K-pop's toughest stage comes after debut

Two K-pop acts have been making headlines in Korea this summer, and their stories are both triumphs of tenacity. Girl group Rescene finally topped a music chart with "Love Attack," a song that had gone largely unnoticed for two years. Ateez, a group long celebrated abroad but overlooked at home, cracked South Korea's own charts for the first time with its new single "Bad" — eight years into its career. Such reversals of fortune look glamorous from the outside. But they remain the exception, not

2026-08-06 14:17:07:00

BTS could meet Brazil's president during October tour stop

BTS could meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Rosangela "Janja" da Silva when it visits in October, a local media report said July 30. The possibility emerged after Janja, in a video posted to her social media two days before, said she and President Lula planned to welcome the group during its visit to Brazil. "In October, President Lula and I will warmly welcome BTS. It's going to be an incredible celebration. Stay tuned!" Janja had been discussing the recent

2026-08-05 13:52:13:00

The woman behind a K-pop empire — and its stunning collapse

Cha Ga-won, CEO of One Hundred Label, was detained Monday on fraud charges involving some 30 billion won ($21 million), leaving the K-pop industry scrambling to understand how a real estate mogul built a multilabel entertainment empire in record time — and lost it just as quickly. Cha's ties to the entertainment world, however, predated the label — and were controversial from the start. In 2023, following a dispute with SM Entertainment, Exo's Baekhyun established his own company, One Signature

2026-08-04 17:24:07:00

[단독] 토론토 시의회 'BTS 대로' 승인, 'BTS 위켄드' 선포 요청

방탄소년단 (BTS)의 캐나다 공연을 앞두고 토론토 시의회가 주요 도로를 임시로 'BTS 대로 (BTS Boulevard)'로 명명하는 안건을 승인하고, 시장에게 공연 기간을 'BTS 위켄드 (BTS Weekend)'로 공식 선포할 것을 요청했다. 코리아헤럴드가 입수한 시의회 공개 문건에 따르면, 시의회는 현지시간 7월 29~30일 열린 회의에서 릴리 쳉 (Lily Cheng) 시의원이 발의한 관련 안건을 채택했다. 해당 안건에 따라 노스욕 블러바드 (North York Boulevard)와 핀치 애비뉴 (Finch Avenue) 사이의 영 스트리트 (Yonge Street) 구간은 오는 8월 21일경부터 9월 23일까지 한시적으로 'BTS 대로'라는 명칭을 혼용하게 된다. 이는 8월 22~23일 로저스 스타디움에서 열리는 BTS 공연을 방문하는 전 세계 팬덤 '아미 (Army)'를 환영하기 위한 조치다. 해외 지방자치단체가 K팝 아티스트를 위해 마련한 예우 가운데 최대 규모 사례

2026-08-04 13:22:47:00

[Exclusive] Toronto council approves BTS Boulevard, asks mayor to proclaim 'BTS Weekend'

The Toronto City Council has approved a plan to temporarily co-name part of Yonge Street in the North York district as "BTS Boulevard," ahead of BTS "Arirang" world tour concerts in the Canadian metropolis later this month, paving the way for one of the largest civic tributes to a K-pop act outside South Korea. Under a motion introduced by Councillor Lily Cheng and adopted by the City Council during its meetings held July 29-30, Yonge Street between North York Boulevard and Finch Avenue will be

2026-08-04 11:48:21:00

Kiss of Life races back for summer with 'Sweat'

For most K-pop groups, a four-month gap between releases would be considered a rapid comeback. For Kiss of Life, it was simply too important not to miss the summer. The quartet returned Tuesday with its third single, "Sweat," just four months after releasing its second single, "Who is She." During a joint interview in Seoul on Wednesday, the members said they deliberately accelerated preparations to capitalize on the season that has become synonymous with the group's identity. "We've always rele

2026-08-04 09:10:12:00

Cha Eun-woo appeals W13b tax bill after paying in full

Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo has filed a tax appeal challenging a 13 billion won ($9 million) assessment imposed by the National Tax Service after paying the full amount, according to his agency on Sunday. Fantagio said Cha submitted a petition to the Tax Tribunal early last month, arguing that the tax assessment was improper. "Cha Eun-woo has filed a tax appeal through the legal procedures provided under the law to seek a legal determination," the agency said. "As the matter is currently under

2026-08-02 18:51:16:00

BTS' Grammy rebuff reignites debate over music beyond race, language

BTS' announcement Wednesday that the group would not submit its music for consideration for next year's Grammy Awards has reignited debate over whether music should be judged beyond region and language — or whether race- and region-based award categories promote diversity or undermine the principle of evaluating music on its artistic merits. In identical posts shared on their individual social media accounts, all seven members of BTS said they would forgo Grammy consideration in the hope that "m

2026-07-30 17:20:11:00

BTS says it will skip next year's Grammy Awards

BTS announced Wednesday that it will not submit its music for consideration for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February next year. The group made the surprise announcement in a brief statement posted on social media: "We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. We hope music can be heard and embraced for what it is, beyond region or language." "Thank you to ARMY and everyone who continues to support us." The announcement came as a surprise to many given BTS' long pursui

2026-07-29 14:21:30:00

Has K-pop's biggest summer festival become more provocative?

Bibi's midperformance costume change at Waterbomb Seoul over the weekend reignited a familiar debate over whether K-pop's biggest summer music festival has become excessively provocative. While online reactions were sharply divided, industry insiders largely agreed the performances should be viewed within the context of Waterbomb's distinct festival culture, cautioning against allowing spectacle to eclipse the music itself. The singer-songwriter drew widespread attention after incorporating an o

2026-07-29 10:33:12:00