HYBE Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

LE SSERAFIM member Yunjin has opened up about the subject matter of her next solo single, which she says is “about loving all the past versions” of herself.The Korean-American K-pop idol recently sat for an interview with NYLON, during which she opened up about her songwriting process, her inspirations and what is next for her growing solo discography.Yunjin revealed that her next song came about after “candid conversations” with HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk, who suggested that she consider writing music about how she feels in the present.“A lot of music that I’ve written is about my past experiences. So when he was like, ‘What about talking about how you feel now?’ that was a really big question for me,” she told the outlet.

Pledis Entertainment‘s latest boyband, TWS, have dropped their first pre-release single, titled ‘OH MYMY : 7S’.The song and its accompanying visual were released yesterday (January 2). It features the band’s six members – Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin – speaking about the anxiety they feel as they prepare for debut, intercut with footage of the group practicing choreographies and recording songs.The group then launch into what looks like a monthly evaluation, with a panel featuring the likes of SEVENTEEN, HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk, SEVENTEEN producer BUMZU and more.

IU has revealed that close collaborator Suga of K-pop septet BTS was not the member of the boyband she initially wanted to work with.IU recently made an appearance on Suga’s online talk show, Suchwita, where she and the BTS member recalled the creation of their first-ever collaboration and the steps leading up to it.“The first song we worked on together was ‘Eight’ in 2020. Why don’t we talk about this in more detail. Our fans may want to know more,” Suga said, adding that he wasn’t IU’s “first choice to do a collab with”.“Oh, you want the details?” IU said jokingly, before revealing that she had initially asked Suga is she “could have RM’s number” in order to collaborate with him instead.“If you had done a collab with RM, what kind of song would it have been?” the BTS member asked, to which IU replied: “I think it would’ve been something really serious.”“Because mentally, at the time, I wasn’t in the best place.

BTS’ Jimin has released a new digital single titled ‘Closer Than This’, dedicated to the group’s fans.Today (December 22), the BTS singer unveiled a music video for his new track. In an announcement earlier this week, Big Hit Music said that the song conveys Jimin’s “love and affection for his fans”.The accompanying music video opens with a behind-the-scenes clip where Jimin brainstorms lyrics for the track.

IU has been teased as the next guest of Suga’s Suchwita, a talk show hosted by the BTS rapper.Yesterday (December 19), the preview for the 24th episode of Suchwita was released, teasing IU’s upcoming appearance on the show. The preview teases the new guest as one of Suga’s “same-age friends”, as both musicians were born in 1993.While IU’s face is obscured in the preview, the singer references the pair’s first collaboration single ‘Eight’ as she waves in the camera, saying that she had meant to come on the show sooner.Suga then references a previous conversation between the pair on IU’s Palette, where he complained that IU did not invite him to her headlining ‘Golden Hour’ concert earlier this year.“Not this again… You’ll still be talking about this when we are 40,” she replied.

BTS‘ Jungkook has received a plaque from Spotify after achieving a billion streams of his solo track ‘Seven’, and used it to eat a Korean dish called Kimbap.Back in October 2023, BTS’ Jungkook broke the record for the fastest song to reach 1billion streams on Spotify with his debut solo single, ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’.

Tomorrow X Together, STAYC and more have been added to the line-up of ‘Music Bank in Antwerp’.Over the weekend, popular South Korean music chart show Music Bank announced the line-up of artists that will appear at its upcoming ‘Music Bank in Antwerp’ event.The concert will feature performances by K-pop groups Tomorrow X Together, STAYC, ONEUS, RIIZE and ZEROBASEONE, along with one more as-yet-unannounced act.‘Music Bank in Antwerp’ will take place on April 20, 2024 at the Sportpaleis, located in Antwerp, Belgium. Tickets to the event will go on sale this Wednesday (December 20) via the official Sportpaleis website.A post shared by VERYSHOW (@veryshow_prod)The upcoming ‘Music Bank in Antwerp’ concert will be the first Interational Music Bank show of 2024.

Jungkook and Usher have released a music video for their remix of the BTS singer’s hit single, ‘Standing Next to You’.The new music video for ‘Standing Next to You’, set in an abandoned warehouse, opens with Jungkook performing the song solo, backed up by a troupe of dancers.It then transitions to Usher, who showcases some fancy footwork by himself, before the ‘Burn’ singer and the BTS member team up for the dance break.Jungkook and Usher released their remix of ‘Standing Next to You’ on December 1. The original version of the song was first released in November, as the third single from Jungkook’s debut solo album, ‘Golden’.The duo had also previously released a TikTok of them dancing to Usher’s iconic 2004 single ‘Yeah! (feat.

NewJeans have announced their first remix album, ‘NJWMX’.‘NJWMX’, which stands for “NewJeans Winter Mix’, will feature a total of 12 tracks. Six of them will be remixes of the girl group’s hit songs – including ‘OMG’, ‘Ditto’, ‘Hype Boy’, ‘Attention’, ‘Hurt’ and ‘Cookie’ – while the remaining will be instrumental versions of the reworks.“Take a trip down memory lane and relive your special moments with NewJeans over the past year, with this festive yet nostalgic collection of remixes for the holiday season,” reads an announcement for the upcoming remix album.The new rework of ‘OMG’, dubbed the “FRNK Remix”, will be the lead single for this album and has been described as “a track based on the Afro hip-hop rhythm with a mix of joyous festivities”.NewJeans’ ‘NJWMX’ remix album will be released on December 19 at 6pm KST, and is available to pre-save now on all major streaming services here.Yesterday (December 14), NewJeans were also announced as part of the line-up for this year’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, taking place in New York City.

NewJeans have been announced as part of the line-up for this year’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, taking place in New York City.The reveal was made earlier today (December 14) on NewJeans’ social media, announcing that the group will be join the annual New Year’s Eve television special to usher in the new year. In their announcement, NewJeans revealed that they will be performing two of their hit songs – ‘Super Shy’ and ‘ETA’ – live from Seoul, South Korea.This will make NewJeans the first-ever K-pop female act to be part of the line-up for Dick Clark’s, and the fourth K-pop act overall, following BTS, J-hope and Tomorrow X Together.

SEVENTEEN singer Jeonghan will not be participating in upcoming schedules, including the ongoing ‘FOLLOW’ tour in Asia, after undergoing ankle surgery.Pledis Entertainment released a statement today (December 14) on fan community platform Weverse announcing that Jeonghan would be absent from group activities after undergoing an ankle surgery earlier this morning.The agency said that Jeonghan had “previously suffered an injury to his left ankle and has been receiving several conservative treatments”, but had been “highly determined to participate in all activities prearranged for this year”. As such, he continued to perform with the group “while getting regular checkups on his ankle with medical professionals”.However, Pledis Entertainment noted that Jeonghan’s ankle injury recently had worsened over the course of the band’s ongoing ‘FOLLOW’ tour.

BTS member Jungkook recently held his final livestream before his impending enlistment into the South Korean military.The singer, along with bandmate Jimin, will enlist today (December 12) for their mandatory military conscriptions, making them the final BTS members to enlist. His and Jimin’s enlistment comes a day after bandmates RM and V’s enlistments.Jungkook held his final livestream to bid fans goodbye last night (December 11), where he talked about his day and how he had spent it with some of his fellow bandmates to send RM and V off for enlistment.“This would be my last live[stream] before I enlist,” Jungkook told fans.

BTS members RM and V have penned letters to fans ahead of their military enlistment today.The two BTS members will be enlisting today (December 11) for their mandatory military service, as required of South Korean men. This makes them the fourth and fifth members of the band to enlist. On the eve of his enlistment, BTS’ leader RM took to Instagram stories to share a heartfelt letter to fans.“Hello to everyone I love.

K-pop label ADOR has announced new measures it will take to prevent malicious comments towards the members of NewJeans.On December 5, the agency released a notice via the group’s ‘Phoning’ app, through which they hold livestreams and share messages to fans.

SEVENTEEN member Dino recently covered Crush’s 2022 hit single ‘Rush Hour’ featuring BTS’ J-hope.In the latest episode of music talk show Lee Mujin Service, SEVENTEEN’s Dino performed his new solo single ‘Wait’ along with a series of covers. These include Crush and J-Hope’s ‘Rush Hour’ and singer-songwriter Baek Yerin’s ‘See You Again’.“So let me hear y’all scream, hibihibi hop, just like that / Again, clap clap clap, and then hit that / Gather round and all like (Oh) traffic jam / Get up, get up,” Dino sings on the upbeat ‘Rush Hour’ chorus.

NewJeans member Hanni has unveiled her cover of Sarah Kang’s song ‘once in a moon’.The Vietnamese-Australian K-pop singer is the fifth and final member of NewJeans to contribute to the girl group’s ‘By Jeans’ cover series on YouTube. While her bandmates had recorded vocals for the series, Hanni also played guitar in her clip to accompany her performance of New York-based singer Sarah Kang’s 2022 song ‘once in a moon’.“I thought long and hard about [what song to sing] because winter is already here, and I like to listen to songs according to the seasons.

EDAM Entertainment has confirmed that BTS member V will star in a new music video by singer-songwriter IU.Today (December 5), South Korean news outlet Star News reported that BTS member V would star as the male lead in an upcoming music video by singer-songwriter IU.IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment, later responded to the report in a statement to The Kyunghyang Shinmun. The agency confirmed that “IU [has] completed filming her music video with BTS’ V”, as translated by Soompi.EDAM Entertainment also announced that the singer is currently working on her new album “with the aim to be released in the first half [of 2024]”.

BTS singer Jimin will enlist in the military together with bandmate Jungkook, Big Hit Music has announced.Today (December 5), Big Hit Music released a statement on the fan platform Weverse, where it announced more information about the upcoming enlistments of BTS members RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. The agency had confirmed in late-November that the four K-pop idols had started their “military enlistment process”.In its statement, Big Hit Music revealed that Jimin is “scheduled to enlist together” with bandmate Jungkook, who previously revealed in a handwritten letter that he’ll be entering the military sometime this month.

BTS’ Jungkook and Usher have shared a video of them dhancing along to the latter’s hit 2004 single, ‘Yeah!’.Over the weekend, BTS’ Jungkook uploaded a TikTok video of himself dancing with Usher to the American singer’s iconic 2004 single ‘Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris)’.

K-pop idol siblings Hueningkai of TXT and Kep1er’s Huening Bahiyyih have opened up about working in the same industry and motivating one another.Earlier this month, the two singers had their first-ever photoshoot and interview together for GQ Korea. During their interview, the siblings spoke about how their bond has changed since becoming K-pop idols, and how they inspire each other.Hueningkai shared that their bond became stronger after he left home to become a K-pop trainee.

Jungkook has teamed up with Usher on a new remix of his latest single ‘Standing Next to You’.‘Standing Next to You’ was originally released last month as the third single from Jungkook’s debut solo album, ‘Golden’. The new remix features a new verse by Usher, as well as additional vocals from the American singer in the song’s chorus.“Stop, can you feel that? / It’s like heaven and earth moves whenever we touch / No, for real, I know you feel that / The universe approves when you and I dance / So elegant, and heaven sent these vibes, yeah / It’s way, way too early to leave, we going,” sings Usher on the second verse.Meanwhile, Jungkook’s label Big Hit Music has described the remix as “add[ing] a velvety touch to the energetic vibe of the original version, showcasing the synergy between the two artists in full force”.Jungkook released ‘Golden’ in November.

NewJeans, BTS‘ Jungkook and more.Apple Music unveiled the 2023 edition of its annual ranking of the most streamed songs on the serviceyesterday (November 28), per Variety, with several K-pop tracks making it into the Top 100. The most streamed K-pop song in 2023 was ‘Ditto’ by NewJeans, which came in at Number 19 on the overall list.Two other NewJeans songs also made it to Apple Music’s ranking: with their January single ‘OMG’ at Number 37, and 2022’s ‘Hype Boy’ at Number 64.

Jeon Somi, ENHYPEN and many more.The first day of the 2023 MAMA Awards took place on November 28 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It featured K-pop acts such as Jeon Somi, ENHYPEN, Kep1er and more take to the stage with a line-up of special stages and collaborations and more.

Jungkook of K-pop boyband BTS has enlisted Justin Timberlake for a new remix of his hit single, ‘3D’.‘3D’, originally featuring Jack Harlow, was first released in September as the second single off BTS’ Jungkook’s debut studio album, ‘Golden’. The singer also previously linked up with A.

Jungkook of K-pop boyband BTS has confirmed that he’ll enlist for mandatory military service in December 2023.Jungkook broke the news in a letter to fans, which he posted on the fan community platform Weverse yesterday (November 22). The news comes shortly after Big Hit Music confirmed that the singer, alongside three of his fellow BTS members – RM, Jimin and V – have started their military enlistment process.“I am beginning a new journey in December and will be temporarily leaving your side to fulfill my military duty,” Jungkook wrote, per Korea JoongAng Daily.

BTS members RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook have started their “military enlistment process”, Big Hit Music has announced.In a statement published on fan community platform today (November 22), BTS’ label Big Hit Music announced that members RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook have officially begun the process of enlisting for mandatory military service in South Korea.“We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook [of BTS] have initiated the military enlistment process,” Big Hit Music announced. “The artists are preparing to fulfil their military service duties.

BTS and Disney+ have announced BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star, a brand-new docu-series featuring the K-pop boyband.BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star will “take audiences on an in-depth journey across the band’s 10-year career, highlighting their highs and lows” over eight episodes through the docu-series format, according to a Disney+ press release.The series is said to feature “never-before-seen interviews, performances and behind-the-scenes moments” with the K-pop boyband, as well as appearances from HYBE founder Bang Si-Hyuk and Myeongseok Kang, the co-author of Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS. “The upcoming docuseries also shines a spotlight on highly personal moments from their past, including how they felt about meeting each other for the first time; their initial contract renewal process; the difficulties of isolating during COVID,” reads the press release.BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star will premiere December 20 on Disney+ with its first two episodes, with two new episodes released every Wednesday thereafter.The upcoming docu-series will also be the latest collaboration between Disney+ and BTS. The streaming service previously premiered J-hope in the Box, SUGA: Road to D-Day, the concert film BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage – LA and more.In other BTS news, Jungkook has opened up about the boyband’s early days and why he still “can’t watch the footage” from their debut, saying they were “not that cool”.

ADOR, the label behind K-pop girl group NewJeans, has announced its new global auditions.On November 20, the HYBE Labels subsidiary shared a new poster announcing its auditions, which are open to applicants of all genders and nationalities between the ages of 2004 to 2011.The official audition site can be viewed here in English, Korean and Japanese. Per instructions on the website, applicants are required to submit a waist-up and full body shot, as well as a one-minute or longer video.Unlike its previous auditions, which allowed applicants to submit in categories of singing, rapping and dancing, or in a “free category” that includes acting, modelling and vlogging.

EXO’s Baekhyun, and NewJeans recently performed at this year’s League of Legends World Championship.Heartsteel – formed by EXO’s Baekhyun, Taiwanese-American rapper ØZI, Nigerian singer Tobi Lou and American musician Cal Scruby – and K-pop girl group NewJeans opened the annual League of Legends World Championship at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul yesterday (November 19)Heartsteel, in their first-ever live performance, took the stage first to perform their debut single ‘Paranoia’. “Every time you pop off / They hopin’ that you fall hard / They prayin’ for the death of a rockstar / Everybody hatin’ ever since you got more / They prayin’ for the death of a rockstar,” they sang, joined by their virtual counterparts on stage.NewJeans followed with a fiery performance of their song ‘Gods’, which is the official anthem for this year’s championships.

NewJeans have made their first Billboard Music Awards appearance with a special medley performance of their hit songs ‘Super Shy’ and ‘OMG’.The K-pop girl group kicked things off with an energetic performance of ‘Super Shy’, dressed in schoolgirl outfits, reminiscent of Britney Spears‘ iconic ‘…Baby One More Time’ music video.Following a quick consume change, NewJeans returned to the stage with a funky remix of their viral hit single ‘OMG’. Watch the K-pop girl group’s 2023 Billboard Music Awards performance below:In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily prior to the performance, NewJeans member Hanni said that the quintet had “practiced a lot and made sure we were all on the same page regarding the type of energy and the performance we wanted to portray”.Speaking of their schoolgirl stage outfits, Hyein said that they “highlight each member’s individuality”.