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  • K-pop

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

    Singer-songwriter EJAE — best-known for co-writing and performing the theme song "Golden" for animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" — is set to take the stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Thursday (local time). FIFA announced that she will join a star-studded lineup for a special show ahead of the tournament's kickoff match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. She will join legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli and a lineup of special guest singers to debut the official theme song for the tournament, "DNA." "Being a part of the official FIFA World Cup anthem means so much to me. It's especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song — representing Korea on this stage is such an honor," EJAE said via FIFA. "One of my favorite childhood memories is being in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup, and seeing the city unite. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing strangers on the street hug each other and celebrate. To me, that feeling of togetherness is what the World Cup means, and I'm grateful to be a part of it

    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?
  • K-pop

    BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniversary

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

    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'
  • Films

    Jun Ji-hyun opens up about 'Colony' role, timeless beauty praised by viewers

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Jun Ji-hyun opens up about 'Colony' role, timeless beauty praised by viewers
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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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Shows & Dramas

Mystery-thriller 'The Art of Sarah' tops Netflix weekly chart

The mystery thriller "The Art of Sarah" rose to the No. 1 spot of Netflix's weekly non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. The eight-part Korean-language series garnered 10 million views for the week ending Feb. 22, more than double the 4.3 million views of the second-place "Unfamiliar," a German thriller. Starring Shin Hye-sun and Lee Jun-hyuk, the series centers on a mysterious woman named Sarah (Shin) and a detective (Lee), who grows suspicious of her true identity and ever-changing accounts surrounding a murder case. Meanwhile, "Singles' Inferno Reunion," which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the fifth season of the popular dating reality show, landed at No. 7 with 1.5 million views.

Feb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Mystery-thriller 'The Art of Sarah' tops Netflix weekly chart
K-pop

KATSEYE faces fan division after Manon’s hiatus, parent comments spark backlash

KATSEYE, the HYBE-Geffen global girl group formed through the 2023 audition show project "The Debut: Dream Academy," is facing renewed scrutiny after member Manon announced a temporary hiatus and comments attributed to a fellow member's father fueled online backlash. What began as a routine health-related pause has quickly evolved into a broader debate over whether K-pop's tightly structured methodology can be seamlessly applied to multinational acts. On Saturday, the group confirmed through an official statement shared via fan platform Weverse that Manon, 23, would "take a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and well-being," adding that the remaining members would continue scheduled promotions while fully supporting her decision. While such temporary pauses are common in the industry, the situation escalated in the following days when social media comments widely attributed to KATSEYE member Daniela's father surfaced online. In response to fan speculation about the lineup, the account posted, "THE SHOW MUST GO ON! With or without a member. KATSEYE IS BIGGER THA

Feb 24, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
KATSEYE faces fan division after Manon’s hiatus, parent comments spark backlash
Others

Privacy fears and multimillion-dollar losses: Korean celebrities sound alarm over hacking risks

From hacked YouTube channels to leaked private photos and crushing debt, a wave of cyberattacks targeting Korean celebrities is raising fresh alarm about digital security in the entertainment industry — and even inside the home. The risks resurfaced on a recent broadcast of SBS variety show “My Little Old Boy,” where model and TV personality Han Hye-jin met white-hat hacker Park Se-joon and revealed that her YouTube channel had been hijacked last year. Park said the incident was “definitely hacking,” explaining that attackers can take over accounts to upload illegal videos, swap content or siphon off revenue. He added that virtually any electronic device with a chip — including TVs, home cameras, CCTV systems and even cars — can be hacked. When Han said she often props up her phone to play music or videos while showering, Park warned against the habit, saying private footage could be exposed if the device were compromised. Han’s channel had suddenly livestreamed cryptocurrency-related content during the attack and was deleted for platform violations before being restored

Feb 24, 2026By Xportsnews
Privacy fears and multimillion-dollar losses: Korean celebrities sound alarm over hacking risks
Others

When the sister steals the spotlight: K-star siblings trend again online

When Korean stars talk about childhood popularity, the punchline is rarely that someone else was more famous. But actress Han Ji-min recently did exactly that — saying her older sister, not she, was the one classmates adored — sparking renewed online fascination with celebrity siblings whose looks rival the idols themselves. Han said on a recent YouTube variety show appearance that she “wasn’t popular” in school and that “my sister was more famous than me,” adding she had been known as her sister’s “picky little sibling” who would sometimes hang up calls meant for her. The candid anecdote resurfaced past photos of the sisters that had already drawn attention for their shared features and elegant image. The moment quickly folded into a broader Korean internet trope: the “celebrity sister” phenomenon. In Korea’s image-focused pop culture — where image is central to idol branding — family members of stars often go viral when their resemblance becomes known. One of the most cited examples is Jang Da-ah, older sister of IVE’s Jang Won-young. Even before her ac

Feb 24, 2026By Xportsnews
When the sister steals the spotlight: K-star siblings trend again online
K-pop

IVE trades princess polish for powerful performance in 'REVIVE+'

K-pop girl group IVE returns Monday with its second full-length album "REVIVE+," marking a new chapter for the six-member act as it steadily reshapes itself into a generational icon and builds on its connection with younger K-pop audiences. Composed of An Yu-jin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz and Leeseo, the group held a press event at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul, just hours ahead of the album's official release, offering a first look at the band's creative direction and a live performance of the key track. "It feels special to return with a full-length album after nearly three years," Gaeul said. "Rather than just showing how we've changed, we worked together to present a more evolved and grown-up version of IVE." "I'm proud that we were able to put everything we've built under the name IVE into this album," Rei added. "We'll work hard to show a wide range of charms." According to the group, "REVIVE+" is more than a declaration of a new concept. Since debuting with "Eleven" and following it with a string of hits including "Love Dive," "After LIKE," "I AM" and "HEYA," IVE has built

Feb 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
IVE trades princess polish for powerful performance in 'REVIVE+'
K-pop

i-dle’s Miyeon pays for $3.8M Seoul luxury apartment in cash

K-pop star Miyeon of girl group i-dle has purchased a luxury residential unit in central Seoul for 5.05 billion won ($3.8 million), with industry sources suggesting the deal was made entirely in cash — a move drawing attention as South Korea is seeing a celebrity real estate boom. According to industry sources on Feb. 21, Miyeon signed a contract on Feb. 3 to buy a 135-square-meter unit in Yongsan Central Park, a high-end mixed-use residential complex in Seoul’s Yongsan district. She completed the balance payment and ownership transfer registration on Feb. 12. Completed in 2017, the complex is located near Yongsan Station, one of Seoul’s major transport hubs, and is known for its proximity to the Han River and integrated facilities combining residential, commercial and office spaces — factors that have driven strong demand among affluent buyers. Property registry documents reportedly show no mortgage registered against the unit, leading market observers to believe the purchase was likely made without bank financing. The exact source of funds has not been disclosed. The transactio

Feb 23, 2026By Xportsnews
i-dle’s Miyeon pays for $3.8M Seoul luxury apartment in cash
Others

Bandages, swelling and millions of views: Korea’s new cosmetic surgery content boom

By turning plastic surgery into sharable content — from bandaged faces to post-op swelling — a growing number of South Korean celebrities are drawing massive online attention, reflecting a broader cultural shift in how cosmetic procedures are discussed and consumed. Broadcaster RalRal recently revealed that she is documenting her cosmetic procedures. On Feb. 22, she uploaded a photo to social media showing her face six days after nose surgery and under-eye fat repositioning. “I’ll tell you where I did it once the swelling goes down,” she said. “I think I look a bit kinder.” She also explained her decision to undergo surgery in detail. “The under-eye fat kept protruding and couldn’t be covered with makeup, so I decided to fix it. During consultation, they said my nose was too upturned and short, so I redid it,” she said. The candid updates quickly went viral, with many followers requesting clinic information. RalRal said she would reply “randomly” to inquiries and added, “I paid for everything myself. I’m overwhelmed because I didn’t expect so many messages,

Feb 23, 2026By Xportsnews
Bandages, swelling and millions of views: Korea’s new cosmetic surgery content boom
K-pop

K-pop fans clash over extreme platform shoes in concert standing pens

The standing sections at K-pop concerts have devolved into an arms race for height, with fans increasingly wearing extreme platform shoes to see the stage. Fans are widely sharing reviews on social media sites like X, formerly Twitter, and online forums saying that attendees must increase their height by at least 10 centimeters to survive the unseated standing pens. Because there is no designated seating, sightlines depend entirely on the height and movement of those in front. Many fans now consider 10- to 20-centimeter platform shoes a practical necessity. This desperation has spawned a cottage industry on social media. Numerous accounts on X now rent out specialized platform shoes for a fee, categorizing their inventory by heel height and shoe size while taking reservations for specific concert dates. However, the trend is sparking a fierce backlash over crowd safety and fairness. Fans on online forums are sharing firsthand accounts of injuries sustained from the shoes. One user described seeing an attendee run in the towering footwear before falling face-first, resulting in bleeding

Feb 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
K-pop fans clash over extreme platform shoes in concert standing pens
K-pop

Apink's 8th concert, 15-year run proves K-pop success is built on talent, not just virality

At its eighth solo concert, 15-year-old girl group Apink celebrated much more than longevity. The veteran five-member act delivered a blunt reminder of what still matters in the K-pop realm — live vocals, onstage effort and genuine sincerity. Apink, comprising members Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, Namjoo and Hayoung, brought “The Origin : APINK” show to Jangchung Arena in central Seoul last weekend, marking the first time a K-pop girl group has reached an eighth standalone concert. The show doubled as the group’s 15th anniversary milestone, but it never felt trapped in nostalgia. On Sunday, the closing night of the two-day show, Apink ran through a massive 30-song set backed by a full live band in front of about 5,000 devoted fans. Appearing onstage in glittering pink outfits, the group opened the event with its 2011 debut track “I Don’t Know,” instantly pulling the crowd back to the era when Apink first carved out its space in the industry. Fifteen years later, the energy felt less like a throwback and more like a quiet flex. From there, the hits arrived one after another. Tracks l

Feb 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Apink's 8th concert, 15-year run proves K-pop success is built on talent, not just virality
K-pop

Tickets for BTS' Gwanghwamun concert to go on sale

Ticketing for a free concert by K-pop group BTS at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square will open at 8 p.m. on Monday through NOL Ticket, its agency BigHit Music said. The event will be the band's first live performance for a new album in nearly four years, and intense competition is expected as fans rush to secure limited seats. Titled "BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang," the concert is scheduled for March 21 and will run for approximately one hour. While admission is free, each fan is restricted to reserving only one ticket for the seated sections, with a small handling fee applied. Organizers warned that the use of auto programs or macros for unauthorized ticket purchases could result in legal penalties. A special standing zone near the extended stage will be allocated to 2,000 fans chosen through a separate draw from those who preordered BTS' upcoming fifth full-length album, "Arirang." The concert will also be streamed live globally on Netflix, according to the agency.

Feb 23, 2026By Yonhap
Tickets for BTS' Gwanghwamun concert to go on sale
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