As virtual idol groups multiply, can any match PLAVE's success?The virtual idol market is expanding fast, and the field is getting crowded. A string of new groups have debuted in recent months, staking a claim in a space that one act has come to define — and none of them are close to catching it yet. OWIS, a five-member girl group under All My Anecdotes, the label founded by Kiss of Life creative director Lee Hae-in, debuted on March 23 with EP "Museum." While the real identities behind the virtual avatar members — Serene, Haru, Soi, Summer and Yuni — have not been officially confirmed, it is widely reported to include former NMIXX member Jini, former Lovelyz member Ryu Su-jeong, BigHit Music producer Adora, "Produce 101" contestant Lee Ruri and Lee Hae-in herself. B:DAWN under Duri Entertainment followed on May 6 with debut single "Beom." The group's five members — Dojin, Ion, Kangho, Woorim and Hansol — are built around the concept of former competitive athletes. The latest entry is MiiWAN, a five-member boy group under Abyss Company, whose debut album "Middle.i" drops Tuesday. A pre-release track, "Pluma," is already out. Emulating PLAVEJun 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Netflix schedules live world tour for 'KPop Demon Hunters' to leverage global fandomNetflix announced a live world tour for its blockbuster animated musical film "KPop Demon Hunters," a move expected to expand the entertainment giant's global monetization structure. Rather than concluding with the streaming success of a single title, the strategy establishes a multilayered business model extending to live musical performances, commercial merchandise, interactive fan events and brand collaborations. Netflix confirmed in May the global tour for the 2025 animated feature. The streaming company said the live performance "will bring elements of the two-time Oscar-winning film to life in spectacular ways," adding that host cities, dates and ticket information will be released in the second half of 2026. Released in 2025, the film broke streaming records and achieved global prominence, winning Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, the 83rd Golden Globes and the 31st Critics Choice Awards. Netflix partnered with AEG Presents, a global live entertainment promoter whose portfolio includes the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and intJun 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Seventeen's Hoshi to drop new digital single during military serviceHoshi of K-pop boy group Seventeen, currently serving his mandatory military duty, will release a new digital single titled "Snapback" on Monday, his agency Pledis Entertainment said. The track, unveiled to coincide with the singer's birthday, blends old-school guitar sounds with a polished rhythm to create an upbeat mood. It playfully captures an irresistible attraction toward his love interest. Hoshi participated in both the lyrics and composition of the song set for release at 6 p.m., the agency added. The K-pop star enlisted in September last year and is serving as an active-duty soldier in the South Korean Army.Jun 15, 2026By Yonhap
EVAN drops snippets of debut solo single 'RIDE OR DIE'Former ENHYPEN member EVAN dropped snippets of his upcoming debut solo single "RIDE OR DIE" on his official social media channels Saturday, giving fans their first listen ahead of the June 22 release. The digital single includes two tracks, "Ride or Die" and "Overflow." Through an official press release Sunday, his label Belift Lab said EVAN wrote, composed and produced both songs and took part in visual creative work across the project. "Ride or Die" is an alternative rock track that blends pop-rock and hyperpop elements. The song deals with longing and overwhelming emotion directed at another person. Belift Lab said the track also carries a message to fans. The single's second track, "Overflow," is a quieter indie-pop song. The title refers to the image of water brimming at the edge of a glass, which EVAN used as a metaphor for layered, complex emotions. Belift Lab said the song leaves its emotional direction open, allowing listeners to interpret it as comfort, sadness or empathy depending on their own circumstances. The single's title, "RIDE OR DIE," is an English idiomatic expressionJun 14, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS celebrates 13th anniversary with return to BusanBUSAN — K-pop juggernaut BTS marked its 13th anniversary with a massive celebration, bringing the group's ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a two-night run that felt much bigger than a concert. The timing was no accident. The second show landed squarely on June 13, the group's debut anniversary, sending fans worldwide into a frenzy well before the first note dropped. Busan, too, carries deep meaning for the group — it is the hometown of members Jimin and Jung Kook, and the site of "Yet to Come," the sprawling farewell concert that preceded the members' hiatus due to mandatory military service in 2022. The group's return had been anticipated for weeks. "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," a large-scale urban festival running since early June, transformed the city's landmarks into extensions of the "ARIRANG" album's themes, stretching from a grand welcome at Busan Station to a drone light show above Gwangalli Beach. By Saturday evening, 55,000 fans packed the stadium. The crowd had already endured a roughly 75-minute delay the night before aJun 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in BusanHYBE, the agency behind K-pop boy band BTS, issued a formal apology after the first night of the group's world tour in Busan was delayed by more than one hour, according to its fandom platform Saturday. "We deeply apologize to all audience that came to watch the 'Arirang' world tour, for the inconvenience caused by the delay in the start of the performance," the agency said in a notice on Weverse. The agency pledged to bolster overall on-site operations to prevent recurrences during the second concert set to take place in the port city of Busan later in the day, the notice read. BTS continued its world tour "Arirang" in Busan, Friday. The concert was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. but was pushed back by around 75 minutes to 8:15 p.m., as the entry process of tens of thousands of fans was delayed.Jun 13, 2026By Yonhap
Le Sserafim, Illit, Katseye release joint singleThree girl groups under HYBE — Le Sserafim, Illit and KATSEYE — joined forces Friday to release a collaborative single, "ICONIC BY MISTAKE," marking a rare cross-group project within the K-pop powerhouse. The track, an alternative pop song driven by a heavy beat and offbeat sound, features a catchy hook built around the lyric: "Thanks to your hate, I accidentally became iconic." The trio gave the first live performance of the song on Mnet's "M Countdown" music program on Thursday, a day ahead of its official release. "We are truly happy that our long-held wish to stand on stage together has finally come true," Le Sserafim said in a statement, adding that the collaboration was prepared as "a special gift" for fans worldwide.Jun 12, 2026By Yonhap
Busan: More than tour stop for BTSBUSAN — K-pop sensation BTS is heading back to Busan. Three years and eight months have passed since the group last stood on a stage in Korea's second-largest city, and the place has not been forgotten. On June 5, about a week before the group's concert, the city was already restless with anticipation. The seven-piece K-pop juggernaut — composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — is set to hold the Busan leg of its ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour at Busan Asiad Main Stadium scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The shows come roughly three months after the group's comeback performance at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, held to mark the release of its fifth studio album, and about two months after the tour's opening run in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Both Busan dates have long since sold out. For BTS and its fans, Busan is not simply a tour stop. Few cities in the world carry the kind of weight for BTS that the port city does, and the group has chosen its concert dates here carefully. The finale of the two-night Busan show will fall on Friday, the exact date BTS debuted in 2013Jun 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tourK-pop supergroup BTS will begin the Busan leg of its "Arirang" world tour Friday, returning to the southern Korean port city, alongside its global fan base, known as ARMY. The group will perform at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday, with the shows expected to draw a combined audience of around 110,000. Tickets for both shows have sold out. The K-pop septet kicked off the tour in April at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, where it had three shows before heading overseas. The group has since performed in cities, including Tokyo, Tampa, El Paso, Mexico City, Stanford and Las Vegas, attracting roughly 840,000 fans across 15 shows during the first leg of its North American tour alone. It marks BTS' first performance in Busan in more than three years after staging the "Yet to Come in Busan" concert in October 2022 in support of the city's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The upcoming shows also carry added significance as the group reunites with fans at the venue where it last performed before entering a hiatus for its members' mandatory military service. Team leaJun 12, 2026By Yonhap
BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'K-pop supergroup BTS will release the new digital single "Come Over" on Thursday, the group's agency BigHit Music said. The track was previously included on the deluxe vinyl edition of the band's fifth studio album, "Arirang," released last month. The song will be made available on streaming platforms at 1 p.m. as part of the group's annual "BTS Festa" event marking its debut anniversary. "Come Over" was produced by member Suga, with RM and J-Hope also credited on the track. The song combines elements of pop and stadium anthems, featuring synthesizer-driven instrumentation and layered vocals. According to the agency, the lyrics describe a journey of returning to a significant person despite periods of uncertainty, a theme that also reflects the group's relationship with its fan base, known as ARMY. The song was performed earlier as part of the set list at select concerts during the group's ongoing "Arirang" world tour, where it was introduced to audiences ahead of its official release. Separately, BTS will release a new vinyl edition, "Arirang (613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl)," onJun 12, 2026By Yonhap
