BTS to stream new world tour shows in cinemas worldwideK-pop giant BTS will livestream the opening shows of its new world tour "Arirang" in cinemas across South Korea and around the world, its agency BigHit Music said Friday. The screenings will feature the band's concerts in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, on April 11 and in Tokyo on April 18 at more than 3,500 theaters in 75 countries. Some regions will show delayed broadcasts due to time differences, the company said. In South Korea, leading multiplex chains CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox will host the live viewing events, with ticket reservations starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25. The shows mark the start of what BigHit described as the biggest world tour ever by a K-pop act, spanning 82 concerts in 34 cities. Tickets for 41 shows in North America and Europe have already sold out, including those in Goyang. BTS will also become the first Korean act to hold standalone concerts at major global stadiums, including Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Stanford Stadium in California, AT&T Stadium in Arlington and Allianz Arena in Munich. The group already achieved record attendance at London's TottenhFeb 13, 2026By Yonhap
From Wales to Malaysia: ARMY travels worldwide for BTS' Gwanghwamun comeback showOn the first day of the year, thousands of BTS fans around the world received a letter. It was a postcard with New Year’s messages from the seven members of K-pop's biggest band. Printed just behind the paper, in an eye-catching shade of red, were three dots and a date — “2026.03.20.” The delivery was enough to send an estimated 78 million of BTS’ most ardent followers into chaos. Thousands of posts circulated online, all speculating about the meaning behind the message. Even international news outlets like CNN joined in on the conversation. Joyce Wong, a 43-year-old marketer from Hong Kong, who has been part of the BTS fandom — known as ARMY —for seven years, was among the lucky ones who received the coveted letter, which first revealed the date of the group's highly anticipated comeback. The letter was sent to fans of the band who subscribed to a membership service within a set period of time. Upon hearing the news, Wong immediately got to work. She booked her flights to Seoul for March, chose a hotel in the tourist district of Myeong-dong and was set for the experienceFeb 13, 2026By Inna Christine Cabel
What to expect from BTS' free Gwanghwamun concertK-pop juggernaut BTS is preparing to return as a full group with a large-scale free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square next month, transforming one of the capital’s most symbolic public spaces into a rare open-air performance venue. As anticipation builds around the group’s first complete lineup concert since October 2022 — nearly three years and four months ago — official announcements and industry sources are offering a clearer picture of what fans can expect from the upcoming comeback event. Titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” the Gwanghwamun concert will take place March 21 at 8 p.m., a day after the release of the group's fifth studio album, “Arirang.” The concert will serve as the live launch for the new record. According to HYBE Labels, the group's agency, the show will run for roughly an hour, presenting a compact stage centered on the new work alongside several of the group’s well-known hits. Rooted in Korean heritage The staging concept of the show draws directly from Korea’s cultural legacy, combining historical symbolism with large-scale contemporFeb 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Hybe posts record-high revenue last year, profit plunges 73%K-pop giant Hybe posted record annual revenue for 2025 on Thursday, driven by robust global tours and a diversified business strategy, although operating profit plunged nearly 73 percent from a year earlier due to restructuring costs and investments. Revenue rose 17.5 percent from a year earlier to an all-time high of 2.65 trillion won ($1.84 billion), the company said in a regulatory filing. Operating profit, however, tumbled 72.9 percent to 49.9 billion won, while net loss widened to 256.7 billion won. For the fourth quarter alone, operating profit dropped 92.9 percent to 4.6 billion won. Hybe attributed the revenue growth to its "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy and a surge in live events. The company held 279 global performances last year, leading to a 69.4 percent jump in concert revenue. Merchandising and licensing revenue also rose 35.8 percent, while album and music sales declined 10.2 percent. Conversely, the sharp decline in profitability was blamed on "one-off costs" stemming from investments in new artists and a restructuring of the North American business to transition towaFeb 12, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK teams up with National Museum of Korea to launch new EP 'DEADLINE'K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is expanding its upcoming album rollout beyond music, launching a collaborative project with the National Museum of Korea (NMK) that blends the band's global influence with Korean cultural heritage. According to the museum and the group's label, YG Entertainment, the “National Museum of Korea X BLACKPINK” initiative will run from Feb. 27 to March 8 to coincide with the release of the group’s third EP, “DEADLINE.” The project marks the first time a K-pop act has undertaken a large-scale collaboration with the state-run museum, with global audio streaming platform Spotify joining as an official partner. As part of the event, the museum's exterior and outdoor plaza will be illuminated in pink lighting — the group's signature color — daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering a nighttime viewing experience for the public. Inside the museum, a dedicated listening zone will be installed along a “Path to History,” located in the east wing of the museum, allowing visitors to hear the full album starting on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., the moment of its official reFeb 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS' Gwanghwamun concert 'meaningful,' says culture ministerThe culture minister Thursday pledged full government support for K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming concert at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, calling it a "meaningful and appreciated" event. "We are truly grateful that BTS has chosen this iconic landmark as the site of its first concert to mark its comeback after a long hiatus," Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Chae Hwi-young said during a press conference in Seoul to mark his six months in office. Authorities were preparing meticulously to ensure the event goes smoothly, making it a chance to "showcase the essence of our country to the world," the minister added. The K-pop septet is set to hold a free concert on March 21 to mark the release of its fifth full-length album, "Arirang," named after Korea's most famous folk song. BigHit Music, the band's agency, has stated that the iconic landmark in the heart of Seoul was selected because it matches the symbolic weight the title carries. The performance is expected to dramatically fuse Korean traditional heritage with state-of-the-art stage production. Chae also vowed strict action against ticFeb 12, 2026By Yonhap
Zerobaseone to continue as five-member actK-pop project boy group Zerobaseone will continue its activities as a five-member group, its management agency WakeOne announced Thursday. "Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae and Park Gun-wook have decided to continue working together for a new season as Zerobaseone based on deep trust," the agency said in a statement. Four other members — Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin and Han Yu-jin — have terminated their project contracts and will prepare for new individual activities, the agency said. "The company will support their future paths and ask fans to keep showing encouragement," it added. Formed through local music cable channel Mnet's audition show "Boys Planet," Zerobaseone debuted in July 2023 as a project group. The nine-member act quickly rose to fame, scoring six consecutive million-selling albums. Initially launched as a 2 1/2-year project, the group was expected to wind down activities in January 2026. However, all nine members agreed last December to extend activities by two months for a February album release and an encore concert in Seoul in March. WakeOne sFeb 12, 2026By Yonhap
BLACKPINK’s Jennie buys $15 mil. building in central Seoul — reportedly all in cashJennie of global K-pop powerhouse BLACKPINK is making headlines not just for her music, but for a bold real estate move that has stunned Korea’s property watchers. The singer has reportedly purchased a building in Seoul’s Yongsan District for 20 billion won (about $15 million), and industry sources say the deal was made entirely in cash. On Wednesday, Korea Economic Broadcasting cited investment banking and real estate industry sources as saying Jennie bought a building in Dongbinggo-dong, Yongsan District, in May last year and completed the ownership transfer in December. The property, originally built in 1970, sits in the northern part of Dongbinggo-dong, an area known for its cluster of embassy residences. The building has a land area of 595 square meters and a total floor area of 551.08 square meters, with one basement level and two above-ground floors. It is currently used as the Iraqi Embassy in Seoul. Dongbinggo-dong has recently drawn attention as development accelerates across Yongsan. The area is closely linked to the large-scale Hannam New Town redevelopment project and tFeb 12, 2026By Xportsnews
NMIXX to become first K-pop act to perform at Brazil’s CarnivalK-pop group NMIXX will become the first K-pop act to perform at Brazil’s Carnival, one of the world’s largest cultural festivals, their agency said. The group is scheduled to appear as a special guest at Brazilian pop artist Pabllo Vittar’s Bloco da Pabllo block party during Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo, which will run from March 14 to 18. NMIXX is set to perform on March 16 (local time). Block parties are large-scale street celebrations that form a central part of Brazil’s Carnival culture. NMIXX’s appearance will mark the first time a K-pop act has participated in the event. The performance builds on the group’s partnership with Vittar, which drew international attention with the release of "MEXE" in August last year. The track blends NMIXX’s signature style — combining multiple musical genres within a single composition — with Vittar’s energetic and distinctive Brazilian pop sound. The song features joint vocals, lyrics in both Korean and Portuguese, and Latin-inspired choreography. The stage highlights collaboration between K-pop and Brazilian pop and marks tFeb 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Why BTS is returning to Korean identity in new album 'Arirang'When BTS, one of K-pop’s most globally recognized groups, returns as a full seven-member act in March, it will mark more than just the end of a hiatus. The comeback has been interpreted as a deliberate statement about identity and belonging, at a time when fans and observers are debating whether K-pop is evolving into something more culturally neutral, often described by its biggest producers as "global pop." Scheduled for March 20, BTS’ return is defined by two closely linked choices: a new album titled "Arirang," named after one of Korea’s most enduring folk songs, and a large-scale free outdoor performance the following day at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Thus, the K-pop juggernaut is positioning its comeback as a return home, centering the members' Korean heritage rather than displacing it. "Centering an album on 'Arirang' reflects BTS’ confidence in placing Korean heritage at the core of their global identity," Kim Hee-yon, an assistant professor of strategy at Cornell University, told The Korea Times in a written interview. Adding that the move aligns with BTS’ lFeb 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
