K-pop pioneer Lee Soo-man returned to the Korean music industry Monday with the simultaneous debut of a boy group and a girl group under his new company, A2O Entertainment, unveiling a vision that combines music with technology designed to change how fans experience performances. At a launch event in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Lee introduced 15-member boy group A2O Soul and nine-member girl group A2O Lite, which will release their respective debut digital singles, "Superstar" and "Neon," Tuesday.

Ateez will launch a new world tour in January, two months after releasing its 15th EP in November. According to the group's agency, KQ Entertainment, the "2027 Ateez World Tour 'Zero to All'" will begin with three concerts in Incheon, South Korea, from Jan. 22-24. The eight-member group will then perform in Japan, with concerts scheduled for Tokyo on Feb. 2-3 and Kobe on Feb. 13-14, before heading to Europe in April, North America in July and August, and South America in September. Additional ci

Art Taipei, one of Asia's longest-running international art fairs, will return to Taiwan's capital from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, bringing together 127 galleries for an exhibition exploring the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. Organized by the Taiwan Art Gallery Association, the fair will hold its 33rd edition at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 under the theme "Symbiosis," examining how humans and rapidly advancing technology coexist, influence and sustain one another rather than

A fan site dedicated to former Big Bang member T.O.P has shut down after 20 years, with members accusing the rapper and his agency of neglecting fans and taking their support for granted. The site, Choidot, which began operating on Aug. 24, 2006, announced its closure Saturday. Its operators said years of frustration with T.O.P and his agency, Topspot Pictures, drove the decision, rather than his recently confirmed relationship with singer and actress Nana. "We decided that we could no longer ov

Lee Soo-man, founder of SM Entertainment and widely regarded as the architect of modern K-pop, is returning to the Korean music industry with the simultaneous debut of a boy group and a girl group under his new label, A2O Entertainment. The launch marks his first domestic music project since his three-year noncompete agreement with Hybe expired in February. A2O Entertainment said Thursday that boy group A2O Soul and girl group A2O Lite will hold a global debut showcase, "Welcome to Soulite From

RM of BTS has urged fans to stop gathering outside the boy group's hotels during its ongoing world tour, saying the crowds are disrupting members' sleep, making life difficult for staff and disturbing other guests. The rapper made the appeal Thursday on fan community platform Weverse while the group was staying in Lima, Peru. "Members and staff are having a really hard time because of people staying outside our hotel all day," RM wrote. "It's so noisy that we can hear it inside our rooms, and ev

Song Mino of K-pop boy group Winner received a suspended sentence Thursday for repeatedly leaving his alternative military service post without authorization. The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the 33-year-old rapper to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Military Service Act. The suspended sentence means Song will not serve the one-year prison term unless the suspension is revoked during the two-year period. A supervisor surnamed Lee, who oversaw Song's servic

Some of the biggest names that shaped Korean pop music in the late 1990s and early 2000s are stepping back into the spotlight, adding momentum to a retro revival already sweeping through popular culture. First-generation girl group Fin.K.L announced in September that it is resuming full-group activities for the first time in about 21 years, while R&B duo Fly to the Sky has confirmed plans to return after releasing its last album in 2019. Jewelry, another defining girl group of the early 2000s, a

Chanyeol of Exo will release his second Japanese EP, "Tabi," Friday, about a year after the release of his previous EP "Hibi." The new six-track album explores personal emotions, meaningful relationships and memorable moments from everyday life through a mix of musical genres. All six songs were released digitally in advance on Monday, including lead track "Song For You," a modern rock number driven by electric guitar that expresses feelings for a loved one. Chanyeol also took part in writing an

TikTok Korea has permanently removed the account of a former K-pop singer convicted of sex crimes against minors, just one day after he joined the platform. The Korean unit of TikTok said Monday that it permanently suspended and removed the account of Go Young-wook, a former member of the coed group Roo'ra, after becoming aware of it Sunday. Go had announced the launch of his TikTok account on X a day earlier, sharing a link to a video posted on the platform. "Under our community guidelines, whe

Enhypen will return with a new album in November, the group's agency Belift Lab confirmed Tuesday, a day after an industry source disclosed the comeback plans to The Korea Herald. "Enhypen is scheduled to make a comeback in November," the source said on condition of anonymity. "Tomorrow X Together will make its comeback on Nov. 16, and as far as I know, Enhypen will follow sometime in the latter half of the month." Belift Lab, a subsidiary label under Hybe, confirmed the plans but said an exact

그룹 엔하이픈(ENHYPEN)이 오는 11월 신보를 들고 돌아온다. 지난 8월 발표한 미니 8집 ‘The Sin: Bliss’ 이후 약 3개월 만의 초고속 컴백이다. 29일 가요계에 따르면 엔하이픈은 현재 11월 컴백을 목표로 새 앨범을 준비 중이다. 한 업계 관계자는 코리아헤럴드에 “엔하이픈이 11월 컴백할 예정”이라며 “투모로우바이투게더가 11월 16일 컴백한 뒤 엔하이픈이 같은 달 중하순께 뒤를 이을 것으로 알고 있다”고 밝혔다. 소속사 빌리프랩도 엔하이픈의 11월 컴백 준비 사실을 확인했다. 다만 구체적인 발매일은 아직 확정되지 않았다. 빌리프랩 관계자는 코리아헤럴드에 “엔하이픈이 11월을 목표로 컴백을 준비하고 있다”며 “자세한 일정은 정해지면 말씀드리겠다”고 밝혔다. 이번 신보는 지난 3월 희승의 탈퇴로 6인조로 재편된 이후 두 번째 신보다. 구체적인 앨범 형태는 아직 공개되지 않았다. 엔하이픈은 지난해 6월 미니 6집 ‘Desire: Unleash’를 발표한 뒤 올해 1

November is shaping up to be a crowded month for K-pop, with Rescene, Tomorrow X Together and Xikers all set to release new albums, and Ateez expected to join the lineup. Xikers will kick off the month with their eighth EP "Route Zero: The Calling" on Nov. 2, followed by Rescene's fourth EP "Pulse" the next day. TXT will release its ninth EP, "Perfect Storm," on Nov. 16. Ateez is likely to return with a new EP later in the month, according to industry sources. The lineup reflects a familiar K-po

Max Changmin of K-pop duo TVXQ will return as a solo artist next month with his first new album in nearly five years, according to SM Entertainment on Monday. His third EP, "All of My Life," will arrive Oct. 19 on major music streaming platforms, marking his first solo album since "Devil," his second EP, which came out in January 2022. The six-track EP explores the emotions and experiences that come with moving forward through life. Following the arrival of the new album, the singer will kick of

Norwegian songwriter and producer Gucci Caliente has helped shape some of the most distinctive recent songs from K-pop girl groups Ive and KiiiKiii. The 32-year-old, whose real name is Emily Harbakk, co-wrote Ive's 2023 hit "Kitsch" and later co-wrote and helped produce "Rebel Heart." She also co-wrote and arranged "Fireworks" and "Hot Coffee" in February. Her credits extend to KiiiKiii's recent "Candy Pink Magic Hole Flip Phone," which she co-wrote and produced, as well as songs for artists out