Pop-up stores for popular South Korean time-slip series set to open across Asia

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Following the huge success of cable channel tvN's period drama "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," pop-up stores selling merchandise and other goods in three Asian countries are expected to keep captivating fans. The drama's production company, Studio Dragon, said on Tuesday it will open pop-up stores in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, with the one in Seoul running from Thursday through next week. In Japan, these stores will be av

September 30, 2025

HYBE revs up global idol pipeline as BTS comeback nears

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) -HYBE, the K-pop powerhouse behind global superstar BTS, is accelerating its international expansion with region-specific idol franchises as it sets the stage for BTS’s long-awaited group comeback next year. Latin America is the next market to host a HYBE-incubated idol group, following rollouts in Japan, the U.S., and China. The company also announced it will open a new outpost in Mumbai, India, this year — its fifth overseas base — to ta

September 26, 2025

Another K-pop themed movie set for release early next year

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Another K-pop themed movie has begun filming after finalizing its cast, following the success of Netflix's South Korean anime "K-Pop Demon Hunters," talent mill HYBE's U.S. branch said on Thursday. Produced by HYBE in collaboration with Paramount Pictures, the film stars singer-songwriter Eric Nam and Yoo Ji-young, an American actress of Korean descent known for her roles in American drama "Expats" on Amazon Prime Video as well

September 25, 2025

Park Chan-wook's latest film draws over 300,000 on opening day

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" attracted over 331,000 moviegoers on its opening day, instantly climbing to the top spot at the box office. The Korean Film Council on Thursday said the thriller starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin topped the box office upon its release the previous day, setting the highest opening record among his previous hits like "Decision to Leave" in 2022 and "The Handmaiden&q

September 25, 2025

Rookie boy band's debut album ranks 15th on Billboard 200

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - K-pop boy band CORTIS's debut album has made it onto the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart for this week. According to Billboard's latest chart released Tuesday, the quintet's "Color Outside The Lines" ranked 15th, just a few weeks after its release earlier this month, an impressive feat for a rookie K-pop act. The album contains five tracks including "What You Want," a song about pursuing dreams with confidence. CO

September 24, 2025

Soundtrack of K-pop anime remains No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for 6th week

SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - "Golden," one of the main theme songs from Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" stayed atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week, extending its streak on No. 1 to six weeks. The song from the anime's soundtrack claimed the No. 1 spot on the chart for a sixth week, "becoming the sole longest-leading No. 1 from a soundtrack this decade, and the longest-ruling such song in more than 10 years,&qu

September 23, 2025

Soundtrack of K-pop anime extends reign on UK chart for seventh week

SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - The soundtrack of Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" extended its reign at No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart to a seventh consecutive week. According to the chart, "Golden," one of the main theme song from the K-pop-themed anime, maintained its hold on the top spot for the week of Sept. 19 to 25, beating English singer-songwriter Olivia Dean's "Man I Need." Since debuting at No. 93 after i

September 21, 2025

Korea's eating culture continues to fascinate

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - Whether it’s instant ramyeon or a royal feast, one thing is clear: Koreans take eating seriously. The country’s rich history of mukbang – videos showcasing the enjoyment of food – has now evolved into elaborate global productions. The latest example is "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," which recently climbed to No. 1 on Netflix's non-English TV chart, underscoring worldwide fascination with Korean cuisine and the

September 19, 2025

Rosé's catchy song amasses over 2 billion views on YouTube

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - Rosé, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, continues to break records with her catchy song "APT." According to her management agency, the global hit, a collaboration with American pop star Bruno Mars, amassed over 2 billion views on YouTube in about a year after its release in October last year. With the latest feat, she now has another music video surpassing 2 billion views on the American streaming giant, adding to the quartet

September 19, 2025

K-pop themed anime tops over 300 million views on Netflix

SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" continues its unstoppable rise, accumulating 300 million views. According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum on Wednesday, the K-pop themed anime has accumulated 314.2 million views since its release on June 20, remaining at the top spot in the platform's all-time movie rankings, which are calculated "based on total views in the first 91 days of release." The 100-minu

September 17, 2025