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
Super Junior marks 20th anniversary with career-high album salesK-pop veteran group Super Junior has achieved a career high with the release of its 12th full-length album, celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary with a strong show of global popularity. The album, titled “Super Junior25,” sold 309,959 copies in its first week after release on July 8, according to Hanteo Chart, the group’s highest first-week sales to date. The milestone underscores Super Junior’s enduring appeal two decades into their career. The album's title track, “Express Mode,” also made a strong impact overseas, sweeping the top spot on Taiwan’s largest music platform KKBOX in three categories: real-time chart, K-pop new releases daily chart and K-pop singles daily chart. The remaining eight tracks from the album also occupied top spots on the charts, resulting in a rare full-chart domination by a single artist. International response to the album has been similarly enthusiastic. “Super Junior25” topped iTunes Top Albums charts in 20 regions including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand. It also ranked No. 1 on China’s QQ MJul 16, 2025By Hankookilbo
SHINee's Onew taps into animal instincts with new album 'PERCENT'SHINee's iconic vocalist Onew returned as a soloist with a breezy new track that calls on listeners to return to their animal instincts this summer. The singer dropped his second full-length album, "PERCENT," on major streaming platforms Tuesday, marking his solo comeback about five months after his fourth EP, "CONNECTION." Onew, dressed in a crisp white jacket, introduced the album during a media showcase at Myunghwa Live Hall in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District Tuesday afternoon, a few hours before the album release. "I wanted to express my different emotions in numbers, and that's why I came up with the current title," he said. "Even when we're happy, there's always that little percentage of anxiety, and even when things are tough, there's still some hope. I tried to interpret those everyday feelings exactly as I experience them in this album." The title track, "ANIMALS," is a song about finally setting those feelings and instincts free. Its refined bass line and acoustic guitar drive the track, while Onew's trademark soaring vocals add a burst of energy, making it a perfect fit for theJul 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BoA diagnosed with bone necrosis, cancels August concert for knee surgerySinger BoA has been diagnosed with acute osteonecrosis in her knee and will undergo surgery, prompting the cancellation of her upcoming solo concert scheduled for August. Her agency, SM Entertainment, said Tuesday that BoA’s fifth solo concert has been canceled due to health concerns. She was scheduled to kick off her new tour with performances at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on Aug. 30 and 31. BoA recently visited the hospital after experiencing worsening knee pain and was diagnosed with acute osteonecrosis, a condition requiring surgical treatment, the agency said. Based on doctors’ advice that she should avoid strenuous physical activity and undergo surgery promptly to prevent further deterioration, they decided to cancel the performances. “We sincerely apologize to fans for the sudden news,” the agency said. “This was a difficult decision made with the artist’s health as our top priority, and we ask for your understanding.” Despite the setback, BoA’s upcoming album, scheduled for release this year to mark the 25th anniversary of her debut, will be released as plannedJul 15, 2025By Hankookilbo
ILLIT to debut in Japan with first single ‘Toki Yo Tomare’ in SeptemberK-pop girl group ILLIT will officially debut in Japan this September, furthering its growing popularity in both Korea and Japan. According to agency Belift Lab on Monday, ILLIT’s first Japanese single “Toki Yo Tomare,” which means “Time, Please Stop,” will be released digitally on Sept. 1, with the physical album following on Sept. 3. The single album will feature four tracks: two new songs; a Japanese version of “Do the Dance,” the title track from their third EP; and “Almond Chocolate,” ILLIT’s first Japanese original song that went viral after its release in February. A teaser poster, filled with ILLIT’s signature whimsical, girlish energy, features props like a magic wand in a drawer and a ribbon-adorned clock. Despite not having officially debuted in Japan yet, ILLIT has already made waves in the country. Their debut song “Magnetic” was a major hit on local charts throughout last year. They also won the Rookie of the Year Award at the 66th Japan Record Awards, the first K-pop girl group to do so in 13 years. The group’s momentum continues to build. Their thJul 15, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewASTRO's Yoon San-ha goes 'EXTRA VIRGIN,' extra confident on new solo album 'CHAMELEON'Yoon San-ha isn't here to play it safe, especially not when he's naming his new solo title track "EXTRA VIRGIN," after premium olive oil. Nearly a year after going solo, the youngest member of K-pop boy band ASTRO returns with "CHAMELEON," a vibrant second mini-album that blends playful charm, summer vibes and a newfound level of confidence. "These 11 months, I had time to grow deeper and more solid," Yoon said during an afternoon interview on July 3 with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Gangnam District. "It may seem long or short depending on how you look at it, but it gave me the courage to return solo. That's really thanks to the support and patience of my fans." Set for release on Tuesday, "CHAMELEON" shows off a broader artistic palette than his first solo work. Its lead track, "EXTRA VIRGIN," stands out with its blend of country-inspired chords and punchy hip-hop rhythms. Its title, in particular, reflects his desire to take risks. The name "EXTRA VIRGIN" came from the demo stage, and while the lyrics were initially full of references to olive oil, the singer said something abouJul 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
NCT DREAM goes full sci-fi, travels through time in 'Go Back To The Future'NCT DREAM is turning back the clock and hopping back on the hoverboard with its fifth full-length album, "Go Back To The Future." Nearly a decade into its career, the seven-member group is revisiting the excitement of its early days, this time armed with a veteran's poise. The seven NCT DREAM members — Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung — appeared for a press conference Monday morning at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul's Songpa District, dressed in sleek black suits, adding a pop of color through hairstyles in blue, silver and pink, and fresh off three sold-out concerts last week. "Go Back To The Future," set to drop on Monday 6 p.m., marks the team's return eight months after its "DREAMSCAPE" release in November. This new project takes listeners on a time travel adventure, as the group reflects on their nine-year idol journey. Paying homage to the 1985 film "Back to the Future," the album's concept is inspired by the theme of time travel. A music video was produced with approval from Amblin Entertainment and Universal Studios, the studios behind the original mJul 14, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK secures 3rd No. 1 on Spotify global songs chart with 'Jump'Girl group BLACKPINK topped Spotify's Daily Top Songs Global chart with its latest single, "Jump," becoming the first K-pop act to achieve three No. 1s on the chart, its agency said Monday. According to YG Entertainment, the track hit No. 1 on Sunday, following previous chart-toppers "Pink Venom" and "Shut Down," both released in 2022. "Jump," which marks a stylistic shift from the group's previous sound, features guitar riffs reminiscent of Western films and showcases the quartet's distinct vocals, the agency said. The song garnered more than 13 million streams within two days of its release Friday, gaining traction in key markets including the United States and Britain. The track also topped the iTunes Top Songs chart in 60 countries and regions. BLACKPINK kicked off the North American leg of its "Deadline" world tour with two sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles over the weekend, drawing a combined crowd of 100,000, YG said. During Sunday's concert, global pop star Bruno Mars made a surprise appearance to perform "APT.," his collaborative single with BLACKPINK member Rose.Jul 14, 2025By Yonhap
BigHit Music to debut new boy group in AugustBigHit Music, home to BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT), will launch its first new boy group in six years. The five-member act — Martin, James, Joohoon, Sunghyun and Gunho — is scheduled to debut Aug. 18. Calling themselves a “Young Creator Crew,” the group is composed entirely of teens who participate in songwriting, choreography, videography and performance production. Rather than assigning fixed roles, the group collaborates across all creative aspects. Even before their debut, members Martin and James contributed to songs and choreography for senior HYBE artists. Martin is credited on TXT’s “Deja Vu,” “Miracle” and upcoming track “Beautiful Strangers,” as well as ENHYPEN’s “Outside,” Le Sserafim's “Pierrot” and ILLIT’s “Magnetic.” James participated in choreography for TXT’s “Deja Vu” and ILLIT’s “Magnetic,” “Cherish” and “Tick-Tack.” BigHit Music said it will reveal more details about the group and its concept in the coming weeks. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a gJul 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
