Belift Lab loses damages suit against ex-ADOR CEO over alleged defamationA Seoul court on Friday ruled against K-pop agency Belift Lab in a suit claiming damages from Min Hee-jin, former CEO of K-pop label ADOR, for alleged defamation. Belift Lab, a sub-label of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, had sought 2 billion won ($1.5 million) in damages after Min claimed in an April 2024 press conference that the label's girl group Illit had copied ADOR's NewJeans. The Seoul Western District Court rejected Belift Lab's argument that Min had defamed the label by spreading false information, ruling her remarks were an expression of subjective opinion. It also dismissed a counter suit raised by Min against Belift Lab, seeking 5 billion won in damages. Min faces a separate criminal case over the alleged defamation against Belift Lab, with police referring her to the prosecution last month on suspicion of defamation and obstruction of business.13h agoBy Yonhap
After BTS and SEVENTEEN, how will Stray Kids navigate military hiatus?K-pop boy group Stray Kids has confirmed that member Lee Know will begin fulfilling his mandatory military service next year. With major K-pop groups such as BTS and SEVENTEEN having adopted different strategies to manage disruptions caused by military enlistment, attention is turning to how Stray Kids, which has built its global influence primarily through group activities, will navigate its own military hiatus. JYP Entertainment, the group's agency, announced through its official social media channels on Nov. 5 that Lee Know is scheduled to begin his military service in the first quarter of 2027, along with plans for the group's upcoming activities. According to the agency, Lee Know may be absent from some scheduled activities during the first quarter of next year but will continue connecting with fans through various content releases and individual activities before his enlistment. His exact enlistment date and type of military service have yet to be disclosed. The announcement has drawn particular attention because Lee Know will become the first Stray Kids member to fulfill his mili17h agoBy Hankookilbo
ATEEZ enjoy newfound fame in Korea after 'BAD' success: 'People recognize us now'K-pop boy group ATEEZ, already a major force on the global music scene, is enjoying a new level of recognition at home following the success of its hit song "BAD" — with members saying even everyday encounters have changed, from receiving extra freebies at shops to being recognized without having to introduce themselves. The eight-member group — Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho — held a press conference Thursday at Novotel Ambassador in Gangnam, southern Seoul, ahead of the release of its 15th mini-album, "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6." The album marks ATEEZ's first comeback since "BAD" became a sensation, helping the group expand its popularity among the general public in Korea after years of building a strong international fan base. ATEEZ has long enjoyed considerable success overseas. Since entering the top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart for the first time with its eighth mini-album in 2022, the group has placed nine consecutive albums in the chart's top 10 through its 14th mini-album. Despite that success, gaining widespread recognition among t1d agoBy Xportsnews
K-pop boy band CORTIS racks up 1.5 bil. Spotify streamsK-pop boy band CORTIS has accumulated 1.5 billion streams on Spotify since its debut, the group's agency said Thursday. As of Tuesday, the number of Spotify streams for the group's songs had totaled nearly 1.6 billion, with about 1.2 billion coming from this year, according to BigHit Music. Among the songs, "RedRed" released in April has accumulated some 276 million streams. BigHit said among K-pop boy bands that made their debuts in the past five years, Cortis topped 1.5 billion streams in the shortest time. "The milestone comes just 15 months after their debut and reaffirms its presence as a group that has reshaped the K-pop landscape," the company said.1d agoBy Yonhap
BTS' 'Swim' makes Apple Music's Best Songs of 2026 list"Swim," the lead track from K-pop supergroup BTS' fifth studio album, "Arirang," has been named one of Apple Music's "Best Songs of 2026." BTS is the only K-pop act to make the annual list, which was released Saturday (U.S. time). The septet is set to kick off the Asian leg of its "Arirang" world tour in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Nov. 19 before heading to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta. Also on the list was "Dracula," a collaborative single between Australian act Tame Impala and Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK. Pianist Lim Yun-chan made the list with his live performance of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations from New York's Carnegie Hall last year.2d agoBy Yonhap
EXO's Kai, Sehun to debut as duo EXO-KASE on Dec. 1Kai and Sehun of K-pop boy band EXO will debut as a new duo, EXO-KASE, on Dec. 1 with their first EP, “Waking Up The City,” their agency SM Entertainment said Wednesday. Fans have long paired the two, both born in 1994, under the nickname “94-liners,” a reference to the Korean fan practice of grouping idols by birth year. The agency billed the act as a “visual performance unit” that pairs Kai’s intense, “hot guy” charisma with Sehun’s chic, “cool guy” image. In K-pop, a unit, or subunit, is a smaller group formed by members of an existing band to release music with a concept separate from the full group. EXO debuted in 2012 and has previously released music through units such as EXO-CBX and EXO-SC, the latter of which included Sehun. The EP contains seven tracks in a range of moods, including the title track and a solo song by each member, according to the agency. “More than anything, the performance is incredible,” Sehun said of the unit at EXO’s encore concert last week. “We’re that confident in it, so please look forward to it, and we’d appreciate y2d agoBy Jhoo Dong-chan
'Dracula' featuring Jennie climbs to No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100"Dracula," a collaborative single between Australian act Tame Impala and Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has risen to a new peak of No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. According to the chart released Tuesday (U.S. time), the track climbed two spots from No. 5 the previous week, extending its run on the chart to the 58th consecutive week. With the advance, Jennie ties her bandmate Rose as the highest-charting female K-pop artist, behind only the trio who sang "Golden" from the soundtrack of the hit animation "KPop Demon Hunters," which topped the chart. Originally released as a solo track by Tame Impala in October last year, "Dracula" gained renewed traction after a remix featuring Jennie was released in February, going viral on short-form video platforms and climbing up the rankings. Attention is now focused on whether Jennie will secure a Grammy Award nomination next week for the song, propelled by its sustained run on the Billboard chart. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, U.S.-based K-pop girl group Katseye saw its single "Animal" slip five spots to No. 32, spending its 15th week on the chart2d agoBy Yonhap
BTS to light up Singapore ahead of December concertsSingapore is gearing up to paint the city purple this December, morphing into an immersive, island-wide BTS playground. In the lead-up to the group’s four sold-out concerts, iconic landmarks will light up alongside synchronized drone spectacles, fireworks and nonstop music events across the city's top attractions. HYBE and the Singapore Tourism Board unveiled the full program for BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SINGAPORE on Tuesday, announcing events across 10 venue partners from Dec. 1–31. At Jewel Changi Airport, the Rain Vortex, recognized as the world's tallest indoor waterfall, will host BTS-themed light and music shows twice daily at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. from Dec. 1–26. Sentosa Island will offer several major attractions, including an inflatable installation inspired by the album's lead single, "SWIM," a drone party from Dec. 18–20 and the ARIRANG RUN on Dec. 12. The program will also feature BTS-themed cable cars, a decorated Sentosa Express and installations along Sensoryscape, creating opportunities for fans to encounter the group's music throughout the island. At Resorts World Sentosa2d agoBy Lee Kyung-min
From NYC to Tokyo: aespa, RIIZE lead Seoul's international tourism pushSeoul is taking its tourism pitch to some of the world's busiest streets, with K-pop stars leading an international advertising campaign spanning seven cities, including New York, Tokyo and Bangkok. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization said they are rolling out large-scale outdoor advertisements for their global campaign, "Absolutely in Seoul," featuring Karina and Winter of girl group aespa, along with boy band RIIZE, at prominent commercial and tourist destinations overseas. Built around the concept of "Seoul Syndrome," the campaign presents Seoul as a place where ordinary experiences become extraordinary, capturing the lasting impression the city leaves on visitors and their desire to return. New York's Times Square is the centerpiece of the international push, with campaign videos running on large outdoor screens through Nov. 29, reaching tourists and local residents in one of the world's busiest commercial districts. In Tokyo, advertisements are appearing around Shibuya Scramble through Nov. 20, while Bangkok began displaying the campaign Nov. 1, with scrNov 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Stray Kids take 'Run It' tour global with 25 new dates in Japan, North America, EuropeK-pop boy band Stray Kids will play 25 more shows in 23 cities across Japan, North America and Europe next year, extending its “Run It” world tour to 46 shows in 31 cities, the group’s agency JYP Entertainment said Tuesday. The eight-member group announced the new dates Monday on its social media channels and released a new tour poster. The new leg opens with two shows each in Yokohama on April 24 and 25 and Osaka on May 4 and 5. Stray Kids will then play 14 North American dates from May 16 to June 29. The stops are in Seattle; Vancouver, Canada; Santa Clara, San Diego and Los Angeles in California; Arlington and Houston in Texas; Atlanta; Miami and Orlando in Florida; Chicago; Baltimore; Toronto; and East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City. The European run goes from July 9 to 31, with shows in Paris, London, Munich, Vienna, Barcelona, Arnhem in the Netherlands and Milan. All dates are local time. The agency said many of the shows will be solo concerts at major stadiums. Stray Kids launched the tour with five sold-out concerts in July and August at KSPO Dome, an indoor arenaNov 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
