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BTS

BTS are the biggest names in K-pop - and they continue to go from strength to strength. After becoming the first K-pop band to top the US album charts in 2018, the seven-member boy band went on to conquer the world, propelled by the support of their devoted Army fan club.

Industry

Entertainment, K-Pop

Job Title

K-Pop band

Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk appears at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s financial crime investigation unit in Seoul in September last year for questioning over alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act. Photo: Korea Times

South Korea

South Korean police seek tycoon behind K-pop supergroup BTS to be indicted

Bang Si-hyuk is being investigated for alleged investor fraud over the initial public offering of the agency Hybe.

3 Sep 2026 - 5:21PM

Women and gender

BTS members face backlash for attending Chris Brown concert

28 Aug 2026 - 10:56AM

South Korea

Does K-pop need the Grammys? BTS’ boycott reignites debate

16 Aug 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Hong Kong property

BTS bump? Hong Kong’s hotels set for bonanza from pop superstars’ world tour

With BTS’ juggernaut world tour set to land in Hong Kong next year, the city’s hotels are tipped to see a Seoul-style surge in bookings.

12 Aug 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

South Korea

BTS concert drives South Korea’s Busan foreign tourist numbers to record high

Busan welcomed more than 2.42 million foreign visitors between January and June – a 43.9 per cent jump compared to the same period last year.

1 Aug 2026 - 8:52AM

Video | BTS boycotts Grammys after Asian music category introduced

The K-pop group had been widely expected to be nominated for major awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year, before withdrawing on Wednesday.

31 Jul 2026 - 7:03PM

South Korea

BTS pulls out of Grammys after Asian pop category introduction

The K-pop sensation will not submit music for next year’s awards, saying that music shouldn’t be ‘defined by region or language’.

30 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

BTS performs during the Fifa World Cup final halftime show on July 19. Photo: Reuters

South Korea

The underdog girl group putting the ‘K’ back in K-pop

While major labels chase global fame, Rescene won over South Korea by putting local culture front and centre.

25 Jul 2026 - 11:00AM

European cinema

Review | Three Goodbyes: Alba Rohrwacher stars in moving, life-affirming Italian drama

Isabel Coixet’s adaptation of Michela Murgia’s celebrated novel highlights how we should appreciate what we have in the time gifted to us.

21 Jul 2026 - 3:15PMvideocam

K-pop idols

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

The decision would cancel 3 nights of the group’s concert in October.

6 Jul 2026 - 7:30PM

01:22

The Future of Marketing in Asia

Sports marketing ditches billboards for culture

From NBA x K-pop collaborations to interactive experiences, brands are moving past simple sponsorships to embed themselves in sports culture.

25 Jun 2026 - 6:00AM

Local Arsenal fans at the friendly between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur held at Kai Tak Stadium in July 2025. The prestige of marketing at major sporting events has skyrocketed in recent years. Photos: Elson Li

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.

23 Jun 2026 - 3:36PMvideocam

Celebrity children

Meet Soul Rasheed, the son of musician Anderson .Paak

The father-son duo appears in K-Pops!, which was released on Netflix last month – so what do we know about the Grammy-winning musician’s son?

18 Jun 2026 - 6:00PM

Fashion

Dare to bare: shirtless suiting has taken over the red carpet

A-listers are choosing to shun their shirts on the red carpet, while Gucci, Dior, Balmain and more are presenting their takes on the runway – will bare chests be the wedding trend this summer?

16 Jun 2026 - 6:00AM

Shirtless suiting is in, and Balmain’s spring/summer 2026 collection shows the look at its best, with tailored jackets cut low at the chest. Photo: Handout

Kai Tak Sports Park

Letters | BTS ticket chaos: Hong Kong must get serious on bots and scalpers

Readers discuss the scourge of today’s concert culture, building climate resilience, and the challenge of looking for a job in the age of AI.

13 Jun 2026 - 11:30AM

K-pop boy group BTS perform during their concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, on March 21. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS

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.

30 May 2026 - 3:15PM

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.

29 May 2026 - 3:43PMvideocam

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.

28 May 2026 - 2:20PMvideocam

BTS members attend the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong economy

K-pop stars BTS to hold 3 concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium in 2027

Boy band will perform on March 4, 6 and 7 as part of their ‘Arirang’ world tour, with tickets to sell for up to HK$3,299 each.

22 May 2026 - 7:21PM

Fifa World Cup 2026

Scientists warn Fifa that World Cup games at risk of searing heat

One in four games could take place in very hot conditions; meanwhile, Madonna, Shakira, BTS to headline first-ever half-time show in final.

14 May 2026 - 8:35PM

South Korea

BTS comeback drives record 2.06 million tourists to South Korea

Foreigners who went to South Korea for the K-pop group’s concerts spent US$38 million in purchases between January 1 and April 12 ‌.

16 Apr 2026 - 3:37PMvideocam

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.

26 Mar 2026 - 3:14PMvideocam

BTS members perform during their comeback concert in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. Photo: AP

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.

25 Mar 2026 - 7:15PMvideocam

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.

25 Mar 2026 - 4:38PMvideocam

Asia travel

Visiting South Korea? 10 BTS pilgrimage spots every Army should visit

Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts.

24 Mar 2026 - 11:34AMvideocam

Members of K-pop boy band BTS at Maengbang Beach in Samcheok, Gangwon province, South Korea. The coastal backdrop was used in imagery tied to the group’s global hit single “Butter”. Photo: courtesy of BigHit Music

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.

23 Mar 2026 - 7:40PM

02:24

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.

23 Mar 2026 - 8:13PMvideocam

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.

21 Mar 2026 - 9:33PMvideocam

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BTS

South Korean police seek tycoon behind K-pop supergroup BTS to be indicted

Bang Si-hyuk is being investigated for alleged investor fraud over the initial public offering of the agency Hybe.

BTS members face backlash for attending Chris Brown concert

Does K-pop need the Grammys? BTS’ boycott reignites debate

BTS bump? Hong Kong’s hotels set for bonanza from pop superstars’ world tour

With BTS’ juggernaut world tour set to land in Hong Kong next year, the city’s hotels are tipped to see a Seoul-style surge in bookings.

BTS concert drives South Korea’s Busan foreign tourist numbers to record high

Busan welcomed more than 2.42 million foreign visitors between January and June – a 43.9 per cent jump compared to the same period last year.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | BTS boycotts Grammys after Asian music category introduced

The K-pop group had been widely expected to be nominated for major awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year, before withdrawing on Wednesday.

BTS pulls out of Grammys after Asian pop category introduction

The K-pop sensation will not submit music for next year’s awards, saying that music shouldn’t be ‘defined by region or language’.

The underdog girl group putting the ‘K’ back in K-pop

While major labels chase global fame, Rescene won over South Korea by putting local culture front and centre.

Review | Three Goodbyes: Alba Rohrwacher stars in moving, life-affirming Italian drama

Isabel Coixet’s adaptation of Michela Murgia’s celebrated novel highlights how we should appreciate what we have in the time gifted to us.

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

The decision would cancel 3 nights of the group’s concert in October.

Sports marketing ditches billboards for culture

From NBA x K-pop collaborations to interactive experiences, brands are moving past simple sponsorships to embed themselves in sports culture.

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.

Meet Soul Rasheed, the son of musician Anderson .Paak

The father-son duo appears in K-Pops!, which was released on Netflix last month – so what do we know about the Grammy-winning musician’s son?

Dare to bare: shirtless suiting has taken over the red carpet

A-listers are choosing to shun their shirts on the red carpet, while Gucci, Dior, Balmain and more are presenting their takes on the runway – will bare chests be the wedding trend this summer?

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Letters | BTS ticket chaos: Hong Kong must get serious on bots and scalpers

Readers discuss the scourge of today’s concert culture, building climate resilience, and the challenge of looking for a job in the age of AI.

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.

‘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.

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.

K-pop stars BTS to hold 3 concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium in 2027

Boy band will perform on March 4, 6 and 7 as part of their ‘Arirang’ world tour, with tickets to sell for up to HK$3,299 each.

Scientists warn Fifa that World Cup games at risk of searing heat

One in four games could take place in very hot conditions; meanwhile, Madonna, Shakira, BTS to headline first-ever half-time show in final.

BTS comeback drives record 2.06 million tourists to South Korea

Foreigners who went to South Korea for the K-pop group’s concerts spent US$38 million in purchases between January 1 and April 12 ‌.

‘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.

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.

‘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.

Visiting South Korea? 10 BTS pilgrimage spots every Army should visit

Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts.

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.

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.

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.

Video | BTS boycotts Grammys after Asian music category introduced

Letters | BTS ticket chaos: Hong Kong must get serious on bots and scalpers