Lisa of Blackpink has been named as a new house ambassador for Louis Vuitton, the luxury brand announced Tuesday. "I am very excited to welcome Lisa as a House Ambassador. She has a daring spirit and charisma that I find incredibly compelling. She is as bold and creative with her music as she is with her fashion, and it is a privilege to accompany her on this journey,” Nicolas Ghesquiere, Louis Vuitton’s artistic director of women’s collections, said in a press statement.

K-pop July 24, 2024

Hybe has appointed its current Chief Strategy Officer Lee Jae-sang to be the new CEO, the company said Wednesday. According to the K-pop powerhouse, Lee's appointment is to be finalized following approval at the upcoming shareholders and board of directors meetings. Lee has been selected to lead the forthcoming "Hybe 2.0" strategy, with a leadership transition project underway since the beginning of the year. Lee graduated from Yonsei University and previously worked at global man

K-pop July 24, 2024

JYP Entertainment announced last Thursday that it will establish a Latin America subsidiary in the third quarter of this year. The move is aimed at expanding its local business and better communicating with fans from the region. Ahead of JYP, the agency behind popular K-pop bands Twice, Stray Kids and Itzy, was Hybe, the powerhouse behind BTS, Seventeen and NewJeans. Hybe established a foothold in the Latin market with the opening of a Mexico-based business unit in November last year. The compan

K-pop July 24, 2024

Legendary girl group 2NE1 will reunite for concerts and Blackpink will set off on a much-anticipated world tour next year. Yang Hyun-suk, founder and chief producer of YG Entertainment, revealed the company’s short-term plan Monday via its YouTube channel, announcing 2NE1 concerts in the second half of this year and Blackpink concerts next year. He also hinted that YG Entertainment is preparing a new K-pop band to debut in the near future. The most eye-catching announcement is the comeback

K-pop July 23, 2024

K-pop sensation NewJeans chose its recent fan meeting at Tokyo Dome in Japan as its favorite moment in the past two years. "There have been many memorable moments, but the Tokyo Dome fan meeting stands out the most. It felt like a dream spending time with the Bunnies who love our music," said Minji in a publicity material released by Ador, the group's agency, Monday, marking the group's two-year anniversary. Hanni who covered popular Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda's "

K-pop July 22, 2024

Concerns are growing over an increasing number of K-pop bands facing plagiarism accusations, with recent cases involving popular groups like NewJeans and Lisa of Blackpink. Recently, English jazz-funk band Shakatak reportedly appointed a domestic law firm in Korea to represent the group's interests and issued a formal notice demanding that NewJeans cease using its latest hit “Bubble Gum” and compensate for damages. In a letter of claim sent to Ador, the music label for NewJeans,

K-pop July 19, 2024

JYP Entertainment announced Thursday that it will establish a local subsidiary in Latin America and launch an audition program under the title "L2K" to create a new Latin girl group, marking its first major foray into the Latin American music market. JYP Entertainment said it plans to launch its subsidiary within the current quarter, expanding its artists' tour regions and new business ventures, while also building communication channels with local fans. JYP Entertainment also unv

K-pop July 19, 2024

The 2024 MAMA Awards, the world’s largest K-pop awards ceremony, organized by CJ ENM, will kick off in the US for the first time in its history, the company said Thursday. The awards are to start at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Nov. 21, before moving to the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan on Nov. 22-23. This marks a significant step in expanding the reach of K-pop and connecting global fans across different time zones. The MAMA Awards, which have a 25-year legacy, have prev

K-pop July 19, 2024

Discover true self through nature at Romyzian Garden When life feels dull and everyday routines become tiring and noisy, Romyzian Garden may offer a place of peace and comfort through nature. Located on the serene slopes of Garisan, a mountain in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, the unique garden is a 100,000 square meter sanctuary for healing and reflection. Romyzian Garden was lovingly created by a husband (Zian) for his wife (Romy), taking ten years to complete. Every tree and stone in the garden

Culture July 19, 2024

Despite Ador CEO Min Hee-jin’s wish to reconcile with Hybe, the parent company’s anger shows no signs of abating as its subsidiary labels continue to take legal measures against Min. On Monday, Source Music, the Hybe music label behind K-pop girl band Le Sserafim, filed a lawsuit against Min for defamation, obstruction of business and insult, seeking damages of around 5 billion won ($362,450). Source Music claimed that Min's comments have caused Le Sserafim to suffer from rumors

K-pop July 18, 2024

The Korea Tourism Organization has come under fire for offering a promotional product created by NewJeans, its honorary ambassadors, in collaboration with Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami as part of its tourism event that launched July 11. Although the merchandise itself is not tied to any political issue, critics contend that the organization should promote products related to Korean culture, given its role in representing the country’s tourism interests. The controversy involves the

K-pop July 17, 2024

Becoming a K-pop star was once among the top dreams for boys and girls in Korea. While many girls still aspire to this dream, however, boys are increasingly turning away from the aspiration, as they become more aware of the hard reality of becoming a K-pop star. Trainees often undergo three to five years of rigorous training and must compete fiercely for a slim chance to debut. Even if they achieve stardom, they often lose their personal lives in the process. K-pop agencies report difficulties i

K-pop July 16, 2024

Haru, a Japanese performer formerly of K-pop girl group Nature, apologized Sunday for causing worry among her fans. The apology came after news broke in April that she was working as a "kyabajo," or a host at a cabaret in Japan. In a handwritten letter posted on her social media account, Haru expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging the heartbreak the news might have caused for Nature’s fan club, known as Leaf. "At 18, I came to Korea alone without knowing the language and de

K-pop July 15, 2024

The uneasy relationship between Hybe and Min Hee-jin, the CEO of its subsidiary Ador, continues with the agency behind popular K-pop group NewJeans reported to have rejected the Grammy Museum’s offer of the "best spot" at the upcoming Hybe exhibition in Los Angeles running from Aug. 2 to Sept. 15. The Grammy Museum, an institution devoted to the history and winners of the Grammy Awards, offered Ador a prime spot for NewJeans in March, according to local media Monday. The organize

K-pop July 15, 2024

"Right Place, Wrong Person," the second album of RM, the leader of BTS, was named the “Best K-Pop Album of 2024 (So Far)” by Billboard, according to Hybe on Saturday, highlighting RM's ongoing success and influence as a solo artist. Released in May, "Right Place, Wrong Person" debuted at No.5 on the Billboard 200, making RM the first K-pop solo artist to have two consecutive albums in the Top 5. The album reached No.37 on the UK Official Albums Chart, setting

K-pop July 14, 2024