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  • Entertainment

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

    Lisa of BLACKPINK delivered a spectacular performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Lisa took the stage ahead of the opening match between the United States and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, June 13, performing "Goals," a track from the tournament's official album. Her stable live vocals and dazzling performance alongside a team of dancers drew the attention of football fans around the world. Following BTS member Jung Kook's appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Lisa became the first member of a K-pop girl group to perform at a World Cup opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony held June 12 in Mexico City, singer-songwriter EJAE, who gained international recognition through Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," also took the stage. She performed "DNA," the official theme song of this year's World Cup, helping kick off the tournament. Anticipation is also building for the World Cup Final halftime show on July 20, where BTS is scheduled to perform alongside Madonna and Shakira. The 2026 FIFA World

    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'
  • Others

    Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason
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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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Entertainment

500 admission wristbands stolen at BTS concert venue

About 500 admission wristbands were stolen at a BTS concert venue in Goyang, Saturday, according to police. A report was received at around 3:20 p.m. that a man had fled with the wristbands from a ticket booth at Goyang Stadium in the city just northwest of Seoul, where BTS' new world tour, titled "BTS World Tour 'Arirang,'" is currently under way, according to police. After receiving the report, police began tracking the suspect. The wristbands are required for entry to the concert venue. BTS kicked off its new world tour in Goyang, with performances held on Thursday, and continuing on Saturday and Sunday. The three-night run marks the start of an 85-show tour across 34 cities worldwide, including Tokyo, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Toronto, Lima, Santiago and Bangkok, through 2027.

Apr 11, 2026By Yonhap
500 admission wristbands stolen at BTS concert venue
K-pop

BTS fans flood Goyang ahead of 2nd night of 'ARIRANG' tour

Hours before showtime, the area around Goyang Stadium was already heaving with fans Saturday, as K-pop juggernaut BTS prepared to launch its new world tour, transforming the venue's outer grounds into a sea of purple, flashes of red and black tied to the group's latest album, "ARIRANG." Fans crowded around the stadium's exterior, taking photos, filming videos and adjusting outfits in the band's signature colors. Some held banners and light sticks, while others simply stood back to take in the scale of the gathering. Their conversations carried in multiple languages, reflecting the group's unmistakable global pull. BTS launched its "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'" with three shows in Goyang, located about 20 kilometers west of Seoul, beginning Thursday and continuing through the weekend. The tour will span 34 cities with 85 concerts across Japan, North America, Europe, South America and Asia, making it the largest tour ever mounted by a Korean act. Additional shows in Japan and the Middle East are also expected. Even outside the gates Saturday, the sense of occasion was unmistakable. Some fans

Apr 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS fans flood Goyang ahead of 2nd night of 'ARIRANG' tour
Entertainment

$14 mil. ‘first home?' Musical star Ock Joo-hyun buys record-breaking Hannam The Hill penthouse

Singer and musical actress Ock Joo-hyun is drawing attention after purchasing a luxury residence in Seoul’s elite Hannam-dong neighborhood — with the price tag alone sparking online buzz. According to Sports Kyunghyang on April 11, Ock bought a unit in Hannam The Hill for 19 billion won (approximately $14 million), marking the highest recorded transaction in the complex’s history. The property, located in Yongsan District, spans about 332 square meters and features a rare duplex layout across the first and second floors. It was reportedly acquired from Hur Hee-soo, an executive of SPC Group. Ock is said to have signed the contract in May last year and recently completed the final payment. A mortgage was set with a maximum bond amount of 12.3 billion won as part of the transaction. The sale has also drawn attention for its scale of profit. The previous owner purchased the unit in 2015 for 6.9 billion won and realized a gain of about 12.1 billion won after roughly a decade — highlighting the steep rise in luxury real estate prices in Seoul. Hannam The Hill, built in 2011 on the form

Apr 11, 2026By Xportsnews
$14 mil. ‘first home?' Musical star Ock Joo-hyun buys record-breaking Hannam The Hill penthouse
Shows & Dramas

IU returns with ‘Perfect Crown,’ aims to revive MBC dramas with bold royal romance

It is, once again, IU. IU has returned with a new project following the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” joining hands with Byeon Woo-seok in a high-profile attempt to revive struggling ratings at broadcaster MBC. MBC’s new drama “Perfect Crown,” which premiered April 10, is set in a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy. It follows the romance between a wealthy heiress who has everything but social status and a royal prince who has status but little personal freedom. The first episode depicted how Sung Hee-joo (IU), a chaebol heiress, comes to propose marriage to Grand Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok). Despite her wealth, Hee-joo faces discrimination for being a commoner, while Ian, as the king’s second son, lives under constant pressure and limitations within the royal family. Both characters, pushed into arranged marriages by their families, cross paths at a royal birthday banquet. Determined to change her fate, Hee-joo seeks an audience with Ian and, upon meeting him, boldly proposes marriage — setting the tone for the drama’s unconventional roman

Apr 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
IU returns with ‘Perfect Crown,’ aims to revive MBC dramas with bold royal romance
K-pop

‘I was mocked’: EXO’s Chanyeol revisits viral ‘hand-sync’ controversy in candid confession

K-pop star Chanyeol is revisiting one of his most talked-about “black history” moments — and this time, he’s addressing it head-on. In a recent YouTube video uploaded on April 9 to EXO’s official channel, Chanyeol opened up about the long-running “hand-sync” controversy that once sparked widespread mockery online, turning an awkward onstage moment into a viral talking point among fans. The video, titled “We Are One, let’s EXO,” featured members of EXO — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun — gathering to celebrate their 14th anniversaryof its debut. During the conversation, Chanyeol brought up the incident that continues to circulate on social media years later. “I dropped the drumstick while doing a hand-sync performance. I was really flustered. In that short moment, I broke into a cold sweat,” he said, before asking if he could finally clarify what happened. The controversy dates back to a concert performance where Chanyeol appeared to be playing drums. When he accidentally dropped a drumstick, the sound continued — revealing that the performance was pre-re

Apr 11, 2026By Xportsnews
‘I was mocked’: EXO’s Chanyeol revisits viral ‘hand-sync’ controversy in candid confession
Films

'The King's Warden' becomes Korea's 2nd most-viewed film ever

"The King's Warden" has become the second most-watched film in Korean cinema history, its distributor said Saturday. The film has attracted a cumulative audience of 16.28 million as of Saturday morning, outperforming the 16.26 million recorded by the 2019 comedy action "Extreme Job," the previous second-place holder, according to Show Box. "The King's Warden" is now only behind the 2014 war epic "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" which holds the all-time record with 17.6 million admissions. In box office revenue, however, it has already became the biggest earner, grossing 156.9 billion won (US$10.56 million), well above the 135.7 billion won earned by "The Admiral: Roaring Currents." Whether it can close the admission gap with "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" remains uncertain. On Friday, "The King's Warden" ranked third in the local box office, with 38,000 tickets sold, behind the mystery horror "Salmokji" with 111,000 and "Project Hail Mary" with 56,000. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship be

Apr 11, 2026By Yonhap
'The King's Warden' becomes Korea's 2nd most-viewed film ever
K-pop

How K-pop drives album sales with lifestyle goods

In K-pop, the album is no longer just something fans collect. It has evolved into something they use, incorporating music into their daily lives through practical items. Long a cornerstone of the industry’s revenue model, physical albums have survived the streaming era not by combining with digital platforms, but by changing form. What began as CDs bundled with photobooks, posters and randomized inclusions evolved into merchandise such as keychain albums. Now, a new phase is taking shape, one that pushes albums beyond mere display value and into everyday utility. Belift Lab’s girl group ILLIT offers a clear example of that shift. Ahead of its April 30 return with the EP “MAMIHLAPINATAPAI,” the group unveiled a dog-shaped gua sha version of the album, including a functional self-care tool with the upcoming release. The object retains its real-world use while carrying the group’s visual identity. According to the agency, the idea was designed to reflect the B-side track “GRWM (Get Ready With Me),” with the gua sha evoking a beauty routine. The dog-shaped design also nods to a

Apr 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How K-pop drives album sales with lifestyle goods
K-pop

Ex-‘Boys Planet’ and ZB1 members show off perfect visuals in new group AND2BLE

A new K-pop boy group formed from survival show alumni is already gaining traction — not for its music yet, but for its visuals. Rookie group AND2BLE, featuring former members of ZEROBASEONE and EVNNE, is drawing attention ahead of its debut after releasing a series of concept photos that fans say show “perfect visual synergy.” The five-member group — Zhang Hao, Yoo Seungeon, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin — unveiled unit photos, four-cut photo booth shots and ID-style portraits through official channels on April 9. In the unit images, the members showcased a cohesive, polished look, emphasizing what fans described as a “golden balance” as a team. Dressed in soft knits and refined shirts, the group projected a classic, almost editorial aesthetic, reminiscent of fashion campaign visuals. A contrasting mood emerged in the four-cut photos, where the members displayed a more playful and relaxed side. Their casual poses highlighted the group chemistry, offering a glimpse into their offstage dynamic and reinforcing a sense of closeness even before their official debut. The ID-sty

Apr 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Ex-‘Boys Planet’ and ZB1 members show off perfect visuals in new group AND2BLE
Entertainment

Accountant defends Cha Eun-woo after $9.6 mil. tax payment sparks debate

The tax controversy surrounding K-pop star and actor Cha Eun-woo has drawn fresh attention after a practicing accountant stepped in to counter claims that his recent payment was a “loophole” or delayed compliance. On April 9, attorney and certified accountant Kim Myung-gyu shared an analysis on social media aimed at “non-experts,” explaining the background behind reports that Cha paid 13 billion won (approximately $9.6 million) after facing tax evasion allegations. Kim said public criticism has focused on “why the payment was made only now,” but argued that, if the reported amount is accurate, the sum should be understood not as unpaid taxes but as an additional levy imposed after review — and that the timing was part of a standard process, not a late payment. “He did not fail to pay — he could not pay earlier,” Kim said, explaining that Cha had been undergoing a pre-assessment review with the National Tax Service, a procedure that allows taxpayers to challenge the validity of a tax claim before a formal notice is issued. According to Kim, no official payment notice i

Apr 11, 2026By Xportsnews
Accountant defends Cha Eun-woo after $9.6 mil. tax payment sparks debate
Others

IVE’s Jang Wonyoung surprises Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway with secret hair reveal

K-pop star Jang Wonyoung left even Hollywood veterans smiling after casually revealing a personal “secret” — that her long hair is actually extensions — during a lighthearted exchange with actors Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. On April 9, Vogue Korea shared a video showing the three stars meeting ahead of promotions for the upcoming film “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” drawing global attention online. In the clip, the trio harmonized to “Bye Vogue,” laughing together in a rare cross-industry moment that quickly spread across social media. Wonyoung playfully reenacted the iconic line “That’s all,” energizing the atmosphere, while Hathaway admired her manicure, saying, “So beautiful.” The interaction took an unexpected turn when Wonyoung, mid-conversation, showed off her long hair and said: “It’s extensions. Secret.” The candid confession — delivered with humor — sparked curiosity about what else was said during the exchange. What stood out just as much was Wonyoung’s fluency. She led parts of the conversation in English with ease, showcasing a level of co

Apr 11, 2026By Xportsnews
IVE’s Jang Wonyoung surprises Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway with secret hair reveal
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