BTS' Jung Kook tops 3 bil. Spotify streams with 'Seven,' first for Korean artist"Seven," a hit solo track by BTS member Jung Kook, has surpassed 3 billion streams on Spotify, making him the first Korean artist to hit the threshold with a single song, his agency BigHit Music said Tuesday. "Seven" is also the only song released in 2023 globally to reach the milestone, according to the agency. A passionate serenade about wanting to spend every day with a loved one, "Seven" blends a catchy melody with a warm acoustic guitar sound and rhythms from UK garage, a genre of electronic music that emerged in Britain in the early 1990s. The song's music video surpassed 600 million views on YouTube in April. Since its release, "Seven" has enjoyed worldwide success, debuting at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 3 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100. K-pop supergroup BTS, to which Jungkook belongs, is currently on its largest-ever scale world tour, "Arirang."5h agoBy Yonhap
Brazilian woman gets suspended prison term for stalking BTS' Jung KookA Brazilian woman who repeatedly visited the home of BTS member Jung Kook, and even entered the residential property, has received a suspended prison sentence. According to legal sources on Monday, Judge Park Ji-won of the Seoul Western District Court sentenced the Brazilian woman to one year in prison, suspended for two years, on May 8 for violating Korea's anti-stalking law and trespassing. The court said she stalked Jung Kook by visiting his residence and the surrounding area in Seoul's Yongsan District 22 times between Dec. 7 and Dec. 28 last year. She allegedly rang the doorbell, loitered nearby while waiting for him and left items at the residence. Investigators said that on Dec. 13, she entered the residential property through a side gate that had been left open while a food delivery worker was coming and going. She did not stop her actions even after being arrested and later released. Police had issued an emergency order prohibiting her from approaching Jung Kook or his residence within 100 meters, but she allegedly returned on Jan. 4 and left photographs and printed materials ne9h agoBy Hankookilbo
BTS' 'ARIRANG' named among best albums of early 2026"ARIRANG," the latest album of K-pop supergroup BTS, has been recognized among the best releases of the first half of 2026 by leading global music publications. The group's fifth full-length album was included in multiple mid-year lists, beginning with U.S. pop culture outlet Complex on June 12. It was subsequently featured by Britain's The Telegraph on June 13, U.S. magazine Rolling Stone on June 15 and British music publication NME on June 16. "The biggest news has got to be the return of BTS, who showcased their Korean roots with the excellent 'ARIRANG,'" Rolling Stone said. NME described BTS as "the biggest boy band in the world," while The Telegraph called the group "the face of K-pop." The septet held two concerts in the southeastern Korean city of Busan on June 12-13 as part of its "ARIRANG" world tour. The group is set to begin the European leg of the tour in Madrid on June 26-27, with a total of 10 shows scheduled across five cities.10h agoBy Yonhap
Stray Kids to kick off new world tour in Seoul next monthK-pop boy group Stray Kids will launch a new world tour, "Run It," in Seoul next month, the group's agency JYP Entertainment said Tuesday. The eight-member act will open the tour with five concerts at the KSPO Dome in Seoul's Olympic Park on July 25-26, July 29 and Aug. 1-2. The group will then head to Tokyo's National Stadium in August, followed by shows in Nagoya and Osaka in September, Fukuoka in October, Hong Kong and Taipei in December, Bangkok in January and Singapore in March. Additional dates and cities will be announced later. JYP said the tour will make Stray Kids the first overseas male artist to stage a standalone concert at Tokyo National Stadium, one of Japan's largest venues. The band is expected to draw about 370,000 fans across seven concerts in Japan alone. Last year, Stray Kids completed its largest-ever world tour, "dominATE," staging 56 shows across 35 cities worldwide. The band is set to release a new EP, "This & That," on Aug. 7, with the track "Run It" to be unveiled in advance at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Stray Kids recently performed as a headliner at the Governors Ball M10h agoBy Yonhap
TWICE's Jihyo draws attention with sister at baseball game as fans spot family's rising star powerTWICE leader Jihyo turned heads at a KBO League game over the weekend, not only for her energetic ceremonial first pitch but also for appearing alongside her younger sister, drawing renewed attention to the growing presence of the singer's family in the entertainment industry. Jihyo and her younger sister Lee Ha-eum attended the game between the Lotte Giants and Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Sunday as the ceremonial pitcher and batter, respectively. The sisters appeared in matching Kiwoom Heroes jerseys and greeted fans with bright smiles, quickly becoming a talking point online. Their similar facial features and cheerful energy drew praise from spectators, while fans noted how the siblings showcased different charms. Jihyo, known for her athletic imagee, took the mound wearing a crop top, wide-leg denim jeans and a jersey bearing her legal name, Park Ji-hyo. With her long hair tied in a ponytail, the TWICE member drew attention for her sporty styling and confident presence. She delivered a powerful pitch before flashing a smile to the crowd, earning loud cheers from fans1d agoBy Xportsnews
Hearts2Hearts projects full summer energy with new release 'Lemon Tang'K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts is officially in its summer era. SM Entertainment's buzzy rookie group dropped its new minialbum "Lemon Tang" Monday, ready to take over summer playlists with a sound as sweet and tangy as the title suggests. The eight-member group debuted in February 2025 and has been racking up hits ever since, channeling the same girlish, slightly mysterious charm that made label seniors Girls' Generation and f(x) icons, this time through tracks like "The Chase," "STYLE" and "FOCUS." Then came "RUDE!" in February. Powered by its fizzy production and a scene-stealing part from member Stella, the single turned into a global hit. Just hours before "Lemon Tang" dropped, all eight members — Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian and Ye-on — sat down with press at Blue Square in Yongsan District, Seoul, all smiles about following up the success of "RUDE!" "I'm still so thankful for how much love 'RUDE!' got. The first half of this year was a lot, but a good kind of a lot," Stella said. "Hitting our goal of topping the rookie charts last year meant everything. I really1d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
After $5 mil. home, BLACKPINK's Lisa shows off another luxury purchaseBLACKPINK member Lisa is once again drawing attention for her lavish lifestyle after revealing what appears to be a classic Ferrari sports car. On Monday, Lisa shared a photo on her personal social media account with the caption, "MY NEW BABY." The image showed a red vehicle believed to be a Ferrari Testarossa, one of the Italian automaker's most iconic sports cars. The post quickly drew attention online, as Lisa has previously made headlines for showcasing several high-end supercars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The latest reveal comes after reports that the global K-pop star purchased a home in Seoul's affluent Seongbuk-dong neighborhood for 7.5 billion won ($5 million) in 2023. The detached residence spans one basement level and two above-ground floors. According to reports, Lisa paid the full amount in cash. Lisa has continued to expand her global profile beyond music. On June 12, she appeared on stage during the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. As one of K-pop's most internationally recognized stars, Lisa frequently generates buzz on soci1d agoBy Xportsnews
Stray Kids to drop new album in August, announces new world tourPopular boy group Stray Kids will release a new album in August and embark on a new world tour, the group's agency JYP Entertainment said Monday. The album, "This & That" is due out on Aug. 7. It will mark the group's first new album in nine months, following the release of "Do It" from its "Skz It Tape" project in November. Ahead of the album's release, Stray Kids will drop a digital single, "Run It," at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The pre-release track will be included on the forthcoming album. The group also announced a new world tour, building on the success of its previous run concluded in October. The tour spanned 56 shows across 35 cities, making it the group's largest to date. Further details of the upcoming tour have yet to be announced. Stray Kids recently performed as a headliner at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York on June 6 (U.S. time) and is scheduled to appear at Brazil's Rock in Rio festival in September.1d agoBy Yonhap
BTS' 'ARIRANG' returns to top 10 on Billboard 200"ARIRANG," the fifth studio album of K-pop supergroup BTS, has returned to the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart. The album climbed one place from the previous week to No. 10 on the Billboard 200 with 34,000 album units in the latest tracking period, Billboard said in a chart preview Sunday (U.S. time). The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical and digital sales, as well as streaming and digital track downloads. Released in March, "ARIRANG" became the first album from a K-pop act to spend three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the chart. It has now remained on the chart for 13 straight weeks. American pop star Olivia Rodrigo took No. 1 this week with her third studio album, "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love."1d agoBy Yonhap
Why K-pop stars are getting backup careers — from dog groomers to insurance agentsBehind the glamour of South Korea's entertainment industry, an increasing number of celebrities are preparing for life beyond the spotlight. Facing the uncertainty of careers that can change overnight, several K-pop idols and TV personalities have recently drawn attention for earning professional certifications and building alternative careers — from pet grooming and beauty services to insurance consulting and fitness instruction. The trend has resonated with many young Koreans, who often discuss "backup plans" and career diversification on social media amid growing economic uncertainty. Former Secret member Jun Hyo-seong recently revealed that she obtained a pet care certification. Appearing on comedian Kim Sook's YouTube channel, June 15, Jun said she began considering what she might do if she ever left the entertainment industry. "I earned a pet care manager certification," she said. "I started thinking about what I would do if I were no longer an entertainer, and I realized I wanted to do something that helps animals." Red Velvet member Joy is pursuing a similar path. During a recentJun 20, 2026By Xportsnews
