Latest K-pop News

• 2026 MAMA Best Song Criteria Draw Criticism After Nominations — After the 2026 MAMA nominations were announced on October 12, the Best Song criteria were released. The criteria assign 30% each to digital and global results, and 40% to judges.
• Lisa Documentary Scene Prompts Divided Reactions Online — A scene in Lisa’s documentary highlighting hateful comments directed at her has drawn mixed reactions online, while fans have expressed heartbreak.
• Woni’s YouTube Channel Delays Upload After Editing Files Are Lost — The team behind RESCENE member Woni’s YouTube channel said an issue erased a day of editing work, delaying its next video as fans offered support.
• Multi-Group “Dynamite” Cover Draws Criticism After Music Bank in Barcelona — Idols from several top K-pop groups covered BTS’s “Dynamite” at Music Bank in Barcelona. The performance drew criticism over the vocals and comparisons with BTS.
• AB6IX’s Park Woo-jin releases second solo EP, ‘SOLSTICE’ — Park Woo-jin has returned with his second solo EP, SOLSTICE, featuring the lead track STAMINA. The four-track release is his first since joining Para Music in June.
• Lee Joo Hyang’s Dating Habits Draw Attention on JTBC’s Love War — A Love War episode featuring former Miss World Korea titleholder Lee Joo Hyang and her boyfriend Park Jin Sung showed disagreements over errands, café visits and dating expenses.
• Lisa Faces Online Mockery After Documentary Comments About Singing Spread — Comments by BLACKPINK’s Lisa about her fears of singing in a new documentary have circulated online, drawing mockery. A clip featuring her remarks was shared online.
• Jungkook Pairs a Calf Hat With a Different Stage Image in Lima — Jungkook wore a plush calf hat during BTS’s third Lima concert, following a second-night performance in an outfit that showed off his toned physique.
• New Law Lets Registered Agencies Self-Rate Music Videos — The Cabinet approved a policy allowing qualified entertainment agencies and digital platforms to rate and release music videos themselves. The revised law will take effect 12 month…
• Travis Japan’s Matsuda Genta Draws Attention for Drama Kiss Scene — A clip from a drama featuring Travis Japan member Matsuda Genta has gained attention online for its kiss scene.
• Sana’s Season’s Greetings Photos Draw Criticism From Netizens — Photos of TWICE’s Sana in the group’s recent Season’s Greetings product have prompted strong criticism online, with netizens objecting to their sexualized presentation.
• A2O LITE Draws Comparisons to BoA, Jessica and Sulli After Debut Showcase — A2O LITE’s debut performance prompted comparisons to several former and current SM artists, while viewers also praised its music and choreography for recalling earlier K-pop styles…
• Lee Eun-seo Refines Her Portrayal of Giselle in Rehearsal — In rehearsal, Lee Eun-seo works through Giselle’s response to Albrecht’s betrayal, with Lee Jae-woo helping her explore the character’s emotions and refine her movements.
• Sung Hanbin Introduces First Solo EP, ‘Dead:Alive’ — ZEROBASEONE leader Sung Hanbin presented his eight-track debut solo EP, ‘Dead:Alive,’ at a media showcase, exploring a darker direction than the group’s bright image.
• Fans Challenge Edited Jungkook Photos as RM Addresses Hotel Crowds — Fans said online images of Jungkook’s skin had been manipulated, while RM asked people to stop gathering outside BTS’s hotels during the group’s tour.
• Roh Ji-sun Reflects on 15 Years in Entertainment After Leaving fromis_9 — Roh Ji-sun looked back on her years as an idol in a social media post about her YouTube appearance, discussing financial hardship and the impact of the Idol School vote-rigging sca…
• Tablo Recalls JYP Entertainment’s Interest in His Demo — Epik High’s Tablo said he received a call from someone identifying themselves as JYP while he was active in an underground hip-hop group at Stanford University.
• BTS, Blackpink and Stray Kids in focus as 2026 MAMA nominations emerge — The 2026 MAMA Awards are set for Nov. 20-21 in Osaka, with BTS, Blackpink and Stray Kids among the major names in the conversation around the nominations.
• The Boyz’ Q to Hold First Solo Fan Meeting in Seoul — Q will meet fans at his first solo event, “For Seasons,” with two sessions scheduled at Coex Artium in Seoul on Nov. 17.
• NCT Wish’s Fourth Mini Album Sells More Than 1.2 Million Copies on Day One — NCT Wish’s fourth mini album recorded more than 1.2 million sales on its first day, extending the group’s million-selling streak to four consecutive releases, SM Entertainment said…
• Jennie’s “Dracula” Rises to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 — Jennie and Tame Impala’s “Dracula” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Oct. 17, extending its run in the chart’s top 10 to 20 weeks.
• Rosé Shares Photos From Italian Getaway at Amalfi Coast Villa — BLACKPINK’s Rosé posted photos from a stay at Torre di Civita, a private villa near Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Reported weekly rates for 2026 range from about 160 million to 254 million…
• CORTIS’s Barcelona Performance Draws Criticism Over Live Vocals and Rap — CORTIS’s live performance of “Acai” at Music Bank in Barcelona prompted online criticism of the group’s vocals, rap delivery and stage energy, alongside debate about performance st…
• Roh Ji Sun Says She Cleared Her Debt After Leaving fromis_9 — Roh Ji Sun discussed how credit card loans worsened her financial difficulties and said she paid off her debts about a year after leaving fromis_9.
• Roh Jisun Discusses Financial Strain Before Leaving Idol Career — Former fromis_9 member Roh Jisun said she turned to credit card loans while active as an idol, after she was unable to get other loans because she had no job or income.
• Lee Soo-man introduces A2O Entertainment’s first boy and girl groups — Lee Soo-man presented A2O Soul and A2O Lite at a launch event for his new company, A2O Entertainment. The groups are set to release their debut digital singles Tuesday.
• Lee Soo-man Introduces A2O Soul and A2O Lite at Joint Showcase — Lee Soo-man’s A2O Entertainment presented boy group A2O Soul and girl group A2O Lite at a joint showcase in Goyang. Their digital singles are scheduled for release Tuesday.
• 2026 MAMA AWARDS Reveals Nominees and Opens Fans’ Choice Voting — Nominees for the 2026 MAMA AWARDS were announced on October 12. The first Fans’ Choice voting round runs through October 22, ahead of a second round later in the month.
• SM Entertainment Updates Legal Action Over Posts Targeting Its Artists — SM Entertainment said on October 12 that it is continuing legal action over malicious posts, defamation, and sexual harassment targeting its artists on domestic and international p…
• Howling Entertainment CEO Apologizes After Ren’s Fan Messaging Exchange — Howling Entertainment CEO Go Yoon Young apologized after CHASER member Ren drew criticism for his response to a fan on a paid messaging service. The agency said its guidance had be…
• T.O.P’s Agency Apologizes After Longtime Fans Cite Lack of Communication — T.O.P’s agency apologized after longtime fans voiced frustration over limited activity and communication. The backlash followed a fan site’s closure after a planned exhibition was…
• A2O LITE’s Rumored Center Draws Divided Reactions Online — Photos of Ayune, a Korean member rumored to be A2O LITE’s center, circulated in an online community post and prompted divided reactions. The source says she was born in 2013.
• Jeongyeon’s Instagram Photos Prompt Discussion About Her Appearance — TWICE’s Jeongyeon drew attention with a recent Instagram post, which received thousands of likes and comments and prompted discussion about her appearance and weight loss.
• Nayeon Joins Charlie Puth for Duet at Goyang Concert — TWICE’s Nayeon made a surprise appearance at Charlie Puth’s Goyang concert, where the two performed a duet and prompted speculation about a possible collaboration.
• Soyeon Holds No. 1 as ALLDAY PROJECT Climbs on Soompi’s Chart — Soyeon’s “I’m gonna TOESA” stays at No. 1 for a third consecutive week, while ALLDAY PROJECT’s “CRASH” rises 47 places to No. 2.
• Pakistan Declares Emergency and Suspends PTI-Led Provincial Government — Pakistan’s president declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and suspended its PTI-led government. The federal government said the province had not adequately addressed…
• BABYMONSTER’s “Choom” Music Video Reaches 200 Million YouTube Views — BABYMONSTER’s “Choom” music video has passed 200 million views on YouTube, marking the group’s 10th video to reach that milestone.
• NCT WISH to release fourth mini-album “I SPY” ahead of Gocheok show — NCT WISH’s fourth mini-album, “I SPY,” arrives at 6 p.m. Monday with six tracks. The group is also set to make its debut performance at Gocheok Sky Dome in January.
• ATEEZ to Launch 2027 World Tour in Incheon in January — ATEEZ will open its 2027 world tour with three Incheon concerts from Jan. 22 to 24, followed by shows in Japan and later stops across Europe and the Americas.
• NCT Wish to Release Fourth EP and Begin Second Tour in Seoul — NCT Wish is releasing its fourth EP, “I Spy,” on Monday. The group also announced its second concert tour, which will begin with two Seoul shows in mid-January.