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  • K-pop

    InterviewKATSEYE reflects on AMA wins as group prepares new release

    Girl group KATSEYE is having its moment. It recently swept all three of its nominations at the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs) on May 25: New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for "Gnarly" and Breakthrough Pop Artist. "We never expected to go home with all three awards that night," Sophia said in a written interview with The Korea Times. For a group that debuted less than two years ago, the achievement marks an important milestone in the group's rapid rise. KATSEYE was formed through the 2023 competition reality show "The Debut: Dream Academy," and the members went through the K-pop trainee system, involving months of vocal and dance training under a survival format. Signed jointly under HYBE Labels and Geffen Records, the group debuted in August 2024 with its first EP "SIS (Soft Is Strong)," positioning itself as a bridge between the K-pop world and Western pop audiences. While KATSEYE was conceived as a global pop act, its connection to Korea remains strong. Korea is often among the first stops on the group's promotional schedule, and its members credit the country's music industry

    3 MIN READBy Pyo Kyung-min
    KATSEYE reflects on AMA wins as group prepares new release
  • K-pop

    'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage

    2 MIN READBy Park Jin-hai
    'KPop Demon Hunters' singer EJAE to take World Cup opening stage
  • Shows & Dramas

    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Are multiple seasons becoming the new norm for Korean dramas?
  • Shows & Dramas

    'His Man' creators return with Korea's first bisexual dating show

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    'His Man' creators return with Korea's first bisexual dating show
  • K-pop

    BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniversary

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniversary
  • K-pop

    Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Stray Kids' Han to drop solo digital single 'back to life'
  • Films

    ReviewSpielberg returns to familiar territory with ‘Disclosure Day’

    2 MIN READBy Baek Byung-yeul
    Spielberg returns to familiar territory with ‘Disclosure Day’
  • Shows & Dramas

    From temple stays to TV: The rise of Korea's 'hip Buddhism'

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    From temple stays to TV: The rise of Korea's 'hip Buddhism'
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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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BTS ARIRANG

BTS comeback costumes inspired by Joseon era, 'han'

Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul became the stage for BTS’ grand comeback performance on Saturday evening. Much like its setting — the historic square at the heart of the capital — and the album title itself, "ARIRANG," named after a 130-year-old Korean folk song, the show was widely seen as a statement about the place of Korean culture and identity on the global stage. Among the many elements that deepened the performance’s Korean resonance, the costumes stood out especially vividly. As BTS danced against the backdrop of Gyeongbok Palace, the sight of luminous fabric gliding over dark, subtly shimmering outfits created an impression of both grace and power. The stage costumes, titled “Lyrical Armor,” were created by Korean designer brand Songzio. The brand’s creative director Jay Song described the pieces as “embodying the spirit of a new generation of heroes who carry the turbulent history of Korea," on the fashion house brand's Instagram page. Blending the sturdy armor worn by warriors of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty with flowing "hanbok" (Korean traditional clothi

Mar 22, 2026By Park Jin-hai
BTS comeback costumes inspired by Joseon era, 'han'
K-pop

Taemin to become 1st K-pop solo artist featured at Grammy Museum

Taemin, member of K-pop boy band SHINee and soloist, will take center stage at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles next month with a new exhibition — the first ever devoted to a K-pop solo artist. Running from April 1 to May 25, “TAEMIN: Performer. Artist. Icon” will trace the 32-year-old singer’s evolution as one of contemporary music’s most dynamic performers, featuring an intimate selection of his signature stage ensembles and personal keepsakes. “Each performance is a story I share with my fans. These outfits and artifacts hold memories of those moments on stage,” Taemin said in a statement. “I hope visitors can feel the passion and love for music that has guided my journey. I’m truly honored to have my stage outfits displayed at the Grammy Museum.” The display will feature two of Taemin’s distinctive costumes — a red and black outfit from his “Ephemeral Gaze” world tour in 2024-25 and a white look worn during his “Veil” arena tour and on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in 2025 — along with his in-ear monitors, white stage-used microphone, official light

Mar 22, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Taemin to become 1st K-pop solo artist featured at Grammy Museum
BTS ARIRANG

HYBE thanks authorities, citizens for supporting BTS concert

HYBE, the K-pop giant behind BTS, thanked the authorities and citizens Sunday for helping ensure the group's comeback show in downtown Seoul was held safely. The company posted a letter on its website hours after BTS' concert wrapped up at Gwanghwamun Square, expressing gratitude for use of the venue and calling it a place "where the history and identity of the Republic of Korea, as well as today's culture, live and breathe together." "HYBE is extremely honored to have been able to stage a performance for the entire world at this place," it said. "We deeply thank the police, firefighting, and government and local government officials who worked to ensure this concert wrapped up safely." The company also extended its thanks and apologies to citizens who endured road closures, security searches and other inconveniences around the time of the concert, while promising to swiftly devise measures to protect and promote national heritage sites in close consultation with relevant organizations. Police had initially expected the concert to draw approximately 260,000 people, including 22,000 ticke

Mar 22, 2026By Yonhap
HYBE thanks authorities, citizens for supporting BTS concert
BTS ARIRANG

42,000 or 100,000? BTS Gwanghwamun crowd sparks debate over turnout

A massive crowd packed central Seoul for BTS’ long-awaited comeback show, but what should have been a straightforward celebration quickly turned into a numbers controversy, with estimates of attendance differing by more than double. The group held its comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square Saturday evening, marking the release of their fifth full-length album “ARIRANG.” The event featured the first live performance of the title track “SWIM” and some of the group's older songs, such as “Butter” and “Dynamite,” delighting fans. While the square and surrounding streets were visibly packed, estimates of the actual turnout have varied sharply depending on the source. According to real-time city data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, around 40,000 to 42,000 people were present in the Gwanghwamun and Deoksugung area at 8 p.m. Unofficial estimates from the police were in a similar range at roughly 42,000. Given that the official seating capacity was about 22,000, authorities said the total crowd, including surrounding areas, likely remained in the 40,000 range. In

Mar 22, 2026By Xportsnews
42,000 or 100,000? BTS Gwanghwamun crowd sparks debate over turnout
BTS ARIRANG

ARMY cleans up after BTS concert at Gwanghwamun

A purple-themed festival led by BTS concluded without incident in central Seoul, as fans maintained order and followed strict safety controls during a highly anticipated comeback performance. BTS' comeback concert on Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square drew fans from around the world. The group's fandom, known as ARMY, waved light sticks and warmly welcomed the members as they returned to the stage together for the first time in nearly four years. Some fans were visibly emotional, with many moved to tears. The one-hour performance opened with “Body to Body,” a new track from the album “ARIRANG” and closed with the encore song “Mikrokosmos.” Although the stage lights dimmed at the end, many fans lingered, reluctant to leave. According to real-time city data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, approximately 46,000 to 48,000 people gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, with attendees estimated at 77,000 to 83,000, including those in nearby viewing areas such as those in front of the City Hall and the Seoul Metropolitan Council. While still a significant turnout, the figure fell well b

Mar 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
ARMY cleans up after BTS concert at Gwanghwamun
BTS ARIRANG

BTS comeback brings cheers from fans worldwide

Fans from around the world, ranging from teenagers in Argentina to a housewife in Korea, gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, Saturday night, united by one sentiment: “It’s great to see BTS back together.” Tens of thousands of ARMY members screamed, chanted and waved purple light sticks throughout the 60-minute concert, “BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” the group’s first live performance in three years and five months. “From the moment they said, ‘we’re back’ at the very beginning, I was already getting emotional. Seeing how well they prepared for their comeback show — it was really moving,” Bella Lai, 16, from Taiwan, told The Korea Times. Lai, who has followed the group for four years, also said: “All the ARMYs were chanting and singing together — the atmosphere was just amazing.” Ann, a fan from the Philippines, said, “The show was overwhelming. The scale, the energy, the music — everything made it unforgettable. We’re just happy to be here.” For Park Jee-yoon, a 49-year-old housewife from Korea, the struggle to secure tickets and the sacrifices she made t

Mar 22, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
BTS comeback brings cheers from fans worldwide
BTS ARIRANG

ReviewBTS flexes K-pop dominance with historic Gwanghwamun comeback show

Superstar group BTS wrapped up its long-awaited comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square Saturday evening, transforming one of the capital’s most historic landmarks into an open-air K-pop stage. The performance, titled “BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” marked the group’s first full-member concert in three years and five months, coming a day after the release of its fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.” The timing gave the show an added jolt of urgency, as fans arrived eager to become the first to witness the new material go live. The single-night show unfolded against the illuminated facade of Gwanghwamun gate, where large-scale projection mapping and synchronized lighting effects turned the landmark into a dynamic concert backdrop, seen through the picture frame-like stage structure. Staging a comeback at one of Seoul’s most symbolically charged public spaces underscored the themes of identity, origin and renewal that run through BTS' new album. The choice also amplified the group’s long-standing narrative of representing Korean culture on a global stage, now brought back to a histor

Mar 21, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS flexes K-pop dominance with historic Gwanghwamun comeback show
K-pop

Imagine foreigners singing ‘Arirang': How Bang Si-hyuk persuaded BTS to include the traditional song

Global K-pop group BTS is drawing attention for incorporating the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang” into its new track “Body to Body,” a move that reflects both artistic ambition and careful deliberation. The song, included on BTS’s latest album “Arirang,” features the familiar melody of “Arirang” layered with dynamic samulnori percussion and hip-hop elements. According to the music platform Melon, March 21, “Body to Body” ranked No. 4 on the daily chart, following the album’s lead-off track “SWIM,” which placed first the previous day. Interest in the track has also brought attention to how the traditional melody came to be included. According to industry sources, the idea was proposed by Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE and the album’s executive producer. While BTS members agreed on the album’s concept of revisiting their roots, opinions reportedly differed on whether to incorporate “Arirang,” with some expressing concern that it could feel overly direct or be perceived as excessive nationalism. During a songwriting camp held in Los Angeles last su

Mar 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
Imagine foreigners singing ‘Arirang': How Bang Si-hyuk persuaded BTS to include the traditional song
K-pop

BTS video lead actress Lili Reinhart shares playful behind-the-scenes clip with global K-pop stars

A behind-the-scenes clip featuring Hollywood actor Lili Reinhart and global K-pop group BTS is drawing attention online, giving fans a rare glimpse into the atmosphere on set. On March 20, Reinhart posted a short video on her social media account with the caption, “Keep an eye on them for me, thanks.” The clip quickly circulated across fan communities, adding to the buzz surrounding BTS’s long-awaited comeback. In the video, Reinhart introduces the BTS members before stepping out of frame. The group then breaks into playful poses, showcasing their individual personalities and a lighthearted chemistry that highlights the relaxed, energetic mood of the shoot. The footage offers a behind-the-scenes look at the music video for “SWIM,” a track from BTS’s fifth full-length album “Arirang,” which was released the same day. The comeback marks the group’s first full-member return in nearly four years, amplifying global fan interest. The video was directed by Tanu Muino, a globally recognized filmmaker known for her visually striking work with major international artists. Reinhar

Mar 21, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS video lead actress Lili Reinhart shares playful behind-the-scenes clip with global K-pop stars
BTS ARIRANG

BTS’ RM reveals cast photo ahead of ‘Arirang’ concert

Fans of global K-pop group BTS were left worried after leader RM revealed he had been injured just days before the group’s highly anticipated comeback performance. On Friday, RM posted a photo on social media showing his ankle in a cast, captioned simply with a crying emoticon, “ㅠㅠ.” The image quickly spread across fan communities, fueling concern as BTS prepared for their large-scale return concert at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The group is scheduled to perform “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG,” Saturday, marking their first full-group comeback in nearly four years — a moment already drawing global attention. According to their agency BigHit Music, RM sustained the injury during rehearsal Thursday. He was diagnosed with a navicular bone sprain, partial ligament tear and talus contusion — injuries involving ligament damage and inflammation around the ankle. Medical staff advised him to minimize movement for at least two weeks, meaning he will be unable to perform some choreography during the comeback show. Despite the setback, RM sought to reassure fans during a liv

Mar 21, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS’ RM reveals cast photo ahead of ‘Arirang’ concert
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