Interview'Daechwita' producer EL CAPITXN tells his own story through borrowed voicesFor more than a decade, EL CAPITXN's music has reached listeners through other people's voices, from "Daechwita" by Agust D, the solo moniker of BTS' Suga, to IU's "eight." On his first full-length album, the producer, who lost his singing voice only a few years into his idol career, finally tells his own story, with other singers lending their voices. "WHO KILLED EL?," out Nov. 6, traces the loss of his voice and the life that followed across 12 tracks spanning rock, orchestral music, gospel, classical and pop. It drops through U.S. independent label EMPIRE. Born Jang Yi-jeong, EL CAPITXN first drew attention on the second season of MBC's audition show "Star Audition" before debuting as the main vocalist of boy band HISTORY in 2013. After losing his singing voice to an illness whose cause was never clearly identified, he stepped away from the stage and turned to producing and songwriting. He went on to build a catalog of more than 100 songs, including BTS' "Telepathy" and "Take Two" and PSY's "That That" featuring Suga, and has worked with major K-pop acts such as BTS' Jung Kook, TOMORNov 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS concerts in Taiwan, Indonesia to be screened at movie theaters in over 80 countriesTwo shows from K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming tour in Taiwan and Jakarta will be livestreamed at movie theaters in more than 80 countries and regions, the group's agency said Tuesday. The live viewings will feature the group's second-day show in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Nov. 21 and its third-day show in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Dec. 29, BigHit Music said in a notice posted on K-pop fan community platform Weverse. The Kaohsiung and Jakarta concerts will be shown on about 3,300 and 2,800 large screens worldwide, respectively. In South Korea, audiences can watch them at three major cinema chains — CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox. BigHit Music said screening times will be adjusted for different time zones, meaning viewers in some regions will watch delayed broadcasts one to two days later. The shows are part of the Asian leg of the group's "ARIRANG" tour, set to kick off in Kaohsiung on Nov. 19. The septet will hold a total of 15 performances across five cities that also include Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The group completed its South American tour in Sao Paulo late last month, selling oNov 3, 2026By Yonhap
K-POP REPORT CARD Dead or alive? K-pop chooses both in September, OctoberNobody expected September and October to be this much fun, at least for K-pop. Over the same two months, one K-pop heavyweight confessed his belief that the genre had run its course, while another stormed back onto the scene with a shiny, wildly ambitious new project. That's K-pop for you — just when you think you know which way the ball is bouncing, it ricochets somewhere else entirely. In between, BLACKPINK members dropped solo singles back-to-back, three of the industry’s biggest names faced off on the same Monday, and a brand-new girl group topped Melon a day after its debut. As always, these verdicts are just one critic's opinion, not a ruling. Please feel free to disagree, loudly if you must. Kwon Eun-bi, “DEJAVU” (digital single) released Sept. 3 Verdict: Nearly there Kwon Eun-bi's first release since switching agencies is a lovely gift for fans. It peels back the piercing high notes and flashy performances that usually steal the spotlight, letting you hear how softly she murmurs through each line and how pretty her tone really is. The problem is that K-pop has far, far too maNov 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
RIIZE turns to literature to deepen story behind 'Insomnia'K-pop group RIIZE is turning to literature to tell a deeper story, pairing its new single "Insomnia" with fiction and illustration in an experiment that puts emotion and storytelling ahead of performance. The six-member group released "Insomnia" on Oct. 26, offering an acoustic pop track steeped in the mood of a chilly autumn night. The song marks a departure from the dynamic sound and performance-driven presentation often associated with RIIZE, bringing the members' vocals to the forefront instead. Its lyrics explore thoughts of another person that become increasingly vivid as the night deepens, along with the complicated emotions that grow from them. Against the backdrop of a sleepless night, the members sing about a more complex and introspective emotional state. The shift extends to the music video. Rather than centering on choreography, it adopts a dramatized, cinematic format in which each member experiences insomnia and emotional distress in a different way following a particular incident. Individual side stories expand on the characters and fill in parts of the narrative that theNov 2, 2026By Hankookilbo
HYBE data breach exposes employee medical records, financial detailsHYBE, the music agency behind K-pop group BTS, disclosed a cyberattack that exposed personal information of current and former employees and business partners, including resident registration numbers, credit card numbers and medical records. In an apology posted on its website, Oct. 18, the company said an internal security inspection detected unauthorized access through an outside vendor’s document preview software linked to its electronic approval system. Further investigation found similar access to its expense management system. According to the apology, the breaches occurred Sept. 12-13 and Oct. 3-5. Compromised information also included passport numbers, bank account details, addresses and phone numbers. The company did not disclose how many people were affected. “We deeply apologize for the concern caused by the personal information leak,” HYBE said in the notice. The company also said it blocked the attackers’ internet addresses and access routes, reported the incident to the Korea Internet and Security Agency and the Personal Information Protection Commission, and was noNov 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
BTS draws 853,000 fans across 14 sold-out Latin American showsBTS drew about 853,000 fans to 14 sold-out concerts in five South American cities, its agency said Monday. The seven-member group wrapped up the South American leg of its "ARIRANG" world tour with three shows at Estadio do Morumbi in Sao Paulo, Brazil last week, according to BigHit Music, a label under HYBE. The leg began Oct. 2 in Bogota, Colombia, and went on to Lima, Santiago and Buenos Aires. The tour takes its name from the group’s fifth studio album, “ARIRANG” which is named after Korea’s best-known traditional folk song. The setlist mixed new tracks with hits such as “Fake Love,” “Idol,” “Butter” and “Dynamite.” Members also spoke to the crowds in local languages. “South America was one of the schedules we looked forward to most, since we rarely get to see fans here,” BTS said. “We were so moved that we feel we should come back soon to repay you.” The tour marked BTS’ first concerts as a full group in Colombia and Argentina, and its first visit to Peru since its 2013 debut. The group returned to Chile after nine years and to Brazil after seven. ArgNov 2, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
TREASURE unleashes hip-hop power with new single 'SHOCK'K-pop boy band TREASURE is returning Monday with “SHOCK,” a new digital single that puts its signature energy and hip-hop sound at the center of its latest musical chapter. Set for release at 6 p.m., the track follows the group's fourth mini-album, “PLEASURE,” released in June, and marks another step in its effort to expand its hip-hop repertoire while strengthening its distinctive musical identity. “SHOCK” is an electronic hip-hop track built around trendy synthesizer sounds, pounding beats and rapid-fire arrangements, according to the group's agency, YG Entertainment. The song combines the weight of traditional YG-style hip-hop with TREASURE's characteristically powerful delivery and dynamic energy, creating a sound designed to make an immediate impression. Members' rap performances drive the track, while lyrics drawing on 1TYM's hit song “Hot 뜨거” and catchy phrases in the bridge add to its addictive appeal. The accompanying music video amplifies the song's intensity with dark architectural structures, lightning and fiery visual effects, alongside the members' stylisNov 2, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
InterviewTWS turns members' fears into fan anthem on 'TO US'Before K-pop boy band TWS began work on its new single album, each of the six members sat down for a one-on-one interview with their agency about what frightened them most and who helped them back on their feet. Those answers, the members say, became the backbone of the upcoming record. "TO US," which drops Monday at 6 p.m. with the lead track "Call My Name," arrives just over a week after the group wrapped its first Asia tour, and finds the members looking back on the trial and error of their early years while turning their attention to "42," the group's official fandom. Introduced in January 2024 as Pledis Entertainment's first boy group since Seventeen, TWS — Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin — debuted with "plot twist," a breakout hit that made the group one of the most sought-after rookies of the year. The group calls its sound "boyhood pop," a label it uses for songs about the experience of growing up. "This album is precious to us," Jihoon said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in eastern Seoul on Wednesday. "It started with interviews withNov 2, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop idols take on new challenge with YouTube language and culture projectK-pop idols are stepping beyond the stage to explore Korean language and culture through a three-part YouTube series produced by the King Sejong Institute Foundation in collaboration with SBS. The series features popular artists engaging with Korean language learners worldwide through competitions, proficiency assessments and special lessons. The second episode, set for release Saturday at 2 p.m., will feature Ricky of AND2BLE and Mǎ Jingxiang of CLOSE YOUR EYES competing against eight outstanding Korean language learners. The participants were selected from the winners of the 2026 King Sejong Institute Korean Speaking and Writing Contest, which attracted 3,715 applicants from 75 countries and 178 institutions. The episode will also reunite Ricky and Mǎ Jingxiang, who previously competed on the same team in an audition program in 2023. In November, boy group VERIVERY will become honorary Korean language teachers at the King Sejong Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia. The five members will conduct a special class using their own song lyrics, explaining their meanings and introducing usefulOct 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
BOYNEXTDOOR to launch 1st N. American tourK-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR will kick off its first-ever North American tour Friday (U.S. time) with a show in Dallas, the group's agency, Koz Entertainment, said. Following the Dallas concert, the sextet is scheduled to perform in Florida, Chicago, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Mexico City through Nov. 24. "Every visit to the United States has given us meaningful memories and positive inspiration, so we are excited for this trip too," the group said in a release. "We will perform with passion and return with happy memories. We hope audiences look forward to our explosive energy and chemistry with them." The North American dates are part of BOYNEXTDOOR's first-ever world tour, titled "Knock on Vol. 2," which began in Seoul in July and continued across Japan. Following the North American leg, the group is set to perform in six other Asian regions into January 2027.Oct 30, 2026By Yonhap
