CORTIS and LNGSHOT are testing a new kind of K-popIs the K-pop idol industry witnessing a new shift? At the very least, two rookie boy groups — CORTIS and LNGSHOT — are drawing attention by openly breaking with long-established genre formulas and proposing a different model of what an idol group can be. CORTIS debuted last September with its first album, "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES," while LNGSHOT made its debut in January this year with the album "SHOT CALLERS." They do not perform tightly synchronized choreography or build elaborate fictional universes designed to anchor group narratives and they avoid meticulously unified visual concepts — all of which are often considered standard K-pop practice. CORTIS made this approach evident from the get-go, and refuse to rely on a conventional top-down production system. Instead, all members participate collectively in composing music, creating choreography and producing visual content — a structure the group has described as a "young creator crew." The emphasis is less on polish and more on experimentation. LNGSHOT has taken a similar path. In its debut album, which moves across hip-hop,Jan 26, 2026By Hankookilbo
ENHYPEN's new album debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200K-pop boy band ENHYPEN's latest EP, "The Sin: Vanish," has debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The seven-member group ranked behind American rapper A$AP Rocky's "Don't Be Dumb," which topped this week's chart, Billboard said in a chart preview Sunday (U.S. time). It marks ENHYPEN's sixth consecutive top 10 entry on the Billboard 200, including "Romance: Untold," which peaked at No. 2 in 2024. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical sales, track-equivalent units and streaming-equivalent units. "The Sin: Vanish" earned 122,000 equivalent album units in the tracking week, with 113,000 coming from physical sales — the highest of the week — according to Billboard. The release opens the septet's new "The Sin" series, which centers on the theme of sin. The album comprises 11 tracks, including the lead track, "Knife," which portrays the inner turmoil of the fugitive lovers. The original soundtrack of Netflix's animated sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" slipped four spots to No. 9 on theJan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Former NewJeans member Danielle seeks to survive Ador's multimillion-dollar lawsuitNow officially a former member of NewJeans after her contract was terminated by Ador in December, Danielle faces an uncertain future. While Haerin and Hyein returned quickly, Danielle’s path diverged. Like Minji and Hanni, she eventually expressed a belated intent to return to Ador, but after a month of attempted coordination, the agency announced her departure. Ador cited "heavy responsibility" on the part of one of Danielle’s family members for sparking internal disputes and delaying the members’ return to the group. The agency has filed a lawsuit seeking around 43.1 billion won ($29.4 million) in damages and penalties against Danielle’s family as well as former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin. With Haerin, Hyein and Hanni reportedly returning to Ador, while Minji’s final status remains undecided, Danielle has been left on her own — a sudden removal that shocked fans and drew industry attention. After two weeks of silence, Danielle resurfaced on Jan. 12, launching a personal social media account and hosting a livestream to speak directly to fans. "Under a strange sky, I met myself agaiJan 25, 2026By Hankookilbo
Enhypen's Sunghoon to carry Olympic torch at 2026 Winter OlympicsSunghoon of K-pop boy band Enhypen has been selected as a torchbearer for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, his agency said Saturday. Before debuting, Sunghoon was part of South Korea's national figure skating reserve team. Since last year, he has served as an ambassador for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. He was recommended by Samsung Electronics, one of the official sponsors of the global event. "As I am fully aware of the passion and effort by the national representatives who have shed sweat for the Winter Olympics, I have great respect and support for them," Sunghoon was quoted as saying. "I had dreamed of being part of the Olympics when I was skating, and I am thrilled to be able to fulfill that dream now as a singer." The seven-member multinational boy group, which debuted in 2020, released its seventh EP last week.Jan 24, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul city gov't conditionally allows BTS comeback show in GwanghwamunThe Seoul metropolitan government on Thursday approved K-pop megastar BTS's request to hold a comeback show in the central Gwanghwamun Square on the condition it meets safety standards. The decision was reached at a meeting of a relevant advisory panel in response to a request from Hybe, the K-pop company behind BTS, and the group's label BigHit Music to allow the concert — "BTS 2026 Comeback Show @ Seoul" — to be held in Gwanghwamun in March, the city government said. The approval is conditional on safety conditions being met, including preventing overlaps in the exit times of performers and audience members and minimizing traffic disruptions. In addition, the city government plans to conduct thorough on-site inspections in advance against inflated hotel prices and other unfair business practices in neighborhoods surrounding Gwanghwamun Square. BTS will release its fifth full-length album "Arirang" on March 20, its first new album in three years and nine months since the anthology album "Proof" in June 2022. Hybe has applied to host a concert for about 18,000 people at Gwanghwamun SqJan 22, 2026By Yonhap
Indie singer HANRORO makes waves in Korea’s music sceneHANRORO, a 26-year-old indie singer-songwriter is reshaping Korea’s music scene by dominating streaming charts, selling out arenas and landing on bestseller lists simultaneously. Debuting in March 2022 with the single “Let Me Love My Youth,” HANRORO has seen a meteoric rise in recent months. Her 2024 track “Landing in Love” saw a strong resurgence on the charts late last year, climbing to No. 2 on Melon’s daily chart in mid-January. On the weekly chart for Jan. 12-18, she secured second place, closely trailing Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye.” Her success extends beyond streaming. In late December, her three EPs swept the top three spots on the weekly album sales chart of major online retailer Yes24 — a rare feat for an indie artist. Her literary debut, the novel "Jamong Salgu Club," even climbed to No. 4 at Kyobo Book Centre, the nation's premier bookseller. Despite its dark themes, the book’s sales surged alongside the popularity of her music. From small halls to arenas HANRORO is increasingly seen as an artist who graduated from indie star status to idol, evidenced by her eJan 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
Seungri and the shadow of 'Burning Sun': New allegations in CambodiaSeungri, once one of the best-known K-pop stars and a former member of the idol group BigBang, was forced to retire after a massive scandal erupted in 2019. The incident came to be known as the “Burning Sun” scandal and involved several celebrities and police officers. Seungri was among those implicated, accused of being one of the ring leaders. Now allegations have emerged that he is pursuing another entertainment business in Cambodia. Journalist Oh Hyuk-jin made the claims on Tuesday on his YouTube channel. Citing multiple tips, he said Seungri was attempting to join the nightlife industry and may be holding business-related discussions in Cambodia. “He is making contacts with individuals linked to money laundering, voice phishing rings and casino operations,” Oh said, adding that there were reports of Seungri socializing with senior figures at so-called “crime compounds” in Cambodia. Those compounds are locations where organized criminal groups are believed to run voice phishing operations, luring job seekers from South Korea, Japan and China and subjecting them to coercionJan 22, 2026By Xportsnews
KATSEYE to perform at Grammy Awards as Best New Artist nomineeHYBE's U.S.-based girl group KATSEYE will perform at the Grammy Awards early next month, the Recording Academy has said. The K-pop sextet is among eight nominees for Best New Artist set to perform at the 2026 awards ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, the academy said Wednesday (U.S. time). Singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, who earned six nominations this year following the success of her latest album, has also been confirmed as a performer. Other performers will be announced later. Formed through HYBE's global audition project "The Debut: Dream Academy," KATSEYE made its U.S. debut in June 2024. It gained attention from global music fans soon after entering the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main songs chart with "Gnarly" and "Gabriela." The group released the new single "Internet Girl" early this year.Jan 22, 2026By Yonhap
Kian84 praises BTS’ Jin for unwavering fan loyalty, even off cameraEntertainer Kian84 has drawn attention for praising Jin of BTS for what he described as an unusually strong sense of loyalty toward fans that continues even when cameras are turned off. On Jan. 20, a new video titled "Spending a day with Chuu" was released on Kian84’s YouTube channel Life 84. The episode features the singer Chuu as a guest. During the video, the production staff mentioned the popular K-pop fan gesture known as the “biting heart,” noting that Kian84 seemed unfamiliar with it. Chuu then recalled her own experience with the gesture, saying she created the biting heart out of excitement when seeing fans, but did not realize how much attention it received at the time because she was not active on social media. She added that seeing senior celebrities frequently use the gesture later made her appreciate it more. The conversation eventually shifted to marriage. When Chuu asked Kian84 whether he had plans to marry, he replied that he did before playfully turning the question back on her. Chuu said she views marriage as simply one stage of life, prompting Kian84 to joke thaJan 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Korea Heritage Service gives conditional nod to BTS' Gwanghwamun comeback showThe Korea Heritage Service (KHS) conditionally approved HYBE’s proposal to stage a large-scale “K-heritage and K-pop fusion performance” in and around some of Seoul’s most symbolic cultural heritage sites, including Gyeongbok Palace, Gwanghwamun and Sungnyemun. The decision came Tuesday after the agency’s Cultural Heritage Committee reviewed HYBE’s request to use and film within the heritage zones for the show in March. The committee’s palaces and tombs subcommittee passed the plan with conditions and decided to form a smaller working group to address specific issues such as safety, noise and crowd management, and to further assess the potential impact on the heritage environment, according to the KHS. HYBE, home to global K-pop powerhouse BTS, recently submitted an application seeking permission to use multiple heritage locations for a concert and a media facade event. The requested sites include areas of Gyeongbok Palace such as Geunjeongmun Gate and Heungnyemun Gate, Gwanghwamun and Woldae (stone platform) zone and surrounding walls, as well as Sungnyemun, also known aJan 20, 2026By Kwon Mee-yoo
