A former K-pop idol wanted a union. Nobody came forward

Bang Min-su, better known as C.A.P. from his days in boy band Teen Top, met Democratic Party of Korea youth policy researcher Seo Min-seon last year, when she approached him with an idea to form Korea’s first labor union for K-pop idols. The 33-year-old former idol had already spoken publicly about labor and human rights issues in the K-pop industry. In September 2024, he testified at a National Assembly forum on the labor rights of child and teenage K-pop artists, raising concerns about unpaid

2026-08-24 14:02:00:00

Celebrate Chuseok with new Korean friends in Seoul

A cultural exchange program centered on Chuseok will bring Korean and foreign participants together to experience traditional holiday customs and share stories about celebrations in their home countries. The three-hour program will be held Sept. 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Seoul Global Student Support Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. All activities will be conducted in Korean. The program will include a live podcast session with Didi, a YouTuber who produces content on Korean culture, and traditiona

2026-08-24 11:19:47:00

Prosecutors seek 1 year for supervisor accused of helping Song Min-ho skip duties

Prosecutors have sought a one-year prison term for a supervisor accused of helping Song Min-ho, a member of boy group Winner, make unauthorized absences while serving as a social service agent. The request was made Thursday during the closing hearing for a supervisor surnamed Lee at the Seoul Western District Court. They said Lee "played an essential role in allowing Song to be absent without leave for an extended period and actively took measures to prevent the supervisory authorities from disc

2026-08-21 13:41:23:00

BTS' Jungkook hacking ringleader gets 20 years in prison

The leader of an overseas hacking ring that stole more than 38 billion won ($27.4 million) by targeting wealthy figures was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday. The Seoul Central District Court found the Chinese national, identified only by his surname Jeon, guilty of fraud and violations of the Information and Communications Network Act. "The group sought out wealthy individuals as targets and stole their assets," the court said. "Unlike victims of typical voice phishing schemes, the vi

2026-08-21 11:48:13:00

I-dle's Soyeon to return with new solo album

Soyeon, the leader and one of the producers of girl group I-dle, is set to release a new solo album in early September, marking a solo comeback after five years and two months. According to Soyeon's agency Cube Entertainment on Wednesday, the upcoming release will be Soyeon's first solo project since her first EP, "Windy," released in 2021. Soyeon has been behind some of I-dle's biggest hits, including "Tomboy," "Nxde" and "Queencard." She has established herself as an independent producer as we

2026-08-20 15:27:42:00

Choo Sung-hoon to pause TV activities ahead of MMA retirement fight

Mixed martial arts fighter and television personality Choo Sung-hoon, 51, will temporarily halt broadcasting activities in preparation for the final fight of his professional fighting career. According to media reports Thursday, Choo is set to compete at Black Combat 17, an MMA event scheduled for Nov. 21 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul. The bout will mark the end of Choo's career as a professional fighter. He is currently focused on training and plans to minimize appearances on entertainm

2026-08-20 15:27:18:00

JYP's new multinational girl group OurBirthday debuts with its own brand of music

JYP Entertainment's new multinational girl group OurBirthday made its first appearance as a full group during its debut showcase in Seoul on Wednesday, where it introduced its own brand of music called "whip-hop." The group, consisting of three Koreans, two people from Japan, one from Thailand and one from Taiwan, took the stage at Yongsan-gu's Blue Square. It is the first girl group launched by JYP in four years following Nmixx, and it is managed by JYP subsidiary Innit Entertainment. At the sh

2026-08-19 18:54:44:00

'Yeshua 33 Years' to bring Gospel story, charity mission on stage

A musical theater concert tracing the life and teachings of Jesus will open in Seoul on Aug. 29, combining live music, drama and a charity initiative. "Yeshua 33 Years," written, composed and directed by Lee Chang-ju, is structured around six stages: birth, questioning, evangelism, sacrifice, resurrection and commissioning. The audience is invited to follow the story through the perspective of Jesus' disciples. The production blends orchestra, band, choir and theatrical performances, with tracks

2026-08-19 16:50:02:00

Jennie's agency vows 'no leniency' for defamatory, malicious posts

Jennie's agency, OA Entertainment, said Tuesday it would take firm legal action against malicious online posts targeting the singer, amid the rapid spread of unverified footage from her Summer Sonic 2026 performance in Chiba, Japan, on Friday. In a statement, OA said it had identified "ongoing misconduct targeting Jennie across online communities and social media platforms." It specifically referred to baseless defamatory statements and false information, as well as manipulated photos and videos

2026-08-19 13:51:48:00

Sculptor Kwon Chi-gyu explores origins of life in 34th solo exhibition

Sculptor Kwon Chi-gyu's 34th solo exhibition, "Genesis — Traces of Becoming," opened Wednesday at Gallery 6 on the sixth floor of Insa Art Center. The exhibition centers on what Kwon calls the "growth point," referring to both the part of a plant where growth occurs and — more broadly — to the point from which life begins, changes and forms new connections. Kwon uses perforated stainless steel and overlapping layers as key visual elements. Lines cut into and built from the metal resemble branche

2026-08-19 13:51:38:00