Xdinary Heroes turns goodbyes into new beginnings on 'DEAD AND'What does it mean to say goodbye? For Xdinary Heroes, a six-member band under JYP Entertainment, a goodbye is not the end of the story. It's where the story gets interesting. That idea sits at the core of "DEAD AND," the band's eighth mini-album set for release Friday. The wordplay of the title doubles as a thesis — for the band, a dead end can still become a door to a new start. "An end of a certain chapter may feel literally like a dead end," leader Gunil said during an interview with The Korea Times on Wednesday at a cafe in Seoul's Seongdong District. "But for us, the idea also signals a new beginning." Rather than starting with that phrase, the band built its way toward it. "We worked around the overarching theme of 'farewell,' and once the tracklist was finalized, we chose a title that fit," Gunil said. That theme finds its clearest expression in the album's lead single, "Voyager," selected through an internal vote. Musically, it balances the band's signature intensity with a more accessible structure. "'Voyager' has a sound that fans who like our signature hard style will enjoy, bApr 17, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Big 4 K-pop agencies pushing for joint venture to launch global festivalKorea's top four K-pop agencies — Hybe, YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment — are working to establish a joint venture, seen as a move toward creating a global music festival involving their artists. The four agencies, which participate in the music division of the Presidential Committee for Popular Culture Exchange, said Thursday they are "preparing to set up a corporation to advance a 'Fanomenon' event." JYP founder Park Jin-young, the committee's co-chair, introduced the "Fanomenon" initiative in October at the committee's inauguration ceremony in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, explaining that the name combines the words "fan" and "phenomenon." Park also outlined a vision to launch the massive Korean music festival under that name by December 2027, which could rival the U.S.-based Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The agencies described the joint venture as a "model for collaboration designed to explore new possibilities for Korean culture's expansion, including K-pop, in global markets." They said procedures to establish the corporate body are currentlyApr 16, 2026By Yonhap
BTS’ Jin explains absence from ‘ARIRANG’ credits, says 'it was the best choice'BTS member Jin has addressed why his name was missing from the songwriting credits of the group’s latest full-length album “ARIRANG,” saying scheduling conflicts made it the “best choice” at the time. In an interview video released Wednesday with U.S. music publication Rolling Stone, Jin shared behind-the-scenes details about the album and clarified speculation that had circulated among fans following its release. “I haven’t talked about this anywhere else, but the truth is I didn’t write any of the songs,” he said, drawing attention to the fact that his name was absent from the album’s credits — a point that had sparked questions online. At the time of the comeback, BTS members had explained during a livestream that Jin joined the U.S.-based songwriting sessions later than the others due to his solo tour schedule. Still, various theories continued to emerge among fans. Jin said, “I was still on my solo tour at the time. When I arrived at the studio, there were a hundred-something songs already made. So then I test recorded the best of them. And that took about seApr 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
One Hundred Label faces new legal battle over The Boyz concertK-pop agency One Hundred Label is embroiled in a new legal battle over online broadcasting rights just two weeks before K-pop boy band The Boyz' upcoming Seoul concert, adding to the agency's existing contract dispute with the group's members. The Boyz is scheduled to hold its "INTER-ZECTION" concert at the KSPO Dome in Seoul from April 24-26. Online streaming ticket sales opened Tuesday. Streaming platform Knowmerce alleged the same day that it holds the exclusive broadcasting contract and had already paid the agency. Knowmerce said One Hundred Label breached the contract and opened ticket sales with a rival firm. To prevent fan confusion, Knowmerce announced it is halting its sales and issuing full refunds to those who already bought streaming tickets. The K-pop label swiftly denied the accusations. Hyun Dong-yeop, an attorney representing One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won, said the agency switched providers because Knowmerce failed to fulfill its contract and had a history of technical instability and poor communication. The agency said the change was necessary to ensure fans receiveApr 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK's 'Ice Cream' music video surpasses 1 bil. YouTube viewsThe music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's 2020 single "Ice Cream" topped 1 billion views on YouTube on Thursday, its management agency said. "Ice Cream," featuring Selena Gomez, is a bubblegum pop track off "The Album," the group's first studio album. It debuted at No. 13 on Billboard's main singles chart upon its release. The video became the group's 10th with more than 1 billion views, the most for a K-pop act.Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
KISS OF LIFE responds to ‘provocative choreography’ backlash: ‘What’s the right answer?’K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE is once again at the center of online debate, as members directly addressed criticism over what some viewers called provocative choreography. The controversy began after the group uploaded a dance challenge video for their new single “Who Is She” on its official YouTube channel. In the clip, a move in which members face each other and appear to grab each other’s necks — combined with hip movements — was highlighted more prominently than in the original stage performance. The video quickly spread across online communities and social media, where some users criticized the choreography as overly suggestive, while others defended it as artistic expression. The debate has since gained traction among younger, online-savvy audiences, amplifying the issue. Members Belle and Julie addressed the backlash during a recent livestream, acknowledging the divided reactions. “We always try to show something new — something confident and bold,” the members said. “We know not everyone sees it positively, but we think it’s cool to keep challenging ourselves.Apr 16, 2026By Xportsnews
'Where is Minji?' Fans ask as NewJeans prepares for return, Danielle faces suitAs eyewitness accounts of NewJeans members being spotted abroad spread on social media, and former member Danielle signaling a solo career through a new demo release, attention is now shifting to Minji, who has remained largely out of the public eye. The group's label, ADOR, said the two sides are still in talks. Eyewitness accounts began circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo after Haerin, Hyein and Hanni were reportedly spotted in Copenhagen, Denmark, prompting their agency to confirm to Xportnews on Tuesday that “the members were in Denmark with the staff.” The NewJeans members had lost a lawsuit filed by ADOR challenging the validity of their termination of their exclusive contracts last October. Some of the members — Haerin and Hyein first, followed by Hanni — later announced their return to the label. The sighting of the three members on what appeared to be an overseas schedule stirred excitement and anticipation among NewJeans fans, who have long awaited the group’s comeback after a protracted legal dispute. Yet one member was notably absent from the developApr 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
BLACKPINK's Jennie named among Time's 100 most influential peopleJennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has been listed among U.S. Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the Year," becoming the only Korean included. The singer was named in the Artists category of the Time 100 announced Wednesday (U.S. time), joining global figures across politics, culture and sports. Jennie made history last year when her solo album, "Ruby," saw three tracks enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously, a first for a K-pop female solo artist. Grammy-nominated American musician Gracie Abrams introduced Jennie in Time, calling her "a star" and praising "the magic at her core" that draws audiences whether on stage, on screen or behind the scenes. "What makes Jennie a true star is that even in her quiet moments, she possesses the same kind of undeniable presence that cuts through all the noise, and she carries that with kindness and warmth," Abrams wrote. Among the Korean Americans on the 2026 list are musician Anderson .Paak and snowboarder Chloe Kim, who drew praise for competing through an injury at this year's Winter Olympics despite falling short of her thiApr 16, 2026By Yonhap
BTS’ Jin underscores group bond in global ‘Rolling Stone’ projectBTS member Jin has reaffirmed his deep commitment to the group, saying he sees little point in continuing his career without his bandmates — a message that has resonated strongly with fans worldwide. On Tuesday, Rolling Stone unveiled a large-scale global project featuring BTS, including a group cover and individual covers for all seven members. The feature is being published simultaneously across 16 countries and regions — including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany — marking one of the magazine’s most ambitious international collaborations and a first of its kind for a K-pop act. The project includes one group cover and seven solo covers, highlighting each member’s identity while emphasizing the group’s collective presence. In the accompanying photos, BTS exudes a more mature and intense charisma, styled in black-and-white tones and denim outfits that create a free-spirited yet rebellious mood. The interviews offer a glimpse into the group’s journey through their recent hiatus and their return as a full unit, a moment long anticipated by fans knowApr 15, 2026By Xportsnews
Aespa’s Giselle sparks concern over ‘bone-thin’ look, fans question K-pop pressuresFresh photos of aespa member Giselle have triggered a wave of concern online, with fans questioning whether the K-pop industry’s beauty standards are going too far. On April 14, images of Giselle circulated across online communities under the title “aespa Giselle recent." In the photos, the singer appears noticeably thinner than before, with slimmer limbs, a sharper jawline and an overall more gaunt physique. Many users described her look as approaching “bone-thin” — a term widely used in Korea to describe the extremely slim body types often associated with idol aesthetics. The stark contrast compared to her earlier appearances has fueled growing concern among fans. Some pointed out that even during past promotions, Giselle did not appear this thin, making the recent change more striking. The discussion has also expanded beyond Giselle. Fellow aespa member Ningning previously drew attention for significant weight loss, while Winter and Karina have long been known for their slim figures. As a result, fans are increasingly scrutinizing what they see as a broader pattern within thApr 15, 2026By Xportsnews
