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Blackpink’s Jennie becomes face of Seoul
Jennie of Blackpink will lend her star power to Seoul, the Seoul Tourism Organization announced Tuesday. The artist was tapped as the honorary ambassador to promote tourism in the capital city this year, and a campaign video featuring her will be unveiled Thursday, the organization said. Under the catchphrase “Absolutely in Seoul,” the first promotional video — “Daltokki” — will follow Jennie as she explores spots in Seoul from Gyeongbokgung to Seongsu-dong. The second video will incorporate her
July 29, 2025 -
Touched to release new EP, followed by special concert
Touched is set to release its new EP album “Red Signal” on Aug. 12, marking the rock band’s first release in 23 months since its 2023 EP “Yellow Supernova Remnant.” Pre-release track "Ruby," which was unveiled during the SBS "Gayo Daejeon Summer Unipop" stage on Sunday, hints at the intense mood of the new album. Along with the album announcement, the band revealed a teaser image with a red, heart-shaped gem at the center surrounded by five black gemstones. The design was inspired by an early dr
July 29, 2025 -
Seventeen to tour US in October
Pledis Entertainment announced on Tuesday plans for Seventeen's US tour. Nine of the group's 13 members will travel to five cities in the country — Tacoma, Los Angeles, Austin, Sunrise and Washington D.C. — for 10 live shows from Oct. 11 to 30. The five-city trip will be part of its “New_” international tour that will kick off in Incheon on Sept. 13. Following the American stages, the group will begin the Japan leg of the tour, with 10 performances across 4 major domes. In May, Seventeen celebra
July 29, 2025 -
TXT renews record in Japan with 4th LP
Tomorrow X Together scored the top spot on Oricon’s Weekly Album Ranking with its fourth studio album “The Star Chapter: Together,” according to the chart published on Tuesday. The album sold over 304,000 copies in the first week in Japan, surpassing its second LP in Japan, “Sweet,” which notched the No. 1 spot on Oricon’s Daily Album Ranking three times. With the new LP, the band has placed 12 consecutive albums atop the weekly chart, renewing the record it holds for the chart-topping streak fo
July 29, 2025 -
Itzy to host fan meetups in Korea, Japan
Itzy is planning to greet fans in Korea and Japan in September and October, label JYP Entertainment announced Tuesday. The quintet will host its fourth official fan meeting “On Air” in Seoul on Sept. 20 and in Tokyo on Oct. 11-12. The Seoul event will be livestreamed worldwide. The upcoming meetup will be held about 10 months after the group's "Midzy's Cells" fan meet in Seoul, and will mark the first such event in Japan since Itzy's debut. The group rolled out its tenth EP “Girls Will Be Girls”
July 29, 2025 -
Jennie of Blackpink taps ex-Spotify executive’s Alta Music to manage her US activities
Jennie of Blackpink has signed with former Spotify global music head Jeremy Erlich’s newly launched Alta Music Group for US management, in a strategic move to expand her solo activities stateside. While the exact date of the contract signing has not been disclosed, it is expected to have taken place in July, as reports of the deal surfaced in the US on July 24. The agreement marks the first artist management signing for Alta Music, an independent, full-service company based in Los Angeles. Jenni
July 28, 2025 -
SevenToEight embraces both fresh, intense charms
Taiwan-based boy group SevenToEight made an ambitious K-pop debut Monday with two contrasting singles. “Making a debut in Korea has always been my dream. I still can’t believe it, even though I am standing on the stage right now,” said D’om during a debut press showcase held at Showking K-pop Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Monday. “Our team name combines 7, which symbolizes luck, and 8, which represents infinity, reflecting our determination to create endless possibilities together with our fans,” ex
July 28, 2025 -
&Team draws 100,000 fans in its first Asia tour
Japan-based idol group &Team has wrapped up its first Asia tour, attracting approximately 100,000 concertgoers and marking a major milestone in the group's career. The group held a sold-out show at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong on Saturday as part of its Asia tour, "Awaken The Bloodline." Kicking off in Aichi, Japan in May, the tour spanned roughly two months with 14 shows across 9 cities, including Tokyo, Fukuoka and the Hyogo prefecture in Japan; Bangkok, Seoul; Jakarta in Indonesia; Taipei and
July 28, 2025 -
The Boyz discuss 10th EP
The Boyz members discussed their tenth EP “A;effect” through their agency One Hundred on Monday. The new album comes approximately four months after the group's third full-length album, “Unexpected.” “We have high hopes, especially since we are demonstrating a new style,” said Jacob. The main track “Stylish” is “simple yet full of confidence,” according to Eric, who believes both the lyrics and performance are catchy. “My part includes saying ‘stylish,’ and you will have more fun listening to th
July 28, 2025 -
BTS’ live album hits Billboard 200 at No. 10
BTS' first-ever live album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 10, according to the chart preview published on Sunday in the US. “Permission to Dance on Stage — Live” is the group's eighth album to make the top ten on the main albums chart. Of the seven previous top ten entries, six were chart-toppers. The new album features 22 tracks from performances in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas during the 2021-2022 tour. It will be a recap ahead of the band’s full-group activities, which will resume next
July 28, 2025 -
Red Velvet’s Joy to return as soloist
Joy of Red Velvet is poised to make a comeback as a solo singer after about four years away from K-pop, SM Entertainment announced Monday. She will be bringing out the EP “From Joy, with Love” on Aug. 18. The mini album will have six tracks, including focus track “Love Splash!” Her first solo endeavor was “Hello” from May 2021, a special album that consisted of her retakes on six well-known songs. The album topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 26 regions as well as a number of music charts at h
July 28, 2025 -
SHINee’s Taemin teases Japan tour
Taemin of SHINee uploaded a poster for his upcoming solo tour in Japan, via agency Big Planet Made Entertainment on Sunday. The poster showed carmine red fabric billowing over a figure’s head, hinting at the mysterious and enchanting ambience of the "Veil" tour. The artist is set to go live 11 times at arenas in five regions across the country: Kanagawa, Saga, Shizuoka, Chiba and Hyogo. The arena tour will begin on Sept. 13 and run until Dec. 25. His most recent live shows in Japan were the two
July 28, 2025 -
Blackpink's 'Jump' surpasses 100m YouTube views
Blackpink continues to set new records as the music video for its latest single “Jump” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube . Released on July 11, the video reached the milestone in just two weeks, becoming Blackpink’s 49th video to draw over 100 million views on the platform. “Jump” was the group’s first new release since its second Studio album "Born Pink" in September 2022. The single was Blackpink’s first foray into the hardstyle genre, showcasing explosive, energetic sound. Opening with a
July 27, 2025 -
When K-pop stays abroad: The rise of export-oriented idol groups
In the age of global K-pop, not all idol groups shine equally at home and abroad. Fans and insiders are describing a growing number of acts as “export-oriented idols” — groups who debut in Korea but quickly shift focus to international activities due to lackluster local reception. While some idols still enjoy popularity across the board — such as BTS and Blackpink, who command massive fan bases both in Korea and worldwide — others are far more prominent overseas than they are domestically. Group
July 25, 2025 -
'Don't forget me’: Astro’s Cha Eunwoo set for enlistment
Cha Eunwoo of Astro recently bid fans farewell ahead of his enlistment in the military, asking them not to forget him. He begins his mandatory military service on Monday as a member of the Army marching band. He thanked fans through From, an online communication platform, telling them he has been doing well. “I will miss you a lot, won’t I?” wrote Cha, admitting that it still feels surreal. The singer and actor asked fans not to forget him and mentioned that he has an album, a movie and a TV sho
July 25, 2025