Right after Lisa of Blackpink released her new solo single “Rockstar” on June 28, a heated debate ignited online between Korean and Thai fans about whether the song should be classified as K-pop or Thai pop. Lisa moved to Korea in 2011 at the age of 14 and underwent more than five years of training at YG Entertainment before debuting as a member of what is now K-pop's most successful girl group. Korean fans argue that her identity as a K-pop star justifies calling her new single

Jin of BTS was named as one of the torchbearers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to local media on Tuesday. The artist will join a list of over 11,000 people carrying the flame across the country over 11 weeks until the opening ceremony on July 26. The torch arrived in France last week and Jin is expected to fly over soon, although no specifics have been announced yet. Jin was discharged on June 12 and instantly resumed activities, starting with a fan meeting the next day that fell on the

K-pop powerhouse Hybe’s much anticipated first multinational K-pop girl group Katseye, formed in collaboration with Geffen Records, is failing to make a name for itself not only in the US, its target market, but also in Korea, the homeland of the genre. The K-pop sextet with only one Korean member, Yoonchae, has been at the center of questions as to whether a K-pop band that is mostly non-Korean could succeed. In the global market, two indicators of popularity and success -- Spotify and iT

Jin of K-pop phenomenon BTS will carry the torch for the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to a local media outlet on Tuesday. The K-pop star will soon depart for France to carry the Olympic flame, but details about the torch relay location and schedule have not been disclosed. The singer's involvement in the torch relay is believed to be due to BTS' popularity worldwide and the group's consistent message of "Love yourself" over the past decade. Jin's agency Big Hit Mu

StayC is back, and full of confidence and charisma. The group's first full-length album "Metamorphic" was released Monday. It follows "Teenfresh," a mini-album that came out in August last year. The new album features 14 tracks, including unit and solo songs. "We have been preparing for this full-length album for a long time. As the album's title suggests, listeners will see a transformed version of StayC. We were worried about whether we could pull off all 14

K-pop boy group B.A.P, which debuted as a band of six in 2012, is returning to the K-pop scene as a quartet of Bang Yong-guk, Jung Dae-hyun, Yoo Young-jae and Moon Jong-up. Their comeback comes after six years. The quartet is due to release a new single in August under the new name Bang&Jung&Yoo&Moon, according to MA Entertainment, the group's agency. Bang&Jung&Yoo&Moon has been showing how the group is getting ready for the comeback through a documentary series call

The custom suits BTS members wore for their Grammy Awards performance in March 2021 will be on exhibit at the Jewelry Museum in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, from Sept. 7 to Dec. 15. The city-run museum will showcase the custom suits that E-Land Group, a local clothing retailer, acquired in an auction. The agreement on the exhibition was signed by the city and the retailer’s private museum. E-Land Group bought the customs at Julien’s Auctions in January 2022, a year after the seven K

Zion.T decided not to renew his contract with The Black Label, which expired recently, according to a local media report on Monday. The label confirmed the news following the report. The singer had signed with the YG Entertainment affiliate headed by producer Teddy in 2016 after he left Amoeba Culture. His future activities will be overseen by Standard Friends, a company he established two years ago, joining the likes of rappers Wonstein and Giriboy. Zion.T debuted in 2011 with single “C

Aespa held the second “Synk: Parallel Line" concert in Seoul over the weekend as it started a world tour. Over Saturday and Sunday, approximately 12,000 spectators attended the concert held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium. On Sunday, the quartet appeared on the stage in dazzling black attire, and kicked off the concert with intense tracks -- “Drama,” “Black Mamba,” and “Salty & Sweet.” Members changed into bright costumes with metallic fabric, and fill

SM Entertainment's Japan-based K-pop boy group NCT Wish dropped a new single, “Songbird,” on Monday. More than 630,000 copies were pre-sold in Korea and Japan, the highest number of pre-orders since MCT Wish's debut in February. “Songbird” is a pop-dance song over a catchy guitar riff. The song conveys a hopeful message of flying high to make a miracle -- a motif of the lyrics is a bird that brings luck. The music video for the Korean version of "Songbird&q

The time for lenience is over. An increasing number of K-pop artists are taking a stand against hateful comments and rumors by pursuing legal action and declaring they will not settle under any circumstances. Previously, K-pop musicians were eager to hush up rumors about them when they arose -- whether they were true or not -- hoping to avoid trouble as much as possible. Their agencies also believed that taking strong action would only create a "Streisand effect" -- making the rumors b

Seventeen became the first K-pop group to perform on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, on Friday, setting a significant milestone for K-pop while showcasing the genre’s growing influence. The 13-member band captivated the audience for an hour on the Pyramid Stage with a powerful set that began with Woozi's keyboard solo before launching into hits like "Maestro," "Ready to Love," "SOS," "Clap," "God of Music&qu

Le Sserafim is poised to return in late August with a new album, local media reported Friday. Agency Source Music confirmed that the group was preparing to return, but said the date and type of release had not been set. It will be about six months since its third EP “Easy,” the main track from which entered Billboard’s Hot 100, at No. 99, for the first time for the quintet. "Easy" debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 8 and became its third straight million-selling album.

Legendary K-pop girl group 2NE1’s meeting with Yang Hyun-suk, founder and head producer of YG Entertainment, has raised speculation of a possible comeback with a new release in time for the group’s 15th debut anniversary. According to YG Entertainment, all four members of 2NE1 -- CL, Sandara Park, Park Bom and Minzy -- met Yang for talks at the agency’s headquarters in Seoul on Thursday. It was the first meeting of the quartet and Yang in eight years. “The meeting took ov

K-pop girl group Ive is releasing a new song in collaboration with Pepsi on Friday at 6 p.m. The song, “Summer Festa,” which is part of the “2024 Pepsi Campaign,” is a disco-pop song led by a funky guitar and groovy bass. The unique vocal tones of Ive members blend perfectly with the simple but rhythmic beat of the song that captures the vibrant atmosphere of summer. The lyrics contain messages of independence and confidence such as, “I make my own opportunity&rdquo