KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

Set to Take Over Alamodome Oct. 28–31, 2026

KPOPWORLD Festival & Worldwide Dance Competition

For their new album &lt;itsnotover&gt;, idntt sat down with KPOPWORLD to talk about where they've been, what this group has demanded of them, and what they refuse to let go of

idntt: The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

Closing a trilogy is easy. Closing it by handing the story back to the people who lived it is something else. EPEX's Youth: Epilogue wraps up two years and three albums of coming-of-age storytelling

EPEX Talks Youth Epilogue, Ownership and Growth

On July 14, inner beauty brand LifePharm announced that genderless group XLOV will become their newest Global Ambassadors. The brand is known for their viral dietary Mood Change Alpha Plus range, described as self-care for K-pop idols

XLOV Announced as Ambassadors for Inner Beauty Brand LifePharm

K-pop’s contract system has undergone many changes since the industry’s inception in the 1990s. From 13-year slave contracts to a reduced term of seven years — with options for renegotiation

K-pop’s Contract System, Explained – And Why So Many Artists Are Leaving Big Labels

Second-gen nostalgia is in full swing: Secret return after 12 years with a Vivaldi-sampling gem, JeA launches her first self-directed solo project, A-Plus revive mid-2010s K-drama pop, JUN. K settles back into R&amp;B, and HOSHI channels peak 2000s dance R&amp;B&nbsp;

Comeback Corner: JUN. K, HOSHI, USPEER & More

ILLIT's Moka is stepping back from activities for a second time, following a brief return at the end of May. BELIFT LAB has cited excessive tension and symptoms of anxiety, with no return date confirmed

ILLIT’s Moka On Temporary Hiatus Due to Health Concerns

AMPERS&amp;ONE are heading to Europe for the first time. With six cities and ten days across September, Berlin, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Paris, Cologne, and London, the European leg of the 'Born To Define' World Tour follows a run in North America that saw multiple sold-out dates and near-doubled venue capacities

AMPERS&ONE To Embark on Europe Leg of ‘Born To Define’ Tour

There was a time when artist merch was simple; you bought a T-shirt at the door, wore it in the pit, and that was the point. HYBE has other ideas. Through TXT's collaborations with DEINET, ISTKUNST, and PAUSE PLEASE

HYBE Is Turning K-Pop Merch Into Coveted Fashion Statements

ITZY's Yuna is racking up acting credits fast with three dramas since her January debut – and now a lead role in Netflix's upcoming Do Not Climb Over the Wall. The pace, and the backing from Netflix and tvN, raises the obvious question of where this goes next

ITZY’s Yuna to Star in Netflix’s Original Drama ‘Do Not Climb Over the Wall’

Stray Kids' Felix is fronting Korea's 'Hanbok Wave' campaign for 2026 – the first non-actor chosen since 2022, and a pairing with weight given his Gen Z-skewing global fanbase

Stray Kids’ Felix Joins Korea’s Global ‘Hanbok Wave’

The Grammys have created a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, but there's a catch. Nominees need "meaningful use" of an Asian language, which is likely to rule out plenty of current K-pop

Grammy Awards Reveal New ‘Asian Pop’ Category

An 18-year-old American singer has covered a 1999 Korean ballad – and Korean listeners are thanking him for it. Julian Lerner's "Even If" reimagines "If Only I Had You" as dance-pop, and the response has been overwhelmingly warm in a culture where the influence has often flowed the other way

Julian Lerner's Cover Shows How Far Korean Music's Influence Has Actually Spread

On their fourth EP Imperfect-I'mperfect, FIFTY FIFTY push into new sonic territory – cyberpunk electronics, dreamy hip-hop, euphoric pop – all while carrying a message that hits close to home: it's okay to be imperfect. It's okay to not be okay

FIFTY FIFTY: The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

FIFTY FIFTY's Athena has been named T1 VALORANT's new ambassador, and the credibility was already there. Holding an Immortal rank – one of the game's highest

FIFTY FIFTY’s Athena Named T1 VALORANT Ambassador

YEONJUN has announced his second solo album, NO LABELS: PART 02, arriving July 10. The follow-up to NO LABELS: PART 01 – which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 – lands eight months on, and from the looks of the announcement video, it's picking up exactly where the last one left off

YEONJUN of TXT Announces Second Solo Album NO LABELS: PART 02

The Korean government is backing K-pop's next wave. The Ministry of Culture's new 'Support for Global Leap' initiative will direct up to 300 million won per year to ten small and mid-sized agencies, with the funding flexible enough to be spent across marketing, production, and live events

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