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  • K-pop

    BTS celebrates 13th birthday with two-night homecoming stand in Busan

    BUSAN — K-pop juggernaut BTS marked its 13th anniversary with a massive homecoming, bringing the group's ongoing "ARIRANG" World Tour to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a two-night run that felt as much like a celebration as a concert. The timing was no accident. The shows landed squarely on June 13, the group's debut anniversary, sending fans worldwide into a frenzy well before the first note dropped. Busan, too, carries deep meaning for the group — it is the hometown of members Jimin and Jung Kook, and the site of "Yet to Come," the sprawling farewell concert that preceded the members' mandatory military service in 2022. The group's return had been building for weeks. "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," a large-scale urban festival running since early June, had transformed the city's landmarks into extensions of the "ARIRANG" album's themes, stretching from a grand welcome at Busan Station to a drone light show above Gwangalli Beach. By Saturday evening, 55,000 fans packed the stadium, a crowd that had already endured a roughly 75-minute delay the night before and a

    4 MIN READBy Pyo Kyung-min
    BTS celebrates 13th birthday with two-night homecoming stand in Busan
  • Entertainment

    BLACKPINK's Lisa headlines FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in US

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    BLACKPINK's Lisa headlines FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in US
  • Entertainment

    Is Korea ready for era of YouTuber directors?

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Is Korea ready for era of YouTuber directors?
  • Films

    For ‘Colony,’ K-zombie film from ‘Train to Busan’ director, Korean box-office success is no surprise

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    For ‘Colony,’ K-zombie film from ‘Train to Busan’ director, Korean box-office success is no surprise
  • K-pop

    HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in Busan

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in Busan
  • Music

    EJAE, Andrea Bocelli perform at World Cup opening ceremony

    1 MIN READBy Kim Se-jeong
    EJAE, Andrea Bocelli perform at World Cup opening ceremony
  • K-pop

    BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour
  • K-pop

    BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BTS to release new digital single 'Come Over'
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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K-pop

BIGBANG says it completed work on new album, to launch world tour in August

K-pop group BIGBANG said it has completed work on a new album marking its 20th anniversary and will begin a world tour in August. "BIGBANG has reached its 20th anniversary. It's a restart. BIGBANG will continue," leader G-Dragon told the audience during the trio's performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on Sunday. "We have completed preparations for a new album and will begin a world tour in August." The announcement marks the first official confirmation of both the album and tour plans. BIGBANG has not held a standalone concert tour since 2017. During its second Coachella set, following the first a week ago, the group performed hits including "Bang Bang Bang," "Fantastic Baby," "Sober," "Stupid Liar" and "Loser," along with "Haru Haru" and "Lies." Solo stages featured Taeyang's "Ringa Linga," G-Dragon's "Power" and Daesung's "Look at Me, Gwisun," before the set closed with BIGBANG's last group release, "Still Life."

Apr 20, 2026By Yonhap
BIGBANG says it completed work on new album, to launch world tour in August
K-pop

CORTIS returns with 'REDRED,' doubling down on identity

Rookie K-pop boy band CORTIS is betting on a more defined sense of identity with its latest release, "REDRED," leaning into what the group describes as an "honest reflection" of its creative direction. The five-member group — Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho — dropped "REDRED" on Monday as the prerelease track from its second EP "GREENGREEN," due May 4. The group debuted last August under BigHit Music, the HYBE Labels subsidiary managing BTS, with "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES," quickly gaining traction for its hip-hop-driven sound that drew comparisons to artists like Travis Scott and Playboi Carti. The approach proved effective particularly among younger listeners, as tracks like "FaSHioN" and "GO!" spread across short-form media platforms. "REDRED" continues that trajectory, but with a conceptual frame. The track uses the colors green and red to draw a line between what the group embraces and what it rejects. "It's about what we pursue and what we stay wary of," Juhoon said during a media showcase held at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District on Monday, just a few ho

Apr 20, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
CORTIS returns with 'REDRED,' doubling down on identity
Shows & Dramas

In 'Filing for Love,' workplace audits meet romance

TvN's upcoming romantic comedy "Filing for Love" follows a workplace conduct audit team, navigating relatable office episodes that any office worker will find familiar, its producer said. "The word 'audit' may suggest a straightforward office drama, but the series actually tackles a wide range of subjects, from couples and affairs to workplace bullying in a warm and comedic way," producer Lee Su-hyun said at an online press conference Monday. The series is episodic and spans genres such as thriller, comedy and romance, Lee added, noting that she aimed to strike a balance among them while keeping it easy to watch. On the romantic front, "the two lead characters find their own relationship quietly deepening as they investigate each case," she said. "The Art of Sarah" star Shin Hye-sun took the role of In-ah, the no-nonsense, charismatic leader of the audit team who harbors a secret past. Shin said she accepted the cast offer to shake off the darker tone of her previous Netflix mystery series. "I really enjoyed 'The Art of Sarah,' but honestly, it was a bit too dark. I had been waiting to tak

Apr 20, 2026By Yonhap
In 'Filing for Love,' workplace audits meet romance
Films

InterviewJung Woo revisits personal history, growth in 'Audition 109'

For actor Jung Woo, returning to the character of Jjanggu after 16 years was not just a career move, but a deeply personal journey. In his directorial debut, “Audition 109,” the actor explores the struggling years of an aspiring actor, a narrative that serves as a spiritual successor to his 2009 breakout film “Wish.” Jung said the project began with a few episodes he had written years ago. “I wrote the original draft for ‘Wish,’ and I often wondered what happened to Jjanggu after that story ended,” Jung told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. “I kept those notes in storage until the production finally got under way. We went through six or seven rounds of revisions to turn those memories into a screenplay.” “Wish” gained a massive cult following, particularly among male audiences who found deep resonance in its raw and nostalgic depiction of high school brotherhood and growing pains. Due to these high expectations, Jung initially turned down the offer to direct “Audition 109.” However, he eventually realized that he was already performing the duties of

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jung Woo revisits personal history, growth in 'Audition 109'
Others

Kiaf names Jung Ku-ho as 1st outside creative director

Designer Jung Ku-ho has been appointed creative director of Kiaf, one of the country's major art fairs, as part of efforts to elevate the event's overall quality and visitor experience. The appointment marks the first time Kiaf has brought in an outside creative director to oversee branding, spatial design and the planning of special exhibitions. Jung began his career as a fashion designer before expanding his practice to include stage and costume design for state-run ballet, performance, craft and opera institutions, eventually taking on the role of overall creative director. Most notably, he directed the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's "One Dance," or ilmu in Korean, which received the New York Dance and Performance Awards, or The Bessies, in January. Jung is expected to reimagine the visitor experience and position Kiaf at the forefront of emerging trends in the global art fair landscape, according to the art fair. "I will strive to help Kiaf find the right balance between technology and art, and grow into a meaningful art trading platform on the global art market," Jung said in a s

Apr 20, 2026By Yonhap
Kiaf names Jung Ku-ho as 1st outside creative director
Shows & Dramas

Broadcasters embrace global streaming platforms to survive

When MBC's "Perfect Crown" premiered on April 10, two very different audiences tuned in simultaneously — those who switched on their television sets the traditional way, and others who pressed play on Disney+. The series, featuring two Korean stars — IU and Byun Woo-seok — had become the most-watched Korean series on the streaming platform worldwide. On Sunday, MBC said the fourth episode aired on Saturday night recorded its highest ratings yet with 11.1 percent. The response on streaming platforms tells a similar story. The show has held the No. 1 spot on Disney+ Korea's Top 10 since its release, and, as of April 18, ranks fifth globally on FlixPatrol's Disney+ Top 10 TV chart. The drama is set in a fictional Korea that operates as a constitutional monarchy rather than the republic it is today. The series centers on Sung Hee-joo (IU), a chaebol heiress who has wealth and ambition but finds herself held back by her status as a commoner. Her path crosses with Grand Prince Ian (Byeon), a royal, the king’s second son. The show airs on MBC every Friday and Saturday and is available

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Broadcasters embrace global streaming platforms to survive
Shows & Dramas

Cha Eun-woo’s new Netflix project 'The Wonderfools' set for May release

Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo will return with a new project next month. According to Netflix, "The Wonderfools" will premiere on May 15. The Netflix series is a comedic superhero adventure set at the turn of the millennium in 1999, following a group of ordinary neighborhood misfits who accidentally gain superpowers and struggle to save the world from villains threatening peace. The series has drawn attention with a production team behind dramas such as "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and "Dr. Romantic." It also marks a reunion between director Yoo In-sik and actress Park Eun-bin from "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." Alongside Park, the cast includes Cha Eun-woo, Choi Dae-hoon and Im Sung-jae. "The Wonderfools" has attracted particular interest as it is Cha's first post-controversy project. Earlier this year, he faced allegations of owing hundreds of billions of won in unpaid taxes. He also faced criticism over suspicions that a one-person corporation established under his mother’s name may have been used for tax avoidance. On April 8, Cha Eun-woo said, “I respect the National Tax Service

Apr 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
Cha Eun-woo’s new Netflix project 'The Wonderfools' set for May release
K-pop

BTS to take 'The City' project to Las Vegas, Busan

K-pop supergroup BTS' large-scale cultural program "The City" will return to Las Vegas next month and Busan in June to celebrate the group's stops there for the ongoing world tour, the group's agency, BigHit Music, said Monday. "The City" project debuted during the band's "Permission to Dance on Stage" tour in Las Vegas in 2022 to boost the festive mood, illuminating the city's major landmarks in purple, the signature color of its global fandom, ARMY. The project also features various BTS-themed cultural events, including musical foundation shows, drone lighting displays and photo exhibitions and multimedia installation art. It was last staged in Seoul to celebrate the release of BTS' fifth studio album, "Arirang," on March 20 and a landmark live performance in central Seoul the following day. The upcoming editions will be held around the group's "Arirang" world tour concerts in each city. In Las Vegas, the event will run May 20-31. BigHit Music said the project will present highly immersive experiences through partnerships with major local brands, alongside visual displays utilizing cit

Apr 20, 2026By Yonhap
BTS to take 'The City' project to Las Vegas, Busan
K-pop

SM Entertainment executives named to Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music list

SM Entertainment said two of its senior executives were named to Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music list in the labels, distributors and artist services category. Kim Ji-won, chief relations officer, and Choi Jeong-min, chief global officer, were among the honorees listed Friday on Billboard's official website. The recognition marks the second consecutive year both executives have appeared on the annual list. Billboard's Women in Music program recognizes female artists, creators, producers and executives who have made a significant impact on the music industry over the preceding year. Kim has served as a public relations strategist at SM Entertainment since the early 2000s, overseeing external communications and marketing strategy for the company and its artists. SM credited her with helping establish the country’s pop profile in international media markets through strategic media planning and integrated communications. Choi oversees artist branding and business operations across the Americas, Europe and Asia, working with the company’s regional subsidiaries and local partners to expa

Apr 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
SM Entertainment executives named to Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music list
Entertainment

Aespa to return with bold new chapter in ‘Lemonade’

The architects of K-pop’s distinct "metallic" sound are officially returning to the fray. SM Entertainment announced Monday that powerhouse girl group aespa will release its second full-length album, “Lemonade,” on May 29, promising a sharpened musical direction and an expansion of the group’s signature high-concept narrative. The 10-track collection arrives as the highly anticipated follow-up to 2024’s “Armageddon,” a career-defining project that achieved a clean sweep across all major Korean streaming platforms and earned the group a historic nod as Group of the Year at Billboard’s 2025 Women in Music. While the new title suggests potential summer brightness, the group is expected to lean further into the sophisticated, experimental textures that have become their calling card. The announcement follows a prolific year of evolution for the quartet. Last year’s single, “Dirty Work,” and its sixth EP, “Rich Man,” signaled a willingness to move beyond the rigid boundaries of the group's "metaverse" origins, exploring broader genre influences while maintaining their

Apr 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Aespa to return with bold new chapter in ‘Lemonade’
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