Last Week In K-pop, Interpreted (September 7 - September 11, 2026)
Every week, KPOPWORLD looks past the headlines to examine what actually shifted in K-pop – and why it matters.
By Chyenne Tatum
EVAN Reveals His Experiences Battling Childhood Cancer
On September 3, soloist EVAN opened up in an interview with Weverse Magazine about his childhood battle with cancer. The interview, conducted and published ahead of his Death of Me album release, explores the record’s themes of persistence and peels back layers of the singer that go far deeper than just music. Specifically, EVAN was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma in fourth grade, a type of cancer that begins in the infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, within the body's lymphatic system. Even as he was going through chemo treatments, the experience made him want to fight through it and survive even more, adding fuel to his dreams of becoming a singer one day.
Thankfully, the treatments eventually paid off, and EVAN was cancer-free. But regardless of how long ago that was, it only makes sense that the experience would bleed into his music and shape who he is as an artist. After debuting with ENHYPEN in 2020 and making his solo debut earlier this year with Ride or Die, why is this era the right time to reveal something so personal? For starters, Death of Me comes from a place of resilience and optimism, overcoming challenges and knowing that brighter days lie ahead. Who better to deliver such a strong message than someone who’s literally a cancer survivor and has been, in his words, “right up to the edge of death”? Given his journey thus far, the album’s themes hit that much harder because you know they’re drawn from personal experiences and thoughts he’s had since then.
For listeners — whether they’re going through physical, mental, or emotional troubles — hearing an artist’s story adds another layer of authenticity and connection to their music and can change the trajectory of someone’s outlook on life. Although this level of transparency isn’t required to pursue music, it has its strengths in recognizing that personal struggles can become the catalyst for creating art that resonates with people on a deeper level. And sharing that with the world — if they so choose — is a reminder that idols are just as human as anyone else.
NCT’s JOHNNY To Launch Weekly Podcast
On September 10, SM Entertainment announced that NCT’s JOHNNY will launch a new podcast, JOURNEY with JOHNNY, premiering on September 16. In this Spotify-exclusive show, the singer will discuss all the latest K-culture topics, his personal tastes, and his experiences. In its debut episode, JOHNNY will formally introduce himself with basic information such as his name, age, MBTI, and stories about his preferences and daily life. However, what makes this project even more exciting is that it’s not the first time JOHNNY has hosted or developed a show that requires conversation — it’s actually one of his defining talents among NCT. So how does this podcast play into his strengths outside of the group?
Since debuting in 2016 with NCT 127, JOHNNY has been one of the main spokespeople for the group, especially for its global audience. As a native English speaker and Chicagoan, he’s usually the one leading interviews overseas and bridging the gap between languages. However, even when speaking Korean, fans have always applauded JOHNNY for his ability to strike up conversations with anyone around him and the natural charisma he exudes in the process. This talent came in handy back in 2018 when he and fellow NCT member JAEHYUN became hosts of their own radio show, NCT Night Night!, on South Korea’s SBS Power FM. Whether he was interviewing guests, reading stories, or giving personal advice to listeners, JOHNNY demonstrated his knack for public speaking and making others feel comfortable around him.
Similarly, this talent was further highlighted in the singer’s YouTube show, JCC (Johnny’s Communication Center), a vlog series in which JOHNNY documented his daily life — both alone and alongside his fellow members. In each episode, he’d travel to new places, try new activities, and talk to other professionals in their respective fields to learn more about their craft. The series became a staple for NCTzens (NCT’s fandom) and provided a more relaxed look at JOHNNY’s life through his eyes. Therefore, this new podcast feels more like an extension of both NCT Night Night! and JCC, allowing fans a more candid take on the singer’s thoughts and experiences while also giving JOHNNY a platform to explore topics that interest him but haven’t had a chance to discuss. Depending on the subjects explored in future episodes, JOURNEY With JOHNNY could also become a gateway for potential new fans to get to know JOHNNY on a more personal level, outside of his role in NCT.
RESCENE Becomes First Group To Be Named Honorary Citizens of Geoje
On September 10, girl group RESCENE became the first K-pop group to be awarded honorary citizenship in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. According to The Korea Herald, the city had “submitted the proposal under an ordinance that allows honorary citizenship to be awarded to individuals who have contributed to raising Geoje’s profile, among other criteria.” While this achievement is already impressive on its own, it holds even more weight for RESCENE personally, since Geoje is the hometown of the group’s leader, Woni. It also comes at an interesting time in RESCENE’s career, with the recent spike in popularity they’ve achieved this year on multiple accounts. So how does his award contribute to and validate the group’s growing popularity? And what does this say about their presence in South Korea?
RESCENE has had an amazing year, from a resurgence in popularity with “LOVE ATTACK,” to Woni’s viral YouTube channel, and even being selected as recipients of government funding through a global expansion program. The girl group is proving they don’t have to be a part of a major K-pop label to earn the respect of South Korea’s general public, and that’s mainly because they’re one of the few active groups that isn’t purposely catering to a global audience. While idol groups from both large and mid-tier companies have been strategically built with Western success and audiences in mind, RESCENE has quietly been doing the opposite — highlighting their Korean (and Japanese) cultures and focusing on regional authenticity.
The quintet’s newly awarded citizenship shows that there’s still merit in winning over local audiences first before aiming for global success. With Geoje being Woni’s hometown, the city is recognizing and celebrating her and the group’s local ties and everything they’ve done to represent and give back to the community. With Korean audiences embracing a group that centers regional and cultural authenticity, RESCENE's honorary citizenship speaks to how much that connection has resonated at home.