Two South Korean shows top Netflix's non-English charts

SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - Two South Korean shows have topped Netflix's latest charts for non-English series. According to the U.S. streaming giant, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" starring singer and actress IU and heartthrob Park Bo-gum took the top spot for TV shows, while director Yeon Sang-ho's thriller "Revelations" ranked atop the film charts, amassing 5.7 million and 5.5 million viewing hours, respectively for the week ending last Friday. Shortly

March 27, 2025

Aespa set to captivate global fans with English version of their latest hit song

SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - K-pop girl group Aespa unveiled the English version of their hit song "Whiplash" on major music-streaming sites here on Thursday, in an effort to connect with more global fans. The upbeat song, the lead track of their fifth mini album, gained popularity with its addictive melody and energetic dance moves, selling 1.02 million copies in just three weeks after its release in October last year. In particular, the song's shimmy and shoulder-shaki

March 27, 2025

Controversy continues to brew over Actor Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - A sordid saga involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron deepens as fresh evidence surfaces one after another, met with repeated denials and conflicting accounts. The story began to unfold shortly after the 24-year-old actress, who had been in a relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, was found dead in an apparent suicide at her home in eastern Seoul last month, reportedly struggling with financial difficulties. With the rumor mill grinding even more over what l

March 24, 2025

NewJeans members announce hiatus after court ruling

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - K-pop girl group NewJeans, now renamed as NJZ, will halt their activities following last Friday's court ruling, which banned them from engaging in independent activities amid a legal dispute with their agency. "We won't be able to perform for a while, as we have been suspended from our own activities," the quintet said during their concert in Hong Kong last Sunday where they revealed their new song "Pit Stop." Despite the court&

March 24, 2025

Reality show featuring kids faces uncertainty over airing amid growing controversy

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN's upcoming reality show featuring young K-pop wannabes encountered an unexpected stumbling block over its airing, shortly after its racy teaser was revealed earlier this month. "Under Fifteen," which is supposed to air on March 31, now faces uncertainty about whether it will be postponed or canceled altogether as MBN gave in to mounting controversy over whether it is appropriate for young kids to appear on the show. "We

March 24, 2025

Court rules to ban NewJeans' independent activities amid dispute with agency

SEOUL, March 21 (AJP) - A court on Friday ruled in favor of K-pop girl group NewJeans' agency, banning them from engaging in independent activities. The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court came about two months after ADOR filed a lawsuit against the group's five members, insisting that the contract remains valid and cannot be unilaterally terminated. Last month, NewJeans changed their name to NJZ and began their own independent activities, such as ad endorsement de

March 21, 2025

Jennie's first solo album debuts at No. 7 on Billboard 200 chart

SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Jennie, a member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with her first full-length solo album. The impressive entry on the chart for the week ending March 13 makes her the quartet's third member to land in the chart's top 10 as a solo artist, following Rosé and Lisa. Jennie became "the third member of the chart-topping quartet BLACKPINK to notch a solo top 10 – and all three have come in the l

March 17, 2025

LE SSERAFIM return with new album

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - K-pop girl band LE SSERAFIM released their new album on Friday. Their fifth mini-album "HOT" consists of five songs with the theme of love, with the title track delivering a message about diving into what you love without holding back. The quintet held a showcase for fans the previous day, kicking off their promotional activities for the album. They will also embark on their first world tour in April, with stops in Japan and Taiwan.

March 14, 2025

Actor Kim Soo-hyun denies allegations of inappropriate relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Actor Kim Soo-hyun denied allegations of being involved in an inappropriate relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, in a statement released by his agency on Friday. After a brief denial, the actor said the previous day that he would come clean sometime next week, but he apparently couldn't remain silent any longer as the controversy snowballed further with more evidence surfacing about his alleged long-term romantic relationship with the actress.

March 14, 2025

Racy teaser clip stirs controversy ahead of reality show featuring kids

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN's upcoming reality show featuring young K-pop wannabes is set for release later this month. Some 59 contestants under the age of 15 from over 70 countries have been selected as finalists for "Under 15," slated to air on March 31, where they will compete for a chance to become K-pop's next big stars. But a teaser clip released on Thursday stirred unexpected controversy, raising concerns over whether it is appropriate for

March 14, 2025