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K-pop idols

K-pop idols
The Korean wave - or hallyu - has swept over the world. South Korea’s K-pop idols are now among the biggest celebrities in the world, with standout stars including BTS members Jungkook and Jimin, and Blackpink’s Lisa and Jennie
K-pop group BTS performs in central Seoul on March 21. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

South Korean ticket touts to face the music when new penalties come into play

From August 28, authorities can impose fines of up to 50 times the resale price of a ticket, a sharp rise from the current US$6,600 maximum.

BTS

Video | Thousands of BTS fans protest in Chile over venue crisis

The Future of Marketing in Asia

Sports marketing ditches billboards for culture

Singapore

Chinese, Japanese fans fuel surge in Singapore hotel rates for BTS shows

Some fans complained about the high room prices and suggested staying in neighbouring Johor Bahru instead.

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A fan poses with cardboard cut-outs of BTS members before the band’s concert in Mexico last month. Photo: Reuters
Celebrity style

How to Style like Felix of Stray Kids at Paris Fashion Week

The K-pop star nailed a rugged yet polished look in denim and everyday staples, elevated by fine jewellery.

Food and Drinks

Oreo and BTS launch purple cookies in new K-pop collaboration

Oreo spent two years developing the BTS cookies, which have centres that taste like hotteok, a popular Korean street food pancake.

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Malaysia

‘Scalpers making everything worse’: the fight to grab BTS tickets in Malaysia

‘You almost feel like you are preparing for an exam or going into battle,’ a K-pop fan says.

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A fan poses with cardboard cut-outs of BTS members outside a concert venue in Mexico City on May 7. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

Desperate search for Busan rooms: ‘obscenely high’ prices anger BTS fans

‘I wanted to explore the city, but I’m now forced to find accommodation elsewhere,’ a K-pop fan says.

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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Le Sserafim are facing their fears with new album Pureflow Pt.1

When Le Sserafim debuted, their message was about being fearless. Now, the K-pop girl group want to say that facing fear makes you strong.

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Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | How Got7’s Jackson Wang went from Hong Kong fencing prodigy to global music icon

One of the world’s most prominent Chinese singers, Jackson Wang was a star fencer before his music career exploded with K-pop boy band Got7.

Jackson Wang poses at the Met Gala in New York City in 2023. Long before he was a singer, the Got7 rapper was a fencer. Photo: Reuters
Viral stories

‘Are you still hiring?’: K-pop king G-Dragon gifts flats to staff, sparks online buzz

Known for his exceptional loyalty, the pop icon has developed a strong bond with his long-term team.

K-pop superstar G-Dragon’s investment in gifting flats to long-serving staff has caused an online buzz, with many netizens asking to work for him. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/IG@xxxibgdrgn
South Korea

‘She was just a human’: the world forgot K-pop’s suicides. These fans never did

Years after three high-profile K-pop suicides shook South Korea’s idol machine, the grief – and guilt – remains.

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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

‘We’ve prepared so much’: K-pop newcomers Naze on what sets them apart

Naze’s Korean, Japanese and Thai members share how touring before making their self-titled debut album, released on May 4, made them closer.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s aim to lure more K-pop concerts spurs chorus of doubts

While Indonesian K-pop fans applaud Jakarta’s intention, they cite safety, venue capacity and bureaucracy as some of the key hurdles.

Indonesian K-pop idol Carmen poses for photos alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung at a state luncheon in Seoul on April 1. Photo: Instagram/2_jaemyung
Fame and celebrity

Meet Matthew Kim, the K-pop star-turned-actor who plays Woosh in Beef S2

‘Big Matthew’ was a rapper in coed K-pop group Kard before joining Beef Season 2 with Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Parasite’s Song Kang-ho.

Matthew Kim, aka Big Matthew or BM plays Woosh the tennis coach in Netflix’s second season of the critically acclaimed Beef. Photos: Instagram
South Korea

‘Anyone from the North?’: US comedian Seth Herzog apologises over BTS joke

Herzog’s remarks sparked backlash from fans ahead of the K-pop band’s American TV comeback.

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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

K-pop stars BTS are back, with a new album and a Netflix documentary

BTS are back after a nearly four-year gap. Netflix documentary BTS: The Return explores the making of their latest album, Arirang.

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South Korea

‘A shame’: why Jin was left off official credits for BTS’ latest album

The K-pop band cited scheduling conflicts, saying the star ‘kept touring’, but fans aren’t buying the explanation.

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BTS member Jin in a scene from the 2026 Netflix documentary BTS: The Return. Photo: AP
Seoul

Video | Low BTS concert turnout causes slide in agency shares

The heavily secured Gwanghwamun Square performance drew 104,000 fans – less than half the turnout police expected.

South Korea

BTS’ South Korea comeback crowd disappoints, triggering stock sell-off

The reunion concert drew 104,000 fans – less than half the 260,000 police had expected.

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South Korea

They’re back! K-pop’s BTS play first gig together in nearly 4 years

There were 22,000 free tickets, with thousands of other fans flooding Seoul to watch on giant screens, plus a Netflix live stream.

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BTS perform in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Seoul

Video | Seoul prepares for BTS comeback at historic square

South Korean authorities prepare for BTS members to perform in first concert together in three years.

A couple takes a selfie photo near a banner promoting a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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BTS

Are you ready, Army? Free BTS concert to mark a K-pop comeback like no other

BTS’ return to the stage is set to redefine global music, with a free comeback performance, album drop and a massive world tour to come.

South Korea

BTS’ concert puts ‘K-safety’ to the test as 260,000 fans to throng Seoul

Over 8,000 officials will be deployed at Saturday’s event in Seoul amid heightened scrutiny over crowd safety.

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Vietnam

In Vietnam’s Da Nang, South Korean tourism boom meets growing resentment

The coastal city has become a hub for Korean tourists and businesses, but workers and residents say the boom has also exposed frictions.

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A couple runs along the seafront next to the beach in Da Nang, central Vietnam, last year. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

K-pop star G-Dragon’s ‘Lunar New Year’ greetings divide China fans, ignite firestorm

Debate over ‘Chinese New Year’ versus ‘Lunar New Year’ arises annually, particularly when brands, celebrities share new year greetings on social media.

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South Korean superstar G-Dragon was accused by some Chinese netizens of “insulting China” during a Dubai concert as he greeted the audience with “Lunar New Year,” instead of saying “Chinese New Year”. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/IG@hellogdkitty
Scams and swindles

‘K-wave’ scams exploiting Brazil’s superfans trigger police pact

South Korea and Brazil are taking action to protect fans from fraudsters cashing in with phantom merchandise and exploitative ‘oppa’ tours.

China-South Korea relations

K-pop’s big freeze: are cracks in China’s cultural blockade a thaw?

A decade-long geopolitical chill has kept South Korean entertainers largely locked out of the Chinese market, but fans find ways to connect.

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