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K-pop idols
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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
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Malaysia
K-pop singer’s Malaysian fans furious after organisers vanish with refunds
Some fans had collectively lost around US$4,704 from the unfulfilled tickets after the Kuala Lumpur event was axed.
16 Jul 2025 - 11:20AM
Fame and celebrity
Meet Jo Yu-ri, who plays Player 222 in Netflix’s Squid Game
3 Jul 2025 - 6:00PM
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
K-pop stars BTS announce new album and world tour to come in 2026
2 Jul 2025 - 10:35AM
South Korea
Australian rapper clashes with South Korean heiress’ band, says K-pop ‘sucks’
Some fans dismissed outburst by Allday, whose real name is Tomas Henry Gaynor, as a publicity stunt.
29 Jun 2025 - 2:39PM
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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
What Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters gets right and wrong about K-pop industry
Reimagining K-pop stars as demon slayers, the animated film offers a sharp look at how the industry presents its stars and hides its scars.
28 Jun 2025 - 5:15PM
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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
All about K-pop giants BTS as last member finishes up military service
BTS’ seven members are expected to reunite later this year. Before they do, we examine their global impact, records and advocacy journey.
21 Jun 2025 - 4:23AM
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South Korea
Avatars are people too, South Korea court rules in Plave libel case
Avatars of the virtual K-pop group gain legal protection, marking a shift in recognising digital personas as extensions of human identity.
20 Jun 2025 - 3:25PM
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Music
BTS Army celebrate group’s return by helping South Korean adoptees
As BTS return from military service, the Army fandom launches a project to help adoptees reconnect with or learn about their birth families.
19 Jun 2025 - 3:15PM
South Korea
BTS’ Jungkook apologises for wearing ‘Make Tokyo Great Again’ hat after backlash
The 27-year-old K-pop star said he was not aware of the hat’s historical and political significance.
16 Jun 2025 - 4:58PM
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Fashion
Labubu mania is hitting new heights, fuelled by auctions of special editions
Manufactured in China by Pop Mart, the figures have made waves the world over, with a four-foot-high model sold in Beijing for over one million yuan.
12 Jun 2025 - 5:13PM
South Korea
BTS’ Jungkook faces break-in attempt hours after South Korean military discharge
The Chinese fan was caught trying to gain entry into his Seoul flat by repeatedly pressing the keypad door lock.
12 Jun 2025 - 1:50PM
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Fame and celebrity
Who is Katseye’s Megan Skiendiel, who just came out as bisexual?
Megan, who is of Chinese and Swedish descent, became a Katseye member after the group was founded in 2023 from the show The Debut: Dream Academy; her bandmate Lara also came out as queer earlier.
11 Jun 2025 - 7:00AM
South Korea
‘We’ll return with a cool performance’: BTS’ RM and V released from military
‘I’ll work hard to make an album soon and come back to the stage,’ RM tells fans.
10 Jun 2025 - 5:50PM
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South Korea
K-pop takes centre stage in South Korea’s presidential race
Lovable and Next Door Oppa are among the retro hits used by front-runners Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo to sway voters.
31 May 2025 - 1:50PM
Malaysia
‘I’m sad’: Blackpink fans in Malaysia lament tour snub, slam censorship
‘Our authorities seem to always make it hard for international acts to come here,’ a dejected Blink says.
30 May 2025 - 11:17AM
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Hong Kong economy
K-pop’s top MAMA Awards to return to Hong Kong for first time since 2018
Awards ceremony to be hosted at 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium on November 28 and 29, with ticket prices yet to be announced.
29 May 2025 - 6:00PM
Fame and celebrity
Irene Kim’s star-studded wedding: from the beauty routine to the guest list
The Ireneisgood label founder held a ‘bridal shower flea market’, relied on La Mer for her bridal glow, and wore gowns by Self-Portrait, Miss Sohee and Nicole + Felicia.
26 May 2025 - 6:00PM
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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
(G)-IDLE rebrand as I-dle and release new six-track album We Are
The K-pop girl group say they will no longer be defined by labels like ‘girl’ or ‘gender’ and that We Are marks ‘another leap forward’.
20 May 2025 - 3:15PM
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Fame and celebrity
Who is Rosé from Blackpink’s lookalike older sister, Alice Park?
Rosé is the only musical one in a family of professionals, with both her father and sister Alice Park working as lawyers; she left a sweet birthday message for her big sis on Instagram.
18 May 2025 - 6:00AM
Thailand
Lisa’s Thai fans lash out at rapper Azealia Banks after transphobic tirade
Banks’ offensive social media meltdown exploded into a racially-charged online battle with the K-pop star’s Thai supporters.
12 May 2025 - 3:27PM
Blackpink
Singer Lisa’s Met Gala lingerie stirs outrage over US activist’s depiction
Social media users slammed the K-pop star, calling her look ‘highly distasteful’.
7 May 2025 - 11:59AM
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South Korea
‘Detrimental to K-pop’? How NewJeans saga upends South Korea’s music industry
Amid industry concern about similar moves by other artists, the group’s dispute may also prompt a review of the K-pop system, analysts say.
6 May 2025 - 11:38AM
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South Korea
‘Not an easy path’: K-pop’s Bain breaks taboos as ‘first’ openly gay idol
South Korea remains deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance, with 50 per cent opposing same-sex marriage, according to a survey last year.
5 May 2025 - 8:00AM
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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
Mainland China to host first K-pop concert since ‘K-wave ban’ began in 2016
Epex’s concert in Fuzhou on May 31 is raising expectations that Beijing may ease restrictions on K-pop culture in mainland China.
30 Apr 2025 - 9:45AM
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
What Just B’s Bain coming out as gay shows about Korea’s progress on LGBTQ
With Bain the first active member of a K-pop boy group to publicly come out as gay, is Korean society beginning to shift towards acceptance?
29 Apr 2025 - 7:15AM
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop
Become a K-pop idol for a day at Chinese ‘experience’ centre for US$45
At Shanghai’s Chen Go, K-pop fans can choose from 200 outfits, dance on special sets and sign autographs for ‘fans’ at a mock meet-and-greet.
11 Apr 2025 - 12:15PM
South Korea
K-pop remains top global symbol of South Korean culture, survey shows
Nearly 1 in 5 global fans say K-pop comes to mind first, beating out Korean food, TV dramas and beauty products.
7 Apr 2025 - 8:35PM
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Music
Can Japan’s growing fan culture move the dial for consumer spending?
Fans of bands, anime characters, mascots and online entertainers in Japan may spend as much as US$23 billion a year.
3 Apr 2025 - 5:15PM
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