Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'Stray Kids' Han will release a solo digital single titled "back to life" on Thursday, the singer's agency JYP Entertainment said. The track, due out at 6 p.m., was written and composed by Han and carries lyrics about a resolve to maintain one's sense of self. It features a sound that blends rough intensity with lyrical sensitivity. The song has been released as part of the group's in-house content series "Skz-Player," which, along with "Skz-Record," allows members to share self-produced material with fans. In "Skz-Player," members take part not only in songwriting but also in the planning and direction of music videos, highlighting their creative abilities. Stray Kids performed as a headliner at the Governors Ball music festival in New York on June 6 (U.S. time) and are scheduled to appear at Brazil's Rock in Rio in September. The band is also set to launch a new music festival, "Straycity," in Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. Earlier this year, in March and April, the group held its sixth "meet and greet" session for its domestic fans at Inspire Arena in Incheon, some 30 kilometers west oJun 11, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK’s Jennie stuns in ultra-mini stage outfit at Governors BallBLACKPINK's Jennie is enjoying one of the biggest moments of her solo career after headlining New York's Governors Ball Music Festival, where her live performance and bold stage fashion generated buzz across social media. On Wednesday, Jennie shared a series of photos from the festival on her personal social media account, thanking fans for their enthusiastic support. "My first Gov Ball went cwaaaaaazy. Thank you NY. You guys gave me so much energy," she wrote. She also expressed gratitude to her performance team, adding, "We're just getting started." The photos quickly drew attention online, showcasing Jennie's eye-catching stage outfit. She paired a cropped khaki bomber jacket with a bra top and ultra-mini denim skirt, highlighting a Y2K-inspired look that has become one of the defining fashion trends among younger consumers recently. A checkered shirt tied around her waist and leg warmers completed the styling, while her long wavy hair and statement accessories added to the festival aesthetic. Fans also praised Jennie's toned physique, with many commenting on her defined abs and slim waJun 10, 2026By Xportsnews
New exhibition traces K-culture’s deep regional rootsAs Korean pop music, television dramas and cinema continue to capture global audiences, a new state-backed exhibition is turning its attention to a foundational question: What are the actual roots of the contemporary “K” phenomenon? The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Wednesday the opening of “Palsaekchanran: Regions Filled With K,” a special exhibition running through Dec. 31 at Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae, a government-run cultural museum located directly in front of Korea’s presidential office. Rather than spotlighting sleek idol groups or modern streaming blockbusters, the showcase employs immersive digital displays and media art to demonstrate how centuries of regional history, traditional arts and local folklore became the bedrock of modern Korean content. The venue itself adds a layer of historic meaning to the exhibit. In traditional architecture, a “sarangchae” is a detached guest house used to entertain visitors. For decades, this building served as the official public information hall and presidential exhibition center. The current exhibit traces hJun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
BTS' 'ARIRANG' lands on Billboard 200 for 11th straight weekK-pop supergroup BTS remained on the Billboard 200 chart for the 11th consecutive week with its latest album, "ARIRANG." The group's fifth studio album ranked No. 11 in the latest tracking week, down two spots from the previous week, according to the chart posted on Billboard's website Tuesday (U.S. time). The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States. "ARIRANG" previously made history as the first album by a K-pop act to spend three weeks at No. 1 following its release in March. "Swim," the lead single from the album, climbed three spots to No. 41 on the Hot 100 chart, Billboard's main singles chart. Several other K-pop acts also landed on the Billboard 200, with aespa's second full-length album, "Lemonade," debuting at No. 9 on the weekly chart. "GreenGreen," the second EP by K-pop rookie Cortis, ranked No. 46, while girl group Le Sserafim's second studio album, "Pureflow pt. 1," came in at No. 59.Jun 10, 2026By Yonhap
TXT's Yeonjun set for solo comeback in July after breakout debut successTXT member Yeonjun is preparing to return as a solo artist, less than a year after launching his individual music career and earning strong commercial results in Korea and Japan. Xportsnews learned Tuesday that Yeonjun of K-pop boy group TXT is preparing a solo album targeting a July release. The upcoming project will mark his latest solo activity following his first solo mixtape, released in September 2024, which introduced him as a standalone artist separate from the five-member group. Yeonjun continued his momentum with his first solo album in November last year, drawing favorable reviews from fans and critics alike. His debut solo EP proved to be a commercial success, selling more than 600,000 copies during its first week of release. The album also topped Japan's Oricon chart, one of the country's most closely watched music rankings. The singer earned praise from global listeners during his previous solo promotions, with many fans highlighting his distinct artistic identity and stage presence. Expectations are now growing over what new musical direction and concept he will showcase wiJun 9, 2026By Xportsnews
Ex-AOA member Jimin opens up about struggles ahead of new music releaseJimin, a former member of K-pop girl group AOA, has opened up about the emotional strain she has faced ahead of the release of her new music. On Tuesday, the singer, whose real name is Shin Ji-min, shared a candid post on social media, saying she had struggled in the weeks leading up to the release. “There is finally only one day left until the release,” she wrote. “For about a month, I was a mess. I could not explain myself here or there, and I had become the most sensitive person in the world.” Jimin said she had been drinking every night for the past month in order to fall asleep, despite not usually being able to drink much, because “medication could not solve it.” She also said she broke down after completing the music video and clearing the review process. “I do not know how much I cried for those 20 minutes,” she wrote. “I had promised myself I would never bite my hands again because my quality of life had fallen so much, but before I knew it, I was doing it again. I do not even know why I cry all day.” Briefly touching on the difficulty of working on the projectJun 9, 2026By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK's Jennie rebounds to No. 10 on Billboard Hot 100 with 'Dracula'A remix of "Dracula" by Australian artist Tame Impala featuring BLACKPINK's Jennie has climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, re-entering the chart's top 10. The track rose four places from the previous week, Billboard said in a chart preview released Monday (U.S time). Originally released as a solo track by Tame Impala in October last year, "Dracula" gained renewed traction after a remix featuring Jennie was released in February, going viral on short-form video platforms and driving a chart resurgence. The remix version previously reached No. 10 on the Hot 100 last month, making Jennie the second BLACKPINK member to secure a top-10 entry on the chart, following Rose, whose hit "APT." peaked at No. 3.Jun 9, 2026By Yonhap
Girl group izna sets its own tempo with 3rd EPRising K-pop girl group izna is setting its own pace and inviting listeners to follow. With "Metronome," which leads its upcoming third EP "Set the Tempo," the group joins a growing wave of house music in K-pop scene with a message of self-definition. "We thought the house beat fit perfectly with the theme of finding our own rhythm in chaos," member Choi Jung-eun said Monday during a press showcase for the album, set for release at 6 p.m. For izna, the genre is more than a trend — it is a vehicle for amplifying what they call their "powerful, dreamlike" performance," where intensity meets atmosphere. "House felt like a genre that could further elevate the powerful performances we do best," member Mai added. "That's why we chose to take on the challenge." The five-track album carries a message of self-definition, with the members emphasizing independence from other people's expectations. "Since our debut, we've sung about confidence and independence," said Bang Ji-min. "This time, we go further, expressing our conviction to move forward by becoming our own standard rather than following oJun 8, 2026By Yonhap
Nvidia CEO praises singer Hwasa on ‘You Quiz on the Block’Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised K-pop singer Hwasa and cited her recent projects in a preview for tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block,” drawing attention for his highly specific knowledge of the genre. On Sunday, the popular talk show released a preview titled “Jensen Huang shout-out to Hwasa! Park Jung-min, Kim Nam-gil, and next Jensen Huang?” When host Yoo Jae-suk asked which K-pop songs he typically listens to, Huang first noted “Golden,” from the soundtrack of Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” and praised the song. Huang then turned to Hwasa. “I do also love Hwasa,” he said. He cited “Good Goodbye” and “So Cute,” demonstrating he follows not only her established hits but also her recent releases. Yoo responded with surprise, asking, “You even know her new song?” Huang also praised Hwasa as a performer. “She is pretty good,” he said, describing her as a “very good dancer” and a “good singer.” Hwasa drew major attention last November following a “Good Goodbye” performance with actor Park Jung-min. The performance video attracted globalJun 8, 2026By Hankookilbo
BOYNEXTDOOR bares its soul in first studio album 'Home'K-pop boy group BOYNEXTDOOR, known for its innocent and playful charm, returned with its first studio album, "Home," in which members lay bare their innermost emotions and memories. The band said it wanted to reflect on its three-year journey with an album that carries members' honest reflections on what the group has experienced so far — ranging from its anxious trainee days to heartfelt messages dedicated to its parents and its ambitious desire for its music to reach a wider audience. "Since we've shown a lot of our innocent side, we tried to show many of our anxious feelings of living through youth and emotions we had but kept aside," member Woonhak said during a group media interview held Thursday ahead of the album's release. "Personally, I'm more satisfied with this album because I think it allows BOYNEXTDOOR to connect with both our fans and the general public on a more human level." "I Wonder," one of the two fan-dedicated songs on the record, for instance, contains lyrics, such as "Do you know we are as anxious as we are happy?" according to the band. "It's not a simple declarJun 8, 2026By Yonhap
