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Korean rapper denies infidelity allegations days after wedding
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How K-pop’s self-produced content became a secret weapon
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Major K-pop agencies skip Grammys’ new Asian pop category
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Virtual K-pop group Plave continues steady rise
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K-pop's master of ceremonies
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BTS' 'Swim' surpasses 1 billion Spotify streams, first 2026 release to hit milestone
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Illit reaches 200m views with ‘It’s Me’ music video
Illit's music video for “It’s Me” passed 200 million views on YouTube Tuesday, Belift Lab announced the following day. It is the second time the group has reached the milestone, after its debut song, “Magnetic.” “It’s Me” was the main track on Illit's fourth EP, “Mamihlapinatapai,” which came out in April. The single spent 24 and 25 weeks straight on Billboard’s Global 200 and Global excl. US, respectively. In Japan, the track logged 100 million streams on Oricon. The group's fifth EP, “Break Ev
Oct. 28, 2026 -
Japanese investment group claims JYP takeover, raising questions over credibility
An obscure investment group claiming to be based in Japan sparked controversy in the K-pop industry Monday by announcing plans to acquire a controlling stake in JYP Entertainment. Questions remain over whether the group has the financial resources and corporate standing to carry out the deal. The unusual episode began when the Nexroc Group and SVCV Inc. announced plans to acquire between 25 percent and 50 percent of JYP's shares, with a potential public tender offer scheduled to begin Nov. 20. T
Oct. 27, 2026 -
Hybe integrates music distribution, marketing to boost global reach
BTS agency Hybe is merging its music distribution, marketing and promotional operations to strengthen support for artists across its international labels.
Oct. 27, 2026 -
Seventeen’s Junghan, Joshua reign on Oricon charts
Junghan and Joshua of Seventeen topped Oricon’s Weekly Album ranking with their first EP as a subunit, “Dreamscape,” said agency Pledis Entertainment, citing the latest ranking. The duo climbed the Daily Album ranking for two days upon release before claiming the top spot on the weekly tally. The EP sold more than 800,000 copies in its first week, after logging 650,000 units on the day of release, a record in Korea for a subunit. On Oct. 30, the two will begin touring Asia, starting with a three
Oct. 27, 2026 -
P1Harmony to release 10th EP in November
P1Harmony is set to release its 10th EP, “Blow Up,” on Nov. 6, agency FNC Entertainment said Tuesday. With the new album, the group returns to the superhero-themed narrative it has built up since its debut, with all six members returning to carry out the final mission. The group made its debut in October 2020 via a film in which the bandmates assemble in a dystopian setting in search of hope. The latest mini album is the group's first new material in about eight months, since its ninth EP “Uniqu
Oct. 27, 2026 -
Le Sserafim exceeds 100m Spotify streams with ‘Boompala’
Le Sserafim has generated 100 million streams on Spotify with the single “Boompala” as of Sunday, Source Music announced Tuesday. It is the group's 18th song to achieve the feat. “Boompala” was released in May as the main track for its second full-length album, “Pureflow Pt. 1.” The Latin house number sampling “Macarena” made No. 10 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 and No. 177 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global Chart. The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 10, becoming the quintet’s fi
Oct. 27, 2026 -
Blackpink’s Jisoo to drop 2nd prerelease from 1st solo LP
Jisoo of Blackpink is releasing a second single from her first solo studio album on Friday, ahead of full album rollout, her agency Blissoo announced Tuesday. A teaser image for the prerelease “Addicted” captured her peeking from behind a black shimmering curtain, with her long mane and pointy fingernails all polished up in jet black as well. The artist put out “Click,” the first song from the upcoming solo LP, in September, topping iTunes songs charts in nine regions and debuting on Spotify’s d
Oct. 27, 2026 -
Illit returns with 'Break Even,' turning heartbreak into defiance
Illit's return Monday marks a shift from the group's earlier portrayals of innocent crushes toward a more assertive approach to romance. The five-member group, currently promoting as a quartet while Moka remains on hiatus, introduced its fifth EP, "Break Even," at a media showcase in Seoul ahead of its 6 p.m. release. The EP's electro-pop lead single "You’re Under Arrest" was unveiled at the group's recent encore concert in Seoul. Its lyrics playfully accuse someone of committing the "crime" of
Oct. 26, 2026 -
Alpha Drive One’s Geonwoo seeks court ruling on contract with WakeOne
Alpha Drive One member Geonwoo has reportedly filed a lawsuit against his agency, WakeOne, asking a court to clarify his contractual status after about six months on hiatus. According to local media reports on Sunday, the suit seeks to clarify his rights and obligations under his exclusive contract, rather than necessarily terminate it. The dispute is believed to center on his future with the group, from which he has been on an indefinite hiatus since April. Geonwoo suspended activities followin
Oct. 26, 2026 -
ZB1’s hip-hop subunit to drop 1st single
Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook of Zerobaseone will return as the subunit EMP on Nov. 10, WakeOne Entertainment announced Monday. The teaser poster for the subunit's first digital single, “Off Script,” hinted at a stylish, free-spirited ambience. The single album will include a digital release of “Run,” a collaboration with Dynamic Duo due out on Nov. 4. EMP gave fans an early listen to the track on Saturday during a performance at a runners’ festival in Seoul. “Off Script” comes barely two months
Oct. 26, 2026 -
Twice’s Nayeon sets solo comeback date
Nayeon of Twice will release her solo single, “NA-sty,” on Nov. 20, announced label JYP Entertainment. The title, both for the album and the lead track, combines part of her name and the word “nasty,” hinting that she will express her playful and candid sides through the set. It will mark her return as a solo singer in almost 2 1/2 years. She has two solo mini albums under her belt: first EP “Im Nayeon” from 2022 and second EP “Na” from 2024, both of which debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 7. Main
Oct. 26, 2026 -
Enhypen to drop single next month
Enhypen will release “The Sin: Parallel World” on Nov. 20, the group announced Monday via agency Belift Lab. Physical albums will be available from Nov. 23. The upcoming single will be a spinoff of the eighth EP, “The Sin: Bliss,” which was released in August. The new single is also the third and final installment in the group's “The Sin” series, which began with its seventh EP, “The Sin: Vanish,” in January. The eighth mini album landed atop Billboard 200, a first for the six-piece act, and bec
Oct. 26, 2026 -
Virtual K-pop group Plave continues steady rise
While Ateez and Rescene, two K-pop acts from smaller agencies, have emerged as major players in an industry dominated by entertainment giants in the second half, virtual boy group Plave has been quietly carving out its own success story. The group's latest EP, "Hyperdrive," released Oct. 13, offers fresh evidence of that growth. According to figures released by Hanteo Chart on Oct. 19, the album sold approximately 1.32 million copies in its first week, surpassing the group's previous record of 1
Oct. 26, 2026 -
Seventeen’s Seungkwan, Dino start their military service
Seunkwan and Dino of Seventeen begin their military service on Monday, according to agency Pledis Entertainment. Both will serve in the Army's military band after receiving basic training. They are the last two of the 13-member act to be conscripted for service. Jeonghan completed his service in June, having been the first to do so. Six other members are in the midst of their service: Woozi, Hoshi and DK are in the Army, while Wonwoo, Vernon and Mingyu are serving as social service agents. S.Cou
Oct. 26, 2026 -
How K-pop’s self-produced content became a secret weapon
There was a time when getting to know a K-pop idol beyond the stage largely depended on catching them on television. Groups would make the rounds of variety shows during promotions, showing off impressions, dancing to other artists’ songs or competing in games before disappearing from television until the next round of promotional cycles began. Today, much of that work takes place on the idols’ own channels. Self-produced idol content has evolved beyond behind-the-scenes footage and fan-oriented
Oct. 26, 2026