Major K-pop updates 2022

LATEST UPDATE:

April 6, 2023

NBA and BigHit Music announce BTS' SUGA as the new global ambassador for the league. 

December 13, 2022

BTS star Jin starts his mandatory South Korean military duty on Tuesday, the band's first member to enlist since a hiatus announcement this year left fans heartbroken over the K-pop juggernaut's uncertain future.

The septet is widely considered the country's biggest-ever cultural phenomenon -- selling out stadiums around the world and dominating the charts while raking in billions and building a global legion of fans known as ARMYs.

But all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military, and while there was a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, they confirmed in October that all members will enlist. — AFP

November 25, 2022

A Chinese court says Chinese-Canadian ex-pop star Kris Wu has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of rape.

Wu originally shot to fame as a member of the K-pop boyband EXO, before leaving in 2014 to launch a successful solo career as a singer, actor, model and variety show judge.

Nineteen-year-old student Du Meizhu last year accused Wu of date-raping her when she was 17, resulting in a barrage of public criticism and luxury brands dropping deals with him. — AFP

November 24, 2022

Local media report that Jin, the oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS will begin his military service on December 13, becoming the first in the band to enlist,

November 16, 2022

The Recording Academy announces the list of 2023 GRAMMYs Nominations which includes BTS.

The K-pop supergroup has been nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, as well as Best Music Video for their latest title track “Yet to Come“.

October 28, 2022

K-pop superstars BLACKPINK announces an additional show in the Philippines. Concerts will be held on March 25 and 26, at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

October 17, 2022

Label Big Hit Music announces that members of supergroup BTS “are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service.”

Group member Jin, eldest among the seven, will start the process as soon as his schedule for solo release is concluded at the end of the month, Big Hit adds. Jin will then follow the Korean government’s enlistment procedure.

“Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans. Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service enlistment,” it adds.

October 15, 2022

K-pop mega-band BTS will reunite on Saturday to throw a free concert in Busan to support South Korea's bid to host the World Expo, four months after the musicians announced they were taking a break from group activities.

Around 100,000 fans from around the world are expected to be in Busan for the concert, titled "BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN", and other related events, according to the city's government. 

The global megastars are credited with generating billions for the South Korean economy, and their label enjoyed a surge in profits despite holding fewer concerts during the pandemic. — AFP

August 19, 2022

K-pop superstars BLACKPINK drops their comeback pre-release single "Pink Venom" M/V.

The girls are also set to go on a world tour with a stop in Manila on March 25, 2023.

August 6, 2022

Label SJ, which houses Super Junior, says they will postpone Super Show 9: Road in Manila set later today.

“However, the members wanted to meet and greet the fans who came to Manila to attend the concert, so we’d like to ask everyone with tickets to enter the concert venue on time,” it added.

This was after the member Eunhyuk was unable to fly to Manila after his father passed away, while Siwon earlier tested positive for COVID-19.

A detailed explanation on ticket and schedule will be released soon, label SJ added. — Kristine Joy Patag

August 5, 2022

Best-selling South Korean girl group, Girls' Generation is set to drop its most awaited full group comeback today.

The group is also celebrating today its 15th anniversary.

August 1, 2022

BLACKPINK in your area!

K-pop superstars BLACKPINK announces release of pre-album single in August, album release in September and start of world tour in October.

July 26, 2022

K-pop singer IU, Korea's "little sister," teases something new on her Twitter account entitled "The Gold Hour".

June 15, 2022

K-pop supergroup BTS announces they are taking an indefinite break from one of the world's most popular acts to focus on solo pursuits.

"We're going into a hiatus now," says Suga, 29, some 20 minutes into the clip of their annual "FESTA" dinner, which was posted to the group's official YouTube channel. 

RM, 27, says that after the Grammy-nominated BTS' last few singles he "didn't know what kind of group we were anymore," adding later that group members were "exhausted." — Agence France Presse

June 13, 2022

Ready for another round? Netflix announces Korean survival series "Squid Fame" is coming back for Season 2.

June 3, 2022

South Korean rapper Psy is living his best life –- proud of his "greatest trophy" and free from the pressure of repeating the unprecedented success of "Gangnam Style". 

Uploaded to YouTube on July 15, 2012, the song's wacky music video became a runaway megahit, with its trademark horse-riding dance spawning thousands of imitations, spoofs and spinoffs.

It was the first YouTube video to reach one billion views, and with it Psy attained what K-pop acts before him could not: global recognition.

"I had a huge dependency (on) the song... But you know, it's 10 years ago, so right now I'm really free," Psy tells AFP.

Stay updated with the latest K-pop news and trends.

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