BTS concerts drive longer stays, higher spending among foreign tourists: gov't analysisForeign tourists who recently visited the country for concerts by K-pop giant BTS stayed longer and spent more than general inbound tourists, according to a government analysis released Wednesday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute and the Korea Tourism Organization, analyzed on-site surveys, telecommunications and credit card data from the two latest performances by BTS in Korea. Foreign visitors attending the March 21 concert in Seoul's Gwanghwamun area to mark its comeback stayed an average of 8.7 days and spent about 3.53 million won ($2,377). This is 2.6 days longer than the 6.1-day average stay for general inbound tourists in the first quarter of this year, and 1.08 million won more than their average spending of 2.45 million won. Attendees at its three-night concerts earlier this month in Goyang, just northwest of the capital, stayed an average of 7.4 days and spent 2.91 million won. Mobile and card transaction data showed a sharp economic impact around Goyang Stadium, the concert venue, with foreign visitor numbers risApr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Park Ji-hoon returns as singer with 1st release in 3 yearsSinger-actor Park Ji-hoon will return to the music scene Wednesday with his first release in three years, "Re:flect," his agency YY Entertainment said. The single album, due out at 6 p.m., marks Park's first release since his seventh EP "Blank or Black" in April 2023. Park, who gained renewed attention for playing the deposed Joseon-era king Danjong in the Korean historical film sensation "The King's Warden," will resume his activities as a singer with the release, after a long hiatus from the recording studio. "Re:flect" centers on reflecting on time passed and the emotions that remain, according to the agency. The album explores a range of feelings, from unfamiliar emotions that slip into daily life to memories that linger over time. The album contains three tracks — the lead single "Bodyelse," the upbeat "Watercolor," and the pop ballad "I Can't Hold Your Hand Anymore." "Bodyelse" is a mid-tempo pop dance track featuring dreamy synthesizer sounds and an emotional guitar riff. It deals with the moment when a strange feeling that began in familiar routines is eventually revealed to beApr 29, 2026By Yonhap
‘I’m angry too’: BTS’ Jung Kook apologizes after sound glitch at US showBTS member Jung Kook has issued a candid apology after a sound problem disrupted a live performance in the United States. Jung Kook took to his social media account on April 27 to address the issue, writing, “The ‘Magic Shop’ sound problem yesterday is true. Don’t worry. I’ll fix the pitch from today,” before adding, “I’m sorry to ARMY who came to the show.” He also openly shared his frustration, saying, “I’m angry too.” The incident occurred during BTS’ performance at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, where the group kicked off the North American leg of their “ARIRANG” world tour. While performing “Magic Shop” — a fan-favorite track — some members’ vocals were reportedly transmitted unevenly, sparking immediate reactions among concertgoers. As clips and fan accounts spread across social media, concerns over the audio quality quickly gained traction, prompting Jung Kook’s unusually direct acknowledgment. His mix of apology and clear frustration has since resonated with fans. BTS is set to continue its North American tour, with scheduled stApr 28, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS' 'ARIRANG' album certified platinum in FranceK-pop megastars BTS' latest album, "ARIRANG," has been certified "platinum" by a major French recording industry association, the group's agency said Tuesday. The Korean group's fifth studio album received the certification from the National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing for achieving 100,000 sales units across physical copies, downloads and streams, according to BigHit Music. The milestone came just a month after BTS earned a "gold" certification in France for the studio album, six days after its release in March. With the latest recognition, the K-pop group now has four albums certified platinum in France. In Japan, "ARIRANG" has been certified "triple platinum" after selling more than 750,000 units as of March. "ARIRANG" has made history as the first album by a K-pop act to spend three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Led by the lead single "Swim," the 14-track album marks the band's first release after a four-year hiatus prompted by its members' mandatory military service.Apr 28, 2026By Yonhap
For TWS, love is 'NO TRAGEDY' on new mini-albumK-pop boy band TWS is learning to talk about love. The six-member act under HYBE subsidiary Pledis Entertainment returned Monday with its fifth mini album, "NO TRAGEDY," its most emotionally direct work to date. The six-member group — Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin — introduced the album at a press showcase held hours ahead of its release at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul's Gwangjin District, describing it as a project that captures a more self-directed approach to love. "If we previously showed fresh, youthful energy, this time we wanted to be more honest, more bold, expressing feelings more directly," Youngjae said. Since debuting in January 2024, TWS built its identity on its members' bright, boyish charms. "NO TRAGEDY" doesn't abandon that, but it complicates it. The album's lead single, "You, You," is where that conviction lands most clearly. A house-driven confessional layered with R&B textures, it gives a direct declaration to a dreamlike love interest. "It's the first time we've really talked about love in depth," Jihoon said. "We discussed what love mApr 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
NEXZ returns to K-pop scene with bold, bass-driven 'Mmchk'JYP Entertainment's seven-member global boy group NEXZ opened its 2026 chapter, Monday, with the release of its second single album "Mmchk," signaling a confident new push for wider recognition at home and abroad. The group, composed of Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui and Yuki, is returning roughly six months after its October mini-album "Beat-Boxer" and nearly two years since its global debut with "Ride the Vibe" in May 2024. To mark the occasion, NEXZ took the stage at a press showcase at Blue Square in Yongsan District, Seoul, just a few hours ahead of the album drop, so that members could discuss its creative process and what lies ahead. For Yu, whose birthday happened to fall on release day, the moment carried personal weight. "We're already entering our second year, and it still doesn't feel real," he said. "I still vividly remember our debut. We've gained so much experience along the way, and starting with this album, we want to work harder to introduce ourselves to even more people." The album title itself is deliberately hard to pin down. "Mmchk," the eponymous title track,Apr 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
As BLACKPINK's Jisoo faces backlash, questions grow over guilt by associationBLACKPINK member Jisoo faces backlash over a family controversy despite having no direct connection to the case, reviving questions in Korea’s entertainment industry about guilt by association. The controversy grew after reports said the older brother of a member of a well-known girl group had been arrested on allegations of indecent assault against a female streamer. Rumors spread online that the man was Jisoo’s older brother. He is also facing an allegation of domestic violence after someone claiming to be his wife shared proof of the abuse on social media. He has denied the allegation, saying there was physical contact but no coercion. For Jisoo, the issue was not the allegation itself, but the way criticism began to focus on her as well. Although the case did not involve her directly, she became a target of backlash because she was related to the man at the center of the reports, drawing renewed attention to how celebrities can be blamed for matters unrelated to them. Her agency, BLISSOO, moved quickly to distance the artist from the case. Through its legal representative, the agApr 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
NewJeans in prep for comeback: AdorK-pop girl group NewJeans is preparing to resume musical activities, its agency ADOR said Monday, as the group has reportedly been spotted in Copenhagen. "The members are preparing for new activities in line with their individual conditions and schedule," the company said, adding the visit to Copenhagen is "part of pre-production in its new musical journey." "We will officially share their future direction when the time is right," it added. NewJeans members Hanni, Haerin and Hyein have been spotted in the Danish city, according to fans on online forums. A confirmed studio reservation under the group's name further fueled speculation that they were visiting for new music recordings. Last year, the three members returned to the group following a lengthy dispute with their agency. Whether Minji will rejoin has not been decided yet, and Danielle's contract has been terminated.Apr 27, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-member Ju Haknyeon seen at The Boyz concert, sparking online debateFormer The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon has unexpectedly resurfaced at the group’s concert, reigniting controversy nearly nine months after his departure over a private life scandal. On April 26, Ju uploaded a single photo to his personal social media account without any caption. The image showed a wide view of The Boyz’s concert from the audience, with members appearing on a large screen. What might have seemed like a routine concert snapshot quickly drew attention given Ju’s contentious exit from the group. His presence at the venue soon spread across social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and online communities, where photos allegedly showing him seated among fans circulated widely. In those images, he appeared to conceal his identity with a cap and a black mask. Ju left The Boyz in July last year after being swept up in controversy over a reported private meeting in Tokyo with Asuka Kirara, a former adult video actress. His agency, One Hundred, announced his departure shortly afterward. At the time, Ju acknowledged attending a drinking gathering but strongly denied any involvemeApr 27, 2026By Xportsnews
TXT, BTS both land in Billboard 200's top 5K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with their latest album, "7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns." The album eared 69,000 equivalent album units in its first week, according to a chart preview released Sunday (U.S. time), marking the group's eighth top 10 entry on the main albums chart. It placed behind country singer Ella Langley's "Dandelion" and Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem." Meanwhile, BTS' latest album, "ARIRANG," placed No. 4 with 62,000 equivalent album units, a 21 percent decline from a week earlier. The album had topped the chart for three consecutive weeks before slipping to No. 3 the previous week. 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.Apr 27, 2026By Yonhap
