BoA founds own agency after 25 years with SMK-pop singer BoA has established her own management agency after departing SM Entertainment late last year, ending her 25 years with the label. The 39-year-old launched BApal Entertainment seeking a new system to clarify her musical direction, the newly formed agency said in a statement Tuesday. The company's name combines her stage name with the word "pal," signifying the artist and her friends, the statement added. "Precious memories and valuable experiences built over a long career are the most important assets that shaped the solid artist BoA is today," an aide to the singer said. "Based on what she has learned so far, she will further strengthen the depth of her music."Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
How BLACKPINK’s Rosé maintains her signature blonde might surprise youFlying 12 hours to Los Angeles — only to stay less than 12 hours — sounds brutal enough. Doing it repeatedly while battling physical pain makes it worse. But what caught fans’ attention was not the grueling schedule — it was BLACKPINK’s Rosé quietly upgrading her stylist to business class for a one-day trip. Rosé has become the subject of online praise after her longtime hairstylist shared a behind-the-scenes story about the singer’s generosity. The anecdote surfaced in a recent video on the YouTube channel Workers’s High, titled “BP Rosé’s 7-Year Blonde Secret & LA Day Trips | ChaCha.” In the video, celebrity hair artist Cha Jong-hyun — known professionally as ChaCha — spoke about working with global K-pop stars including BLACKPINK, Sunmi and i-dle. He said Rosé has maintained her signature platinum blonde hair since debut, even at the cost of scalp damage, requiring root touch-ups every two weeks. That two-week schedule continues even when Rosé is overseas. “When it has been two weeks since bleaching and Rosé is in the U.S. or Paris, I go,” Cha said.Mar 3, 2026By Xportsnews
Jung Kook promises to ‘work really hard’ on comeback after viral livestream controversyBTS member Jung Kook has reassured fans about his upcoming album and group comeback while addressing a controversy from a late-night livestream that spread widely online. On Feb. 26, Jung Kook posted a selfie on fan platform Weverse and wrote, “The album is really not far away. Please wait just a little longer,” adding, “When I come back, I’ll really work hard,” followed by heart emojis. The message heightened anticipation for BTS’ full-group return, while also signaling his own renewed focus after recent dating rumors and backlash from a personal broadcast earlier that day. Around 3:30 a.m., Jung Kook went live for about 90 minutes while drinking with his older brother and acquaintances. During the livestream, he said he had smoked heavily but quit, and joked that mentioning it would cause trouble with his agency. As he spoke candidly about wanting to be honest with fans, he used profanity and made an obscene hand gesture, which some viewers criticized. When fans asked him to end the broadcast, he replied, “Why would I turn it off? Please don’t tell me what to do.” ClipMar 2, 2026By Xportsnews
Ousted NewJeans member Danielle spotted in Tokyo marathon crowd, fans rallyDanielle, the former NewJeans member embroiled in a contract dispute with her agency, has been spotted in public overseas for the first time in weeks, prompting an outpouring of fan support online. A short video posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on March 1 showed Danielle at the Tokyo Marathon venue in Japan. The poster said the woman in a white cap and sunglasses was Danielle, while the man beside her in a green jacket was actor Lee Si-woo. Danielle holds a South Korean flag in one hand and a white banner in the other while looking toward the camera. She is known for her enthusiasm for running and has previously participated in the celebrity running crew “Unknown” alongside singer Sean. She reportedly attended the event to cheer on runners, including Sean. Fans reacted warmly, writing comments such as “We support you,” “So happy to see her smiling,” and “Hope she returns soon.” Danielle was removed from NewJeans in December after agency ADOR terminated her exclusive contract and filed a 43.1 billion won ($32.3 million) damages and penalty lawsuit againMar 2, 2026By Xportsnews
Rosé becomes K-pop's first artist to win Brit AwardRose, a member of K-pop group BLACKPINK, has made history by becoming the first artist from the industry to win a trophy at Britain's most prestigious pop music awards. She secured the International Song of the Year prize at the 46th Brit Awards, Saturday (local time) for "APT.", her collaborative hit with American pop star Bruno Mars. "Give a shout out to BLACKPINK. Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa, I love you guys so much. Thank you for always inspiring me," Rose said on stage after receiving the trophy in Manchester, naming her fellow group members. "Bruno, I'm receiving this award on behalf of the both of us. Thank you so much for everything for being my biggest mentor and best friend," she added, also offering thanks to Teddy, the founder and chief producer of her agency, The Black Label. "APT.," a pre-release single from her first studio album "rosie," became a global sensation following its release in October 2024. The track pairs bright pop harmonies with an addictive refrain inspired by a popular Korean drinking game known as the "apartment game." It logged a 45-week run on the Billboard HMar 1, 2026By Yonhap
BTS' Gwanghwamun concert to run for around 1 hour over safety concernsA free concert by K-pop group BTS at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square scheduled for next month will run for around an hour due to safety and operational considerations, its organizer said Saturday. "The performance time has been set at an appropriate duration to ensure safe and smooth operations," Hybe said in a release. "The Gwanghwamun concert is being held in a unique setting at a public outdoor venue rather than a conventional concert hall," the company said. "Accordingly, we have set the performance time after taking various factors into consideration, including stage management, audience safety and on-site control," it added. The upcoming concert will include new songs from the boy band's upcoming fifth full-length album, "Arirang," along with other popular songs, according to entertainment sources. The 13,000 tickets available for the concert were reserved shortly after going on sale Monday. Police currently estimate that up to 260,000 people may visit the area around the venue, with the organizer reviewing measures to install large screens near City Hall.Feb 28, 2026By Yonhap
IVE to BLACKPINK to BTS: K-pop’s ‘spring comeback war’ begins as megastars returnK-pop’s biggest names are launching a high-stakes comeback relay this spring, setting off what Korean media dub the annual “cherry blossom battle” — the crowded March-to-April window when major acts return simultaneously to dominate charts, buzz and global attention. The season opened with girl group IVE, which dropped its second full-length album “REVIVE+” Feb. 23 and immediately surged up Korean streaming charts. Pre-release track “Bang Bang” has held top positions, while double lead-off track “Black Hole” gained momentum after its televised reveal on Mnet’s “M Countdown,” Tuesday — where IVE also took first place with “Bang Bang.” Known for a bright, youthful image, IVE leaned into a more powerful and feminine concept this cycle, expanding musically with solo tracks from each member. The group’s consistent chart success and dual appeal to fandom and general listeners have positioned it as the opening act of this year’s megastar comeback wave. BLACKPINK followed with its third EP “DEADLINE,” marking the quartet’s first album release in two yeaFeb 28, 2026By Xportsnews
BLACKPINK's new EP 'DEADLINE' nears 1.5 mil. sales on 1st dayK-pop girl group BLACKPINK saw sales of its third EP, "DEADLINE," reach nearly 1.5 million on the first day of its release, its agency said Saturday. According to YG Entertainment, sales of the new album came to 1.46 million Friday. "The record not only marks (BLACKPINK's) highest first-day sales but also sets a new high for any K-pop girl group," the agency said. The new album marks the group's return as a full group for the first time in more than three years amid strong anticipation from fans worldwide. The EP reached No. 1 on iTunes' Top Albums chart in 32 countries. The lead-off track, "Go," ranked eighth on South Korea's top music streaming platform, Melon's Top 100 chart, as of 10 a.m. "Go" features powerful sound production and a chant-driven hook, complemented by the prerelease "Jump," the retro hip-hop track "Me and My," the anthemic "Champion" and "Fxxxboy," described as a more subtle and emotional track.Feb 28, 2026By Yonhap
K-pop Report Card What landed, what didn't and what to skip from Jan.-Feb.K-pop wasted little time setting the tone for 2026. January and February arrived packed with heavyweight comebacks from the genre's biggest names alongside ambitious debuts from new acts eager to claim their place. LNGSHOT — "Moonwalkin'" from "SHOT CALLERS," released Jan. 13 Verdict: Surprisingly good While the rookie boy band's predebut release, "Saucin'," made it easy to assume that LNGSHOT would fall neatly into a hip-hop rivalry narrative with HYBE Labels' CORTIS, “Moonwalkin’,” the official title track of the four-member band's debut album "SHOT CALLERS," arrived and quietly refused that storyline. Where CORTIS leans playful, LNGSHOT chooses a more grounded, groove-heavy lane, almost like rookies deciding they would rather age well than trend fast. Handling accessible R&B and hip-hop without sounding like an industry plant is harder than it looks, and the group clears that bar with ease. There are also obvious nods to pop icons Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child and even early Justin Bieber, especially in one member’s vocal tone that feels tailor-made for global pop ears.Feb 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK turns Korea’s flagship museum pink for ‘DEADLINE’ comebackThe National Museum of Korea (NMK) is designed to protect and showcase centuries of the nation's history. For nearly two weeks, its monumental “Path of History” is doing something else entirely: pulsing to the beats of K-pop icon BLACKPINK's new release. Ahead of the girl group's third mini-album "DEADLINE," which drops Friday at 2 p.m., BLACKPINK partnered with the country's flagship museum for a special project running through March 8. The collaboration opened with a prerelease listening event held inside the museum's main ground floor atrium, Thursday, marking the first time the institution has allowed its symbolic central space to be used for a K-pop partnership. Beneath an eight-meter digital rendering of the Gwanggaeto Stele, a towering monument commemorating the Goruryeo era's (37 BCE-668 CE) King Gwanggaeto the Great, guests formed a loose but eager circle as the album's five new tracks filled the vast hall. From the viral prerelease single "JUMP" to its widely-anticipated title track "GO," the music reverberated against stone and glass surfaces more accustomed to the quietFeb 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
