Vanished before debut? Police tracking Japanese K-pop trainee over alleged ‘double contracts’A Japanese idol trainee who disappeared just months before debut is now being tracked by Korean police, with investigators imposing a travel ban as suspicions of repeated “double contracting” surface. According to Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul placed the trainee, identified only as A, under a travel ban on fraud charges while attempting to locate him after receiving a complaint from a K-pop agency. An exit ban is a measure applied to foreign nationals to prevent them from leaving the country. The case has drawn attention online for its unusual timing. A had been preparing to debut as part of a six-member boy group, but abruptly vanished in December last year, about two months before the group’s launch. He reportedly left behind a message saying that “trust had been broken,” before cutting off contact. At the time, the group had already completed a music video shoot, and its songs and members’ faces had been revealed to the public. Following A’s disappearance, the group proceeded to debut as a five-member act and has continued promotMay 4, 2026By Xportsnews
G-Dragon's agency apologizes over stage outfit featuring racial slurK-pop icon G-Dragon's agency issued an apology Monday, following criticism over a stage outfit featuring a racist slur that the singer wore during a recent performance. While performing at the K-SPARK music concert in Macau on Saturday, G-Dragon wore a T-shirt bearing an inappropriate phrase in Dutch, drawing criticism from global fans. In a statement, the singer's agency, Galaxy Corporation, said it sincerely apologizes over the outfit featuring an "inappropriate phrase in a social and cultural context." The company said it has recognized the importance of reviewing matters with cultural sensitivity and responsibility through this incident, and vowed to revamp its internal review procedures. "We will thoroughly review and improve our overall internal assessment and verification procedures, including in the area of styling, and operate under more prudent standards," the agency said.May 4, 2026By Yonhap
DAY6's Wonpil goes 'Unpiltered' at wide-ranging Seoul concertRock band DAY6's Wonpil held a concert bearing the same name as his March album "Unpiltered" last weekend, living up to its title with a performance that left nothing hidden. From reinventing himself as a dancer to showcasing delicate piano skills, the singer filled his second solo concert, "WONPIL SOLO CONCERT 'Unpiltered,'" with a charm that swung between extremes at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in southeastern Seoul. The Sunday show marked the final night of a three-day run that began Friday, and came roughly four years after his first solo concert in March 2022. A few minutes past 5 p.m., the singer opened the evening with high energy solo tracks "Toxic Love" and "Already Grown Up." Having fully displayed his credentials as DAY6's keyboardist and vocalist, he closed the opening set with a promise to show fans who he is — unfiltered. "You'll be seeing a lot of new sides of me tonight," he said. "What 'My Day' (DAY6's official fandom) knows of me isn't the whole picture." He drew laughter from the crowd as he added, "I'm actually a pretty rough person. I'm not someone who's always smiling oMay 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
CORTIS drops second EP 'GREENGREEN,' sets Spotify record for K-pop boy bandsK-pop boy band CORTIS released its second mini-album, "GREENGREEN," Monday, marking the group's most expansive statement yet on its creative identity. The five-member act — comprising Martin, James, Ju-hoon, Seong-hyeon and Keon-ho — anchors the six-track EP with the lead single "REDRED." The album is rounded out by "TNT," "ACAI," "YOUNGCREATORCREW," "Wassup" and "Blue Lips." Each of the group’s five members share credit for the music, choreography and video content, a move that reinforces the collective creative ethos established in their debut EP, "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES." The members frame the album as a departure from traditional concepts, opting instead for a raw subjectivity guided by a chromatic logic — green for the goals they pursue and red for the ideas they pointedly distance themselves from. "TNT" channels the group's explosive energy through an addictive track, accompanied by a music video released simultaneously with the album. The group plans to release music videos for five of the six tracks. "ACAI," inspired by the members' favorite food, and "YOUNGCREATORCREW,"May 4, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
BTS' 'ARIRANG' stays in top 5 on Billboard 200 for 6th straight weekK-pop megastars BTS remained in the top ranks of the Billboard 200 for the sixth consecutive week with the group's latest album, "ARIRANG." The group's fifth studio album placed at No. 5 with 56,000 equivalent album units in the latest tracking week, down one spot from the previous week, Billboard said in a chart preview Sunday (U.S. time). "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. Led by the lead single "Swim," the 14-track album marks the band's first release after a four-year hiatus caused by its members' mandatory military service. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical and digital sales, as well as streaming and digital track downloads converted into album sales.May 4, 2026By Yonhap
InterviewHow NAZE brings multinational lineup, real-world experience to May debutThere is a particular kind of calm that comes from having already been through it. Walking into a room with NAZE, the seven-member K-pop boy group set to make its official Korean debut on Monday, that calm is the first thing you notice. These are not nervous trainees counting down the moments before their debut — they are young men who have already stood on stages in Japan, filmed a primetime TBS drama, recorded four original soundtracks and gone on a showcase tour before most Korean fans even knew their names. "We've already experienced music shows, morning live broadcasts, variety programs and meeting fans in person," said Ato, one of the group's Korean members during a predebut interview at The Korea Times headquarters in central Seoul, April 16. "So compared to a group debuting out of nowhere, we have a certain level of experience. There's a natural ease that comes through, and a comfort with cameras. That's what sets us apart," he said. NAZE, formerly known as C9ROOKIES during its predebut rollout, is the first new boy band from C9 Entertainment in five years, following labelmatesMay 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop Report Card Highs, lows, hard passes of crowded March–April release calendarMarch and April arrived with an unusually wide spread, spanning solo debuts, long-awaited comebacks, rookie bets, unexpected bops and a handful that somehow felt like contractual obligations. More volume does not always mean more substance. This edition tries to figure out which ones were worth the noise. As always, strong reactions in either direction are welcome. Your taste is entirely valid, even if this review just happens to disagree. Yena — "Catch Catch" from "LOVE CATCHER," released March 11 Verdict: Worth replaying If you grew up on Orange Caramel or T-ara, "Catch Catch" will feel like running into an old friend. The electronic beat at the song's core is about as far from current K-pop trends as it can get, and that is precisely the point. In a landscape where groups are rushing toward house, then EDM, then whatever the next cycle demands, Yena has quietly built something that belongs only to her. Leaning into retro as a deliberate identity is harder to pull off than it looks. Here, it works smartly. ITZY's Yuna — "Ice Cream" from eponymous solo debut album, released March 23 VeMay 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ReviewENHYPEN shows no gaps after lineup change at Seoul concertA K-pop group's main vocalist typically carries outsized weight. The role shapes not only the quality of the music, but also the level of satisfaction a live performance delivers. When that pillar disappears, a group's stage presence, as expected, tends to take a hit. That was the biggest concern on this reporter's mind heading into ENHYPEN's Saturday concert in Seoul. On March 10, the group faced a major rupture when main vocalist Heeseung announced his departure, revealing plans to pursue a new musical path. His exit, from a position central to both ENHYPEN's sonic identity and its long-running vampire lore, sent shockwaves through the group's global fandom. Staged from Friday to Sunday at KSPO DOME in Seoul's Olympic Park, "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'BLOOD SAGA'" marked the group's first large-scale homecoming performance after the shake-up. It also served as a litmus test of whether ENHYPEN could hold its ground without one of its defining members. On the Seoul leg's second day, fans in coordinated black-and-red dress code filled the arena, while members of the press gathered as the group sMay 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
'Dated the CEO to become central star?' Ex-K-pop idol Hyogyeong lifts lid on industry’s dark sideA former K-pop idol is drawing attention online after sharing allegations about favoritism, dating scandals and financial struggles behind the scenes — sparking renewed debate about how the industry treats young artists. Hyogyeong, who previously performed with the girl group ARIAZ, posted a video on her YouTube channel “HYOKEY,” April 9, detailing what she described as troubling experiences and observations from her time in the entertainment industry. “I saw situations that were really messy while promoting an idol,” she said. “This didn’t happen at a major agency that everyone would recognize. Those companies invest heavily before debuts.” She then made a striking claim about another company, saying, “A member of a different group was dating the agency’s CEO despite a large age gap. Even though she lacked skill and popularity, she always stood in the center or got the ‘killing parts.’” Hyogyeong said such practices are not limited to idols. “This happens not only to idols but also to trainees and rookie actors,” she said, adding that fans may have been conMay 2, 2026By Xportsnews
May is K-pop's biggest month for girl groups' releases in yearsA crowded slate of K-pop girl group releases is set to define May, with BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM and aespa all returning within weeks of one another. Adding to the momentum is a long-awaited reunion by I.O.I, nearly a decade after its disbandment, setting up one of the most competitive release windows. YG Entertainment's youngest act BABYMONSTER opens the month May 4 with its third mini-album, "CHOOM." Positioned as an heir to the company's girl group lineage that includes BLACKPINK and 2NE1, the group has similarly built global attention since debut through performance-focused releases. According to YG, the new album spans hip-hop, dance and R&B, with the lead track and B-sides “MOON,” “I LIKE IT” and “LOCKED IN” aimed at showcasing the group's range. Girl group NMIXX under JYP Entertainment follows May 11 with its fifth mini-album, "Heavy Serenade." The title track was reportedly co-written by singer-songwriter Hanroro, known for sentimental hits "0+0," "1111" and "Let Me Love My Youth." After debuting with its self-described "MIXX-pop" genre in 2022 to mixed rMay 1, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
