BTS' 'Arirang' tour sets record as highest-grossing concert run SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - K-pop juggernaut BTS raked in US$120.5 million in ticket sales in July through their ongoing world tour "Arirang," making it the group's highest-grossing tour, Billboard said on Friday. BTS ranked second on Billboard's July tour chart, behind The Weeknd, who topped the chart with $124.4 million. The group earned nearly as much as The Weeknd despite performing half as many shows, with eight shows in Europe, compared with The Weeknd's 16. August 29, 2026

Korea widens anti-scalping rules SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korea began enforcing tougher anti-scalping rules for concert and sports tickets Friday, rolling out the detailed penalties and procedures behind a law that expanded the definition of illegal ticket buying and resale. The enforcement decrees under the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act took effect Friday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. The underlying laws, amended in February, newly banned illegal ticket buyin August 28, 2026

Stray Kids to open Japan tour at Tokyo National Stadium SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids will become the first foreign male artist to hold a solo concert at Tokyo National Stadium, the group's agency JYP Entertainment said Friday. The group will perform at the venue, also known as MUFG Stadium, on Aug. 29 and 30 as the first overseas stop of its new world tour, "RUN IT." The tour opened in Seoul in July with five sold-out shows at KSPO Dome. Stray Kids will continue the Japan leg with concerts at August 28, 2026

Red Velvet to release remix album SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - K-pop girl group, Red Velvet will release a remix album for its latest single "Surfin' Boy" on Friday, SM Entertainment said. The album, "iScreaM Vol. 40: Surfin' Boy Remixes," will be released at 1 p.m (0400 GMT) on major music platforms. It marks the 40th installment of iScreaM, a remix series run by ScreaM Records. ScreaM Records is SM Entertainment's dance music label, which releases electronic and remix projects b August 28, 2026

Netflix and Stella Artois to launch global campaign SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - Netflix and Belgian beer brand Stella Artois will launch a global campaign tied to the second season of "The Gentlemen: The Series," Netflix said Thursday. The campaign, titled "The Gentlemen's Serve," will run in eight countries: South Korea, the United States, Britain, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa. Netflix said it is the first brand partnership for "The Gentlemen: The Series." It is also the fi August 27, 2026

Seoul performing arts market to open in October SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korea's main performing arts market will return to Seoul in October with an expanded showcase lineup and new networking programs, its organizers said Thursday. The 2026 Performing Arts Market in Seoul, or PAMS, will run from Oct. 13 to 16 at the National Theater of Korea, Arko Arts Theater, Daehakro Arts Theater and other venues around the capital. The event is co-hosted by the Korea Arts Management Service and the National Theater of Korea, August 27, 2026

South Korean footballers to face Qatar, Saudi Arabia at Asian Games SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korea will face Saudi Arabia and Qatar in men's football as it seeks a fourth consecutive triumph at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan next month. With the quadrennial sporting event set to kick off with an opening ceremony in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, on Sept. 19, South Korea will have its first match against Qatar on Sept. 15 before facing Saudi Arabia on Sept. 22. Among the 15 participating countries divided into four groups for the football August 27, 2026

Zhou Mi of Super Junior M to lead China venture STE SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - SM Entertainment has named Zhou Mi of Super Junior-M to lead its new Beijing joint venture with Tencent Music Entertainment Group, the company said Thursday. The joint venture, called STE, was established after SM and TME signed a memorandum of understanding in May to expand cooperation in the Chinese-speaking market. STE will work on a new Chinese idol group project that SM is preparing to debut within the next two to three years. The company will o August 27, 2026

KATSEYE lands four songs on Billboard Hot 100 SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - International girl group KATSEYE placed four songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, extending its U.S. chart breakthrough after scoring its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with latest EP WILD. Pre-release single "Animal" climbed six places to No. 24 on the main U.S. singles chart dated Aug. 29, according to Billboard. Title track "Hootie Frutti" debuted at No. 31, giving KATSEYE another top-40 entry. "Pinky August 26, 2026

Lee Chang-dong's latest film picked as South Korea's Oscar entry SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Director Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" has been selected as South Korea's submission for best foreign language film to compete at next year's Academy Awards, the Korean Film Council said on Tuesday. The U.S. movie industry's biggest awards ceremony, which will celebrate its 98th year next year, will be held in Los Angeles on March 15, with each country allowed to submit one film in the Best International Feature Film category, wh August 25, 2026