SHINee's Minho to release new album next month SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy group SHINee's Minho will return with his second mini album next month, marking his first Korean-language release in nine months, SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. The six track album, "Make It Hot," is slated for release on Sept. 7 and includes a title track of the same name. It will also be released on major music platforms that day. Pre-orders for the physical album opened Tuesday through online and offline retailers. It foll August 18, 2026

RIIZE's upcoming single chosen as official song for Japan's Winter Cup SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - The latest song by K-pop boy group RIIZE has been chosen as the official track for Japan's national high school basketball championship, expanding their activities in Japan beyond concerts and music releases, their agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. "Rise Over" will be used for the 79th All Japan High School Basketball Championship, better known as the Winter Cup, which runs Dec. 23 to 29 in Tokyo, the Japan Basketball Association August 18, 2026

NCT 127 to build buzz for new album with teaser medley SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - A medley featuring all nine songs from K-pop boy group NCT 127's seventh full-length album is set to be released at midnight Tuesday, ahead of the album's release next week to build excitement to their fans. A music video for "BLINGY," set to be released on Aug. 24, is also expected to be uploaded on the group's YouTube channel, with clips of the title track and other songs, including "IKR" and "Getaway." "IK August 18, 2026

Grammys rethink Asian pop award after BTS pullout SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - The Recording Academy is reconsidering its newly created Asian pop Grammy category after criticism that separating music by geography and language could marginalize Asian artists, a backlash amplified by BTS's decision to sit out next year's awards. But whether any changes will come before the Aug. 21 deadline for online entries to the 2027 Grammys remains uncertain. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. acknowledged Friday that the Best Asian August 15, 2026

Jun. K to roll out 'Your Lips' on Aug. 17 SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - JUN. K of 2PM will release a new digital single, "Your Lips," featuring Wendy of Red Velvet, on Aug. 17, JYP Entertainment said Friday. The album will be released at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT), marking JUN. K's latest solo release after his fourth mini album, "Dear my muse" in September of 2025. Ahead of the release, JYP has been rolling out teaser photos through JUN. K's official social media channels. The latest images, released August 14, 2026

Colonial ghosts haunt Korea's celebrity descendants SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) — Actress Hayoung thought she was telling a family story. Speaking on television about coming from four generations of doctors, she proudly recalled a great-grandfather who had studied Western medicine in Japan, opened one of Seoul's early Western-style clinics and, she said, treated Emperor Gojong. Soon, internet users were digging through colonial-era records. They identified the relative as Ahn Sang-ho, whose name appeared in organizations as August 14, 2026

BTS' 'FAKE LOVE' tops 1.4 billion YouTube views SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - K-pop supergroup BTS' music video for "FAKE LOVE" has surpassed 1.4 billion views on YouTube, adding another long-running catalog hit to the group's list of billion-scale videos. The video crossed the mark at around 3:46 p.m. KST, according to the agency. "FAKE LOVE" is the sixth BTS music video to reach 1.4 billion views, following "Dynamite," "Boy With Luv," "DNA," "MIC Drop" and &quo August 14, 2026

Hyundai Motor Group teams with musician KIRARA SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group has released an electronic track produced with Korean musician KIRARA, using music to depict the process of turning raw material into a finished vehicle through the company's manufacturing technology. The track, titled "Temper", was released Thursday on Hyundai Motor Group's official YouTube channel and major streaming platforms, including Melon, Bugs, Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music. The song opens with an August 14, 2026

JYP Entertainment Q2 operating profit falls 41% as tour, merchandise sales drop SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - JYP Entertainment's second-quarter operating profit fell 41.4 percent from a year earlier as lower concert and merchandise revenue outweighed stronger album and digital music sales. Operating profit for the April-June period came to 31 billion won ($21.7 million), down from 52.9 billion won a year earlier and 7.1 percent from the first quarter. The result was 18.7 percent below the FnGuide consensus of 38.1 billion won. The operating margin narrowed August 13, 2026

NCT 127 to appear on 'America's Got Talent' SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NCT 127 will appear as a special guest on NBC's "America's Got Talent" next week, adding a high-profile U.S. television stage to the rollout of its upcoming seventh full-length album, "BLINGY," SM Entertainment said Thursday. The group is set to perform during the live broadcast on Aug. 19, U.S. time, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The performance comes five days before "BLING August 13, 2026