BLACKPINK's Jennie Breaks K-pop's U.S. Radio Barrier SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - K-pop has long dominated U.S. streaming and album charts, but mainstream radio has remained one of the industry's toughest markets to crack. BLACKPINK's Jennie has now helped break that barrier, becoming only the second K-pop-related act to top Billboard's Adult Pop Airplay chart, Forbes reported Monday, citing Billboard data. Jennie's collaboration with Australian psychedelic music project Tame Impala, "Dracula," climbed to No. 1 o July 28, 2026

South Korea to hold tune-up friendlies this fall as search for new coach continues SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - South Korea will play friendly matches against Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October as the search for a new head coach for the national team continues, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said on Tuesday. After former head coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down following the team's poor World Cup performance earlier this month, South Korea is scheduled to face Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6, with details including venues to be announced later. V July 28, 2026

Korea's middle-aged dads find an unlikely superhero in 'Agent Kim' SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - As South Korean companies quietly push employees toward early retirement, millions of middle-aged office workers have found an unlikely superhero in a timid bank manager who secretly used to be one of the country's deadliest intelligence operatives. The latest hit K-drama "Agent Kim Reactivated," known in Korean as Kim Bu-jang, wrapped up its 10-episode run Sunday after becoming one of the year's biggest television successes. But its strong July 27, 2026

Large-scale K-pop festival planned for launch next year with global ambitions SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - A large-scale K-pop event will be held late next year as part of a program unveiled on Monday by the presidential committee for promoting Exchanges in South Korean Popular Culture. The event, tentatively dubbed "Fanomenon," will run from Dec. 2 to 12 next year at Changdong in northern Seoul and KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, featuring headliner concerts, a fandom-focused awards show and industry exhibitions. Those plans were presented at a p July 27, 2026

BTS' 'Butter' becomes seventh music video to surpass 1.1 billion views on YouTube SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - K-pop juggernaut BTS' hit single "Butter" has garnered over 1.1 billion views on YouTube, their management agency said on Monday. Released in May 2021, the song's music video reached the milestone earlier in the day, becoming the group's seventh video to achieve the feat. It became their seventh music video to surpass 1.1 billion views, following "Dynamite," "DNA," "Fake Love," "IDOL," "Boy July 27, 2026

Former pitcher Park Chan-ho becomes 1st South Korean to acquire stake in MLB team SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - Former pitcher Park Chan-ho has become the first South Korean to acquire a stake in a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, leading a consortium that has signed a strategic partnership with the Athletics. During a press event in Seoul on Monday, Park said the consortium, dubbed "Team61", will invest $70 million in the Athletics, which left Oakland, Northern California, and are currently based in West Sacramento, California, before relocating to Las Veg July 27, 2026

NCT 127 to mark 10th anniversary with seventh studio album SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - K-pop boy group, NCT 127 will mark the 10th anniversary of its debut with the release of its seventh studio album, "BLINGY," on Aug. 24, the group's first full-length release since 2024's "Walk." The nine-track album will be released at 6 p.m. KST across global streaming platforms, with physical editions arriving the same day, SM Entertainment said Monday. Preorders opened Monday through online and offline retailers. According July 27, 2026

Jenny Shin ends decade-long wait as Koreans extend LPGA winning streak SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) -South Korea's Jenny Shin captured her second LPGA Tour title on Sunday, ending a wait of more than 10 years and extending Korean players' winning streak to three consecutive events ahead of the season's final major. Shin carded a 3-over-par 75 in the final round of the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland, to finish at 9-under 279. The 33-year-old held off compatriot A Lim Kim, who closed with a 4- July 27, 2026

Lee Kang-in returns to Spain as Atletico Madrid signs South Korean star SEOUL, July 26 (AJP) - South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in has completed a return to Spain after joining Atletico Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year contract, handing Diego Simeone one of Europe's most versatile attacking midfielders and giving South Korea another marquee presence in La Liga. Atletico announced Saturday that it had reached an agreement with PSG to sign the 25-year-old until June 30, 2031. While neither club disclosed financial terms, European medi July 26, 2026

Court rejects bid to block wider distribution of box office hit 'The King's Warden' SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A Seoul court has rejected a bid to block further distribution of The King's Warden, clearing a legal obstacle to the historical drama's release on streaming services, home video and other platforms. The Seoul Western District Court dismissed an injunction sought by the family of a screenwriter who alleged that the film had copied the script of the 2000s television drama Eom Heung-do. The application was filed against co-producers Onda Works and BA July 24, 2026