K-pop earns 1st Grammy award, yet major category win remains elusiveDespite missing out on the four major General Field prizes, this year’s 68th Grammy Awards marked a watershed moment for K-pop, as the genre celebrated its first-ever Grammy win. “Golden,” the breakout track from Netflix’s hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony, held just hours before the official event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). The award, presented to songwriters for music created for visual media, went to EJAE, Teddy Park, 24 and IDO, making them the first K-pop figures to receive a Grammy. Among the ceremony’s top categories, “Golden” and “APT.,” a collaboration between BLACKPINK’s Rosé and U.S. pop star Bruno Mars, were nominated for Song of the Year, with “APT.” also receiving a Record of the Year nod, but neither secured a General Field win. Song of the Year went to Billie Eilish for “Wildflower,” recognizing the songwriting team behind the track, while Record of the Year was awarded to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther.” Album of the YeaFeb 2, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ReviewK-pop idols star in ‘The Mission: K’ musical about early missionaries in KoreaStories of foreign Christian missionaries who spread the word of God and laid the foundations of education and medicine on the Korean Peninsula in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are often told in books, museum exhibitions and documentaries. “The Mission:K,” a musical that premiered Friday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, marked a lively addition to these storytelling methods. The production featured four male K-pop idols portraying four historical figures. MJ from ASTRO played Horace N. Allen (1858-1932) of the United States, who established the first Western medical clinic in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Jaeyoon from SF9 took on the role of Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916), an American missionary known for founding the Joseon Christian College, which later became Yonsei University. Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A portrayed Canadian doctor Oliver R. Avison (1860-1956), who led quarantine efforts during the outbreak of cholera and is credited with opening Severance Hospital and Severance Medical College. Ricky from Teen Top played Louis H. Severance (1838-1913Feb 2, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Rosé, Bruno Mars open Grammys with hit single 'APT.'BLACKPINK's Rosé has opened the 68th Grammy Awards with a high-energy performance of her global hit "APT.," joined on stage by U.S. pop star Bruno Mars. Performing at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night (U.S. time), the K-pop singer appeared in a white sleeveless top and tie, starting the lively set by planting a playful kiss on Mars' cheek as he played the guitar beside her. She then swayed to the rhythm before kneeling in front of him during the song's climactic bridge. The pair shared a single microphone for the rousing refrain before ending the number with a smiling embrace. Global pop stars in the audience, including Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Bad Bunny, were seen singing along or clapping to the beat. Rose is nominated for two of the six General Field categories this year: Song of the Year and Record of the Year. She also contended for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance but did not win the award. Elsewhere in the ceremony, Hybe's U.S.-based girl group Katseye joined the Best New Artist nominees for a joint performance. Broadway stars Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen peFeb 2, 2026By Yonhap
'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins Grammy"Golden" from the soundtrack of Netflix's animated sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards, marking a historic first for the K-pop genre. The honor was announced during the premiere ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday (U.S. time). While South Korean recording engineer Hwang Byeong-joon and Korean American artist Yungin have won Grammys in the past, "Golden" represents the first time K-pop producers or songwriters have taken home the award. Songwriters Ejae, Teddy, 24 and Ido were recognized as the official winners for the track. After the win, producer-composer 24 dedicated the honor to Teddy, who did not attend the ceremony. 24 credited the "creative process" to Teddy, calling him "my greatest mentor and closest friend, the pioneer of K-pop." Performed by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as the in-film girl group Huntr/x, "Golden" became a global phenomenon, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the British Official Singles Chart Top 100. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, "KPop Demon HuFeb 2, 2026By Yonhap
BTS comeback concert sparks tourism boom in SeoulSeoul is bracing for a massive influx of international tourists as BTS’ upcoming comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square triggers a major demand shock, with downtown hotels hitting full capacity and travel searches for the capital skyrocketing. The seven-member K-pop sensation will hold a free concert in downtown Seoul on March 21, a day after their fifth studio album “Arirang” is released. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Jan. 22 that it granted conditional permission. The BTS effect is most visible in data from major lodging platforms. According to the domestic travel app Yeogi Otte, reservation numbers for accommodations in the Jongno and Jung districts for the concert weekend surged by 450 percent compared to the same period last year. Global interest is even more intense as Hotels.com reported that overseas searches for Seoul travel spiked by 155 percent within just 48 hours of the tour announcement on Jan. 14. "We will prioritize safety management for both the audience and citizens visiting the square," said Kim Chang-gyu, head of the city government’s BalanceFeb 1, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Why Singapore is betting on K-pop to drive tourismSINGAPORE — On a lively weekend afternoon beneath Marina Bay Sands, there is no stage, no spotlight and no audience in the conventional sense. Still, familiar music fills the underground concourse. A group of teenage girls moves in sync to rookie K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts’ “Focus,” counting beats under their breath. A few meters away, another dance team rehearses choreography to TWICE’s “Feel Special,” adjusting their formation as shoppers pass by. No one appears surprised. Scenes like this now unfold routinely across Singapore, not only in landmark spaces but near everyday malls and underground transit corridors. During a recent visit, pop-up stores dedicated to K-pop operated by major Korean labels like SM Entertainment appeared alongside cafes, fashion and lifestyle brand stores, drawing steady foot traffic. What emerges here is not a city hosting a temporary cultural event, but one in which K-pop has settled into daily life. As that presence becomes more visible across shared urban spaces, it has also begun to shape how Singapore positions itself as a destinationJan 30, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Ex-After School member Lizzy says she struggles with depression in tearful livestreamLizzy, a former member of the K-pop group After School, revealed during a recent livestream that she has been struggling with severe depression. On Wednesday, Lizzy went live on her personal social media account. During the broadcast, she appeared visibly distressed as she faced malicious comments and questions about her appearance. She explained that she underwent corrective surgery because of a past medical error. Lizzy also opened up about the emotional exhaustion hidden behind the glamor of celebrity life. "Being a celebrity means your whole life is out in the open," she said. "If someone told me they wanted to do this job, I’d try to talk them out of it. It’s just so much tougher for female idols." "I don't regret choosing this job, but I really blame myself for what I did. My depression got so bad that I was talking about life and death ... which actually got my old account suspended, so I came here," she added. "What good is a wonderful world if I am suffering?" Fans, alarmed by her emotional state, filled the chat with messages begging her to stay safe and not give up. Before enJan 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
Ex-Gugudan singer Hana starts new chapter as flight attendant 5 years after group’s breakupHana, a former member of the K-pop girl group Gugudan, has begun a new career as a flight attendant, drawing attention five years after stepping away from the K-pop scene. On Wednesday, Hana interacted with fans on social media. After she posted several photos taken overseas, prompting curiosity about her whereabouts, one fan asked, “Unni, did you emigrate?” She replied, “I have cats waiting for me. I can't do that.” She revealed her new profession when another fan asked if she was working or studying abroad. "I am working as a flight attendant, traveling all over the place," she said. Hana debuted with Gugudan in 2016. After the group disbanded in December 2020, she briefly pursued a career in acting. Seeking a more stable profession, she eventually left acting to enter the job market. Fans are cheering on her "second act" now that she has confirmed her new role five years after the group's breakup. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.Jan 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
Rosé to perform at Grammy Awards as 'APT.' competes for top honorsRosé of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will perform at the Grammy Awards ceremony, slated for Sunday (U.S. time). She has been named one of the performers at the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, according to The Recording Academy, which presents the awards, on Friday. Rosé's "APT.," a collaborative song with Bruno Mars, received three Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year — two of the ceremony's four most prestigious "Big Four" categories — as well as Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It remains unknown whether Mars will join her for the performance.Jan 30, 2026By Yonhap
Aespa’s Karina spotlights ‘luxury’ dujjonku as dessert craze growsOn Wednesday, Karina of aespa shared a photo on social media showing stacks of "dujjonku" — short for Dubai chewy cookie — a dessert trend that has swept Korea. What caught fans’ attention was the logo of a European high-end fashion house stamped on the wrapper. While Karina offered no explanation in her post, she was appointed the face of the brand’s beauty line in October last year and has since appeared in several global campaigns. It is widely assumed the cookies were provided as a promotional gift, but the post nonetheless underscores how far the dessert’s popularity has risen. Dujjonku is characterized by a crunchy texture, featuring a pistachio spread and kataifi pastry inside, with the exterior coated in marshmallow and dusted with cocoa powder. Prices range from roughly 6,000 won ($4.50) to 10,000 won per piece, and in some neighborhoods the cookies have become what consumers describe as “waiting desserts,” requiring waiting in long lines before purchase. The popularity of the treat is now rippling beyond cafés and bakeries, reaching upstream into ingredient marketJan 29, 2026By Hankookilbo
