her agency, JG Star Entertainment, confirmed Monday that Shinji was taking wedding photos with her fiance at a studio in Seoul. The wedding is scheduled to take place in the first half of next year. Shinji and Moon Won first met when he appeared as a guest on an MBC Standard FM’s radio show, which Shinji hosted. Their professional encounter developed into a romantic relationship, and after dating for more than two years, they decided to tie the knot. Ahead of the wedding, the couple will release a surprise duet Thursday titled “SalagaDoola." Shinji participated actively in supporting Moon in producing the track, lending her voice to complete the duet. Shinji debuted in 1998 as the lead vocalist of Koyote and rose to fame with hits like “Pure Love,” “Sad Dream" and “Broken Heart.” Her clear vocals and cheerful personality have earned her steady popularity over the past two decades. Moon began gaining recognition in 2013 when he placeJun 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
Baby DONT Cry enters K-pop scene with bold image, big-name backing, early backlashWhat happens when PSY, the iconic "Gangnam Style" songster, launches his first K-pop girl group, with music produced by i-dle's hitmaker Soyeon? That question took a step toward an answer Monday, as rookie girl group Baby DONT Cry officially debuted through a media showcase at Blue Square in Yongsan District, Seoul. The four-piece act is the first girl group to be launched under P Nation, the agency led by Psy and home to artists like Hwasa, Heize and Crush. Comprising two Korean members, Yihyun and Beni, and two Japanese members, Kumi and Mia, the group said it sets itself apart with a bold and mischievous attitude that breaks from the conventional image of most K-pop girl groups. Leader Yihyun, visibly nervous but firm in tone, explained the meaning behind the group's name. "The 'baby' in our name isn't about being fragile," said Yihyun. "It stands for innocence, but also strength. We're not someone you need to protect. We represent our own pure and confident image." Kumi added her own perspective in her still-developing Korean. "We're like popping candy. Sweet and cute, but strong and fJun 23, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
