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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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K-pop

'Go' to front BLACKPINK's upcoming album

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has unveiled the tracklist for its upcoming album "Deadline," set for release on Feb. 27. According to YG Entertainment on Friday, the group's third EP consists of five tracks: prerelease song "Jump," lead track "Go," "Me and My," "Champion" and "Fxxxboy." It will mark the first new release from the quartet in three years and five months. "As the title 'Deadline' suggests, the album will be packed with 'unrepeatable peak moments' and 'BLACKPINK's present at its most radiant,'" the agency said. The group recently wrapped up its "Deadline" world tour, which spanned 33 shows across 16 cities worldwide. The quartet became the first K-pop girl group to perform at London's Wembley Stadium while selling out major stadiums in key cities around the globe.

Feb 6, 2026By Yonhap
'Go' to front BLACKPINK's upcoming album
K-pop

BTS to hold events at Seoul landmarks as it gears up for comeback

K-pop supergroup BTS will hold a "The City" cultural project at key sites in the Korean capital to mark its highly anticipated return after a nearly four-year hiatus, the group's agency BigHit Music announced Friday. The event, titled "BTS The City Arirang Seoul," will run from March 20 to April 12, featuring a 23-day program combining music, media art, and urban installations. The seven-member act is set to release its fifth studio album, "Arirang," named after the famous Korean folk song, on March 20. It will be its first release since "Proof" in June 2022 and the first since all members completed their mandatory military service. The group is scheduled to hold a free concert the following day to mark the reunion at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, where organizers expect approximately 150,000 to 200,000 fans to gather. On the day of the new release, the city's major landmarks, including the Sungnyemun gate and Seoul Tower, will light up a large-scale media facade. "Adding contemporary media expressions to cultural heritage sites like Sungnyemun will present symbolic scenes where t

Feb 6, 2026By Yonhap
BTS to hold events at Seoul landmarks as it gears up for comeback
K-pop

ATEEZ injects 'Adrenaline' into 4th 'GOLDEN HOUR' release

Performance-driven K-pop boy group ATEEZ is set to return with a boost of "Adrenaline" this Friday, aiming to sustain its momentum as one of K-pop's most globally visible acts with its 13th mini album, "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.4." ATEEZ debuted in October 2018 under then-relatively unknown agency KQ Entertainment. The eight-member group — Seonghwa, Hongjoong, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho — has built its reputation on performance-centric, high-intensity music, gaining attention through tracks such as "Crazy Form," "BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILI PEPPERS)" and "Work." The group's global growth was particularly visible in 2025. Title tracks "Lemon Drop" and "In Your Fantasy," from "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3" and its follow-up "In Your Fantasy" edition, entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 69 and 68, respectively. The group also appeared in five categories on Billboard's 2025 year-end charts. The group also recently completed its 2025 world tour, "IN YOUR FANTASY," which began in Incheon before traveling to 12 cities in North America and three in Japan. The tour will continue in 2026 acro

Feb 5, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ATEEZ injects 'Adrenaline' into 4th 'GOLDEN HOUR' release
K-pop

JYP rises in K-band scene with DAY6, Xdinary Heroes success

For the past few years, Korea’s music industry has been swept by a renewed wave of bands. What once felt like a passing trend has instead taken root, with bands now firmly embedded in the country’s mainstream pop landscape. One development that few anticipated, however, is the rise of JYP Entertainment. Long recognized as one of K-pop’s defining hitmakers, the company has emerged as a formidable presence in the band scene. With the sustained success of DAY6 and the debut of Xdinary Heroes — its first new band in roughly six years — JYP has rapidly established itself as a major player in South Korea’s modern band movement. JYP’s DAY6 drives band boom, Xdinary Heroes accelerates growth At the center of Korea’s recent band boom stands DAY6, which marked its 10th anniversary last year. Since debuting in 2015, the band has steadily built a following through meticulously crafted music and relentless touring. But it was in 2024 that DAY6 reached a new peak. Older tracks such as “You Were Beautiful” and “Time of Our Life” experienced a chart resurgence, while “Welcome to

Feb 5, 2026By Hankookilbo
JYP rises in K-band scene with DAY6, Xdinary Heroes success
K-pop

K-pop concert ticket prices hit new highs, testing fan tolerance

How much is too much to pay to see a K-pop artist in person? Across K-pop, the cost of attending a concert has risen steadily, reshaping what it means to participate in the fandom. What was once an expensive but attainable experience is increasingly slipping out of reach for many, as ticket prices climb faster than rising production costs alone can justify. That tension became visible again last year, when ticket sales opened for boy band ENHYPEN’s world tour finale, “WALK THE LINE : FINAL.” At the October concert, seats in the Sound Check tier — premium packages that included access to the artist’s sound check ahead of the actual show — were priced at 220,000 won ($157 at the time). The M&G tier, which offered brief in-person greetings with members before or after the show, was set at 253,000 won, while general admission cost 165,000 won. Compared with the group’s 2024 concerts, M&G prices rose by 27 percent, while Sound Check and general seats increased by around 11 percent, well above average inflation rates, even taking into account the broader surge in consumer prices.

Feb 5, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop concert ticket prices hit new highs, testing fan tolerance
Shows & Dramas

'Single's Inferno 5': Beauty queen, silver spoon, pro athlete — who's your pick?

“Single’s Inferno,” Netflix’s hit dating show, follows contestants competing for romantic date nights at a luxury hotel on the so-called “paradise island.” Each season produces breakout stars, and this year’s cast — ranging from a former Miss Korea to elite athletes — is generating the most buzz. Choi Mina Sue Mina Sue, 26, dominates conversation not just for her looks but for how polarizing she is. Mina Sue initially emerged as season 5’s “villain” after pursuing multiple men and asking if she could leave with two of them — a boldness that left both viewers and the cast baffled. This sparked intense debate online, with fans split between calling her calculating and applauding her honesty. As the season progressed, however, a softer side to her came through, prompting a shift in sentiment and apologies from the MCs who admitted they had judged her too harshly. The Miss Earth 2022 winner has also drawn attention for her standout fashion sense. On her first appearance, she wore a yellow Zara dress priced at about 59,000 won ($40), paired with Van Cleef & Arpels j

Feb 5, 2026By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Single's Inferno 5': Beauty queen, silver spoon, pro athlete — who's your pick?
Shows & Dramas

Kim Seon-ho sells out play amid tax news

Actor Kim Seon-ho is showing steady box office strength, selling out his upcoming theater performances even as he faces allegations of tax evasion. As of Wednesday, all tickets for Kim’s appearances in the play “INTERVAL” have sold out across major booking platforms. Kim is scheduled to perform 19 times during the run from Feb. 13 to March 22. “INTERVAL,” adapted from a Japanese play by Tomohiro Maekawa, explores themes of life, death and memory. The story follows two characters who meet in a mysterious space with no recollection of their pasts, uncovering their karma and repeated lives through books they find. Kim plays Dong-jae, a character with a sense of long-familiar presence. The production is being staged at the NOL Theater Daehakno Woori Investment Securities Hall, a mid-sized venue with about 490 seats. Kim’s drawing power was evident as all sessions sold out — even the typically low-demand weekday daytime shows. “The play is preparing for its opening as planned,” a representative for the production told Xports News. “We will provide updates if there are any

Feb 5, 2026By Xportsnews
Kim Seon-ho sells out play amid tax news
K-pop

Ateez to drop new EP 'Golden Hour: Part. 4' Friday

K-pop boy group Ateez will drop its 13th EP, "Golden Hour: Part. 4," on Friday. The upcoming release is the fourth installment in the band's "Golden Hour" album series, which captures its most radiant moments of youth, according to the group's agency, KQ Entertainment. The new EP features five tracks, including the main track "Adrenaline" for which members Hongjoong and Mingi participated in penning lyrics, "Ghost," "NASA," "On The Road" and the prereleased "Choose." Through the album, which marks the first release since "Golden Hour: Part. 3" in May last year, the group delivers a heartfelt message about seven years of dedicated collaboration, the agency said. Ateez has launched a marketing campaign ahead of the latest release, drawing huge interest from fans with the "USB Scavenger Hunt," a campaign held in eight cities, including Seoul and New York, hiding USBs containing the members' voices. The eight-member act, known for high-energy performances, debuted in 2018 and gained global fame with songs like "Wonderland" and "Guerrilla."

Feb 5, 2026By Yonhap
Ateez to drop new EP 'Golden Hour: Part. 4' Friday
Entertainment

Actor Ha Jung-woo dating actress Cha Jung-won; agency says no wedding plans yet

Actor Ha Jung-woo is dating fellow actress Cha Jung-won, their agencies said Wednesday. The agencies of both Ha and Cha confirmed their romantic relationship following a news report claiming that they planned to get married in a wedding ceremony in July. Walkhouse Company, Ha's agency, said the reported wedding plan has not been finalized. Following his 2002 movie debut in "Madeleine," Ha became a household name with a high-profile filmography that includes "The Chaser" (2008), "The Terror Live" (2013) and "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time" (2012). He has also directed several films, including "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant" (2015), based on a Chinese novel. Cha debuted in the 2012 film "Horror Stories" and has also appeared in several TV series.

Feb 4, 2026By Yonhap
Actor Ha Jung-woo dating actress Cha Jung-won; agency says no wedding plans yet
Films

Ryoo Seung-wan's 'Humint' delivers high-stakes spy story

Director Ryoo Seung-wan described his upcoming spy film "Humint" as a collective masterpiece created by a team of highly skilled filmmakers who pushed their capabilities to the limit. "I wanted to make a movie where everything looks great on the big screen, from the beautiful scenery to the small emotional changes in the characters," Ryoo said during a press conference in Seoul Wednesday. “I am truly thankful because the entire crew, including the local team in Latvia, did their very best to make this film look amazing." “Humint” focuses on the psychological tension between intelligence agents from South and North Korea who must navigate a world of constant suspicion in Vladivostok. The story is about a South Korean agent (Zo In-sung), a North Korean officer (Park Jeong-min) and an informant (Shin Sae-kyeong) whose lives get mixed together, creating a tense story filled with trust and betrayal. Unlike typical action movies that rely on fast pacing, "Humint" builds suspense by focusing on individual choices and how they affect national security. Ryoo emphasized that the deep emotions

Feb 4, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Ryoo Seung-wan's 'Humint' delivers high-stakes spy story
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