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K-pop idols

K-pop idols
The Korean wave - or hallyu - has swept over the world. South Korea’s K-pop idols are now among the biggest celebrities in the world, with standout stars including BTS members Jungkook and Jimin, and Blackpink’s Lisa and Jennie
Supporters of South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung dance during an election campaign event on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
South Korea

K-pop takes centre stage in South Korea’s presidential race

Lovable and Next Door Oppa are among the retro hits used by front-runners Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo to sway voters.

Malaysia

‘I’m sad’: Blackpink fans in Malaysia lament tour snub, slam censorship

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Hong Kong economy

K-pop’s top MAMA Awards to return to Hong Kong for first time since 2018

Fame and celebrity

Irene Kim’s star-studded wedding: from the beauty routine to the guest list

The Ireneisgood label founder held a ‘bridal shower flea market’, relied on La Mer for her bridal glow, and wore gowns by Self-Portrait, Miss Sohee and Nicole + Felicia.

Irene Kim’s wedding was attended by some of the biggest names in K-pop and fashion. Photo: @ireneisgood/Instagram
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

(G)-IDLE rebrand as I-dle and release new six-track album We Are

The K-pop girl group say they will no longer be defined by labels like ‘girl’ or ‘gender’ and that We Are marks ‘another leap forward’.

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Fame and celebrity

Who is Rosé from Blackpink’s lookalike older sister, Alice Park?

Rosé is the only musical one in a family of professionals, with both her father and sister Alice Park working as lawyers; she left a sweet birthday message for her big sis on Instagram.

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Thailand

Lisa’s Thai fans lash out at rapper Azealia Banks after transphobic tirade

Banks’ offensive social media meltdown exploded into a racially-charged online battle with the K-pop star’s Thai supporters.

Thai singer and actress Lalisa Manobal, better known as Lisa of Blackpink, arrives for the 2025 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5 in New York. Photo: Reuters
Blackpink

Singer Lisa’s Met Gala lingerie stirs outrage over US activist’s depiction

Social media users slammed the K-pop star, calling her look ‘highly distasteful’.

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South Korea

‘Detrimental to K-pop’? How NewJeans saga upends South Korea’s music industry

Amid industry concern about similar moves by other artists, the group’s dispute may also prompt a review of the K-pop system, analysts say.

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South Korea

‘Not an easy path’: K-pop’s Bain breaks taboos as ‘first’ openly gay idol

South Korea remains deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance, with 50 per cent opposing same-sex marriage, according to a survey last year.

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Bain at the concert in Los Angeles where he came out as gay. Photo: Bluedot Entertainment
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Mainland China to host first K-pop concert since ‘K-wave ban’ began in 2016

Epex’s concert in Fuzhou on May 31 is raising expectations that Beijing may ease restrictions on K-pop culture in mainland China.

Eight-member K-pop boy band Epex debuted on June 8, 2021 with the EP Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety. Photo: C9 Entertainment
K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

What Just B’s Bain coming out as gay shows about Korea’s progress on LGBTQ

With Bain the first active member of a K-pop boy group to publicly come out as gay, is Korean society beginning to shift towards acceptance?

K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Become a K-pop idol for a day at Chinese ‘experience’ centre for US$45

At Shanghai’s Chen Go, K-pop fans can choose from 200 outfits, dance on special sets and sign autographs for ‘fans’ at a mock meet-and-greet.

South Korea

K-pop remains top global symbol of South Korean culture, survey shows

Nearly 1 in 5 global fans say K-pop comes to mind first, beating out Korean food, TV dramas and beauty products.

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Korean boy band BTS at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. Photo: AP
Music

Can Japan’s growing fan culture move the dial for consumer spending?

Fans of bands, anime characters, mascots and online entertainers in Japan may spend as much as US$23 billion a year.

Momoka Matsui and her co-worker Saki Matsumoto at After All Coffee in Tokyo, where Matsui’s favourite boy band stopped by. They are taking part in “oshikatsu”, a fan-driven phenomenon in Japan that is boosting consumer spending. Photo: Reuters
Diplomacy

Opinion | In a broken world, China-Japan-Korea cooperation is Asia’s backbone

By blending economic might, technological prowess and cultural bonds, cooperation can be elevated into a transformative, inspiring force.

Trending in China

Chinese youth pay US$28 to live K-pop dream with public events, photo shoots

‘Obsessed’ fans of Korean entertainment genre snapped by photographers, are done up by make-up artists in immersive experience.

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China-South Korea relations

China offers visa-free travel and K-pop events as overture to South Korea

There are hopes Beijing could further ease unofficial restrictions on cultural imports as is tries to mend relations with Seoul.

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K-pop group IVE held a signing event in Shanghai on Thursday. Photo: Handout
South Korea

Video | From survival to stardom: North Korean defectors set for historic K-pop debut

Hyuk and Seok, two North Koreans in the K-pop band, are the first from the reclusive North to be trained for stardom in South Korea’s K-pop industry.

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K-pop

Video | North Korean defectors set for historic K-pop debut

Hyuk and Seok, two North Koreans in the K-pop band 1Verse, are the first from the reclusive North to be trained for stardom in South Korea's K-pop industry.

South Korea

Not patched up: South Korea court blocks K-pop’s NewJeans from leaving label

The group, which announced their departure from ADOR last year, said they would challenge the court’s decision.

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NewJeans, also known as NJZ, is a South Korean girl group. Photo: Handout
South Korea

Petition in South Korea demanding laws against celebrity bullying gains traction

Prompted by the death of K-drama star Kim Sae-Ron, the petition has garnered enough signatures to warrant a review by a committee.

A TV screen showing an image of the late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron at Seoul Railway Station. Photo: AP
South Korea

‘So you know Blackpink, but not Lisa?’: Bong Joon-ho cops flak from Thai fans

The director faced backlash from fans for not mentioning the Thai-born singer’s name in an interview, sparking racism accusations.

South Korean celebrities

K-pop’s Taeil removed from NCT group after sexual assault indictment

The K-pop star has been dropped by SM Entertainment, which has determined that ‘it is no longer possible’ for him to continue his activities.

South Korea

Japanese woman investigated for kissing BTS star Jin without consent

South Korean police summoned the fan to appear for questioning over an allegation of sexual harassment.

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BTS member Jin. Photo: EPA-EFE
K-drama news

Actor Lee Min-ho denies rumours he is dating 2NE1’s Park Bom

K-pop star began posting images of actor captioned “my husband” on social media last year, then said he had asked her to but ‘I’m single’.

K-pop star Park Bom’s social media posts about actor Lee Min-ho being “her husband” have prompted Lee’s representatives to issue a statement that rumours the pair are dating are groundless. Photo: Instagram/newharoobompark
TV shows and streaming video

Blackpink’s Lisa calls White Lotus season 3 ‘spicy, juicy, crazy’

The HBO series is back, this time in Koh Samui, Thailand, and K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink was among the cast at its Asia launch in Bangkok.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Lisa from Blackpink’s Thai mother and Swiss chef stepfather

The first K-pop solo artist to reach a billion streams on Spotify – and a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton and Bulgari – Lisa just made her acting debut in season 3 of HBO’s The White Lotus.

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