• 
  South Korea expected to secure three golds at Milano Cortina Winter Games SEOUL, February 08 (AJP) - South Korea is projected to win three gold medals and finish 15th in the overall standings at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, according to a forecast released by Sports Illustrated on February 8. The 2026 Winter Games, which officially opened on February 6 and run through February 22, are being held across several clusters in Northern Italy, including Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Approximately 2,900 athletes from 92 nations are competing fo February 8, 2026
• 
  BTS comeback D-42: Band sets Tottenham stadium attendance record with 120,000-seat sellout SEOUL, February 07 (AJP) - BTS has achieved the highest occupancy rate for a single concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, concert promoter Live Nation UK said on Saturday. The seven-member band will perform before about 120,000 fans over two nights on July 6 to 7 in London, with tickets for both shows sold out. The performances will feature a 360-degree stage configuration at the 62,000-capacity venue. The stadium, home to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, has hosted concert February 7, 2026
• 
  BTS comeback D-42: Seoul tells fans to travel light or risk missing the show SEOUL, February 07 (AJP) - With BTS's historic comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square just six weeks away, Seoul authorities and transit operators are urging the hundreds of thousands of fans expected to descend on the capital to ditch their suitcases before heading to the venue. Organizers are expecting about 15,000 for the square, with an additional 13,000 to watch on large screens at Seoul Plaza. Industry observers, however, estimate that as many as 200,000 people could flood February 7, 2026
• 
  BTS Comeback D-43: How songs come to reshape Korea's global image SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - When a government survey on South Korea’s global image is released each year, the top name rarely changes. Once again, BTS ranked first in the “2025 National Image Survey of Korea” released late last month by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The ranking itself is familiar. What is changing is what it represents. Jungkook placed sixth overall — the highest among solo artists — February 6, 2026
• 
  Weverse hits record growth as BTS and BLACKPINK return to global stage SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - The return of K-pop’s most influential acts, BTS and BLACKPINK, has fueled a significant surge in user engagement for Weverse, the global fan community platform. According to the 2025 Weverse Fandom Trend report released on February 6, the platform reached several new milestones in user growth and activity over the past year. The resurgence was most visible following the military discharge of BTS members in June last year. New followers for the gro February 6, 2026
• 
  BTS, ENHYPEN, and SEVENTEEN lead Parrot Analytics global demand rankings for 2025 SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - BTS has been named the most popular act in the global entertainment market for 2025, according to a year-end report from Parrot Analytics. The group spearheaded a dominant year for the South Korean entertainment giant HYBE, with labelmates ENHYPEN and SEVENTEEN also securing spots within the top 10. The 2025 annual report, "What Audiences Loved in 2025," ranked BTS at the top of the "Talents of the Year Under 30" category. ENHYPEN too February 6, 2026
• 
  Actor Lee Beom-soo settles divorce after lengthy legal battle SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - Actor Lee Beom-soo has settled his divorce from his wife Lee Yoon-jin after a lengthy legal battle, his management agency said on Friday. According to the agency, the estranged couple "amicably" decided to end their marriage after resolving misunderstandings through thorough discussions. They also agreed to maintain mutual respect and support as parents of their children, one son and one daughter. The agency warned against the spread of gr February 6, 2026
• 
  RIIZE member Shotaro to miss Macau concert amid worsening China-Japan friction SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - Shotaro, a Japanese member of the K-pop boy group RIIZE, will not participate in the group's upcoming world tour performance in Macau, organizers announced Friday. The sudden withdrawal comes just one day before the scheduled event, as diplomatic and trade tensions between Beijing and Tokyo continue to impact the entertainment industry. In a statement posted to social media, the Macau concert production team confirmed that Shotaro would be absent fro February 6, 2026
• 
  BTS comeback D-44: More than a show when Seoul pours its heart into the king's return SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - A royal comeback. A literal red carpet for the monarchs of K-pop. A “concert of the century.” These are some of the phrases circulating ahead of BTS’s long-awaited return in March — a national-scale production that brings together state support, cultural symbolism, and the global reach of Netflix. The show, already being hailed as the cultural event of the year, is shaping up as a culmination of South Korea’s most powerfu February 5, 2026
• 
  Marco Landi says AI will expand cinematic creativity as festival moves to South Korea SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - Marco Landi, the former president of Apple and a leading figure in the global artificial intelligence sector, says the technology should be viewed as a tool for augmented imagination rather than a threat to human creativity. Landi, who currently serves as the president of Institut EuropIA and founded the World AI Film Festival (WAIFF), shared his vision for the future of cinema and technology during a recent interview. His remarks come as the festival pr February 5, 2026