Academics call for societal shift in attitudes toward K-pop singers’ mental health

Yale professor says Korean idols face harsher scrutiny than other stars, citing Suga’s DUI case Local and international K-pop academics are urging South Korean society to reassess its approach to the mental health of celebrities who often endure intense scrutiny and harsh judgment. They argue that the unrealistic moral and professional standards imposed on public figures make it difficult for them to seek help without facing severe backlash. This call for change follows the recent deaths of actr

March 12, 2025

30,000 NewJeans fans submit petition urging court to reject Ador’s injunction

Team Bunnies support NewJean's decision to end its contract with Ador NewJeans' fandom “Team Bunnies,” announced Wednesday that its 30,000 members had submitted a petition to the court to urge it to dismiss Ador’s injunction request filed in January to maintain its management rights over the girl group. Ador is the disputed former agency of NewJeans, now rebranded as NJZ, after the members unilaterally terminated their exclusive contracts in November 2024. “Fans fully support the members’ decisi

March 12, 2025

Stray Kids certifies for 9th gold in US

Stray Kids cinched gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America with “Hop,” according to the organization on Tuesday in the US. The album came out in December last year and is the band’s ninth endeavor overall to earn gold in the country. It is the octet’s fifth album to do so, a first for a K-pop band. The 12-track album sold over 1.8 million copies in the first week and topped iTunes Top Albums Chart in 28 regions while lead single “Walkin on Water” ranked atop its Top

March 12, 2025

BTS’ Jimin sets K-pop record on Billboard’s Hot 100

Jimin of BTS rewrote history on Billboard’s Hot 100 with solo single “Who,” according to the chart dated March 15. The single ranked No. 41 on the main songs chart and made the chart for 32 weeks in total, surpassing the record 31 week stay set by Psy’s “Gangnam Style” for a K-pop solo act, and tying the longest stay for a K-pop singer set by BTS with “Dynamite.” “Who” is the main track from his second solo EP “Muse” which continues to renew his own record on Billboard 200, ranking No. 154 in 33

March 12, 2025

BTS’ J-Hope to drop 2 more solo singles this year

J-Hope of BTS told fans Tuesday that he is poised to bring out two more solo singles by the end of this year. “Interestingly, all three songs will be different in style,” he said, sharing the plan on a fan communications application. While working on the album in the US, he thought hard about what music his fans would love and came up with the answer: “good music.” He is building up his own music career with the new singles, including “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” he dropped last week, and they

March 12, 2025

Deaf trio Big Ocean to embark on Europe tour

After successfully wrapping up its first concert in Japan, boy band sets sights on broader stage Big Ocean, the world’s first K-pop idol group composed of deaf members, is set to embark on its first tour in Europe. According to its agency, Parastar Entertainment, Big Ocean ― consisting of Lee Chan-yeon, Park Hyun-jin and Kim Ji-seok ― will launch its first European tour, "Underwater," this April. Fresh off a successful first concert in Nagoya, Japan, the three-member group is looking to expand i

March 12, 2025

Kang Daniel to tour Europe

Kang Daniel announced plans to expand his tour to Europe via agency ARA on Wednesday. He is planning to visit London, Paris, Hamburg, Germany and Warsaw in May in the span of a week for his tour “Act.” The Warsaw gig will be his first visit to the Polish capital. He launched the tour last year in Seoul and travelled to Tokyo and Osaka, Japan in January and to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Sydney last month. He wrapped up the Asian leg of the tour in Taipei on March 1. It was his first time p

March 12, 2025

Shin Soo-hyun gears up for new solo journey

After 17 years as U-Kiss leader, singer charts independent path. The year of 2025 feels like a fresh start for Shin Soo-hyun. This year marks his first major step as a solo artist, leaving behind U-Kiss, the group he has been with for more than half his life. "For 17 years, I performed as 'Soohyun' with U-Kiss, but now that I’ve decided to go solo, I’m using my full name, 'Shin Soo-hyun,'” Shin said at a group interview in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Tuesday. The new album, “I Am,” was released Tue

March 12, 2025

Docu film 'Forever We Are Young' explores global impact of BTS, Army

The film premiered at the 2025 SXSW film festival A documentary film offering an in-depth analysis of Army, the dedicated fandom of BTS, has been released. The documentary “Forever We Are Young” had its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) in Paramount Theater, Austin, Texas, Tuesday, according to Big Hit Music. Filmed over three years across diverse locations including Seoul, Los Angeles, Texas and Mexico City, the documentary was selected for screening in the "24

March 11, 2025

Jennie’s bold fashion at LA performance sparks debate ahead of Seoul show

Fans argue that K-pop idols should have artistic freedom without restrictions, critics call the outfit too provocative Jennie of Blackpink has stirred controversy among Korean fans for her revealing outfits worn during “The Ruby Experience” in Los Angeles, last week. With her Seoul show scheduled for Saturday, attention is now on whether the daring stage costumes will return. Jennie performed at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on March 6-7 to celebrate the release of her first solo studio alb

March 11, 2025

K-pop stars, fans mourn late singer Wheesung’s death

Police request autopsy as part of ongoing investigation into Wheesung’s death The sudden news of the death of R&B singer Wheesung on Monday has left the K-pop community in mourning, with tributes pouring in from fellow musicians and fans. Rapper Changmo shared his condolences online, expressing gratitude for Wheesung’s music in his life. “Thank you for your amazing music that had a great impact on my life. May you rest in peace,” Changmo posted Monday on social media. Paloalto, another rapper, r

March 11, 2025

Seventeen’s Hoshi, Woozi top iTunes Chart

Hoshi X Woozi, a new subunit from Seventeen, debuted atop a series of music charts at home and abroad, said agency Pledis Entertainment Tuesday. The duo dropped first single “Beam” on the previous day and claimed the top spot on daily album sales chart in Korea while focus track “96ers” headed straight to the top of the real-time chart from Bugs and iTunes Top Songs Chart in two regions. B-side track “Pinocchio (feat. So!Yoon!)” also sat among top 10 on the chart in 10 regions. Music video for “

March 11, 2025

Blackpink’s Lisa, Rose among top 10 on Billboard charts

Lisa of Blackpink hit Billboard 200 at No. 7 with her first solo full album “Alter Ego,” according to chart preview unveiled on Monday in the US. The LP is her first solo entry on the main albums chart and is the second highest spot claimed by a K-pop solo female singer, after Rose whose first LP “Rosie” had ranked No. 3. “Alter Ego” debuted on UK’s Official Albums Top 100 at No. 20. Meanwhile, Rose stayed at No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with “APT.” maintaining the spot for the second week. The

March 11, 2025

Zerobaseone to host 2nd fan concert

Zerobaseone will greet fans at its second fan concert “Blue Mansion,” slated to be held in Seoul on April 18-20, agency WakeOne Entertainment said Monday. The nine members will host the event 1 1/2 years after their first fan concert which was held at Gocheok Sky Dome in August 2023. They will demonstrate the performance skills they have honed through the “Timeless World” concert tour, which took them to eight cities across Asia and drew about 140,000 attendees. A concert film of the tour will c

March 11, 2025

SF9 ready to bring fantasy into real life

Members of SF9 talked about their 14th EP, “Fantasy,” which was released Tuesday, via agency FNC Entertainment. “We are happy to show a new side to fans and expectations are higher since Jaeyoon is back with us after almost three years,” said leader Youngbin. Inseong thanked Jaeyoon as well, crediting him for boosting everyone’s energy to have a laugh while practicing for the comeback. “I’ve missed fans and being on stage so much while enlisted,” said Jaeyoon, underlining how the time away made

March 11, 2025