Bong Joon-ho faces backlash over Blackpink comment

Some fans criticize Bong for mentioning all three Korean members by name while omitting the only Southeast Asian member Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho is facing criticism from fans of Blackpink's Lisa after he did not include the name of the Thai star while naming Blackpink members in a recent interview, with some accusing him of racial bias. In a promotional interview for his upcoming sci-fi film "Mickey 17" on BuzzFeed Celeb’s YouTube channel, Bong named Blackpink his favorite K-pop group

March 6, 2025

Demand growing for K-pop shows in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan: Will China loosen Hallyu ban?

Experts say still too early to conclude ban in mainland China will be lifted soon Demand for K-pop concerts in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan has been surging this year, possibly fueled by China’s long-standing restrictions on Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. According to a major K-pop agency official Wednesday, concert inquiries from promoters in Hong Kong and Taiwan have risen noticeably from last year. “There isn’t an official breakdown, but we are receiving significantly more event requests from Tai

March 5, 2025

Lee Soo-man's ‘Zalpha pop’ and Chinese girl group

Is it a new genre by K-pop pioneer or a strategy to enter Chinese market? Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment and often referred to as the “father of K-pop,” is back with a bold new vision -- introducing “Zalpha pop” through A20 Entertainment, which has offices in California, the US, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. His latest project, A20 May — a group consisting of two Chinese Americans and three Chinese members — debuted in December, signaling not only an effort to pioneer a new mus

March 5, 2025

J-Hope unveils ‘Sweet Dreams’ teaser exclusively on TikTok

Full song to be released on all streaming platforms Friday J-Hope of BTS is giving fans an exclusive first listen to his latest single, “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel),” on TikTok for a week before it becomes available on major streaming platforms. About 19 seconds of the track was released on TikTok at 11 p.m., Feb. 28 following the first night of his world tour, "Hope on the Stage," at the KSPO Dome in Seoul. The full song officially drops on all streaming services at 2 p.m. on Friday. Blending p

March 4, 2025

KiiKii gains early edge over Hearts2Hearts in rookie battle

Starship girl group enters Melon Top 100, while new SM act misses chart Starship Entertainment girl group KiiKii is gaining momentum in its predebut competition against SM Entertainment’s Hearts2Hearts, showing a stronger performance in music charts and brand reputation rankings. Meanwhile, Hearts2Hearts has drawn more views for its debut song “The Chase,” largely due to SM’s global influence and its built-in fan base abroad. Both groups are highly anticipated as they mark the first girl groups

March 3, 2025

Blackpink’s Lisa becomes first K-pop artist to perform at the Academy Awards

Lisa of Blackpink made history as the first K-pop artist to perform at the Oscars, delivering a tribute to the James Bond film series at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday. The tribute performance, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, began with a montage honoring the legacy of the 007 film franchise. Lisa then took the stage in a sleek black gown following a tango performance by actress Margaret Qualley, who starred in the 2024 horror film "The Substance." Lisa perform

March 3, 2025

Try tacos, toast paintings and fantastical world of cookies

Tacos in Sinyongsan For those craving tacos in Sinyongsan, The Taco Booth offers a flavorful experience. Located in the bustling food alley of Yongnidan-gil in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, this vibrant eatery has already captured the hearts of taco lovers with its bold, well-seasoned dishes. The Taco Booth, originally launched as a "New York-style" taqueria in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, has built a strong following with its signature birria tacos and quesadillas, known for their crispy tortillas and perfectly

Feb. 28, 2025

Former Fifty Fifty members set to re-debut as ablume

New York-based investment firm has proposed investing some $83.2 million in Massive E&C, K-pop agency behind ablume Three former members of Fifty Fifty — Saena, Aran, and Sio — are preparing for a fresh start under a new name, ablume. The trio has teamed up with Ahn Sung-il, the producer of their previous music and CEO of The Givers. Ahn will oversee the production of ablume’s first album, which is expected to be released in the first half of this year. Massive E&C, the K-pop agency behind ablum

Feb. 27, 2025

Half of Spotify’s top 10 most-streamed K-pop songs in late 2024 are BTS solo tracks

Jimin’s 'Who' ranked as the most-streamed K-pop song globally in the second half of 2024 Five out of the top 10 tracks on Spotify’s “2024 Global Impact List” were solo songs by BTS members, according to Big Hit Music on Wednesday. The list, released Tuesday by the world’s largest streaming platform, highlights the most-streamed Korean songs outside of Korea from July to December 2024. BTS members' strong presence extended beyond the top 10, with one-third of the top 30 songs also coming from the

Feb. 26, 2025

What does G-Dragon's first LP in a decade 'Ubermensch' mean for K-pop and idols?

Experts say the musician's latest comeback cements his legacy and sets a model for K-pop idols seeking longevity G-Dragon, often referred to as the "King of K-pop," made his long-awaited return Tuesday with his third solo studio album, "Ubermensch." It is his first LP release in nearly 11 1/2 years. Upon the album's release, the main track "Too Bad" quickly climbed to the top of four major domestic music charts, including Melon, Genie, Bugs and Vibe, reaffirming his influence as an artist who re

Feb. 26, 2025