Still soaring: N.Flying marks 10 years with 'Everlasting' returnAfter nearly two years of performing as a duo due to members' military enlistments, Korean rock band N.Flying is back as a five-member act — just in time to mark its 10th anniversary with a fresh full-length album. N.Flying debuted in 2015 under FNC Entertainment, home to iconic Korean rock acts FTISLAND and CNBLUE. The band has since undergone multiple lineup changes, navigating its fair share of turbulence while keeping the flame of band music alive in the K-pop scene. The band's breakthrough came with "Rooftop," a 2019 release that unexpectedly went viral years later, earning the band recognition well beyond its core fan base. Now the group is back with "Everlasting," its second full-length album, released May 28. It's both a fresh start and a message to fans that they intend to stay by their side "everlastingly." In an interview Monday with The Korea Times at their agency's headquarters in southern Seoul, members Seunghyub, Hun, Jaehyun, Hweseung and Dongsung opened up about the long-awaited return to full strength and the excitement of releasing new music together again. During theJun 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
G-Dragon denies dating rumors with TWICE’s Sana: ‘Tag was a friendly gesture’G-Dragon has denied rumors of a romantic relationship with TWICE member Sana, clarifying that a recent social media tag was simply a sign of familiarity. G-Dragon’s agency Galaxy Corporation said on Monday that it wanted to correct "misunderstandings" surrounding the rumors, which began after he tagged Sana's personal Instagram account in a story post. The agency said that the K-pop star had filmed the YouTube web show “Dex and Sana’s Fridge Interview” on April 14, the day after the final broadcast of MBC’s “Good Day.” Later, on April 22, G-Dragon attended the “Coldplay Live in Korea – Goyang” concert, where TWICE performed as special guests. “He posted a photo from the concert and tagged Sana's personal account as a friendly gesture, since it had not been long since the shoot,” the company said. Galaxy Corporation added that G-Dragon agreed to appear on the show out of friendship with Dex, and that Sana’s participation had been finalized the day before filming. The agency also explained the delay in addressing the rumors, saying, “We hesitated to comment earlyJun 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Rowoon bids fans farewell ahead of military enlistmentRowoon, the actor and former member of boy band SF9, met with fans in a heartfelt send-off event just before his military enlistment in July. At the fan meeting Saturday at Kwangwoon University in Seoul, Rowoon promised to return safely and in good health, vowing to resume work immediately after completing his service. Dressed in a white outfit, Rowoon opened the event titled “Before Blooming” with a passionate rendition of Jannabi’s song “GRIPPIN'THEGREEN.” He hosted the fan meeting with his signature charm and quick wit. Fans from Korea, Japan, Russia and other countries packed the venue. During a segment called “Colorful Temperature,” Rowoon reflected on his recent work and discussed various characters he had portrayed. He engaged fans by asking which of his roles they liked most and shared behind-the-scenes stories. In the “Blooming with ROming” segment — named after his fandom ROming — Rowoon created memorable moments, including a group sing-along of IU’s “Meaning of You (Feat. Kim Chang-wan),” which had been preannounced on his fan cafe. He also proposedJun 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
BTS set to return as one in June — here’s what’s nextBTS FESTA, the annual festival that brings together K-pop megastar group BTS and its global fan base ARMY, opened Sunday with a collection of both online and offline celebrations. The festival takes place every June to mark BTS' debut on June 13, 2013, and runs for about two weeks. In 2023, a massive 10th-anniversary event was held in Seoul's Yeouido Hangang Park, while last year's edition took place at Jamsil Indoor Stadium and included a fan meeting with Jin, who had just completed his military service. This year, BigHit Music, a HYBE Labels subsidiary and BTS' agency, said the event has expanded in both size and variety compared to previous years. According to an announcement posted on the band's official social media channel Sunday, this year's offline BTS FESTA will be held on June 13 and 14 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, housing over 20 booths across two exhibition halls. At the heart of the venue will be the "ARMY Bomb Photo Spot," featuring a giant version of BTS' official light stick and a synchronized lighting show. Other exhibition areas include the "Voice Zone," wherJun 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
From ITZY to Illit: K-pop girl groups eye early summer chart dominanceK-pop is gearing up for a sizzling summer as a wave of girl groups prepares to make their return this June. Armed with bold concepts and devoted fanbases, new releases from these powerhouse acts promise to ignite summer passions during the industry's busiest season. Four groups will return on June 9 alone: ITZY, Kiss of Life, IZNA and QWER. Veteran K-pop act ITZY, a five-member group, will release its new mini album, "Girls Will Be Girls," marking the group's first release in eight months, following last October's "Gold." The album features five tracks, including the title song, "Kiss & Tell," "Promise" and "Walk." Kiss of Life is also returning after an eight-month break. The group's upcoming fourth mini album, "224," includes seven tracks, with the title song "Lips Hips Kiss," along with "Tell Me," "Painting" and "Heart of Gold." Member Natty took part in writing the lyrics for "Tell Me" and "Painting," while Julie penned "Heart of Gold." IZNA joins the comeback rush the same day with its second single "BEEP," which includes both the original track and a Japanese-language version. BandJun 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Seventeen declare ‘reset’ of identity as they mark 10th anniversarySeventeen have declared a "reset" of their identity as they look ahead to the next chapter of their career. The group, which celebrated its 10th anniversary on May 26, announced its intention to reinvent itself as a "new Seventeen," a move that has drawn considerable attention from fans and industry observers alike. Since debuting in 2015, Seventeen have established themselves as a leading force in the third generation of K-pop, known for their refreshing and playful tracks such as “Adore U,” “Mansae,” “Pretty U,” “Oh My!” “A-Teen,” and “Very Nice.” The group steadily built its career with consistent growth, thanks in part to its unique approach as a "self-producing" team, with members, led by Woozi, participating in all aspects of album production. Seventeen's signature synchronized performances, showcasing the strength of a 13-member group, also became a key selling point. While Seventeen's dynamic performances have long been praised among K-pop fans, the group's career took a major leap forward with the release of their seventh mini-album, “Heng:garæ,” iMay 31, 2025By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo faces fallout from brother’s alleged scandal, raising questions about celebrity accountability in KoreaBLACKPINK member Jisoo is facing unexpected backlash after her older brother was accused of secretly filming a sexual encounter without consent and sharing the footage with acquaintances. The controversy began with a post on the anonymous workplace community Blind, titled "I was secretly filmed by BLACKPINK Jisoo’s brother." The writer alleged that she had been filmed without her knowledge during a sexual encounter with Jisoo’s brother, surnamed Kim, and that the video had been shared among Kim’s acquaintances. The post has since been deleted. Although the accusation centers on Jisoo’s brother, her name has been prominently featured in headlines across online platforms, leading to public misunderstanding and some mistakenly believing Jisoo herself was involved in the controversy. The situation has raised concerns about the potential damage to Jisoo’s career. She recently established her own one-personal agency, BLISSOO, and has been expanding her activities as an actress and solo artist. The allegation could harm her brand image, affect endorsements, and create challenges forMay 31, 2025By Xportsnews
Jin's 'Don't Say You Love Me' hits No. 2 on Spotify's weekly global chartJin of K-pop superstars BTS has ranked second on Spotify's weekly top song global chart with his latest song, "Don't Say You Love Me," according to the music streaming platform Saturday. The song rose by five notches from a week earlier, and to the top spot of the Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart for May 25, after its release May 16. "Don't Say You Love Me," the lead-off track from the artist's second solo EP, "Echo," delves into the ironic complexities of a crumbling relationship, where — despite the evident breakdown — the lovers find themselves unable to easily let go due to their lingering affection.May 31, 2025By Yonhap
Court orders NewJeans to pay $730,000 per independent activity without Ador’s approvalA Seoul court has partially accepted an injunction request filed by Ador against K-pop girl group NewJeans, ordering the members not to carry out independent entertainment activities outside the agency until a ruling is made on the validity of their exclusive contracts. The Seoul Central District Court on Friday ruled that NewJeans members must refrain from performing individually or through a third party without Ador’s prior consent or approval, until the first trial decision is made in a pending lawsuit confirming the validity of their exclusive contracts. If the group violates the court’s order, each member will be required to pay 1 billion won ($730,000) per breach to Ador. The court also ordered NewJeans to bear the legal costs of the application. This means NewJeans is now barred from engaging in independent activities until the final outcome of their contract termination case. The group notified Ador of contract termination last November after revealing internal conflicts. They had since attempted to pursue independent activities under the name NJZ but now face restrictions. BaMay 30, 2025By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK Jisoo’s brother accused of illegal filming, denies allegationsThe older brother of BLACKPINK member Jisoo has been accused of filming a sexual encounter without consent, according to a now-deleted post that surfaced on an anonymous online forum. Jisoo’s agency BLISSOO told Xportsnews that it is “in the process of verifying” the allegations involving her brother, identified only as Kim. Earlier that day, a post titled “I was secretly filmed by BLACKPINK Jisoo’s brother” appeared on the anonymous workplace forum Blind. The poster claimed she discovered after the fact that her sexual encounter with Kim had been filmed and further alleged that he shared the footage with acquaintances. The original post has since been removed. Kim's side has denied the allegations and is reportedly planning legal action. This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.May 30, 2025By Hankookilbo
