K-pop group Seventeen took center stage at the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum on Tuesday, becoming a beacon for growth through solidarity among young people around the globe. The multinational group stepped up to the podium at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris as the first K-pop group to address UNESCO at its main hall. Twelve members of the 13-member group appeared on stage wearing simple black suits. Member S. Coups was absent due to a leg injury. The band hosted a special session on the first day

K-pop Nov. 15, 2023

Unionized workers of Seoul Metro, the operator of Seoul subway lines No. 1-8, will stage a second strike on Nov. 22 in protest of the company's workforce downsizing plans. The Seoul Metro labor union on Tuesday announced it will hold a press conference the following morning in front of the Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, central Seoul, and disclose the plans to its forthcoming walkout. The announcement follows the union's temporary strike held Thursday-Friday, as the workers' body fai

Social Affairs Nov. 14, 2023

Paris was filled with K-pop fans ahead of boy band Seventeen's historical speech and performance at UNESCO headquarters on Tuesday. The 13-member group arrived in the city on Sunday, according to a statement from the group's agency, Pledis Entertainment on Tuesday, amid shouts and screams from fans who flocked to the airport to welcome them. Seventeen's attendance at UNESCO headquarters was highly anticipated as it marked the first time a K-pop group had been invited to speak at

K-pop Nov. 14, 2023

Jungkook continues his historic run with his solo album, "Golden," with Tuesday seeing the BTS singer place his sixth song on Billboard's main singles Hot 100 chart. "Standing Next to You," the lead single of "Golden," arrived on Hot 100 at No. 5 this week, Billboard said Tuesday. The song tallied around 10.6 million online streams and 400,000 radio airplays, as well as 99,000 physical and digital singles sales, the music publication added. Jungkook broke the d

K-pop Nov. 14, 2023

Hybe, the company behind K-pop phenomenon boy band BTS, has announced its foray into the Latin American music market. The company has established the local subsidiary, Hybe Latin America, in Mexico, the firm said Monday. “We aim to extend our reach into Latin America, one of the fastest-expanding music markets in the world,” Hybe said in a statement Monday, adding the regional division will serve as its local office for the artists of Hybe Labels, the management arm of the multilabel

K-pop Nov. 13, 2023

Jungkook of BTS has made his solo arrival on the Billboard 200, with "Golden" reaching No. 2. On Sunday, US music publication Billboard previewed the album chart for this week, showing "Golden" behind only Taylor Swift's "1989 (Taylor's Version)." "Golden" recorded 212,000 equivalent album units, the chart's highest-ever weekly sales by a K-pop solo singer. Equivalent album units comprise physical and digital album sales, as well as streamin

K-pop Nov. 13, 2023

Three-time Billboard 200 chart-topper Stray Kids made a grand comeback Friday, this time as rock stars. Marking the eight-member group's return after five months is EP "Rock-Star," which continues from the past album, "Five-Star," a mega-hit album that had landmark successes, including its third-straight Billboard 200 No. 1 hit. It was a highly anticipated return, and the eight men were overflowing with renewed charisma as they went in front of the press on Friday mornin

K-pop Nov. 10, 2023

Babymonster of YG Entertainment is set to debut on Nov. 27. The agency on Friday released a poster showing the message, "Babymonster 2023.11.27 0AM KST," on a black backdrop, with a red V-shaped mark pointing downward. Shooting for the group's music video, which began at the end of last month, has been completed, YG said. "Babymonster members will (unveil) not only their own talents, but the identity of the team (through the video). To do this, YG mustered all the company

K-pop Nov. 10, 2023

Overwhelming emotions must have hit Omega X members as they spoke to the local media in Seoul on Tuesday, taking the spotlight for the first time in a year since they announced the termination of their contracts with Spire Entertainment, under which they reportedly suffered abuse. Despite appearing in overly bright smiles, as if to assure the public that they were okay, their voices trembled several times as they responded to questions throughout the hour-long event, held in celebration of the

K-pop Nov. 8, 2023

Despite its global aspirations, the renewed Mama Awards by Mnet is set to take place in Japan for the second straight year. Although at a more sluggish pace than expected, the world's biggest K-pop festival said it is inching toward its goal of being held outside Asia, with this year's event taking place at the Tokyo Dome, Japan's top concert venue, for the first time. With 20 days left until the festival on Nov. 28-29, producers of organizer CJ ENM, and this year's host, Jeo

K-pop Nov. 8, 2023

Co-ed K-pop quartet Kard is set to expand its scope in the US after signing with the United Talent Agency, the American company representing global pop star Post Malone. DSP Media and its parent company RBW on Tuesday announced Kard has signed an exclusive contract with the California-based talent agency, whose roster of artists include some of the world's most celebrated musicians, including the likes of Cardi B, Jason Derulo, Rosalia and The Kid Laroi. "Kard is set to extend its glob

K-pop Nov. 7, 2023

K-pop singer Kwon Ji-yong, more known by his moniker G-Dragon, maintained confidence following the first session of police questioning over alleged illegal drug use on Monday. "Justice will prevail," he posted on his Instagram account through an image on Monday night, following the police questioning session that afternoon. Below the four-letter Korean idiom, he marked in bold, "Everything will go in its right way in the end." The Instagram post came a few hours after Kwon le

K-pop Nov. 7, 2023

Million-seller rookie group Zerobaseone is taking the next step in its youthful journey with its second EP, "Melting Point." The new album came out Monday afternoon, marking the group's swift return to the K-pop scene four months after making its debut in July. In their last album, "Youth in the Shade," the boys sang about how the uncertainties in their endeavors made their youth shine. In the new album, the boys overcome ambivalence and gain confidence in themselves.

K-pop Nov. 6, 2023

Enhypen will continue its serenade of love with "Sweet Venom," the track leading the group's new EP, "Orange Blood." The boy band's agency Belift Lab on Monday released the track list for the upcoming album. "Sweet Venom" picks up the story from the band's previous title song, "Bite Me," which fronted the EP, "Dark Blood." The song tells of a boy's promise of love, which is so strong that not even the lethal poison seeping thr

K-pop Nov. 6, 2023

Jungkook of BTS continues his record-setting streak as a K-pop solo artist with his first album, "Golden." According to Spotify on Saturday, local time, the 11-song album racked up 39,653,740 streams in total with release on Friday, logging the highest first-day stream counts by a K-pop solo artist's album on the platform. Jungkook's songs dominated Spotify's Daily Top Song Global chart, with pre-released "Seven" reclaiming the top spot, while the newly unveile

K-pop Nov. 5, 2023