An increasing number of K-pop idols are finding it less appealing to renew their contracts with major agencies, citing restrictions on freedom of expression and limited control over their music. Industry insiders point to shifts in media and production that have empowered idols, giving them more control over their careers. With the rise of social media and independent publishers, idols no longer depend on major agencies for success. Local entertainment companies, however, are frustrated by idols

K-pop Sept. 24, 2024

On the afternoon of Sept. 10, six K-pop trainees from China gathered in a dance studio at the World K-Pop Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, for a practice session. Donning comfortable training outfits and sneakers, their faces reflected a mix of excitement, nerves and determination. The trainees are just over two months away from their long-awaited debut as a K-pop girl group in Korea, set for mid-November. However, not all six will be able to debut. They are a portion of a larger group of 17 trainees w

K-pop Sept. 23, 2024

Aespa is set to make its highly anticipated return next month with “Whiplash,” the girl group's fifth mini-album. The six-track album will be released on multiple music platforms at 6 p.m. KST, Oct. 21. Showcasing Aespa’s unique musical style, it will feature title track “Whiplash” alongside tracks of a variety of genres, according to SM Entertainment. Expectations for "Whiplash" are high after the massive success of the group's first full-length

K-pop Sept. 23, 2024

Rookie K-pop group Illit will release its second mini-album “I’ll Like You” on Oct. 21, the band announced through global fandom platform Weverse on Monday. This marks the group’s first new music in seven months, following the success of their debut mini-album “Super Real Me.” The album made waves both at home and abroad, even securing a spot on the Billboard 200. The group has quickly risen to prominence since its March debut, with its title track “Magn

K-pop Sept. 23, 2024

Recently rebooted K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, with four new members after last year’s legal dispute between their agency, Attrakt, and the original members, is off to a promising start with the new mini album “Love Tune,” which released Friday. The album, available in both "Love" and "Tune" versions, features six tracks, including lead single “SOS” and the prereleased “Starry Night.” Other tracks include "Push Your Love,"

K-pop Sept. 22, 2024

The conflict between Hybe and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin appears to be escalating into a broader dispute between the fandoms of BTS and NewJeans, as BTS's fanbase, Army, raises its voice in opposing Min's potential return. A group identifying itself as part of the BTS Army community released a statement on X Monday, expressing its unified stance against Min’s return as the CEO of Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe. The group made clear that it opposes her reinstatement in a leadership r

K-pop Sept. 18, 2024

True American-style hamburger in Seoul Craving an authentic American-style hamburger in Seoul? Brooklyn the Burger Joint is your go-to spot. First opened in 2010 in Seorae Maeul, Seoul's French village in Seocho-gu, this American diner-style restaurant now has nine additional locations across Seoul and two in Bundang-gu, Gyeonggi Province. Brooklyn the Burger Joint stays true to the classic, authentic taste of American-style hamburgers, focusing on high-quality ingredients. The restaurant u

Culture Sept. 13, 2024

K-pop idols are increasingly succumbing to illness and exhaustion as they face the relentless pressure of participating in a growing number of music awards, where the demands for performances, rehearsals and public appearances are higher than ever. As the competitive nature of the industry pushes them constantly to excel and maintain a flawless image, many artists are experiencing the physical and mental toll of this grueling schedule, raising serious concerns about their long-term health and th

K-pop Sept. 10, 2024

Source Music, the agency behind popular K-pop girl group Le Sserafim, has launched a global audition in search of its next girl group members. The 2024 Source Music Global Audition, which kicked off Sept. 9, is open to any female born after 2006. Applicants can audition in various categories, including vocals, rap, dance, acting, songwriting and more. Online applications will be accepted from Sept. 9 to 22 via the official website. Successful applicants from the first round will be invited to of

K-pop Sept. 9, 2024

Twice's youngest member Tzuyu is set to make her solo debut Friday, promising fans a more mature and sexy side they haven’t seen before. The Taiwanese singer becomes the third Twice member to go solo, following Nayeon in June 2022 and Jihyo in August 2023, with the release of her first mini-album, “abouTZU.” "While performing with Twice members and seeing various stages, I started wondering what it would be like to have my own stage, inspired by other female solo arti

K-pop Sept. 5, 2024

Kpop4Planet (K4P), a climate activist group founded by K-pop fans advocating for a more sustainable K-pop industry, held a protest titled "Plastic Album Sins" in front of Hybe’s headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Wednesday, urging the industry to take stronger environmental protection measures. During the protest, K4P cited an August survey that gathered input from over 12,000 K-pop fans here and overseas. According to the survey, 42.8 percent of respondents identified marketing

K-pop Sept. 5, 2024

Ador may be taking steps to distance NewJeans from the influence of former CEO Min Hee-jin, as her close associate and director behind the music videos for “ETA” and “Ditto,” Shin Woo-seok, announced Monday that he would cease collaboration with the group. In May, Shin had submitted a petition opposing Min's dismissal as Ador's CEO. Shin revealed that the Hybe-owned label recently requested that he remove all NewJeans-related content from his production company

K-pop Sept. 3, 2024

K-pop idols continue to grapple with navigating geopolitical controversies, as highlighted by a recent incident involving JYP Entertainment's K-pop group Nmixx. The group performed part of “Dokdo is Our Land” in a YouTube video on Aug. 22, sparking a heated dispute between Korean and Japanese fans. The incident raised a critical question: Should K-pop bands refrain from addressing political issues, or should they be candid about their political positions? Japan has claimed sover

K-pop Sept. 2, 2024

SM Entertainment, reputed for its often cautious approach to managing artist controversies, has drawn significant attention for its swift and uncompromising handling of the recent scandal involving Taeil, a member of NCT since 2016. On Wednesday, the company announced the K-pop star's involvement in a criminal case related to sexual misconduct and confirmed his immediate departure from the group, marking a notable shift in the agency's risk management strategy. "We recently confir

K-pop Aug. 30, 2024

Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of Hybe-owned label Ador, has rejected the company’s offer to continue as the producer of NewJeans during the remaining two months of her contract. On Friday, Min, through her public relations agency Macoll Consulting Group, released a statement saying, “Hybe’s announcement that Min would continue to work with NewJeans, as reported on Tuesday, was never agreed upon.” Min was offered a business delegation agreement to produce NewJeans from Aug.

K-pop Aug. 30, 2024