Can K-pop convince fans to travel to Korea every year?BTS packs stadiums in Los Angeles and BLACKPINK headlines Coachella, yet Korea has no equivalent to Coachella and Lollapalooza or Japan's Summer Sonic. There's no festival that makes fans around the world book flights to K-pop's birthplace every single year. "Fanomenon," the K-culture mega event unveiled Monday by the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, is the government and industry's most ambitious attempt yet to fill that gap. More than a new festival, it signals a strategic pivot for "hallyu," also known as the Korean wave, from exporting artists and content outward to pulling fans to Korea, converting global fandom into an annual pilgrimage built on concerts, tourism, merchandise and participation. The plan is sweeping. The inaugural festival will run from Dec. 2 to 12, 2027, at Seoul Arena in northern Seoul's Dobong District and KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, anchored by concerts by artists from the rosters of SM, YG, JYP and HYBE, and an awards ceremony that honors their fandoms. Another event will follow in Los Angeles in May 2028. Organizers project 520,000Jul 29, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
JYP's new girl group OURBIRTHDAY completes 7-member lineupA new girl group launched by a subsidiary of K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment has finalized its seven-member lineup ahead of an official debut, the group's label said Tuesday. OURBIRTHDAY, managed by INNIT Entertainment, introduced four more members, Kuk Cho-rok, Shin Hye-won, U and Kilala, following the release of concept photos for the single "HUNGRY (Side B)" on the group's social media channels. The four join Cho Hye-jin, Baby and Achiraya, who began activities last week with the digital single "HUNGRY (Side A)." The label has described the two releases as a phased predebut, an uncommon rollout in the K-pop industry, where groups typically debut as a complete unit. OURBIRTHDAY is the first girl group associated with JYP Entertainment since NMIXX debuted in 2022. The group's name reflects its aim to make ordinary days feel as special as birthdays, according to the label. The multinational group was first teased through animated characters and a superhero-themed animation series that withheld the members' identities, drawing speculation among fans over whether the project was a virtuJul 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ZEROBASEONE's Matthew Seok drives 40 mil. views in Seoul's new tourism pushIn its ongoing effort to translate global enthusiasm for Korean pop culture into real-world foot traffic, Seoul’s municipal tourism agency has turned to modern idol culture to power its latest promotional drive — and municipal officials say the payoff came in the tens of millions. The Seoul Tourism Organization, the city’s official tourism promotion body, said Tuesday that its digital campaign starring Matthew Seok, a member of the popular K-pop group ZEROBASEONE, surpassed 40 million cumulative views across its official Visit Seoul social media platforms in just over two weeks. Titled "Met U in Seoul," the 12-part video series was designed to introduce international audiences to what organizers describe as Seoul-style hospitality. The campaign followed Seok as he toured a curated mix of the capital's iconic landmarks and trendy neighborhoods, including the hip fashion hub of Seongsu, the waterfront spaces at Jamwon Hangang Park and the traditional stone-walled alleyways of Seosulla Street. The rollout — which spanned teaser clips, main promotional videos, social media challengeJul 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
InterviewKARD disbands after 10 years, but members insist story is not overThe four members of KARD are reluctant to use the word "disbandment." By any common definition, it applies. The co-ed group's contract with DSP Media expires at the end of this year, and the agency announced earlier this month that one final album and world tour would conclude KARD's journey. But sitting down with The Korea Times for an interview at a cafe in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, Tuesday, the members wanted the word understood on their own terms. "The four of us still want to make music together, but that would just happen in a new environment," Jiwoo said. "I think the misunderstanding was understandable, but there are no plans for us to say goodbye and part ways entirely." J.Seph, the group's rapper, said even his young nephew called to ask. "I explained, like anyone else, I belong to a company, and I'm tied to that company by a contract. The point where that contract ends has simply arrived." In other words, KARD as fans have known it for a decade, a DSP Media act, is ending. What the members refuse to let go of are each other. Nothing concrete is decided, they admit, butJul 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop singers fight back against smoking rumorsTwo female K-pop singers have publicly denied persistent smoking rumors, calling them false and baseless. Both performers said the claims had spread online and were treated as fact, saying they were unfairly accused. On Thursday, comedian Lee Yong-jin's YouTube channel released an episode of its talk show, "The Trueman Show," featuring fromis_9 members Lee Na-gyung and Lee Chae-young. During the show's lie-detector segment, Chae-young said she does not smoke. When host Lee asked whether she wanted to clear the air, she brought up the smoking rumors without hesitation. "When you search my name, 'cigarette' comes up," she said. "I am a nonsmoker and have never smoked." Regarding the speculation, Chae-young said the claims lacked any factual basis. She explained that she once posted a photo on social media that showed an electronic cigarette in the background. She said the object was far away, and because she does not smoke, she did not realize that the pink object was an e-cigarette. "Many people accepted without question that I was a smoker," she said. "Some even said they would be disappoJul 28, 2026By Xportsnews
Boy band NouerA makes speedy return with love-struck EP '.exe'K-pop boy band NouerA released its fourth EP ".exe" Monday, running what the group calls a program of love for its fans. The album arrives just four months after the release of its third EP in March, marking an unusually quick return. The mini-album captures the group's determination to confess love without hesitation. Borrowing its title from the file extension for executable computer programs, the album carries the message that the seven members will leap across dimensional boundaries for love. While the previous EP "POP IT LIKE" showcased the group's intense energy and bold performances, the new release tells a story of young, innocent romance. Hours ahead of the album's release Monday, the seven members — Hyunjun, Gihyeon, Junpyo, Yuseop, Lin, Fan and Miraku — met with the press at Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul's Gwangjin District to share the story behind the album and their thoughts on it. Taking the stage in hot-pink football uniforms, the members appeared noticeably more seasoned than at their debut last year. "I'm thrilled and excited to be promoting with a fresh, youthfulJul 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Korea to launch massive global music festival in LA in May 2028Korea will launch a major global music festival in Los Angeles in May 2028 that organizers hope will rival the U.S.-based Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival as well as a new K-pop awards show in Seoul and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, in December next year. A civilian-government committee on pop culture announced the plan during a press briefing in Seoul on Monday, saying the series of events under the "Fanomenon" brand is intended to boost tourism and expand the global reach of Korea's cultural industries. The "Fanonmenon" program comprises a fandom-focused annual awards ceremony featuring performances by K-pop artists and an overseas music festival modeled on Coachella, according to the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange. The name "Fanomenon" merges "fan" and "phenomenon," underscoring the role of fans as active drivers of Korean culture's global expansion, according to the committee. "We'll start with the Fanomenon Awards in December 2027," Park Jin-young, co-chair of the committee, said. "We'll then launch the Fanomenon Festival overseas, beginning in Los Angeles iJul 27, 2026By Yonhap
Waterbomb festival faces backlash over revealing outfitsWaterbomb is commanding widespread attention again this summer as a premier music festival. The event's signature blend of live music, water fights and audience participation has solidified into a powerful brand identity. However, as the festival's cultural footprint expands, skin-baring outfits and sexually charged performances have become a reliable part of its commercial draw. This dynamic has created a bizarre spectacle where artists' bodies spark more interest than the music itself. Female singers take the stage in revealing attire, while male artists strip off their shirts to flex. Suggestive routines emphasizing specific body parts are treated as a highlight, regardless of gender, becoming a default expectation. Revealing clothes and pronounced sex appeal are not inherently problematic. Choosing a wardrobe and choreographing routines fall squarely within artistic license. Audiences flock to the venue expecting a bold and liberating atmosphere. Public discourse surrounding Waterbomb consistently centers on who wore the most daring outfits and delivered the most provocative routineJul 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Agent Kim Reactivated' becomes ratings hit"Agent Kim Reactivated" wrapped up its run as the second-highest-rated Friday-Saturday drama in SBS history. Although the series did not surpass the 29.2 percent peak set by "The Penthouse," it achieved a significant milestone with a 23 percent nationwide rating in a stagnant television market. Amid the recent downturn in terrestrial broadcasting, the action series proved the network's strong ratings draw. "Agent Kim Reactivated" follows an ordinary father who transforms into a dangerous vigilante to rescue his daughter. The series captured viewer enthusiasm by combining large-scale action sequences, comedic elements and a resonant father-daughter story. The final episode of the drama, broadcast on Saturday, resolved all the central conflicts and brought its principal villains to justice while still leaving the door open for a second season. Adapted from the Naver webtoon "Manager Kim," the television production brought together screenwriter Nam Dae-joong, whose film credits include "The Last Ride," "Love Reset" and "First Ride," with director Yi Seung-young, who directed "Wonderful WorJul 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
ENHYPEN tests K-pop storytelling at San Diego Comic-ConK-pop boy band ENHYPEN and HYBE Labels' original story intellectual property (IP) "Dark Moon" made their debut at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, bringing the Korean vampire franchise to the center of American pop culture with a panel session, a crowded official booth and a late-night live event, the entertainment giant said Monday. "Dark Moon" is a vampire-themed transmedia franchise that HYBE developed around ENHYPEN's music. The campaign ran from Wednesday through Sunday (local time) at the San Diego Convention Center and nearby venues. HYBE, the parent company of Belift Lab, the group's agency, said the event underscored the franchise's potential to reach mainstream North American audiences with its deep lore. The franchise was first introduced through the group's "Drunk-Dazed" music video in April 2021 and launched as the webtoon "Dark Moon: The Blood Altar" on Naver Webtoon in January 2022. ENHYPEN's music has grown alongside the franchise: The group's 2023 EPs "DARK BLOOD," led by the single "Bite Me," and "ORANGE BLOOD" were built on the same lore, while its 2024 special album "MEMORABJul 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
