BTS Comeback D-27: Free tickets for Gwanghwamun show open Monday SEOUL, February 22 (AJP) -Kpop sensation BTS are 27 days away from their first full-scale comeback performance in nearly four years, with free offline tickets for their Gwanghwamun Square show set to open Monday. According to HYBE, detailed access and safety guidelines were released through Weverse ahead of the March 21 event, as anticipation builds for one of the largest outdoor K-pop concerts ever staged in central Seoul. Access to the main viewing area will be limited to w February 22, 2026

'The King's Warden' on track to become Korea's biggest box-office hit after "Exhuma" SEOUL, February 22 (AJP) -"The King’s Warden" is rapidly emerging as South Korea’s next potential 10-million-viewer blockbuster, signaling a renewed appetite for domestic cinema after a year without a mega hit following "Exhuma" in 2024. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database, the historical drama drew 581,184 admissions on Friday, ranking No. 1 for the day. Its cumulative audience reached 5,260,595. Given p February 22, 2026

Short track, snowboard lead Korea's charge as Milan–Cortina Olympics close SEOUL, February 22 (AJP) - The 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics drew to a close Sunday, ending 17 days of competition that tested a new model of decentralized hosting while offering South Korea renewed confidence in its next generation of winter athletes. The Games, held across northern Italy and officially titled the Milan–Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics, featured venues spread over hundreds of kilometers, making it the most geographically dispersed Winter Games i February 22, 2026

BTS Comeback-29: How K-pop is woven into the Korean heritage SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - On a chilly afternoon during the Lunar New Year holiday, the long line outside the National Museum of Korea curled past the plaza and into the nearby park. Families carrying gift boxes, grandparents holding grandchildren’s hands, and young couples in padded coats waited patiently for their turn to enter. For many, this was not a detour between holiday meals. It was the destination. Over two days of the Seollal break — Feb. 16 a February 20, 2026

Rosé and Bruno Mars win IFPI Global Single Award for APT. SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - A collaborative track between South Korean singer Rosé and American artist Bruno Mars has become the first K-pop song to top the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Global Single Chart. The rock-pop single "APT." led the worldwide sales and streaming rankings for 2025. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) on February 19, "APT." secured the top position on the annual cha February 20, 2026

BTS Comeback D-29: BTS on the Charts, RM on the Canvas 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 fifth installment traces the roots and growth of RM. SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - BTS’s February 20, 2026

K-pop girl band Hearts2Hearts to drop new single 'RUDE!' SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) -K-pop girl band Hearts2Hearts will release a new single "RUDE!" on Friday to celebrate its first anniversary. Along with the new song, its music video will also be released through the SMTOWN YouTube channel. SM Entertainment said in a statement that the eight-member band's new track RUDE!, a synth house dance track, will be released at 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) through various music and video platforms. The band's agency said that the new February 20, 2026

When Seoul becomes the screen: From neon signs to BTS's digital stage SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - On March 21, Gwanghwamun will not need to be transformed into a concert venue. It already is one. Along the 12-lane, 512-meter boulevard leading to the historic gate, walls of massive digital displays are permanently embedded into the cityscape. Office towers, commercial buildings and transit hubs double as screens. When BTS stages its comeback there, livestreamed on Netflix, the infrastructure will simply shift mode — from advertising an February 19, 2026

BTS Comeback D-30: J-Hope, a messenger of hope through lyrics, rap, and giving *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 fourth installment traces the roots and growth of J-Hope. SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - By the ti February 19, 2026

Period drama dominates box office over Lunar New Year holiday SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" has attracted over 4 million viewers since its release earlier this month. According to the Korean Film Council, the period drama has topped the box office for seven consecutive days since last Friday, when South Korea's biggest Lunar New Year holiday began, drawing a cumulative 4.17 million viewers since its release on Feb. 4. Last Tuesday alone, it drew about 661,449 viewers, the h February 19, 2026