MC Mong reveals struggle with depression, plans to study abroadRapper and producer MC Mong has opened up about his recent struggles with depression and health issues, announcing plans to temporarily step away from music and study abroad for personal recovery and growth. In a social media post on Thursday, MC Mong wrote, “I’ve been battling severe depression and underwent surgery. My health has declined to the point where making music has become difficult.” Addressing rumors circulating online, he added, “There’s no need to focus on baseless talk. I’m choosing a path that will allow me to continue making music for a long time.” MC Mong, who co-founded the music label One Hundred, said he has handed over his producer responsibilities to his business partner. “I’ve decided to study abroad for the sake of my health and personal development,” he said. “Though it feels late in life, I’m desperate to improve and be healthier. I still plan to prepare and release an album this year,” he added. Reflecting on his work as a producer, MC Mong said, “Creating and producing felt like a dream. I still love and support all the artists. ButJul 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
YG’s Yang Hyun-suk gets final suspended sentence over rapper drug probe interferenceYang Hyun-suk, founder and chief producer of YG Entertainment, has received a suspended prison sentence from the Supreme Court for intimidating a whistleblower in an attempt to cover up rapper BI’s drug allegations. The Supreme Court, presided over by justice Ma Yong-ju, upheld on Friday a lower court ruling that sentenced Yang to six months in prison with one year of probation for coercing a meeting under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Yang was accused of pressuring and intimidating Han Seo-hee, a former trainee who in 2016 told police that BI, the stage name of Kim Han-bin, had attempted to purchase illegal drugs. Yang allegedly sought to silence Han and dissuade her from cooperating with authorities to prevent further investigation into BI. Prosecutors initially indicted Yang for retaliatory intimidation under the same law. While he was acquitted of that charge in the first trial, the appeals court added the lesser charge of coercing a meeting as a secondary indictment, ultimately leading to a guilty verdict, now confirmed by the Supreme Court. Following thJul 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
K-pop acts dominate US physical album sales in 1st halfK-pop idol groups accounted for half of the top 10 best-selling physical albums in the United States during the first half of this year, according to a report from U.S. entertainment industry tracker Luminate. Stray Kids' "HOP" ranked second overall with 149,000 equivalent album units sold, followed by Enhypen's "Desire: Unleash" in third with 145,000 units and Ateez's "Golden Hour: Part. 3" in fourth with 116,000 units. Seventeen's "Happy Burstday" placed seventh with 79,000 units, while Le Sserafim's "Hot" came in ninth with 73,000 units sold. "HOP" and "Desire: Unleash" ranked No. 8 and No. 9, respectively on the U.S. Top 10 CD Albums chart, which includes both physical sales and digital album downloads. On the Global Top 10 most-streamed songs, "APT.," a collaboration between K-pop group BLACKPINK and global pop icon Bruno Mars, ranked second with 1.6 billion streams.Jul 17, 2025By Yonhap
What makes K-pop audition programs so popular?As K-pop's global reach continues to expand, Korean broadcasters are continuously rolling out a stream of audition programs searching for the next breakout act. Mnet, known for its long-running history with televised music competitions, introduced the new elements of "BOYS II PLANET," a sequel to its "Boys Planet" series, during a press conference Wednesday. Earlier in June, broadcaster SBS also launched a new boy band audition program titled "B:MY BOYZ." Over the years, Korea has discovered emerging talent through many different audition shows, including major titles like "Superstar K" and "K-Pop Star." These shows were among the first to introduce a nationwide voting system, inviting viewers to support their favorite contestants on their path to a debut. While those earlier programs mainly debuted individual artists, the trend of forming K-pop groups through televised shows and propelling them to mainstream success began to thrive in the late 2010s with Mnet's "Produce 101" franchise. Spanning four seasons, the "Produce 101" series produced immensely popular project groups including I.Jul 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS’ J-Hope and IVE meet backstage at Lollapalooza BerlinBTS member J-Hope and girl group IVE recently crossed paths backstage at Lollapalooza Berlin, creating a K-pop visual moment that fans are calling a “legendary shot.” On Wednesday, IVE’s official social media account posted a photo with the caption “IVE x j-hope meet at Berlin.” The image shows the two acts posing together behind the scenes at the German music festival. Dressed in their glittering stage outfits, the IVE members radiate charisma, while J-Hope, standing center, exudes effortless senior star power. J-Hope performed as the headliner of Lollapalooza Berlin on Sunday (local time), closing the main stage with a powerful set. IVE had energized the same stage the previous day with a 55-minute full live band performance of their discography. As two leading acts representing different generations of K-pop, their joint appearance backstage sparked an enthusiastic response from fans, many calling it a symbolic moment of K-pop’s global dominance. IVE is set to continue their European tour with a performance at Lollapalooza Paris, scheduled for Sunday at Longchamp RacecoursJul 17, 2025By Xportsnews
HYBE chairman referred to prosecution over alleged unfair tradingFinancial authorities referred Bang Si-hyuk, chairman and founder of K-pop powerhouse HYBE, to the prosecution over alleged fraudulent securities transactions related to the company's listing, officials said, Wednesday. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) under the Financial Services Commission (FSC) decided to forward the complaint against Bang and three former HYBE officials for their alleged violation of the Capital Markets Act regarding the company's initial public offering (IPO). Bang is accused of misleading investors, including venture capital firms, in 2019 into believing that HYBE's IPO would be delayed and inducing them to sell their shares to a special purpose company (SPC) established by a private equity fund created and funded by HYBE executives. Investors sold their shares to the SPC, but financial authorities determined that HYBE was, at the time, already in the process of preparing for its listing. After the company went public, the SPC sold its shares, and Bang reportedly received 30 percent of the profit from the share sale in accordance with a prior shareholderJul 16, 2025By Yonhap
Monsta X looks ahead after decade in K-pop, teases September comebackHaving weathered all the highs and lows that come with spending a decade in the turbulent K-pop industry, nothing seems to rattle boy band Monsta X and its sheer confidence. That was clear on Wednesday afternoon, as the six Monsta X members — Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney and I.M — gathered at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, for a press conference marking the group's 10th anniversary. Rather than treating it as a routine media event, the members filled the room with easy laughter, trading jokes about their military service and even dropping unannounced hints about new music. Monsta X made its official debut on May 14, 2015, under Starship Entertainment, with its first mini album, "Trespass." Since then, the group has built an impressive catalog of hits, including "DRAMARAMA," "Shoot Out" and "GAMBLER," winning over fans in Korea and abroad with its signature masculine charisma. Looking back on the decade together, Minhyuk said the milestone finally felt real. "I didn't really feel it until today," he said. "Being congratulated like this makes it sink in. It feels both movingJul 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Mnet’s ‘BOYS II PLANET’ aims to create more global starsMnet, the channel that brought the world some of K-pop’s most popular acts, is returning with a bigger, more ambitious reality survival show this week, featuring its biggest lineup yet and a revamped format aimed at global audiences. Titled “BOYS II PLANET,” the second season of the hit 2023 series “Boys Planet,” kicks off this week in two parts — “Planet K” premiering Thursday and “Planet C” on Friday. A total of 160 trainees from across the globe, the most in Mnet's survival show history, will vie for a spot in a new global K-pop boy group. At a press conference held Tuesday in southern Seoul, chief producer Kim Shin-young — the creative mind behind the shows that launched the careers of boy groups ENHYPEN and ZeroBaseOne (ZB1) and girl groups Kep1er and Izna — introduced the season’s dual-language format as a key upgrade. “Planet K” is filmed in Korean, featuring participants from underdog K-pop boy bands and well-known trainees from established K-pop companies. “Planet C” will feature more industry newbies and trainees primarily speaking in the ChinJul 16, 2025By Youn Ye-jin and Inna Christine Cabel
What Min Hee-jin's breach of trust clearance means for her, NewJeansMin Hee-jin, the ousted former CEO of Ador, has been cleared of breach of trust allegations filed by HYBE, reigniting debates over her future and the uncertain status of NewJeans, the chart-topping girl group she helped create. In a statement released Tuesday, Min’s legal team said "the breach of trust allegations filed by HYBE in April last year were found to lack sufficient grounds for criminal charges," adding that the police concluded their investigation after determining there was "no evidence of wrongdoing." This follows a year-long probe that began after HYBE accused Min of attempting to seize control of Ador, a subsidiary in which it holds an 80 percent stake. Min denied the allegations. In response to the decision, HYBE announced it would file an appeal with the prosecution. "Following the police investigation, new developments have occurred, including the NewJeans members' declaration of contract termination, and numerous new pieces of evidence have been submitted in related court proceedings," the label told reporters the same day. Min was dismissed from her position at AdorJul 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Timeline: Monsta X's 10 years of grit, global growthFrom fierce rookies to global stars, K-pop boy band Monsta X marks its 10th anniversary this year. Over the past decade, the Starship Entertainment powerhouse has carved out a unique path, one built on fiery performances and international aspirations. Here's a look back at how Monsta X shaped each year into a milestone. 2015 Formed through Mnet's survival show "NO.MERCY," Monsta X officially debuted on May 14 under Starship Entertainment as a seven-member act with their first EP "Trespass." The group's aggressive sound and performances made an immediate impression, earning them multiple rookie awards within months of debut. In September, they also announced their official fandom name: Monbebe. 2016 Monsta X launched its "The Clan" series with its third EP, "Pt.1: Lost," which landed on Billboard's World Albums chart. The group also held their first solo concert in Seoul and closed the year with the release of "Pt.2: Guilty." 2017 The group's first studio album, "The Clan Pt.2.5: Beautiful," arrived in March, followed by its first world tour, "Beautiful," with stops across Asia, Europe and thJul 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
