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HITGS debuts amid scrutiny over members being all under 18
Rookie girl group HITGS made its official debut Monday, drawing mixed reactions over its lineup consisting of five members who are minors: from the eldest, VV, 18, to the youngest, Iyoo, 15. From the outset of its debut promotions, H Music Entertainment, the group’s agency, emphasized the youthfulness of the group, highlighting the members’ “fresh and lively visuals” and “pure, radiant girl-like charm” that it said “instantly captured attention.” The group’s name, HITGS, is an acronym for “Hip,
April 29, 2025 -
KCON returns to Los Angeles with expanded festival experience
CJ ENM announced Monday that the world’s largest K-pop fan and artist festival, KCON, will be back in Los Angeles this summer with an upgraded experience. "KCON LA 2025" will take place at Crypto.com Arena and the LA Convention Center from August 1 to 3, combining large-scale concerts with convention programs celebrating K-pop culture and entertainment. This year’s festival will feature performances by 11 artists in its initial lineup, including HxW (Seventeen’s Hoshi and Woozi), Ive, Izna, Lee
April 29, 2025 -
Highlight celebrates 17 years with a return to the name Beast
This year marks a milestone for the long-running boy group Highlight. Not only is the group celebrating its 17th year, it has also released new music under its original name, Beast, for the first time in nine years. The four-member group dropped its sixth EP "Real to Surreal" on Monday, its first release in over a year. Prior to the album's launch, the group released the prerelease track "Endless Ending" under the name Beast on April 16. Since leaving its former agency Cube Entertainment in 2017
April 29, 2025 -
Kim Jae-joong returns with 'Beauty in Chaos'
Singer and actor Kim Jae-joong is back with a new album rooted in rock. Kim will release his new mini album, "Beauty in Chaos," on May 19. A teaser image shared on his official social media channels features a shattered electric guitar and scattered fragments of broken glass, building anticipation for the powerful new music he is about to unveil. Previously, Kim hinted at the rock concept of the album by posting the phrase "Rock Jaejoong is back" on his personal social media. Leading up to and f
April 29, 2025 -
All-Korean K-pop idol group to perform in China
An all-Korean K-pop boy group is set to hold a standalone concert in China next month, raising expectations that Beijing may be moving toward easing its tacit ban on South Korean entertainment. C9 Entertainment announced Tuesday that its eight-member boy group Epex will perform in Fuzhou, China, on May 31 as part of its Asian tour, which kicked off in Seoul last December. China imposed an effective ban on South Korean pop music, TV dramas and films around 2016, in what was widely viewed as retal
April 29, 2025 -
Tensions rise between Ador and NewJeans fandom over ‘Indomie’ pop-up store
Tensions are flaring between Ador, the agency of girl group NewJeans, and Team Bunnies, a segment of the group's fandom, over a pop-up store event scheduled to open in Seoul on May 1. On Friday, Team Bunnies posted promotional images and a survey related to a pop-up event for Indonesian instant noodle brand Indomie on social media platform X — even before Indomie or Ador had officially announced the event. The survey requested personal information such as name, phone number and email addresses.
April 28, 2025 -
Riize to release first full-length album ‘Odyssey’ May 19
Rookie boy group Riize is set to return with its first LP "Odyssey" on May 19, according to its agency SM Entertainment on Monday. The new album marks the group’s first major release in about 11 months after its first EP "Riizing" in June. "Odyssey" will feature 10 tracks and is available for preorder from Monday through various online and offline music retailers. Known for distinctive promotional strategies, Riize is preparing what the agency describes as its "first, best, and biggest" promotio
April 28, 2025 -
Rookie group Kiiras gears up for debut
Another rookie girl group is gearing up to debut in the K-pop scene. LeanBranding Entertainment announced that its new six-member girl group, Kiiras, will officially debut May 29. The lineup includes Lingling, a standout contestant from Mnet’s audition program "I-Land 2" and the first Malaysian member of a K-pop girl group, along with one Japanese member and four Korean members. The group's teaser image, revealed on social media, caught attention with the team name "Kiiras" emblazoned across pin
April 28, 2025 -
Just B’s Bain thanks Hong Seok-cheon for paving way for LGBTQ+ in Korea
Bain, a member of K-pop boy band Just B who came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community last week, has expressed gratitude to Hong Seok-cheon, Korea’s first openly-gay celebrity who came out in 2000, for paving the way for the LGBTQ+ community in the Korean entertainment industry. On Sunday, Hong shared a thank-you message he received from Bain on his Instagram account. In the message, Bain expressed his deep appreciation, writing, “I read about your warm encouragement and advice in a news article
April 28, 2025 -
Twice members feature on Netflix's animated film
Twice members have participated in the soundtrack for Netflix’s upcoming animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." According to Netflix’s announcement, the three Twice members -- Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung -- lent their voices to original songs for "KPop Demon Hunters," which will be released in 190 countries June 20. "K-Pop Demon Hunters" is an action-packed musical animation that follows globally popular K-pop superstars who secretly hunt demons offstage to protect their fans. Produced by Sony P
April 28, 2025 -
BTS’ Jimin logs 260m Spotify streams with ‘Lie’
Jimin of BTS surpassed 260 million plays on Spotify with “Lie” as of last week. It is his first solo single and is included in the band’s second full album “Wings” from 2016. The artist co-wrote the melody and lyrics of the song which is the most-streamed B-side from the LP on the platform. Meanwhile, his second solo album, “Muse,” and focus track “Who” became the first K-pop solo entries to stay for 40 weeks on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Chart and Songs Chart in US, respectively. “Who” is exte
April 28, 2025 -
Taeyeon delights 20,000 in Macao show
Taeyeon hosted her first solo standalone show in Macao over the weekend which drew about 20,000 in the audience, said label SM Entertainment on Monday. Under the title, “The Tense in Asia,” she welcomed her fans with a medley of hit songs that spanned across genres. Before closing the show, the songstress thanked the audience for letting her come to the city and filling up the venue, vowing to cherish the memory. She will carry on with the tour in Singapore this coming weekend. The tour is her s
April 28, 2025 -
Katseye to perform new digital single in Korea
Girl group Katseye will return to Korea with the new single “Gnarly,” according to Hybe Labels and Geffen Records on Sunday. The multinational group of six will drop the song and music video Wednesday and take to the stage on television music chart shows in Korea from May 1. It will be returning about seven months after it promoted two main tracks from the debut EP, “Soft Is Strong” — “Debut” and “Touch.” The latter generated 100 million streams on Spotify. As hinted through the teaser video for
April 28, 2025 -
NexZ exudes confidence on 2nd EP
Boy band NexZ is bringing out the second EP “O-rly?” on Monday, discussing the album in a statement released through JYP Entertainment. The seven-piece act returns with new music about five months since the previous mini album, “Nallina.” The new album consists of five tracks. The physical album will have an additional track, titled “Z Side_250226.” The titular track “best shows our unique energy, blending old-school hip-hop rhythm and dazzling performance,” said Seita. “There are many points th
April 28, 2025 -
Is Taeyeon being too fastidious, or is SM Entertainment neglecting its veteran artist?
Performances for the Japan leg of Taeyeon’s solo tour were abruptly canceled last week after essential equipment failed to arrive in time. A resurfaced online post by an anonymous SM Entertainment employee criticizing the Girls' Generation member for making excessive demands when preparing for shows is fueling debates over who is to blame. Prior to SM Entertainment’s 30th-anniversary concert “SMTown Live 2025 in Seoul” held Jan. 11-12, Taeyeon expressed frustration on fandom platform, Bubble, ov
April 27, 2025