Ex-member Ju Haknyeon seen at The Boyz concert, sparking online debateFormer The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon has unexpectedly resurfaced at the group’s concert, reigniting controversy nearly nine months after his departure over a private life scandal. On April 26, Ju uploaded a single photo to his personal social media account without any caption. The image showed a wide view of The Boyz’s concert from the audience, with members appearing on a large screen. What might have seemed like a routine concert snapshot quickly drew attention given Ju’s contentious exit from the group. His presence at the venue soon spread across social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and online communities, where photos allegedly showing him seated among fans circulated widely. In those images, he appeared to conceal his identity with a cap and a black mask. Ju left The Boyz in July last year after being swept up in controversy over a reported private meeting in Tokyo with Asuka Kirara, a former adult video actress. His agency, One Hundred, announced his departure shortly afterward. At the time, Ju acknowledged attending a drinking gathering but strongly denied any involvemeApr 27, 2026By Xportsnews
TXT, BTS both land in Billboard 200's top 5K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with their latest album, "7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns." The album eared 69,000 equivalent album units in its first week, according to a chart preview released Sunday (U.S. time), marking the group's eighth top 10 entry on the main albums chart. It placed behind country singer Ella Langley's "Dandelion" and Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem." Meanwhile, BTS' latest album, "ARIRANG," placed No. 4 with 62,000 equivalent album units, a 21 percent decline from a week earlier. The album had topped the chart for three consecutive weeks before slipping to No. 3 the previous week. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical and digital sales, as well as streaming and digital track downloads converted into album sales.Apr 27, 2026By Yonhap
BTS returns to US stage after 4 yearsK-pop powerhouse BTS has commenced its highly anticipated North American tour in Tampa, Florida, marking the group's first full-scale concert series in the region in four years. The group opened the North American leg of its “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’” at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa with performances on Saturday, Sunday and a third show scheduled for April 28 (local time). The performances mark their first return to the U.S. stage since their April 2022 shows in Las Vegas. The extensive tour will span 12 cities across North America for a total of 31 performances. Due to overwhelming demand, tickets for all initial dates sold out immediately, prompting organizers to add extra shows in cities including Tampa, Stanford and Las Vegas. Tampa has embraced the group's arrival by transforming the city into a festival zone. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared videos on social media showing the city hall illuminated in purple, the color associated with BTS and its fandom, ARMY. The city’s bridges are also set to remain lit in purple through April 29. Local infrastructure has coordinated toApr 26, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Catch Catch' syndrome: 'YENA-core' suggest new survival strategy in group-dominated K-pop sceneIn a K-pop market dominated by groups, singer YENA has built a distinct musical identity as a solo artist. The response to "Catch Catch," the lead track from her fifth EP "LOVE CATCHER" released in March, suggests that her signature style is gaining momentum. Evolution of 'YENA-core' YENA, a former member of project girl group IZ*ONE, which was formed through Mnet's "Produce 48," debuted as a solo artist in 2022 with the track "SMILEY." Since then, she has moved across genres while developing a style often called "YENA-core." The term refers less to a repeated concept than to a recognizable mix of music, performance and visuals. It combines her bright energy, kitschy sensibility and cartoonish visuals with an addictive electro-pop sound. The appeal of "Catch Catch" rests heavily on that accumulated musical narrative. Her conceptual universe, which expanded through previous releases such as "SMILEY," "NEMONEMO" and "Being a Good Girl Hurts," has developed into a distinct sensibility that resonates with listeners. Strategic nostalgia A key factor behind the track's success is its use of secoApr 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
Le Sserafim to prerelease lead single of new studio albumK-pop girl group Le Sserafim on Friday will prerelease the lead single of its second studio album set for release next month, the group's agency said. The song "Celebration" celebrates the moment one acknowledges fear and finds the inner strength to confront it, according to Source Music. Blending melodic techno with hardstyle, a form of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1990s, the track features an upbeat, addictive rhythm and melody, the agency added. It will lead "Pureflow pt. 1," the band's full-length album set for release on May 22. "Pureflow pt. 1" marks the band's first full-length album in nearly three years, following "Unforgiven" in 2023. The agency said the quintet, which debuted in 2022 with the message "We are strong because we have no fear," now offers a more mature perspective — that understanding fear has made them even stronger — on the upcoming album. "We imagined people enjoying the song together at parties or concerts from the moment we first heard it, and we wanted to share it as soon as possible," the group said through its agency. "We believeApr 24, 2026By Yonhap
The Boyz members granted court injunction to suspend contracts with agencyA court has granted an injunction sought by members of K-pop group The Boyz to suspend their exclusive contracts with management agency One Hundred Label, a legal representative said Friday. The injunction was filed by nine of the group's 10 members, excluding New. Kim Moon-hee, an attorney at the local law firm Yulchon representing the members, said the court found the agency violated its obligation to make settlement payments and provide financial data. The court also ruled the agency failed to fulfill key contractual duties, including management support and artist protection. "The court determined that the trust between the parties of the contracts had broken down to an irreparable level due to the agency's fault," Kim said. One Hundred Label had argued that signing bonuses paid to the members constituted advance payments. The court rejected that claim, noting that contract provisions treat signing bonuses separately from the distribution of earnings generated from the members' activities. Kim said the members will fulfill previously confirmed schedules despite the suspensions.Apr 24, 2026By Yonhap
EVAN debuts bold blond look at first public event after ENHYPEN exitFormer ENHYPEN member Heeseung made his first official public appearance under his new stage name, EVAN, drawing attention with a striking blond transformation as he begins his solo career. EVAN attended a photocall event on Wednesday afternoon at a Musinsa Megastore in Seoul’s Seongdong District for a global colored contact lens brand. The appearance marked his first official schedule since announcing his departure from ENHYPEN and rebranding himself as a solo artist. Sporting platinum blond hair, EVAN paired the look with a sleek black suit, creating a refined, princely image that immediately caught the attention of fans and media. He greeted attendees warmly, posing with heart gestures and offering friendly waves throughout the event. The outing carried added significance as it came after his abrupt exit from ENHYPEN last month — a move that sparked backlash among some fans online, with calls for him to reverse the decision. EVAN debuted in 2020 as part of ENHYPEN, a globally popular K-pop group. As the eldest member and main vocalist, he contributed to multiple hit releases and aApr 23, 2026By Xportsnews
NMIXX to return with new album next monthK-pop girl group NMIXX will drop a new album titled "Heavy Serenade" next month, the group's agency, JYP Entertainment, said Thursday. The band's fifth EP, set to come out May 11, consists of six songs, fronted by the title track whose lyrics were written by singer-songwriter Hanroro. Other tracks include "Crescendo," co-written by members Lily and Bae, and "Different Girl," according to the agency. Ahead of the release, the six-member group will deliver the first live performance of "Superior," also a track from the album, at a pre-event for an e-sports festival in Incheon, just west of Seoul, on Friday and unveil the music video for "Crescendo" on Tuesday.Apr 23, 2026By Yonhap
NewJeans breaks 6-month silence with Hyein’s post after Copenhagen sightingsK-pop group NewJeans is fueling speculation over a comeback after resurfacing on social media for the first time in six months — and fans are reading the timing as anything but coincidental. On April 21, the group’s official channel uploaded multiple photos of member Hyein with the caption “HAPPY HYEIN DAY,” marking her birthday. In the images, Hyein appears with long, straight hair and a refined look, drawing attention for her evolving visuals. The post is the account’s first update since late last October, when it celebrated the third anniversary of the group’s fandom. The sudden return has sparked a wave of reactions across fan communities and social media, with many interpreting it as a signal that the group may be resuming activities. Speculation has been further fueled by recent sightings of members in Europe. On April 12, Hyein and Haerin were reportedly spotted in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their agency ADOR later said that Hanni had also traveled there with them. The developments come after months of uncertainty surrounding the group. Several members had been involved in aApr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
InterviewFrom survival show to world tour: CLOSE YOUR EYES is just getting warmed upAbout a year into its career and currently mid-tour, seven-piece K-pop boy band CLOSE YOUR EYES (CYE) is already releasing music that has something to say. The group, formed in 2025 through JTBC's survival program "PROJECT 7," dropped its first digital single, "OVEREXPOSED," Tuesday. It's a two-track release built around the concept of overexposure in photography — the point at which too much light wipes an image out entirely. The idea, as the group describes it, is about still wanting to leave a record of yourself when everything feels uncertain. "It's an appetizer," said Jeon Min-wook, the group's eldest, during an interview at The Korea Times headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. "Before a new side of us is revealed in the upcoming album, 'OVEREXPOSED' is a preview of what's coming." The single follows the group's third mini-album "blackout," and Jeon is clear that the narrative is intentional and ongoing. "We put a lot of meaning into 'Eternity,' our debut project. Then we woke up from 'blackout,' and we've spent a year," he said. "This single is an extension of that. It's a statement ofApr 21, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
