[Today’s K-pop] TXT makes Oricon’s year-end chart

Tomorrow X Together entered Oricon’s annual ranking 2023 for fourth consecutive year, according to the chart published on Wednesday. Its second studio album in Japan, “Sweet” made No. 11 on the album ranking followed by its third studio album in Korea, “The Name Chapter: Freefall,” and fifth EP, “The Name Chapter: Temptation,” at Nos. 13 and 21, respectively. All three albums the quintet released this year made the chart. They also were on Billboard Jap

K-popDec. 20, 2023

Two popular Korean webtoons to be released as e-books in English

Two popular Korean webtoons available on Tappytoon, a digital webtoon platform developed and operated by Contents First, will be released as e-books in English. “The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway” written by author Kim Chacha and “I Tamed My Ex-husband’s Mad Dog” by Jaekyum, will be released as English-language e-books, according to Contents First on Tuesday. The English e-book version of these webtoons was released on Amazon Kindle on Wednesday and wi

K-popDec. 20, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key to host solo concert next month

Key of SHINee is set to hold a solo concert in Seoul on Jan. 27-28, according to label SM Entertainment on Tuesday. The live show, named “2024 Keyland On: And On,” is his first solo gig in Korea in 15 months since the previous concert “G.O.A.T. In the Keyland.” The poster for the upcoming event featured a vending machine with several of the veteran idol’s signature furry mascot Boksiri wearing different costumes. Meanwhile, Key and his bandmates honored the late Jo

K-popDec. 19, 2023

How Hybe trains and develops its artists

K-pop powerhouse Hybe unveiled the training and development program that gave rise to its superstars such as BTS, TXT, Le Sserafim and NewJeans. On Tuesday, the label released five episodes of training and development stories on its official YouTube channel. The video clips show many artists who have been trained by Hybe, including members of BTS, TXT, Enhypen, Le Sserafim and &Team, as well as the people in charge of the training and development program talking about their experiences. Hybe

K-popDec. 19, 2023

JYP forms new Japanese boy group NexZ

JYP Entertainment has finalized the members of its new Japanese boy group, NexZ, through the global audition "Nizi Project Season 2." In the final episode of "Nizi Project Season 2," which ran on JYP's official YouTube channel and streaming service Hulu Japan, the seven members -- Tomoya, Haru, Yuki, Ken, Yu, Yuhi and Seita – were announced with their new group name NexZ. All but Ken, the only Korean member, are Japanese nationals. The global audition held prelimin

K-popDec. 19, 2023

K-pop hits 100m copies in annual album sales milestone in 2023

The K-pop industry has achieved an unprecedented milestone this year as annual domestic sales of physical albums reached the 100 million mark. Circle Chart, a leading tracker of local albums sales, reported Tuesday that the top 400 physical albums collectively sold 116 million copies in the first 11 months of 2023. This represents a remarkable 144 percent increase from 80 million copies in the same period last year, setting a record of 100 million copies in annual sales even before factoring in

K-popDec. 19, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Solo work from BTS’ Jungkook remains strong on charts

The solo single from Jungkook of BTS continues to dominate music charts across the world, even though he began serving his mandatory military service last week. “Standing Next to You,” the focus track from his solo album “Golden,” reclaimed the top spot on Billboard’s digital song sales chart. It is the fourth week the song is spending atop the chart, a record for a K-pop solo act. The lead single is staying on Billboard’s Hot 100 for five weeks in a row, cli

K-popDec. 18, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans to put out 1st remix album

NewJeans will make a comeback with a remix album on Tuesday, said agency Ador on Friday. Album “NJWMX(NewJeans Winter Mix)” is coming out on the first anniversary of the release of “Ditto,” a B-side track from single “OMG.” “Ditto” was released in advance of the full release and was the group’s first entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 96. It has amassed 500 million streams on Spotify as of Dec. 4 -- its second song to reach the milest

K-popDec. 15, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s Jeonghan to suspend activities after ankle surgery

Jeonghan of Seventeen will take some time off, according to Pledis Entertainment on Thursday. The singer has hurt his left ankle in the past and has been carrying on activities while receiving treatment as he wanted to participate in all of the band's schedule for this year. The pain, however, worsened over the band’s recent tour and he had to undergo surgery on Thursday. The surgery went well but Jeonghan will need time to recover and will have to miss activities for the time being, incl

K-popDec. 14, 2023

SM to hold global auditions to discover next generation K-pop stars

SM Entertainment, one of the largest K-pop agencies in South Korea, is holding a global audition in its pursuit of future K-pop stars. The agency began accepting pre-registration applications for the “2024 SM Global Audition” on its global audition website, Tuesday. Anyone born between 2005 and 2013 can apply regardless of their gender and nationality. Applicants must choose one of the categories: vocal, rap, dance and acting. Applications can be made only once and only as an ind

K-popDec. 14, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Lee Junho to host solo concert in Seoul in Jan 2024

Lee Junho of 2PM will hold a standalone solo concert in Seoul on Jan. 13-14 next year, announced label JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. The solo gig, titled “The Day We Meet Again,” is in line with his arena tour in Japan for which the singer and actor played to sold-out audiences in July and August. He will be hosting a solo live show in Korea for the first time in about five years. He has greeted fans in eight cities across Asia for solo fan meet tour after the successful run of th

K-popDec. 13, 2023

Twice to hold encore concert in North America

Girl group Twice will hold its fifth world tour encore concert at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in March. The group’s agency JYP Entertainment has released the poster of an encore concert of Twice's fifth world tour “Ready to Be” on its official social media feeds. The concert will take place at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, on March 16, 2024. As part of its fifth world tour, Twice has held concerts at large venues in Asia, Oceania and North Amer

K-popDec. 13, 2023

Hybe ranks fifth on Billboard's 'Top Promoter' chart

Hybe, driven by the strong performance of various artists under its wings including K-pop sensation BTS, has recorded global tour sales of about 250 billion won ($189 million) this year. The agency ranked fifth in Billboard's "Top Promoter" chart, making it the only Korean company to be ranked among the top 10. Billboard's "The Year In Tour 2023" report on world tours of pop stars from Nov. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30 shows that Hybe’s artists attracted about 1.6 mill

K-popDec. 13, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook garners 300m views with solo music video

Jungkook of BTS amassed 300 million views on YouTube with the music video for his solo single “Seven (Feat. Latto),” Big Hit Music announced Tuesday. The video took about five months to reach the milestone, after having hit 100 million views on the platform in 10 days. The single swept music charts across the world, debuting atop Billboard’s Hot 100 and ranking No. 3 on the UK’s Official top 100 singles chart. It topped iTunes top songs chart in 106 regions and charted N

K-popDec. 12, 2023

Itzy unveils new album concept, announces world tour

Girl group Itzy, who will open the new year with a new album and world tour, has raised anticipation with its first teaser image for the upcoming release. The album "Born To Be," which will be released on Jan. 8, features 10 songs, including the title track "Untouchable." The teaser image released on the group's official website showed the members posing like warriors against a red and blue background. One of the highlights is that the album features each member's f

K-popDec. 12, 2023

Jimin and Jungkook begin mandatory military service

Jimin and Jungkook of the internationally loved boy band BTS began their mandatory military service, Tuesday, as the last members to be enlisted. All seven members of BTS are now in the military. Jimin and Jungkook entered the boot camp at the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. Prior to the members’ enlistment, BTS’ agency asked fans to refrain from visiting the training center to prevent possible safety accidents by congestion. Fans posted placards and sent buses

K-popDec. 12, 2023

Will BTS' V join special forces, defending Seoul and fighting terrorism?

After Jimin and Jungkook's enlistment on Tuesday, all seven member of K-pop superstar band BTS will be enlisted in the mandatary military service, which is required by all able-bodied South Korean men. V in particular has his eyes on becoming a member of the special forces unit of the command defending the nation's capital. It has been reported that the soon-to-be 28-year-old has applied to serve in the 35th Special Mission Battalion, a counterterrorism unit of the Capital Defense Comm

K-popDec. 12, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez lands atop Billboard 200

Ateez bagged the No. 1 spot on Billboard 200 with second studio album, according to the preview article published on Sunday in the US. LP “The World Ep. Fin: Will” is the band’s first chart-topper, surpassing the record it set with previous album, “The World Ep. 2: Outlaw,” which claimed the No. 2 spot on the main albums chart in July. The new album ranked No. 2 on UK’s Official top 100 albums chart as well, another career-high for the eight-member act. The 1

K-popDec. 11, 2023

RM and V begin mandatory military service

RM and V of K-pop sensation BTS began their mandatory military service Monday. The two bandmates entered an Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province together, according to industry sources. V is reported to have volunteered to serve in the 35th Special Mission Battalion, a special duty team in charge of defending Seoul. RM and V bid farewell to their fans through various posts on their personal social media accounts and the fan community platform, Weverse. “The hardest pa

K-popDec. 11, 2023

BTS' RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook to enlist in military this week

BTS' RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook are set to begin their mandatory military service this week, following in the footsteps of their three bandmates who are already serving their duties. RM and V are scheduled to join the Army on Monday, while Jimin and Jungkook will follow them the next day. Currently, three other members -- Jin, J-Hope and Suga -- are serving in the military. "The day has finally come," RM said on Weverse, a K-pop fan community platform, on Sunday. "I was really

K-popDec. 10, 2023