https://www.scmp.com/rss/326570/feed After taking over most of the world, pop music has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in Asia, which has seen the arrival of J-pop in Japan, K-pop in Korea, and Mandopop in mainland China. If you’re into impeccably made-up boy or girl bands, and appreciate some slick dance moves, look for Asian pop reports in the South China Morning Post. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press All seven members log onto a live stream, broadcast from a beach. A few years ago, it would have been a common image. But since the K-pop boy band BTS pressed pause on their full-band duties for nearly four years, it is revelatory. That is the scene at the start of BTS: The Return, a new Netflix documentary directed by Bao Nguyen (The Stringer, The Greatest Night in Pop) and produced by This Machine (Martha, Karol G) and Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS. The mostly... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347781/netflix-documentary-bts-return-highlights-k-pop-kings-comeback-album?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347781/netflix-documentary-bts-return-highlights-k-pop-kings-comeback-album?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times BTS member Jin’s absence from the credits of the group’s latest album has sparked a debate among fans after what has been seen as a tense moment during a live broadcast went viral. BTS held a full-group live stream last Friday to celebrate the release of their fifth full-length album, Arirang, where members discussed the production process and revealed some behind-the-scenes stories. During the broadcast, RM said, “Everyone’s colour is in the album”, before adding, “If Jin’s tour had ended a bit... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347792/bts-fans-fume-over-jins-absence-arirang-credits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347792/bts-fans-fume-over-jins-absence-arirang-credits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:52:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Shares in BTS’ agency have plunged as much as 15 per cent after a heavily promoted comeback concert by the K-pop megastars in South Korea drew a smaller crowd than authorities initially expected. Hybe’s stock later recorded its biggest intraday decline since June 2022. The group’s event at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul attracted 104,000 fans vs the 260,000 initially estimated by police, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Stringent crowd control measures, reflecting in part the authorities’... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347523/btss-south-korea-comeback-crowd-disappoints-triggering-hybe-stock-sell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347523/btss-south-korea-comeback-crowd-disappoints-triggering-hybe-stock-sell?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:50:07 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng It is a sign of our modern, interconnected times that the Macao Government Tourism Office has named British YouTubers Joshua Carrott and Oliver Kendal – usually known simply as Josh and Ollie – as keynote speakers for this year’s International Cities of Gastronomy Fest. The duo, better known for their YouTube channel Korean Englishman, rose to prominence by offering a fresh lens on the Korean Wave. While most online audiences rode the Hallyu wave via K-pop and dramas, Carrott and Kendal were... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347299/why-korean-englishmans-josh-and-ollie-are-perfect-gastronomy-fest-ambassadors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347299/why-korean-englishmans-josh-and-ollie-are-perfect-gastronomy-fest-ambassadors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:26 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Netflix is planning a KPop Demon Hunters world tour, seeking to capitalise on the company’s most popular movie ever. The streaming leader is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a live show featuring performances of the songs from the film, which have topped the Billboard charts and been a massive cultural phenomenon, according to people familiar with the talks. The aim is to perform around the globe next year, ahead of the sequel to the animated film about three Korean pop stars who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347149/kpop-demon-hunters-world-tour-it-could-happen-stops-dozens-major-cities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347149/kpop-demon-hunters-world-tour-it-could-happen-stops-dozens-major-cities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:15:10 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee Gwanghwamun Square, the symbolic centre of the South Korean capital Seoul, is home to two statues – King Sejong, architect of the Korean alphabet Hangul, and Admiral Yi Sun-shin, the naval hero who repelled Japanese invasions – with the gates of the historical Gyeongbokgung Palace rising behind them. On March 21, this open-air plaza will play host to a different kind of national icon: BTS. The seven-member group – made up of members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – will stage a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346835/free-bts-concert-mark-k-pop-comeback-no-other-are-you-ready-army?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346835/free-bts-concert-mark-k-pop-comeback-no-other-are-you-ready-army?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Hawaii-based Christine Kim was an early participant in the KPop Demon Hunters travel trend. In fairness, her trip to Seoul with her husband and children was already booked before the Netflix film came out in June 2025. The plan, initially at least, was to visit grandparents. But then Rumi, Zoey and Mira, the movie’s protagonists, became her five-year-old daughter’s idols, and the itinerary got rewritten. They visited a jjimjilbang (Korean spa) and the Namsan Tower – the setting for the rival... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346455/how-kpop-demon-hunters-travel-trend-shaking-korean-wave-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346455/how-kpop-demon-hunters-travel-trend-shaking-korean-wave-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has received dozens of complaints after Taiwanese rock band Mayday cancelled one of its coming concerts at Kai Tak Sports Park and replaced it with a new date later in the week, sparking frustration among fans – particularly those travelling from mainland China and overseas. The Consumer Council said that as of 1pm on Tuesday, it had received 24 complaints about the cancelled show – eight from local consumers and 16 from fans outside the city. The watchdog said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346132/sour-note-fans-after-taiwanese-rock-band-mayday-switches-hong-kong-date?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346132/sour-note-fans-after-taiwanese-rock-band-mayday-switches-hong-kong-date?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:15:06 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee At the bustling Han Market in central Da Nang, two Vietnamese vendors tease a middle-aged South Korean tourist by calling him harabeoji, or “grandfather” in Korean. “I’m offended!” he jokes. The women grab his arms and laugh. “It’s OK, it’s OK.” The man had returned to their stall after buying 200,000 dong (US$7.60) worth of macadamia nuts the day before. It is a small moment of banter, repeated dozens of times a day in a city that many people from South Korea jokingly call their own unofficial... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345771/da-nang-south-korean-province-why-coastal-city-hit-east-asian-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345771/da-nang-south-korean-province-why-coastal-city-hit-east-asian-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Grammy-award-winning rapper and ⁠singer Anderson .Paak is exploring ⁠his Korean roots with his directorial debut ⁠film K-Pops!, which is due for release in US cinemas on Friday. Rather than delving into his own emotional struggles with his dad, the R&B singer decided to do a heartwarming story about a father and a son reuniting during a K-pop competition show. “I’m a wholesome ‌kind of guy,” he says in a Zoom interview. “Comedy, laughter, love, music, food, culture have always been the way to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344569/it-was-insane-anderson-paak-making-his-debut-film-k-pops-and-its-family-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344569/it-was-insane-anderson-paak-making-his-debut-film-k-pops-and-its-family-message?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A wave of online backlash against South Korea is spreading across Southeast Asia, fuelled by a dispute over fan behaviour at a K-pop concert and intensified by controversial comments from public officials, highlighting how quickly digital tensions can take on a regional dimension. Posts accusing Koreans of discrimination have circulated widely on social media in recent days, with users from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand sharing calls to boycott Korean products and culture. A hashtag invoking... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344189/southeast-asians-unite-digital-boycott-south-korea-seabling-trends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344189/southeast-asians-unite-digital-boycott-south-korea-seabling-trends?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:20:40 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee For a moment, Kim Seon-ho’s return looked complete: a Netflix hit, overseas buzz and a career seemingly past the scandal that forced him into an indefinite hiatus in 2021. Then a new controversy hit – this time, over taxes. Kim’s agency, Fantagio, was quick to deny that a theatrical production company he reportedly registered at his home address in January 2024 under his parents’ names had been used to reduce his tax liabilities. The 39-year-old star of Can This Love Be Translated? has not been... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3343517/why-south-koreas-hallyu-heroes-find-taxes-so-taxing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3343517/why-south-koreas-hallyu-heroes-find-taxes-so-taxing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:28 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Like many other things in Korea, K-pop rarely pauses to explain itself. New groups debut, concepts cycle, controversies surface and fade. The industry absorbs the moment, recalibrates and quickly moves on. That forward momentum has long been part of its appeal. It is also what makes the system difficult to read from the outside. However, beneath the choreography and camera-ready polish, a quieter question persists: why does K-pop feel so engineered, not just in sound or style, but in how its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/bands/article/3342461/stray-kids-aespa-k-pop-loving-business-expert-breaks-down-industrys-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/bands/article/3342461/stray-kids-aespa-k-pop-loving-business-expert-breaks-down-industrys-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:45:08 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters Nostalgia for 2016 has been circulating on the internet over the last few weeks. People welcomed the new year by reminiscing 10 years into the past, sharing decade-old photos of themselves online. There is even a Wikipedia page for “2026 is the new 2016”. Of course, 2016 was before the Covid-19 pandemic rocked the world and the widespread use of generative AI (artificial intelligence) made us question what on our feeds was real and fake. Back then, people used social media mostly to stay... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3341778/2016-trends-pokemon-go-poke-bowls-looking-back-10-years-goes-viral-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3341778/2016-trends-pokemon-go-poke-bowls-looking-back-10-years-goes-viral-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:15:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times On a lively weekend afternoon beneath Marina Bay Sands, there is no stage, no spotlight and no audience in the conventional sense. Still, familiar music fills the underground concourse. A group of teenage girls moves in sync to rookie K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts’ “Focus”, counting beats under their breath. A few meters away, another dance team rehearses choreography to Twice’s “Feel Special”, adjusting their formation as shoppers pass by. No one appears surprised. Scenes like this now unfold... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341916/all-singapore-k-pops-stage-new-tourism-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341916/all-singapore-k-pops-stage-new-tourism-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:55:45 +0000 Theodora Yu,Edith Lin Theodora Yu,Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have arrested two women for hawking and received four complaints about unauthorised vendors selling merchandise for K-pop group Blackpink near a concert venue over the past few days. Hours ahead of the final night of the three-concert series of the popular Korean girl band on Monday, a Post reporter spotted about a dozen hawkers near Kai Tak Stadium, selling merchandise without official approval. Since the concerts began on Saturday, photos shared on Threads have shown... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341304/2-women-arrested-hawkers-cash-blackpink-merchandise-craze-concerts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341304/2-women-arrested-hawkers-cash-blackpink-merchandise-craze-concerts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:05:16 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong could gain about HK$200 million (US$25.6 million) in economic value from K-pop powerhouse Blackpink’s coming concerts at Kai Tak Stadium, with fans of the girl group pouring into the city ahead of the three much-awaited shows. Excited fans splurged on band merchandise on Thursday ahead of the first concert at the weekend, while parts of Kai Tak Sports Park, where the stadium is located, were awash with pink. Hong Kong is the final stop of the four-member band’s “Deadline” global tour... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340892/hong-kong-hitting-high-notes-fans-roll-blackpink-concerts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340892/hong-kong-hitting-high-notes-fans-roll-blackpink-concerts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:23:43 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times BTS’ long-awaited full-group comeback concert in Busan is still months away, but hotel prices in the South Korean southeastern port city have already hit exorbitant levels, rekindling anger over “rip-off” room rates whenever mega-events come to town. Some properties have reportedly hiked prices by up to 10 times and even asked guests with existing bookings to cancel so they could resell at higher prices. The K-pop group is returning as a full act for the first time since all members completed... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340240/bts-comeback-concert-sees-south-korean-citys-hotel-prices-soar-10-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340240/bts-comeback-concert-sees-south-korean-citys-hotel-prices-soar-10-times?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 03:35:57 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Jennie Kim, member of the powerhouse K-pop quartet Blackpink, turns 30 today, on January 16. Known for chart-topping hits like “How You Like That” and “Pink Venom” as well as her solo endeavours like Ruby, the album she dropped in March 2025, Jennie has cemented her status as one of pop culture’s most watched figures. Beyond the stage, she’s also a fashion front row fixture. Dubbed “Human Chanel”, or more affectionately, the “Chanel princess”, Jennie’s bond with the house of Coco has only... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3339982/jennie-30-blackpink-stars-8-top-brand-collaborations-chanel-calvin-klein?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3339982/jennie-30-blackpink-stars-8-top-brand-collaborations-chanel-calvin-klein?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:00:10 +0000 The Star The Star The announcement that BTS will return to Malaysia after more than a decade has sent K-pop fans into a frenzy, with many calling it a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The South Korean supergroup will stage two concerts in Kuala Lumpur on December 12 and 13, marking its first appearance in the country since 2015, when it performed its Red Bullet Tour at Mega Star Arena. This will also be BTS’ first-ever concert in Kuala Lumpur as its previous Malaysia performance was held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. For... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339944/bts-fans-malaysia-ecstatic-over-comeback-concerts-fear-scalpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339944/bts-fans-malaysia-ecstatic-over-comeback-concerts-fear-scalpers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:17:05 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung played drums together on Tuesday after their summit talks in Nara, the capital of her home prefecture, in a surprise event showcasing their amicable personal relationship. The leaders played two K-pop songs – “Dynamite”, a hit tune by world-famous boy band BTS, and “Golden” from the US Golden Globes-winning animated film Kpop Demon Hunters. Takaichi led the session by showing Lee how to play the drums, according to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3339799/japans-takaichi-south-koreas-lee-unwind-drumming-k-pop-after-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3339799/japans-takaichi-south-koreas-lee-unwind-drumming-k-pop-after-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:33:29 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial New Year’s Eve was celebrated in Hong Kong in a variety of ways. But for fans of Mandopop superstar Zhou Shen, the best place to see in 2026 was his landmark concert at Kai Tak Stadium. Zhou is the first mainland singer to perform in a solo concert at the flagship venue, which opened last March and hosted more than 40 events last year. The star’s two concerts on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day contributed to the surge in mainland visitors to Hong Kong, with thousands coming to see him perform.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338867/zhou-shen-concerts-showcase-hong-kong-mainland-cultural-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338867/zhou-shen-concerts-showcase-hong-kong-mainland-cultural-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Almost every Katseye performance begins the same way. The bass notes of the girl group’s first single “Debut” echo through the venue, bright stage lights shine on its members and a screaming crowd nearly drowns out their vocals. But roughly a week before heading out on their first official tour, their opening number was met with a few sparse claps. Inside the Hollywood Palladium, the group – fresh-faced, high-spirited and decked out in their colour-coordinated stagewear – held their final dress... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3337509/whats-next-katseye-global-girl-group-their-beautiful-chaos-tour-and-reclaiming-their-lives-20-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3337509/whats-next-katseye-global-girl-group-their-beautiful-chaos-tour-and-reclaiming-their-lives-20-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Salomé Grouard Salomé Grouard It began as an embrace of seasonal sadness, a song giving voice to a Christmas heartbreak. But for award-winning producer Terry Chan Ming-do, the enduring popularity of “Lonely Christmas”, the song he produced and arranged for Eason Chan Yick-shun 23 years ago, remains a delightful mystery. “To us, at the time, it was a very tongue-in-cheek song,” says Chan. “We didn’t expect it to come up every single Christmas after that.” “Lonely Christmas” isn’t your traditional festive song; it’s an anthem... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3337468/songs-sleigh-how-cantopop-created-hong-kongs-own-christmas-soundtrack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3337468/songs-sleigh-how-cantopop-created-hong-kongs-own-christmas-soundtrack?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:15:08 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee In the space of a single week in early December, three household names in South Korean entertainment abruptly retreated from the spotlight. Actor Cho Jin-woong announced his sudden retirement on December 6 after decades-old reports resurfaced online about his brief stint in juvenile detention. Two days later, television host and comedian Park Na-rae suspended her broadcast appearances following claims she had mistreated staff and received unauthorised medical treatments. And fellow comedian Cho... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337108/worship-witch-hunts-how-south-koreas-fandoms-turn-their-idols?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337108/worship-witch-hunts-how-south-koreas-fandoms-turn-their-idols?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Three years ago, Arden Cho was ready to walk away from acting. She had landed her first lead role in the Netflix series Partner Track, only to see it cancelled after one season. She was heartbroken. Her agent would not let her quit. “She refused to say ‘You’re done.’ She just kept sending me things,” Cho recalls. “She just [kept] being like, ‘Look, I know you’re not auditioning. I know you’re done, but I think you’d like this.’” Now, Cho is juggling multiple projects after voicing the lead... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3336444/how-kpop-demon-hunters-gave-arden-cho-her-golden-moment-after-years-acting-heartbreak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3336444/how-kpop-demon-hunters-gave-arden-cho-her-golden-moment-after-years-acting-heartbreak?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Netflix’s global sensation KPop Demon Hunters has leapt off the screen and into real life with the opening of its first official pop-up store in eastern Seoul’s trendy Seongsu-dong, inviting fans to step directly into the film’s universe. The pop-up offers a new way for visitors to experience the magic through themed rooms, photo spots and exclusive merchandise. Since its release in June, the animated feature has become a global phenomenon. Centred on Huntrix, a fictional K-pop girl group that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3336189/kpop-demon-hunters-official-pop-proves-huge-hit-seoul-hong-kong-and-singapore-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3336189/kpop-demon-hunters-official-pop-proves-huge-hit-seoul-hong-kong-and-singapore-next?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 07:15:09 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee From sold-out stadium tours in the US, Europe and Asia to history-making Grammy nominations, K-pop has never stood taller on the global stage. Yet within South Korea, many say the music they once called their own now feels made for someone else. For fans like 21-year-old university student Lee Ye-jin, that shift hits every time she turns on the radio or scrolls through new releases on her phone. Lee has been a member of “Light” – the official fan club of popular boy band Highlight – since 2016.... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336263/why-south-koreans-are-falling-out-love-k-pop-its-all-english-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336263/why-south-koreans-are-falling-out-love-k-pop-its-all-english-now?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:10 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Last year, JYP Entertainment spent 1.12 billion won (US$763,000) on developing new talent, according to its annual business report. The South Korean company operates a dedicated rookie development division that selects K-pop trainees through auditions and provides training in vocals, dance and foreign languages. From an agency’s perspective, trainees are the engine that drives future growth, making early investment essential. JYP’s spending on trainee development increased by about 30 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3334702/k-pop-agencies-are-spending-more-trainees-so-why-are-teens-dropping-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3334702/k-pop-agencies-are-spending-more-trainees-so-why-are-teens-dropping-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 01:05:07 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A floral quilted vest long seen as an unfashionable “grandma-style” item in Korea – commonly nicknamed the “kimjang vest” after the kimchi-preparing process kimjang, because older women often wear it while making kimchi in winter – is enjoying a surprising revival among young consumers as a trendy winter fashion piece. The trend gained further momentum after global K-pop stars such as Blackpink’s Jennie and Aespa’s Karina shared photos of themselves wearing the vest on social media, sparking... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3334486/how-blackpinks-jennie-and-aespas-karina-are-helping-koreas-kimjang-vest-make-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3334486/how-blackpinks-jennie-and-aespas-karina-are-helping-koreas-kimjang-vest-make-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Fans of Japanese singer-songwriter Kokia were disappointed on Wednesday night when a “last-minute technical issue” forced the cancellation of a concert in Beijing. The organiser of the event apologised on Thursday for one of a series of Japanese cultural events that have been cancelled or delayed since China and Japan became embroiled in a diplomatic row this month. “This should have been announced earlier! People waited for an hour and a half, and many came from out of town,” one fan said,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333439/young-chinese-fans-fear-losing-access-japanese-pop-culture-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333439/young-chinese-fans-fear-losing-access-japanese-pop-culture-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:04:21 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times When Newbeat first stormed onto the scene earlier this year with Raw and Rad, the seven-member boy band positioned itself as a blend of hip-hop swagger and unfiltered drive. Eight months later, the act – Minseok, Minsung, Yeoyeojeong, Seohyun, Taeyang, Yunhoo and Riwoo – is turning that energy outward. The group’s first mini-album Louder Than Ever marks a bold turn – four tracks, two title songs and lyrics sung almost entirely in English. “It’s our way of saying we’re ready for the world,” said... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3332193/k-pop-newbies-newbeat-talk-about-their-new-english-language-album-louder-ever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3332193/k-pop-newbies-newbeat-talk-about-their-new-english-language-album-louder-ever?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:23:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters Rapper Kendrick Lamar topped the list of Grammy contenders for the second straight year on Friday with nine nominations, outpacing the seven nods for pop superstar Lady Gaga in the race for the music industry’s top honours. Lamar’s GNX and Gaga’s MAYHEM will compete for the coveted album of the year trophy at the Grammy Awards 2026 ceremony in February. Neither artist has won the honour despite multiple nominations in the category. Others nominated in the album field include Bad Bunny for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332004/kendrick-lamar-and-lady-gaga-lead-2026-grammy-nominations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332004/kendrick-lamar-and-lady-gaga-lead-2026-grammy-nominations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:55:01 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar Fans of KPop Demon Hunters, rejoice: the mega-hit Netflix animated title about a fictional demon-slaying K-pop girl group called Huntr/x is officially the most-watched English movie on the platform of all time – and it’s returning for a sequel. Netflix and Sony are already in discussion with KPop Demon Hunters directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, eyeing a potential 2029 sequel, as noted by Deadline. Earlier this year, Kang told the BBC that a sequel, if there is one, will have “something... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3331741/who-created-netflixs-kpop-demon-hunters-meet-maggie-kang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3331741/who-created-netflixs-kpop-demon-hunters-meet-maggie-kang?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak If there is one cocktail synonymous with the karaoke craze that swept Hong Kong from the 1980s to the 2010s, it is whisky and green tea. The combination, which mixes the boozy notes of whisky with the fresh and mildly herbal taste of unoxidised tea, is fondly remembered in the city. Many Cantopop-loving Hongkongers of drinking age enjoyed the tipple before the city’s karaoke lounges shut down in droves during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, the cocktail is something of a lost memory, at least... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331325/asian-canadian-duos-canned-ode-hong-kong-cocktail-woos-dragons-den-judges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331325/asian-canadian-duos-canned-ode-hong-kong-cocktail-woos-dragons-den-judges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Lee Soo-man resisted the title at first. “King of K-pop” sounded too brash, too nightclub-esque – like something you would see on a neon sign in Itaewon, a nightlife neighbourhood in the South Korean capital, Seoul. “I asked them, ‘Couldn’t it be Father of K-pop?’” said the 73-year-old, referring to Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop, the title of an Amazon Prime documentary about his career. The producers insisted the bolder moniker would resonate better with American audiences. After some back and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3331315/king-k-pop-lee-soo-man-talks-about-china-and-online-bullying-k-pop-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3331315/king-k-pop-lee-soo-man-talks-about-china-and-online-bullying-k-pop-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:24:29 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korean showbiz icons G-Dragon and Cha Eun-woo stole the spotlight at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting gala in Gyeongju on Friday, blending diplomacy, culture and star power in a way that left both K-pop fans and foreign dignitaries buzzing. G-Dragon was the only K-pop artist invited to perform at the high-profile dinner attended by heads of state and global executives at the Lahan Hotel’s grand ballroom. The singer-producer took the stage with dynamic live renditions... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3331153/oh-my-gat-south-korean-idols-g-dragon-cha-eun-woo-steal-spotlight-apec-gala?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3331153/oh-my-gat-south-korean-idols-g-dragon-cha-eun-woo-steal-spotlight-apec-gala?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 04:03:34 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Arooj Aftab became the first Pakistani Grammy winner when she took home the global music performance award for her song “Mohabbat” in 2022. A year later, actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh stepped onto the smoke-filled stage of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Southern California, becoming the festival’s first artist from the Indian state of Punjab. In August, the first-generation Indian-American artist Avara sat in a bed of rose petals at a concert hall in Brooklyn, New York, for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3330987/how-south-asian-music-gaining-fans-globally-spotify-coachella-and-grammys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3330987/how-south-asian-music-gaining-fans-globally-spotify-coachella-and-grammys?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Netflix is teaming up with Mattel and Hasbro to turn its blockbuster animated film KPop Demon Hunters into toys, deepening a consumer-goods push that could help diversify its revenue. The partnerships, announced on Tuesday, will produce toys, collectibles, games and role-play products based on the film, which follows a successful female K-pop trio that plays massive concerts while trying to save the world from sinister forces. The first products from the tie-up will be released next year. Since... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3329875/kpop-demon-hunters-headed-screen-toy-stores-netflix-taps-mattel-hasbro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3329875/kpop-demon-hunters-headed-screen-toy-stores-netflix-taps-mattel-hasbro?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:28:49 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung See this McDonald’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition In celebration of half a century since the opening of its first Hong Kong branch, in 1975, McDonald’s has painstakingly recreated the interiors of the restaurant as well as the road outside – Paterson Street, in Causeway Bay – as part of a short film starring Nicholas Tse Ting-fung. The film set will be open to the public from October 1 to 19 as part of a retrospective exhibition, allowing visitors to time travel back to their Happy Meal days,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326989/what-do-hong-kong-september-28-october-4?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326989/what-do-hong-kong-september-28-october-4?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam The three members of Beat Friday do not look like your typical DJs when they take to the decks. Dressed in suits and ties, or even braces and gold-rimmed glasses, the group have curated their image to remind party-goers of the golden age of Cantopop. From the 1980s to the 2000s, the music genre was one of the most unifying cultural forces in Asia, and Hong Kong was an entertainment powerhouse that dominated cinema and music in the region. Fast forward to the present day, and Asia and the world... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3326377/hong-kong-cantopop-djs-rekindling-citys-love-genre-one-party-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3326377/hong-kong-cantopop-djs-rekindling-citys-love-genre-one-party-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:20:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The experiment was a remarkable success. In 2023, South Korean company Hybe Corporation and American record label Geffen Records set out on a quest to create a global girl group. The following year, their process was documented in the Netflix series Popstar Academy: Katseye. That June, Katseye debuted. This was no ordinary pop act. Members of the multilingual, multinational group – Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung, each known by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3325131/girl-group-katseye-their-viral-gap-ad-gnarly-diversity-and-more-after-crazy-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3325131/girl-group-katseye-their-viral-gap-ad-gnarly-diversity-and-more-after-crazy-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 09:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times At a dance studio near Cheonggyecheon Stream in central Seoul on September 6, some 30 young foreigners moved in sync to shouts of encouragement in a mix of Korean and English. They were learning the exact choreography for the song “Your Idol”, performed by Saja Boys, the fictional boy group from Netflix’s hit animation KPop Demon Hunters. Though some stumbled at first, laughter quickly turned to focus as the music swelled and the rhythm took over. The session was part of “Learn K-pop Dance”, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3325114/how-kpop-demon-hunters-fans-are-recreating-experience-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3325114/how-kpop-demon-hunters-fans-are-recreating-experience-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong police have arrested 12 people linked to a fraud syndicate selling fake tickets to major concerts, including performances by G-Dragon and Jay Chou, amid fervour for live shows sparked by the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park. Eight men and four women, aged between 18 and 48, were arrested this week for allegedly conspiring to defraud and launder money. The group is connected to seven fraud cases that occurred between June 1 and 13, involving HK$110,000 (US$14,100) in losses. They have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324611/12-arrested-over-sale-fake-g-dragon-jay-chou-concert-tickets-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324611/12-arrested-over-sale-fake-g-dragon-jay-chou-concert-tickets-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 12:01:22 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee Seoul’s neon-lit streets regularly draw throngs of young visitors, eager to soak up the city’s reputation as the global epicentre of K-pop, TikTok trends and high-speed living. But beneath the curated image of its most famous cosmopolitan metropolis, South Korea is wrestling with a more complex demographic reality: how to integrate the growing number of foreigners who now call the country home. Today, foreign nationals account for nearly 5 per cent of the population, or around 2.73 million... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323702/seoul-shuffle-why-foreigners-are-loving-and-leaving-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323702/seoul-shuffle-why-foreigners-are-loving-and-leaving-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:21 +0000 Hyewon Lee Hyewon Lee Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters continues to break records every day. It has become the most-watched film on the platform, with 236 million views at the time of writing, and has four songs within the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100 (with “Golden” being No 1). The film centres around the K-pop girl group Huntr/x, whose three members balance their careers in the spotlight with dramatic battles against demons. Confronted with their rivals, the Saja Boys, the girls rely on the power of music and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3323493/who-may-hong-voice-actress-mira-netflixs-kpop-demon-hunters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3323493/who-may-hong-voice-actress-mira-netflixs-kpop-demon-hunters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 22:00:17 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin has dropped a new single, “Skibidi”, in collaboration with Hong Kong martial arts legend Jackie Chan. The title, a new word often attributed to Gen Alpha, was entered into the Cambridge Dictionary this month. It is defined as “a word that can have different meanings, such as ‘cool’ or ‘bad’, or can be used with no real meaning as a joke”. The word is part of the title of a hit YouTube series named Skibidi Toilet, in which anthropomorphic toilets battle... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3323449/jackie-chan-and-jj-lins-new-single-skibidi-baffles-internet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3323449/jackie-chan-and-jj-lins-new-single-skibidi-baffles-internet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:43:26 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times From films and dramas to K-pop, literature, stage performances and animation, K-culture has secured a central place on the global stage. The question now is how long it can maintain its momentum. Alongside the Korean wave, or hallyu, narrative, concerns about saturation and decline persist. Experts argue that new strategies are needed to chart the course of the “Next K”. Analysts agree that Korean content has moved past relying solely on novelty. To become a global standard like Hollywood,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323200/why-localisation-key-continued-global-success-koreas-pop-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323200/why-localisation-key-continued-global-success-koreas-pop-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa “Global girl group” Katseye, known for their 2024 breakthrough single “Touch”, is gaining international attention for their recent advert for Gap’s denim. During the 90-second video, the group’s members Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae dance to Kelis’ 2003 song “Milkshake”. Katseye is a Los Angeles-based girl group that debuted in 2024 under Hybe Corporation (the company behind K-pop giants BTS) and American record label Geffen Records. They are known for their diversity, with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3323131/meet-katseyes-lara-raj-lgbt-star-inspiring-new-gap-ad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3323131/meet-katseyes-lara-raj-lgbt-star-inspiring-new-gap-ad?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:49:15 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Director Maggie Kang of Netflix’s hit animated feature KPop Demon Hunters said the future of K-content will be even brighter if the industry makes a greater effort to showcase Korean culture – like her globally successful animation. “We have to just be confident with our culture and our point of view. I think, as a filmmaker, I know that any time you think about what other people are going to think, and you kind of cater to an audience’s opinions and not your own, it doesn’t feel authentic,” the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3323016/why-kpop-demon-hunters-director-so-keen-promote-korean-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3323016/why-kpop-demon-hunters-director-so-keen-promote-korean-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:15:08 +0000