BLACKPINK marks 10th anniversary with National Museum heritage collectionK-pop powerhouse girl group BLACKPINK is set to release a merchandise line created with MU:DS, the official goods brand of Korea's national museums, to celebrate the group's 10th debut anniversary, according to YG Plus, Wednesday. The BLACKPINK HERITAGE COLLECTION, comprising seven items, draws inspiration from the "jeogui wonbon," a garment pattern for an empress's ceremonial robe housed at the National Museum of Korea (NMK). Painted on traditional "hanji" paper, the pattern features 12 rows of pheasant motifs symbolizing the empress, alongside plum blossom designs representing the imperial household of the Korean Empire. Developed under the slogan "Heritage, Where Time Becomes Value," the collection "reinterprets the royal motifs through the group's visual identity, presenting itself as a branding project rather than conventional artist merchandise," according to YG Plus. The items go on display Saturday at the merch shop inside the museum's permanent exhibition hall, with preorders opening the same day on YG SELECT's online stores in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese. Online orde5h agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
Hyunjin vs. Felix? Stray Kids stars steal the spotlight in contrasting suitsStray Kids members Hyunjin and Felix drew attention with sharply contrasting takes on the classic black suit, proving why they are widely regarded by fans as two of the group's standout visuals. The pair appeared Thursday at the Conrad Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District for a press conference celebrating the release of Stray Kids' new mini album, “THIS & THAT.” Although both wore black formal attire, their distinct styling created dramatically different impressions, prompting a barrage of camera flashes from attending media. Hyunjin opted for a satin double-breasted jacket with a subtle sheen, paired with flowing trousers that accentuated his tall frame. A deep neckline layered with necklaces, combined with his long black mullet, completed a dark, dreamy look that highlighted the fashion-forward image he has become known for. Felix, by contrast, embraced understated elegance with a minimalist single-breasted jacket featuring satin lapels. The clean silhouette and tailored slacks emphasized a refined aesthetic, while his signature blond hair and fair complexion created a striking contras11h agoBy Xportsnews
Stray Kids returns with genre-fluid mini album 'THIS & THAT'K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids returns Friday with "THIS & THAT," an eight-track EP built around the group's ability to move between genres without losing its identity. The release follows last year's mixtape "DO IT," which made Stray Kids the first act to debut eight consecutive releases at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Speaking at a press event in Seoul on Thursday, a day before the album's release, the eight members appeared in coordinated suits to discuss the making of the album and share behind-the-scenes stories. "It's been so long since our last comeback that every part of the schedule feels exciting," Changbin said. "We held concerts in Seoul last month, and I hope we can carry that energy into this album." The members described the title track, "This & That," as a departure from the group's previous singles, favoring a more relaxed and approachable sound over its usual intensity. "This time we went in a different direction — a little more chill and relaxed," Changbin said. "Like the title, we wanted to express the confidence of being good at this and that." He said the group intentio12h agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK marks decade of rewriting K-pop's global playbookWhen K-pop girl group BLACKPINK debuted on Aug. 8, 2016, with the double lead tracks "Whistle" and "Boombayah," the quartet arrived under the weight of expectations as YG Entertainment's first girl group since 2NE1. Ten years later, as the group celebrates its anniversary Saturday, that debut reads less like the launch of another idol act and more like the starting point of a structural shift in how K-pop meets the world. BLACKPINK's significance within K-pop rests on a simple distinction — Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa were the first K-pop girl group to be consumed not as a regional phenomenon but as global pop. The numbers built the case. With the 2022 studio album "Born Pink," the group topped both the Billboard 200 and the U.K. Official Albums Chart, a feat achieved among K-pop acts only by boy band BTS. It was the first Billboard 200 No. 1 by any girl group since Danity Kane in 2008, and the first simultaneous conquest of the two charts by a female pop group since Destiny's Child in 2001. In 2023, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop act to headline Coachella, and the group later beca17h agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
NOWZ turns to 1980s disco with new single 'Achilles'K-pop boy band NOWZ released its digital single "Achilles" Wednesday, presenting a Gen Z reinterpretation of disco. The release arrives five months after the group's Japanese debut EP "NOWZ" in March and marks its first Korean release in 10 months. Composed of Hyeonbin, Yoon, Yeonwoo, Jinhyuk and Siyun, the all-Korean quintet under Cube Entertainment debuted in April 2024 as NOWADAYS before adopting the name NOWZ in 2025. Entering its third year, the group declared it would open a new chapter with a more mature, sensual sound. Hours ahead of the release, the members held a press showcase Wednesday afternoon in Seoul, sharing recent updates and behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the song. "We sharpened everything from our visuals to our stage performance for this comeback," the group's eldest, Hyeonbin said. "We hope people look forward to it." Siyun summed up the comeback with the keyword "zero sexy." "Like a zero-sugar cola that tastes sweet without any sugar, we have gone back to our essential charm to present a fresh and healthy kind of sexiness," he said. "Achilles" reinterpr1d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
Reshuffled lineups, solo returns, wave of debuts define August's K-pop releasesAugust is shaping up to be one of the year's most consequential months for K-pop, and not simply because of the volume of releases. Beneath the summer comeback rush runs a set of stories the industry will be watching closely — major groups returning with reshaped lineups, veteran soloists reclaiming the spotlight and a fresh crop of rookies betting on the dog days of summer to break through. Boy band Stray Kids returns Friday with the mini album "THIS & THAT," the JYP Entertainment group's first release since November's "DO IT" extended its unprecedented streak of Billboard 200 No. 1 debuts to eight. All eight tracks, including the self-titled lead single, were written by the group's in-house production trio 3RACHA, and the album arrives mid-stride in a new world tour that kicked off in Seoul in late July. Sharing the date is indie rock band wave to earth, whose album "bad pieces" ends a two-year recording silence. With more than 7 million monthly Spotify listeners, the trio has quietly built one of the largest global audiences of any Korean act outside the idol system, making its ret1d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
KATSEYE's 'Animal' debuts at No. 24 on Billboard Hot 100K-pop girl group KATSEYE's new single "Animal" debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time). The upbeat track featuring a catchy hook and lyrics about untamed instinct is included on the group's third EP, "Wild," due out on Aug. 14. The group's collaboration single "Iconic By Mistake," with fellow HYBE girl groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT, fell two places to No. 76, while extending its chart run to seven consecutive weeks. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, BLACKPINK's Jennie held steady at No. 6 with "Dracula," a collaboration song with Australian act Tame Impala. K-pop supergroup BTS also logged two songs on the chart, with "Swim" at No. 82 and "Normal" at No. 89. On the Billboard 200 main albums chart, BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang" ranked No. 15, while the soundtrack of the Netflix's global hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" placed No. 29. K-pop boy group CORTIS' "GREENGREEN" came in at No. 114.1d agoBy Yonhap
WJSN's Dayoung, Jay Park spark chemistry in new single 'FLIRTY'Dayoung of girl group WJSN, who has been steadily carving out a solo career of her own, joins forces with veteran singer Jay Park for the collaborative single "FLIRTY," set for release Tuesday. The track marks the first collaboration of Dayoung's career and her first new music in about four months, following her second digital single "What's a girl to do," in April. According to her agency Starship Entertainment, the singer took part in writing both the lyrics and music. The agency described the song as a pop track capturing the excitement and confident attitude of a budding romance, blending guitar sounds, groovy rhythms and rich pop melodies with touches of R&B and reggae. The pairing traces back to the 2025 Melon Music Awards last December, where Dayoung made a surprise appearance during Jay Park's performance. Dayoung appeared alongside him again at his Waterbomb festival performance on July 25, and a teaser image for the duo was unveiled shortly after the show, fueling anticipation. Dayoung's solo debut track "body" landed on best K-pop of 2025 lists compiled by Billboard, NME and Th2d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
JYP founder says agency spends $1.4 mil. a year on organic cafeteriaSinger and JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young said the agency spends about 2 billion won ($1.4 million) a year operating its company cafeteria. He told viewers the company spends roughly 220 million won annually on organic kimchi alone. The K-pop agency's organic cafeteria was featured on Saturday's broadcast of MBC variety show "Reveal My Star's Life: The Manager." During the broadcast, Park enjoyed a meal at the cafeteria with his manager. When someone complimented the dish, he shared the figures, surprising the panel when he disclosed the yearly cost of kimchi served in the cafeteria. Park explained that the company meticulously inspects the ingredients, ensuring that everything from the seasonings to the sea salt used in the kimchi meets strict organic standards. He emphasized that the company could cut costs if they stopped preparing the kimchi with organic ingredients, but he stands by the practice to prioritize health. While the JYP cafeteria is already known for using organic ingredients, the revelation that it costs about 2 billion won a year to operate drew widespread att2d agoBy Xportsnews
InterviewRed Velvet trades midday heat for sunset glow on 'Velvet Summer'K-pop girl group Red Velvet returns Monday with the mini album "Velvet Summer," its first full-group release in over two years, trading blazing summer anthems for a sunset mood. The five-piece last released music together with "Cosmic" in June 2024. The five-track album is led by the track "Surfin' Boy," a dance number built on crisp, refreshing production and the group's signature dreamy vocal harmonies. In a first for the team, member Joy wrote the lyrics on her own, reminiscing about the hottest summer of one's life and the promise of making more radiant memories. "I was able to pour out everything I wanted to say to Red Velvet and our fans while writing these lyrics," Joy said in a written interview on Monday. "I wanted to convey that whenever we meet again, we can build memories even more beautiful than before. Seulgi even sent me a message praising how singable the lyrics were after mine were chosen. I was so happy I nearly cried," Joy added. According to Seulgi, the song also marks a sonic departure from the group's high-energy summer anthems like "Red Flavor" (2017) and "Umpah UmpAug 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
