Where are K-pop’s original ‘Flower Boys’ now?Before BTS, Stray Kids and NCT, there was an era when Korean entertainment media was ruled by “kkonminam” stars — literally, “handsome flower boys.” Long before the word K-pop became a global shorthand, these soft-featured, camera-ready celebrities carried the kind of visual appeal and star power now associated with today’s idols. Years have passed since then. For fans who still remember their heyday, there is an inevitable question: Where are they now? And perhaps a more honest, slightly appearance-obsessed one: How do they look now? A recent wave of public appearances by stars from that era has given curious fans their answer. One of the biggest names to earn the “kkonminam” label was Nichkhun of 2PM. From the moment he debuted, Nichkhun stood out for his striking looks, quickly earning the nickname “Thai Prince.” His polished image helped raise 2PM’s profile and made him one of the defining faces of the era. So when Nichkhun appeared in a recent YouTube video centered on 2PM, fans did a double take — not only because it was a relatively rare appearance, but alsoMay 15, 2026By Xportsnews
Why K-pop groups turn to subunits for new creative chemistryAcross the K-pop industry, established groups are increasingly turning to subunits as both a creative experiment and a business strategy, forming smaller lineups that can explore sounds, concepts and audiences beyond the parent group. The trend has only accelerated this year. In the first five months of 2026 alone, K-pop boy band Seventeen's vocal duo DK x Seungkwan debuted with the mini-album "Serenade" in January, while NCT's duo unit JNJM released its first EP "Both Sides" in February. Most recently, boy band DRIPPIN's trio ChaDongHyeop unveiled its debut single in May. Together, the releases suggest something more deliberate than occasional side projects. In today's K-pop industry, the subunit projects have evolved into structural tools. Avoiding uncertainty For entertainment agencies, the logic is relatively simple. Launching a new idol group requires years of trainee development, financial investment and no guarantee of success. A subunit avoids much of that uncertainty. It arrives with an existing fanbase, brand recognition and promotional infrastructure already in place, while allMay 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
TWS turns viral dance challenges into million-selling momentumPropelled by the back-to-back viral hits of its social media dance challenges, K-pop boy band TWS has hit a career peak amid a period of sustained growth. TWS first drew widespread attention with its debut song "Plot Twist," which helped shake up the fifth-generation boy group market. Since its "Angtal" dance challenge went viral last year, the six-member group has gained momentum with its new "Ddarum" challenge, linking online traction to album sales, larger concert venues and an established musical identity. The group is now trying to prove that its appeal reaches beyond short-lived online trends. Its fifth mini-album, "NO TRAGEDY," became its first million-selling album, giving the group a major milestone. According to local album sales tracker Hanteo Chart, "NO TRAGEDY" sold 1,112,770 copies in its first week, setting a record for TWS. The number marks a sharp rise from its debut mini-album, "Sparkling Blue," which opened with about 260,000 copies in first week sales. Sales of subsequent releases "SUMMER BEAT!," "TRY WITH US" and "play hard" rose steadily before crossing the 1 milliMay 14, 2026By Hankookilbo
‘Don’t touch his face’: Rain says plastic surgeon stopped him from getting eye surgery before debutRain revealed that he nearly underwent cosmetic surgery before debuting, but said a plastic surgeon ultimately advised against it, calling his facial features “worth a million dollars.” The singer and actor shared the story during a recent appearance on the SBS radio program “Cultwo Show.” During the broadcast, listeners submitted playful rankings for things that suited the male singer best. One listener mentioned sleeveless shirts, while guest DJ Hwang Chi-yeul joked that Rain ranked No. 1 among male singers who would look good with double eyelid surgery. Rain surprised the hosts by revealing that he had actually considered the procedure early in his career. “I really was going to get double eyelid surgery back then,” he said. According to Rain, J.Y. Park, founder of JYP Entertainment, once suggested surgery before his debut because his eyes appeared swollen. Rain also said he was advised to consider ear surgery to make his ears lie flatter. Rain said he eventually visited a plastic surgery clinic, but the doctor refused to operate. “The doctor said, ‘This kid should not geMay 14, 2026By Xportsnews
KATSEYE announces 27-city tour across Europe, North AmericaGlobal girl group KATSEYE announced Wednesday a 27-city arena tour across Europe and North America this fall, a significant expansion from its sold-out run last year. "THE WILDWORLD TOUR," produced by Live Nation, kicks off Sept. 1 in Dublin before running through an eight-city European leg that includes London, Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne and Antwerp, wrapping Sept. 17 in Copenhagen. The North American leg begins Oct. 13 in Miami and visits major markets across the United States and Canada, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Montreal, before the tour closes Nov. 27 in Mexico City. The tour supports the group's upcoming third EP, "WILD," set for release on Aug. 14 via HYBE and Geffen Records. HYBE told The Korea Times that the five-member photo on the tour poster was taken during promotions for the group's recent single "PINKY UP," and that it remains unclear whether member Manon will participate in the tour as she is currently on hiatus. The announcement represents a significant step up from KATSEYE's previous run. The group sold out all 16 dates of its 2025 NoMay 14, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS’ Jung Kook shows off new motorcycle after viral ‘Hooligan’ bike challengeBTS member Jung Kook is once again drawing attention for his love of motorcycles after revealing what appears to be a newly delivered bike. On Wednesday, Jung Kook posted a photo of a bright red motorcycle on social media alongside the short caption, “It’s here.” Fans quickly interpreted the post as the arrival of a motorcycle he had recently ordered, sparking excitement online among followers who are already familiar with the singer’s longtime interest in bikes. Jung Kook has previously shown his enthusiasm for motorcycles through BTS content and television appearances. Last month, he also fueled buzz with a viral bike-themed challenge video set to “Hooligan,” a track from BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG.” In the video, Jung Kook rides through the streets on a motorcycle while “Hooligan” plays in the background. The clip gained high viewership online for its cinematic speed sequences and stylish atmosphere, with many fans praising the “cool” and “free-spirited” vibe. The post comes as BTS continues its “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN NORTH AMERICA,May 14, 2026By Xportsnews
‘The Thai Prince grew up’: Fans react affectionately to Nichkhun’s latest appearance2PM member Nichkhun is drawing attention online after fans noticed a noticeably different look in a newly released group video. A recent video uploaded to 2PM’s YouTube channel, titled “Three 2PM members living together under one roof,” followed members Nichkhun, Jang Wooyoung and Jun. K during a three-day group stay reminiscent of their trainee and dormitory days. The three idols shared a room with bunk beds, cooked meals together and spent time walking along the Han River, giving fans a glimpse into their offstage chemistry and longtime friendship. The casual reality-style content quickly gained attention among fans nostalgic for second-generation K-pop groups, but much of the online discussion centered on Nichkhun’s appearance. Nichkhun, a Thai American singer who debuted with 2PM in 2008, became one of the most recognizable foreign K-pop idols of his generation thanks to his polished visuals and carefully maintained image. At the height of 2PM’s popularity, he was widely nicknamed the “Thai Prince” by fans and Korean media. In the newly released video, Nichkhun appearedMay 14, 2026By Xportsnews
Latin American fans' craze for BTS drives streams as Brazil, Mexico outpace KoreaLatin American fans are powering a surge in global streams of K-pop supergroup BTS' latest album, with Brazil and Mexico surpassing Korea in the album's first-week streaming figures, U.S. music industry data showed. BTS' fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," released March 20, recorded 739.1 million streams worldwide in its first week, according to the data released Wednesday (U.S. time) by entertainment data tracker Luminate. The figure marks the highest first-week total for any album released this year, and the biggest since Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" logged 1.3 billion streams in October last year, Luminate said. The United States led first-week streams with 115 million, followed by Brazil with 78.6 million and Mexico with 75.9 million. Korea ranked fourth with 58.3 million, underscoring the growing weight of Latin American audiences in the global K-pop market. Japan came in fifth with 48.2 million streams. YouTube data reflected a similar trend. Between April 6 and May 3, Brazil and Mexico ranked third and fourth, respectively, in viewership of BTS-related videos, joined by ArgMay 14, 2026By Yonhap
FLARE U turns audition show friendship into K-pop debut with 'YOUTH ERROR'K-pop duo FLARE U released its debut album, "YOUTH ERROR," Wednesday, officially marking its arrival after months of anticipation from fans who first fell for them on an audition show. The two members, Chuei Li Yu from Taiwan and Korean Kang Woo-jin, competed on Mnet's "Boys II Planet" last year, finishing 10th and 16th, respectively. Neither made the final debut lineup, but their easy rapport became one of the show's more talked-about storylines. The name, FLARE U, captures exactly that: two separate sparks becoming one light. A few hours before the official album drop on Wednesday, the two met the press for a media showcase at BlueSquare Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, sharing behind-the-scenes stories leading up to the duo's launch. "After the audition program ended, I took some rest and then prepared for a fan event. I felt sorry that I couldn't share more news in the meantime," Kang said. It was also a period of real growth, he noted. Appearing on a TV show had been a first for him, and the physical and emotional demands caught him off guard early on. "Having goneMay 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
YOUNITE seeks connection on new album 'INYUN Part.1'K-pop boy band YOUNITE stepped back into the spotlight Tuesday with the release of "INYUN Part.1" and its title track "POSE!," a house-inflected single that puts the eight-member group in line with the industry's recent sonic trends. Hours before the album drop, seven of the group's members — Eunho, Steve, Hyungseok, Woono, DEY, Kyungmun and Sion — gathered at NOL Theater Hapjeong in Seoul's Mapo District to share their thoughts on the new project. Eunsang, who stepped back from activities last year due to health issues, did not attend. "Eunsang still needs rest," Eunho said. "With seven of us, we felt we couldn't afford to show any gaps, and that pushed us to work even harder." The album, arriving nine months after the group's previous release, takes its title from a Korean word for a bond that persists across different worlds, something the members describe as neither fate nor coincidence, but something in between. "This album expresses a new turning point," said Woono. "We wanted to capture YOUNITE's desire to connect with as many people as possible." The album's title track "POSE!May 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
