appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Tamar Herman

As 2020 winds down and the weather in most parts of the world gets a bit colder, there’s no better time to cosy up with a warm drink and catch up on some of this year’s most memorable K-pop events and news stories.
Counting down from No. 10,﻿ these were the most read K-pop stories published by the South China Morning Post in 2020.

10 Tzuyu of Twice: beautiful, the youngest band member wants to be known for more than just her good looks.

9 Lisa from Blackpink shows her strict side as superstar dance mentor on a Chinese TV show. “I won’t be soft-hearted,” she says.

8 Who are Enhypen? The latest K-pop group from BTS label Big Hit release their first music in November.

7 Wheein of Mamamoo challenges K-pop norms with her frank talk about dating and her mental health struggles.

6 Jisoo of Blackpink gets the backing of K-pop fans after Jimmy Kimmel’s test of her English on his US TV show angers some.
5 Ex Stray Kids member Woojin denies sexual harassment claims, igniting fresh online anger and accusations of dishonesty.

4 How Irene of Red Velvet’s bullying scandal gives insight into abuse of power in Korean society, not just K-pop.

3 New K-pop girl group Aespa features human and virtual members, and comes from Red Velvet’s management SM Entertainment.
2 Exclusive | K-pop star Woojin talks about the sexual harassment allegations against him, and his comeback plans after leaving Stray Kids last year.
1 K-pop stars Blackpink named world’s biggest music act, with BTS trailing at No. 10 (fun fact: the 11th most-read article was a follow-up piece exploring what this meant exactly, with an interview with the Bloomberg writer who spearheaded the music chart that determines every month’s biggest stars).
Which stories mattered most to you in 2020? Find out with our Year In Review 2020 retrospective.




For more great stories on Korean entertainment, artist profiles and the latest news, visit K-post, SCMP's K-pop hub.



Oreo and BTS launch purple cookies in new K-pop collaboration

BTS fans vs bots, scalpers: Army girds for high-stakes Malaysia ticket battle

BTS fans blast ‘obscenely high’ room prices ahead of Busan concerts

With new album Pureflow Pt.1, Le Sserafim are facing their fears and are stronger for it

K-pop idols

The top 10 K-pop stories of 2020: Jisoo of Blackpink on Jimmy Kimmel show, Woojin denies sexual harassment, and much more

K-pop girl group Blackpink have had a banner year, and not surprisingly stories about the group, and Blackpink members, were among the 10 most read Post stories about K-pop in 2020. Photo: Getty Images for Coachella

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JANUARY 05: Tzuyu of TWICE arrives at the photocall for the 34th Golden Disc Awards on January 05, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)

New K-pop boy band Enhyphen. Credit: Belift Lab

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 29: Lisa aka Lalisa Manoban of South Korean girl group BLACKPINK attends the photocall for the BVLGARI 'Serpenti Seduttori' launch event on October 29, 2019 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)

Aespa member Karina. Credit: SM Entertainment

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JANUARY 30: Irene of Red Velvet attends the 29th High1 Seoul Music Awards Photocall at Gocheok Sky Dome on January 30, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)

TAIPEI, CHINA - JUNE 15: Solar, Wheein, Moonbyul and Hwasa of South Korean girl group Mamamoo perform on the stage in concert at Xinzhuang Gymnasium on June 15, 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan of China. (Photo by Unioncom/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

INDIO, CA - APRIL 12:  Jisoo of BLACKPINK performs at Sahara Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 12, 2019 in Indio, California.  (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella)

BTS and Blackpink among world’s most tweeted musicians of 2020, and BTS member Jungkook is No 2 for retweets

BTS were recognised by Twitter for having the most-tweeted account of 2020, as well as the most-tweeted K-pop and musician accounts. Photo: AFP

Jung Kook, a member of South Korean K-pop band BTS poses for photographers during a press conference to introduce their new album "BE" in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

FILE - Rose, from left, Jenni Kim, and Lisa of Blackpink perform at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. on April 12, 2019. Their song "Ice Cream," featuring Selena Gomez, was named one of the top 10 songs of the year by the Associated Press. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Coronavirus and K-pop: how the industry is trying to catch up with the latest wave to hit South Korea

K-pop star Sana from Twice is in quarantine after coming into contact with Chung Ha, who later tested positive. Photo: courtesy of Twice

New K-pop boy band Enhypen. Credit: Belift Lab

Sihyeon (left) and Yiren (fourth from left) from Everglow have tested positive for Covid-19. Credit: Yuehua Entertainment

Why Katie Kim, who started out in K-pop but left to go solo, is so proud of her new EP Our Time is Blue

South Korean-born singer Katie. Photo: Axis

South Korean-born singer Katie. Credit: Axis

‘I’m not a K-pop artist’: South Korean-born singer Katie has just released an EP. Photo: Axis

Lifestyle

K-drama

News

Entertainment

K-Pop


New K-pop groups Enhypen and Aespa caught Post readers’ attention this year, as did Wheein of Mamamoo’s frankness and Blackpink’s Lisa showing her strict side
Irene of Red Velvet’s bullying and what it said about show business in South Korea grabbed readers, as did Tzuyu of Twice saying she’s not just a pretty face



Jimmy Kimmel’s English test for Blackpink’s Jisoo, the girl band being named world’s biggest music act, Irene of Red Velvet’s bullying, Woojin denying sexual harassment – all were among the 10 most read K-pop stories the Post published in 2020.
