NewJeans' creator proposes settlement to HYBE to resolve NewJeans legal disputes SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Min Hee-jin, the CEO of OOAK Records and former head of ADOR, has offered to waive a 25.6 billion won ($18.9 million) legal payout from HYBE in exchange for the termination of all ongoing litigation involving herself and the girl group NewJeans. During a press conference held in Seoul on Wednesday, Min announced her willingness to give up the funds recently awarded to her by a court regarding a put option on her former ADOR shares. Her proposal requires February 25, 2026

BTS Comeback D-24 : Less hype over BTS' 'ARIRANG' tour concert live cinema booking SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The last-resort seats for the first round of BTS comeback concerts are now open, but unlike the stampede over the group’s free open-air performance in central Seoul, the rush has been muted, suggesting many fans still prefer the atmosphere of sharing the same physical space with their idols. Advance bookings for the live cinema screenings of BTS’ “ARIRANG” tour opened Wednesday at 10 a.m. (KST) across South Korea’s thr February 25, 2026

New boy band CHASER to release debut album ROUTE 01: Burning Point SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - South Korean boy band CHASER is scheduled to make its official debut on Wednesday with the release of its first mini album. The five-member group, consisting of Kangbin, Caseke, Ren, Yoonsung, and Sihun, will launch ROUTE 01: Burning Point at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) across global streaming platforms including Spotify and YouTube Music. The album serves as the introductory chapter to the group's planned narrative universe, focusing on themes of energy and a February 25, 2026

K-literature takes center stage in Africa after Han Kang's Nobel win SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Korean literature has officially overtaken K-pop music and K-drama as the most documented aspect of South Korean culture in Africa, a report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism showed Wednesday. The 2025 Global Hallyu Trend Analysis Report, released by the culture ministry and the Korea Culture Information Service Agency (KCISA), indicates that Korean literature now accounts for 32.8 percent of all media coverage related to Hallyu (th February 25, 2026

Why The King's Warden reigns over Korea's box office SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - The mix of tragedy and humor, family and community affection, and grass-roots patriotism has long been a reliable formula for box-office success in South Korea. Audiences have found that combination in unusually polished form in The King’s Warden. Korean box office is no longer built for monopolies. Streaming platforms fragment attention. Mid-budget films struggle for screens. Audience loyalty has grown increasingly fickle. And yet, for three we February 24, 2026

YG Plus to open BLACKPINK 'Deadline' pop-up in Seoul SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - YG Plus announced that it will operate pop-up stores themed around BLACKPINK’s upcoming release “Deadline” from Feb. 28 to March 8 at Musinsa Store Myeongdong and Musinsa Standard Seongsu. The pop-up will unveil a range of official merchandises commemorating the new album. Items include apparel and lifestyle products reflecting the album’s concept, as well as limited-edition exclusive goods will be available at the pop-up. February 24, 2026

Moviegoers review-bomb 15th-century royal tomb following blockbuster historical film hit SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A digital revolt has targeted the royal tomb of King Sejo after the release of the film King's Warden, directed by Jang Hang-jun, sparked public anger over the 15th-century monarch's rise to power. Since the movie opened on February 4, the UNESCO World Heritage site, known as Gwangneung, has been review-bombed with one-star ratings on major South Korean map applications. King's Warden reached the 6 million mark on Monday, just 20 days after i February 24, 2026

'The King's Warden' takes box office by storm with 6 million viewers SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" has attracted over 600 million viewers since its release earlier this month. The period film surpassed 6 million in cumulative ticket sales as of Monday, three weeks after its release on Feb. 4, the film's distributor Showbox said on Tuesday. It reached the milestone faster than the 2005 hit period film "The King and the Clown," which took 29 days, raising expectations that &qu February 24, 2026

BTS Comeback D-26: Racing the clock: scramble for Gwanghwamun tickets SEOUL, February 23 (AJP)-By the time the newsroom clock hit 7:59 p.m. on Feb. 23, conversation had faded to a whisper. Laptop screens were lined up like starting blocks. Smartphones lay face-up beside keyboards, refresh buttons ready. Some reporters counted under their breath. Others stared silently, afraid even to blink. At exactly 8 p.m., everyone clicked. For half a second, nothing happened. Then the screen flickered. 45,908 ahead of you.” “98,991 waiting.& February 23, 2026

BTS Comeback D-26: Jimin — from charts to cultural reference Editor’s Note — As BTS prepares to return as a full seven-member act with a new album set for March 20 and an open-stage performance at Gwanghwamun on March 21, following a near four-year hiatus for rotational military service, AJP revisits the group’s 13-year trajectory. This series reexamines BTS’s history, music, performance identity and enduring appeal. The sixth installment traces the roots and growth of Jimin. SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - BTS member Jim February 23, 2026