After leaving YG Entertainment to pursue solo activities, the members of Blackpink —who had already embarked on individual careers while still part of the agency — have each reached new heights on their own terms. Typically, K-pop groups draw strength from teamwork, with solo projects often leading to fragmented fandoms and diminished influence. However, this narrative hasn’t applied in the case of Blackpink as Lisa, Jennie, and Rose redefine success through their individual ac

K-pop Nov. 21, 2024

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has ruled that allegations of workplace harassment involving Hanni, a Vietnamese Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans, do not fall under labor law protections, as she is not classified as a worker under the Labor Standards Act. On Wednesday, the ministry announced the closure of a complaint filed last month by NewJeans’ fan base, known as "Bunnies," which alleged that Hanni was subjected to workplace harassment at Hybe’s headqu

K-pop Nov. 20, 2024

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Hybe subsidiary Ador, announced on Wednesday her resignation from her post as an internal director at Ador, signaling a complete departure from Hybe. She also declared her intent to take legal action against the K-pop powerhouse, accusing the company of breaching shareholder agreements and engaging in unlawful practices. “I have decided to resign as an internal director of Ador today,” Min said in a statement. “I will terminate my shareholder agreemen

K-pop Nov. 20, 2024

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — At Yale University, K-pop is not just a global music phenomenon -- it is the subject of serious academic inquiry. During the recent two-day K-Pop: Musical Production and Consumption conference on Thursday and Friday, 160 participants gathered to explore the genre’s history, industry dynamics and cultural impact. Among them were students from one of Yale’s five K-pop-related courses, including a class taught by Grace Kao, an IBM professor of sociology an

K-pop Nov. 19, 2024

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut -- Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, hosted a two-day K-pop conference under the banner of “K-Pop: Musical Production and Consumption” on Thursday and Friday, featuring discussions by scholars in social sciences and the humanities alongside presentations by industry professionals. Sixteen speakers delivered talks across four sessions, examining topics ranging from fandom dynamics and musical identity to K-pop’s historical trajectory and global ma

K-pop Nov. 17, 2024

The popularity of K-pop has grown significantly in recent years, reaching a point where many around the world at least recognize the names of several groups, if not their music. Younger audiences especially have become familiar with K-pop and can distinguish its sound from other genres. However, global K-pop fans new to the genre may struggle to recognize the unique styles of the powerhouse agencies behind some of the biggest groups. For fans of the genre with an appreciation of its history, how

K-pop Nov. 16, 2024

Jazz, dining, and river view: Mood Anchor on Sebitseom Mood Anchor on Sebitseom in Seocho-gu, Seoul, has quickly become a jazz lounge hot spot since reopening as a contemporary restaurant in September, following its earlier life as "Mood Seoul." Known for its unique blend of fine dining and live jazz, Mood Anchor offers a sweeping view of the Han River that serves as a stunning backdrop for its Thursday-to-Sunday jazz lounge evenings. On these nights, the restaurant attracts guests who

Culture Nov. 15, 2024

K-pop girl group Ive and renowned DJ-producer David Guetta released their new single, “Supernova Love,” on Friday, marking the debut of “The Collab X,” a collaboration project by KDM Records. The project aims to launch a series of global K-pop collaborations, starting with “Supernova Love.” The single blends the infectious energy of K-pop with Guetta’s signature electronic sound, kicking off the project’s mission to bring unique partnerships betwee

K-pop Nov. 8, 2024

Singer-songwriter Heize is set to release her eighth EP “Fallin” on Nov. 6, featuring seven tracks that delve into themes of longing. The album touches on various subjects of yearning, including family, friends, a past love and her younger self. Known for her deep introspective style, Heize calls herself “a person who holds a lot of longing,” and the theme naturally came to the forefront of this new project. “In this album, I found myself reflecting on different peo

K-pop Nov. 6, 2024

Jiae of the now-disbanded girl group Wassup made headlines Tuesday by posting a photo with her girlfriend on social media, captioning it, “My sweet girlfriend.” Jiae had revealed her bisexuality in 2021, declaring, “I love both men and women. I have a girlfriend that I love and am very happy with.” Given the conservative nature of the Korean entertainment industry, her openness about her identity was groundbreaking. Historically limited in their freedom of speech, K-pop i

K-pop Nov. 6, 2024

SM Entertainment reported a sharp decline in third-quarter earnings Tuesday, attributing the downturn to reduced album sales and rising production costs while hinting at the debut of a new girl group in January. The parent company’s regulatory filing showed consolidated revenue of 242.2 billion won ($175.6 million) and an operating profit of 13.3 billion won, reflecting a 9 percent drop in revenue and a significant 73.6 percent decline in operating profit, year-on-year. The company point

K-pop Nov. 5, 2024

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, is at risk of losing its designation as a "Top Job Creation Company” by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, following a public petition filed Thursday with the National Assembly. As of Tuesday, just six days after the petition launched, the National Assembly’s online petition site showed over 41,500 signatures supporting the revocation of Hybe’s recognition. With a threshold of 50,000 signatures needed for an official review and 24

K-pop Nov. 5, 2024

Minho of SHINee released his first full-length solo album, "Call Back," on Monday, showcasing a new musical style distinct from his previous work with the boy band. Coming nearly two years after his solo debut EP, "Chase," in December 2022, the new album comprises 10 tracks, including the titular track that promises to immerse listeners in Minho’s expanded emotional and musical range. The eponymous “Call Back” is a pop song featuring a deep bass line, a lyri

K-pop Nov. 4, 2024

A Hybe internal document on K-pop industry trends, presented to top executives, including Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, has been fueling intense debate since its disclosure at a National Assembly audit on Oct. 24. The report stunned K-pop fans and the public with its critiques of young idols’ appearances, describing some as “surprisingly unattractive" or "overly reliant on cosmetic enhancements," which brought significant attention to the document's author. Contrary

K-pop Nov. 3, 2024

K-pop fans in Thailand, one of the strongest K-pop fan bases globally, are protesting against Hybe following the leak of an internal document that reportedly contained unverified rumors about YG Entertainment's Blackpink and its Thai member, Lisa, as well as numerous other artists. The so-called “music industry report,” disclosed during a recent National Assembly audit in Seoul, allegedly criticized Blackpink’s achievements and suggested that Lisa’s success at the MTV Vid

K-pop Oct. 31, 2024