TWICE's Jihyo leaves JYP after 21 years to launch own agencyJihyo, a member of K-pop girl group TWICE, said Wednesday she has left JYP Entertainment to establish her own agency. In a handwritten letter posted on social media, Jihyo said she had ended her contract with JYP, where she had been for 21 years since childhood. "I have established Emithaus," she wrote. "Through this new home, I hope to freely explore even the possibilities within myself that I have yet to discover." The 29-year-old singer added, "I will approach every future choice and activity with greater care and a stronger sense of responsibility, as I step out of a familiar environment and continue my work in a new way." Jihyo plans to pursue her solo music career under the new agency while continuing activities with TWICE. JYP Entertainment, one of Korea's major K-pop agencies, had managed Jihyo since she joined the company as a trainee before TWICE's 2015 debut.Oct 21, 2026By Yonhap
R&B hitmaker Crush and IU reunite on soulful new single 'Seesaw'R&B singer Crush is back with “Seesaw,” a charming new duet with pop icon IU that captures the delightful awkwardness of falling in love — marking his first solo release in more than a year. Set to be released Wednesday at 6 p.m., the single follows his August 2025 EP “FANG” and its lead track, “UP ALL NITE,” featuring SUMIN. In an interview ahead of the release, Crush discussed the song’s creation, his collaboration with IU and his hopes for the music he leaves behind. Q. What does it mean to release new music under your own name after such a long break? Crush: I’m excited and happy to share new music with listeners again. I’ve spent the past year exploring different musical ideas and thinking deeply about what kind of music I can express most confidently. “Seesaw” grew out of that process, and I hope it becomes a song that stays with people in their everyday lives. Q. What inspired the song, and what did you focus on while making it? Crush: It captures the little misunderstandings and awkward moments that two people experience when they fall in love, in a cute andOct 21, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
'Dracula' featuring Jennie ties its peak on Billboard Hot 100"Dracula," a collaborative single between Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK and Australian act Tame Impala, has returned to the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. According to Billboard on Tuesday (U.S. time), "Dracula" rose one spot from the previous week to No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard's singles chart, tying its highest position to date. Another K-pop girl group Katseye's "Animal" rose four spots to No. 28. Multiple K-pop acts also appeared on the Billboard 200 main albums chart this week. The highest-charting among them was Stray Kids' "This & That," which placed 35th. The original soundtrack for the Netflix hit animation "KPop Demon Hunters" and Katseye's "Wild" placed No. 37 and No. 38, respectively. BTS' fifth full-length album, "Arirang," ranked 41st, staying on the chart for the 30th consecutive week. Boy group Enhypen's "The Sin: Bliss" remained unchanged at No. 122, while Katseye's "Beautiful Chaos" ranked No. 176.Oct 21, 2026By Yonhap
Grammy boycott debate turns toward K-pop acts that submittedFans were angry at the Recording Academy for creating the new Asian pop category for the Grammy Awards, but some of that anger is now directed at K-pop acts that reportedly submitted for the category. The Academy has not officially disclosed which acts entered the category, though some have been named in local media outlets. Criticism has mounted in some online fan communities, with people questioning whether the acts should compete in a category that many see as discriminatory and some even asking whether they really want to win a "racist award." Others have countered that pursuing a Grammy nomination is a practical choice for artists. The debate traces back to June, when the academy announced that Best Asian Pop Music Performance, one of five new categories, will debut at the 69th Grammy Awards in February 2027. The award covers recordings that make meaningful use of one or more Asian languages, but many in the Korean music industry questioned whether it would wall K-pop off into a separate box instead of recognizing it in the main categories. Boy band BTS brought the debate to a head onOct 21, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Illit's 'Magnetic' becomes fastest debut song by K-pop group to reach 900 mil. streamsGirl group Illit's "Magnetic" has surpassed 900 million streams on Spotify, becoming the fastest K-pop group debut song to reach the milestone on the world's largest music streaming platform, its agency said Tuesday. The track reached the milestone on Sunday, about two years and seven months after its release in March 2024, according to Belift Lab. "This is the shortest time taken among the debut songs of K-pop groups that have reached the same number of streams on Spotify," the agency said in a release. Blending Pluggnb and house genres, the dance track "Magnetic" compares the feelings of being drawn to a crush to a magnet. The song achieved widespread popularity following its release, sweeping top spots on local music charts while also entering the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart and the British Official Singles Chart Top 100.Oct 20, 2026By Yonhap
'KPop Demon Hunters' singer-songwriter EJAE ties knot with producer Sam KimKorean American singer-songwriter EJAE, who gained attention for "Golden" from the original soundtrack of the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," has married music producer and composer Sam Kim. The couple held an outdoor wedding ceremony on Saturday at a multipurpose cultural space that sits on the former residence site of EJAE's maternal grandfather and veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, the U.S. fashion magazine Vogue reported Monday (U.S. time). The pair had originally planned to hold the ceremony in California next month, but moved the location to Korea and advanced the date by about a month. The couple tied the knot after four months of preparation, having temporarily postponed their wedding plans due to promotional schedules and award show appearances following the success of "KPop Demon Hunters." "It was hectic and a little stressful, but it was real teamwork, and everything has fallen into place perfectly," EJAE told the magazine regarding the preparation process. EJAE and Kim first met during a music session in 2017, and continued their relationship as musical colleagues andOct 20, 2026By Yonhap
Katseye performs at Victoria's Secret Fashion ShowK-pop girl group Katseye performed its hit songs at the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on Sunday (U.S. time), its agency Hybe X Geffen Records said. The group sang two tracks, "Pinky Up" and "Animal," after making its entrance from the audience seating area, not the stage. During the set, the group showcased its vocal abilities while executing powerful choreography. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is a globally renowned event that features supermodel runways alongside performances by prominent artists. The performer lineup for this year's event also included Tate McRae, Megan Thee Stallion and Megan Moroney.Oct 19, 2026By Yonhap
ITZY's Chaeryeong to make solo debut with mini album 'Lovesick' on Nov. 9Chaeryeong of K-pop girl group ITZY will make her solo debut on Nov. 9 with a mini album, titled “Lovesick,” with the lead track of the same name, her agency JYP Entertainment said Monday. The agency released a trailer, track list and promotion schedule for the album on its official social media channels. Chaeryeong is the third ITZY member to put out solo music. Yeji debuted as a soloist with the EP “Air” in March 2025, while Yuna released “Ice Cream” in March this year. Chaeryeong debuted with ITZY in 2019. The group is known for hits such as “Dalla Dalla” and “Wannabe.” JYP described her as a performer with stable live vocals, light, feathery dance moves and a lively presence on TV variety shows. The agency said she will show a new side of herself as a solo artist. The trailer, structured like a storybook, portrays Chaeryeong as someone indifferent to nearly everything around her. A narrator says she stayed the same “in front of a birthday cake, when her phone caught fire, when she won the lottery, when the upstairs neighbors were noisy and even when the floor wasOct 19, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
SEVENTEEN's Jeonghan, Joshua chase dreams in new unit albumSEVENTEEN members Jeonghan and Joshua explore the shifting boundaries between fantasy and reality in “DREAMSCAPE,” their first mini album as a unit, released Monday, with seven tracks built around dreams, personal aspirations and their evolving vocal styles. The lead single, “12 o’clock,” blends dance-rock with modern interpretations of 1970s and 1980s disco and funk, following the two singers as they chase a dream between noon and midnight. A music video teaser released Sunday features surreal imagery, including a train seemingly covered in snake scales and a picturesque meadow, setting the tone for the album’s dreamlike world. In an interview provided by their agency, Pledis Entertainment, Jeonghan and Joshua discussed their creative process, musical experiments and hopes for fans. Q. How do you feel about releasing your first mini album as a unit? Jeonghan: I feel proud of what we have created, especially because it has been a while since I released an album, and I spent a lot of time thinking about what new things we could show CARAT; although I feel some nerves as I returOct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
NMIXX explores unusual muses, makes wishes with 'Strange Muse'K-pop powerhouse NMIXX is back on Monday with "Strange Muse," the group's sixth mini album that pushes the boundary-pushing sextet into bold new creative territory. Anchored by a genre-defying lead single, the release marks a career milestone for the group as the members step into songwriting and composition roles for the first time. Alongside group tracks like "Birthday Wish," "Kerosene" and "RudE TaLK," the six-song collection breaks NMIXX into distinct sub-units for the very first time. The duo pairings highlight each member's unique dynamic — featuring Lily and Haewon on "Sing to the Moon," Sullyoon and Bae on "Hot ’n Unbothered," and Ji-woo with Kyujin on "WHIP." The lead single, "Birthday Wish," pairs future house with moombahton — a genre combining slowed-down house synths with reggaeton’s signature rhythmic bounce. Blending these with Afro-house influences, the song moves from energetic dance drops to a quiet piano and vocal passage before culminating in a narrated bridge. In an interview provided by JYP Entertainment, the members discussed the album’s concept, their cOct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
