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Category: K-ENT

  • Soda Pop Composer KUSH to Marry Vivien After 9 Years Together

    Composer Kush and Vivian have officially announced their upcoming wedding, scheduled to take place on October 11 at a private location in Seoul.

    Kush made his debut in 2003 as a member of Stony Skunk, and began his career as a composer in 2007. Over the years, he has collaborated with a wide range of artists including BIGBANG, G-DRAGON, TAEYANG (SOL), 2NE1, Uhm Jung-hwa, Cho Hyun-ah, Seo In-young, and Heize, producing numerous hit tracks.

    He also wrote and composed “Soda Pop” by the Lion Boys, a song that gained attention through the Netflix animated series “K-pop Demon Hunters.”

    Vivian, on the other hand, began her career after winning first place in the 2015 model contest for the fashion magazine Ceci. She is also known as a cousin of Girls’ Generation member Yuri.

    She later participated in songs by BIGBANG, BLACKPINK, and JISOO, and more recently showcased her talent as a music producer on Mnet’s “I-LAND 2: N/a.”

  • G-DRAGON Ignites 65,000 Fans at Singapore F1 Grand Prix

    G-DRAGON electrified the crowd of roughly 65,000 at the 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit’s Padang Stage.

    On October 3 (local time), G-DRAGON performed as a headliner alongside Elton John, delivering a dynamic 90-minute set that featured hit songs like “POWER,” “HOME SWEET HOME,” and “One of a Kind.” Fans roared his real name, “Kwon Ji-yong,” throughout the night, filling the venue with energy and excitement.

    Currently in the midst of his third world tour, “Ubermensch,” G-DRAGON will continue performing in Osaka (Oct 20–21), Taipei and Hanoi (November), before wrapping up in Seoul (December).

  • BURNING UP: MEOVV Teases Hot Styling and Denim Vibes

    THE BLACK LABEL unveiled teaser content for MEOVV’s upcoming digital single “BURNING UP,” which is set to release on October 14 (Tuesday), through its official social media channels on October 4 and 5.

    A 20-second teaser video features the melody of “BURNING UP,” with members showing off a striking new look in wet hair and smoky makeup. The low-resolution aesthetic enhances the Y2K vibe, heightening anticipation for their return.

    Concept photos were also revealed, showcasing the members in cool denim styling that highlights their confident, hip energy. Their strong individuality and bold poses capture attention and amplify the group’s charisma.

    MEOVV previously released their first EP “MY EYES OPEN VVIDE” in May, promoting the double title tracks “HANDS UP” and “DROP TOP.” The new digital single “BURNING UP” will be released at 6 p.m. KST on October 14.

  • BLACKPINK’s Rosé Faces Racism Controversy; UK Magazine Issues Apology

    As controversy grew over BLACKPINK’s Rosé allegedly facing racial discrimination, the magazine at the center of the issue issued an apology.

    On October 2 (local time), ELLE UK stated on its official social media that Rosé had been excluded from a group photo related to Paris Fashion Week due to “photo resizing,” adding that “there was no intention to cause offense.”

    The magazine added, “The post has since been deleted, and we will make every effort to better reflect our diverse readership in the future.”

    Previously, ELLE UK uploaded photos of celebrities attending a fashion brand event in Paris. Alongside Rosé, the event was attended by model Hailey Bieber, actress and model Zoë Kravitz, and singer-songwriter Charli XCX. However, the photo posted on ELLE UK’s official SNS cropped out Rosé, fueling the controversy.

  • Counterfeit K-pop Goods from China Seized in Kore

    While K-pop continues to grow in global influence, authorities have uncovered large volumes of counterfeit K-pop merchandise from China being distributed in Korea.

    According to data submitted by the Korea Customs Service, the most frequently seized counterfeit item between 2024 and August this year was photocards. The group most affected was IVE, with 713,593 counterfeit photocards confiscated.

    They were followed by NewJeans (99,888), IU (77,344), Stray Kids (75,404), and aespa (52,967), completing the top five.

    Other cases included illegally distributing mask packs that exceeded contracted production, as well as bromides and framed posters imported while disguised as official products.

    Excluding photocards, BTS suffered the greatest intellectual property infringement, with over 110,000 counterfeit items seized. SEVENTEEN (2,610), (G)I-DLE (920), BLACKPINK (680), and NewJeans (720) followed

  • SFMOMA to Host BTS RM’s Art Collection Exhibition

    BTS leader RM, widely known as an art enthusiast, will showcase his personal collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) from October next year through February 2027. This marks the museum’s first collaboration with a K-pop artist, with RM himself serving as curator.

    The exhibition will feature around 200 works, combining RM’s personal collection with pieces from SFMOMA’s holdings. Notably, it will include works by masters of Korean contemporary art alongside renowned artists from around the world, with some pieces being revealed to the public for the first time.

    RM expressed his hopes, stating, “I want this exhibition to reflect on the boundaries between East and West, Korea and the U.S., modernity and contemporary, the personal and the universal.” The museum praised RM’s discerning eye for art and expressed anticipation for the new dialogue between the works he has curated.

    RM has long been recognized as a passionate art lover, frequently visiting museums worldwide and actively contributing to the preservation and restoration of Korean cultural heritage, as well as supporting the spread of art and culture.

  • Xdinary Heroes Announce Comeback with New Mini Album ‘LXVE to DEATH’

    JYP Entertainment’s boy band Xdinary Heroes (XH) will make their comeback on October 24 with a brand-new release.

    On October 1 at noon, JYP unveiled a comeback poster on its official SNS channels, announcing that Xdinary Heroes will drop their new mini album “LXVE to DEATH” on October 24.

    This year, the band showcased a variety of performances, from their world tour “Beautiful Mind” to their July concert “Xdinary Heroes Summer Special〈The Xcape〉” at Seoul’s Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, where they spent a memorable summer night with fans. Riding this momentum, the group also made their first appearance at the global music festival “Lollapalooza Chicago” held at Grant Park, Illinois.

    The new mini album “LXVE to DEATH” will be released on October 24 at 1 p.m. KST across major music platforms.

  • BTS Suga Opens Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center with ₩5 Billion Donatio

    Severance Hospital announced the opening of the “Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center” on the first floor of Jejung Hall on the 30th.

    The center was established with a ₩5 billion donation made in June by BTS member Suga (Min Yoon-gi) to Severance Children’s Hospital. It features therapy rooms for language and behavioral treatment, as well as a music and social skills group therapy room equipped with soundproofing and acoustic facilities. The cozy waiting area also displays wooden artworks by an autistic spectrum disorder artist.

    From late last year to early this year, Suga worked with Professor Chun Keun-ah to meet children with autism spectrum disorder, offering music volunteer work including guitar performances. Based on this experience, Suga and Professor Chun co-developed the “MIND” program, incorporating music into therapy, establishing the world’s first university hospital system that integrates art with medicine for treatment and independence.

    The MIND program, built on non-verbal music therapy, is effective even for children with low cognitive abilities or those who do not respond verbally. It encourages self-expression by letting children choose instruments and supports social skills such as waiting their turn during ensemble sessions. A professional team—including child psychiatrists, music therapists, speech therapists, behavioral therapists, and clinical psychologists—collaborates to provide tailored treatments through case-based discussions.

    Experts note that as music therapy is globally recognized for its effectiveness, this center is expected to become an innovative model combining art and medicine. Moreover, Suga’s philanthropic act is anticipated to positively influence social awareness of children with autism.

  • TREASURE Confirms 2025-26 Asia Tour with 26 Shows

    YG Entertainment announced on the 29th via its official SNS the poster for the “2025-26 TREASURE TOUR [PULSE ON],” unveiling more details of the tour that will kick off at Seoul’s KSPO DOME on October 10–12.

    According to the announcement, TREASURE will meet local fans next year on March 6 at The Venetian Arena in Macau, March 28 at NTSU Arena in Taipei, April 18 at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, April 25–26 at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, May 3 at Singapore Indoor Stadium, May 9 at AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong, and May 30 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

    The group had already revealed concerts in Seoul and Japan’s Tokyo, Aichi, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, and Osaka. With the addition of Macau and Kuala Lumpur, the tour now spans 14 cities and 26 shows. However, the Bangkok schedule and venue remain unannounced, heightening anticipation among global fans.

  • “HYBE Cracks Down on Counterfeit K-Pop Goods, Seizes 19,000 Items”

    The Korean Intellectual Property Office’s trademark special investigative unit has referred B, the CEO of Company A, to the prosecution on charges of violating the trademark law, as announced on the 24th. This case targets Company A, which produced counterfeit goods infringing on the intellectual property (IP) rights of nine popular K-pop idol groups, including BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), ENHYPEN, and LE SSERAFIM.

    In this crackdown, more than 19,356 counterfeit items were seized, including photo cards, socks, pens, clothing, mirrors, keychains, hats, mobile phone accessories, and tumblers. Company A had been selling these illegal products to foreign tourists and K-pop fans in Myeongdong, Seoul, profiting unlawfully.

    HYBE has been consistently monitoring and cracking down on the IP violations of its artists both online and offline. Last year, they seized 13,691 cases of counterfeit goods in the domestic e-commerce market and 278,568 cases overseas, while also taking action against 17,710 instances of unauthorized paid video distribution on SNS. Additionally, they educated customs officers on distinguishing between authentic and counterfeit items, resulting in the discovery of 3,462 IP-infringing goods last year.

    HYBE has pledged to continue working closely with the Korean Intellectual Property Office to protect the IP of their artists and to persist in efforts to eradicate counterfeit goods and improve public awareness.