BLACKPINK's Jennie receives $16 million from self-founded agency over 2 yearsJennie of BLACKPINK received more than 20 billion won (around $13.6 million) in settlement payments over the past two years through her self-founded one-person agency, OA Entertainment, according to a recent audit report. According to an audit report filed with the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system on May 9, OA Entertainment paid Jennie around 9.5 billion won last year. Combined with 14.3 billion won paid in 2024, Jennie received roughly 23.8 billion won, or $16 million, in total over the two-year period. OA Entertainment, short for “Odd Atelier,” which the company describes as a creative space for orginality, was founded by Jennie in November 2023 after her exclusive contract with YG Entertainment expired. The one-person agency is headed by Jennie’s mother, while Jennie owns 100 percent of its shares. Jennie continues to carry out BLACKPINK group activities under YG Entertainment, while managing her individual activities through OA Entertainment, including advertising deals, solo album promotions and personal performances. Audit reports show that OA EMay 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS’ Jimin shares joyful group photo from Mexico City concertFans of BTS are buzzing after member Jimin shared a cheerful group photo featuring all seven members together on stage during the group’s latest world tour stop in Mexico City. On May 10, Jimin uploaded the photo to his social media account, giving fans a glimpse of the group standing together in front of a massive crowd at the concert venue. The image quickly spread across online communities and fan platforms, with many fans celebrating the members’ bright expressions and onstage chemistry. In the photo, the BTS members pose against a sea of glowing light sticks that illuminate the stadium. Jimin, wearing a hat and holding a microphone, smiles brightly toward the camera, while the other members strike playful poses that capture the high-energy atmosphere of the concert. The post comes as BTS continues its world tour “ARIRANG,” which has drawn major attention globally as the group performs together on large stages once again. Fans online said the candid group image felt especially meaningful because it highlighted the members’ joyful energy during the performance. BTS held itsMay 11, 2026By Xportsnews
2PM to stage 1st full-group concerts in Korea in 3 yearsK-pop boy group 2PM will hold a series of full-group concerts in South Korea for the first time in three years, the group's agency said Monday. The six-member act is set to perform on Aug. 8-9 at Inspire Arena in Incheon, about 30 kilometers west of Seoul, in a show titled "The Return," according to JYP Entertainment. The plan was unveiled during the group's 15th anniversary concert at Tokyo Dome over the weekend, where it appeared on the venue's giant LED screen. 2PM performed a string of hits, including "Heartbeat," "Hands Up" and "My House," during the Tokyo shows on May 9-10, marking its first appearance at the iconic Japanese venue in a decade. The upcoming Incheon concerts will be the group's first full-group domestic performances since "It's 2PM" in September 2023. Debuting in 2008 with "10 Out of 10," 2PM rose to prominence across Asia with hit tracks, such as "Again & Again," "Heartbeat" and "Without You," earning a reputation for its powerful choreography and masculine image.May 11, 2026By Yonhap
Seventeen's Dino to debut alter ego 'Pi Cheolin'Dino, the youngest member of K-pop boy band Seventeen, will drop his debut album as alter ego "Pi Cheolin" in August, his agency said Monday. Dino will release his first EP, "Gilboard," under the persona on Aug. 3, Pledis Entertainment said. Pi Cheolin is portrayed as an enthusiastic 1990s-style producer and the CEO of a fictional K-pop agency, Bong. The character has been developed through Dino's various content and performances. The EP's name combines the Chinese character for auspicious, "gil," and the English word "board" from the U.S. Billboard music chart. It refers to a tacit '90s music ranking based on how often street vendors selling bootleg cassette tapes blasted a song through large speakers to attract passersby. The grassroots ranking was considered a much more accurate indicator of a track's actual popularity than official broadcast rankings or album sales. Pledis said the title reflects Dino's ambition to "turn the streets into a stage and spark nationwide excitement, while also conveying the hope that everyone's lives will be filled with good fortune."May 11, 2026By Yonhap
From Lena Park to BTS’ Jung Kook and BLACKPINK’s Lisa: K-pop’s World Cup journey comes full circleLisa joining the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony is drawing major attention in Korea, with many fans looking back at the rare moments K-pop artists have appeared on football’s biggest global stage. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed through his official account that Lisa will perform at the opening ceremony in Los Angeles alongside artists including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Rema and Tyla. The Thai K-pop star is also reportedly preparing music for an official World Cup soundtrack with Anitta, Rema and Brazilian music duo Tropkillaz. The announcement marks another milestone for K-pop’s growing global influence, as Lisa becomes only the third K-pop artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. Before her, Jung Kook became the first solo K-pop artist to headline a World Cup opening ceremony in 2022, performing the official soundtrack “Dreamers” alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Jung Kook’s performance was widely celebrated online at the time, with clips from the ceremony spreading rapidly across social media and heMay 10, 2026By Xportsnews
Why university festivals matter more than ever in K-popEvery May, the roars echoing across Korea's university campuses signal something far larger than a typical school celebration. What began as a student-centered tradition has evolved into one of K-pop's most closely watched live stages, a real-time test of an artist's public appeal in front of thousands of young spectators. For idols and entertainment agencies alike, the university festival season in May and Spetember each year has become an unofficial barometer of public sentiment. Unlike music shows or fandom-driven concerts, campus stages place artists directly before a broader, less filtered audience. That is why the period is widely perceived as a fierce competition among universities to secure top-tier performers and among agencies to maximize visibility during the packed spring circuit. This year is no exception. From May 6 to 8, festivals at the University of Incheon and Jeonbuk National University featured lineups including RIIZE, fromis_9, WINNER, KISS OF LIFE, FTISLAND and Jay Park, while festivals at Hoseo University and Dankook University Cheonan Campus also brought acts sucMay 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
From opera to gugak, K-pop companies bid for new IP across genresAs K-pop evolves into a global entertainment system rather than a single genre, styles that once existed only as occasional influences within idol music are beginning to emerge as standalone businesses backed by major entertainment labels. From classical music and gugak to live bands and electronic dance music, Korea's entertainment giants are increasingly expanding beyond K-pop's boundaries, building a new slate of genre-based intellectual property. The clearest recent example comes from SM Entertainment, which surprised the music industry last month by announcing an exclusive recording partnership with world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo through its classical and jazz label SM Classics. Jo became the first recording-exclusive artist signed under the label, linking one of Korea's most globally recognized classical musicians with the company that helped systemize modern K-pop. At a press conference held Wednesday to celebrate the partnership, SM Chief A&R Officer Lee Sung-su described Jo as someone who globalized Korean music long before K-pop's worldwide boom. "K-pop was able to expand globalMay 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Aespa to collaborate with G-Dragon on new single ahead of 2nd albumIn a rare cross-generational bridge between K-pop eras, the veteran rapper and producer G-Dragon will feature on "WDA (Whole Different Animal)," the upcoming prerelease single from the girl group aespa, according to their agency, SM Entertainment, Friday. The track, scheduled for release on Monday at 6 p.m., serves as a high-profile introduction to aespa’s second full-length album, "LEMONADE," which is set to arrive on May 29. The 10-track collection is being framed by the agency as a pivot toward a "more mature" musical direction, marking a departure from the group’s earlier experimental themes. The collaboration represents a significant milestone for aespa, making them the first fourth-generation girl group to officially feature the BIGBANG leader on a studio recording. While the pairing is a first for their discography, the artists have maintained a visible professional proximity. Karina, a member of aespa, previously appeared in the music video for "TOO BAD," the lead single from G-Dragon’s third studio album released in February 2025. The group also appeared on the MBC varieMay 8, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
HYBE bets big on new girl group label ABDHYBE, the Korean powerhouse behind global K-pop juggernauts like BTS, is sharpening its focus on the competitive girl-group market. The company announced Friday the launch of ABD, a subsidiary label dedicated exclusively to the development of female K-pop acts. The move marks a significant deepening of HYBE’s multilabel architecture, a decentralized strategy designed to foster creative independence while leveraging the parent company’s massive infrastructure. ABD — an acronym for “A Bold Dream” — is slated to debut its first rookie ensemble in the second half of this year. According to the company, the label’s mission is to pursue "unconventional ideas" and push the stylistic boundaries of the genre through "artist-focused production." Observers view the expansion as an attempt to diversify HYBE’s intellectual property and reduce its historic reliance on a handful of flagship acts. By positioning ABD as a specialized creative hub, HYBE aims to cultivate a distinct brand identity that can compete in an increasingly crowded global music landscape. "The launch is part of aMay 8, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Ex-Wanna One member Lai Kuanlin finds peace as film director in ChinaFormer K-pop star Lai Kuanlin revealed his new life as a film director in China, sharing his reflections on his past idol career during a reality show reunion with his former bandmate. On the Mnet broadcast of "Wanna One Go: Back to Base" that aired Tuesday, Lai reunited with Ha Sung-woon in Beijing. Meeting for the first time in about seven years since their activities with K-pop project group Wanna One, the two visited a restaurant to catch up. Lai quit his K-pop career and now works at a Chinese film production company. "I joined a Chinese film production company. I am working an office job. I learn about scripts and mainly work on short films," Lai said. "Because I am an office worker, it gives me peace of mind." Expressing deep satisfaction with his post-idol life, Lai emphasized his preference for steady progress. "I like right now so much. I like the way I'm moving forward slowly," he said. "Not that kind of feeling of becoming a singer too fast, but I like my slow but steady progress while putting in effort." Other Wanna One members, watching the reunion through a video recording,May 7, 2026By Hankookilbo
