Journalist
Joonha Yoo, and Yoo Na-hyun
joonhayoo94@ajupress.com
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NCT's Taeyong to release first full-length solo album 'WYLD' SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) -Lee Tae-yong, the leader of NCT, will release his first full-length solo album titled WYLD on May 18, SM Entertainment said Monday. The 10-track project marks a significant milestone for the 30-year-old performer who has been a central figure in South Korea's global music expansion since his debut in 2016. The release underscores the artist's creative evolution as a producer and songwriter for both his individual projects and the wider NCT collective. Since beginning his career, Lee Tae-yong has been instrumental in shaping the experimental sound associated with SM Entertainment’s global expansion strategy. The upcoming album features the hip-hop title track WYLD alongside B-side recordings such as the alternative R&B song Mermaid. It also includes 404 Euphoria, a track that continues an ongoing musical concept series that first began with 404 File Not Found in 2023. This song drew significant interest from fans after it was previewed via a video segment during a recent concert tour. Ahead of the launch, a commemorative exhibition for the album will be held from May 16 to 18 at the Hyundai Card Music Library in the Yongsan District of Seoul. Listening sessions are also scheduled to take place at the Hyundai Card Understage on May 16 and 17. 2026-05-11 14:22:37 -
2PM to return with full-group concert in Korea coming August SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - K-pop group 2PM will return to the South Korean stage as a full six-member act this August for its first domestic solo concert in three years, management agency JYP Entertainment said Monday. The group will hold the 2026 2PM Concert THE RETURN in INCHEON on August 8 and 9 at the Inspire Arena in Incheon. The performances will mark the first solo show in South Korea featuring all six members since September 2023, when the group held a concert to commemorate its 15th anniversary. Debuting in 2008, 2PM became one of the most recognizable male groups in the region with its athletic choreography and signature beast idol image. The group built a large fanbase across Asia through hits such as Heartbeat, Hands Up, and My House. The Incheon concerts were announced during the group's performances in Japan last weekend. The Tokyo Dome shows marked the first time the group had returned to the venue in 10 years following a hiatus for mandatory military service. During the Japanese performances, 2PM played a selection of South Korean and Japanese songs released throughout its career. The event also served to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the group's Japanese debut. The group ended the show with the song I'll Be Back, echoing a promise made during its previous Tokyo Dome concert that it would return to the venue. Further details regarding ticket sales for the Incheon concerts will be released later through the group's official social media channels. 2026-05-11 14:18:07 -
SHINee to return with new EP 'Atmos' on June 1 SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - SHINee, one of K-pop's most influential bands known for its experimental music and trend-setting performances, will return on June 1 with its sixth mini album “Atmos,” SM Entertainment said Monday. Debuting in 2008 under SM Entertainment as a five-member group, SHINee built a strong global fanbase with hits such as “Replay,” “Ring Ding Dong” and “Sherlock,” while earning recognition for pushing the boundaries of K-pop performance, fashion and contemporary pop sound. The group's six-track EP, including the title song "Atmos," will be released at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) through major music streaming platforms on June 1. The album marks the band’s first major release in a year following the 2025 single "Poet | Artist." Ahead of the release, SHINee will hold its eighth solo concert series, "The Trilogy I - 2026 SHINee WORLD VIII : ," from May 29 to May 31 at KSPO DOME in Seoul’s Olympic Park. Pre-orders for the album began Monday through online and offline music retailers. 2026-05-11 14:12:50 -
JIHYO joins Genevieve on new R&B single 'Hvnly' SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - JIHYO of K-pop girl band TWICE joined forces with rising U.S. R&B singer Genevieve on the newly released track "Hvnly (feat. JIHYO of TWICE)," expanding the singer’s global collaborative portfolio as TWICE continues its record-setting world tour. The song was officially released Friday as part of Genevieve’s deluxe album "CRYSALIS (CODA)." The track is a remix version of Genevieve’s earlier song "Hvn High," reinterpreted as an alternative R&B-pop track layered with soulful vocals from both artists. Genevieve, known among Korean listeners for songs such as "Love Quotes" and "Baby Powder," has been gaining attention in the U.S. R&B scene for her atmospheric vocal style and genre-blending sound. The collaboration with JIHYO drew attention from both K-pop and international R&B listeners ahead of the release. JIHYO, the leader and main vocalist of TWICE, debuted as a solo artist in August 2023 with her first mini album ZONE. TWICE, a nine-member girl group formed by JYP Entertainment, debuted in 2015 and rose to global fame with hit songs such as Cheer Up, TT and Feel Special, becoming one of the most commercially successful K-pop acts of their generation. The album showcased her stronger R&B and pop influences while highlighting her vocal versatility beyond the group’s signature sound. She has also participated in several soundtrack projects, including Stardust love song for the tvN drama "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" and "TAKEDOWN" for Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters OST" lineup. The latest collaboration comes as TWICE continues its sixth world tour, "THIS IS FOR," the group’s largest global tour to date. The nine-member act recently became the first K-pop group and the first overseas artist to headline solo concerts at Japan’s National Stadium in Tokyo, drawing around 240,000 fans across three shows in April. The group also wrapped up a major North American leg earlier this year, attracting roughly 550,000 attendees across 35 concerts in 20 cities, according to JYP Entertainment. The company described the tour as the largest North American turnout ever achieved by a K-pop girl group. TWICE is set to continue the European leg of the tour beginning Friday in Lisbon. 2026-05-08 18:07:00 -
KOSPI closes at fresh record as Korea defies broader Asia weakness SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index closed at an all-time high for a fourth consecutive session on Friday. Domestic investors absorbed a significant sell-off by foreign funds as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East rattled regional markets. The index edged up 0.1 percent to finish at a record 7,498.0. It fluctuated during the day between a low of 7,318.96 and an intraday record of 7,511.01. Regional sentiment soured following reports of renewed military clashes between the United States and Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation weighed on Wall Street overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average sliding 0.6 percent and the S&P 500 declining 0.4 percent. Foreign investors sold a net 5.59 trillion won (3.81 billion dollars) of KOSPI shares, marking a flight toward safe-haven assets. Domestic retail and institutional investors countered the trend by purchasing 3.98 trillion won and 1.55 trillion won, respectively. Technology shares were mixed as global demand for artificial intelligence components provided a buffer against broader market volatility. Samsung Electronics fell 1.1 percent to 268,500 won, while SK hynix gained 1.9 percent to close at 1,686,000 won. Automobile and robotics companies led the session's gains as investors shifted toward physical AI technologies. Hyundai Motor surged 7.2 percent to 613,000 won after its robotics affiliate, Boston Dynamics, released footage of the Atlas humanoid robot performing advanced movements. The momentum extended to infrastructure and software firms within the automotive ecosystem. Hyundai AutoEver and Gaon Cable both surged 30 percent to close at 592,000 won and 477,000 won, respectively. Industrial and energy sectors saw profit-taking following recent rallies. SKC plunged 8.2 percent to 159,900 won, while Samsung Heavy Industries dropped 5.2 percent to 31,950 won and Doosan Enerbility fell 5.0 percent to 129,600 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ index rose 0.7 percent to close at 1,207.7, outperforming the main board. Foreign investors were net buyers on the secondary market, adding 404.4 billion won worth of shares. Other regional markets struggled, with Japan's Nikkei 225 slipping 0.2 percent to 62,713.7. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.8 percent to 26,413.5 as concerns over energy disruptions persisted. The South Korean won weakened 0.8 percent to 1,469.1 per dollar amid the rising geopolitical uncertainty. In the energy market, West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.4 percent to end at 95.1 dollars. 2026-05-08 17:24:43 -
YG doubles operating profit Q1 on year on BLACKPINK comeback SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - South Korea’s K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment more than doubled first-quarter operating profit as revenue from BLACKPINK and rising contributions from younger artists boosted earnings, reinforcing expectations for a stronger comeback cycle this year despite weaker-than-expected net profit. According to its earnings report released Thursday, YG Entertainment posted an operating profit of 19.4 billion won ($13.2 million) in the January-March period, up 103.9 percent from a year earlier. Revenue jumped 46.9 percent to 147.1 billion won, while net profit slipped 4.6 percent to 9.8 billion won. The company’s sales exceeded market expectations, while operating profit largely matched analyst forecasts. According to local market tracker FnGuide, analysts had projected first-quarter operating profit of 19.3 billion won and revenue of around 138.1 billion won. Net profit, however, missed the consensus estimate of roughly 15.0 billion won. Compared with the previous quarter, operating profit and revenue fell 13.1 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively, reflecting fewer large-scale artist activities. Net profit, however, rose 23.9 percent from the prior quarter. YG attributed the earnings growth to expanding monetization of artist intellectual property, including merchandise and licensing revenue from younger acts such as BABYMONSTER and TREASURE, alongside continued contributions from BLACKPINK-related touring and album sales. BLACKPINK’s latest release, Deadline, sold more than 1.77 million copies in its first week, according to Hanteo Chart, underscoring the group’s enduring global commercial power. The company is expected to maintain stronger earnings momentum in the second half of the year as major artists ramp up activities and touring schedules expand globally. According to FnGuide, YG Entertainment is projected to post operating profit of 80.8 billion won and annual revenue of 590.1 billion won in 2026, surpassing its previous peak in 2023, when operating profit reached 79.5 billion won and revenue totaled 569.2 billion won. BABYMONSTER is scheduled to begin its second world tour in Seoul in June before expanding into Latin America, Oceania and Europe. TREASURE is also expected to release a new album in June and continue solo and unit activities in the second half. YG is additionally preparing to debut a new boy group in September as part of its broader push to strengthen its next-generation artist pipeline. Shares of YG Entertainment closed down 0.2 percent at 50,200 won on Friday. 2026-05-08 16:26:47 -
2026 Han River Napping Championship Draws Hundreds Amid Sleep Crisis Last weekend, a peculiar scene unfolded at Yeouido Hangang Park as hundreds gathered for the '2026 Han River Napping Championship.' Amid the bustling 'Seoul Spring Festa,' over 170 participants laid down on mats, soon filling the air with synchronized breathing and the occasional soft snore. In this open space, free from chatter or music, they embraced the tranquility of the outdoors. Now in its third year, the napping championship may seem lighthearted, but participants faced a competitive ratio of 70 to 1 to secure a spot. Each came prepared, armed with sleep masks labeled 'Offline,' mosquito repellent, ergonomic neck pillows, and even plush toys. One participant, dressed in a princess costume, had a sign that read, "Do not wake me unless you are a prince," while another, dressed as Jesus, peacefully closed his eyes. Before the competition began, a brief commotion arose when members of the idol group ONF, E-shon and Seung-jun, appeared, momentarily breaking the silence with soft gasps and camera clicks. However, once the event commenced, fans and idols alike lay side by side on the mats, united in their quest for rest. I was fortunate to join the event as a reporter after a spot opened up due to a no-show. Assigned number 58, I was surrounded by a weary college student and a fatigued office worker. Despite the uneven ground beneath my thin mat, a sense of calm washed over me as the noise from a pre-event yoga session faded away, leaving a heavy silence as 170 people closed their eyes together. However, this was no ordinary nap. Every 30 minutes, the announcer's voice pierced the silence, and sounds of mosquitoes played over the speakers as staff members gently tickled participants' feet with feathers, attempting to rouse them. Any movement or opened eyes resulted in immediate disqualification, leading to a growing number of dropouts as time passed. Those who remained had their heart rates monitored every half hour, with the participant maintaining the lowest, most stable heart rate declared the winner. This transformation of the basic act of sleeping into a quantified performance highlighted a societal shift. A pressing question arises: when did we start learning how to 'sleep well'? Sleep was once a natural response to fatigue, but now many rely on sleep-inducing apps, white noise, melatonin, and sleep journals just to fall asleep. The heart rate monitoring during the napping contest starkly illustrates this change. While each participant had their own story, a common thread emerged: exhaustion. "I can only sleep 3 to 4 hours a day," said 30-year-old office worker Nam Ji-soo, who attended with her team leader, both aware of each other's burnout. The irony of choosing a napping contest by the Han River as a form of rest was bittersweet. College student Park Jun-seok, dressed in traditional attire inspired by the film 'The King's Man,' identified social media and smartphone notifications as modern-day sleep thieves. "Even when I lie down to rest, I end up scrolling through reels for hours. With exams approaching, I'm completely drained, so I actually feel confident about winning today," he said, his playful tone masking genuine fatigue. Another participant, 53-year-old Hwang Doo-sung, clutched a blanket given to him by his girlfriend, who had come to support him. "I’m exhausted from work all week, and today I really want to win. My girlfriend is watching from outside, so I feel motivated," he shared, smiling at the thought of her cheering him on. The high turnout for this event reflects a growing concern. In the past five years, the number of sleep disorder patients has increased by 1.3 million, and prescriptions for insomnia medications have quadrupled. South Koreans average just 6 hours and 58 minutes of sleep, ranking among the lowest in the OECD. In a country known for its hard work, sleep is becoming a luxury. Professor Kim Jae-hwi from Chung-Ang University analyzed this phenomenon, noting that sleep, which should be a private act, has turned into a public performance. The liberating atmosphere of the Han River and the unusual experience of napping among strangers can help alleviate stress. Some participants remarked, "I can't sleep at home, but I fell asleep quickly here," suggesting that the permission to simply lie down is comforting. Conversely, Professor Kim Yoon-tae from Korea University emphasized the need for structural changes that allow young people and workers to genuinely rest. He pointed out that while government-sponsored events like this are significant, they also highlight the paradox of many people struggling to find real relaxation. The napping contest, while festive, carries an underlying sense of melancholy. The two-hour competition concluded with Kim Jong-pil maintaining the most stable heart rate, earning him first place. Hwang Doo-sung proudly secured second place, likely buoyed by the blanket from his girlfriend. Park Jun-seok also received recognition as the second-best dressed participant. I, however, did not finish the competition. Although I could ignore the mosquito sounds, I instinctively flinched when a feather brushed my hand, leading to my disqualification. Yet, I felt no regret. The time spent napping under the guise of reporting was a sweet reprieve from a society that never stops producing. In a world where productivity never pauses, even the act of doing nothing requires events, equipment, and justification. Regardless of who won, for me, number 58, that time spent napping was a rare and cherished moment of rest. 2026-05-08 11:14:08 -
Japan leads Asia rally, KOSPI hits new high SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Japan led a broad rally across Asian markets on Thursday, with the Nikkei 225 surging to a fresh all-time high as easing oil prices, renewed optimism over a possible U.S.-Iran agreement and another global surge in AI-linked semiconductor shares fueled aggressive buying across the region. The Nikkei 225 jumped 5.6 percent to close at a record 62,833.8, while the broader TOPIX gained 3.4 percent after Japanese markets reopened following an extended holiday break. The Nikkei had last closed at 59,513.1 on May 1 before the holiday period and has since surged 3,320.7 points through Thursday’s close. Technology shares led the advance, with SoftBank Group soaring more than 16 percent as investor appetite for AI-related stocks intensified after another powerful overnight rally on Wall Street. The rally extended a global semiconductor surge after AMD reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, with operating income jumping about 83 percent from a year earlier while revenue climbed nearly 38 percent. The results sent AMD shares up 18 percent overnight, lifting the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index 4.5 percent. The Nasdaq rose 2.0 percent, while the S&P 500 advanced 1.5 percent to another record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also gained 1.2 percent. Investor sentiment further improved after reports suggested the United States and Iran were moving closer to a broader de-escalation framework in the Middle East. Brent crude fell another 2.9 percent to $98.3 a barrel, extending the previous session’s sharp decline, while West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 2.6 percent to $92.6. Lower oil prices helped ease inflation concerns and boosted appetite for risk assets across Asia. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI also hit another record high, though gains were more moderate compared with Japan’s explosive rally. The index closed up 1.4 percent at 7,490.1 after moving between an intraday low of 7,257.9 and a record high of 7,531.9. Foreign investors sold a net 7.15 trillion won ($4.94 billion) worth of KOSPI shares, while retail and institutional investors bought 5.99 trillion won and 1.10 trillion won, respectively, indicating that local buying continued to absorb heavy offshore profit-taking following the market’s recent surge. Samsung Electronics rose 2.1 percent to close at 271,500 won after hitting a record high of 277,000 won during the session, while SK hynix climbed 3.3 percent to 1,654,000 won as semiconductor shares continued to dominate market momentum. Hyundai Motor advanced 4.0 percent to 572,000 won. Among other notable gainers, Samsung E&A surged 21.5 percent to 64,400 won, GS Engineering & Construction rose 11.0 percent to 39,350 won and SKC gained 8.0 percent to 174,100 won. Defense and infrastructure-related stocks, however, saw sharp profit-taking after recent rallies. Hyundai Rotem plunged 10.3 percent to 235,000 won, LIG Defense & Aerospace dropped 11.5 percent to 866,000 won and Taihan Cable & Solution fell 7.4 percent to 64,100 won. Platform and telecom shares also weakened despite solid earnings releases. SK Telecom fell 2.4 percent to 93,200 won, LG Uplus slipped 0.2 percent to 15,370 won and Kakao declined 2.3 percent to 45,250 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ underperformed broader markets, falling 0.9 percent to close at 1,199.2 after fluctuating between 1,196.6 and 1,219.6 during the session. Foreign investors bought 175.7 billion won worth of KOSDAQ shares, while institutions and retail investors sold 135.0 billion won and 12.4 billion won, respectively. Among KOSDAQ-listed names, Daehan Optical Communication jumped 19.3 percent to 21,800 won. Kolon Tujin rose 10.6 percent to 114,600 won, Jusung Engineering gained 5.9 percent to 135,100 won, Seojin System surged 14.5 percent to 68,100 won, Simtech advanced 13.5 percent to 106,500 won and Eugene Technology climbed 5.9 percent to 146,900 won. The Korean won strengthened slightly, with the local currency rising 0.1 percent to 1,447.7 per dollar. China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.5 percent to 4,178.9, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 1.5 percent to 26,617.1 in afternoon trading, supported by gains in technology shares and renewed expectations for deeper AI cooperation discussions between the United States and China ahead of a possible Trump-Xi summit. The sharp divergence between Korea’s largest AI-linked stocks and the broader market has continued to widen. According to Bloomberg data, the total market capitalization of Korea-listed companies has surged 71 percent this year to $4.59 trillion, overtaking Canada’s roughly $4.5 trillion equity market. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have both more than doubled this year as investor demand for AI chip leaders intensified. 2026-05-07 18:06:28 -
SK Telecom turns to AI infrastructure as core mobile business weakens SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - South Korea's largest mobile carrier SK Telecom is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI)-driven infrastructure as its new growth engine. According to its first-quarter earnings report released on Thursday, SK Telecom posted an operating profit of 537.6 billion Korean won (US$393 million) in the first three months of this year, down 5.3 percent from a year earlier, reflecting a slump in its core telecom business. Revenue also fell 1.4 percent to 4.39 trillion won, while net profit declined 12.5 percent to 316.4 billion won, sending its shares down 2.2 percent to 93,400 won later in the day. Its AI data center business, however, emerged as the fastest-growing sector, with revenue up 89.3 percent from a year earlier to 131.4 billion won, driven by higher utilization at new facilities and increased demand for GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), a cloud computing subscription service that allows individuals and organizations to rent high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs). SK Telecom is now repositioning itself as an all-in-one AI company offering everything from underlying technology, infrastructure and AI models to consumer apps and services, in a bid to capitalize on growing demand in the emerging AI market. Meanwhile, smaller rival LG Uplus posted stronger earnings as AI-related infrastructure and mobile service revenue supported profitability. Operating profit reached 272.3 billion won, up 6.6 percent from a year earlier. Revenue rose 1.5 percent to 3.80 trillion won and net profit increased 8.4 percent to 176.0 billion won. Like SK Telecom, LG Uplus is rapidly expanding its AI offerings for both consumers and businesses. The company is rolling out AI-powered customer service centers, virtual call assistants and autonomous network systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency. But shares of LG Uplus slipped 0.3 percent to 15,360 won, despite its rosy performance. 2026-05-07 12:28:30 -
BTS gets state-visit red-carpet treatment in Mexico SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - K-pop supergroup BTS appeared alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the presidential office in Mexico City on Thursday, drawing tens of thousands of fans ahead of the group's sold-out stadium concerts. Sheinbaum welcomed the seven-member band during her regular morning press briefing, known as "Mañanera," describing BTS as artists who "always convey messages of friendship, peace and love." The group is scheduled to perform at Estadio GNP Seguros on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, the third stop on the North American leg of their "ARIRANG" World Tour, following Tampa and El Paso. All three concerts were sold out immediately after tickets went on sale, local organizers said. The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce estimated the performances could generate approximately $107.5 million in economic activity. After Mexico City, the tour moves on to Stanford and Las Vegas before heading into Europe. BTS is also set to return to Latin America in October, with dates scheduled in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo. Member Jimin shared a brief video from the scene on his Instagram story, captioning it "Mexico, Gracias" with purple heart. BTS remains the most-streamed K-pop act in Mexico, which ranked as the world's fifth-largest K-pop streaming market, according to a report published by Spotify in August 2025. The group's 2020 album "MAP OF THE SOUL : 7" topped Mexico's most-streamed K-pop albums list, while "Dynamite" ranked as the country's most-streamed K-pop song. Eight of Mexico's top 10 most-streamed K-pop albums were BTS releases, Spotify said. On the global charts, BTS' latest title track "SWIM," from its fifth studio album "ARIRANG," ranked No. 2 on both Billboard's weekly Global Excl. U.S. and Global 200 charts for a sixth consecutive week as of May 4. 2026-05-07 10:23:41