‘Stop blaming me’: Producer El Capitxn criticizes ENHYPEN fans after Heeseung exitK-pop producer El Capitxn found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after responding angrily to ENHYPEN fans who blamed him following Heeseung’s sudden departure from the group. El Capitxn — whose real name is Jang Yi-jeong — posted a message Thursday on his personal social media account telling fans to stop sending him messages about Heeseung. The post included explicit language as he criticized those directing blame at him. “Stop sending me stuff about Lee Heeseung. The kid can mess up sometimes. If you’re real fans, you should hug him before throwing stones,” he said. “Why do you keep blaming me?” The message quickly spread online, drawing intense reactions from ENHYPEN fans. Speculation has emerged among some fans that El Capitxn may have influenced the circumstances surrounding Heeseung’s departure because of their previously known friendship. Some online users even accused the producer of encouraging what they described as “artist syndrome,” fueling the controversy. El Capitxn and Heeseung have worked together musically in the past. Both were credMar 12, 2026By Xportsnews
Seventeen's Vernon, The8 to launch new unit this summerVernon and The8 of K-pop boy group Seventeen will form a new unit and are preparing to release an album in June, a music industry source said Thursday. "Vernon and The8 are working on a unit album with the goal of releasing it in June," the source told Yonhap News Agency. "Both members are actively participating in production." The new duo marks Seventeen's sixth unit project, following BSS composed of DK, Hoshi and Seungkwan; Jeonghan and Wonwoo; Hoshi and Woozi; S.Coups and Mingyu; and DK and Seungkwan. Vernon, a rapper in Seventeen, has been writing and composing songs since the group's debut. He joined the Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, as a voting member last year. The8, a Chinese member, is known for his strong dance skills and has released several solo records in China, including the EP "Stardust." Vernon collaborated with The8 on the album's lead track "Orbit," contributing to both lyrics and composition. Seventeen is currently on its "New_" world tour and will hold encore concerts of the tour on April 4–5 at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium, about 30 kilomeMar 12, 2026By Yonhap
What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fansThe announcement that Heeseung of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will leave the group and pursue a solo career sparked a wave of surprise, with fans expressing grief and confusion while speculating about what the decision means for both the singer and the group. Belift Lab, the HYBE Labels subsidiary that manages ENHYPEN, announced Tuesday that the singer would depart the seven-member act but remain with the company to pursue a solo career. Since debuting in November 2020 through the survival program "I-LAND," ENHYPEN has built a strong global following, driven by its distinctive fantasy vampire concept and polished performance style. Heeseung, widely recognized as the group's main vocalist, has been regarded as one of the musical anchors of the team by fans, known collectively as ENGENE. In a handwritten letter shared with fans on Tuesday, the singer described the decision as the result of "extensive discussions" with the agency about how to present his individual work. "The six years I have spent have been filled with moments too precious to describe," he wrote. "After sharing the results of mMar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Why K-pop labels are working with novelists, poetsK-pop's fictional universes are no longer confined to music videos and album teasers. From science fiction writers to bestselling poets, some of Korea's most respected literary voices are turning up inside idol group album packages — commissioned to write short stories, lyrics and narrative passages to accompany their releases, in one of the more unlikely creative collaborations the industry has seen. When boy band EXO released its eighth album, “REVERXE,” on Jan. 19, the group included a short story titled “EX-VISION,” written by novelist Lee Hee-joo, whose fictions such as “Holy Boy” (2021) and “Creamy(nal) Love” (2025) frequently draw on K-pop fan culture. The story places the members in everyday scenes — Sehun and Chanyeol preparing food, D.O. handling the music, Lay and Suho arriving with a custom-made cake — with references to symbols long associated with the group's lore, such as the tree of life, the red force and the full lunar eclipse. For Lee, the creative process was familiar but the audience was not. “When I work on my own novels, my personal style maMar 11, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
BLACKPINK's 'Go' debuts on Billboard Hot 100 at No. 63K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's latest single "Go" debuted at No. 63 on the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart, according to the chart unveiled Tuesday (U.S. time). "Go," the lead track of the quartet's third EP, "Deadline," highlights the group's signature confident and upbeat energy, driven by an explosive hook. The single earlier debuted at No. 44 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, while the album landed on the Billboard 200 at No. 8 this week. "Golden" from the original soundtrack of the hit Netflix animation "KPop Demon Hunters" slipped two places to No. 8 on the Hot 100, extending its run on the chart to 37 consecutive weeks. Another track from the same soundtrack, "How It's Done," rose eight spots to No. 86. On the Billboard 200, the soundtrack dropped two notches to No. 13, also marking its 37th consecutive week on the list. Elsewhere, boy band ATEEZ placed "Golden Hour: Part. 4" at No. 109, while Enhypen's "The Sin: Vanish" ranked at No. 135. Hybe's U.S.–based K-pop girl group Katseye logged two chart entries with "Beautiful Chaos" at No. 113 and "SIS (Soft IsMar 11, 2026By Yonhap
InterviewHow AtHeart finds its confidence through 'Butterfly Doors'When K-pop girl group AtHeart debuted in August 2025 with its first EP "Plot Twist," the title track captured the emotional swings of teenage life. Crushes felt mysterious, feelings were confusing and the members leaned into the carefree brightness of youth. Seven months later, the group says it has found something new — confidence. Returning with the paired singles "Shut Up," released Feb. 26, and "Butterfly Doors," set to follow Wednesday, AtHeart is presenting what the members describe as a more "self-assured side" of the group. The back-to-back releases mark the group's first comeback since its debut and form a connected story about growth. "When we debuted, all of us were teenagers, so the concept naturally reflected that youthful energy," member Arin said in an interview at The Korea Times office Monday. "This time, some of us have become adults, so we naturally wanted to show a more mature side. It feels like our atmosphere as a team has developed." The new era is also visually anchored by a symbol the group calls "The Black Heart." Ahead of its comeback campaign, AtHeart unveilMar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
‘A single photo changed everything’: How BTS’ V was discovered in worn-down academyA casting director’s unexpected discovery of a smiling photo in a small academy in Daegu has resurfaced online, revealing the unlikely moment that helped launch the career of BTS’ V. The story of how the global K-pop star was first spotted is now drawing renewed attention from fans. Japanese outlet Oricon News recently published an interview with Kim Mi-jung, a former casting director at BigHit Music who helped recruit members of BTS and Tomorrow X Together. Kim said among the many trainees she encountered during her years scouting talent, the moment she first saw V stood out the most. “I’ve seen many trainees, but V was the only one who gave me chills the moment I encountered him,” she said. At the time, Kim had just begun working as a casting manager and was traveling across regional cities in search of new talent. She recalled spending an entire week scouting in the southern city of Daegu during a sweltering summer without finding anyone promising. “I had been searching all week in Daegu, but I couldn’t discover anyone,” she said. “I was exhausted and sitting down wheMar 10, 2026By Xportsnews
ENHYPEN's Heeseung announces departure from groupHeeseung of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will leave the group, his agency Belift Lab announced Tuesday. In a statement posted on fan platform Weverse, the company said it had held extensive discussions with the members about the group’s future direction and goals. “Through deep conversations about each member’s vision for the future and the team’s direction, we confirmed that Heeseung has a clear musical path he wishes to pursue,” the agency said. “After careful consideration, we decided to respect his aspirations.” The HYBE Labels subsidiary said the 24-year-old singer will depart the group and ENHYPEN will continue activities as a six-member act during its upcoming promotional schedule. “Although it is difficult to explain every detail in a short statement, we want to emphasize that this decision was made after a long period of deliberation,” the company said. “We understand that this news may be difficult for fans to accept, but we hope you will understand that it was made with the future of both ENHYPEN and Heeseung in mind.” Belift Lab added that ENHYPEN would continuMar 10, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS expands Gwanghwamun concert capacity to 22,000 with added standing zonesK-pop juggernaut BTS will perform before some 22,000 fans at its upcoming comeback show at Gwanghwamun Square as organizers added new standing areas to accommodate soaring demand, the group's agency said Tuesday. BigHit Music said "additional" standing spots will open Thursday through NOL Ticket for the group's "Arirang" concert on March 21. While the agency did not specify the exact number of new tickets, the figure appears to be around 7,000 as the agency noted the show will now accommodate some 22,000 people, up from the 15,000 tickets previously available for reservation. The new standing zones will stretch from the Gwanghwamun intersection toward the City Hall subway station, where audiences will be able to watch the performance on large LED screens installed across the area, according to the agency. BigHit said the expanded capacity was planned "with safety and crowd control as top priorities." Organizers also pledged to monitor illegal ticket resales in real time and strengthen identity checks to prevent scalping and unauthorized entry. The concert will follow the release of BTS'Mar 10, 2026By Yonhap
BTS to launch 'Arirang' pop-ups to mark new album releaseK-pop supergroup BTS will open special pop-up stores to celebrate the release of its fifth studio album, "Arirang," the group's agency said Tuesday. The pop-ups, titled "Arirang," will open at 1 p.m. on March 20, the day of the album's release, and run until April 12 at The Heritage in Shinsegae Department Store's main branch and at HYBE's headquarters in Seoul. In collaboration with the National Museum Foundation of Korea, the band will showcase merchandise that reinterprets traditional Korean aesthetics with a modern touch in keeping with the album's theme. The products will be produced jointly with Mu:ds, the foundation's cultural goods brand, to help promote Korean culture to a global audience. Other products, such as hoodies and ball caps, will also be available. Early sales for select items will open on the Weverse Shop on Thursday, while all merchandise will become available March 20. The Mu:ds collaboration goods will also be sold at the National Museum of Korea's gift shop beginning the same date. Visitors must book in advance through the Weverse Spot reservation system. DescribeMar 10, 2026By Yonhap
