From 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' to chill, CORTIS captures K-pop's new moodSomething about CORTIS just hits differently from other K-pop groups. There is no sophisticated fictional universe or elaborate lore surrounding the members. No mystique designed to keep fans on edge. No metallic beats dominating their music. Much of the formula that has come to define K-pop is conspicuously absent from CORTIS. The decision to take a different path came from a bold acceptance of the fact that conventional methods, such as building elaborate lore around a group, could take CORTIS only so far in expanding its fan base. And it paid off. People in their 40s and 50s, a generation that has largely remained outside the core K-pop fandom, suddenly began to notice the group and, more importantly, like it. To some, CORTIS represents change itself. The most high-profile figure to make that connection was newly appointed Prime Minister Han Sung-sook, who quoted the group’s lyrics while pledging the change she intended to bring to the country. The obvious question, then, is what exactly about CORTIS has won over so many middle-aged listeners and led them to embrace the group as a syJul 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Why is coed K-pop group KARD ending its journey?KARD, one of the few coed groups in the current K-pop landscape, will end its 10-year run the way it spent most of it — as an exception. The quartet filled venues across Europe and the Americas for years, yet never converted that momentum into comparable recognition at home. The first full-length album of its career, out July 28, will also be its last. DSP Media announced Monday that the group will disband after releasing "Where To Now? (Part.2): NOWHERE" and wrapping a final world tour, closing a journey that began with the pre-debut single "Oh NaNa" in December 2016. "After careful discussions with all four members, we have agreed to conclude KARD's journey following these activities," the agency said, asking fans to support BM, J.Seph, Somin and Jiwoo as they move on to individual careers. That a group could tour the world for a decade before releasing a full-length album says much about how KARD operated, and about the market that barely made room for it. Modern K-pop runs on fandom. Physical album sales, music show votes and concert revenue are driven by "superfans," the deeply engJul 10, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS faces 'SWIM' plagiarism lawsuit in US as BigHit Music denies allegationsBTS has been hit with a plagiarism lawsuit in the United States over its song “SWIM,” prompting agency BigHit Music to firmly reject the allegations and vow to fight the case in court. "The lawsuit contains only the plaintiffs' unilateral claims," BigHit Music told Xportsnews Friday. "We clearly maintain that 'SWIM' is an independent, original work. We will respond firmly through the legal process." The statement came after Billboard reported Thursday that songwriters Steve Cooper, John Sandler and Graylin Johnson filed a lawsuit the previous day, alleging that BTS' “SWIM” is substantially similar to a demo song of the same title that they had written. According to the report, the complaint names HYBE, HYBE America, BigHit Music and several songwriters credited on “SWIM,” including Ryan Tedder, the front man of American pop-rock band OneRepublic. BTS leader RM is also credited as one of the song's writers. However, the plaintiffs did not name any of the BTS members as defendants in the lawsuit. The case is expected to proceed through the U.S. legal system, where the court willJul 10, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS to stage 'The City' event in New YorkK-pop supergroup BTS will hold a large-scale fan event in New York to celebrate its world tour stop in a neighboring city later this month, its agency BigHit Music said Friday. The event, titled "BTS The City Arirang New York," will run from July 24 (local time) through Aug. 3, alongside the group's "Arirang" world tour concerts scheduled for Aug. 1-2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. As part of the program, Grand Central Terminal, one of New York's busiest and most historic landmarks with an average daily foot traffic of around 750,000, will be transformed with visuals themed around BTS' fifth full-length album, "Arirang." Red posters reflecting the album's key color will be installed throughout the terminal, according to the agency. Vanderbilt Hall, located inside the terminal, will host an "ARMY Madang," where stage outfits worn by the group during its 2019 Wembley Stadium concerts in London will be displayed. Additional fan-focused events and interactive programs are also planned. "ARMY" is the name of the K-pop septet's devoted fandom. "The City" project is a large-Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Le Sserafim to launch 2nd world tour in IncheonK-pop girl group Le Sserafim will kick off its second world tour with a two-day concert in Incheon on Saturday and Sunday, the group's agency Source Music said Friday. The "Pureflow" tour is built around the message of the group's second full-length album, "Pureflow Pt. 1," released in May, according to the agency. "If you listen to the album beforehand, you will be able to enjoy the show even more," the members said in a release. "While our first world tour reflected the journey we have taken so far, this tour will mark a new beginning." Following the Incheon shows, the group will head to Osaka for concerts on July 25 and 26, before continuing the tour across Asia, North America and Europe. The five-month tour will span 32 performances in 23 cities before concluding in Manila on Dec. 5 and 6.Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Hanroro's 'Landing in Love' most-streamed song in Korea in 1st halfSinger-songwriter Hanroro's "Landing in Love" was the most-streamed song in Korea during the first half of the year, while the boy group BTS topped album sales with its latest album, "Arirang," industry data showed Friday. According to a midyear report from the Korea Popmusic Industry Association, which operates the Circle Chart, the track from Hanroro's debut EP, "Take-off," ranked No. 1 in both the digital and streaming categories for the January-June period. Released in August 2023, the song gained popularity through word of mouth among younger listeners to become her signature hit. It has remained in the top 10 of the Circle Chart's weekly digital and streaming charts since late November, cementing its status as one of the defining songs of the first half of the year. BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang" was the highest-selling album, with 4,224,016 copies sold during the same period. Released March 20, the 14-track album explores the identity of BTS as a group that began in Korea and the universal emotions its members have encountered throughout their lives. While the association announJul 10, 2026By Yonhap
TXT's Yeonjun to drop 2nd solo albumYeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will release his second individual album Friday, his agency BigHit Music said. The EP, titled "No Labels: Part 02," set for release at 1 p.m., marks the first release from Yeonjun in about eight months after his first solo record, "No Labels: Part 01." The new album consists of six tracks, including the lead track "Ice Cream," "Vanilla" and "No More Disco." Yeonjun took part in creating the choreography for "Ice Cream" and penning the lyrics for "Baby Wassup?" and "Long Way Long Ride." "Ice Cream" is a summer song that portrays a relationship where two people maintain a certain distance despite being sweet to each other. "I felt selecting 'Ice Cream' as the lead track was the right decision, as it best reflects my color in this album," Yeonjun said. "It is a song that shows both my exterior and inner self." Yeonjun is set to take the stage as a solo artist on ABC's "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series on Aug. 7 (U.S. time).Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
NewJeans sued for alleged copyright infringement in USK-pop group NewJeans' hit song "ETA" has become the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States. According to a Korean-language entertainment media, U.S. copyright management company All Surface Publishing filed the suit over "ETA" with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Tuesday (local time). The suit names not only NewJeans, its agency ADOR and ADOR's parent company HYBE, producer 250 and lyricists Beenzino and Vana as defendants, as well as Apple, the U.S. electronics maker that featured the group in its advertising. All Surface Publishing claims that "ETA" lifts instrumentals from "Samir's Theme," a 2005 dance track by producer DJ Debonair Samir to which it holds the rights. The suit alleges the unauthorized use of the track's syncopated horn melody, 16th-note rhythmic structure and bass drum pattern. Among other remedies, the plaintiff is reportedly seeking profits earned from the song and statutory damages of up to $150,000 for the alleged infringement. "ETA" is one of the tracks from NewJeans' second EP "Get Up," released in 2023.Jul 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Winwin leaves SM Entertainment, NCT after 10 yearsWinwin of NCT will depart SM Entertainment and halt all activities with the K-pop boy band after 10 years, the singer said in a message reflecting on his decadelong career. The management agency said it agreed to terminate Winwin's exclusive contract as of Thursday, following discussions with the artist. In a social media post Wednesday, Winwin reflected on how the past 10 years have passed quickly, thanking those he met during his journey from a K-pop trainee to becoming a member of NCT 127 and WayV. Acknowledging difficult times, he said the joyful memories outweighed the hardships, thanking SM Entertainment. He said the past decade will remain his most precious memory. Winwin debuted as a member of NCT 127 in 2016 and later joined WayV, the group's China-focused unit. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.Jul 9, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS draws 130,000 fans to London concertsK-pop supergroup BTS drew around 130,000 fans to two sold-out "ARIRANG" world tour concerts in London, its agency said Thursday, marking the group's return to the British stage after seven years. The band performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday and Tuesday, with about 65,000 fans at each show, according to the shows' promoter Live Nation. The figure represents the highest per-show concert attendance at the venue since its opening in 2019. Tickets for the concerts sold out immediately upon release. It was BTS' first solo concert in Britain as a full group since June 2019, when it became the first South Korean act to headline Wembley Stadium. During the latest shows, the group performed songs from its fifth full-length album, including "Hooligan," "Normal" and "Swim," alongside earlier hits, such as "Idol" and "Fire." "We are once again reminded of the emotion we felt at Wembley Stadium seven years ago," the group said through the agency. "We had an incredible time thanks to your passion." BTS launched the "Arirang" world tour, billed as the largest in K-pop history, in April in GoyJul 9, 2026By Yonhap
