BTS started off as a hip-hop group on a small label in 2013. In the decade since, the group has grown into a global sensation, not just as musicians, but as speakers for youth. Here, we take a brief look into the years since their debut. 2013: Bulletproof Boys In 2013, BTS debuted with Big Hit Entertainment with their first single, "2 Cool 4 Skool." Their name was short for "Bulletproof Boys," referring to the band's aspiration to "shield themselves from the preju

K-pop June 11, 2023

K-pop stars BTS on Friday have dropped a new song, "Take Two," in celebration of its 10th anniversary. The song was released at 1 p.m. on Friday through global music platforms. It marks the first new release from the band in around a year since it unveiled its ninth anniversary anthology album, "Proof," in June 2022. "Themed around 'take two,' which means chapter two, the song signifies BTS' second chapter and embodies the band's gratitude towards the fans and its promis

K-pop June 9, 2023

K-pop girl group fromis_9 returned on Monday, splashing down for the summer with its new album "Unlock My World." The new release is the first full-length album from the eight-piece since its debut in 2018. "It's our first LP, and we were determined to showcase good music with it. We shared a lot of conversations and poured ourselves into every small detail," the band's leader Lee Sae-rom said at the press showcase event in Seoul. At the event, they performed the ti

K-pop June 5, 2023

K-pop groups StayC and Kard have been appointed as honorary ambassadors of the Korea Brand and Entertainment Expo 2023, Frankfurt, set to take place at the end of this month. The exhibition, jointly launched by several government ministries and state-run agencies, including the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, will kick off on June 29 and run for two days at Messe Frankfurt in Germany. Kard and StayC members took part in an appointment ceremony Monday at KOTRA's headquarters in

K-pop June 5, 2023

Jungkook of BTS may drop a solo album in July, local media outlet Sports Chosun reported on Sunday. Sports Chosun's exclusive report reported that Jungkook is gearing up to release his first solo album on July 14, and that the album will include an English song. BTS' agency Big Hit Music told The Korea Herald that it will announce Jungkook's solo debut "once plans are confirmed." Jungkook will be the sixth member from BTS to come out solo, following J-Hope, Jin, RM, Jimi

K-pop June 4, 2023

NCT Dream will drop a new song this month, which will be followed by a new album in July. The team's agency SM Entertainment on Sunday announced NCT Dream will make a July comeback with its third LP. The seven-piece group will pre-release its single, "Broken Melody," from the album later this month. The new album will mark the band's comeback seven months after the release of its winter seasonal album "Candy" in December. The announcement came after the band wrapped

K-pop June 4, 2023

Rapper B.I openly apologized for his past drug use to the local press for the first time. The apology came on Thursday during a press conference for B.I's second studio album "To Die For" that took place in Seoul, few hours before the album's release at 6 p.m.. "I've disappointed many people by making wrong decisions and choices in the past. I'm sincerely sorry. I know I haven't properly addressed my honest thoughts to the public and wanted to deliver my a

K-pop June 1, 2023

Hybe is set to air another idol survival program to discover its next girl group. A joint project with local broadcaster JTBC, the program, "R U Next?" aims to see the finalist members debut as the first girl group of Belift Lab, a indie label affiliated to Hybe. Belift Lab on Thursday said it has begun shooting the program, which is produced by Studio Jamm and Mushroom Company. The 10-episode series will begin airing on June 30 via JTBC and air every Friday at 8: 50 p.m. The show will

K-pop June 1, 2023

Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen of EXO are leaving their longtime agency SM Entertainment and embarking on a legal battle to claim unsettled payments. The legal representative of the three artists on Thursday announced that the EXO members have notified SM Entertainment of the termination of their exclusive contracts with the agency. "Since March 21 until recently, we have repeatedly requested SM to provide copies of materials and evidence for payments," the representative, attorney Lee Jae-

K-pop June 1, 2023

Global K-pop phenomenon BTS is dropping a new digital single next month, a surprise gift for fans amid its group hiatus. According to Big Hit Music on Wednesday, BTS will drop a new digital single called "Take Two" on June 9. "'Take Two' is a song for fans embodying the heartfelt emotions and stories BTS sends to its fans in celebration of its 10th anniversary," Big Hit Music said in a statement released Wednesday. The septet is set to celebrate its anniversary on

K-pop May 31, 2023

Boynextdoor debuted Tuesday with its single "Who!" and bold ambitions to claim itsspot as rookie of the year. Boynextdoor stepped into the arena with a press showcase in Seoul, where the group introduced itself and performed the three songs on the "Who!" single for the first time. "It's overwhelming that the world is finally hearing our voices," said Woonhak, the group's youngest member. The group is signed to KOZ Entertainment, a music label under Hybe le

K-pop May 31, 2023

RM of K-pop superband BTS will be named as the ambassador of the South Korean military's war remains recovery agency. Big Hit Music, the label behind the K-pop band, told The Korea Herald Wednesday that the BTS leader is set to be officially appointed as an ambassador for the Ministry of National Defense's Agency for the Recovery and Identification of those Killed in Action. A ceremony for the appointment is scheduled for Thursday, the label said, confirming earlier local media outlet

K-pop May 31, 2023

The first idol group produced by rapper Zico, Boynextdoor debuted Tuesday with the single "Who!" The six-piece band is the latest group from Hybe, the multilabel company that houses big-name artists the likes of BTS, Seventeen and NewJeans. Boynextdoor is the first group launched under Hybe's KOZ Entertainment label. Boynextdoor, consisting of Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak, held a press conference Tuesday at Blue Square in Yongsan, central Seoul. "It'

K-pop May 30, 2023

Five-piece boy band CIX on Monday released its sixth EP "'OK' Episode 2: I'm OK," marking the release with a media showcase event a few hours before the album's release. The new album marked the end of the group's "OK" series and opens up to the next chapter of their story, said the band members -- BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, Baejinyoung and Hyunsuk -- during the event held on Monday. "We've improved and grown in many parts through various activi

K-pop May 30, 2023

BTS' Suga, who also goes by the name Agust D, began the Asian leg of his solo tour "D-Day" in Jakarta, Indonesia, last week. A total of 30,000 people came to the three sold-out shows in Jakarta's ICE BSD convention center, which began Friday and continued into the weekend, Big Hit Music, the septet's agency said Monday. On each of the three days, Suga took the audience on a walk through his musical trilogy, starting with "Haegeum" from his latest album "D-

K-pop May 29, 2023