Seoul 'melting pot' for global music talent, says producer behind BTS hitsA Swedish music producer who has worked with the biggest names in K-pop — BTS, SuperM, Tomorrow X Together, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM and ATEEZ — said Seoul has become a "global melting pot" for music talent, surpassing creative hubs like Stockholm and Los Angeles, as top songwriters worldwide increasingly look to Korea for the best opportunities. "I saw an opportunity that seemed more impactful by coming to Seoul rather than going to the States, and not by a small margin," Alex Karlsson said at a music industry conference hosted by the French Embassy in Seoul, June 8. Karlsson was speaking at "From K-pop to Global Pop: Rethinking Music Without Borders," the opening panel of "Fête de la Musique+ 2026," a Korea-France cultural exchange event held in Seoul. For Karlsson, Korea's appeal as a creative base comes down to access and structure. He said the country draws top-tier global talent at a scale unmatched by European music hubs, while its systemized approach to music production offers a creative framework he finds valuable rather than limiting. "Koreans love their systems, and I think tJun 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BIGBANG to launch 20th anniversary world tour in GoyangBIGBANG will launch its 20th anniversary world tour with a concert in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul. Presales for the "BIGBANG 2026 WORLD TOUR IN GOYANG" begin at 7 p.m. on June 24, with a general sale to follow at 7 p.m. on June 25, YG Entertainment said Monday. Domestic tickets will be available through the Coupang Play mobile app, while international tickets will be sold via NOL WORLD. The group will perform three concerts at Goyang Stadium from Aug. 21-23. The shows are expected to draw significant interest, marking the K-pop group's first world tour in nearly a decade. The Goyang performances kick off a tour featuring 31 shows across 18 cities. The concerts promise stadium-scale production, highlighting the act's extensive 20-year discography. The stadium tour announcement follows BIGBANG's recent performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, in April. "We are sparing no effort on the tour's scale and production quality to meet the expectations of fans who have waited so long," YG Entertainment said. The tour spans North America, Europe, Oceania anJun 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
RIIZE doubles down on performance for highly anticipated returnK-pop group RIIZE returned Monday with its second mini album, "II," presenting a sharper, more self-assured sound that the members say reflects months of rehearsal and rising confidence on stage. In a distributed interview ahead of the release, the SM Entertainment group described the title track, "Do Your Dance," as a statement meant to be felt rather than interpreted. Below is an edited Q&A with the six-member group. Q. How does it feel to make a comeback? Wonbin: The album is filled with strong songs, and we feel confident returning to the stage. We want to show our music through performance rather than words. Sohee: It has been seven months since our last comeback, and we’re really thankful to fans for waiting. We’re confident in this album and hope many people enjoy it. Q. How would you describe “II”? Sohee: It’s a fun album from start to finish. I hope that feeling of enjoyment reaches fans as well. Anton: It represents a shift into a more active phase for RIIZE, moving from thinking to doing. Eunseok: It feels like a box of many colors, with each track showing a different styJun 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
As virtual idol groups multiply, can any match PLAVE's success?The virtual idol market is expanding fast, and the field is getting crowded. A string of new groups have debuted in recent months, staking a claim in a space that one act has come to define — and none of them are close to catching it yet. OWIS, a five-member girl group under All My Anecdotes, the label founded by Kiss of Life creative director Lee Hae-in, debuted on March 23 with EP "Museum." While the real identities behind the virtual avatar members — Serene, Haru, Soi, Summer and Yuni — have not been officially confirmed, it is widely reported to include former NMIXX member Jini, former Lovelyz member Ryu Su-jeong, BigHit Music producer Adora, "Produce 101" contestant Lee Ruri and Lee Hae-in herself. B:DAWN under Duri Entertainment followed on May 6 with debut single "Beom." The group's five members — Dojin, Ion, Kangho, Woorim and Hansol — are built around the concept of former competitive athletes. The latest entry is MiiWAN, a five-member boy group under Abyss Company, whose debut album "Middle.i" drops Tuesday. A pre-release track, "Pluma," is already out. Emulating PLAVEJun 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Netflix schedules live world tour for 'KPop Demon Hunters' to leverage global fandomNetflix announced a live world tour for its blockbuster animated musical film "KPop Demon Hunters," a move expected to expand the entertainment giant's global monetization structure. Rather than concluding with the streaming success of a single title, the strategy establishes a multilayered business model extending to live musical performances, commercial merchandise, interactive fan events and brand collaborations. Netflix confirmed in May the global tour for the 2025 animated feature. The streaming company said the live performance "will bring elements of the two-time Oscar-winning film to life in spectacular ways," adding that host cities, dates and ticket information will be released in the second half of 2026. Released in 2025, the film broke streaming records and achieved global prominence, winning Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, the 83rd Golden Globes and the 31st Critics Choice Awards. Netflix partnered with AEG Presents, a global live entertainment promoter whose portfolio includes the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and intJun 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Seventeen's Hoshi to drop new digital single during military serviceHoshi of K-pop boy group Seventeen, currently serving his mandatory military duty, will release a new digital single titled "Snapback" on Monday, his agency Pledis Entertainment said. The track, unveiled to coincide with the singer's birthday, blends old-school guitar sounds with a polished rhythm to create an upbeat mood. It playfully captures an irresistible attraction toward his love interest. Hoshi participated in both the lyrics and composition of the song set for release at 6 p.m., the agency added. The K-pop star enlisted in September last year and is serving as an active-duty soldier in the South Korean Army.Jun 15, 2026By Yonhap
EVAN drops snippets of debut solo single 'RIDE OR DIE'Former ENHYPEN member EVAN dropped snippets of his upcoming debut solo single "RIDE OR DIE" on his official social media channels Saturday, giving fans their first listen ahead of the June 22 release. The digital single includes two tracks, "Ride or Die" and "Overflow." Through an official press release Sunday, his label Belift Lab said EVAN wrote, composed and produced both songs and took part in visual creative work across the project. "Ride or Die" is an alternative rock track that blends pop-rock and hyperpop elements. The song deals with longing and overwhelming emotion directed at another person. Belift Lab said the track also carries a message to fans. The single's second track, "Overflow," is a quieter indie-pop song. The title refers to the image of water brimming at the edge of a glass, which EVAN used as a metaphor for layered, complex emotions. Belift Lab said the song leaves its emotional direction open, allowing listeners to interpret it as comfort, sadness or empathy depending on their own circumstances. The single's title, "RIDE OR DIE," is an English idiomatic expressionJun 14, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS celebrates 13th anniversary with return to BusanBUSAN — K-pop juggernaut BTS marked its 13th anniversary with a massive celebration, bringing the group's ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a two-night run that felt much bigger than a concert. The timing was no accident. The second show landed squarely on June 13, the group's debut anniversary, sending fans worldwide into a frenzy well before the first note dropped. Busan, too, carries deep meaning for the group — it is the hometown of members Jimin and Jung Kook, and the site of "Yet to Come," the sprawling farewell concert that preceded the members' hiatus due to mandatory military service in 2022. The group's return had been anticipated for weeks. "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," a large-scale urban festival running since early June, transformed the city's landmarks into extensions of the "ARIRANG" album's themes, stretching from a grand welcome at Busan Station to a drone light show above Gwangalli Beach. By Saturday evening, 55,000 fans packed the stadium. The crowd had already endured a roughly 75-minute delay the night before aJun 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in BusanHYBE, the agency behind K-pop boy band BTS, issued a formal apology after the first night of the group's world tour in Busan was delayed by more than one hour, according to its fandom platform Saturday. "We deeply apologize to all audience that came to watch the 'Arirang' world tour, for the inconvenience caused by the delay in the start of the performance," the agency said in a notice on Weverse. The agency pledged to bolster overall on-site operations to prevent recurrences during the second concert set to take place in the port city of Busan later in the day, the notice read. BTS continued its world tour "Arirang" in Busan, Friday. The concert was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. but was pushed back by around 75 minutes to 8:15 p.m., as the entry process of tens of thousands of fans was delayed.Jun 13, 2026By Yonhap
Le Sserafim, Illit, Katseye release joint singleThree girl groups under HYBE — Le Sserafim, Illit and KATSEYE — joined forces Friday to release a collaborative single, "ICONIC BY MISTAKE," marking a rare cross-group project within the K-pop powerhouse. The track, an alternative pop song driven by a heavy beat and offbeat sound, features a catchy hook built around the lyric: "Thanks to your hate, I accidentally became iconic." The trio gave the first live performance of the song on Mnet's "M Countdown" music program on Thursday, a day ahead of its official release. "We are truly happy that our long-held wish to stand on stage together has finally come true," Le Sserafim said in a statement, adding that the collaboration was prepared as "a special gift" for fans worldwide.Jun 12, 2026By Yonhap
