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Category: K-ENT

  • Xiumin of EXO Unveils Concept Photos for New Digital Single ‘Overdrop’

    Xiumin, a member of EXO, is set to make his long-awaited comeback with a new digital single titled “Overdrop.”

    His agency, INB100, unveiled the concept photos on October 13 through official channels, showcasing Xiumin’s mature charisma and refined appeal. In the photos, Xiumin leans against a car, dressed in a black see-through shirt and leather gloves, exuding understated sensuality. His nonchalant expression and intense gaze add a layer of tension, sparking curiosity about his upcoming musical direction.

    “Overdrop” marks Xiumin’s first release in about seven months since his second mini album, “Interview X,” which dropped in March. The new single encapsulates Xiumin’s sophisticated sensibility and energetic performance style, highlighting his deeper musical identity and reaffirming his presence as a solo artist.

    Xiumin’s digital single “Overdrop” will be released worldwide on October 20 at 6 PM (KST) through all major online music platforms.

  • Swedish Royals Visit SM Entertainment — A Cultural Bridge Between Korea and Sweden

    Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden visited SM Entertainment’s headquarters in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, to experience the heart of K-pop creativity firsthand.

    The visit was part of the Swedish royal family’s official itinerary to Korea, focusing on cultural and creative industry exchange. Touring SM’s studios and recording rooms, the royals observed the K-pop production process up close. They expressed particular interest in the collaboration between Swedish songwriters and SM Entertainment, praising how K-pop continues to generate cultural synergy in the global music market.

    Their schedule also included a meeting with rookie girl group HARTS TO HARTS, where they discussed music training and daily practice routines. The members gifted the royals autographed CDs and official merchandise, to which the Crown Princess replied that it was “an unforgettable present.”

    During a discussion with SM executives, the main topics included K-pop’s global influence and the sustainability of its creative ecosystem. Both sides agreed that combining Sweden’s musical creativity and technology with K-pop’s cultural power could yield even greater synergy.

    Crown Princess Victoria concluded by saying, “We are delighted that Sweden can contribute to the growth of K-pop,” and expressed gratitude for SM’s warm hospitality. The visit has been hailed as a symbolic moment of cultural cooperation and artistic exchange between the two nations.

  • G-DRAGON Files Lawsuit Against Online Haters After 19 Years in K-pop

    G-DRAGON has officially taken legal action against individuals posting malicious comments and spreading false information — marking his first major legal move since debuting 19 years ago.

    His agency, Galaxy Corporation, announced on October 17 that it is “actively pursuing legal measures in cooperation with law firm Yulchon against defamation, false information, and malicious slander.”

    According to the company, by the end of September, it had conducted a thorough review of malicious posts based on fan reports and its own data collection. On October 15, several offenders were formally charged under South Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act (Defamation). The agency emphasized that the case focuses on “defamation through false information,” not simple insults, and that strict action is being taken to ensure criminal accountability.

    Galaxy Corporation also revealed plans to file additional complaints against commenters identified on major online platforms such as DC Inside, Daum Café, X (formerly Twitter), Naver, and FM Korea, reaffirming its firm stance.

    G-DRAGON’s representatives stated that this move “is not a warning but a concrete effort to protect the artist’s dignity and personal rights.” They also encouraged fans to continue reporting malicious activity, adding, “We will hold those who hide behind anonymity fully accountable for their actions.”

  • Jisoo Makes History as First Korean Female Soloist with 1B Spotify Streams

    Jisoo of BLACKPINK continues to dominate the global music scene with her new single, “EYES CLOSED.”

    Released on October 10, the music video immediately topped the YouTube Music Worldwide Trending chart in 74 countries, proving her massive global reach. The song debuted at No. 21 on Spotify’s Global Top Songs, ranking high in 32 countries’ daily top charts, while also claiming No. 1 on iTunes in 40 countries and topping China’s QQ Music and KuGou sales charts.

    With this release, Jisoo has officially surpassed 1 billion total streams on Spotify, making her the first Korean female solo artist ever to achieve the milestone — accomplished in just 925 days with only eight tracks. The achievement marks her rise as a truly independent global artist, beyond her role as a BLACKPINK member.

    “EYES CLOSED” is a heartfelt pop track about two people choosing love again after emotional pain, featuring ZAYN, formerly of One Direction, whose collaboration adds a refined and mature touch. The cosmic-themed music video, praised for its dreamlike visuals and emotional harmonies, highlights Jisoo’s growing artistic depth and expanding global influence.

  • Visa to Offer Exclusive Pre-Sale for 2025 MAMA AWARDS Tickets

    Global payment technology company Visa has announced that it will offer pre-sale tickets for the 2025 MAMA AWARDS to all Visa cardholders worldwide.

    Starting on October 17, Visa will begin pre-sale access for Visa Infinite cardholders and all Visa cardholders in phases. Visa Infinite cardholders will have the exclusive opportunity to be the first to secure tickets for the 2025 MAMA AWARDS worldwide.

    Pre-sales will be available on October 17, from 11 AM to 3 PM (KST) through Cityline, an online ticketing platform based in Hong Kong. Following that, from 7 PM (KST) on the same day until 3 PM (KST) on October 18, all Visa cardholders worldwide will be able to access pre-sale tickets.

    The 2025 MAMA AWARDS will be held at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on November 28-29, offering another spectacular stage for global K-pop fans.

  • From PLAVE to LUVITA: The Rise of K-pop’s Virtual Generation

    The Netflix animated film “K-POP DEMON HUNTERS” has amplified the K-pop wave, bringing virtual idols into the spotlight as the new leading force in K-culture. Virtual idol groups like PLAVE and Isekai Idol are gaining immense popularity, leading to a shift in the K-pop fandom culture.

    Virtual idols engage with their fans in real-time through live streaming and virtual content platforms, strengthening their connections with audiences in a variety of spaces and formats. Fans interact with their favorite idols through offline concerts, merchandise sales, and immersive virtual content, building strong emotional bonds.

    Recently, the newly formed virtual idol group LUVITA, created in partnership with SOOP and Duribun, is set to make its official debut at the “MBC Virtual Live Festival with Coupang Play” in October. Alongside LUVITA, another group, PLAN B, garnered great praise for releasing high-quality tracks and videos utilizing AI and the metaverse.

    As virtual idol concerts sell out and merchandise flies off the shelves, this market is attracting attention similar to that of traditional K-pop idols. This growing success is expected to lead to even more K-pop virtual streamers making their debut in the future.

  • Five Years In — BAE173 Marks a New Chapter with First Full Album

    K-pop group BAE173 is set to drop their first full-length album, marking a major milestone five years after their debut.

    On October 12 at 6 PM (KST), their agency PocketDol Studio released a spoiler teaser on BAE173’s official social media channels, featuring a highlight snippet of the album’s title track “Turned Up” from their 1st studio album “NEW CHAPTER : DESEAR.”

    The title track “Turned Up” captivates with its addictive melody, energetic beat, and uplifting message. Members Bit and Youngseo participated in writing the lyrics, adding a personal and sincere touch that showcases BAE173’s artistic maturity.

    According to the previously revealed tracklist, the album includes eight songs in total, including a fan-dedicated song titled “BAE (Before Anyone Else)”, co-written and composed by members Muzin and Bit.

    BAE173’s “NEW CHAPTER : DESEAR” will be available digitally on October 14, followed by the physical album release on October 23.

  • A Decade of TWICE: Group Celebrates with New Music and Love for ONCE

    TWICE released their special album “TEN: The Story Goes On” on October 10, marking the group’s 10th debut anniversary.

    The album symbolizes how TWICE’s journey — which began with their 2015 debut album “THE STORY BEGINS” — continues to unfold, serving as a heartfelt gift to their devoted fandom, ONCE.

    The title track “ME+YOU” blends sleek melodies with a refreshing R&B-pop groove, expressing the members’ promise of everlasting friendship with each other and their fans. The members took part in writing the lyrics, while renowned K-pop producer KENZIE composed and produced the track, elevating its musical quality.

    The album features 10 songs in total, including solo tracks by all nine members:

    “MEEEEEE” (Nayeon), “FIX A DRINK” (Jeongyeon), “MOVE LIKE THAT” (Momo), “DECAFFEINATED” (Sana), “ATM” (Jihyo), “STONE COLD” (Mina), “CHESS” (Dahyun), “IN MY ROOM” (Chaeyoung), and “DIVE IN” (Tzuyu).

  • Slash B Slash to Lead Official Merchandising for Overwatch Champions Series Asia

    IP technology company Slash B Slash has partnered with eSports enterprise WDG to manage official merchandising for the Overwatch Champions Series Asia (OWCS Asia).

    Through this partnership, Slash B Slash will handle the planning, production, and distribution of official OWCS Asia merchandise, introducing a wide range of products including smart goods, apparel, figures, and digital collectibles.

    Notably, the company plans to launch an interactive phone case featuring NFC technology in early 2026 — when attached to a smartphone, Overwatch characters will appear dynamically on the background screen.

    A WDG representative stated, “Slash B Slash’s innovative IP tech solutions will offer fans a completely new experience,” adding that the partnership aims to evolve merchandising into “an interactive platform connecting fans and players, contributing to the growth of global eSports culture.”

    Slash B Slash has previously collaborated with global brands such as Disney, Marvel, Sanrio, and Crocs, pioneering the IP-based tech merchandising industry.

  • Inside Korea’s Ticket Scalping Problem — Even Free Concerts Have Black Market Sales

    Despite the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) labeling ticket scalping as a “social evil” and launching crackdowns, illegal ticket resales continue to thrive online.

    For the upcoming NCT WISH concert, scheduled from October 31 to November 2, VIP seats priced at 198,000 KRW (≈ $150) are reportedly being resold for as much as 1 million KRW, over five times the face value.

    Government data shows that ticket scalping reports surged from 359 cases in 2020 to 4,224 in 2022, a tenfold increase. In 2023 and 2024, 2,161 and 2,224 cases were filed respectively, with 1,020 reports already recorded in 2025 (January–August). Even at free events such as Cho Yong-pil’s concert, scalped tickets were sold for 100,000 KRW, reflecting the scale of the problem.

    However, enforcement remains challenging. Under current law, authorities must prove that tickets were purchased through fraudulent means such as macros and then resold for profit — a standard that ticketing platforms find nearly impossible to verify. Although the MCST announced plans to amend the law last year to penalize resales regardless of macro use, the revision has yet to take effect. Since 2023, only 5.6% of reported cases have been deemed valid for prosecution.

    Shockingly, the Korea Creative Content Agency’s Fair Trade Center currently employs just one staff member dedicated to ticket scalping cases, who also handles other duties. Officials stress the urgent need to increase manpower and establish a real-time monitoring system to curb the ongoing issue.