NCT's Ten shuts down dating rumors mid-concert: 'I'm super duper single'Ten of K-pop group NCT personally shut down dating rumors during a concert in the U.S., declaring himself "super duper single" after speculation about his relationship status spread online. Ten addressed recent rumors linking him to a woman who is not a celebrity during a stop on his "TEN US SHOWCASE TOUR" in Seattle on Thursday. "I know these days there have been so many crazy things going on on the internet," Ten said. "I want to clarify in front of you guys. I'm super duper single. I’m not dating anyone." Ten said he learned from his staff that the dating rumors had been circulating online. "If I were dating, I'd have to be Superman," he said. "With this busy schedule, right?" His comments suggested that his packed schedule leaves little room for a romantic relationship. Ten debuted in 2016 and has been active as a member of NCT as well as WayV, the group's China-based unit. He ended his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment in April. "We plan to continue coordinating so that Ten can participate in group activities," SM said at the time. In July, Ten co-founded creative company ILLIMOct 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
2026 MAMA AWARDS to travel across time, space with 'A Music Interstellar'This year's MAMA AWARDS will take audiences on a journey between the stars, where music transcends the boundaries of past and present, here and there, organizers said Thursday as they unveiled plans for CJ ENM's flagship K-pop ceremony. The theme, “A Music Interstellar,” was introduced at a media day held at the Eliena Hotel in Gangnam District, Seoul, ahead of the 2026 MAMA AWARDS, set for Nov. 20 and 21 at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan. The event was attended by Shin Hyung-kwan, head of CJ ENM's music content business division; Yoon Shin-hye, head of its Mnet business division; and Park Chan-uk, head of its convention business division. Yoon said the theme captures 2026 as a moment when older songs find new life amid fast-changing trends and audiences around the world enjoy the same music as K-pop expands. Launched in 1999 as Mnet's music video awards, the ceremony was renamed the Mnet Asian Music Awards in 2009 and rebranded as the MAMA AWARDS in 2022. The idea of crossing boundaries carries into a series of collaborations. K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will team up with Hollywood sci-fi bOct 29, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Tzuyu's mother steps in as dating rumors spread: 'They are longtime friends'TWICE member Tzuyu's mother has personally stepped in to address dating rumors surrounding her daughter, saying the man at the center of the online speculation is simply a longtime friend. Huang Yen-ling, Tzuyu's mother, addressed the rumors spreading online in a social media post Tuesday. "There have been several rumors about Tzuyu and a male acquaintance," she said. "I have also known this friend for a long time, so I would like to say a few words." According to Huang, Tzuyu and the man have been friends for years. "He is a kind and sincere person who has always supported and helped Tzuyu," she said. Huang pushed back against attempts to interpret their interactions as evidence of a romantic relationship, saying ordinary activities between friends should not fuel speculation. "It is perfectly natural for friends to eat together, go out, talk and look out for each other," she said. "I don't think people should overinterpret things or make careless assumptions based on fragments of information." She also asked people not to criticize or attack anyone based on unverified rumors. "I hope the uOct 29, 2026By Xportsnews
Ex-The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon wins lawsuit over report alleging prostitutionFormer THE BOYZ member Ju Haknyeon has won a damages lawsuit against an entertainment reporter who accused him of paying for sex with a former Japanese adult video actress — an allegation that preceded his departure from the K-pop group. The Seoul Central District Court ordered the reporter, identified only as A, to pay Ju 200 million won ($140,000) in damages, according to legal sources Wednesday. The court's Civil Division 25, presided over by Judge Kwon Ki-man, handed down the ruling on Oct. 23 The controversy began in June last year, when A reported that Ju had paid for sex with Kirara Asuka, a former Japanese adult video actress, at a bar in Tokyo. The reporter said the allegation was based on a questionnaire obtained from Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. The report had immediate consequences for Ju's career. He suspended all activities, while his agency, ONE HUNDRED, announced that he would leave THE BOYZ and that his exclusive contract would be terminated. Ju denied the prostitution allegation and filed a 1 billion won damages lawsuit against A, saying the report containedOct 29, 2026By Xportsnews
NCT DREAM to mark 10th anniversary with disco track 'Boogie Woogie'K-pop boy band NCT DREAM will celebrate its 10th debut anniversary with “Boogie Woogie,” a disco-flavored dance track leading its sixth full-length album, the group’s agency SM Entertainment said Thursday. The album, “DREAM AFTER DREAM,” will be released on major music streaming platforms at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9, with its physical edition hitting stores the same day. It contains 10 tracks, including the title song. Pre-orders are currently available through online and offline music retailers. “Boogie Woogie” is an up-tempo dance number that blends the vintage feel of 1970s disco-funk, a dance style that fused the steady beat of disco with funk’s heavy bass grooves, with modern synthesizer sounds. Rhythmic percussion and a groovy bassline drive the track, according to the agency. Member Jaemin co-wrote the lyrics, which celebrate the members’ decade together and encourage listeners to enjoy the present moment. The song also expresses the members’ gratitude toward one another for making ordinary days special, along with their belief that they will continue to shine as longOct 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
1VERSE releases debut mini album, expands world tour in 2027K-pop boy group 1VERSE will release its first mini album and embark on its second world tour in 2027, opening a new chapter for the group as it seeks to reach audiences across more continents. Korean music label Singing Beetle announced the plans, Wednesday, saying the projects would mark the end of the group’s “SHATTERED” era. The mini album will feature songs self-produced by the members, according to the label, which did not disclose the release date, album title or track list. The upcoming tour will expand beyond North America and Europe, where the group performed during its first world tour, although the label has not yet identified the additional regions it plans to visit. The group’s next chapter has been made possible in part by a crowdfunding project powered by 5TARZ, its fandom, with support from fans around the world, the announcement said. Tour dates, ticket details and additional information will be released through 1VERSE’s official social media channels, the label said. 1VERSE, pronounced “universe,” is preparing to build on its first international tour with aOct 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Virtual idol group PLAVE hits No. 31 on Billboard 200Korean virtual idol group PLAVE has achieved its highest-ever ranking on the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart with its latest release. The band's fifth EP, "Hyperdrive," debuted at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time). The result surpassed the group's previous best ranking of No. 145, set by its fourth EP, "Caligo Pt. 2," in May, which marked PLAVE's first appearance on the chart. Released Oct. 19, "Hyperdrive" also sold more than 1.32 million copies in Korea during its first week, setting a new sales record for the group. Elsewhere on the chart, the original soundtrack for the hit Netflix animation "KPop Demon Hunters" and Katseye's "Wild" placed at No. 35 and No. 39, respectively. BTS' fifth full-length album, "Arirang," ranked 46th, down five spots from the previous week, extending its run on the chart to a 31st consecutive week. Stray Kids' "This & That" placed 93rd. On the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, "Dracula," a collaborative single by Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK and Australian act Tame Impala, ranked at No. 8, spendingOct 28, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK's Jisoo to release 2nd prerelease single 'Addicted' on FridayJisoo of K-pop powerhouse BLACKPINK is set to drop "Addicted," the second prerelease single from her upcoming debut full-length solo album, Friday, her agency said Tuesday. The track will premiere simultaneously across domestic and international music streaming platforms at 8 a.m., according to her label, Blissoo. In the fast-paced K-pop market, releasing advance singles ahead of a complete studio album has become a crucial promotional strategy to build global fan momentum. The announcement follows a multiday promotional rollout. From Saturday through Monday, Blissoo teased the release across its official social media channels, unveiling a logo animation, concept photos and a brief video clip. The motion logo features heart-shaped lightning striking across a dark purple night sky, culminating in the single's title rendered in bold, three-dimensional lettering. Meanwhile, the teaser photos depict Jisoo partially veiled behind a shimmering curtain, showcasing full bangs and a sleek black manicure. A separate video preview offered fans their first taste of the song’s melody alongside a sOct 27, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
HYBE expands global operations with new label services chiefK-pop powerhouse HYBE is sharpening its international operations, appointing industry veteran Juan Arenas to steer a newly streamlined global division aimed at uniting distribution, marketing and artist promotion across its worldwide label network. The company said Tuesday that Arenas, chief intellectual property officer at HYBE America, would serve as president of the label's Global Label Services, expanding an existing operation into a centralized support organization for labels across all of its global entities. The division will coordinate global distribution strategies, manage supply chains and oversee relationships with regional distributors and online and offline platforms, while tailoring marketing and promotional campaigns to local markets. HYBE launched its Label Services operation in the United States in 2024 as part of its HYBE 2.0 growth strategy, subsequently extending the model to Korea and other markets. The latest restructuring reflects HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy, which seeks to strengthen infrastructure across major music markeOct 27, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
ILLIT does math on one-sided love in 5th EP 'BREAK EVEN'After years of singing about charging toward a crush, ILLIT has finally run the numbers and found that the feelings were never reciprocated. The HYBE girl group turns that realization into a playful "arrest warrant" on its fifth EP, "BREAK EVEN," released Monday. The EP follows the group as it comes to terms with how one-sided its devotion had been. It likens the frustration of getting back far less than it gave to a "break-even point," and the lead track, "You're Under Arrest," puts that frustration on trial. Four of the group's five members, Wonhee, Yunah, Minju and Iroha, talked about making the album at a media showcase held the same day at Blue Square's Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan District, Seoul. Moka, who has been on hiatus since June due to health issues, is sitting out promotions for this EP as well. "Since we're coming back after 'It's Me' did so well, we wanted to show an even better side of ourselves," Wonhee said. "I worked on this album with so much conviction that I can call it my all-time favorite." "Because the song has such a distinct concept, we paid attention toOct 26, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
