aespa set to kick off world tour after making Lollapalooza debut in Chicago SEOUL, August 4 (AJP) - K-pop girl band aespa made their Lollapalooza debut in Chicago on Tuesday, delivering a 14-song set that showed off the seven-year-old group's road-tested stage command, according to their agency SM Entertainment. The quartet took the Allianz Stage at Grant Park, opening with debut single "Black Mamba" and 2021 hit "Next Level" before moving through a run of fan favorites - "Armageddon," "Supernova" and "Whipl August 4, 2026

Young K tops Hanteo chart with second solo album 'YOUNGEST' SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - DAY6’s Young K topped a weekly album chart with his second solo studio album, “YOUNGEST,” a 15-track record built around questions about his identity as a singer-songwriter. The album and its title track, “Shut The Door,” were released July 27, nearly two years and 10 months after his first full-length solo album, “Letters with notes.” “YOUNGEST” ranked first on Hanteo Chart’s weekly album char August 4, 2026

aespa to launch world tour with global cinema livestream from Seoul SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will kick off its new world tour this week, with the opening concert simultaneously screened in movie theaters across 11 regions worldwide. SM Entertainment said Monday that the first show of "2026-27 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : COMPLaeXITY" on Aug. 7 will be broadcast live in 146 cinemas across 11 markets, including South Korea, allowing fans around the world to watch the group's world tour opene August 3, 2026

South Korean soprano Sumi Jo receives Maria Callas SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - South Korean soprano Sumi Jo has received the 12th Premio Internazionale Maria Callas, becoming the first Asian artist to receive the Italian honor in the year she marks the 40th anniversary of her international debut. PRM, Jo's publicity agency, said Monday that she accepted the award in Verona on Sunday, where organizers hold the annual ceremony each Aug. 2, the anniversary of Maria Callas' debut at the Arena di Verona in 1947. The prize recogniz August 3, 2026

Stray Kids kicks off RUN IT world tour with five sold-out Seoul concerts SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids successfully wrapped up it's five sold-out concerts in Seoul, officially kicking off its "RUN IT" world tour and giving fans an early preview of music from its upcoming mini album, "THIS & THAT," JYP Entertainment said Monday. The JYP Entertainment group performed at Seoul's KSPO Dome on July 25-26, July 29 and Aug. 1-2, drawing capacity crowds across all five dates. The Seoul concerts marked the o August 3, 2026

NCT 127 launches interactive 'CALL 127' campaign ahead of new album SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NCT 127 has launched an interactive promotional campaign ahead of its seventh studio album, "BLINGY," built around the idea that fans are the ones calling the group into action, SM Entertainment said Monday. SM Entertainment opened the CALL 127 website at midnight Monday as the centerpiece of the campaign leading up to the album's Aug. 24 release. Styled as a command center, the site allows visitors to browse teaser materials August 3, 2026

Cortis teams with Juicy J for 'Motion' ahead of Lollapalooza debut SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - K-pop rookie boy group Cortis has enlisted Academy Award-winning rapper Juicy J for its latest digital single, "Motion," as the rookie group prepares for its debut appearance at Lollapalooza Chicago this weekend. BigHit Music said Friday that the track was released at 1 p.m. KST. Drawing inspiration from the Memphis hip-hop sound that emerged in the U.S. South during the 1990s, "Motion" reinterprets the genre through the group's own mus July 31, 2026

NMIXX to make Japan debut with 'N=MIXX' SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - NMIXX will officially enter the Japanese market later this year with the release of its first Japanese best album, "N=MIXX," as the JYP Entertainment girl group expands overseas following a year of international touring and growing recognition from global music publications. JYP Entertainment said Friday that "N=MIXX" will be released on Dec. 9, marking the six-member group's official Japanese debut — roughly four years and ni July 31, 2026

Red Velvet returns as full group with summer EP 'Velvet Summer' SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) — K-pop girl group Red Velvet will return as a full group on Aug. 3 with "Velvet Summer," its first five-member release in more than two years, marking a return to the summer season that helped establish the act as one of K-pop's defining warm-weather groups. SM Entertainment said Friday that the five-track EP and its lead single, "Surfin' Boy," will be released at 6 p.m. KST on Aug. 3. The comeback is the group's first r July 31, 2026

Stray Kids to kick off 2026 comeback with self-produced EP 'THIS & THAT' SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - Stray Kids will return on Aug. 7 with "THIS & THAT," the group's first release of 2026, following a year of stadium tours, international festival appearances and record-setting success on the Billboard 200. JYP Entertainment said Friday that the group will release the EP and its title track, "This & That," at 1 p.m. KST on Aug. 7. The eight-track project marks another self-produced release for the group, with in-house unit July 31, 2026