Heeseung speaks out for first time since ENHYPEN exit: I feel sorryHeeseung, who recently left K-pop boy band ENHYPEN, spoke out for the first time since announcing his departure from the group. “I’m sure the news came as a surprise, but I’m fine,” he said during a video call with fans on Sunday. The event, scheduled before he announced his exit from the group on March 10, was his first official engagement with fans since then. It was held under the slightly revised name “Heeseung and ENHYPEN.” “I feel sorry for the members,” Heeseung reportedly said. He was also quoted as saying that his album is set for release soon, hinting at a solo debut soon. Fans reacted to the event with mixed feelings, as it was still carried out under ENHYPEN’s name despite Heeseung’s departure. While some accepted that the prescheduled event would inevitably proceed as planned, others faulted the agency for failing to consider the fans by continuing to package him under the group’s name in official schedules and photo card promotions. Previously Heeseung announced through his agency, Belift Lab, that he would leave the group, six years after debuting. WhMar 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS returns to US stage as full group after nearly 4 yearsK-pop megastar BTS reunited for a U.S. performance in New York on Monday (U.S. time), marking the group's first appearance with all seven members stateside in about four years. The group flew in from Seoul, where it had a free concert at Gwanghwamun in the city center to mark the release of its fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," and performed at the "Spotify X BTS: SWIMSIDE" event on the rooftop of Pier 17 at Manhattan's southern tip. The intimate show drew 1,000 superfans selected by the global music streaming platform based on top streaming hours of BTS tracks. It contrasted sharply with the group's last full U.S. outing in April 2022 for the "Permission to Dance on Stage" concerts at a 40,000-capacity concert venue in Las Vegas. Members expressed visible emotion during the set, which featured new songs, including "SWIM," "Normal" and "Fya." Jimin opened the show with "Thank you," and responded to roaring fans: "I love you, too." "The important thing is we're back together after so long. This is a happy moment. We missed you so much, and it's an honor to finally perform on stage for you," hMar 24, 2026By Yonhap
HYBE to recruit emerging talents in IndiaHYBE, the K-pop powerhouse behind some of the industry’s biggest global acts, is staging its first nationwide audition in India. According to HYBE India, the company’s local affiliate, the entertainment agency will open a nationwide audition both online and in person. The in-person rounds will be held in 10 major cities — Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. Those selected will enter what the agency described as a world-class training and development program, with the opportunity to debut as artists. “We look forward to the dynamic potential of young people from India and the Indian diaspora,” HYBE India said in a statement. “We will provide unwavering support so that outstanding talent can step onto the global stage while preserving their cultural identity. The creative energy of India's local experts, combined with HYBE's global system, will generate powerful synergies,” it added. The agency highlighted India’s potential in the music streaming market, with approximately 185 million users, the second largest in tMar 24, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Boy group Monsta X to drop 1st US album in over 4 yearsK-pop boy group Monsta X will return to the U.S. market with a new release next week, its agency said Tuesday. The upcoming album, "Unfold," is the group's third full-length album targeting the United States and the first such release since its second, "The Dreaming," in December 2021. "Unfold," set for release April 3, will feature 10 songs, including two prereleases, "Growing Pains" and "Baby Blue." Other tracks include "Heal," "This!" "Before You Met Me," "Glass Half Empty" and "Main Attraction," according to the track list unveiled by Starship Entertainment on social media. The six-member group debuted in May 2015 and has since established its name in the global market, with its first English album, "All About Luv," reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200 main albums chart. After kicking off its new world tour, "The X: Nexus," in Seoul in January, the group is now on the Asian leg of the tour.Mar 24, 2026By Yonhap
ReviewWhy more K-pop fans are turning to Samsung to capture concert momentsAs dusk fell over Gwanghwamun Square last Saturday night, the crowd moved in rippling waves of purple, all gathering to celebrate the return of global K-pop giant BTS to the stage. Thousands of smartphones were raised toward the stage, their cameras zooming in on the BTS members even before the first note rang out. In today’s K-pop concert landscape, capturing the moment has become nearly as important as experiencing it. For many fans, filming a performance has turned more into a carefully planned mission than a spontaneous decision. That mission is now shaped as much by technology as by the fandom itself. Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra series has emerged as a favorite among a segment of K-pop concertgoers and using the newly released Galaxy S26 Ultra during BTS' recent Gwanghwamun show offered an insight to why. At first glance, the device’s overall video quality did not feel radically different from footage captured on the latest iPhone models. Colors appeared vivid without looking overly processed and baseline sharpness under bright stage lighting felt broadly comparable. Concerts, howeveMar 24, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ITZY’s Yuna scoops up sweet new chapter with solo debut ‘Ice Cream’K-pop girl group ITZY's youngest, Yuna, is stepping into a new, solo spotlight — one that feels both familiar and entirely her own. The 22-year-old singer debuted her first individual album, “Ice Cream,” Monday, offering fans a spring-ready introduction to her solo identity. Though still one of K-pop’s youngest breakout figures, Yuna is already entering her seventh year since debuting with ITZY. Following leader Yeji's earlier solo turn, Yuna now seeks to transform her radiant visuals that first defined her into a more personal musical narrative. Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Seoul just hours before the album release, the singer arrived in a white mini dress that mirrored the record’s airy mood. The setting felt calm, but her emotions were anything but. “I feel as nervous as I did when I first debuted with ITZY, but just as excited,” Yuna said. “There’s definitely pressure because it’s my first solo after seven years. I want to do well. Watching Yeji handle her solo so confidently inspired me in a positive way and pushed me to prepare even harder.” Preparing aMar 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS comeback show opens new era of K-pop infused with Korean traditionSeven figures in black jackets resembling "dopo" — traditional Korean overcoats — or armor walked along the "eodo," the ceremonial path once reserved for Joseon kings at Gyeongbok Palace. As they took the stage at Gwanghwamun Square, five female "sorikkun," or traditional vocalists, dressed in hanbok belted out the folk song "Arirang" to the rhythm of drums and bamboo flutes. The visual spectacle marked the opening of "BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG" on March 21, ending a nearly four-year hiatus for the pop group. Streamed to 190 countries on Netflix, the concert before tens of thousands of fans signaled a cultural homecoming. It showed that the band placed Korean cultural identity at the center of their global strategy. "As a group made up entirely of Koreans, we will return to our roots," the members said. The pivot to tradition represented a significant departure. According to a March 22 report by the Hankook Ilbo, there was some internal pushback within BTS while finalizing the concept for their comeback. The group felt the pressure of a significant change in direction after reachiMar 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
After conquering Billboard, BTS still wants a GrammyAs BTS returns from a multiyear military service hiatus, its sights are once again set on the global music market — specifically the United States. The group has already topped Billboard’s singles and albums charts and claimed major American pop music honors, including at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. Yet one trophy still eludes the seven-member boy group: the Grammy Awards, widely seen as the highest honor in U.S. popular music. Following the release of its long-awaited album “ARIRANG” last Friday, attention is already focused on whether the record could finally deliver BTS the Grammy Award the members have long sought. Some critics say the album even radiates that ambition. “The album appears to show BTS’ determination to move beyond its familiar image as a boy band,” said Lim Hee-yoon, a pop music critic. “With the American market clearly in its sights, the group’s desire for a Grammy is evident.” BTS has so far earned five Grammy nominations. The group first broke into the awards in 2021, when “Dynamite” was nomiMar 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS' 'Life Goes On' surpasses 1 bil. streams on SpotifyK-pop supergroup BTS' hit song "Life Goes On" has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, its agency BigHit Music said Monday, marking the group's sixth track to hit the milestone on the platform. The pop ballad, released in November 2020 as the main track of the septet's seventh EP, "Be," carries a message of comfort and resilience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Life Goes On" became the first song performed mainly in Korean to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States upon its release. The album "Be" also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 main albums chart.Mar 23, 2026By Yonhap
BTS comeback fuels ‘ARIRANG’ wave as TXT, rookie CORTIS line up nextBTS’ long-awaited return may have dominated headlines, but the real story now is what comes after. With the group’s “ARIRANG” comeback already shaking the global music scene, its labelmates are rapidly stepping in — turning one comeback into what fans are calling a full-blown “HYBE relay.” The K-pop supergroup returned as a full unit for the first time in three years and nine months with its fifth studio album “ARIRANG” on Friday. The album blends BTS’ signature storytelling with universal themes, while the title track “SWIM” delivers an alternative pop sound about pushing forward through life’s waves. The comeback reached a peak with “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG,” held at Seoul’s iconic Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday. The event marked the first time a single group has staged a large-scale concert at the historic site, drawing massive crowds and global attention. It was also streamed live to viewers in over 190 countries via Netflix — reportedly the first time the platform has broadcast a stand-alone artist concert in real time. But even as the exciMar 23, 2026By Xportsnews
