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
Babymonster to drop new single 'Hot Sauce' next monthBabymonster, the rising girl group from YG Entertainment, will release a new single called "Hot Sauce" next month, the company announced Monday. The song, set for release on July 1, puts a modern twist on the sound of 1980s old-school hip-hop. Yang Hyun-suk, YG's executive producer, described "Hot Sauce" as a "gift for fans to enjoy this summer." He said the track captures the energy of mid-to-late 1980s hip-hop with an addictive beat. After "Hot Sauce," Babymonster plans to release another single in September and an EP in October, according to YG. One member, Rami, will not take part in the album since she is still recovering from health issues that caused her to pause her activities earlier this year. "Rami still needs more time to recover. We ask for your generous understanding as we put the artist's health first. We will continue to support Rami's recovery and Babymonster's activities," the company said in a release.Jun 23, 2025By Yonhap
NCT Dream to drop new studio album, launch tour next monthK-pop boy group NCT Dream will resume its activities with the release of a new studio album and an Asian tour next month, the group's agency said Monday. The band's fifth full-length album titled "Go Back to the Future" will come out July 14, according to SM Entertainment. The album follows the members as they embark on a journey through time — traveling between the past, present and future — in search of their most radiant selves, the agency said. The album will feature nine tracks, including the double lead tracks "BTTF (Back to the Future)" and "Chiller." Ahead of the album's release, the K-pop septet will kick off its fourth concert tour at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul from July 10 to 12. The "Dream the Future" tour will then go to several major Asian cities, including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore.Jun 23, 2025By Yonhap
BTS' Suga donates $3.6 mil. to build autism center at Severance HospitalSuga, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, donated 5 billion won ($3.6 million) to Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital to help establish a treatment center for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), partnering with the hospital to support long-term care and research for their social independence. The hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Monday. Min Yoon-gi is Suga’s real name. The center, set to open in September, will provide psychiatric support for individuals with ASD, aiming to establish programs using language, psychological and behavioral therapies geared toward developing skills for social independence. "Over the last seven months preparing for the program launch and engaging in volunteer work, I have come to understand that music can be a positive outlet for expressing emotions and communicating with the world,” Suga said in a statement. “I am so happy and grateful that I was able to participate in the treatment process for children with ASD.” According to a press release fromJun 23, 2025By Inna Christine Cabel and Kwak Yeon-soo
Ateez's new album reaches No. 2 on Billboard 200K-pop boy group Ateez's 12th EP, "Golden Hour: Part. 3" has debuted at No. 2 on the main albums chart of the U.S. Billboard. The album came in second on the Billboard 200 following American country star Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem," Billboard said in a preview for this week's chart Sunday (U.S. time). The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical album sales, track equivalent albums and streaming equivalent albums. Ateez earned 105,000 album units, including 101,500 from physical album sales, during the latest chart tracking week. Including the latest album, a total of seven albums from the K-pop octet have reached the top 10 of the chart. Two of the seven rose atop the chart. "Golden Hour: Part. 3" is the third installment of the group's "Golden Hour" album series that captured the most radiant moments of youth. The new EP focused on the theme of "emotions," with the members expressing their honest selves as they confront and navigate their feelings.Jun 23, 2025By Yonhap
TWS caps emotional first solo concert with tears, gratitude and promise to growRising K-pop group TWS wrapped up its first-ever solo concert in Seoul with touching messages, tears and roaring applause from fans. Held over three days from Friday to Sunday at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium, the “2025 TWS TOUR ‘24/7:WITH:US’ IN SEOUL” drew more than16,000 fans, marking a major milestone for the rookie group just a year and a half after its debut. The concert series, themed “24/7:WITH:US,” offered a vivid portrayal of youth, as seen through the group's signature style. With a setlist composed entirely of their own tracks, the group showcased both emotional depth and musical growth, further cementing their presence as a leading fifth-generation K-pop act. From powerful performances to tearful farewells The final night of the concert began with high-energy performances of “Oh Mymy : 7s,” “Freestyle” and “Double Take,” followed by the group’s debut single “plot twist,” which stirred excitement across the venue. Throughout the night, members took turns engaging fans, affectionately referred to as “42,” expressing both joy and appreciation. “I wJun 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
‘Remove ID checks at concerts,’ fans say in viral petitionA growing number of K-pop fans are calling for the removal of real-name identification procedures at concerts, with a petition demanding the change recently going viral and gathering widespread attention. The proposal, which has been viewed over 3.6 million times, has sparked debate over privacy rights, scalping prevention and the need for regulatory reform. The issue surfaced after President Lee Jae Myung invited the public to submit ideas for policy changes via social media earlier this month. Among the proposals, one of the most talked-about was a demand to abolish the identity verification system at idol concerts, a suggestion that has resonated with many in the fandom. The ID check system, commonly used at K-pop concerts, involves comparing the name on the ticket with a valid photo ID to ensure that the ticket holder is the actual purchaser. The practice was originally introduced to combat scalping, where brokers resell tickets at inflated prices. However, fans argue the process has gone too far. A petition submitted to the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism CommitteeJun 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewCRAVITY kicks off bold new era with rebranding, 'Dare to Crave' albumJust when it might have been easy to stay the course, K-pop boy band CRAVITY has chosen the harder path: reinvention. Currently five years into their career, the nine-member boy band is entering a bold new chapter — marked by a complete group rebrand, a shift in leadership and the release of "Dare to Crave," the group's second full-length album and first in three years. "We looked back on everything we've done so far," said member Seongmin during an interview with The Korea Times at the group's agency headquarters in Gangnam District, Seoul, Thursday. "This time, we're starting with the mindset of debuting all over again." Though the timing may seem bold, the members said it's not without cause. Debuting at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CRAVITY faced empty stages and cheers that came through screens, slowing their momentum due to circumstances beyond their control. Now, with fans in the seats and wind at their backs, the group is ready for a major reset. A big part of the reboot includes appointing Wonjin and Hyeongjun as co-leaders, succeeding founding leader Serim, who had steeJun 23, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop producer Lee Soo-man meets with Macron to discuss global expansionSM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, who currently serves as the key producer of A2O Entertainment, met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Friday (local time), and discussed potential cooperation in the cultural sector between the two nations. A2O Entertainment said Sunday that Lee had a meeting with the French president at the Elysee Palace. The 73-year-old K-pop producer visited Paris to deliver a keynote speech at France Music Week. Lee attended the week-long event, designed to promote the French music industry to global professionals, as the sole Asian attendee. During their meeting, President Macron was said to be well aware of Lee's reputation as an outstanding entrepreneur and producer. A2O said Macron proposed the establishment of a local office for Lee in France, expressing a strong desire to foster collaboration between Korean and French creators. "This high-level interaction signifies more than a mere courtesy call, demonstrating the French government's deep recognition of K-pop's global impact and Lee's cultural vision," A2O Entertainment said. The France MusicJun 22, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
