Hearts2Hearts to make Japan debut SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Hearts2Hearts will make its official Japan debut in August with the single "ICONIC HEART," SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The launch comes less than 18 months after the group's Korean debut in February 2025, marking a quick move into one of K-pop's most important overseas markets. The single's three tracks will be released on global streaming platforms on Aug. 10, followed by a physical release in Japan on Aug. 12. Hearts2Hearts h July 7, 2026

Super Junior's Leeteuk, Heechul to release first EP as 83z unit SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Super Junior members Leeteuk and Heechul will release their first EP as the unit Super Junior-83z on July 13, SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The unit's name refers to both members being born in 1983. The six-track EP, "Promise," will be released on major platforms at 6 p.m, (0900 GMT) including Melon, Flo, Genie, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and more. A physical version will also come out the same day. The title track, also c July 7, 2026

Boy band NCT 127 to mark 10th anniversary with new album SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - K-pop boy band NCT 127 will release their seventh full-length album next month, marking the 10th anniversary of their debut, their management agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. Slated for release on Aug. 24 through global music distributor Virgin Music Group, it will be their first full-length album in about two years since their sixth studio album "Walk" released in July 2024. To promote the album, NCT 127 will embark on their fifth world to July 7, 2026

ATEEZ's new album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 SEOUL, July 6 (AJP) - K-pop boy group ATEEZ's latest album debuted atop the Billboard's main albums chart this week, the American music chart said on Sunday. ATEEZ's 14th mini-album, "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5," which was released on June 26, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the week ending on July 11, marking the group's third chart-topper after "THE WORLD EP.FIN : WILL" in 2023 and "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2" in 2024. Accordin July 6, 2026

Red Velvet out to steal summer with EP 'Velvet Summer' SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - Kpop girl group Red Velvet, known for its strig of summer hits, will release a new summer EP, "Velvet Summer," on Aug. 3, agency SM Entertainment said Monday. The release will be Red Velvet's first full-group album in just over two years, following "Cosmic" in June 2024. The five-track EP is led by the title song "Surfin' Boy" and will be available on streaming platforms at 6 p.m. as well as in physical format the sa July 6, 2026

BOYNEXTDOOR's 'VIRAL' enters Melon monthly chart as Busan shows sell out SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - K-pop boy group BOYNEXTDOOR's latest single "VIRAL" entered Melon's monthly chart for June, while tickets for the group's upcoming Busan concerts sold out, the group's agency KOZ Entertainment said Friday. VIRAL, the lead track from BOYNEXTDOOR's first full-length album "HOME," ranked No. 80 on Melon's June monthly chart released Tuesday. According to the agency, it was the only song released in June to enter the m July 3, 2026

G-Dragon named ambassador for UNESCO World Heritage Committee SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - G-Dragon of K-pop boy band BIGBANG has been named promotional ambassador for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, set to open in Busan on July 19, Korea Heritage Service said Friday. It will be the first time Korea has hosted a session of the UNESCO body, which reviews the conservation of World Heritage sites and decides on additions to the World Heritage List. Ahead of the session, the JUSPEACE Foundation, founded by G-Dragon, will July 3, 2026

NCT's Jaehyun to release solo ballad "99 Degrees" on July 10 SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - NCT's Jaehyun will release his new solo single "99 Degrees" on July 10, SM Entertainment said Friday. The single will be released at 6 p.m. KST across major platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Melon. Jaehyun co-wrote and composed the track. "99 Degrees" is a piano-led ballad that builds from a delicate opening into a fuller arrangement before settling back into Jaehyun's vocals for a quiet, intimate close. July 3, 2026

i-dle to return with new EP 'We made' SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - K-pop girl group i-dle will release its ninth EP, "We made," on July 6, led by the summer single "Gimme Dat Love," the group's agency Cube Entertainment said Thursday. The five-track EP will arrive on major streaming platforms at 6 p.m. Monday. It includes the title track, pre-release single "Crow," "Mono" featuring British artist skaiwater, "Morning" and "Love Is Pain." "Gimme Dat L July 2, 2026

TWICE-themed pop-up store opens ahead of world tour finale concerts in Seoul SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - A pop-up store featuring merchandise related to K-pop girl group TWICE opened in Seoul on Thursday. According to their agency, JYP Entertainment, the store will remain open until July 12 at Plat1399 Studio in Gangdong, eastern Seoul, coinciding with the finale of their world tour scheduled for next weekend. The nine-member girl group will wrap up their "This Is For" world tour with sold-out encore concerts in Seoul from July 10 to 12 at KSPO Dome i July 2, 2026