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  BTS' agency HYBE to hold all-star music festival on western island in June SEOUL -- HYBE, the entertainment company behind popular K-pop groups like BTS and TXT, will hold a two-day music festival called "2024 Weverse Con Festival" at the luxurious Inspire Resort on Yeongjongdo Island, located west of Seoul, on June 15-16. Originally launched as a year-end event in 2021, the Weverse Con Festival has evolved into a full-fledged outdoor festival designed to transcend genres and generations, offering a unique and immersive experience for fans. February 23, 2024
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  Le Sserafim's mini album "Easy" sees surge in popularity in Japan SEOUL -- Le Sserafim's mini-album "Easy" is experiencing a surge in popularity among Japanese fans. A total of 72,356 copies of the album were sold in Japan on its release date, setting a new record. According to the group's agency Source Music, this sales figure was recorded on February 22, marking about a 25 percent increase compared to the first-day sales of the band's previous album, "UNFORGIVEN." Through Easy, the five-member band delves into February 22, 2024
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  'Stun Gun' Kim Dong-hyun participates in second series of Netflix survival show 'Physical: 100' SEOUL -- Kim Dong-hyun, a South Korean UFC fighter better known by his ring name "Stun Gun," will appear in the second series of Physical: 100, a Netflix reality show featuring physically fit contestants engaging in games and competitions. The first season, released in January 2023, has topped Netflix's weekly non-English TV show chart and made it into the top 10 lists in 82 countries. Stun Gun is a legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with the highest number o February 22, 2024
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  Crime thriller 'A Killer Paradox' tops Netflix's weekly non-English series chart SEOUL -- South Korean crime thriller series "A Killer Paradox," directed by Lee Chang-hee, has topped Netflix's weekly TV series chart for non-English content. The thriller series depicts the story of a killer who accidentally murders without leaving any evidence, and a detective investigating the case. The over-the-top (OTT) media service said that A Killer Paradox garnered some 5.5 million hours of viewing between February 12 and February 18. The South Korean conte February 21, 2024
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  BTS' J-Hope writes heartfelt letter to fans to commemorate birthday SEOUL -- BTS member Jeong Ho-seok, known by his stage name J-Hope, has written a heartfelt letter to fans awaiting the discharge of the 30-year-old dancer from the military. Like any other ordinary South Korean man, Jeong is serving his country as a conscripted soldier. J-Hope began his mandatory military service in April 2023. He was the second BTS member to enlist after Jin, who joined the Army in December 2022. Due to South Korea's technical state of war with North Korea, a February 19, 2024
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  BLACKPINK agency to seek new K-pop artists through audition in Japan SEOUL -- Girl band BLACKPINK's agency YG Entertainment will collaborate with Japan's entertainment agency Avex to hold an audition in Japan. Regardless of nationality and gender, anyone born between 2003 and 2013 can apply for the audition, which seeks talented K-pop artists. YG Entertainment said the "YG x Avex Audition 2024" will take place in seven cities in Japan in April, starting in Sapporo on April 7. The other six cities include Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka, a February 16, 2024
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  Lotte's TV home shopping channel adopts virtual fashion model targeting young consumers SEOUL -- The home shopping channel of South Korea's conglomerate Lotte has selected virtual model Lucy as the host for a TV show designed to promote popular fashion brands for young consumers. The virtual human with about 171,000 Instagram followers interacts with viewers on Lotte Homeshopping's weekly TV show "Lucy Talk Live" to sell trendy fashion items, such as sweaters and zip-up hoodies. Lucy, created by synthesizing a face with an image of a real per February 13, 2024
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  Boy band Enhypen to go on encore tour in US SEOUL -- Boy band Enhypen will go on an encore tour in April and May in the United States. The seven-member band will interact with fans in five regions starting with Anaheim, California on April 24. This encore tour, titled "FATE PLUS," serves as an extension of the "FATE," a six-month world tour held in 13 cities including Los Angeles and Tokyo. According to Belift Lab, the band's agency, FATE PLUS will also take place in Oakland, Tacoma, Rosemont, and Be February 8, 2024
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  Naver's streaming platform CHZZK to inject $3.7 mln to attract more content creators SEOUL -- CHZZK, a video content streaming platform operated by South Korea's web service giant Naver, is preparing to open its purse to attract more content creators to its service. The new livestreaming platform's move is aimed at filling the gap created in South Korea's $4-million games livestreaming market, caused by the recent exit of Twitch, Amazon's video live-streaming service, from the domestic market. Game livestreaming services can be easily explained as February 6, 2024
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  Le Sserafim's agency to seek new girl band through auditions in S. Korea SEOUL -- BTS agency's record label Source Music will hold auditions to form a sister band of the label's multinational girl group, Le Sserafim. Regardless of nationality, females born after 2007 can apply for the audition, which seeks talented members in vocals, rap, dance, and other areas. The "2024 Source Music Audition" will take place in six cities in South Korea next month, starting in Seoul on March 2. The other five cities include the southern port city of February 6, 2024