https://en.fannstar.tf.co.kr FANNSTAR RSS Service - All Articles copyright (c) FANNSTAR fannstar@tf.co.kr Singer Mark shared updates on his daily life in the United States. Recently, Mark posted several photos on social media with a solid light blue sky emoji, conveying a relaxed atmosphere. In the pictures, he is seen wearing a black t-shirt and pants while sitting on the roadside holding a plate with a slice of pizza, riding a bicycle on a city street, and holding a glass with a cityscape background while wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt, and a hat. There is also a shot with a dark road and wall as the background, offering a glimpse into a natural and leisurely moment of his daily life. Since leaving NCT last year, Mark has parted ways with SM Entertainment and is starting anew in the United States. Through his official YouTube channel, he actively communicates with fans by sharing his daily life in the self-produced content series ″Mark living in Potree.″ Especially on his birthday, he promised close interaction by meeting fans directly through a live broadcast, drawing attention to his new path. Meanwhile, Mark is expanding his connection with fans not only through music activities but also by showcasing various sides of himself through video content. His free lifestyle and matured changes in the U.S. are naturally revealed through this post, receiving enthusiastic responses from fans.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NCT 127 will release their new full-length album ’BLINGY’ on August 24 at 6 PM (KST), marking the start of their seventh full album promotions. Through their official SNS, NCT 127 revealed the album release schedule along with the message ’ASSEMBLE!’, raising global fans’ anticipation. This album ’BLINGY’ is a meaningful work coinciding with NCT 127’s 10th anniversary, promising a variety of musical experiments and a renewed stage. Fans can pre-save and pre-order ’BLINGY’ through the official website and links, and NCT 127 will continue their comeback momentum with diverse content and performances. Previously, members were spotted relaxing in casual indoor attire, offering a glimpse into their natural daily life while preparing for the new album. With this album, NCT 127 is expected to showcase their musical capabilities once again and capture the attention of music fans worldwide.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Monsta X has raised anticipation for their comeback by releasing a trailer for the new EP ’The Phase.’ The video, unveiled through the agency’s official SNS, features Minhyuk dressed in a black sweater and pants, pulling a tree down against a backdrop of gray walls and stairs, capturing attention. The new album ’The Phase’ is scheduled to be released on September 4th at 1 PM (KST), and it is expected to further expand Monsta X’s distinctive intense yet mysterious charm. The work has sparked even more curiosity as it was revealed with the tag ’MAGIC.’ Monsta X has been actively performing on various stages this year. They have confirmed attendance at the Asia Artist Awards ’AAA 2026’ and are preparing to meet fans, while also planning to showcase their full group performance at upcoming festival stages. With the release of this EP, attention is once again focused on Monsta X’s musical journey.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Stray Kids revealed their dazzling recent activities along with the release of their new mini album, ’THIS & THAT.’ They communicated with fans by sharing a video on their official SNS capturing a day spent with Spotify. In the video, Stray Kids showed behind-the-scenes moments from the set, presenting daily life infused with the ’SKZ code.’ The members appeared in comfortable yet stylish outfits, allowing fans to get a preview of the new song’s vibe. Notably, a member wearing a black shirt with long white hair stood out as he looked sideways against a solid blue background. He added personality with ear piercings. This mini album is also available on Spotify, raising anticipation among global fans. The video released with the message ″STAY, are you ready?″ offers fans a chance to experience Stray Kids’ unique style and musical color. Meanwhile, Stray Kids have been actively promoting on music shows and international stages, earning recognition for their solid skills and stage manners. The new song ’THIS & THAT’ has received a hot response from fans both domestically and abroad with its trendy and confident sound. They are expected to continue winning fans’ love through diverse content and consistent communication.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The girl group STAYC is holding their fan concert tour ’STAY_CLOSER,’ prepared for special communication with fans, which is progressing amid enthusiastic responses from fans. STAYC recently communicated through their official SNS by introducing various ways for fans to enjoy the concert more at the fan concert venue. Along with photos of the members wearing black t-shirts and jeans, performing lively dances on stage, they encouraged fans to enjoy the festive atmosphere in their own way. The ’STAY_CLOSER’ fan concert features a stage full of STAYC’s unique bright and refreshing energy, highlighting close interaction and communication with fans. This tour includes various events that encourage fan participation, creating an even hotter excitement. STAYC successfully concluded their activities for ’2 L0VE,’ released last June, coloring the summer with a teen-fresh concept. Since then, they have continued active promotions while maintaining precious meetings with fans. Going forward, STAYC plans to captivate fans’ hearts with diverse stages and friendly communication through the fan concert tour.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Model Irene communicated with her fans by sharing a message about personal growth and change through her Instagram. In a recent post titled ″PHASE DIARIES EP. 05 part II,″ Irene honestly expressed her feelings about her evolving self, saying, ″Sometimes growth seems to be the process of realizing that the old ways no longer suit me. I’m still figuring it out.″ She added, ″Just realizing that the way you used to do things no longer fits is already part of growth.″ Accompanied by a photo of her wearing a black top and glasses, staring directly at the camera, the post reflected moments of introspection about various stages of life and her place within them. Irene described it as ″a record of the many phases of our lives,″ showing her natural acceptance of change at her own pace and rhythm. Known for her trendy and sophisticated fashion sense, Irene revealed another charm this time by sharing a story about inner growth and self-exploration. Fans empathized with her sincere confession through comments and sent messages of support.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Young K will hold a solo tour concert titled ″Young K Solo Tour < YOUNGEST >″ for three days from August 14 to 16 at Incheon Inspire Arena. This performance marks his first solo stage in about three years since the first solo concert ″Young K Solo Concert < Letters with notes >″ held in September 2023, with all three shows sold out. In an interview commemorating the release of his second full-length album ″YOUNGEST,″ Young K revealed that he meticulously prepared the setlist, stage design, equipment, and band setup so that the audience could enjoy the performance together. He plans to showcase various stages based on his distinctive refreshing vocals and energy. The venue for the concert has expanded from the Donghae Culture and Arts Center at Kwangwoon University in Nowon-gu, Seoul, where his first solo concert was held, to Incheon Inspire Arena. Starting with the Incheon performance, Young K will continue his global tour in Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and other cities. In addition to his music activities, Young K is active in various fields such as entertainment programs and his personal YouTube channel. He participated in writing and composing all tracks on his second full-length album ″YOUNGEST,″ which has received praise for its broad musical spectrum and sincere message. The new solo album ″YOUNGEST,″ released on July 27, ranked number one on music and album charts. All 15 tracks, including the title song ″Shut The Door,″ entered the Melon TOP 100, and on the Melon HOT 100, the title track ranked first while all tracks occupied positions one through fifteen.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The Juspeace Foundation, chaired by Honorary Chairman G-Dragon, and its agency Galaxy Corporation have donated 500 million won to support young artists. On the 14th, Galaxy Corporation announced that it had donated 500 million won to the Juspeace Foundation, established by G-Dragon. This donation will be used to support 50 young artists who were finally selected through the emerging artist discovery project that the Juspeace Foundation has been conducting since December last year. The selected artists’ works will be permanently exhibited at Galaxy Robot Park in Seoul. The Juspeace Foundation and Galaxy Corporation will hold the ’JUSPEACE DAY 50’ event at Galaxy Robot Park in Seoul on August 18, G-Dragon’s birthday. This event will feature various programs including exhibitions of young artists’ works, a charity auction, and a ’Wall of Hope’ where visitors can leave messages of encouragement for the artists. The proceeds from the charity auction will be used again for public interest activities supporting future generation artists. This project was initiated based on G-Dragon’s ongoing desire to ″create more opportunities for artists and support future generations.″ Galaxy Corporation demonstrated a partnership model that expands the social value of artists into corporate social responsibility activities through donations and providing exhibition space. The company stated that it plans to create a sustainable social contribution model with the Juspeace Foundation, following the sequence of ″discovering artists → supporting works → permanent exhibition → connecting with the public → creating new opportunities.″ Oh Hee-young, CEO of the Juspeace Foundation, said, ″One of the most necessary supports for young artists is creating opportunities for their works to meet the world.″ Meanwhile, G-Dragon will celebrate his 38th birthday on the 18th, and his group Big Bang will mark their 20th anniversary this year. To commemorate their debut anniversary on the 19th, Big Bang will release a new song titled ’Big’ and will start their 20th anniversary world tour ’BIGBANG 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR ’XX : COSMOS’’ at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi from the 21st to the 23rd.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The SBS Plus and ENA dating reality program ″I am SOLO, Love Continues After″ (hereinafter ″I am SOLO Four Seasons″) will air on the 13th at 10:30 PM. This episode reveals the self-introductions of the experienced single women who entered the ″Four Seasons Guesthouse″ and the new male contestants. Oksoon from the 7th season took the first turn in the introductions, stating, ″I was introduced as a lifelong single in my previous appearance. I was born in 1984 and am an ordinary office worker.″ When asked if she had any dating experience since appearing on the show, Oksoon from the 7th season replied, ″I have been introduced to many people, but it never led to dating. I am still a lifelong single.″ Mr. Seo expressed surprise at this answer, saying ″No way,″ and reacted with disbelief, asking, ″Is that really true?″ Regarding her ideal type, Oksoon said, ″I want someone with a ’kick.’ Someone who has unexpected sides beyond what you anticipate in conversation, someone who enjoys change.″ Mr. Jo smiled subtly upon hearing this and remarked, ″Is that me?″ Jeongsook and Youngja from the 26th season continued their competitive dynamic this time as well. Jeongsook from the 26th season said, ″I used to focus a lot on appearance, but now I’ve decided to pay less attention to it,″ and Youngja from the 26th season expressed a similar thought, saying, ″I used to like the cute type with a pretty smile, but now I think conversation is more important than looks.″ After the introductions, the single women gathered in one room and shared their true feelings with each other. Hyunsook from the 24th season, Oksoon from the 7th season, Youngja from the 14th season, and Gukhwa showed interest in Mr. Seo. Mr. Seo revealed in conversations with the male contestants, ″I’ve narrowed it down to two. Strongly,″ indicating that he has two people he likes. Meanwhile, Oksoon from the 7th season previously appeared on the 2022 ″I am SOLO″ 7th season lifelong single special and returned to appear again on ″I am SOLO Four Seasons″ in 2024, two years later.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Big Bang has been appointed as the first ambassador of the Space Agency. On August 14, YG Entertainment announced that Big Bang (G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung) had been selected as the inaugural ambassador of the Space Agency. The Space Agency selected its first ambassador since its launch in 2024, stating that Big Bang will participate in various communication activities to inform the public about the future vision and key policies of South Korea’s space program. A representative of the Space Agency said, ″We appointed Big Bang as ambassadors to create new challenges in South Korea’s space industry together with the public,″ and added, ″Going forward, we will expand public interest and participation in space through various communication activities with Big Bang.″ Big Bang will also participate in the public engagement program ″Dream Capsule,″ which is linked to major space projects. Dream Capsule is a program open to everyone, and Big Bang will serve as ambassadors connecting the public with space. At 10 a.m. on August 14, a micro website commemorating their 20th debut anniversary will be launched to receive memories and messages from V.I.Ps (their fandom) worldwide. These messages will be converted into coded images inspired by the ″Arecibo message″ and loaded onto Nuriho-5 to be launched into space. The group name ″Big Bang″ signifies the birth of the universe, symbolically linking to this ambassador appointment. Their world tour celebrating their 20th anniversary, ″BIGBANG 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR < XX : COSMOS >,″ is also themed around space. After releasing their new digital single ″BiiiG″ at 6 p.m. on August 19, Big Bang will hold 33 performances across 19 cities, starting with concerts at Goyang Sports Complex from August 21 to 23, covering North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The music video for BTS’s ″FAKE LOVE″ has reached 1.4 billion views on YouTube. Big Hit Music announced on the 13th at 3:46 PM that the ″FAKE LOVE″ music video surpassed 1.4 billion views. With this, BTS now has a total of six music videos with over 1.4 billion views, including ″Dynamite,″ ″Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey),″ ″DNA,″ ″MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix),″ and ″IDOL.″ ″FAKE LOVE″ is the title track of their third full-length album released in May 2018, LOVE YOURSELF 轉 ’Tear’. The song belongs to the emo hip-hop genre, blending grunge rock guitar sounds with groovy trap beats, expressing the emotions of realizing that a love once believed to be fate was actually fake. The music video captures the dark emotions of a breakup with stylish visuals and powerful performances. At the time of release, BTS became the first Korean artist to top the US Billboard main album chart, the Billboard 200, with the album containing this song. ″FAKE LOVE″ also achieved a record by entering the Billboard main singles chart, the Hot 100, at number 10, and the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100 at number 42.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Monsta X has begun the comeback countdown by releasing individual trailers of members Shownu and Jooheon ahead of the release of their new album, The Phase. Starship Entertainment sequentially unveiled the individual trailer videos for Monsta X’s new album The Phase, scheduled for release on September 4, through their official SNS on the 11th and 12th. Jooheon’s trailer features a scene where he suddenly does a somersault while dining at a long table, then nonchalantly continues eating. This video creates a unique impression with its seemingly infinite loop effect. Shownu’s trailer includes a striking scene where he searches inside a bag, inflates a balloon to human size, and bursts it. This direction heightened curiosity about the album’s concept. Jooheon released his second solo mini-album, Kwang, last January, gaining attention from Forbes US and entering the overseas iTunes K-pop charts. Shownu was named in Billboard staff’s ″Top 25 K-pop Albums of 2026″ with the ShownuXHyungwon mini-album Love Me released last May. Monsta X’s new album The Phase is a work that embodies refined sophistication and wit based on the team’s unique identity, drawing attention to the synergy reunited after Shownu and Jooheon’s solo activities. Meanwhile, Monsta X plans to sequentially release individual trailers of other members starting with Shownu and Jooheon, and The Phase will be officially released on September 4.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Big Hit Music announced on the 13th that Curtis’s song ″REDRED″ has achieved its 100th number one on the Spotify Korea Daily Chart. The song previously set the record for the most number ones on the ″Daily Top Songs Korea″ chart by a K-pop group song, reaching number one for the 70th time on the chart dated the 12th of last month. The number one streak continued, increasing the total to 100. On the Spotify ″Weekly Top Songs Korea″ chart, it maintained the number one position for 15 consecutive weeks. It also appeared on the ″Weekly Top Songs Global″ chart for 15 consecutive weeks. Curtis’s monthly listeners surpassed 12.9 million. Curtis’s second mini-album ″GREENGREEN″ ranked 39th on the ″Billboard 200″ main album chart dated the 15th. This is a rise of 75 spots from 114th the previous week, marking 13 consecutive weeks on the chart. According to Circle Chart, the cumulative sales of ″GREENGREEN″ reached 3,365,846 copies by the end of last month. In Korea, only two albums have recorded sales of over 3 million copies: BTS’s fifth studio album ″ARIRANG″ and Curtis’s ″GREENGREEN.″]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS Jungkook holds the record for the most songs by an Asian solo artist with over 1.2 billion cumulative streams on Spotify for three songs. Among Jungkook’s songs, ″Seven″ surpassed 3 billion streams, while ″Standing Next to You″ and ″Left and Right″ each exceeded 1.2 billion streams. With this, Jungkook has a total of four songs with over 1.1 billion streams—″Seven,″ ″Standing Next to You,″ ″Left and Right,″ and ″3D″ (1.1 billion)—setting a first for a K-pop solo artist. Additionally, Jungkook’s personal Spotify account (profile) has achieved 11.3 billion streams in total credits. This is the fastest record for an Asian artist and a first for a K-pop solo artist. Jungkook’s first solo album, GOLDEN, has accumulated 7.3 billion streams on Spotify, marking the first time for an Asian solo artist and the fastest record among studio albums.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group NEXZ (Nexz) will release their fourth mini album, ’SAUCIN’,’ and the title track of the same name on August 24 at 6 PM. Before the new release, NEXZ unveiled various teaser images through their official SNS channels. On the 10th and 11th, two different mood teaser images were revealed, followed by two concept films expanding the story of those images on the 12th and 13th. The first concept film features a scene set in a manufacturing space where an unidentified red liquid pours in front of Yoo. Then, Haru appears holding a mysterious envelope, followed by a paper stained with red liquid, a white and yellow mixed liquid, and a message written in red letters. Hui wipes the liquid off the floor, and after So Geon, Seita, and Yuki investigate, scenes show red liquid on shoes, the back of hands, and around the mouth. Behind Tomoya’s anxious gaze, red liquid is scattered again on the floor, and the scene transitions to the seven members of NEXZ pouring sauce on hamburgers and French fries. The second video captures the members throwing cans, stacking them, and jumping in front of a mountain of red sauce. This album is NEXZ’s fourth mini album, with the ’SAUCIN’’ concept, sharing the album’s name, utilized throughout the teasing content.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In the fourth episode of Channel A’s ’Beauty Clinic Touch Me,’ S.E.S. member Shoo appears with a longtime friend to reveal her skin concerns. Shoo’s friend of 25 years, worried about Shoo’s changed skin condition, personally requested help from the program. The broadcast revealed Shoo’s lifestyle habits that could affect her skin health, including hobbies she enjoys amidst a busy schedule, an extreme diet, the habit of using cleansing wipes instead of washing her face, and frequent tanning. Her friend candidly pointed out Shoo’s skin and care habits that had changed from before, which led to laughter in the studio. Touch Master Lim Yi-seok analyzed Shoo’s skin and identified a ″broken skin barrier″ as the problem. He explained that when the skin barrier weakens, it becomes vulnerable to external irritants and moisture loss, causing the skin to easily redden and become sensitive, which can also affect aging. Touch Master Lee Jong-hoon also expressed regret after examining Shoo’s skin condition. Shoo visited a hospital and was diagnosed by a doctor who said, ″There are areas that need attention,″ mentioning ″skin sagging, asymmetry... it’s drooping.″ The production team implemented a customized three-step solution to restore Shoo’s skin barrier, and Shoo actively changed her existing lifestyle habits while undergoing the solution for about a month. Shoo’s transformed appearance will be revealed on the episode of ’Beauty Clinic Touch Me’ airing at 8 PM on the 14th.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Enhypen presents the concept of the mini 8th album ’THE SIN : BLISS’ through an offline pop-up store. Enhypen will operate the ’ENHYPEN ’THE SIN : BLISS’ POP-UP STORE’ on the first floor of the HYBE building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, from the 21st to the 26th. This pop-up store is designed to allow visitors to experience the new album’s music, visuals, and narrative throughout the space. On-site, there will be a large media wall featuring album images and a listening zone where visitors can preview the new songs. A photo zone reflecting the atmosphere of the title track ’Bloody Paradise’ will also be available. Various products reflecting the album concept will be sold, including foldable bags and pouches with leopard patterns and bold colors, T-shirts with the album logo, water bottles, and pin badges. Customers who make purchases will receive an unreleased selfie photo card. ’THE SIN : BLISS’ tells the story of lovers who break taboos and choose escape, discovering happiness together. The title track ’Bloody Paradise’ expresses the moment shared by the two as a paradise despite being in a chased situation, presented in the Brazilian funk genre. Enhypen’s mini 8th album ’THE SIN : BLISS’ will be released at 1 PM on the 21st.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 On the August 13th broadcast of KBS 2TV’s ’New Product Launch Convenience Restaurant,’ the results of the menu competition themed around snacks were revealed. Lee Chan-won, Oh Sang-jin, and Ji Seung-hyun competed, with Lee Chan-won’s ’Sesame Bomb Sundae Hot Pot’ being selected as the winning menu. With this victory, Lee Chan-won recorded their 10th win. Chef Lee Yeon-bok praised Lee Chan-won’s menu as ″the best ever among all the menus featured on ’Convenience Restaurant’ so far.″ Nam Bo-ra, participating as a special judge, commented, ″It’s a flavor I want to enjoy with a postpartum drink after giving birth.″ Lee Chan-won expressed their winning feelings, saying, ″I will aim to set new records of 20 and 30 wins on ’Convenience Restaurant’ in the future.″ The broadcast also showed Lee Chan-won preparing a surprise party for close friend Hwang Yoon-sung. At Lee Chan-won’s request, various singers including Jin Sung, Brown Eyed Girls’ Jea, Lim Han-byul, 2AM’s Changmin, Kim Ji-hoon, Choi Soo-ho, as well as stars like Yoo Hee-kwan and KBS announcers Eom Ji-in and Nam Hyun-jong attended. Hwang Yoon-sung expressed gratitude, mentioning that Lee Chan-won waited late every time during competitions to contact him. Another guest prepared by Lee Chan-won, Hwang Yoon-sung’s parents, appeared and moved the audience emotionally. Oh Sang-jin revealed his second child ’Suho,’ who is 50 days old, for the first time on the show. He recalled the time when Suho was admitted to the intensive care unit immediately after birth and shared his feelings at that time. Currently, Suho has recovered health. Oh Sang-jin was touched upon discovering a handwritten letter left by his father, conveying the heartfelt bond between father and son through the letter and an interview. ’Convenience Restaurant’ is a program that shares the daily lives, cooking, and sincere stories of stars. Lee Chan-won’s ’Sesame Bomb Sundae Hot Pot’ is available as a ready meal at the Ourhome online mall and nationwide Ourhome cafeterias. ’New Product Launch Convenience Restaurant’ airs every Thursday at 8:30 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS has been shown to have high recognition and favorability in the U.S. music market. According to a survey conducted by global music data company Luminate in the second quarter of this year targeting U.S. music consumers, BTS’s recognition rate was 42%, and favorability was 46%. According to Luminate’s survey, the percentage of U.S. consumers who said they knew BTS increased by 6 percentage points from 36% in 2021 to 42% this year. This figure was close to 43% recorded in the third quarter of last year, marking an all-time high. Compared to the average recognition rate of all artists (24%), it was 18 percentage points higher, and it was about four times higher than the average recognition rate (11%) of 22 K-pop artist groups. Recognition was evenly distributed across age groups. Among respondents aged 13-17, 43% said they knew BTS; 59% of those aged 18-24; 56% of those aged 25-34; 44% of those aged 35-54; and 28% of those aged 55 and older. Notably, more than half of the core music consumer group aged 18-34 recognized BTS. Favorability also reached an all-time high. Among respondents who said they knew BTS, 46% expressed favorability, with 19% saying ″very favorable″ and 27% saying ″somewhat favorable.″ Favorability increased by 12 percentage points from 34% in the first survey conducted in 2021. Favorability by age group was 60% for ages 13-17, 47% for ages 18-24, 44% for ages 25-34, 48% for ages 35-54, and 40% for ages 55 and older. BTS’s strength was also confirmed in music consumption indicators. Their fifth full-length album, Arirang, sold 516,000 physical copies in the U.S. during its first week of release last March. About 40% of these, approximately 208,000 copies, were vinyl records, setting BTS’s highest weekly vinyl sales record. It was also the highest weekly vinyl sales record for a group since Luminate began tracking in 1991. Streaming performance was also revealed. Arirang recorded 3.8 billion global on-demand streams in the first eight weeks after release, reaching 4.8 billion in the 12th week and nearly 5.7 billion in the 16th week. Including existing songs, total streaming of BTS’s tracks during the same period reached approximately 8.7 billion. Big Hit Music stated, ″The results of Luminate’s survey show that BTS has built a broad public base beyond fandom in the U.S. based on high recognition and favorability. The high proportion of vinyl sales and sustained streaming performance are indicators supporting BTS’s ongoing influence in the global music market.″]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kiki will reveal the stage for the title track ″Pop Off Pop Off″ and the B-side track ″Candy Pink Magic Hall Flip Phone″ (Canpingphone) from her third mini-album ″Waikiki″ for the first time on KBS2’s ″Music Bank.″ ″Pop Off Pop Off″ is an electronic synth-pop genre song characterized by its addictive melody and playful lyrics. The performance includes various choreographies such as shuffle dance, members lined up, and front-back crossing formations. ″Canpingphone″ is inspired by the flip phone ″Magic Hall,″ featuring choreography that highlights the characteristics of the flip phone and a solo dance by Kiya as the main points. This stage was first presented by Kiki at the American music festival ″Head in the Clouds LA 2026.″ ″Waikiki,″ released on the 10th, entered the Apple Music charts with all its tracks. ″Pop Off Pop Off″ ranked number one on YouTube Music Video Trending Worldwide and, as of 10 a.m. that day, also topped Apple Music’s ″Today’s Top 100: South Korea″ and ″Top 25: Seoul.″]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The official music video for Lim Young Woong’s ″Melody for You″ has surpassed 8 million cumulative views. This music video was released on November 19th last year through the official Lim Young Woong YouTube channel, and as of August 13th, it has exceeded 8 million views. ″Melody for You″ is a track included in Lim Young Woong’s second full-length album ″IM HERO 2,″ released on August 29th last year. The song features lyrics that offer comfort and hope to those who have had a tiring day, along with Lim Young Woong’s voice and warm emotions. Notable lyrics include ″At the end of the day, I will make you smile″ and ″I will sing for your happiness.″ In the music video, Lim Young Woong conveyed the song’s emotions with a sweet tone and expressive performance. Fans responded with comments such as ″A song that warms my heart no matter how many times I listen,″ and ″The best healing song that always gives me great strength.″ Lim Young Woong is scheduled to hold concerts at Goyang Sports Complex for three days from September 4th to 6th.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Tomorrow X Together (TXT) (TXT: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, Hueningkai) will perform on the stage of the ’2026 Global Citizen Festival’ held at Central Park in New York, USA, on September 26. The international civic movement organization Global Citizen announced on the 13th (local time) that Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will appear at this year’s festival. The ’Global Citizen Festival’ is a large-scale charity music festival held annually to raise awareness and encourage action on global issues such as poverty eradication, climate change response, and inequality resolution. Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is the only K-pop artist among this year’s performers, marking their first appearance. The event will feature world-renowned musicians including Tomorrow X Together (TXT), John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lainey Wilson, and Shaboozey. Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman will serve as the host. In addition, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will perform at ’KCON LA 2026’ held at the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena. On the 15th, Yeonjun will deliver a solo performance, and on the 16th, the group will appear as headliners. They will also attend the ’2026 TME Live International Music Awards’ (2026 TIMA) held at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on the 22nd and 23rd, with Tomorrow X Together (TXT) and Yeonjun scheduled to perform on the 22nd. Previously, among K-pop artists, NCT 127, BTS Jungkook, and Stray Kids’ 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) have performed on the ’Global Citizen Festival’ stage.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group Nine (AHOF) attended the ″Kansai Collection 2026 A/W″ held at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan, meeting with local fans. Nine consists of Steven, Seo Jung-woo, Cha Woong-gi, Zhang Shuai-bo, Park Han, JL, Park Joo-won, Zhuan, and Daisuke. Since their debut, they have continued various activities in Japan and recently completed a successful Asia tour concert in Osaka and Tokyo. ″Kansai Collection″ is Japan’s largest fashion entertainment event, which started in 2011 and is known for featuring trend-leading stars at every event. Nine successfully completed their stage at this event, reaffirming their position in Japan. Nine is steadily expanding their activities not only in Korea but also in Japan.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Stray Kids recorded approximately 3.28 million copies in first-week sales with their 10th mini album ’THIS & THAT.’ Hanteo Chart announced that the sales volume during the first-week tracking period for this album, released on the 7th, reached about 3.28 million copies. This achievement is about an 8% increase compared to the first-week sales record of 3,036,360 copies for their 4th full-length album ’KARMA,’ released last August. Although the full album contained 11 tracks, this mini album consists of 8 tracks, yet the sales volume was higher. The increase in domestic sales is expected to continue in the U.S. market as well. U.S. music media HITS Daily Double predicted that the first-week album units for ’THIS & THAT’ in the U.S. will reach approximately 335,000. The pure album sales, combining physical albums and downloads, are projected to be about 325,000 copies. If this forecast materializes, Stray Kids will set a new personal best record for first-week sales in the U.S. Their previous album ’KARMA’ recorded 313,000 units when it entered No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Including the special album ’DO IT,’ all eight albums by Stray Kids that have entered the Billboard 200 chart have reached No. 1. If this album tops the chart, their consecutive No. 1 record will increase to nine.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Global music data company Luminate conducted a survey of U.S. music consumers in the second quarter of this year, in which BTS recorded high scores in awareness and favorability. According to Luminate, BTS’s awareness reached 42%, close to the team’s all-time high, and favorability was 46%, the highest since the survey began. The awareness survey asking if respondents knew BTS first started in 2021, when the figure was 36%. In this survey, it rose 6 percentage points to 42%, similar to the 43% recorded in the third quarter of last year. By age group, awareness was 43% for ages 13–17, 59% for 18–24, 56% for 25–34, 44% for 35–54, and 28% for 55 and older, showing balanced recognition across generations. Notably, more than half of those aged 18–34 were aware of BTS. Favorability also reached a record high of 46%. Among respondents who said they knew BTS, 19% answered ″very favorable″ and 27% ″somewhat favorable.″ This is a 12 percentage point increase from 34% in the first survey in 2021. By age group, favorability was 60% for ages 13–17, 47% for 18–24, 44% for 25–34, 48% for 35–54, and 40% for 55 and older, with all age groups recording favorability above 40%. BTS’s influence in the U.S. was also confirmed by vinyl album sales of the fifth studio album, Arirang. According to Luminate’s survey, 516,000 physical copies of Arirang were sold in the U.S. in the first week of release, with about 40%, or approximately 208,000 copies, sold on vinyl. This is BTS’s highest weekly vinyl sales record ever and the highest weekly vinyl sales for a ″group″ recorded by Luminate since 1991. Arirang continues to perform strongly in streaming as well. Big Hit Music stated, ″Luminate’s recent survey results show that BTS has built a broad popular base beyond fandom in the U.S., based on high awareness and favorability. The high proportion of vinyl sales and sustained streaming performance are indicators supporting BTS’s ongoing influence in the global music market.″]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kim Jaejoong revealed the tracklist for his new single ’THE WAVE’ at midnight on the 14th through his official SNS. This single includes the title track ’Tonight’ and the included song ’Majunggil.’ Through these two songs with different atmospheres, Kim Jaejoong stated that he will showcase various aspects of his vocals and deepened emotions. The powerful vocals of ’Tonight’ express his ambition to reconnect with fans. ’Majunggil’ is a song that offers comfort with its lyrical mood and sweet voice. The production of ’Majunggil’ was handled by Chorokbyeongbonbu, led by singer-songwriter Lee Mujin. Attention is focused on the harmony between Lee Mujin’s everyday and sensuous descriptions and Kim Jaejoong’s vocals. A portion of the new songs will be released first through a single preview on the 18th, and a teaser for the ’Tonight’ music video will be released on the 19th. The official release will take place at 6 PM on the 20th.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Recent photos of Cha Eun-woo with his fellow soldiers during his military service have been released online. On the 12th, SNS and online communities circulated ’Life Four Cuts’ photos of Cha Eun-woo dressed in military uniform alongside his comrades. In the photos, Cha Eun-woo sports a short haircut and wears an animal-shaped hairband, making various playful expressions such as squinting his eyes or opening his mouth wide. The images also capture him standing side by side with his fellow soldiers and smiling brightly. His more mature appearance compared to before enlistment and his natural adaptation to military life drew attention. Cha Eun-woo enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the army on July 28 last year and, after completing basic military training, is currently serving in the army band. His scheduled discharge date is January 27, 2027. During his recruit days, he was selected as the company commander recruit and was seen leading the salute as the representative recruit at the graduation ceremony. Earlier this year, it was revealed that he received a large tax bill from the National Tax Service. Initially, he was notified of a tax assessment exceeding 20 billion won, but after going through related procedures, the actual amount billed was reported to be about 13 billion won. Cha Eun-woo announced in April that he had paid all the taxes and apologized to fans and the public for the disappointment and confusion caused, expressing respect for the National Tax Service’s procedures and results. It is known that Cha Eun-woo is considering appearing in the drama ″Seorabeol Knife″ after his discharge.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Stray Kids and aespa showed remarkable results on the Hanteo Chart Global Chart in the first week of August. On the morning of the 14th, Hanteo Chart released the TOP 30 country charts for the United States, Japan, and China for the first week of August (aggregation period from the 3rd to the 9th). On the U.S. chart, Stray Kids’ ″THIS & THAT″ ranked first with a composite index of 16,325.93 points, followed by BTS’s ″ARIRANG″ (6,834.77 points) and Red Velvet’s ″Velvet Summer″ (6,352.54 points). On the Japan chart, Stray Kids also took first place with ″THIS & THAT″ (16,878.28 points). Second place went to Ailett’s ″MAMIHLAPINATAPAI″ (14,615.86 points), and third place to Pi Cheol-in’s ″吉BOARD″ (7,291.27 points). On the China chart, aespa’s ″LEMONADE″ (24,046.52 points) returned to first place after four weeks. Stray Kids’ ″THIS & THAT″ (19,959.40 points) ranked second, and BTS’s ″ARIRANG″ (17,027.60 points) ranked third. Hanteo’s country charts collect and analyze global K-pop data in real time based on album, digital music, and social portal data, and are announced every Friday. Detailed results and sales volumes can be checked on the mobile app Whosfan and the Hanteo Chart website.]]> FANNSTAR Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In ″I am SOLO, Love Continues After,″ airing on SBS Plus and ENA, Mr. Seo, who resembles Jannabi Choi Jung-hoon, is attracting the attention of single women. The broadcast on the 13th previewed changes in the love lines after the single men and women finished their self-introductions. When Ok-soon from the 7th season revealed that she is still a lifelong single during the introduction, Mr. Seo reacted with surprise, saying, ″No way!″ and added, ″Could it really be true?″ After the introductions, the participants moved to their respective accommodations. Hyun-sook from the 24th season, Ok-soon from the 7th, Young-ja from the 14th, and Gukhwa showed interest in Mr. Seo. Mr. Seo attracted attention with his sophisticated appearance and resemblance to Jannabi member Choi Jung-hoon. Meanwhile, in front of the male participants, Mr. Seo mentioned two single women he liked, saying, ″I’ve narrowed it down to two. Strongly.″ This episode features Ok-soon from the 7th season born in 1984, Young-ja from the 14th, Hyun-sook from the 24th born in 1990, Jeong-sook and Young-ja from the 26th born in 1986, and Gukhwa born in 1985. ″I am SOLO, Love Continues After″ will air at 10:30 PM on the 13th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 MONSTA X is set to release their new album, The Phase, on September 4th, and they have unveiled individual trailers for members Shownu and Joohoney. Starship Entertainment released the individual trailers for The Phase on their official SNS on August 11th and 12th. In Joohoney’s trailer, he is seen dining at a long table, suddenly getting up to perform a backflip, then sitting back down to continue eating. The video creates a unique atmosphere with a seamless loop effect. In Shownu’s trailer, he rummages through a backpack, pulls out a balloon, inflates it until it grows to human size, and then it bursts. The agency stated that this album features refined and sophisticated music and visuals based on MONSTA X’s existing identity, with bold wit added. Attention is focused on whether Shownu and Joohoney, building on their diverse musical colors through various activities, will show new synergy under the name MONSTA X. In January this year, Joohoney’s second solo mini-album, 光 (INSANITY), entered the iTunes top album and song charts in 24 countries and regions, including the United States, as well as the K-pop top album and song charts. All tracks from the album entered the U.S. iTunes K-pop top song chart, and he received focused coverage from Forbes. In May, Shownu showcased delicate music and performance through the mini-album ShownuXHyungwon LOVE ME, which was selected by Billboard staff as one of the ″Top 25 Best K-pop Albums of 2026 (So Far).″ The new album features participation from leader Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, and Joohoney, while I.M is currently serving in the military and will join after his discharge. This is the group’s first album in a year since the mini-album THE X, released on September 1st last year. MONSTA X plans to sequentially release individual trailers for other members, starting with Shownu and Joohoney.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group CORTIS has achieved their 100th number one on Spotify’s ″Daily Top Songs Korea″ chart with the title track ″REDRED″ from their second mini-album. CORTIS consists of Martin, James, Juhun, Sunghyun, and Geonho. ″REDRED″ reached the top of the chart for a total of 100 days as of August 11. The song previously set a record for the most number ones by a K-pop group song when it hit number one for the 70th time on July 12. Since then, it has continuously broken its own record daily, reaching its 100th number one. Beyond music charts, CORTIS’s monthly listeners on Spotify surpassed 12.9 million, marking a personal best. The listener distribution ranked highest in the United States, Indonesia, and South Korea. In the latest ″Weekly Top Songs Korea″ chart (July 31–August 6), the group maintained number one for 15 consecutive weeks and also appeared on the ″Weekly Top Songs Global″ chart for 15 consecutive weeks. Their album sales and overseas chart performance are also remarkable. On the August 15 issue of the US Billboard main album chart ″Billboard 200,″ their second mini-album ″GREENGREEN″ rose 75 spots from the previous week to rank 39. On the detailed charts, it ranked first on the ″World Albums″ chart and second on the ″Top Album Sales″ chart. According to the Circle Chart at the end of July, cumulative sales reached 3,365,846 copies. This year, only BTS’s fifth full-length album ″Arirang″ and CORTIS’s new releases have sold over 3 million copies domestically. CORTIS continues to be active on offline stages as well. Following the start of their first tour, ″2026 CORTIS TOUR ,″ in Incheon last month, they performed at the US ″Lollapalooza Chicago″ stage on August 1. The North American tour, held in six cities across Canada and the US until August 16, was sold out. CORTIS will celebrate their first anniversary on August 18 and plans to hold the ″2026 CORTIS TOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY″ concerts at Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul on August 22 and 23.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Enhypen(ENHYPEN) released the main visual vol.2 photos and film for their 8th mini album ’THE SIN : BLISS’ on the 12th and 13th through their official SNS channels. In this content, the members showcased the image of vampire resistance fighters with dynamic poses and stern expressions, expressing the emotions of protecting their lover even in crisis situations. The accompanying film features fast camera work, grand background music, and the members advancing against strong winds, capturing the tension and dedication of the vampire resistance fighters before battle. ’THE SIN : BLISS,’ which will be released simultaneously worldwide at 1 PM on the 21st, is a concept album depicting the process of lovers who break taboos embracing the moment of escape as a ’blessing (BLISS).’ It consists of 10 tracks that are organically connected, promising an immersive experience as if watching an investigative report program uncovering vampire society. The title track ’Bloody Paradise’ is a Brazilian funk-based dance song that tells the story of lovers focusing on each other even in crisis. Enhypen first performed this song at the ’ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR ’BLOOD SAGA’’ concert held in Busan on the 8th and 9th, receiving enthusiastic responses from fans.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group TWS achieved first place on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart with their second single ″SODA SODA″ in Japan. On the 13th, their agency Pledis Entertainment announced that TWS (Shinyu, Dohun, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, Kyungmin)’s new song ″SODA SODA″ topped the Billboard Japan comprehensive song chart Hot 100 (August 12 issue, tracking period August 3–9). This is the first time this year that a K-pop group’s song has reached number one on this chart. According to Oricon, ″SODA SODA″ sold 225,853 copies in its first week, marking the highest first-week sales for any release by TWS in Japan. As a result, it ranked second on both Oricon’s latest ″Weekly Single Ranking″ (August 17 issue, tracking period August 3–9) and Billboard Japan’s ″Top Single Sales″ chart. ″SODA SODA″ is a song that cherishes the sparkling moments of youth and expresses hope to move forward. The refreshing city pop sound combined with lyrics filled with summer memories conveys the bittersweet and tender feelings of youth. The music video warmly depicts summer beach scenes with friends. TWS plans to continue various activities in Japan. After attending the Japanese music festival ″Summer Sonic 2026″ on the 14th and 16th, they will hold their Asia tour ″24/7:FOR:YOU″ concerts in Fukuoka from the 28th to 30th, Hyogo from September 4th to 6th, and Kanagawa on the 12th and 13th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Tomorrow X Together (TXT) (Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, Hueningkai) will hold an immersive exhibition titled ″LAYERS OF US,″ which captures the group’s narrative over the past seven years, from the 13th until September 6th at The Seoul Lightium in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in celebration of their 7th debut anniversary. This exhibition visually represents the journey from their debut album ″The Dream Chapter: STAR″ to last year’s full-length album ″The Star Chapter: TOGETHER.″ Starting with the question ″Who am I?″, the exhibition guides visitors through various spaces such as ″WHO AM I,″ ″DREAMSCAPE,″ ″ZERO WORLD,″ and ″INNER MAZE,″ allowing them to follow Tomorrow X Together (TXT)’s story of identity and growth. The ″INNER MAZE″ area features a listening space focused on the members’ voices, and later in ″LAYERS OF US,″ visitors can experience the process of moving from ″I″ to ″We.″ In the final ″LAYERED ROOM″ of the journey, fans can leave messages or create custom keyrings using acrylic parts inspired by the albums, among other interactive experiences. Throughout the exhibition space, synesthetic elements such as objects, sounds, and scents symbolizing the album’s narrative and messages provide a unique experience. Additionally, official merchandise including mini photo cards featuring member visuals, film stickers, photo flip boxes, accessories, and badges using album key visuals are available for purchase on-site. Meanwhile, on the 13th at 8 PM, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will release their original content ″Shall We Run Away?″ on their official YouTube channel, documenting the five members’ first trip together to Shanghai, China, since their debut.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chan-won’s preparation of a surprise RIIZE party for his close friend Hwang Yoon-sung will be revealed on KBS2’s variety show ″Newly Released Pyeonstorang.″ Lee Chan-won personally planned the event to celebrate Hwang Yoon-sung, who recently placed 4th in a trot competition program. He visited Chef Yoon Na-ra of ″Brewing Yoon Jumo,″ who ranked in the Top 5 of Netflix’s ″Black and White Chef 2,″ to learn cooking and invited acquaintances from various fields such as actors, singers, and sports to the party. Hwang Yoon-sung ranked 4th in MBN’s trot survival program ″Unknown Legend,″ which aired from February to May. Sung Ri took 1st place, Haru 2nd, and Jang Han-byul 3rd. Lee Chan-won waited for Hwang Yoon-sung together with the invited guests, and upon arriving at the agreed location, Hwang Yoon-sung was overwhelmed by the unexpected party and the special guests’ congratulations. Especially after confirming the guests personally invited by Lee Chan-won, Hwang Yoon-sung shed tears. Lee Chan-won also cried along. Hwang Yoon-sung revealed that Lee Chan-won checked on his performances every day during the competition. He said, ″Even though the competition ended late at dawn, Chan-won always waited and asked me every day without fail, ’How was it today?’ and ’Did you do well?’″ Lee Chan-won said, ″I couldn’t sleep until dawn on competition days.″ The messages they actually exchanged will also be shown on the broadcast. The friendship and touching party scene of Lee Chan-won and Hwang Yoon-sung can be seen on ″Newly Released Pyeonstorang,″ airing on the 13th at 8:30 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 At the EcoSense Heat Lock Side Dish Container home shopping broadcast, Kim Yong Bin expressed affection for the product. During the broadcast, Kim Yong Bin, who participated as the model, introduced the side dish container and emphasized its odor prevention feature and advantages for storing various foods such as kimchi. Based on personal experience, Kim Yong Bin explained that the container does not retain odors and, unlike other containers, does not stain when storing kimchi. He said, ″The side dish container is really good. It doesn’t retain odors, and when you put kimchi in other containers, it stains red, but this one doesn’t.″ A time to interact with fans was arranged on-site, where Kim Yong Bin took photos and signed autographs, showing communication with fans. He stated, ″Since it was my first time doing this alone, I was a bit nervous, but I’m excited and looking forward to promoting the side dish container that I’m very attached to as the model.″ Additionally, he showcased various sides of himself, including singing during the broadcast to liven up the atmosphere. At the end of the broadcast, Kim Yong Bin expressed gratitude to fans and the product, saying, ″I feel proud because people said I did very well, and I am very, very thankful to our beloved fans. I love EcoSense.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NCT WISH released their new single ’YO-I-DON! / BOY MEETS GIRL’ in Japan, showcasing various broadcast stages and special collaborations. During this promotion, NCT WISH expressed feeling both nervous and excited while preparing a collaborative stage with TRF. The members shared that through stage practice and rehearsals, collaborating with Gomuro Tetsu, who is in charge of piano and keyboard, was a special experience. They mentioned that during the practice process, Gomuro Tetsu’s piano playing brought them a sense of calm. NCT WISH appeared on major Japanese music programs such as ’The Music Day’ and Fuji TV’s ’Star,’ where they performed the ’stick reading’ performance for the first time. The members have been working hard on practicing Japanese and shared their thoughts on the stage preparation process, including costumes and hairstyles. On the day of the performance, they appeared on stage wearing sky-blue outfits and black hair, and after the stage, the members expressed both nervousness and joy. In particular, the members said, ″It was truly the best to prepare such an official collaboration stage,″ and ″The piano melody with Gomuro Tetsu-san reassured our hearts.″ They also conveyed their determination, saying, ″We are nervous about the collaborative stage with senior TRF, but we will do our best.″ Some members added, ″We are studying many Japanese words,″ and ″The beginning is the hardest, but we will work hard.″ Even after the broadcast stages ended, the members encouraged each other and expressed gratitude to their fans. Several members left comments such as ″It was the best experience″ and ″We enjoyed the music and the stage.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 [3RACHA Session] Session #2 featuring 3RACHA of Stray Kids has been released. This session focused intensively on the production process of the recently released album ’THIS & THAT’ and the members’ thoughts on each track. The session began with the 3RACHA members sharing their feelings about presenting a new album after about a year. The members expressed their anticipation for feedback on this album, which includes songs from various genres. In particular, stories about the origin of the title track ’THIS & THAT,’ the work process for each track, and the characteristics of each song were shared. The tracklist included ’it,’ ’that,’ ’after you,’ ’fing,’ ’I do,’ ’way out,’ ’That Day,’ and the ’festival version,’ among others. The members shared the musical colors of each song and anecdotes from the time of production. For example, ’after you’ is an EDM genre song that captures the nostalgia of EDM the members liked in the past, and ’farming’ was introduced as a unique work song by Stray Kids. ’I do’ is a song filled with youth and hope, and ’way out’ was revealed to be an old song worked on by the members in a car during their schedules. ’That Day’ was included in the album with special meaning, and the final track was mentioned as a result of challenging the hardcore EDM genre. The members shared their thoughts on the conditions of a good title track. They emphasized that the song should be catchy yet fresh, the lyrics should be simple but clearly convey the intention, and that visuals and performance on stage are also important. Regarding their team’s working method, they explained that decisions are made by majority vote, prioritizing the team’s opinion over individual stubbornness. During production, they actively reflect each other’s feedback and go through detailed revisions to enhance the completeness of the songs. Each member mentioned their own habits and details when working on songs. They shared various working methods such as lyric placement, recording habits, and the importance of post-production. They also expressed a desire to receive feedback every time they release an album and showed their willingness to grow through public reactions. Bang Chan expressed his wish to receive feedback every time an album is released, Changbin said he expects the album to be praised as cool, and Han hoped that the songs on this album would leave a strong impression on listeners. The members also candidly talked about the anxiety and lack of confidence they felt during the album production process. Towards the end of the session, behind-the-scenes stories and episodes related to each track were mentioned again, and the members declared their determination to continue various attempts in the future. Finally, 3RACHA asked for much interest and love for the ’THIS & THAT’ album.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Park Jihoon has unveiled the poster for the ’2026 Park Jihoon Asia Fancon [RE:FLECT] Encore in Seoul,’ which will be held in Seoul this September. On the 12th, Park Jihoon revealed the poster image for this encore concert through his official SNS. The released poster features Park Jihoon’s deep gaze and expression, with a red-toned image and texture that convey the atmosphere of the concert title ’RE:FLECT.’ This encore concert is an extension of the fancon ’RE:FLECT,’ which successfully concluded in May, and was prepared for fans who could not attend in person as well as for a larger audience. Park Jihoon plans to present a new concept and a special live performance on this stage. Park Jihoon has conducted a fancon tour in various Asian cities, starting in Tokyo and Seoul, including Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, and Macau, and will continue his performance in Jakarta on the 29th. The ’2026 Park Jihoon Asia Fancon [RE:FLECT] Encore in Seoul’ will be held on September 12 and 13 at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketlink, with membership pre-sale starting on the 18th and general sales beginning at 8 PM on the 19th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Amutta Band released behind-the-scenes footage of their concerts held in Busan and Seoul through their official YouTube channel, ″Amutta Documentary.″ The released video features natural moments of the members preparing the stage on the day of the Busan concert and casual conversations after the performance. The members prepared for the concert in their own ways, showing sides that could not be seen on stage. SG Wannabe’s Kim Yong-jun appeared as a surprise guest to support the performance, and Kim Hee-jae sent chicken skewers and a coffee truck to cheer them on. After the concert, the members spent a modest time together eating leftover lunch boxes without any separate after-party. The behind-the-scenes of the Seoul concert revealed scenes of the members meeting their ″secret weapon″ Jang Hyuk and the filming of Ha Ji-won’s YouTube content. The members shared laughter while comparing the scale of the production at the filming site. Additionally, Moon Se-yoon, Ha Ji-won, and the ″Delicious Guys″ team sent various foods and snacks to support Amutta Band. A scene where Cha Tae-hyun complained about having nothing to eat during the Busan concert also reappeared. The day of the Seoul concert marked the 365th day since Hong Kyung-min proposed to Kim Jun-hyun, ″Let’s start a band,″ and the members spent a meaningful day with their fans. SG Wannabe’s Kim Yong-jun and Young Tak appeared as guests on stage to talk with Amutta Band. After the performance, the members had an honest conversation about their future goals, with Kim Nam-gil and Moon Se-yoon mentioned as candidates for the next guest vocalist. At the end of the video, the appearance of a new guest vocalist who participated in the Bucheon concert was announced.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Black Pink Jenny revealed her recent status after her 10th debut anniversary event. On the 12th, Jenny posted a photo on SNS with the house that was the filming location of her new song ″Less than a Lover″ as the background, leaving the message, ″The house from ’Less than a Lover’ is now yours.″ The released photo showed Jenny dressed in white at a white two-story house located by the sea. Jenny released her new song ″Less than a Lover″ on the 24th of last month and is continuing her activities. She also announced that she will perform on the stage of Japan’s SUMMER SONIC 2026. Black Pink debuted in 2016 and celebrated her 10th debut anniversary on the 8th. Before the 10th anniversary commemorative event held at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, a controversy over fan mistreatment was raised, and the members stated through a live broadcast, ″There seems to have been a communication problem. We sincerely apologize.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 In episode 8 of JTBC’s ″Love War,″ the couple Kang Bin and Lee Soo Bin, who have been together for seven years and dream of becoming actors, appeared and revealed their financial difficulties and concerns about the future. The two majored in acting at the same university and developed a romantic relationship, but they disclosed that they are experiencing conflicts due to uncertain career paths and financial issues. On the show, the boyfriend mentioned that he has no steady income and his bank balance is less than 1 million won. On the other hand, the girlfriend was juggling various jobs such as running a theater company, directing performances, and teaching at an English musical academy. When the boyfriend said he likes the phrase, ″Don’t let money chase you; make money chase you,″ Kim Hee Chul commented, ″It seems like you’re living in a flower garden all by yourself.″ When it was revealed that he had donated money earned from video editing to a club, Seo Jang Hoon advised, ″Donating is good, but donating when you don’t even have money to spend on yourself is just for show. Saving for the future should come first.″ The couple also showed differences in their thoughts about marriage. The girlfriend pointed out financial awareness as the value they must overcome first for marriage, while the boyfriend confessed that he wants to pursue his dream of acting until he is forty but feels responsibility and pressure when marriage is brought up. Lee Hyori advised, ″Meeting someone seems to be about filling each other’s shortcomings,″ and added, ″I hope you become a relationship that creates synergy by complementing each other’s weaknesses.″ Kang Bin and Lee Soo Bin ultimately chose to continue their relationship, reaffirming their affection for each other.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Han Ye-seul posted a video on her social media account on the 12th. The video showed Han Ye-seul taking a selfie inside a moving vehicle. Han Ye-seul wore a black top and looked at the camera with her long hair naturally down. Her collarbone line was revealed by the deep neckline, and even in the close-up video, her smooth skin and distinct facial features were emphasized. No additional text was attached to this post. Han Ye-seul registered her marriage with Ryu Seong-jae, a former stage actor, in 2024, becoming a married couple.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS members V and Jungkook shared their experience of encountering fans at the hotel gym during the North American leg of their world tour ’ARIRANG.’ On the 11th (local time), after their concert in Baltimore, USA, V and Jungkook communicated with fans through Weverse Live and mentioned an episode where they met about 20 fans at the hotel gym around 2 a.m. Jungkook said that during the tour, he had never seen anyone exercising at that hour and assumed the fans were there to see them. V emphasized that if the purpose is to exercise, it is fine to come to the gym regardless of the number of people, but they should not disturb each other. Jungkook asked, ″Please focus on your posture and exercise, whether you are holding dumbbells or using equipment, instead of just staring,″ adding, ″Isn’t this our private time?″ V mentioned that a fan wearing green clothes appeared in a video they had recorded the day before and said they might release the video. It is known that a fan wearing green approached V and spoke to him after Jungkook left the gym. During the live broadcast, V revealed that he and Jungkook are receiving hospital treatment together. V said that his hearing has been poor for two and a half years, explaining that if his left ear’s hearing is 100, his right ear can only hear at about 30, and he is undergoing treatment while taking medication regularly. Jungkook shared that he is on the verge of a stress fracture in his shin and said he could not perform as energetically on stage due to the pain. He added that although there are many micro-injuries and inflammation in his bones, he will manage his condition as best as possible and complete the remaining tour. BTS is scheduled to continue their performances at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, USA, on the 15th and 16th, and at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on the 22nd and 23rd.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chang-ho revealed on a broadcast that he won a high-end apartment lottery but gave up moving in because he could not raise the payment for the sale. On episode 976 of MBC variety show ″Radio Star,″ Hong Hyun-hee, Kim Moon-jung, Lee Chang-ho, and Yoo Ho-jin appeared as guests. Lee Chang-ho said he recently started studying real estate and became interested in financial investment. He explained that he challenged the lottery for a penthouse-level apartment and won a high-end apartment located between Yeouido, Daebang, and Noryangjin. Lee Chang-ho said the sale price reached 2.7 billion won, making it difficult to raise funds. He also mentioned that he looked into loans but could not get one because it was a speculative overheated district. He confessed, ″I have no money,″ and said he would have had to borrow from about twenty people to raise the payment. Eventually, he gave up moving in and said he would face a re-winning restriction for ten years. On the show, Kim Gu-ra, after hearing Lee Chang-ho’s story, mentioned IVE Ahn Yu-jin’s lottery case. Kim Gu-ra said, ″IVE Ahn Yu-jin put the money in neatly, but Chang-ho gave up because he had no money,″ and Lee Chang-ho replied, ″I didn’t put it in neatly.″ Meanwhile, it was revealed that Ahn Yu-jin won the general sale lottery for ’The H Bangbae.’ Her agency, Starship Entertainment, stated, ″We ask for your understanding as this matter is personal and difficult to confirm.″ ’The H Bangbae’ is a newly built apartment located in the Gangnam area, with a sale price of 2.243 billion won for an 84m2 exclusive area, and the recent asking price is reported to be about 4 billion won.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hong Hyun-hee shared the news that the past comedy corner ’The Red’ has recently been gaining attention again. On the MBC show ’Radio Star’ airing at 10:30 PM on the 12th, Hong Hyun-hee, Kim Moon-jung, Lee Chang-ho, and Yoo Ho-jin will appear as special guests for the ’Forget the Heat~ Let It Go’ special. In a video released ahead of the broadcast, Hong Hyun-hee revealed that the video views of ’The Red’ corner, which was introduced over 10 years ago, have been rising again after mentions by Yoo Jae-suk and Lee Hyori. After Yoo Jae-suk and Lee Hyori expressed their fondness for the character, she shared the recent update that the old videos are making a comeback. In ’The Red,’ Hong Hyun-hee played a ’deadly character’ who bluntly speaks her mind to arrogant opponents. She explained the background of the character’s creation by saying, ″When I was working at a company, I thought I was sexy,″ and even reenacted her past appearance in the studio. Hong Hyun-hee also revealed that she once worked at a pharmaceutical company headquartered in the United States. During the broadcast, Hong Hyun-hee and Lee Chang-ho performed an impromptu skit. When Lee Chang-ho introduced himself as a ’musical actor,’ Hong Hyun-hee shouted, ″Don’t act all high and mighty!″ and gave him a ’feather slap.’ Then, when Kim Gu-ra gave his evaluation of the comedy, Hong Hyun-hee continued her character acting toward Kim Gu-ra as well. The behind-the-scenes story of Hong Hyun-hee’s ’The Red’ character and its resurgence will be revealed on this episode of ’Radio Star.’]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Kim Jong-kook revealed that he holds Samsung Electronics shares at an average price of 50,000 won. In episode 324 of the KBS2 variety show ″Problematic Men in the Rooftop Room,″ Kim Jong-kook said that he has never tried financial investment for 30 years and has only maintained cash assets with a 2% bank interest rate. He explained, ″I don’t know anything about stocks, but people around me told me to hold S Electronics, so I just bought them. The average price is about 50,000 won.″ Kim Jong-kook added that he has no intention of selling the stocks. On the same broadcast, stock expert Choi Go-min-su and macroeconomics expert Oh Geon-young appeared to discuss financial investment. Regarding the ″442 strategy″ revealed by Choi Go-min-su, Kim Jong-kook showed interest, saying, ″I have to move unconditionally? Why has no one told me this until now?″ Yang Se-chan, who appeared together, revealed that he was a ″legendary 60,000 electronics shareholder″ and also held stocks during the ″100,000 electronics″ period. When Song Eun-i asked about the current situation, Yang Se-chan replied, ″Nothing.″ Joo Woo-jae called Kim Jong-kook a ″traitor!″ to which Kim Jong-kook responded, ″I have no intention of selling.″ Meanwhile, it was also reported that Kim Jong-kook accumulated his wealth through savings alone and purchased a luxury villa in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for 6.2 billion won entirely in cash. ″Problematic Men in the Rooftop Room″ airs every Friday at 10:10 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Karina of the group aespa recently attracted attention by revealing her own beauty routine in newly released videos and photos. Against a plain white background, Karina matched a black sleeveless top with a jacket, standing calmly in front of the camera with a composed expression, creating an elegant atmosphere. The stylish earrings she wore added a focal point, enhancing her luxurious charm. This shoot was a beauty pictorial conducted in collaboration with the ’CHANEL Skincare’ brand, where Karina caught attention by sharing her skincare secrets through behind-the-scenes footage. While capturing fresh and natural moments, she revealed the secret to flawless skin, drawing fans’ interest. The shoot was directed by Thomas Christiani, under whose guidance Karina showcased a full screen of elegance and sophistication. Meanwhile, Karina has been actively engaging in various activities, including recently showing support by visiting the aespa concert venue with her friend and actress Hyeri. Traveling between domestic and international locations, she continues to present diverse fashion and beauty content and plans to communicate with fans in various ways going forward.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Global K-pop group NCT 127 will appear as special guests on the popular American NBC audition program ″America’s Got Talent (AGT).″ According to the news released through the agency’s official SNS, NCT 127 will participate as special performers on AGT, which will be broadcast on August 19 (local time). The performance will begin at 8 PM (Eastern Time), and NCT 127’s spectacular performance is expected to be showcased to viewers worldwide through the broadcast. For this special stage, NCT 127 also released concept photos featuring them wearing combat-style outfits and exuding intense charisma in front of a sky background with airplanes and clouds. The members expressed their individuality with various hairstyles and colors, raising anticipation for the stage with diverse facial expressions looking straight ahead. This AGT appearance is regarded as an important step for NCT 127 to further strengthen their presence in the U.S. market. The members are expected to draw enthusiastic responses from fans both domestically and internationally with their outstanding vocal skills and dynamic dance performances. Meanwhile, NCT 127 continues various global activities this year, actively building fandoms around the world. Through this appearance on a popular American program, they are expected to interact with a broader fan base and expand K-pop’s global influence.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Hyunjin has recently attracted attention with styling that features Cartier’s Panthère collection. Hyunjin posed in front of a solid-colored background, wearing a black top with multiple rings on his earrings and arms, resting his chin on one hand, exuding a sophisticated atmosphere. He also showcased a diverse charm by leaning forward and pointing at a drum set while wearing a sleeveless striped shirt and jeans in a space with drums. Additionally, in an image where he wears a red shirt and striped jacket, touching his lips with his finger, he added fashion sense by wearing multiple rings and a wristwatch. Hyunjin continues to demonstrate his status as a fashion icon, drawing attention by interpreting Cartier Panthère collection’s elegant and bold designs in his own style. Through this photo shoot, he further enhanced his refined image alongside luxurious high jewelry. Meanwhile, Hyunjin is actively pursuing various fields alongside his music career. Recently, he has garnered fans’ interest in multiple areas by simultaneously debuting with LATENCY, which won a rookie award, and appearing on a soccer variety show. Moving forward, Hyunjin is expected to maintain a unique presence in both music and fashion based on his individuality and performance sense.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Dreamcatcher had a joyful time at the fan signing event. On Dreamcatcher’s official SNS, news of the Ktown4u fan signing event held alongside the mini record release on August 12 was shared. The members met and communicated directly with fans, creating special memories. Through this event, fans had the opportunity to experience Dreamcatcher’s new songs up close. In the released selfie photos, the members are wearing black tops, smiling brightly, and looking at the camera. One member made a V sign with their fingers, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. The curtains and lighting in the indoor space added a cozy feeling. Dreamcatcher expressed their gratitude, saying, ″Thanks to Insomnia, today’s happiness is saved.″ Fans showed enthusiastic responses on SNS, saying things like ″We will always support you″ and ″We are happy to be with Dreamcatcher.″ Meanwhile, Dreamcatcher has been attracting the attention of K-pop fans worldwide with diverse performances after being included in this year’s ’Dream Concert’ lineup. They plan to continue active promotions and strengthen communication with music fans in the future.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Song Ha-young caught attention with her unique pink hairstyle and stylish sleeveless fashion. Recently, Song Ha-young released photos featuring her wearing a sleeveless top paired with a long skirt against a backdrop of gray walls and stairs. She completed her chic look with statement accessories such as a star-shaped necklace and bracelets. Sitting on the stairs, she displayed a variety of expressions and poses, gazing straight ahead with her lips closed or gently covering her lips with her fingers, exuding a calm yet captivating charm. In particular, the freshness and chicness radiated by her pink hair harmonized perfectly, capturing the fans’ eyes. As a member of the group fromis_9, Song Ha-young continues various activities and recently has been communicating with fans with a more mature atmosphere along with the released photos.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Sunmi is receiving a hot response among music fans and K-pop artists with her new song ″Forever July.″ Released on July 15 as a digital single, ″Forever July″ is gaining great popularity as a short-form challenge thanks to its addictive chorus and easy-to-follow signature choreography. Various videos enjoying the ″Forever July″ challenge are being shared on social media, proving Sunmi’s active presence. In particular, fellow artists such as ATEEZ and RIIZEne also participated in the challenge, adding to the excitement of ″Forever July.″ Recently, Sunmi posted a photo on her SNS featuring herself in a beige dress paired with long socks against the backdrop of the sea, presenting a refreshing atmosphere. Her natural hairstyle and sophisticated pose against the sandy beach under a cloudy sky catch the eye. The emojis ″🌊🌀🫧″ posted together seem to express the cool feeling of the sea and the emotion of the song. Meanwhile, Sunmi also released a video recreating ″So Hot″ from her Wonder Girls days, earning recognition for her unchanged visuals and musical charm. Attention is focused on Sunmi’s path as she continues to communicate with fans through new music and diverse activities.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group NCT 127 is making a dazzling comeback with their 7th full-length album, ’BLINGY.’ The album, consisting of a total of 9 tracks including the title track ’Blingy,’ will be released on August 24 at 6 PM through various global music platforms. Recently, NCT 127 raised fans’ anticipation by announcing the album release through their official SNS. The revealed content features the phrase ’ASSEMBLE! 🌰🌰’ along with diverse visuals, sparking curiosity about the new release. Ahead of the 7th full-length album, the members have been actively engaging in various activities day by day. Johnny and other members have completed their contract renewals with their agency SM Entertainment, showing deep affection and trust toward the team. Additionally, they recently released a track video for the song ’Piñata,’ showcasing intensified energy and high-quality performance, further elevating the comeback atmosphere. Through this album, NCT 127 promises to capture their unique color and musical growth accumulated over the past 10 years and to demonstrate the essence of ’Neo Hip-Hop.’ While members Doyoung and Jungwoo are serving in the military, five members—Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, and Haechan—will participate, presenting even stronger teamwork. Along with the album release, they will hold their fifth world tour, ’NEO CITY - THE REDLINE,’ providing an opportunity to meet global fans. Known for their intense energy and distinctive stage manners, NCT 127 is expected to captivate music fans worldwide once again with their new full-length album.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Singer Leeteuk recently shared a happy update on his SNS. Wearing a jacket with striking blue embroidery and a white T-shirt, Leeteuk displayed a bright smile on stage, expressing a range of emotions. Especially, the stage background illuminated by lights and colorful paper pieces together created a lively atmosphere. Leeteuk communicated with fans by sharing various mood photos, not only smiling while looking straight ahead but also tilting his head back to gaze at the sky. In this post, he left a short but warm message, ″Happy💙💕❤️🥰,″ showing that he remains positive and energetic. Meanwhile, Leeteuk continues to gain steady popularity as a broadcaster alongside his singing career. He is active as the sole DJ of the radio program ’Super Junior’s Kiss the Radio,’ maintaining a strong bond with listeners. Recently, he has been accelerating his music activities, including announcing his first mini-album project with Super Junior-83z.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lionel Messi shared an update with a warm and affectionate message. Recently, Messi posted a photo on his social media with the short caption, ″Te amo, pa. ❤️″ In the photo, he is wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, standing side by side inside a soccer stadium, smiling and looking straight ahead. His arm prominently displays his usual tattoos, drawing attention. The background features colorful murals that brighten the atmosphere of the stadium. The brief but heartfelt message and his relaxed appearance have elicited warm responses from fans. This post is interpreted as an affectionate expression sent to family or close acquaintances, showcasing his humble and human side. Meanwhile, Messi’s recent post appears to be a personal communication unrelated to any match schedule or official event. Having consistently shared natural moments with fans through social media, this post is also noted as a glimpse into his new daily life.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 CORTIS draws attention by presenting a new mood filled with vibrant energy. Recently, CORTIS shared two photos on their official SNS account along with the phrase ″we move like animals.″ In the photos, CORTIS members strike cheerful poses in the middle of a hallway, wearing a black short-sleeve T-shirt with jeans and a white short-sleeve T-shirt with black pants. Their wide-open smiles convey a free and lively atmosphere. The hallway background with installed lighting highlights their dynamic movements even more. This post is also related to a project called KATSEYE, and the hashtags include ’#KATSEYE_Animal’ along with CORTIS’s official tag, implying a powerful concept of moving boldly like animals. Meanwhile, CORTIS has been receiving enthusiastic responses from global fans, successfully continuing their North American tour and climbing 75 spots to rank 39 on the Billboard 200 chart. The team is currently conducting the ’2026 CORTIS TOUR IN NORTH AMERICA’ and continues to engage with fans through active music activities and diverse content.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS Jin revealed a peaceful daily life behind the scenes of the New Jersey tour stage. Recently, Jin posted photos on his SNS showing various poses in a calm style, matching a white shirt with black pants. In the photos, he is captured either standing against a wall or sitting while gazing straight ahead in front of a natural background where stone walls and green foliage blend harmoniously. His stylish look is highlighted by a necklace, creating a calm yet deep atmosphere. Additionally, in an indoor space characterized by vintage interior, he revealed a comfortable image resting with his eyes closed while sitting on a chair, wearing checkered pants and a red sweater draped over his shoulders. There were also photos showing him wearing a beige knit sweater, looking out the window or standing in front of a stone wall, showcasing diverse charms. Recently, Jin has been actively managing a busy tour schedule while balancing solo activities along with BTS. He successfully completed performances in major U.S. cities, including the New Jersey concert, and communicates with fans through relaxed moments behind the stage. Unlike his charismatic presence on stage, he exudes a friendly and natural charm in daily life, earning the love of many. Meanwhile, BTS, to which Jin belongs, continues its worldwide tour, meeting fans in various countries. Amidst intense attention, they are raising expectations by announcing active music activities ahead.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ’I am SOLO’ continues its popularity with high viewership ratings across terrestrial, comprehensive programming channels, and cable. Recently, the first broadcast of season 33 recorded a combined viewership rating of 3.5%, with ENA at 2.0% and SBS Plus at 1.6%. Although this is a slight decrease compared to the final episode of season 32 (combined 4.6%) and the first episode of the divorced special (combined 3.7%), the program’s buzz and target indicators remain strong. The broadcast on the 29th of last month achieved a nationwide average viewership rating of 4.6% and a 2.3% rating in the male and female 20-49 target demographic, ranking first in its time slot. ’I am SOLO’ captures viewers’ attention every Wednesday night. In the 33rd season of ’I am SOLO,’ airing at 10:30 PM on the 12th on ENA and SBS Plus, the ’single for life special’ participants reveal their personalities and views on dating. In the pre-released self-introduction scene, various charms of the single men were unveiled. One participant stated, ″I don’t care about looks at all. I want to meet someone who can dream of small happiness with me,″ while another answered a question about conflicts with a girlfriend by saying, ″I haven’t had a girlfriend yet, so...″ which brought laughter. The three MCs, Defconn, Lee Yi-kyung, and Song Hae-na, also expressed surprise at this answer. Another single man demonstrated push-ups while describing his ideal type, and a participant passionate about self-development revealed that he has been studying math and recently developed an interest in Chinese. One participant surprised everyone by saying he needed to go to the bathroom due to nervousness during his self-introduction. SBS Plus and ENA announced that ’I am SOLO’ and its spin-off ’I am SOLO, Love Continues After’ will be exclusively streamed worldwide in over 190 countries through Netflix. The production team explained their choice of Netflix as an overseas expansion platform by stating, ″We judged Netflix to be the most appropriate gateway to properly showcase excellent content in the overseas market.″ Netflix will initially provide subtitles in various languages including English and Spanish and plans to expand supported languages. Due to the exclusive overseas streaming contract, existing OTT replay services will be gradually discontinued, but TV live broadcasts and IPTV services will continue as before. The self-introduction scene of the single men from ’I am SOLO’ season 33 will air at 10:30 PM on the 12th on ENA and SBS Plus.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hats to Hearts officially debuted on the 12th in Japan with their first single, ″ICONIC HEART.″ This single includes a total of three songs: the title track ″ICONIC HEART,″ along with Japanese versions of ″Lemon Tang″ and ″RUDE!″ The digital release was made available on the 10th, and the official physical album was released locally on the 12th. The title track ″ICONIC HEART″ captures the excitement and overwhelming emotions felt when moving forward together toward a bigger world. The music video was released at midnight on the 12th on the SMTOWN YouTube channel and others. This single ranked 2nd on the Oricon Daily Single Chart for August 10th. Hats to Hearts held a debut commemorative live and talk event in Tokyo on the same day to meet local fans. They are scheduled to perform on various stages such as Mezamashi TV’s ″WANGAN Festival,″ ″Izunama Rock Festival,″ and ″Tokyo Girls Collection 2026″ held in Matsuyama and Yokohama. Additionally, they will present a special performance at the Japanese professional baseball game between the Saitama Seibu Lions and Orix Buffaloes held at Tokyo Dome. Before their official debut in Japan, Hats to Hearts appeared on several programs including TV Asahi’s ″MUSIC STATION,″ Nikata’s ″Tokyo Girls Collection 2026,″ and the YouTube channel ″THE FIRST TAKE,″ where they connected with local fans.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Actress Ha Young publicly released a handwritten apology on the 12th regarding the controversy over her great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho’s pro-Japanese activities. Through her SNS, Ha Young apologized for causing disappointment and hurt due to her great-grandfather’s past and stated that she has been reflecting on her family history with a heavy heart. Ha Young recently mentioned on several variety shows that her family has been medical professionals for four generations and introduced stories about her great-grandfather as a family pride. After it was confirmed that her great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho, controversy spread as records revealed Ahn Sang-ho’s involvement in pro-Japanese organizations during the Japanese colonial period and related statements. Ahn Sang-ho was the first Korean to obtain a Japanese medical license and served as a contracted physician caring for Emperor Sunjong’s health. However, criticism continued after it was revealed that his name appeared on the Daijeong Friendship Association council list, that he was introduced as a model case of Japanese-Korean unity in the Governor-General of Korea’s official journal, and that he made remarks implying he did not associate with Koreans. Following the controversy, Ha Young’s agency Bister Entertainment initially stated that the allegations were ″unfounded,″ but reversed their position after further verification within a day. Regarding this, Ha Young apologized, saying that at the beginning of the controversy, she did not know the facts accurately, and the agency issued the unfounded statement on her behalf. She also admitted her shortcomings for the incorrect statement being conveyed without sufficient confirmation. She repeatedly apologized for the delay in making a statement due to the gravity of the matter. Ha Young said that through the process of personally researching related materials prompted by this incident, she learned about her great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese actions. She reflected on having lightly mentioned her family history without properly understanding the painful history of the Japanese colonial period. Ha Young said, ″I deeply accept this fault and sincerely apologize as a descendant,″ adding that she feels sorry for causing controversy ahead of Liberation Day. Furthermore, Ha Young stated that she will deeply remember this incident and adopt a more cautious attitude in the future when examining her family history and that era properly. She expressed her respect for independence activists and all those who have worked for Korea’s liberation and peace, promising to serve with sincere actions, not just words. Meanwhile, interviews scheduled regarding various works including the Netflix series ″Trauma Center,″ in which Ha Young appeared, have been canceled, and some commercial videos have been made private, continuing the aftermath. Although suspicions were raised about Ha Young’s grandfather, Professor Ahn Bu-ho, no concrete evidence has been found that he directly participated in such acts, and Ahn Sang-ho is also reportedly not listed in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Comedian and trot singer Kim Na-hee revealed that she went on a honeymoon trip with her fiancé ahead of their wedding. Kim Na-hee recently shared photos and reviews of her trip to Ngorongoro, Tanzania, on her SNS. Ahead of her August wedding, Kim Na-hee took a special honeymoon trip before the ceremony. She enjoyed a hotel staycation in Ngorongoro and left a message saying, ″If I could have breakfast every day with this view, I’m confident I could become a morning person. I want to go back already and I already miss Ngorongoro.″ The released photos showed her wearing a pure white bikini paired with a see-through cover-up against a wide-open natural landscape. Kim Na-hee also explained about the accommodation, saying, ″If you’re going on a safari in Ngorongoro, this is usually the recommended place to stay,″ adding, ″You can see the crater right from here.″ Regarding the pool, she said, ″I had high expectations because there was a pool, but it’s a bit small,″ and added, ″It’s an infinity pool and heated pool, but it wasn’t warm, so I was shivering and then drank a beer, which made it definitely colder.″ About the hotel service, she said, ″I was touched by the unlimited drinks and snacks offer, but later found out that it costs $35 per person,″ and added, ″Still, it was excellent despite that.″ Kim Na-hee previously appeared on TV Chosun’s variety show ″Joseon’s Lover,″ where she revealed that her fiancé works in the IT industry and that people say he resembles Nam Joo-hyuk. Her fiancé is known to be a non-celebrity. Meanwhile, Kim Na-hee is scheduled to hold her wedding ceremony on October 25. Since announcing her marriage, she has been sharing wedding photos and preparation processes on SNS, communicating with her fans.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Black Pink Jenny revealed behind-the-scenes photos of the music video shoot for her new song ″Less than a Lover″ on her SNS. The photos posted on the 12th showed Jenny enjoying a relaxing time with the blue Mediterranean sea and white buildings in the background. A natural atmosphere was also glimpsed as she took selfies during breaks in the music video shoot. Jenny matched a white skirt with a cropped bralette, revealing her slim waistline, and showed off her toned figure in a brightly printed mini dress. Photos also showed her dressed in white at a white two-story house by the seaside. Along with the photos, Jenny wrote, ″The house from ’Less than a Lover’ is now yours.″ Jenny released her new song ″Less than a Lover″ on the 24th of last month and continues her activities. Black Pink held a meeting with fans on the 8th to celebrate their 10th anniversary since debut. Before the 10th-anniversary event held at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, some fans expressed dissatisfaction, and the members stated through a live broadcast, ″There seems to have been a communication problem. We sincerely apologize.″ Meanwhile, Jenny is scheduled to perform at the Japanese music festival SUMMER SONIC 2026.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 According to the Korea Film Council’s integrated box office computer network data, the number one movie at the box office on the 11th was ″Odyssey″ (directed by Christopher Nolan). On that day, ″Odyssey″ attracted 236,229 viewers, maintaining its top position for seven consecutive days, with a cumulative audience of 2,368,657. This epic tells the story of the hero Odysseus, who led the Trojan War to victory and faces the wrath of the gods to return home, starring Matt Damon and Tom Holland. Along with domestic success, it surpassed $1.1 billion in global box office revenue, becoming Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing film to date. In second place was ″Spider-Man: Brand New Day″ (directed by Destin Daniel Cretton), which drew 151,905 viewers that day, reaching a cumulative audience of 6,242,899. Despite being the third week after release and a weekday, it continues its long-running success with over 150,000 viewers. The two films starring the couple Tom Holland and Zendaya Coleman attracted about 390,000 viewers on weekdays, maintaining the first and second positions at the box office. In third place was the Korean animation ″Love’s Hatchuping: Legend of the Whale Jewel″ (directed by Kim Soo-hoon), which attracted 19,209 viewers in one day, with a cumulative audience of 472,425. Fourth place went to the Korean sci-fi film ″Hope″ (directed by Na Hong-jin), starring Hwang Jung-min and Jo In-sung, which drew 14,078 viewers, reaching a total of 4,422,475. In fifth place was the Japanese documentary ″What Should Have Been Done?″ (directed by Fujino Tomoaki), which had 2,696 viewers that day, with a cumulative audience of 54,741.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hong Hyun-hee recently addressed suspicions about her use of obesity medication following her approximately 10kg weight loss. Appearing on MBC’s variety show ″Radio Star,″ Hong Hyun-hee explained the reasons behind her decision to lose weight and her dieting process, clarifying the suspicions regarding obesity medication use. She revealed that after having a child, she wanted to live a long and healthy life, so she started the ″Oyasik Diet,″ which involves managing blood sugar and using oil, vegetables, and vinegar. Hong Hyun-hee emphasized that she lost weight healthily by combining diet control and exercise. ″Once I started eating healthily, I naturally wanted to move more,″ she said, adding that she exercised alongside managing her diet. She also shared her health philosophy, saying, ″You have to trust your body. Our bodies wait and eventually change.″ Regarding the suspicion of using obesity medication, when MC Kim Gu-ra mentioned, ″People who take obesity medication have to stop the medication for a certain period before a health checkup,″ Hong Hyun-hee responded, ″I can have my blood drawn right now.″ While acknowledging the significant changes shown in her past photos, she reiterated that her weight loss secret was diet and lifestyle improvements. Hong Hyun-hee stated, ″When I weighed the most, it was during my newlywed period, and I was in the high 60kg range,″ adding, ″Although I have lost about 10kg, considering my height, I am not yet at my ideal form. I think I need to continue proving that I lost weight healthily.″ She also expressed her hope, saying, ″I hope I can have a positive influence on those who are inspired by me to decide to diet.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Big Bang (G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung) celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing their new song ″BiiiG″ along with visual photos. YG Entertainment unveiled ″[BiiiG] VISUAL PHOTO - iii ver.″ on August 12 through their official SNS and channels. The release showcased images capturing the unique style and personality of each member: G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung. G-Dragon drew attention with a background reminiscent of flames, photogenic poses, and an accessory on the teeth presumed to be tooth gems. Taeyang captivated with his pink spiky hairstyle, relaxed expression, and gestures, while Daesung created a sophisticated atmosphere by pairing a boldly patterned top with a classic jacket. Big Bang’s new song ″BiiiG″ will be released on August 19 at 6 PM, marking their 20th anniversary. The title ″BiiiG″ symbolizes the history and reputation Big Bang has built in the music industry over the past 20 years. The agency stated that this new song ″most vividly represents Big Bang’s present as they celebrate their 20th anniversary.″ Following the release, Big Bang will begin their world tour ″BIGBANG 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR < XX : COSMOS >.″ Starting with performances at Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium from August 21 to 23, the tour will include a total of 33 shows across 19 cities in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. Alongside the tour, various projects such as fan events and media exhibitions will be held around the Han River and Jamsil areas.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Big Bang (G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung) celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing their new song ″BiiiG″ along with visual photos. YG Entertainment unveiled ″[BiiiG] VISUAL PHOTO - iii ver.″ on August 12 through their official SNS and channels. The release showcased images capturing the unique style and personality of each member: G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung. G-Dragon drew attention with a background reminiscent of flames, photogenic poses, and an accessory on the teeth presumed to be tooth gems. Taeyang captivated with his pink spiky hairstyle, relaxed expression, and gestures, while Daesung created a sophisticated atmosphere by pairing a boldly patterned top with a classic jacket. Big Bang’s new song ″BiiiG″ will be released on August 19 at 6 PM, marking their 20th anniversary. The title ″BiiiG″ symbolizes the history and reputation Big Bang has built in the music industry over the past 20 years. The agency stated that this new song ″most vividly represents Big Bang’s present as they celebrate their 20th anniversary.″ Following the release, Big Bang will begin their world tour ″BIGBANG 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR < XX : COSMOS >.″ Starting with performances at Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium from August 21 to 23, the tour will include a total of 33 shows across 19 cities in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. Alongside the tour, various projects such as fan events and media exhibitions will be held around the Han River and Jamsil areas.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The self-introductions and first impression proposals of the participants were revealed in the 33rd season special of ″I am SOLO,″ a real dating program broadcast on SBS Plus and ENA, featuring participants who have never dated before. In the broadcast, the 33rd season single men carried out a mission to deliver a bouquet and a teddy bear with a recorded message to the single woman they chose as their number one first impression. The production team instructed them to ″do it discreetly, secretly, and greatly,″ and the participants proceeded with the mission in their own ways, looking for places to hide the gifts or waiting for the right timing. Young-chul gave Young-ja a bouquet and a teddy bear, and Young-ja expressed her gratitude, saying, ″It’s the first time a man has given me flowers and a doll.″ Young-soo expressed his affection by handing a bouquet to Young-sook, but an awkward situation occurred when the recorded message in the teddy bear did not play properly. Young-sik used a car trunk to sit with Young-ja and held a proposal event, and Young-ho conveyed his feelings about his first impression to Soon-ja under the pretext of looking at the yard lights of the dormitory. Kwang-soo appeared nervous while delivering the gift, and Sang-chul gave a teddy bear to Young-ja, who had chosen him as her number one first impression. In the morning, Young-sik, Young-chul, and Young-ho delivered a meal prepared with bread and fruit to the women’s dormitory. Young-sik and Young-ja successfully matched for the ″Benefactor Date″ and enjoyed a morning date together. During this time, Young-ja showed tears while talking about family and religion, and after the conversation with Young-sik, she revealed her inner thoughts, saying, ″It would be so nice to have a husband like this,″ but in the interview, she stated, ″I didn’t feel like I wanted to know more,″ and ″I just wasn’t attracted.″ Young-soo and Kwang-soo rested in their rooms until late morning to regain their strength. During the self-introduction time, each participant revealed their occupation and views on dating. Young-soo disclosed that he is a police officer and said he is studying Japanese, English, and recently Chinese. He also expressed his love for mathematics. Young-ho introduced himself as a magician and said he wants to meet someone who can dream of small happiness together rather than focusing on looks. Young-sik shared that he grew up in the Philippines for 25 years and currently works as an interpreter and translator. He also mentioned his interest in cars and racing. Young-chul revealed that he is a firefighter, has experience working at the Dokdo guard, and is a cat owner, demonstrating 20 push-ups. One participant made the scene burst into laughter by asking, ″Can I quickly go to the bathroom? I’m too nervous,″ when it was his turn to introduce himself. The following preview showed Kwang-soo introducing himself by saying, ″I passed the civil service exam,″ and scenes of date matching decided by the women’s choices were teased. Meanwhile, during the self-introduction, one single man said, ″I don’t care about looks at all. I want to meet someone who can dream of small happiness with me,″ and another participant said, ″There are many world-famous driving courses,″ adding, ″I came out to find someone to enjoy those driving courses with me.″ When one single woman asked, ″How do you handle conflicts with your girlfriend?″ one participant replied, ″I haven’t had a girlfriend yet, so...″ Another participant showed 20 push-ups and said about his ideal type, ″I hope she knows how to take care of herself and how to love.″ A participant passionate about self-development said, ″I liked studying math because I enjoy achieving a sense of accomplishment,″ and ″I like studying Japanese and English, and recently I’ve become interested in Chinese as well.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The movie ″Odyssey″ continues its box office success by surpassing 800,000 ticket reservations in its second week of release. According to the Korea Film Council’s integrated ticketing system as of 1 PM on August 12, ″Odyssey″ has exceeded 800,000 ticket reservations. This figure greatly surpasses the 430,000 advance reservations made the day before its release, showing an increase in reservation enthusiasm after the premiere. Unlike the usual trend of declining reservations in the second week after release, ″Odyssey″ recorded an upward trend in ticket sales. ″Odyssey″ has maintained the number one overall reservation rate for 10 consecutive days and topped the box office for 7 consecutive days. During its opening weekend (August 7 to 9), it ranked first with a seat occupancy rate of 64.1%. It surpassed 1 million viewers within 4 days of release and exceeded 2 million viewers in 6 days, with an overall reservation rate of 65.9% in its second week. The film is based on Homer’s epic of the same name, depicting the 10-year journey of the hero Odysseus returning to his homeland Ithaca after the Trojan War. Directed by Christopher Nolan, it stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. ″Odyssey″ has earned $1,148,048,890 worldwide (approximately 1.5682 trillion KRW), surpassing the record of ″The Dark Knight RIIZE″ and becoming the highest-grossing global film among Nolan’s works. Meanwhile, on August 12 at 8:45 PM, Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon will appear on tvN’s ″You Quiz on the Block″ to talk with Yoo Jae-suk about the movie.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Musinsa announced on the 13th that it will exclusively showcase 58 official merchandise (MD) items in a limited edition release service called ’Musinsa Drop’ to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the group Big Bang’s debut and their world tour. The products include the ’Big Bang Official Light Stick 20th Anniversary Edition,’ as well as uniforms, ball caps, tote bags, mini rugs, light stick cushions, and other apparel, fashion accessories, lifestyle items, and digital devices. The offline pop-up stores will be held simultaneously from the 14th at Musinsa Megastore Seongsu and Musinsa Standard Myeongdong. The pop-up stores will feature various experiential spaces such as a photo zone to look back on Big Bang’s 20 years of musical activities and a listening zone where visitors can directly enjoy their albums. Additionally, Big Bang-related images will be displayed on digital outdoor advertisements at Seongsu Station and throughout the stores. Visitors to the pop-up stores will receive a specially made exclusive shopping bag, and the first customers to purchase products will be given three types of Big Bang logo stickers on a first-come, first-served basis. A Musinsa representative stated, ″Since we have prepared various touchpoints such as the listening zone and photo zone, this will be an opportunity to enhance fandom value that encompasses both fashion and culture.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 It has been confirmed that the SNS account of a woman in her 40s, identified as A, who has been exposing actor Hwang Jung-min’s private life, was deleted as of the 13th. The Instagram account through which A had been sharing private messages and recordings with Hwang Jung-min is currently inaccessible, and the account page displays a message stating, ″The link you clicked is incorrect or the page has been deleted.″ The exact reason for the deletion of A’s account has not been revealed. There is speculation that A either deactivated or deleted the account herself, or that Instagram took action. Since last month, A has been revealing her relationship with Hwang Jung-min and expressing her position through the account. A claimed that she had an inappropriate relationship with Hwang Jung-min from August 2023 until the end of 2024, stating that they met 3 to 4 times in person and mostly communicated via phone calls or messenger. She asserted that she worked on writing tasks, including sexually explicit novels, and tasks related to alcohol branding at Hwang Jung-min’s request. Both parties have conflicting claims regarding physical contact, but they agree that no sexual intercourse took place. Hwang Jung-min filed a stalking complaint against A in August last year, and the trial is currently ongoing. In February, the court issued a summary order fining A 3 million won, but A appealed and requested a formal trial. At the sentencing hearing held on the 11th at the Goyang branch of Uijeongbu District Court, the prosecution requested a fine of 10 million won and an order to complete a stalking treatment program for A, who was charged with violating the Stalking Punishment Act and other offenses. The prosecution cited the long duration of the offenses, the numerous one-sided contacts, and the posting of threatening messages targeting the victim and his family on SNS as reasons for the sentencing. A’s side claimed innocence regarding the stalking charges. In her final statement, A acknowledged some wrongdoing in certain actions but said, ″The story that I was a stalker who unilaterally chased one person for two years is completely different.″ She also argued that it had not been proven that Hwang Jung-min clearly refused contact. Separately from this trial, A has also filed a lawsuit against Hwang Jung-min seeking damages for labor related to design drafts and scenario writing that she provided. The court is scheduled to hold a verdict hearing on the morning of the 8th of next month.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Large-scale concerts by Big Bang and Lim Young Woong will be held consecutively at Goyang Sports Complex. Big Bang will hold the ’BIGBANG 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR IN GOYANG’ from August 21 to 23 to celebrate their 20th anniversary, and Lim Young Woong will perform ’IM HERO - THE STADIUM 2’ from September 4 to 6. All shows for both concerts have sold out, including additional seats. Goyang Special City has established a comprehensive safety management plan focusing on heatwaves, crowds, and traffic congestion in preparation for these mega concerts. Through close consultation with the event organizers, customized response measures tailored to the characteristics of each concert’s audience are being prepared. YG Entertainment, the organizer of the Big Bang concert, plans to create a comfortable viewing environment during the hot season by installing rest areas throughout the venue and expanding operational booths to minimize waiting times and movement routes for attendees. Temporary medical stations have also been sufficiently secured to enable prompt response to emergencies. Fish Music, the organizer of the Lim Young Woong concert, will significantly increase the number of guides to ensure safe movement of attendees within the large venue. Safety management will be strengthened by providing rest areas, beverages, and deploying emergency personnel inside the venue. On the 6th, Mayor Min Kyung-sun of Goyang Special City hosted the ’2026 Second Half Large-Scale Concert Administrative Support Measures Report Meeting,’ reviewing cooperation systems in safety and traffic with related agencies such as the police, fire department, and Korea Railroad Corporation. On the day of the concerts, an on-site headquarters will be operated to respond to emergencies, and traffic police will be deployed around the venue in collaboration with the police and fire department, with emergency vehicle lanes secured. Measures to alleviate traffic congestion include operating shuttle buses connecting GTX-A Kintex Station and the venue, cracking down on illegal parking and street vendors around the venue, and dispersing audience exit routes. Additionally, nearby residents will be informed of the concert schedules in advance, and a duty office will be operated during nights and weekends throughout the event period to respond to civil complaints. Mayor Min Kyung-sun of Goyang Special City stated, ″With the best administrative support, we aim to leave a positive impression of Goyang on concertgoers and continuously attract large-scale concerts.″]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Jazz duo DOMi & JD BECK will hold their first solo concert in Seoul this December. DOMi & JD BECK is a team consisting of French keyboardist DOMi and American drummer JD Beck from Texas. They debuted in 2022 with the album ’NOT TiGHT’ under Blue Note Records. The album featured contributions from Herbie Hancock, Mac DeMarco, Anderson .Paak, and the two members were nominated in two categories at the Grammy Awards, including ’Best New Artist.’ Afterwards, DOMi & JD BECK also participated as performers on BTS RM’s solo album ’Right Place, Wrong Person.’ Their music was noted for its complex rhythms and harmonies, sophisticated playing, combined with humor and playfulness. Their second full-length album ’WHO ASKED?’, released after about four years, was completed entirely with sheet music, designing the structure and timbre of the songs through orchestration. They showcased expanded arrangements by collaborating with numerous classical musicians and added vocals themselves on most tracks. This concert is part of the world tour that began after the release of the new album ’WHO ASKED?’ and will take place on December 12 at 7 PM at Gonggam Hall, Gonggam Center, Jung-gu, Seoul. Tickets will be on sale starting from the 25th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group TWS set a new personal record by selling 225,853 copies in the first week of their second Japanese single album, ″SODA SODA.″ According to Japan’s Oricon, TWS (Shinyu, Dohun, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, Kyungmin)’s ″SODA SODA″ ranked 2nd on the latest ″Weekly Single Ranking″ (August 17 issue, tracking period August 3–9). This record marks the highest first-week sales for TWS in Japan, surpassing the first-week sales of their previous 5th mini-album ″NO TRAGEDY.″ Additionally, ″SODA SODA″ exceeded the first-week sales of their Japanese debut single released last year, ″Nice to see you again (original title はじめまして/はじめまして),″ with sales from the first day alone, and it also ranked 1st on Oricon’s ″Daily Single Ranking.″ The single also ranked 2nd on Billboard Japan’s latest ″Top Single Sales″ chart (tracking period August 3–9), released on August 12. The title track ″SODA SODA″ took 1st place on Japan iTunes and Apple Music’s ″Top Song″ dance category, as well as on AWA’s real-time rising chart. The music video ranked high on Line Music’s ″Music Video Top 100″ and Korea YouTube’s ″Daily Popular Music Videos.″ Various local promotions have been ongoing alongside the single release. Approximately 10,000 people attended the public event held on the release day at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, and offline events such as the ″TWS Shibuya Stamp Rally″ are also taking place. The members are actively participating in Japanese music shows and festivals. TWS is scheduled to perform at the Japanese music festival ″Summer Sonic 2026″ on the 14th and 16th. Following that, they will hold their Asia tour ″24/7:FOR:YOU″ Japan concerts in Fukuoka from August 28 to 30, in Hyogo from September 4 to 6, and in Kanagawa from September 12 to 13.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Hwang Jung-eum mentioned the role of her ex-husband Lee Young-don. On August 12, the channel ″Hwang Jung-eum″ revealed a scene where Hwang Jung-eum was cooking at home for her children. On that day, Hwang Jung-eum’s eldest son, Wang-sik, asked, ″Mom, do you have a Microsoft account? Please make one for me.″ Hwang Jung-eum replied, ″I can’t make that. Call your dad and ask him to make it for you.″ Afterward, Wang-sik called his father and continued asking questions related to the computer. When the production team mentioned, ″Earlier, Wang-sik was talking well with his dad on the phone,″ Hwang Jung-eum said, ″When it comes to computer-related matters, he asks his dad.″ She also responded to the question, ″Did your dad buy that computer too?″ by saying, ″Yes. Wang-sik wanted to have it, but he didn’t buy it for a long time, and then he finally bought it this time.″ Hwang Jung-eum married professional golfer turned businessman Lee Young-don in 2016 and had two sons, but after their divorce in 2024, she is raising the children alone.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group Kiki (Jiyu, Isol, Sui, Ha-eum, Kiya) gained attention locally by throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game in the United States. On August 10 (local time), Kiki attended the game between the LA Angels and the Texas Rangers held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. Member Kiya took the mound as the ceremonial first pitcher representing the team and coordinated the pitch with LA Angels pitcher Blake Wyman. After the pitch, Kiya received a signed ball from Blake Wyman, and the members took commemorative photos with Blake Wyman and LA Angels’ Mike Trout. This news spread through various social media platforms, attracting interest from K-pop fandoms and the local U.S. audience. Prior to this ceremonial pitch, on August 8 (local time), Kiki also performed on the stage of ″Head in the Clouds LA 2026″ held at Brookside in the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California. Meanwhile, Kiki made a comeback on the 10th with their third mini-album ″WhyKiiiKiii.″ This album was inspired by the world-famous resort ″Waikiki″ and includes a total of six tracks, including the title track ″Pop Off Pop Off.″ The title track is an electronic synth-pop genre characterized by intense synth sounds and an addictive chorus. Immediately after the album release, the music video for ″Pop Off Pop Off″ ranked number one on YouTube Music Video Trending Worldwide, and as of 10 a.m. on the 12th, it reached a peak of 27th on the Melon TOP 100 and number one on the Bugs real-time chart. Additionally, ″WhyKiiiKiii″ ranked number one on the iTunes Top K-pop Music Album Chart in three countries—France, the Netherlands, and Australia—and entered the top 10 in 13 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, and Türkiye.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 JYP Entertainment is introducing a new seven-member girl group, OURBIRTHDAY. OURBIRTHDAY is set to officially debut in the music industry with their first single, ″Our Birthday.″ OURBIRTHDAY presents a genre called ″WHIP-HOP.″ This genre combines the free vibe inspired by whipped cream with the seven members’ distinct personalities to create a signature style unique to OURBIRTHDAY. OURBIRTHDAY, the girl group JYP Entertainment is launching about four years after NMIXX, will officially debut by releasing ″Our Birthday″ on the 19th.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chan-won’s special event prepared for Hwang Yoon-sung will be revealed through KBS 2TV’s ″New Product Launch Pyeonstorang.″ The broadcast is scheduled for the 13th at 8:30 PM. Recently, Lee Chan-won showed great effort by visiting Chef Yoon Nara of ″Sool Bineun Yoonjumo″ to learn cooking for Hwang Yoon-sung, who just finished a trot competition program. Additionally, Lee Chan-won was seen calling acquaintances directly to invite guests. Unexpected guests, including a girl group member, attended the event, along with baseball legend Yoo Hee-kwan. Yoo Hee-kwan reportedly came hoping to see Black Pink Jisoo after hearing that a girl group member would be there. Lee Chan-won teased the attendance of ″the top girl group member in Korea,″ raising curiosity about the actual guests. Another special guest, introduced as ″a senior I personally invited,″ was also announced. The cast present expressed surprise, saying, ″Could it be the king of singers, Jo Yong-pil?″ The event’s main figure, Hwang Yoon-sung, was reportedly moved to tears. The friendship between Lee Chan-won and Hwang Yoon-sung, along with the guests gathered to celebrate them, can be seen in this episode.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS members V and Jungkook recently revealed their health issues to fans. On the 12th, V disclosed on a Weverse live broadcast with Jungkook that he has had hearing problems for the past two and a half years. He explained that his left ear hears normally, but his right ear only hears about 30%. He has been consistently taking medication and receiving hospital treatment. He also shared that his symptoms worsened during his military service and that people exercising with him in the military mistook his condition for a mental issue. V said he is still continuing hospital treatments. Jungkook revealed that he is on the verge of a stress fracture in his shin. He said that even at the recent Baltimore concert in the U.S., he wanted to run on stage but could not properly do so due to pain. Jungkook explained that there is significant inflammation in his shin and there seems to be minor damage to the bone. He said, ″I will definitely run when I have to, but I need to take care of my body in between, even if it means holding back, to finish this tour well.″ The disclosure of their health conditions came as BTS continues their North American leg of the world tour ’ARIRANG.’ V and Jungkook shared this information through a Weverse live broadcast after the Baltimore concert in the U.S. on the 11th (local time). Their agency BigHit Music has not issued a separate statement. BTS will continue their performances at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, U.S., on the 15th and 16th, and will perform at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on the 22nd and 23rd. Meanwhile, it is reported that the Toronto City Council reviewed and approved a proposal to name some roads ’BTS Boulevard’ from the 21st to the 23rd in celebration of BTS’s Toronto concerts. A request has also been submitted to Toronto city authorities to declare the concert period as ’BTS Weekend.’]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Boy group NINE (AHOF) will attend the ″Kansai Collection 2026 A/W″ held at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan to meet local fans. NINE (Steven, Seo Jungwoo, Cha Woongki, Zhang Shuai Bo, Park Han, JL, Park Juwon, Zhuan, Daisuke) is scheduled to take the stage at the ″Kansai Collection″ on the 13th. At this event, the members will showcase styling and performances tailored to the fashion show. NINE has been invited to a major Japanese fashion festival for the first time since their debut. They plan to demonstrate their presence as global trend icons not only in music but also in fashion. ″Kansai Collection″ is Japan’s largest fashion entertainment event, celebrating its 31st edition with a cumulative audience of over 800,000. Stars leading Japanese trends participate in every event. NINE has engaged in various activities in Japan, including release events and mini fan cons, immediately after their debut, and recently successfully completed their first Asia tour concerts in Osaka and Tokyo. Additionally, NINE released their third mini-album ″RUN TO YOU″ on the 8th of last month and continues active promotions both domestically and internationally.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS member Jin recently shared several selfies on his SNS. Jin posted photos showing his recent status without any additional explanation. In the revealed photos, Jin wore a loose-fit white shirt with the front buttons naturally undone, accessorized with jewelry such as a necklace and rings. His casual pose of adjusting his sleeve and his gaze looking somewhere caught attention. In another photo, Jin was seen wearing a beige-toned V-neck knit, looking up into the air. Jin once again proved his nickname ″Worldwide Handsome″ with his deep collarbone line, sharp jawline, prominent nose bridge, and clear skin. Meanwhile, BTS opened the second leg of their North American tour in East Rutherford, USA, on the 1st and 2nd (local time). They recently finished a performance in Foxborough and continued the tour at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on the 10th and 11th. This stage marked the first time a Korean artist held a solo concert there.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Lim Young Woong’s debut, the fan club ’Busan Hero Era Study House’ added meaning through community service and sponsorship. Recently, ’Busan Hero Era Study House’ donated a special sponsorship fund of 3 million KRW to the Busan Briquette Bank Meal Community. They stated that this support was made to commemorate Lim Young Woong’s 10th debut anniversary. Additionally, members participated in the 59th lunchbox sharing volunteer event held at the Busan Briquette Bank Meal Community, engaging in on-site activities such as preparing lunchboxes, serving meals, and cleaning for marginalized neighbors and elderly living alone. This fan club has maintained a relationship with the Busan Briquette Bank Meal Community for the past six years, consistently providing a monthly regular donation of 700,000 KRW along with special contributions. Including this special sponsorship, the total accumulated donations to date amount to 111,074,500 KRW. A representative of ’Busan Hero Era Study House’ said, ″Under the slogan ’The power of togetherness, not alone,’ we will continue to provide ongoing support and volunteer work for marginalized neighbors and elderly living alone,″ adding, ″We will not stop this beautiful journey so that Lim Young Woong’s positive influence as a singer can bring warm energy to the difficult and lonely places in our society.″ The organization not only provides sponsorship but also actively participates in on-site volunteer activities such as cooking, meal service, and cleaning. Furthermore, they operate a ’study room’ every Saturday and Sunday to help fans learn and practice various voting and streaming methods together. They also support fans’ health and leisure activities through a ’healthy dance class’ set to Lim Young Woong’s songs, while simultaneously engaging in fan community activities where members learn and communicate together and share with the local community.]]> FANNSTAR Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Stray Kids topped domestic and international charts with their 10th mini album, ’THIS & THAT.’ The album was released on the 7th and reached number one on the daily charts of Hanteo Chart and Circle Chart. It also held the number one spot on the Worldwide iTunes Album daily chart for five consecutive days from the 7th to the 11th. Additionally, it ranked first on the European chart for four days. The title track of the same name ranked number one on the Spotify Top Album Debut Global chart from the 7th to the 9th, and the album itself ranked second on the Top Album Debut Global chart. The music video for ’THIS & THAT’ surpassed 50 million cumulative views on YouTube in about three days after its release. ’THIS & THAT’ is Stray Kids’ first new work of the year, expressing confidence that they can do well at ’this and that,’ whatever they want. Stray Kids plan to release a remix digital single, ’THIS & THAT - THAT REMIXES,’ at 1 PM on the 12th.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 NMIXX concluded the Asian leg of their first world tour with their Tokyo concert and announced their official debut in Japan in December. They held solo concerts on August 8 and 9 at Keio Arena in Tokyo, Japan, performing a total of 28 live songs including their debut tracks ″O.O,″ ″Phoenix,″ ″Run for Roses,″ and ″Soñar (Breaker).″ The venue was filled with band sounds along with the audience’s cheers and applause. Bae communicated with fans by covering the popular local singer M!LK’s song ″好きすぎて滅 (Too Much Love Leads to Destruction),″ which he learned from NiziU, a member of the band. Additionally, through various stages such as ″Shape of Love,″ ″High Horse,″ ″SPINNIN’ ON IT,″ ″KNOW ABOUT ME,″ and ″Red light sign, but we go,″ the members showcased their vocals, choreography, and performances. Starting in Bangkok on June 13, NMIXX held a total of eight concerts across five Asian cities: Singapore on June 20, Kaohsiung on July 12 and 13, Hong Kong on July 25 and 26, and Tokyo in August. Tickets sold out quickly in Kaohsiung and Hong Kong, leading to one additional concert being added in each city. At the Tokyo concert, they announced their official Japanese debut along with the release of their best album ″N=MIXX″ on December 9. The Japanese version stage of ″Blue Valentine″ was unveiled for the first time. The members said, ″We will release our Japanese debut best album ’N=MIXX’ on December 9 and finally debut. Please look forward to the songs sung in Japanese as well. We want to create many opportunities to meet you all in the future.″ NMIXX’s first world tour began last November at Inspire Arena in Incheon and included 21 concerts across 17 cities in Europe, North America, and Asia. The debut showcase ″NMIXX JAPAN DEBUT SHOWCASE ’N=MIXX’″ is scheduled for November 7 and 8 in Tokyo and December 12 and 13 in Nagoya.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lee Chan-won’s special event prepared for his close friend Hwang Yoon-sung will be revealed on KBS 2TV’s ″New Product Launch Pyeonstorang.″ Lee Chan-won personally prepared the event by visiting chef Yoon Na-ra of ″Brewing Alcohol Yoonjumo″ to learn cooking for Hwang Yoon-sung, who had just finished a trot competition program. He made calls to various acquaintances to invite guests, showcasing his connections in the entertainment and sports industries. During this process, Lee Chan-won was seen lowering his head, saying, ″I lived my life wrong,″ while recruiting guests. The event was attended by various guests, including members of girl groups. Baseball legend Yoo Hee-kwan also accepted Lee Chan-won’s invitation and came to the venue, and it was reported that Black Pink Ji-soo was looking forward to the news that a girl group member would attend. Lee Chan-won also hinted that a ″top girl group member in Korea″ would be coming. Additionally, the appearance of a special guest, introduced by Lee Chan-won as ″a senior I personally invited,″ was announced. The on-site cast reacted with curiosity, saying, ″Could it be the king of singers, Jo Yong-pil?″ The event’s main figure, Hwang Yoon-sung, was seen shedding tears on site, and the long friendship between Lee Chan-won and Hwang Yoon-sung, along with the acquaintances gathered to celebrate them, will be shown on the broadcast. ″New Product Launch Pyeonstorang″ will air on Thursday the 13th at 8:30 PM.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS V disclosed on a Weverse Live broadcast that his hearing deteriorated after his military service. On the 12th, V communicated with fans through a Weverse Live broadcast alongside fellow member Jungkook. The two spent time answering fans’ questions while having a meal. During this session, both V and Jungkook mentioned their health issues. Jungkook revealed that he had visited the hospital due to a stress fracture, and V also shared that he had undergone medical treatment. V said, ″I’ve never told ARMY before, but has it been about two and a half years? My hearing has gotten worse,″ mentioning his hearing loss for the first time. He explained, ″If my left ear hears about 100, my right ear only hears about 30.″ When Jungkook emphasized the importance of hearing care, V added, ″That’s why I am consistently taking medication.″ Additionally, V stated that his hearing problem worsened during his military service, and because the atmosphere among those exercising in the unit was to regard it as a ’mental strength issue,’ he missed the appropriate time for treatment. He recounted, ″It got worse in the military, and since everyone there was kind of gathered among people who exercise, they said, ’It’s a mental strength issue.’″ V reassured fans by revealing that he is currently receiving hospital treatment. Meanwhile, V enlisted at Nonsan Army Training Center in December 2023 and served in the Army’s 2nd Corps Military Police Special Duty Team (SDT), being discharged in June 2025. After his discharge, he has shared anecdotes from his military service through live broadcasts, and recently, a comrade who served with him left a message saying, ″You were the ace in our platoon.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 TWS (Shinyu, Dohun, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, Kyungmin) recorded sales of 225,853 copies in the first week of release with their 2nd Japanese single album ’SODA SODA,’ ranking 2nd on the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking (August 17 issue / tracking period: August 3–9). With this achievement, TWS set the highest first-week sales for an album release since their debut in Japan. The new release ’SODA SODA’ surpassed the sales of their previous best, the 5th mini album ’NO TRAGEDY,’ and also exceeded the first-week sales of their local debut single released last year, ’Nice to see you again (original title はじめまして / Hajimemashite),’ on the first day of release. ’SODA SODA’ showed a strong start by ranking 1st on the Oricon Daily Single Ranking on the day of release. It also ranked 2nd on Billboard Japan’s latest ’Top Single Sales’ chart (released August 12 / tracking period: August 3–9). The title track ’SODA SODA’ reached 1st place on the Japan iTunes and Apple Music ’Top Song’ dance category, as well as the AWA real-time rising chart. The music video ranked high on Line Music’s ’Music Video Top 100’ and Korea YouTube’s ’Daily Popular Music Videos.’ To celebrate the release of the new album, TWS held a public event at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Japan, attracting around 10,000 attendees. Various offline events, including the ’TWS Shibuya Stamp Rally,’ were held throughout the city. The members also appeared on local music shows and festivals, expanding their connection with fans. TWS is scheduled to perform on August 14 and 16 at Japan’s largest music festival, ’Summer Sonic 2026,’ and will continue their Asia tour ’24/7:FOR:YOU’ with concerts in Fukuoka from August 28 to 30, Hyogo from September 4 to 6, and Kanagawa on September 12 and 13.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 The group Hearts2Hearts has launched their local debut activities in Japan by releasing their first single, ″ICONIC HEART.″ On the 12th, Hearts2Hearts officially released their first Japanese single, ″ICONIC HEART.″ This single includes three tracks: the title track of the same name, as well as Japanese versions of ″Lemon Tang″ and ″RUDE!″ The digital release was pre-released on the 10th. The title track ″ICONIC HEART″ captures the thrilling and overwhelming emotions of running together toward a bigger world. In the music video, Hearts2Hearts showcased a lively and cute charm. The music video was released at midnight on the 12th on the SMTOWN YouTube channel and other platforms, receiving positive responses from fans. This album ranked 2nd on the Oricon Daily Single Chart for August 10. To commemorate their Japanese debut, Hearts2Hearts held a live and talk event in Tokyo on the 12th. They are scheduled to appear at various local festivals, including Mezamashi TV’s ″WANGAN Festival,″ ″Iznama Rock Festival,″ and ″Tokyo Girls Collection 2026″ held in Matsuyama and Yokohama. Additionally, they will deliver a special performance at the Japanese professional baseball special game (Saitama Seibu Lions vs. Orix Buffaloes) held at Tokyo Dome on the 18th. Alongside this, Hearts2Hearts plans to attend the global awards ceremony ″2026 TIMA (TMElive International Music Awards)″ held in Hong Kong on the 22nd.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900   [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Soo-jung] Singer Kim Eui-young has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on FANNSTAR’s Female Star Ranking, regaining her presence at the top.Kim Eui-young took first place in FANNSTAR’s second-week-of-August Female Star Ranking vote, held from the 3rd to the 10th, with 248,441 votes. Hongja ranked second, followed by NewJeans in third.With this result, Kim Eui-young reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the Female Star Ranking after two weeks. Having previously shown strong fandom power through her long-running streak at the top, Kim Eui-young once again proved her unwavering support by returning to No. 1 in this vote.Kim Eui-young has also been named a candidate in the female category of the My Star Award at the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA), organized by FANNSTAR. The My Star Award is a category in which fans directly choose their most beloved artist, and the final winner will receive a trophy at the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS.Attention is focused on whether Kim Eui-young, who has reclaimed the top spot on the Female Star Ranking, will continue to show a strong presence in award-related voting. As fan participation plays an important role in this category, support for Kim Eui-young is expected to continue.Kim Eui-young has steadily expanded her activities based on her stable vocal ability and bright stage manner. On stage, she captivates audiences with solid skills and refreshing energy, while through broadcasts and various content, she shows a friendly charm and continues to broaden her fanbase.Kim Eui-young, who previously recorded 27 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Female Star Ranking, has created renewed momentum with her return to the top. Having achieved both a long-running No. 1 record and a successful comeback to the top spot, attention is now focused on her future ranking competition and the results of voting related to the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS.Meanwhile, the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS is scheduled to be held on September 19 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. ]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:38:45 +0900     [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Soo-jung] Singer Hwang Chi-yeul has ranked No. 1 on FANNSTAR’s Weekly Music chart for two consecutive weeks with his new song “우리, 여름.”Hwang Chi-yeul took first place on FANNSTAR’s second-week-of-August Weekly Music chart, held from the 3rd to the 10th, with a total of 301,103 votes. TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Yeonjun ranked second, followed by SEVENTEEN unit V8 in third.As its seasonal title suggests, “우리, 여름” is a song that combines the emotions of summer with Hwang Chi-yeul’s distinctive vocal charm. Fans’ steady support led to the result of ranking No. 1 on the Weekly Music chart for two consecutive weeks.FANNSTAR’s Weekly Music chart is a weekly vote for artists who have released new music. It is a category that shows fans’ reactions and support for recently released songs, with fierce competition taking place every week.If Hwang Chi-yeul ranks No. 1 for five consecutive weeks, he will receive a digital billboard advertisement benefit at Mirae Plaza in Hongdae, Seoul. As he has now topped the chart for two consecutive weeks, attention is focused on whether he can continue his streak.Hwang Chi-yeul has also been named a finalist in the Choice Award Solo category under the FANNSTAR division of the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA). Final voting for the Choice Award Solo category is scheduled to begin at noon on August 18, and fierce competition is expected as direct fan participation plays an important role.Meanwhile, Hwang Chi-yeul will hold his solo concert “Our Summer” in Taipei, Taiwan, on August 22 and 23. The concert will offer a chance to meet local fans up close and is expected to be a meaningful opportunity to experience Hwang Chi-yeul’s emotional vocals and stage presence in person.   ]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:37:16 +0900   [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Soo-jung] Group CORTIS has topped the New Star Ranking on weekly idol ranking site FANNSTAR for three consecutive weeks, showing a rapid rise in momentum.CORTIS claimed the top spot in FANNSTAR’s second-week-of-August New Star Ranking vote, held from the 3rd to the 10th, with 1,330,943 votes. Its vote count increased more than tenfold from the previous week, demonstrating both the expansion of its fandom and strong fan support.UNIS ranked second, followed by WHIB in third. Amid fierce competition among rookie groups, CORTIS maintained its lead with a dramatically increased vote count.The New Star Ranking is a vote for rookie idols who debuted in or after 2023. It serves not only as a way to see how quickly artists are building their fandoms early in their careers, but also as an indicator of the growth potential of next-generation artists who may lead the future K-pop market.Attention is also focused on the advertising benefits awarded for consecutive No. 1 finishes. If an artist ranks No. 1 on the New Star Ranking for five consecutive weeks, an “ALL THE K-POP” YouTube main banner advertisement will be provided. If an artist reaches 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1, a congratulatory advertisement will be displayed on the Hongdae M Screen in Mapo-gu, Seoul.CORTIS is also continuing to make its presence known in voting related to the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA). The group ranked second in the preliminary vote for the Choice Award Group category under the FANNSTAR division, earning a spot as a finalist.Final voting for the Choice Award Group category is scheduled to open at noon on August 18. Attention is now focused on whether CORTIS, which recorded a high ranking in the preliminary round, will continue to receive strong fan support in the finals and achieve a meaningful result.Meanwhile, CORTIS is expanding its connection with global fans through its “2026 CORTIS TOUR IN NORTH AMERICA,” which will visit six North American cities, including Atlanta and Los Angeles, through the 16th. The group will then perform at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul from August 22 to 23 and at Pia Arena MM in Kanagawa, Japan, from September 4 to 6. In addition, CORTIS is scheduled to appear at “ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2026” in Chiba, Japan, on September 20 and at the “Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix” on October 9. ]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:35:39 +0900   [THE FACT | Choi Soo-jung] Singer Kim Yong-bin has ranked No. 1 on FANNSTAR’s Trot Ranking for 62 consecutive weeks, proving the solid power of his fandom.Kim Yong-bin took first place in FANNSTAR’s second-week-of-August Trot Ranking vote, held from the 3rd to the 10th, with 1,643,846 votes. Choi Su-ho ranked second, followed by Hwang Young-woong in third. Amid steady competition at the top, Kim Yong-bin maintained a stable vote count and once again defended his No. 1 spot.Kim Yong-bin continues to draw attention in voting related to the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA). He has been named a candidate in the male category of FANNSTAR’s My Star Award and is receiving support from fans.The My Star Award is a category in which fans directly choose their most beloved artist. The final winner will receive a trophy at the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA). Attention is focused on whether Kim Yong-bin, who has maintained a long-running No. 1 streak on the Trot Ranking, will also achieve meaningful results in award-related voting.Meanwhile, ticket sales for Kim Yong-bin’s 2026 concert “Serenade,” which opened through Ticketlink at 8 p.m. on the 10th, drew intense interest as users flocked to the site immediately after sales began. All available seats sold out quickly as soon as reservations opened, once again proving Kim Yong-bin’s popularity and strong ticket power. The 2026 Kim Yong-bin Concert “Serenade,” which recorded a full sellout, is now accelerating preparations to present fans with the best musical gift. ]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:34:17 +0900   [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Soo-jung] BTS’s Jin has claimed the No. 1 spot on FANNSTAR’s Solo Ranking for 44 consecutive weeks, proving his overwhelming fandom power.Jin topped FANNSTAR’s second-week-of-August Solo Ranking vote, held from the 3rd to the 10th, with 6,235,046 votes. Lee Chan-won ranked second, followed by Park Chang-geun in third. In this vote, Jin recorded well over 6 million votes, continuing his long-running No. 1 streak.Jin has already achieved 10 and 30 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on FANNSTAR’s Solo Ranking, securing digital billboard advertisement benefits. If he reaches 50 consecutive weeks at the top, an advertisement will be displayed on the Hongdae M Screen in Seoul.If his record continues, the scale of the benefits will expand further. If Jin achieves 70 consecutive weeks at No. 1, a digital billboard advertisement at the Kyunggi Building in Euljiro will be provided. If he records 100 consecutive weeks at No. 1, he will receive an advertisement benefit through the 9TO9 CUBE at COEX Mall.Jin’s presence is also strong in award-related voting. Jin is currently leading the male category of the My Star Award at the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA). The My Star Award is a category in which fans directly choose their most beloved artist, and the final winner will receive a trophy at the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA).As Jin continues his long-running No. 1 streak on the Solo Ranking while also maintaining the lead in the My Star Award male category, attention is focused on what results he will achieve in major fan-voted categories. In particular, as the outcome depends on participation from fans in Korea and abroad, voting enthusiasm is expected to heat up even more.Meanwhile, the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA) will be held on September 19 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. ]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:32:23 +0900   [THE FACT | Reporter Choi Soo-jung] Group BTS has claimed the No. 1 spot on FANNSTAR’s Group Ranking for 69 consecutive weeks, putting the group on the verge of achieving 70 consecutive weeks at No. 1.BTS topped the second-week-of-August Group Ranking vote on FANNSTAR, held from the 3rd to the 10th, with 2,174,432 votes. CORTIS ranked second, followed by PLAVE in third. While artists with diverse genres and styles competed at the top, BTS firmly held the No. 1 position with more than 2 million votes.BTS has already secured benefits for ranking No. 1 for 10, 30, and 50 consecutive weeks, with congratulatory advertisements carried out at major locations in Seoul. If the group achieves 70 consecutive weeks at No. 1, a digital billboard advertisement at the Kyunggi Building in Euljiro, Seoul, will be provided. If BTS reaches 100 consecutive weeks at No. 1, a large-scale global project will be carried out through the 9TO9 CUBE at COEX Mall.The group is also continuing to show strong results in award-related voting. BTS secured the trophy by taking the final No. 1 spot in the Best Music Summer vote under the FANNSTAR category at the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA).BTS has also been named a finalist for the Choice Award Group category under the FANNSTAR division. Final voting for the Choice Award Group category will begin at noon on August 18. As BTS has already won the trophy in the Best Music Summer category, fans’ attention is expected to focus on the final vote as well.Meanwhile, the 2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS (TMA) will be held on September 19 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. ]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:23:46 +0900 The official music video for Lim Young Woong’s ″ULSSIGU″ has surpassed 15 million views on YouTube. This music video has consistently attracted attention since it was released on Lim Young Woong’s official YouTube channel on September 15th of last year. Lim Young Woong continues to achieve high records in various fields such as digital music, albums, and YouTube content. The ″ULSSIGU″ music video was introduced as content that captures Lim Young Woong’s musical style and charm, and it has exceeded 15 million views as of August 11th, receiving continuous interest from fans and the public. Meanwhile, Lim Young Woong will hold the 2026 concert ″IM HERO - THE STADIUM 2″ for three days starting September 4th at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. Tickets for this performance were sold out in all seats. As the view count of the ″ULSSIGU″ music video continues to rise, attention is also focused on whether it will surpass 20 million views.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Lisa of Black Pink has been caught up in dating rumors with Thai actor Blue Pongtiwat. Recently, photos and eyewitness accounts of the two together have been posted repeatedly on online communities and social media, raising the possibility of a relationship. Lisa and Blue Pongtiwat have long been known as friends in Thailand, but recently, they were spotted spending time together in places outside Thailand such as Hong Kong and Japan, fueling the dating rumors. In particular, eyewitnesses reported online that Lisa and her family attended Blue Pongtiwat’s mother’s birthday party together. Blue Pongtiwat, born in 2000, is three years younger than Lisa, who was born in 1997. He is active in Thailand as an actor, singer, and model, and gained global recognition by appearing in the Netflix series Ready, Set, Love. Among domestic fans, he is also nicknamed ″Thailand’s Cha Eun-woo.″ In April, he posted a photo on his Instagram of the two of them together with a message celebrating Lisa’s birthday, showing their close relationship. These dating rumors surfaced after it was presumed that Lisa had broken up with Frédéric Arnault, the son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault. Since 2023, Lisa and Frédéric Arnault were spotted dating overseas several times, but neither side officially confirmed their relationship. Recently, foreign media reported that Lisa appears to have ended her relationship with Frédéric Arnault. Lisa also mentioned in an interview her discomfort with the exposure of her private life. Neither Lisa nor Blue Pongtiwat has made an official statement regarding the dating rumors. Meanwhile, Black Pink celebrated their 10th anniversary on August 8, during which a controversy arose over the mistreatment of fans at the commemorative event. Members Jisoo and Rosé expressed their apologies to fans through a live broadcast and social media on the day of the 10th anniversary.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Seventeen(SEVENTEEN) Dino’s mini 1st album as his alter ego Picheolin, ’吉BOARD (Gilboard),’ is gaining attention from overseas music media. This is the first time an active K-pop idol has released an entire album under an alter ego. On the 7th, Dino revealed the process of preparing the album as Picheolin on Big Bang Daesung’s YouTube channel ’Jipdaesung.’ He said, ″At first, I thought I was preparing a solo album as Dino, but there was a suggestion to do it as Picheolin,″ and shared that after six months of deliberation, he participated in writing and composing all the songs. Dino also stated that he, along with producer Beomgu, newly designed the sound and style to fit the Picheolin character. Picheolin first appeared at a fan meeting in 2021 and was initially used as a character in skits, but after five years, he has become the main figure of an album. This album includes various generational sounds such as the EDM trap ’Nolabose’ produced by Hitchhiker, the new jack swing ’Jeongmal’ created by Deux’s Lee Hyun-do, and the city pop ’Apeuji Aneun Ibyeoreun Eopda’ featuring narration by Lee Moon-se. Picheolin’s official debut stage was on KBS1’s ’National Singing Contest.’ Seventeen has been active for 11 years since debut, continuing various unit and solo activities by members. The title ’吉BOARD’ that Dino presents this time combines ’Gilboard,’ a symbol of 1990s street culture, and ’BOARD,’ meaning stage. Overseas media have also given various evaluations of Picheolin and ’吉BOARD.’ The UK’s CLASH reported that this album combines the atmosphere of past music with a contemporary sensibility. The US’s Genius praised Dino for interpreting 1990s street culture in a modern way. Genius focused on the meaning of ’Jeong’ through the song ’Jeongeuro Sarangeuro,’ while ABS-CBN and Esquire Philippines introduced ’Heung’ as joy, excitement, and festival energy, respectively. Cosmopolitan Indonesia reported that the album confirmed Dino’s passion for music, and Bandwagon Asia commented that the tracks leave joy and comfort even after the music ends. Dino is scheduled to appear as Picheolin on the HYBE podcast channel ’STAN’ original content ’STAN [SEVENTEEN]’ on the 14th. From the 21st to the 23rd, he will hold the ’2026 DinoX Picheolin [吉BOARD SHOW]’ at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 ITZY member Ryujin revealed behind-the-scenes photos from a fan meeting on her social media (SNS) account. On the 10th, Ryujin posted several photos without any additional explanation. These photos are behind-the-scenes shots from ITZY’s fifth official fan meeting stage held over two days on the 8th and 9th, capturing the moment when Ryujin personally recorded and performed a cover stage of Cortis’s ″RED RED.″ In the photos, Ryujin showcased a gop-core style by pairing sunglasses and a color-blocked hat with a famous sports brand jersey and denim, creating a trendy atmosphere by slightly unzipping the jersey to reveal one shoulder. Various scenes from the fan meeting were captured, including her getting makeup touched up, waiting backstage, and focusing during rehearsal. Fans left various comments such as ″Ryujin is my best RED RED,″ ″The most handsome female idol,″ ″Best Cortis cover,″ ″I want to see Ryujin as an actress too,″ and ″Watching the RED RED cover every day.″ Ryujin made her acting debut in 2017 with a minor role in the film The King and made a special appearance in JTBC’s Rookie Boss. She plans to continue her acting career through the films Shaving, Night on Earth, and High School Detective. Meanwhile, ITZY has many hit songs including their debut track DALLA DALLA, WANNABE, ICY, and LOCO.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 BTS Jungkook set a record as the first and longest-running Asian solo artist to enter the Spotify ″Weekly Top Albums Global″ chart for 144 consecutive weeks with his first solo album ’GOLDEN.’ ’GOLDEN’ has remained on the charts for an extended period since its release in 2023, ranking 149th on the chart compiled from July 31 to August 6. The album surpassed 7.35 billion cumulative streams for an Asian artist’s full-length album on Spotify, with an average of approximately 3.3 million daily streams being added. Jungkook’s ’GOLDEN’ debuted at number 2 on Spotify’s ″Weekly Top Albums Global″ chart, staying in the top 5 for five consecutive weeks and in the top 10 for six consecutive weeks. It also ranked number 1 on the ″Top Album Debut Global,″ ″Top Album Debut US,″ and ″Top Album Debut UK″ charts. The album entered the US Billboard main album chart ″Billboard 200″ for 25 weeks, marking the longest entry for an Asian solo artist, and stayed on the UK Official main album chart ″Top 100″ for eight weeks, the longest ever for a K-pop solo artist. Recently, it charted on the iTunes Worldwide Album Chart for a total of 526 days. Jungkook’s Spotify personal account achieved a total of 11.33 billion streams based on all credits, making him the fastest Asian artist and the first K-pop solo artist to reach this milestone.]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A famous quote left by Jimin of BTS was selected as the ″Quote of the Day″ by India’s economic daily, The Economic Times. The Economic Times recently highlighted Jimin’s statement, ″Having a bigger heart means you have emptied many things,″ which came from the BTS documentary film BRING THE SOUL: THE MOVIE. The media explained that this remark reminds us that emotional growth does not mean carrying more burdens. At the time, Jimin said, ″Compared to who I was until now, I think my heart has grown a bit bigger. That means I have emptied a lot inside, and after removing all the grudges, I feel very relaxed and happy.″ The Economic Times introduced Jimin as an influential artist in contemporary pop music, showcasing outstanding expressiveness and emotional vocals. It also evaluated that his music has consistently explored various themes such as identity, vulnerability, healing, and self-acceptance. The media reported that Jimin is respected by fans and the public for his authenticity, kindness, and emotional openness. Furthermore, The Economic Times stated, ″Jimin’s journey shows that authenticity and emotional truth can inspire people across cultures and generations,″ adding, ″Jimin’s words remind us that true strength does not come from holding onto all wounds, but from having the courage to let them go.″ They continued, ″A bigger heart is not about carrying greater pain, but about learning how to leave pain behind.″]]> FANNSTAR Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0900