Most Popular
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Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
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Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
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[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
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Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Illit, mired in controversy, remains on Billboard charts for 5th week
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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[2023 K-pop in a Nutshell] Debut acts set bar high for future rookies
Rookies who embarked on a new journey as K-pop idols this year wrote many firsts in K-pop history. Even in the overpopulated industry, the debut acts managed to set the bar high for those following their footsteps by setting new records. Zerobaseone, a group of nine artists chosen through Mnet’s idol survival program, “Boys Planet,” made its grand debut in July with its first EP, “Youth in the Shade.” According to local album sales tracker Hanteo Chart, 1.24 million
K-popDec. 26, 2023
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G-Dragon names anti-drug foundation 'JusPeace,' donates W300m
K-pop artist G-Dragon unveiled a plan on Monday to donate 300 million won ($230,237) to an anti-drug foundation he is establishing next year. According to G-Dragon's agency Galaxy Corporation, G-Dragon named the foundation "JusPeace Foundation," a word that combined “justice” and “peace.” The 35-year-old artist is donating 300 million won in the name of his now defunct group Big Bang’s fan community, VIP, to the JusPeace Foundation. “The foundat
K-popDec. 25, 2023
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Jennie of Blackpink starts solo journey with own label, OA
Jennie of Blackpink announced a new beginning under a new agency that she has established for her solo career. “This year was filled with many accomplishments, and I’m so thankful for all the love I’ve received. I’m also excited about what’s to come, as I start my solo journey in 2024 with a company that I have established called OA. Please show lots of love for my new start with OA and of course, Blackpink,” Jennie wrote in a post uploaded on X, formerly Twit
K-popDec. 25, 2023
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BTS' Jimin tops iTunes charts in 90 countries with 'Closer Than This'
BTS member Jimin topped the iTunes Top Song charts in 90 countries around the world with his new solo single, "Closer Than This," on Saturday, a day after its release, his agency said. The digital single was at No. 1 on the charts in the United States, Japan, Germany, France and dozens of other countries as of 8 a.m., according to BigHit Music. The tune is dedicated to ARMY, the band's fandom, in which Jimin promises he won't let go of "your hold" no matter what cha
K-popDec. 23, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook garners 100m views with “3D” music video
Jungkook of BTS logged 100 million views on YouTube with the music video for his solo single “3D (Feat. Jack Harlow),” according to Big Hit Music on Friday. This is Jungkook's second solo music video to reach the milestone, following “Seven (Feat. Latto).” “3D” was released in late September and debuted on both Billboard’s Hot 100 and the UK’s Official singles chart at No. 5. The single stayed on Billboard’s main songs chart for nine weeks i
K-popDec. 22, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin gifts fans a song
A digital single from Jimin of BTS will come out on Friday, said label Big Hit Music on Thursday. With solo single “Closer Than This,” he reminds fans of his love for them and promise he wants to keep. The artist also left a message to fans via the band’s YouTube channel asking fans to stay healthy and just be happy. He joined the military training camp along with bandmate Jungkook on Dec. 12. The two, as well as RM and V, will return in June 2025. In the meantime, the septet&
K-popDec. 21, 2023
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IU seeks compensation for plagiarism accusation
Singer-actor IU recently launched a civil lawsuit seeking compensation from an individual who raised plagiarism allegations against her, as local media outlets on Thursday reported that South Korean police have submitted the information related to the individual to court. The 31-year-old singer has been engaged in a legal battle seeking compensation for what her representatives claimed was defamation via groundless acts of slander. After investigators cleared her of plagiarism allegations in Sep
K-popDec. 21, 2023
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Pledis to launch first boy group in nine years after Seventeen
Pledis Entertainment, the agency that produced K-pop idol group Seventeen, is launching a new boy group for the first time in nine years. Called TWS, it is also the first rookie group that Pledis has produced after the company was acquired by Hybe in 2020. TWS, short for "Twenty-four seven with us," implies its music will be around fans all the time, Pledis said, adding that it aims to debut the group within January next year. "Like Seventeen, Pledis has followed a unique naming
K-popDec. 21, 2023
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G-Dragon to return with new album next year, set up anti-drug foundation
K-pop artist G-Dragon is making a comeback next year and will establish a foundation aiming to, in his words, "eradicate drugs." In a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday, G-Dragon’s new agency Galaxy Corporation explained the result of the recent police investigation on the artist’s alleged illegal drug use and his plans for next year. G-Dragon did not attend the press conference. “The Police wrapped up the drug investigation on G-Dragon without suspension. We
K-popDec. 21, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] TXT makes Oricon’s year-end chart
Tomorrow X Together entered Oricon’s annual ranking 2023 for fourth consecutive year, according to the chart published on Wednesday. Its second studio album in Japan, “Sweet” made No. 11 on the album ranking followed by its third studio album in Korea, “The Name Chapter: Freefall,” and fifth EP, “The Name Chapter: Temptation,” at Nos. 13 and 21, respectively. All three albums the quintet released this year made the chart. They also were on Billboard Jap
K-popDec. 20, 2023
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Two popular Korean webtoons to be released as e-books in English
Two popular Korean webtoons available on Tappytoon, a digital webtoon platform developed and operated by Contents First, will be released as e-books in English. “The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway” written by author Kim Chacha and “I Tamed My Ex-husband’s Mad Dog” by Jaekyum, will be released as English-language e-books, according to Contents First on Tuesday. The English e-book version of these webtoons was released on Amazon Kindle on Wednesday and wi
K-popDec. 20, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key to host solo concert next month
Key of SHINee is set to hold a solo concert in Seoul on Jan. 27-28, according to label SM Entertainment on Tuesday. The live show, named “2024 Keyland On: And On,” is his first solo gig in Korea in 15 months since the previous concert “G.O.A.T. In the Keyland.” The poster for the upcoming event featured a vending machine with several of the veteran idol’s signature furry mascot Boksiri wearing different costumes. Meanwhile, Key and his bandmates honored the late Jo
K-popDec. 19, 2023
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How Hybe trains and develops its artists
K-pop powerhouse Hybe unveiled the training and development program that gave rise to its superstars such as BTS, TXT, Le Sserafim and NewJeans. On Tuesday, the label released five episodes of training and development stories on its official YouTube channel. The video clips show many artists who have been trained by Hybe, including members of BTS, TXT, Enhypen, Le Sserafim and &Team, as well as the people in charge of the training and development program talking about their experiences. Hybe
K-popDec. 19, 2023
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JYP forms new Japanese boy group NexZ
JYP Entertainment has finalized the members of its new Japanese boy group, NexZ, through the global audition "Nizi Project Season 2." In the final episode of "Nizi Project Season 2," which ran on JYP's official YouTube channel and streaming service Hulu Japan, the seven members -- Tomoya, Haru, Yuki, Ken, Yu, Yuhi and Seita – were announced with their new group name NexZ. All but Ken, the only Korean member, are Japanese nationals. The global audition held prelimin
K-popDec. 19, 2023
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K-pop hits 100m copies in annual album sales milestone in 2023
The K-pop industry has achieved an unprecedented milestone this year as annual domestic sales of physical albums reached the 100 million mark. Circle Chart, a leading tracker of local albums sales, reported Tuesday that the top 400 physical albums collectively sold 116 million copies in the first 11 months of 2023. This represents a remarkable 144 percent increase from 80 million copies in the same period last year, setting a record of 100 million copies in annual sales even before factoring in
K-popDec. 19, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] Solo work from BTS’ Jungkook remains strong on charts
The solo single from Jungkook of BTS continues to dominate music charts across the world, even though he began serving his mandatory military service last week. “Standing Next to You,” the focus track from his solo album “Golden,” reclaimed the top spot on Billboard’s digital song sales chart. It is the fourth week the song is spending atop the chart, a record for a K-pop solo act. The lead single is staying on Billboard’s Hot 100 for five weeks in a row, cli
K-popDec. 18, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans to put out 1st remix album
NewJeans will make a comeback with a remix album on Tuesday, said agency Ador on Friday. Album “NJWMX(NewJeans Winter Mix)” is coming out on the first anniversary of the release of “Ditto,” a B-side track from single “OMG.” “Ditto” was released in advance of the full release and was the group’s first entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 96. It has amassed 500 million streams on Spotify as of Dec. 4 -- its second song to reach the milest
K-popDec. 15, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s Jeonghan to suspend activities after ankle surgery
Jeonghan of Seventeen will take some time off, according to Pledis Entertainment on Thursday. The singer has hurt his left ankle in the past and has been carrying on activities while receiving treatment as he wanted to participate in all of the band's schedule for this year. The pain, however, worsened over the band’s recent tour and he had to undergo surgery on Thursday. The surgery went well but Jeonghan will need time to recover and will have to miss activities for the time being, incl
K-popDec. 14, 2023
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SM to hold global auditions to discover next generation K-pop stars
SM Entertainment, one of the largest K-pop agencies in South Korea, is holding a global audition in its pursuit of future K-pop stars. The agency began accepting pre-registration applications for the “2024 SM Global Audition” on its global audition website, Tuesday. Anyone born between 2005 and 2013 can apply regardless of their gender and nationality. Applicants must choose one of the categories: vocal, rap, dance and acting. Applications can be made only once and only as an ind
K-popDec. 14, 2023
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[Today’s K-pop] Lee Junho to host solo concert in Seoul in Jan 2024
Lee Junho of 2PM will hold a standalone solo concert in Seoul on Jan. 13-14 next year, announced label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. The solo gig, titled “The Day We Meet Again,” is in line with his arena tour in Japan for which the singer and actor played to sold-out audiences in July and August. He will be hosting a solo live show in Korea for the first time in about five years. He has greeted fans in eight cities across Asia for solo fan meet tour after the successful run of th
K-popDec. 13, 2023