BIGBANG's new single sweeps music charts immediately after release SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - K-pop group BIGBANG swept major music charts with their first new single in more than four years, their agency YG Entertainment said on Thursday. The digital single "BiiiG," released the previous day, reached No. 1 on Melon's Top 100 chart within an hour of its release. The track also topped other major music charts including Bugs, Genie and Vibe later that day. "BiiiG" is a high-energy hip-hop track built around a heavy August 20, 2026

NCT Dream members renew contracts with SM Entertainment SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - All six members of NCT Dream have renewed their contracts with SM Entertainment, the talent agency said on Thursday. According to SM Entertainment, Chenle, Haechan, Jaemin, Jeno, Jisung and Renjun decided to remain with the agency based on their mutual trust and commitment to the group, with Haechan having already completed his contract renewal. NCT Dream debuted in August 2016 as a subunit of NCT, releasing songs including "Hot Sauce," "He August 20, 2026

Kookmin students win grand prize at Korea AI content festival SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - A music video created by Kookmin University students, depicting a man who tries to break off his relationship with the robots that think for him, then orders another one, has won the top prize in its category at a South Korean competition for work made using artificial intelligence solutions. The film, titled "Epos," was made by five undergraduates in Kookmin University's Department of AI Design working under the team name Holy. It beat 255 o August 20, 2026

NCT 127 to showcase new title track at comeback event next week SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NCT 127 will showcase their new title track at a comeback event, SM Entertainment said on Wednesday. The group will host "NCT 127 THE 7TH ALBUM COMEBACK LIVE PARTY" at KINTEX in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul next week. The event slated for Aug. 25 comes a day after the release of the group's seventh full-length album, "BLINGY." The title track, "Blingy," is a hip-hop song built around distorted syn August 19, 2026

K-pop girl group i-dle's Soyeon to release new solo album this fall SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Soyeon of K-pop girl group i-dle will return as a solo artist in September, Cube Entertainment said on Wednesday. The release will mark her first solo project in five years and two months since her debut mini album, "Windy," in July 2021. Soyeon is the leader of i-dle and has played a central role in the group's self-produced music. She has written and produced several of the group's major hits including "TOMBOY," &q August 19, 2026

BigBang's 20th anniversary comes as older K-pop acts find new life SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - K-pop boy band BigBang marked their 20th anniversary on Wednesday with their first digital single in four years, hoping to continue attracting attention years after their heyday. Their return comes as older K-pop groups are gaining renewed attention, attracting both longtime fans and younger listeners discovering their music years after their debut. But another shift is unfolding at the same time. While veteran acts are finding ways to sta August 19, 2026

BIGBANG to celebrate 20th anniversary with new single SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy group BIGBANG released a teaser video for their upcoming digital single on Tuesday, offering the first look at the song, their agency YG Entertainment said on Tuesday. The single, "BiiiG," will be released at 6 p.m. on Aug. 19, the day BIGBANG marks their 20th debut anniversary. It will be the group's first new song in about four years. The teaser shows G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung moving through a dark party scene, with s August 18, 2026

Lim Young-woong to release 10th anniversary album SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korean singer Lim Young-woong will release a special digital album next month to mark the 10th anniversary of his debut, his agency Mulgogi Music said on Tuesday. The album, "IM HERO 10," will be released on Sept. 8. Lim also unveiled the album's release date through a video posted on his social media accounts. The agency said the album is intended as a gift for his fans, known as "Hero Generation." The track August 18, 2026

K-pop boy band NEXZ showcase new album in Los Angeles SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NEXZ showcased a track from their upcoming fourth mini album at KCON LA 2026, a week before the album's release, their agency JYP Entertainment said on Tuesday. The seven-member group performed the title track of "SAUCIN" at the K-pop convention in Los Angeles ahead of the album's release, slated for Aug. 24. JYP described the track as a fast-paced Eurodance track with a festival-like mood and an addictive melody. The August 18, 2026

LIGHTSUM to make Japanese debut with new album next month SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop girl group LIGHTSUM will make their Japanese debut late next month with the release of their first full-group album in two years, their agency Cube Entertainment said on Tuesday. Set for release on Sept. 23, their Japanese mini album "Re:idol" includes five tracks such as "Doushite," "Fallin' World," "Stop and Go," "夜を歩く君へ" and "POSE! (Kawaii ver.)," a cuter version of the group' August 18, 2026